Instants staples in Duel Commander

164 cards played in at least 2% of the 276 Duel Commander decks of the last 120 days, in the main deck or in the sideboard. The most played in the main deck: Swords to Plowshares (53% of decks).

Official MTGO and magic.gg results and paper tournaments, data provided by TopDeck.gg, updated 28 Oct 2026. How we count

Main deck (164)

#	Card	Type	% of decks	Avg. copies
1	Swords to PlowsharesInstant	Instant	53.3%	1.0
2	Mental MisstepInstant	Instant	38.4%	1.0
3	Fatal PushInstant	Instant	36.6%	1.0
4	BrainstormInstant	Instant	35.1%	1.0
5	Enlightened TutorInstant	Instant	34.1%	1.0
6	Wash AwayInstant	Instant	33.7%	1.0
7	Force SpikeInstant	Instant	33.3%	1.0
8	Spell SnareInstant	Instant	33.0%	1.0
9	Lightning BoltInstant	Instant	31.5%	1.0
10	Mana LeakInstant	Instant	30.1%	1.0
11	Stern ScoldingInstant	Instant	28.3%	1.0
12	DazeInstant	Instant	27.9%	1.0
13	Tainted PactInstant	Instant	27.5%	1.0
14	Mana TitheInstant	Instant	27.2%	1.0
15	DismemberInstant	Instant	25.7%	1.0
16	Force of NegationInstant	Instant	24.6%	1.0
17	CounterspellInstant	Instant	24.6%	1.0
18	Worldly TutorInstant	Instant	24.3%	1.0
19	Galvanic DischargeInstant	Instant	24.3%	1.0
20	ReprieveInstant	Instant	24.3%	1.0
21	Sink into Stupor // Soporific SpringsInstant // Land	Instant // Land	23.9%	1.0
22	Memory LapseInstant	Instant	22.5%	1.0
23	Tale's EndInstant	Instant	21.4%	1.0
24	RemandInstant	Instant	20.7%	1.0
25	Lose FocusInstant	Instant	20.3%	1.0
26	PyrokinesisInstant	Instant	18.5%	1.0
27	Eladamri's CallInstant	Instant	18.1%	1.0
28	Summoner's PactInstant	Instant	18.1%	1.0
29	Chord of CallingInstant	Instant	17.8%	1.0
30	Spell PierceInstant	Instant	16.7%	1.0
31	Consult the Star ChartsInstant	Instant	16.3%	1.0
32	IntuitionInstant	Instant	14.9%	1.0
33	Cling to DustInstant	Instant	14.9%	1.0
34	StifleInstant	Instant	14.5%	1.0
35	No More LiesInstant	Instant	14.5%	1.0
36	Abrupt DecayInstant	Instant	13.8%	1.0
37	Demonic ConsultationInstant	Instant	13.0%	1.0
38	Razorgrass Ambush // Razorgrass FieldInstant // Land	Instant // Land	12.7%	1.0
39	Ghostfire SliceInstant	Instant	12.3%	1.0
40	Frantic SearchInstant	Instant	12.0%	1.0
41	March of Otherworldly LightInstant	Instant	12.0%	1.0
42	Cut DownInstant	Instant	11.6%	1.0
43	Reverent MantraInstant	Instant	11.2%	1.0
44	Bitter TriumphInstant	Instant	10.9%	1.0
45	Cryptic CommandInstant	Instant	10.9%	1.0
46	BrainsurgeInstant	Instant	10.5%	1.0
47	ErodeInstant	Instant	10.1%	1.0
48	Unholy HeatInstant	Instant	10.1%	1.0
49	Crop RotationInstant	Instant	9.8%	1.0
50	Snuff OutInstant	Instant	9.8%	1.0
