<p style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><i><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Marang River Regent|tdm|378" href="#" target="_blank">Marang River Regent</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/tots" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Brian Valeza</a> | <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Emergency Eject" href="#" target="_blank">Emergency Eject</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>| Art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/leontukker" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Leon Tukker</a></span></i></span></p>
<h2>What Makes Instants So Good?</h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Josh Lee Kwai, of Command Zone fame, is infamously connected to his pet card <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vedalken Orrery" href="#" target="_blank">Vedalken Orrery</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, noting how he often signs copies of it at events. As someone with a pet card myself, in the form of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Unsummon" href="#" target="_blank">Unsummon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, I can certainly relate to someone proselytizing a card others overlook. The Orrery lets its controller cast all spells at instant speed, which enables flexibility; breaking the rules of <em>Magic</em> is a powerful thing to be able to do, and timing restrictions are often built to limit the power of otherwise broken cards.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a multiplayer game, playing reactively is very difficult, which makes control and tempo tough to play. Tapping out on your own turn means telegraphing to the table that your shields are down for their turns, and threats will often go unanswered. The easiest maxim to remember for running these archetypes is this: “It’s not my problem unless it’s coming at me.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We can try making deals, as Josh would attest. That requires trust on both sides: Will the deal be honored, and is there an ulterior motive that is being allowed by agreeing? It’s easier to just leave mana up and decide on the opponent’s turn. Instants tend to sacrifice some power, utility, or mana cost in order to make up for the strength of flexibility.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With that preamble out of the way, let's look at the best MTG instants for Commander in 2025!</span></p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bounce Off" href="#" target="_blank">Bounce Off</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bounce Off"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Of course I’m starting with a bounce spell. Would you expect anything else from a dude called the Unsummoned Skull? </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Seriously though, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Unsummon" href="#" target="_blank">Unsummon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is already a strong tempo card to protect threats or remove them in a non-threatening way, and being able to bounce Vehicles, whether crewed or not, is an added bit of tech, especially for the same cost.</span></p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Duty Beyond Death" href="#" target="_blank">Duty Beyond Death</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Duty Beyond Death"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Given the Jeskai proclivity for showing their prowess, it stood to reason that the return to Tarkir would bring some strong noncreature spells. This card doesn’t disappoint; it protects and grows our board, just like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Unbreakable Formation" href="#" target="_blank">Unbreakable Formation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but without having to be cast on our turn, and for one fewer mana, and at the cost of one creature. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Token strategies and Aristocrats will love this, as will other go-wide strategies.</span></p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Heritage Reclamation" href="#" target="_blank">Heritage Reclamation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Heritage Reclamation"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">While it doesn’t come with a sage body, this card can help to reclaim a game getting out of hand. Modal spells have gotten a lot of support recently, with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Riku of Many Paths" href="#" target="_blank">Riku of Many Paths</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in <em>Thunder Junction</em>, and for good reason. Instants are powerful because of their flexibility, and being able to do several different things based on the situation doubles down on this. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In particular, a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Naturalize" href="#" target="_blank">Naturalize</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> fused with a cantripping piece of graveyard hate is almost always going to be relevant, even if we’re just exiling something inconsequential to dig.</span></p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Moogles&#039; Valor" href="#" target="_blank">Moogles&#039; Valor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Moogles&#039; Valor"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">While this may seem to be another board protection spell, it's actually a potent win-con. The order of the abilities is important: it makes a lifelinking token for each creature we control and then protects our board, so we don’t just laugh off a board wipe, we emerge even stronger. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">White</span>'<span style="font-weight: 400;">s been eating good with board protection spells, and the downside of this is the cost: leaving up five mana is a bit of a red flag.</span></p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Self-Destruct" href="#" target="_blank">Self-Destruct</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Self-Destruct"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I mean…the spell won a Pro Tour, so the card’s pedigree is pretty well-known. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fling" href="#" target="_blank">Fling</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is already a hilarious way to end a game, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Chandra&#039;s Ignition" href="#" target="_blank">Chandra&#039;s Ignition</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a known commodity for base-red decks. