Kolaghan'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 — • Return target creature card from your graveyard to your hand. • Target player discards a card. • Destroy target artifact. • Kolaghan's Command deals 2 damage to any target.
Complete guide
Kolaghan's Command is a versatile Rakdos instant that provides a powerful toolkit for any situation. Whether you need to recover a fallen ally, disrupt an opponent's hand, or clear the board, this card offers incredible efficiency by combining two effects into one spell.
Choosing Your Modes
When you cast Kolaghan's Command, you must choose exactly two different modes from the four available options. You cannot choose the same mode twice. Because the spell requires targets for its effects, you can only choose a mode if you can provide a legal target for it at the time of casting. For example, if there are no artifacts on the battlefield, you cannot select the 'Destroy target artifact' mode.
The Resolution Process
The spell resolves the chosen modes in the order they are printed on the card, regardless of the order you chose them. First, you return a creature from your graveyard; second, a player discards; third, an artifact is destroyed; and finally, damage is dealt. If one target becomes illegal before resolution (such as a creature being exiled from the graveyard), the other mode will still resolve normally. However, if all targets for both chosen modes are illegal, the entire spell fails to resolve.
Strategic Timing
As an instant, Kolaghan's Command is often best played during your opponent's draw step. After they draw their card for the turn, you can force them to discard it before they have a chance to play it (if it's a non-instant speed card). This 'draw-step lock' is a classic competitive maneuver to keep an opponent from finding answers.
Interaction examples
Deflecting SwatIf you cast Kolaghan's Command choosing to destroy an artifact and deal 2 damage to a player, an opponent can respond with Deflecting Swat. They can choose a new legal artifact for the first mode and a new legal target for the damage. However, they cannot change the modes you picked; the spell will still destroy an artifact and deal damage.
Chaos WarpSuppose you target a creature in your graveyard and an artifact on the field. If an opponent casts Chaos Warp on that artifact, the artifact is shuffled into the library. When Kolaghan's Command tries to resolve, the artifact target is now illegal. Because the creature card in the graveyard is still a legal target, the Command will still resolve, returning the creature to your hand even though the artifact destruction fails.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Kolaghan's Command
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· 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.
- #2· 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.
- #3· 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.
- #4· 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.
- #5· 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 Kolaghan's Command
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.