Atarka's Command is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.
Official card text
Choose two — • Your opponents can't gain life this turn. • Atarka's Command deals 3 damage to each opponent. • You may put a land card from your hand onto the battlefield. • Creatures you control get +1/+1 and gain reach until end of turn.
Complete guide
Atarka's Command is a versatile instant that represents the aggressive power of the Gruul clans. It allows you to choose two distinct effects from a list of four, making it a staple for decks that want to finish games quickly or adapt to various board states.
Understanding the Choices
When you cast Atarka's Command, you must choose exactly two of its four modes. You cannot pick the same mode twice, and once the spell is on the stack, your choices are locked in. Because the spell does not target, it is particularly effective against opponents who rely on hexproof or protection to stay safe from direct spells.
Order of Resolution
As the spell resolves, you follow the instructions of your chosen modes in the order they are printed on the card. This means that if you choose to deal damage and put a land onto the battlefield, the damage happens first. Note that putting a land into play this way does not count as your normal land play for the turn, allowing you to ramp ahead of schedule.
Strategic Timing
Because it is an instant, you can use Atarka's Command during the combat phase to surprise your opponent. The +1/+1 buff and reach keyword can turn a losing trade into a winning one, or simply push through those last few points of damage. The life gain prevention mode is also a continuous effect that lasts for the entire turn, even if cast before an opponent attempts to gain life.
Common Mistakes
A common point of confusion is how the land-drop mode works. Since it is an effect of a spell, it bypasses the usual timing rules for lands. However, if you choose the creature buff mode, only creatures you currently control as the spell resolves will receive the bonus; creatures entering the battlefield later in the turn will not be affected.
Interaction examples
Heroic InterventionDuring your combat phase, you attack with several creatures and cast Atarka's Command, choosing to deal 3 damage and give your creatures +1/+1 and reach. In response, your opponent tries to remove a blocker. You then cast Heroic Intervention to protect your board. Atarka's Command resolves, the damage is dealt, and your buffed, indestructible creatures strike for massive damage.
Beast WithinOn your opponent's end step, you cast Atarka's Command, choosing to put a land from your hand onto the battlefield and preventing life gain. This sets you up with extra mana for your next turn. On your turn, you use that extra mana to cast Beast Within, destroying an opponent's problematic permanent while knowing they cannot recoup the lost health through life gain effects this turn.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Atarka's Command
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
The first mode won't affect life that was gained earlier in the turn.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
If you choose the third mode and put a land card onto the battlefield, that doesn't count as playing a land. For example, you can both play a land and put a land onto the battlefield this way during your turn.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
You choose the two modes as you cast the spell. You must choose two different modes. Once modes are chosen, they can't be changed.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #4· Wizards of the Coast
You can choose a mode only if you can choose legal targets for that mode. Ignore the targeting requirements for modes that aren't chosen. For example, you can cast Ojutai's Command without targeting a creature spell provided you don't choose the third mode.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #5· Wizards of the Coast
As the spell resolves, follow the instructions of the modes you chose in the order they are printed on the card. For example, if you chose the second and fourth modes of Ojutai's Command, you would gain 4 life and then draw a card. (The order won't matter in most cases.)
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #6· Wizards of the Coast
If a Command is copied, the effect that creates the copy will usually allow you to choose new targets for the copy, but you can't choose new modes.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #7· Wizards of the Coast
If all targets for the chosen modes become illegal before the Command resolves, the spell won't resolve and none of its effects will happen. If at least one target is still legal, the spell will resolve but will have no effect on any illegal targets.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Atarka's Command
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