Word of Command

[Offler]

Since I have heard a lot of rumors how this card work, and I cannot agree with any of them I want to ask how exactly this card work...

Word of command Is being cast,

Oponnent reacts or whatever.

Word of command starts resolving.

I can look at players hand, pick a card and oponnent must play it. during this he has to pay all mana costs for the card if able.

Generally it works as Mindslaver for a single card.

Myths I have encountered:
a) If oponnent taps all his mana sources in response i cannot cast any spell from his hand
- I believe that this is wrong, because the mana remains in pool and I may force player to spent this mana since I control him during resolution.
b) If a permanent is cast this way I gain control of it.
- Also wrong because its oponnent who is casting the spell. Word of command mentions no gaining of control the permanent.

And things what I am not sure of:
1. If a creature/other permanent with "Enters battlefield" is cast, while the trigerred ability is targeted, who chooses the target?

And the last thing - many people believe that this card does not have any usage. since I have seen mindslaver or Sen Triplets in action I can imagine a lot of usage. Like using Diabolic tutor to search a basic land and so on...

[cdr]

Like always, you should read the Oracle text of the card (and post it with your question). It may answer many of your questions.

Look at target opponent's hand and choose a card from it. You control that player until Word of Command finishes resolving. The player plays that card if able. While doing so, the player can activate mana abilities only if they're from lands he or she controls and only if mana they produce is spent to activate other mana abilities of lands he or she controls and/or play that card. If the chosen card is cast as a spell, you control the player while that spell is resolving.


a) If oponnent taps all his mana sources in response i cannot cast any spell from his hand
- I believe that this is wrong, because the mana remains in pool and I may force player to spent this mana since I control him during resolution.

You control the player, so you can spend mana in their mana pool, yes.


b) If a permanent is cast this way I gain control of it.
- Also wrong because its oponnent who is casting the spell. Word of command mentions no gaining of control the permanent.

Yes, it enters the battlefield under the control of the player who cast it.


1. If a creature/other permanent with "Enters battlefield" is cast, while the trigerred ability is targeted, who chooses the target?

You only control the opponent while the spell is resolving. It has already resolved when it enters the battlefield, you do not control the opponent when ETB triggers happen.

[KobeBryan]

Too bad the card isn't too good. Its more like a mana short if anything.

People will just tap out, cast all their instants in response to you playing this card at their draw phase

[cdr]

Too bad the card isn't too good. Its more like a mana short if anything.

People will just tap out, cast all their instants in response to you playing this card at their draw phase

You can make them play anything, even a land (if it's their turn and they haven't played one this turn, anyway - those two rules about lands are unbreakable). They play the card as part of the resolution of Word of Command so it breaks normal timing rules.

[Offler]

to Avatar of Shadow:
Golden multiplayer card if your co-players are treated as oponnents (depends on type of multiplayer game of course) and are not willing to do some things you need to.

Also good against any player who plays a lot of sorceries/instants to discard or deal damage. Casting Wrath of God from enemy hand in some situations may help you a lot. But I agree that the card is little bit chaotic.

to cdr:
I have read it, however I forgot to post it here. I just wonder how many myths about this card I have heard.