In Commander, flexibility is everything, and Special Move offers exactly that. For three mana at instant speed, choosing two out of three relevant modes gives this card real utility in multiplayer. It can remove an artifact, permanently grow one of your creatures in combat, or convert a creature’s power into direct damage at the cost of sacrificing it. That kind of modal design plays well in EDH, where board states shift constantly, and having options often matters more than raw efficiency.
The artifact destruction mode alone makes this playable. Commander tables are filled with mana rocks, combo pieces, and value engines. Being able to answer a Sol Ring, a threatening equipment, or a combo artifact while also advancing your own board is strong.
In metas where artifact-heavy strategies are common, such as decks led by Urza, Lord High Artificer or Breya, Etherium Shaper, this card gives red decks interaction without dedicating a full slot to narrow removal.
The +1/+1 counter mode shines in combat-focused builds. Two counters at instant speed can swing trades, save a commander from damage-based removal, or push through lethal commander damage. Aggressive and midrange commanders, such as Isshin, Two Heavens as One, Xenagos, God of Revels, or Jetmir, Nexus of Revels, appreciate scalable combat tricks that also carry long-term value. Because the counters are permanent, this mode isn’t just a trick. It meaningfully upgrades your threat density over time.
The “Foot Toss” mode is the most explosive and opens up synergy potential. Turning a creature’s power into direct damage fits well in sacrifice or aristocrats deck shells. In decks like Korvold, Fae-Cursed King, or Prosper, Tome-Bound, sacrificing a creature can generate additional value through draw or treasure triggers. In token-heavy builds, you can cash in an already-buffed attacker to remove a key blocker or finish a player. When combined with the counter mode, you can even stack power first, then fling for extra damage, creating a surprise burst line.
Overall, Special Move slots best into red-based aggro, combat, and sacrifice archetypes rather than pure control shells. It won’t define the format, but it offers solid role compression in the 99.
In high-power tables, it may be outclassed by more efficient staples, but in mid-power and battlecruiser brackets, the versatility and synergy potential make it a compelling inclusion. Commander rewards flexibility, and this card gives you meaningful decisions at exactly the kind of moment that decides multiplayer games.
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