Unwind
Instant
Counter target noncreature spell. Untap up to three lands.
- CMC
- 3
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- U
- Rarity
- common
- Set
- Dominaria
- Price
- $1.02
- EDHREC rank
- #1053
Unwind counters a spell and untaps three lands — you pay three mana and immediately get it back, leaving you at full availability for the next threat. In any blue shell that wants to stay open every turn, this is one of the cleaner three-mana counterspells available, and Baral, Chief of Compliance makes it cost two.
Best Commanders
Commanders with the highest synergy
Baral, Chief of Compliance
Baral, Chief of Compliance reduces Unwind to two mana, and the untap trigger means you net a land each time you counter — that feedback loop lets Baral decks hold up interaction without ever feeling tapped out.
Y'shtola, Night's Blessed
Y'shtola, Night's Blessed rewards instant-speed play, and Unwind's untap clause means the three mana you spent is effectively refunded, letting Y'shtola players chain interaction across a full table rotation.
Melek, Reforged Researcher
Melek, Reforged Researcher cares about instant and sorcery density, and Unwind slots in as a cheap, efficient counter that keeps mana available for Melek's copy triggers on subsequent spells.
Hinata, Dawn-Crowned
Hinata, Dawn-Crowned reduces the cost of spells that target, so Unwind — targeting a spell on the stack — gets even cheaper, making it one of the most efficient interaction pieces in that deck.
Katara, Waterbending Master
Katara, Waterbending Master wants a high volume of instants to trigger her abilities, and Unwind's mana-neutral design means playing it never sets back the resource curve that Katara depends on.
Format Analysis
Where it lives, where it can’t
| Format | Verdict |
|---|---|
| commander | legal |
| legacy | legal |
| modern | legal |
| pioneer | legal |
| standard | not legal |
| vintage | legal |
| pauper | legal |
| oathbreaker | legal |
Commander is where Unwind earns its keep — the singleton format's longer games mean the untap clause compounds in value every time you hold up interaction across four players. In Pauper it's a legitimate staple, filling a gap at the three-mana slot where most efficient counters don't exist at common. Modern and Legacy have Counterspell and Force of Will, so Unwind doesn't see competitive play in those formats despite being legal. Pioneer sits in a similar position — playable in theory, outclassed in practice by cheaper interaction. Standard legality doesn't apply.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
$1.02 cheap tier
At $1.02, Unwind sits comfortably in the cheap tier — it's the kind of card you throw into a deck without a second thought about budget. Supply is healthy enough that the price is unlikely to spike absent a major reprint reshaping demand.
Explore
Sources
Mentioned
- Baral, Chief of Compliance
- Y'shtola, Night's Blessed
- Melek, Reforged Researcher
- Hinata, Dawn-Crowned
- Katara, Waterbending Master
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.