Obscuring Haze 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. Prevent all damage that would be dealt this turn by creatures your opponents control.
Complete guide
Obscuring Haze is a powerful defensive tool specifically designed for the Commander format, offering a unique twist on the classic Fog effect. By protecting you from all incoming creature damage for a single turn, it can completely turn the tide of a combat-heavy game. Best of all, if you have your leader on the battlefield, you can cast it for free to surprise your opponents.
What Obscuring Haze Does
Obscuring Haze prevents all damage that would be dealt this turn by creatures your opponents control. This includes both combat damage and non-combat damage, such as damage from activated or triggered abilities. Crucially, the 'free cast' condition only requires you to control a commander; it does not have to be your own, though in most games, it will be. If you control any commander, the mana cost is reduced to zero.
Casting and Resolution
When you cast Obscuring Haze, the game checks if you control a commander at the moment you begin the casting process. Once you declare you are casting it using the alternative cost, your opponents cannot respond by removing your commander to force you to pay the mana; the cost is already locked in. Upon resolution, a prevention effect is created that lasts for the duration of the current turn, affecting all creatures currently controlled by your opponents and any that come under their control later in the turn.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
A common misconception is that Obscuring Haze prevents all damage across the board. It is asymmetrical; your own creatures will still deal damage as normal. Additionally, remember that this spell does not target creatures. It creates a global effect, meaning it still prevents damage from creatures with Hexproof or Shroud. However, it does not stop 'lose life' effects, as loss of life is not considered damage.
Strategic Timing
The most effective time to play this card is during the Declare Attackers or Declare Blockers step. Because it can be cast for zero mana, you can tap out for a big play during your main phase and still remain perfectly protected during your opponent's turn. It serves as a devastating counter-punch against 'Alpha Strikes' where an opponent commits all their resources to one lethal attack.
Interaction examples
Beast WithinIf an opponent targets your commander with Beast Within to try and prevent you from casting Obscuring Haze for free, you can simply cast Obscuring Haze in response. Since Obscuring Haze is an instant and you still control your commander, you pay zero mana. The Haze resolves first, protecting you, and then your commander is transformed into a Beast token.
Heroic InterventionIf your opponent casts Heroic Intervention to give their attacking army Indestructible and Hexproof, Obscuring Haze still works perfectly. Because Obscuring Haze does not target or destroy the creatures, but rather changes the rules of how their damage is applied, their protection abilities will not prevent the damage from being negated.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Obscuring Haze
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.
Anzrag, the Quake-Mole + Obscuring Haze + Forbidden Orchard + Voyaging Satyr
- 1Activate Anzrag by paying
, causing opponents to block Anzrag if able this turn. - 2Cast Obscuring Haze by paying
if you control a commander, or 
otherwise, preventing all combat damage that would be dealt by opposing creatures this turn. - 3Declare Anzrag as an attacker, attacking any opponent.
- 4If the opponent does not control a creature, activate Forbidden Orchard by tapping it, adding one mana of any color.
- 5If Forbidden Orchard was activated, it triggers, causing the defending opponent to create a 1/1 Spirit creature token.
- 6If Forbidden Orchard was activated, activate Voyaging Satyr by tapping it, untapping Forbidden Orchard.
- 7The opponent is forced to block Anzrag, triggering Anzrag, untapping all creatures you control and causing you to get an additional combat phase after this one.
- 8Any combat damage that would be dealt to Anzrag is prevented by Obscuring Haze.
Anzrag, the Quake-Mole + Obscuring Haze + Forbidden Orchard + Portent Tracker
- 1Activate Anzrag by paying , causing opponents to block Anzrag if able this turn.
- 2Cast Obscuring Haze by paying if you control a commander, or otherwise, preventing all combat damage that would be dealt by opposing creatures this turn.
- 3Declare Anzrag as an attacker, attacking any opponent.
- 4If the opponent does not control a creature, activate Forbidden Orchard by tapping it, adding one mana of any color.
- 5If Forbidden Orchard was activated, it triggers, causing the defending opponent to create a 1/1 Spirit creature token.
- 6If Forbidden Orchard was activated, activate Portent Tracker by tapping it, untapping Forbidden Orchard.
- 7The opponent is forced to block Anzrag, triggering Anzrag, untapping all creatures you control and causing you to get an additional combat phase after this one.
- 8Any combat damage that would be dealt to Anzrag is prevented by Obscuring Haze.
Anzrag, the Quake-Mole + Obscuring Haze + Forbidden Orchard + Krosan Restorer
- 1Activate Anzrag by paying , causing opponents to block Anzrag if able this turn.
- 2Cast Obscuring Haze by paying if you control a commander, or otherwise, preventing all combat damage that would be dealt by opposing creatures this turn.
- 3Declare Anzrag as an attacker, attacking any opponent.
- 4If the opponent does not control a creature, activate Forbidden Orchard by tapping it, adding one mana of any color.
- 5If Forbidden Orchard was activated, it triggers, causing the defending opponent to create a 1/1 Spirit creature token.
- 6If Forbidden Orchard was activated, activate Krosan Restorer by tapping it, untapping Forbidden Orchard.
