Best Free Red Spells for Commander

Pyrokinesis | Art by Igor Kieryluk

Welcome, spellslingers and Magic: The Gathering fanatics. Today, I want to talk about red cards with you. We could discuss red's lack of Game Changers or its best Tarkir: Dragonstorm (TDM) cards. Instead, I would like to explore red spells you can cast for zero mana.

As the saying goes, nothing is free in life, and MTG is no different: with spells costing zero mana, there's almost always a catch! Surprisingly, a few red cards have a casting cost of . Legends [LEG]'s Crimson Kobolds, Crookshank Kobolds, and Kobolds of Kher Keep are 0/1 Kobold creatures for zero mana.

Additionally, the updated Kobold, Rograkh, Son of Rohgahh, has no power. A red instant named Pact of the Titan gets played for free. Unfortunately, you have to pay at the beginning of your next upkeep, or you'll lose the game.

I just mentioned every red spell current in MTG, for those wondering. Conversely, some other red cards have a zero-mana alternative casting cost. One example is Flameshot. You can cast Flameshot to deal three damage divided between any number of creatures for three mana. Alternatively, you may discard a Mountain card rather than pay Flameshot's mana cost. Although Flameshot is not well-suited for Commander, there are free red spells that you may want in the 99. Let's dive further into the best free red spells for Commander.

7. Downhill Charge

Previously printed in Duel Decks: Venser vs. Koth (DDI), Downhill Charge is a three-mana red instant. Casting Downhill Charge temporarily gives a creature +X/+0, where X equals the numbe of Mountains you control, and is mediocre.

However, sacrificing a Mountain instead of paying three mana is much more exciting. Though Downhill Charge's playability is mainly limited to mono-red decks, you could improve its potential power increase with Blood Moon or Magus of the Moon.

Red decks focused on damage output may want Downhill Charge. A timely Downhill Charge targeting your Ojer Axonil, Deepest Might may wipe out multiple opponents with a single direct damage spell. Leveraging Zada, Hedron Grinder to give each of your creatures Downhill Charge's effect is also impressive.

Interestingly, combining Jeska, Thrice Reborn's zero loyalty ability with Downhill Charge can dramatically increase a creature's combat damage dealt to an opponent.

6. Ricochet Trap

Have you been searching for an anti-counterspell card? Ricochet Trap may be the red card you didn't know you needed. At face value, Ricochet Trap changes the target of a spell with a single target for four mana. In addition, you can play Ricochet Trap for if an opponent casts a blue spell this turn.

While you cannot change the target of a blue counterspell with a single target to itself, you can change it to Ricochet Trap. Using Ricochet Trap to ensure a Jeska's Will or Wheel of Fortune resolves can be game-breaking.

A second use for Ricochet Trap is to protect your commander from targeted removal. Assuming there is another legal target in play, Ricochet Trap can redirect blue spells, like Rapid Hybridization, Reality Shift, and Resculpt. Your red commanders may stay on the battlefield a little longer with Ricochet Trap in the 99.

5. Mogg Salvage

Modern Horizons 2 (MH2) reprinted a favorite uncommon of mine: Mogg Salvage. You can destroy an artifact for free with Mogg Salvage as long as you control a Mountain and an opponent controls an Island when casting it.

Sure, there will be games where an opponent may not have a commander identifying with blue. Even so, it is satisfying when you can cast Mogg Salvage for free to destroy a Sol Ring or Bident of Thassa.

Mogg Salvage excels in metas where your opponents will play potent artifacts. Optimized and Competitive Commander playgroups may contain a meta full of targets for Mogg Salvage. Destroying Game Changers like Grim Monolith, Mana Vault, and Bolas's Citadel with Mogg Salvage is excellent.

You can run Mogg Salvage in mono-red decks, but partner decks are also an option. A few red partners to pair with Mogg Salvage, include Krark, the Thumbless, Dargo, the Shipwrecker, and Jeska, Thrice Reborn.

