Vodalian Illusionist
Creature — Merfolk Wizard
, 
: Target creature phases out. (While it's phased out, it's treated as though it doesn't exist. It phases in before its controller untaps during their next untap step.)
- CMC
- 3
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- U
- Rarity
- uncommon
- Set
- Weatherlight
- Price
- $0.36
- EDHREC rank
- #17234
Vodalian Illusionist phases out a permanent until your next untap step — a flicker-adjacent effect stapled to a two-mana body that can protect your own threats or blank an opponent's blocker at instant speed. In Braids, Conjurer Adept builds, that cost is trivial compared to the tempo it buys.
Best Commanders
Commanders with the highest synergy
Braids, Conjurer Adept
Braids, Conjurer Adept puts permanents into play for free at the start of upkeep, which means your opponents will have threats too — Vodalian Illusionist lets you phase out the scariest one before it becomes a problem, keeping the engine running in your favor.
Format Analysis
Where it lives, where it can’t
| Format | Verdict |
|---|---|
| commander | legal |
| legacy | legal |
| modern | not legal |
| pioneer | not legal |
| standard | not legal |
| vintage | legal |
| pauper | not legal |
| oathbreaker | legal |
Vodalian Illusionist is legal in Commander, Legacy, Vintage, and Oathbreaker, but Legacy and Vintage have no real interest in a two-mana 1/1 with a once-per-turn phase effect when interaction is cheaper and more decisive. Commander is the only format where Vodalian Illusionist finds a genuine home — specifically in flicker-heavy blue decks or Braids, Conjurer Adept lists that need cheap, repeatable ways to manage the board state the Braids engine creates. Outside Commander, ignore it.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
$0.36 bulk tier
At $0.36, Vodalian Illusionist is bulk — easy to pick up and cheap enough to throw into any blue Commander deck that wants the effect. Bulk commons and uncommons with narrow applications tend to stay flat, so don't expect movement.
Explore
Sources
Mentioned
- Braids, Conjurer Adept
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.