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Since the creature deals the damage, this works with infect, and since the creature damages itself, this can do some funky things with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Brash Taunter" href="#" target="_blank">Brash Taunter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</span></p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Archenemy&#039;s Charm" href="#" target="_blank">Archenemy&#039;s Charm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Archenemy&#039;s Charm"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Archmage&#039;s Charm" href="#" target="_blank">Archmage&#039;s Charm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Archdruid&#039;s Charm" href="#" target="_blank">Archdruid&#039;s Charm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> set the bar pretty high, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Archenemy&#039;s Charm" href="#" target="_blank">Archenemy&#039;s Charm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>...would be a lot better if it didn't have the other two to compare against. Again, modal instants are especially useful, and this combines removal, card advantage, and power. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hero&#039;s Downfall" href="#" target="_blank">Hero&#039;s Downfall</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, double <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Raise Dead" href="#" target="_blank">Raise Dead</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and a pump effect coupled with lifelink are all solid, but the key is finding a deck that wants all three.</span></p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hide on the Ceiling" href="#" target="_blank">Hide on the Ceiling</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hide on the Ceiling"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Another board protection effect, this time in blue. While board protection spells tend to lean white, this spell…also probably could be white. It exiles however many creatures or artifacts, owned by anybody, and then returns them to the battlefield at the beginning of the next end step. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Blink decks will absolutely love this, and it's perfect with Allies, right in time for Katara, the Ally <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Panharmonicon" href="#" target="_blank">Panharmonicon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>!</span></p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="School Daze" href="#" target="_blank">School Daze</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="School Daze"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Five-mana instants are risky, as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Moogles&#039; Valor" href="#" target="_blank">Moogles&#039; Valor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> showed, but blue can get away with it in a way that white often can’t. The card is also able to be fired off at end of turn to draw cards, which gives extra utility for controlling decks and cascade. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Counterspell" href="#" target="_blank">Counterspell</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>s that can be cast normally for value have been explored quite a bit recently, and this one drawing cards regardless of mode gives it a good amount of use.</span></p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Zuko&#039;s Exile" href="#" target="_blank">Zuko&#039;s Exile</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Zuko&#039;s Exile"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The last time Lessons were used, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Introduction to Annihilation" href="#" target="_blank">Introduction to Annihilation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> became a staple in decks that sought to answer problem permanents. This card does a similar job, giving colors the ability to check threats they usually can’t, and delays the card draw by giving a Clue instead of a card outright.</span></p>
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Elemental Teachings" href="#" target="_blank">Elemental Teachings</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Elemental Teachings"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mystical Teachings" href="#" target="_blank">Mystical Teachings</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, this is an instant-speed tutor, this time for lands. It operates on a similar axis to the Game Changers <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gifts Ungiven" href="#" target="_blank">Gifts Ungiven</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Crop Rotation" href="#" target="_blank">Crop Rotation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, with the added bonus of feeding strategies that got a lot of support recently, in Deserts and Gates. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This will pair nicely with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Life from the Loam" href="#" target="_blank">Life from the Loam</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which essentially turns this into a five-mana find any four lands.</span></p>
<h2>Honorable Mention: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sokka&#039;s Haiku" href="#" target="_blank">Sokka&#039;s Haiku</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sokka&#039;s Haiku"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Look, I had to shout out the coolest design of the year, possibly my favorite-designed card of all time. I mean, the rules text <em>is</em> a Haiku! How cool is that?</span></p>
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Instants have been a bit of a mixed bag; there have been a lot of cool utility pieces, but not many big, splashy spells. It seems like those have been mostly relegated to sorcery-speed recently, and I can’t say I blame the powers-that-be. What these instants lack in excitement they more than make up for in utility.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Many decks will be after what these cards do, and they fit a wide variety of decks and playstyles.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But what instants have <em>you</em> excited? And what are the cards you’re looking to pick up?</span></p>
<h3>More 2025:</h3>
<p>https://edhrec.com/articles/the-best-new-commanders-of-2025</p>
<p>https://edhrec.com/articles/the-best-enchantments-of-2025-for-commander</p>
<p>https://edhrec.com/articles/the-best-new-artifacts-of-2025-for-commander</p>
<p>https://edhrec.com/articles/the-best-nonlegendary-creatures-of-2025-for-commander</p>
<p>https://edhrec.com/articles/the-best-mtg-sorceries-of-2025-for-commander</p>


best magic instants

The Best MTG Instants of 2025 for Commander