4. Fury of the Horde

I always find myself yearning for red cards that grant additional combat phases, and I hope you do too because Fury of the Horde is one of the better free red spells available. Paying seven mana is not a great deal for an extra combat phase, yet you may cast Fury of the Horde for free by exiling two red cards from your hand.

Paying Fury of the Horde's alternative cost can be tricky in multicolor decks. Thus, mono-red Extra Combat decks are a more suitable home for Fury of the Horde. Rionya, Fire Dancer synergies with Fury of the Horde as it creates more creature tokens with haste for every instant and sorcery you cast before combat.

Another synergistic commander is Ken, Burning Brawler (Aisha of Sparks and Smoke). You can play Fury of the Horde for free, triggering Ken, Burning Brawler's prowess ability, and hopefully cast two more sorcery spells for no mana.

Moreover, dealing seven or more combat damage with Ken, Burning Brawler will allow you to cast Fury of the Horde from your hand for free.

Etali, Primal Storm is probably the best mono-red commander to pair with Fury of the Horde. Merely attacking with Etali, Primal Storm allows you to cast the top card of each player's library without paying their mana costs. You could get lucky and hit Fury of the Horde off the top of your library with Etali, Primal Storm.

Further, casting Fury of the Horde in your first main phase can double Etali, Primal Storm's attack triggers through two combat phases. Any possibilities to avoid paying Fury of the Horde's casting cost are worth exploring.

3. Pyrokinesis

Originating from Alliances (ALL), Pyrokinesis is one of the oldest red free spells in MTG. Dealing four damage between any number of creatures is helpful, but not for six mana. Instead, you should only play Pyrokinesis when you can take advantage of its alternative casting cost.

Pyrokinesis's zero-mana condition is best achieved in mono-red decks looking for creature removal. Slicer, Hired Muscle and Godo, Bandit Warlord can use Pyrokinesis to eliminate pesky blockers. Also, Pyrokinesis can destroy opponents' creatures and increase Rionya, Fire Dancer's generatable creature tokens.

In addition to mono-red, has a few commanders interested in Pyrokinesis. A personal favorite of mine is Ghyrson Starn, Kelermorph. While Ghyrson Starn, Kelermorph is under your control, targeting four creatures with Pyrokinesis will result in three damage to each of them!

Slotting Pyrokinesis in the 99 of Stella Lee, Wild Card may also produce an advantageous outcome. Stella Lee, Wild Card's activated ability only works when you have cast three or more spells in a turn. Playing Pyrokinesis for free will save mana and get you one step closer to copying an instant or sorcery with Stella Lee, Wild Card.

2. Flare of Duplication

Modern Horizons 3 (MH3) includes a cycle of Flare cards that you may cast for no mana assuming you sacrifice a nontoken creature of the same color. Flare of Duplication is the red Flare. Casting it lets you copy an instant or sorcery spell and choose new targets for the copy.

Note that Flare of Duplication does not alter the target of the spell it copies. Even so, it can serve a great purpose. Copying your own Brass's Bounty, Temporal Manipulation, or Expropriate is exciting. Additionally, a duplicated Crackle with Power or Expansion // Explosion can become lethal for opponents.

Before you attempt to copy a game-ending spell, consider starting small. Getting two Demonic Tutor or Grim Tutor can find the two-card combo you need to win the game. You could try removing threats by doubling Abrade or drawing another set of three cards via Treasure Cruise. Flare of Duplication's flexibility provides a plethora of spells to copy across various decks.

1. Deflecting Swat

To the surprise of no one, Deflecting Swat is the ultimate free red spell. Deflecting Swat lets you choose new targets for a spell or ability for free if you control your commander. Want to protect your commander, yourself, or your favorite Goblin creature card? Deflecting Swat can do it all. You may even have Deflecting Swat redirect a spell or ability from one opponent to another.

Deflecting Swat deserves its place among the most-played red cards on EDHREC. Practically any Commander game will have one or more instances where Deflecting Swat can shine. Whether you're vying for the top spot of a Commander League or looking to compete at the cEDH level, Deflecting Swat is a card worth playing. Did I mention that Deflecting Swat is not a Game Changer?

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