- 7The opponent is forced to block Anzrag, triggering Anzrag, untapping all creatures you control and causing you to get an additional combat phase after this one.
- 8Any combat damage that would be dealt to Anzrag is prevented by Obscuring Haze.
Anzrag, the Quake-Mole + Obscuring Haze + Forbidden Orchard + Blossom Dryad
- 1Activate Anzrag by paying , causing opponents to block Anzrag if able this turn.
- 2Cast Obscuring Haze by paying if you control a commander, or otherwise, preventing all combat damage that would be dealt by opposing creatures this turn.
- 3Declare Anzrag as an attacker, attacking any opponent.
- 4If the opponent does not control a creature, activate Forbidden Orchard by tapping it, adding one mana of any color.
- 5If Forbidden Orchard was activated, it triggers, causing the defending opponent to create a 1/1 Spirit creature token.
- 6If Forbidden Orchard was activated, activate Blossom Dryad by tapping it, untapping Forbidden Orchard.
- 7The opponent is forced to block Anzrag, triggering Anzrag, untapping all creatures you control and causing you to get an additional combat phase after this one.
- 8Any combat damage that would be dealt to Anzrag is prevented by Obscuring Haze.
Anzrag, the Quake-Mole + Obscuring Haze + Forbidden Orchard + Argothian Elder
- 1Activate Anzrag by paying , causing opponents to block Anzrag if able this turn.
- 2Cast Obscuring Haze by paying if you control a commander, or otherwise, preventing all combat damage that would be dealt by opposing creatures this turn.
- 3Declare Anzrag as an attacker, attacking any opponent.
- 4If the opponent does not control a creature, activate Forbidden Orchard by tapping it, adding one mana of any color.
- 5If Forbidden Orchard was activated, it triggers, causing the defending opponent to create a 1/1 Spirit creature token.
- 6If Forbidden Orchard was activated, activate Argothian Elder by tapping it, untapping Forbidden Orchard.
- 7The opponent is forced to block Anzrag, triggering Anzrag, untapping all creatures you control and causing you to get an additional combat phase after this one.
- 8Any combat damage that would be dealt to Anzrag is prevented by Obscuring Haze.
Anzrag, the Quake-Mole + Obscuring Haze + Forbidden Orchard + Juniper Order Druid
- 1Activate Anzrag by paying , causing opponents to block Anzrag if able this turn.
- 2Cast Obscuring Haze by paying if you control a commander, or otherwise, preventing all combat damage that would be dealt by opposing creatures this turn.
- 3Declare Anzrag as an attacker, attacking any opponent.
- 4If the opponent does not control a creature, activate Forbidden Orchard by tapping it, adding one mana of any color.
- 5If Forbidden Orchard was activated, it triggers, causing the defending opponent to create a 1/1 Spirit creature token.
- 6If Forbidden Orchard was activated, activate Juniper Order Druid by tapping it, untapping Forbidden Orchard.
- 7The opponent is forced to block Anzrag, triggering Anzrag, untapping all creatures you control and causing you to get an additional combat phase after this one.
- 8Any combat damage that would be dealt to Anzrag is prevented by Obscuring Haze.
Anzrag, the Quake-Mole + Obscuring Haze + Forbidden Orchard + Ley Druid
- 1Activate Anzrag by paying , causing opponents to block Anzrag if able this turn.
- 2Cast Obscuring Haze by paying if you control a commander, or otherwise, preventing all combat damage that would be dealt by opposing creatures this turn.
- 3Declare Anzrag as an attacker, attacking any opponent.
- 4If the opponent does not control a creature, activate Forbidden Orchard by tapping it, adding one mana of any color.
- 5If Forbidden Orchard was activated, it triggers, causing the defending opponent to create a 1/1 Spirit creature token.
- 6If Forbidden Orchard was activated, activate Ley Druid by tapping it, untapping Forbidden Orchard.
- 7The opponent is forced to block Anzrag, triggering Anzrag, untapping all creatures you control and causing you to get an additional combat phase after this one.
- 8Any combat damage that would be dealt to Anzrag is prevented by Obscuring Haze.
Anzrag, the Quake-Mole + Obscuring Haze + Forbidden Orchard + Stone-Seeder Hierophant
- 1Activate Anzrag by paying , causing opponents to block Anzrag if able this turn.
- 2Cast Obscuring Haze by paying if you control a commander, or otherwise, preventing all combat damage that would be dealt by opposing creatures this turn.
- 3Declare Anzrag as an attacker, attacking any opponent.
- 4If the opponent does not control a creature, activate Forbidden Orchard by tapping it, adding one mana of any color.
- 5If Forbidden Orchard was activated, it triggers, causing the defending opponent to create a 1/1 Spirit creature token.
- 6If Forbidden Orchard was activated, activate Stone-Seeder Hierophant by tapping it, untapping Forbidden Orchard.
- 7The opponent is forced to block Anzrag, triggering Anzrag, untapping all creatures you control and causing you to get an additional combat phase after this one.
- 8Any combat damage that would be dealt to Anzrag is prevented by Obscuring Haze.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Obscuring Haze
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.