Zada's Commando
Creature — Goblin Archer Ally
First strike
Cohort — 
, Tap an untapped Ally you control: This creature deals 1 damage to target opponent or planeswalker.
- CMC
- 2
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- R
- Rarity
- common
- Set
- Oath of the Gatewatch
- Price
- $0.04
- EDHREC rank
- #24103
Zada's Commando is a one-mana 1/3 with first strike and a triggered ability that deals 1 damage to any target whenever you cast an instant or sorcery — cheap pressure that scales with spell density. In the right shell it punches above its mana cost; in anything else, it's a 1/3 that does nothing.
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 |
In Commander, Zada's Commando earns a slot specifically in Izzet or Jeskai spellslinger lists where casting a dozen instants and sorceries per cycle is the plan — the incremental damage adds up fast and pings down utility creatures opposing players lean on. Pauper is where it has the strongest claim outside Commander: the format's low creature toughnesses mean 1-damage triggers matter, and a one-mana first striker is legitimate defense against aggressive starts. In Modern and Pioneer it doesn't clear the bar — both formats demand more immediate impact from a one-drop, and the trigger requires too much setup to compete. Legacy and Vintage don't care about a 1/3 at any price.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
$0.04 bulk tier
At $0.04, Zada's Commando is deep bulk — you'll find it in a common box before you find it listed alone. There's no price floor to worry about; pick up copies whenever you need them and expect that to remain true indefinitely.
Explore
Sources
Mentioned
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.