51	Drown in the LochInstant	Instant	9.4%	1.0
52	Galvanic BlastInstant	Instant	9.4%	1.0
53	Requiting HexInstant	Instant	9.4%	1.0
54	Legolas's Quick ReflexesInstant	Instant	9.1%	1.0
55	Brazen Borrower // Petty TheftCreature — Faerie Rogue // Instant — Adventure	Creature — Faerie Rogue // Instant — Adventure	9.1%	1.0
56	EphemerateInstant	Instant	8.7%	1.0
57	Shallow GraveInstant	Instant	8.7%	1.0
58	Redirect LightningInstant — Lesson	Instant — Lesson	8.7%	1.0
59	TitheInstant	Instant	8.3%	1.0
60	Get LostInstant	Instant	8.3%	1.0
61	Tainted IndulgenceInstant	Instant	8.3%	1.0
62	Unexpectedly AbsentInstant	Instant	8.3%	1.0
63	Pact of NegationInstant	Instant	8.0%	1.0
64	FlashInstant	Instant	7.6%	1.0
65	Cabal RitualInstant	Instant	7.6%	1.0
66	SacrificeInstant	Instant	7.2%	1.0
67	Path to ExileInstant	Instant	7.2%	1.0
68	Flare of MaliceInstant	Instant	6.9%	1.0
69	Culling the WeakInstant	Instant	6.9%	1.0
70	Seething SongInstant	Instant	6.9%	1.0
71	Burst LightningInstant	Instant	6.2%	1.0
72	Corpse DanceInstant	Instant	5.8%	1.0
73	Archmage's CharmInstant	Instant	5.8%	1.0
74	Final FortuneInstant	Instant	5.8%	1.0
75	Long GoodbyeInstant	Instant	5.8%	1.0
76	Sheoldred's EdictInstant	Instant	5.4%	1.0
77	Orim's ChantInstant	Instant	5.4%	1.0
78	Evasive ActionInstant	Instant	5.4%	1.0
79	Rakshasa's BargainInstant	Instant	5.4%	1.0
80	Sauron's RansomInstant	Instant	5.4%	1.0
81	Mausoleum SecretsInstant	Instant	5.1%	1.0
82	Desperate RitualInstant — Arcane	Instant — Arcane	5.1%	1.0
83	Pyretic RitualInstant	Instant	5.1%	1.0
84	Waterlogged Teachings // Inundated ArchiveInstant // Land	Instant // Land	5.1%	1.0
85	Untimely MalfunctionInstant	Instant	4.7%	1.0
86	Deadly DisputeInstant	Instant	4.7%	1.0
87	Skycoach Conductor // All AboardCreature — Bird Pilot // Instant	Creature — Bird Pilot // Instant	4.7%	1.0
88	Burnt OfferingInstant	Instant	4.7%	1.0
89	Memory DelugeInstant	Instant	4.7%	1.0
90	Veil of SummerInstant	Instant	4.3%	1.0
91	Snakeskin VeilInstant	Instant	4.3%	1.0
92	Tyvar's StandInstant	Instant	4.3%	1.0
93	Defend the RiderInstant	Instant	4.3%	1.0
94	Blossoming DefenseInstant	Instant	4.3%	1.0
95	Ranger's GuileInstant	Instant	4.3%	1.0
96	PeekInstant	Instant	4.3%	1.0
97	Vines of VastwoodInstant	Instant	4.3%	1.0
98	EmbiggenInstant	Instant	4.3%	1.0
99	InvigorateInstant	Instant	4.3%	1.0
100	Wild ShapeInstant	Instant	4.3%	1.0
101	Might of Old KrosaInstant	Instant	4.3%	1.0
102	Tamiyo's SafekeepingInstant	Instant	4.3%	1.0
103	Mutagenic GrowthInstant	Instant	4.3%	1.0
104	GroundswellInstant	Instant	4.3%	1.0
105	Flare of DuplicationInstant	Instant	4.3%	1.0
