Zimone's Hypothesis
Instant
You may put a +1/+1 counter on a creature. Then choose odd or even. Return each creature with power of the chosen quality to its owner's hand. (Zero is even.)
- CMC
- 5
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- U
- Rarity
- rare
- Set
- Secrets of Strixhaven Commander
- Price
- $0.26
- EDHREC rank
- #9137
Zimone's Hypothesis puts three cards in hand at instant speed — that's the whole pitch, and it's a real one. Outside of Zimone, Mystery Unraveler, where the cost reduction and enter-the-battlefield triggers make it engine fuel, five mana is steep enough that most blue draw spells beat it on efficiency.
Best Commanders
Commanders with the highest synergy
Zimone, Mystery Unraveler
Zimone, Mystery Unraveler reduces Zimone's Hypothesis to two or three mana depending on how many nonlands you've played, which flips it from overcosted to above-rate instantly — and the three cards drawn feed right back into her ability to keep the chain going.
Zimone, Infinite Analyst
Zimone, Infinite Analyst wants card volume to fuel her untap and draw engine, and Zimone's Hypothesis delivers three at once — the name synergy is flavor, but the raw draw count is the real reason it shows up in nearly a third of her lists.
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 |
Zimone's Hypothesis is legal in Commander, Legacy, Vintage, and Oathbreaker, but Legacy and Vintage offer far more efficient draw at lower costs, so it sees no meaningful play there. Commander is where it lives, and even there it's a role-player rather than a staple — five mana for three cards is passable but not exciting unless you're discounting it. In Oathbreaker, the tighter card pool and lower game counts make a three-card instant-speed refill more attractive, particularly in Simic shells without access to the best black draw.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
$0.26 bulk tier
At $0.26, Zimone's Hypothesis is bulk — easy to pick up and easy to cut without remorse. Bulk rares with narrow homes tend to stay in this range unless the commander they're built around spikes, so don't expect movement.
Explore
Sources
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.