Ojutai's Command from Dragons of Tarkir - A Magic the Gathering (MTG) Card Review

by  ElspethFTW, Old School Duelist

While it's no Cryptic Command, Ojutai's Command is an interesting card. It has four modes of which you can choose two:

• Return target creature card with converted mana cost 2 or less from your graveyard to the battlefield.

• You gain 4 life.
• Counter target creature spell.
• Draw a card.
  
  

The first is especially interesting. The second feels too incidental. The third would be better if the word creature wasn't in it. The fourth makes this card a 4 mana cantrip. So what combinations of these effects will make this card Constructed playable?

The unearth effect is cute. In this case I mean the Urza's Legacy card for one black mana. Actually, this effect is worse as its only converted mana cost 2 instead of 3. So this feels like a bit of a jip. However, there are some creatures in Modern that would make this relevant, Snapcaster Mage, especially. Reanimation isn’t something you would typically find in U/W (Blue/White) Control, and having the ability to reanimate the Mage to be able for it to flashback another spell and draw a card is probably worth 2 mana. Some other good targets in the format could include Dark Confidant, Tarmogoyf, Thalia, Guardian of Thraben, and any other one or two-drop staple creature in the format. It’s hard to say what it will bring back in Standard, but we shall see.

Gaining 4 life is okay and can keep you alive in the right spot. It could be the difference between hanging on for another turn and the end game. It's not a terrible tempo play, either, against burn strategies. Drawing a card most of the time would seem a better option, but this option could be useful in the right situation when combined with another effect.

Counter target creature spell is fine, but that plus a card draw is a card that's been done before that never saw much play outside Limited: Exclude from Invasion. With the big “bomb” type creatures being released in present day sets, however, countering a target creature spell is perhaps more relevant than ever, especially by the point in the game that a card like this would be cast.

This card is very good in Limited and is a great tempo play. As far as in Constructed, there are mixed opinions. Most players agree that it’s a useful card, but some feel that it just feels a bit under powered at four mana. Three mana would seem a bit inexpensive, however. Considering what it can bring back to the board in Modern and net you a card, it seems it will be played in that format. It’s not quite clear how solid it will be in Standard and other formats. Some people think this is an awesome Command, and while it's not format-changing, it has its usefulness.

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