Deadly Rollick 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
If you control a commander, you may cast this spell without paying its mana cost. Exile target creature.
Complete guide
Deadly Rollick is a powerful removal spell from the Commander series that rewards you for having your leader on the battlefield. By meeting a simple condition, you can exile any threat for zero mana, shifting the tempo of the game instantly. It is a staple for black decks that want to maintain board control while tapping out for other threats.
Free Removal Requirements
Deadly Rollick has an alternative casting cost that allows you to cast it for free if you control a commander. This doesn't have to be your own commander; if you have gained control of an opponent's commander through another effect, the condition is satisfied. If you are playing a Partner deck, controlling either one of your commanders allows you to cast this for no mana.
Casting and Responding
When you begin to cast Deadly Rollick, your opponents cannot react until the casting process is complete. This means they cannot destroy your commander in response to you announcing the spell to force you to pay the full four mana. Once the spell is on the stack, it doesn't matter if your commander leaves the battlefield; the spell was already legally cast for its alternative cost.
Exile vs. Destruction
Unlike many black removal spells that simply destroy creatures, Deadly Rollick exiles its target. This is crucial for dealing with creatures that have Indestructible or those that benefit from dying, such as creatures with 'dies' triggers or recursion abilities. By removing the creature from the game entirely, you bypass many common defensive keywords.
When to Cast
The best time to cast this spell is when your commander is safely on the board and you need to remove a high-priority threat without spending your mana. Because it is an instant, you can wait until the last possible moment, such as an opponent's end step or during combat, to maximize your tactical advantage.
Interaction examples
Withering TormentIf you have your commander in play, you can cast Deadly Rollick for free to exile an attacking creature. If your opponent then plays a dangerous enchantment, you can still use your remaining mana to cast Withering Torment. Using Deadly Rollick's free cost allows you to double-spell in one turn, something Withering Torment cannot do as it always requires mana and costs you 2 life.
Fell the Profane // Fell MireSuppose your opponent has a creature with Indestructible. Fell the Profane cannot remove it because it only 'destroys' the target. However, Deadly Rollick can be cast for free (if you control your commander) to exile that creature, bypassing Indestructible entirely. This shows why exiling is often superior to destruction in high-power games.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Deadly Rollick
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
It doesn't matter whose commander you control. Any one will do. If you have two commanders, you just need to control one of them.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
Once you begin casting this spell, players can't take any other actions until you're done casting it. Notably, they can't try to remove the commander you control to make you pay its cost.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Popular combos
Real combos played by the community, sorted by popularity.
Orvar, the All-Form + Venser, Shaper Savant + Deadly Rollick
- 1Cast Deadly Rollick without paying its mana cost, targeting Venser.
- 2Orvar triggers, creating a token copy of Venser.
- 3Put either Venser into your graveyard due to the legend rule.
- 4The token Venser's enter-the-battlefield ability triggers, returning Deadly Rollick to your hand.
- 5Repeat.
Legal formats
Commentaires
- Sois le premier à commenter cette carte.
Read next
Meta decks with Deadly Rollick
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.