106	AbradeInstant	Instant	4.3%	1.0
107	Royal TreatmentInstant	Instant	4.3%	1.0
108	Flare of DenialInstant	Instant	4.0%	1.0
109	Play with FireInstant	Instant	4.0%	1.0
110	ShockInstant	Instant	4.0%	1.0
111	SnapInstant	Instant	4.0%	1.0
112	Gather CourageInstant	Instant	4.0%	1.0
113	Faithful MendingInstant	Instant	4.0%	1.0
114	Mystic ConfluenceInstant	Instant	4.0%	1.0
115	TarfireKindred Instant — Goblin	Kindred Instant — Goblin	4.0%	1.0
116	Wild SlashInstant	Instant	4.0%	1.0
117	Voltage SurgeInstant	Instant	3.6%	1.0
118	SearInstant	Instant	3.6%	1.0
119	Crowd's FavorInstant	Instant	3.6%	1.0
120	Lightning HelixInstant	Instant	3.6%	1.0
121	ManamorphoseInstant	Instant	3.6%	1.0
122	BerserkInstant	Instant	3.6%	1.0
123	Restoration MagicInstant	Instant	3.6%	1.0
124	Bottle-Cap BlastInstant	Instant	3.6%	1.0
125	Fell the Profane // Fell MireInstant // Land	Instant // Land	3.3%	1.0
126	GushInstant	Instant	3.3%	1.0
127	Become ImmenseInstant	Instant	3.3%	1.0
128	FlusterstormInstant	Instant	3.3%	1.0
129	Into the Flood MawInstant	Instant	3.3%	1.0
130	FireblastInstant	Instant	3.3%	1.0
131	Dina's GuidanceInstant	Instant	3.3%	1.0
132	Searing SpearInstant	Instant	3.3%	1.0
133	IncinerateInstant	Instant	3.3%	1.0
134	ConsiderInstant	Instant	2.9%	1.0
135	Feral FerocityInstant	Instant	2.9%	1.0
136	Monstrous RageInstant	Instant	2.9%	1.0
137	SilenceInstant	Instant	2.9%	1.0
138	SkullcrackInstant	Instant	2.9%	1.0
139	Change the EquationInstant	Instant	2.9%	1.0
140	Theorix CharmInstant	Instant	2.9%	1.0
141	FlashbackInstant	Instant	2.5%	1.0
142	PeppersmokeKindred Instant — Faerie	Kindred Instant — Faerie	2.5%	1.0
143	Hapatra's MarkInstant	Instant	2.5%	1.0
144	Go for the ThroatInstant	Instant	2.5%	1.0
145	Flare of FortitudeInstant	Instant	2.5%	1.0
146	Grow Extra ArmsInstant	Instant	2.5%	1.0
147	Titanic GrowthInstant	Instant	2.5%	1.0
148	Kaya's GuileInstant	Instant	2.5%	1.0
149	Malakir Rebirth // Malakir MireInstant // Land	Instant // Land	2.5%	1.0
150	Logic KnotInstant	Instant	2.5%	1.0
151	Spider-SenseInstant	Instant	2.5%	1.0
152	Once Upon a TimeInstant	Instant	2.5%	1.0
153	Galadriel's DismissalInstant	Instant	2.5%	1.0
154	Flame of AnorInstant	Instant	2.5%	1.0
155	Witherbloom CharmInstant	Instant	2.5%	1.0
156	Saw in HalfInstant	Instant	2.5%	1.0
157	DefileInstant	Instant	2.2%	1.0
158	Midnight TillingInstant	Instant	2.2%	1.0
159	Strix SerenadeInstant	Instant	2.2%	1.0
160	Thought ScourInstant	Instant	2.2%	1.0
161	Noxious RevivalInstant	Instant	2.2%	1.0
162	Grisly SalvageInstant	Instant	2.2%	1.0
163	PyroblastInstant	Instant	2.2%	1.0
164	Lightning StrikeInstant	Instant	2.2%	1.0