Wizard's Retort
Instant
This spell costs 
less to cast if you control a Wizard.
Counter target spell.
- CMC
- 3
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- U
- Rarity
- uncommon
- Set
- Dominaria
- Price
- $0.38
- EDHREC rank
- #4701
Wizard's Retort is a hard counterspell that costs two mana whenever you control a Wizard — and in the decks built to run it, that condition is almost always live. In Azami, Lady of Scrolls builds especially, it functions as Counterspell with no meaningful caveat attached.
Best Commanders
Commanders with the highest synergy
Azami, Lady of Scrolls
Azami, Lady of Scrolls runs a full Wizard tribal suite, so Wizard's Retort is Counterspell in everything but name — the condition is satisfied from turn two onward and never falls off.
Inalla, Archmage Ritualist
Inalla, Archmage Ritualist builds a board of Wizards fast and then needs to protect it; Wizard's Retort slots in as cheap, unconditional interaction that doubles as tribal redundancy.
Aegar, the Freezing Flame
Aegar, the Freezing Flame is a Wizard himself, so Wizard's Retort turns on the moment he hits the table — no supporting cast required.
Talrand, Sky Summoner
Talrand, Sky Summoner is a Wizard, and the deck is already running every viable cheap counterspell to trigger Drake production; Wizard's Retort earns its slot on both counts.
Cynette, Jelly Drover
Cynette, Jelly Drover incentivizes stacking the board with creature tokens, and Wizard's Retort provides the low-cost interaction needed to protect that engine through the turns it takes to close the game.
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 | not legal |
| oathbreaker | legal |
In Commander, Wizard's Retort is a role-player rather than a staple — it earns a slot specifically in Wizard-tribal builds where the conditional cost is trivially erased, and it has no business in non-tribal blue decks that would rather run Counterspell or Mana Drain. In Modern and Pioneer, unconditional two-mana countermagic faces stiff competition and Wizard's Retort rarely makes the cut outside dedicated Wizard synergy shells. Legacy and Vintage have access to so many superior options that Wizard's Retort is effectively invisible in those formats. The card's natural home is Commander, full stop.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
$0.38 bulk tier
At $0.38, Wizard's Retort sits firmly in bulk territory, which is exactly where a conditional counterspell with a narrow home should be priced. It holds that floor reliably — demand from Wizard tribal Commander decks is real but not explosive, so don't expect movement in either direction.
Explore
Sources
Mentioned
- Azami, Lady of Scrolls
- Inalla, Archmage Ritualist
- Aegar, the Freezing Flame
- Talrand, Sky Summoner
- Cynette, Jelly Drover
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.