I’m not sure I’m in love with this card, but I
have to say I AM in love with what this card is
trying to be, and that is a super utility card
that you stick four of into your control decks.
It is VERY COOL to have an instant that can do
one of FOUR different things, especially when
one of those things is “counter target spell.”
Unfortunately, Cryptic Command costs too much at
1UUU to fit in anything except mono blue control
decks. That’s a pretty narrow niche to fill. I
guess this card was TOO POWERFUL in testing with
a more friendly casting cost, so the powers that
be must have nerfed this card up with a nasty
triple blue casting cost. The triple blue
casting cost also makes this card virtually
worthless for limited.
Since the most powerful counterspells lately
have been four mana anyway, this could catch on.
It's definitely tempo, since you can stop a
spell and bounce a creature all with one card.
The tap effects and card draw will probably not
see much use.
Of course, there's the triple-blue to worry
about. That will make this card a challenge to
play, especially since the Ravnica lands are
rotating out. I'm really hoping that this means
monocolred decks will be gaining in power in
Lorwyn, but it might just mean that this card
won't find a home.
Constructed- 3
Casual- 4.5
Limited- 4.5
Aethereal
Wednesday -
Cryptic Command
The blue card in a cycle of five cards like
this. This may be the best one in the cycle. You
can get a Dismiss for 1UUU instead of 2UU if you
desire, or get a potentially nasty effect that
hasn't been available before: counter and
bounce. The weakest effect is probably the "tap
all your guys" effect, but even that one has
potential (especially in limited). A great card
for blue decks; the only problem is the UUU in
the casting cost, which is quite a problem
unless you're running heavy or mono blue.
In limited, if you can support the UUU, you play
this. If not, it's a risky venture, but it's a
powerful card nonetheless.
Constructed - 3.5
Casual - 2
Limited - 3
David Fanany
Player since
1995
Cryptic Command
If Gaddock Teeg is the messiah for G/W aggro,
Cryptic Command is mono-blue control's
equivalent. The recipient of the Command is
almost certain to be on the wrong end of a
massive tempo swing and maybe even card
advantage. It's a little harder to work in
limited because of the triple blue. But if you
can play it, do. It's worth it.
Constructed: 4/5
Casual: 3/5
Limited: 2/5
The Missing
Linc
-Balding
for just over 5 years
-Playing MTG for just over 10
Timber
Protector
Anything this expensive better be good. Green
can ramp up the mana. In block, this may be a
powerhouse. Looking at some of the treefolk,
this tribe could see play. Indestructible is
nothing to shake a stick at. However, I noticed
quite an increase in -x -x spells/effects
lately.
Constructed: 1 except 3 in treefolk decks
Casual: 3
Limited: 5 (a bomb if you get enough treefolk!)
Necro
nomikron
MTG Rules Advisor
Cryptic
Command:
Nice. My biggest gripe is the fact that it
requires 1UUU. That's too much colored mana for
my tastes, but, this card is fairly solid, if
you can come up with the mana cost. Any of the
abilities by themselves can be useful: Counter
Target Spell, Bounce, Tap all creatures of
opponents, and if you don't want to do two of
the following, the second choice can be 'Draw a
Card'.
Constructed: 3.5/5 (Casting Cost too
Prohibitive)
Casual: 2/5
Limited: 3/5
PsychoAnime
#1
Magic Noob in Canada since 2002
Cryptic Command
This has a barrage of nice ability packed on to
an efficient mana cost considering it's
versatility. The main problem though is the UUU
in it's mana cost. With Ravnica's dual lands
gone, it's going to be much harder to get the
1UUU required to play this card. Running 4 of
this is way too much because it clogs the hand.
Perhaps a single copy of this to be searched out
by Mystical Teachings would be better.
In limited, it's cost is still extremely
prohibitive and picking this early would mean
you're not going to use this or you'll be
required to draft heavily on blue. In sealed
deck, it's going to take a bit of luck to play
this.
Constructed: 3/5
Casual: 3/5
Limited: 2/5
Meb9000
9/26
Cryptic Command
Another whopper for Spike comes courtesy of
Flores to all the blue mages out there. Cryptic
Command is the first in an interesting cycle
that allows 4 options on one spell and the
caster gets to use 2 of them. Makes for very
interesting and unpredictable situations IMO.
Flores was very detailed in analyzing the
various forms Cryptic Command could take, with
most people leaning towards the Dismiss variant.
However, being able to tap all their creatures
and cantrip could be a Control deck's dream,
allowing them to gain the board position they
need during Turns 4-6. The triple blue casting
cost limits this to dedicated blue builds, which
is appropriate I think. This is another card
that should have a bright constructed future.
