Price$68.61 – $99.55
Buy on TCGplayerDeflecting Swat
Instant
Legal Salt 1.72Rank #80
If you control a commander, you may cast this spell without paying its mana cost.
You may choose new targets for target spell or ability.
Why is this card good?
Deflecting Swat is one of the best red protection/interaction spells in the format, largely because it's free. If you control your commander, you cast it for zero mana — that's huge tempo, letting you protect a key piece while still advancing your turn.
The flexibility is what makes it shine. Redirect a removal spell back at the caster's own creature, steal a Praetor's Counsel target, flip an opponent's board wipe... no, it doesn't counter, but it changes any target. Save your commander from spot removal, redirect a Beast Within at someone else, or hijack a tutor's "you" effects.
Who wants it: any red deck with a commander you want to protect — combo decks, voltron, Niv-Mizzet "pinger" builds, and high-power tables where free interaction is currency.
When to skip it: colorless/commander-less strategies obviously can't trigger the free cast, and in casual pods you may rarely have worthwhile targets. But in red? Near-auto-include.
Related cards
Deflecting Palm
Red instant redirecting combat damage back at attacker.
Bolt Bend
Free redirect spell when controlling high power, similar protection role.
Redirect
Blue instant changing targets of a spell, same effect.
Misdirection
Free counter-style redirect, alternative cast option.
Fierce Guardianship
Free commander-based protection counterspell, same cycle.
Commandeer
Free spell that steals target, commander-deck protection.
Ricochet Trap
Cheap red instant to change a spell's target.
Printings (6)
Played by these commanders
Kalamax, the Stormsire100% of 1
Combos (8)
- Agrus Kos, Eternal Soldier + Soulbright Flamekin + Deflecting Swat + Felidar Guardian + Pinnacle Monk // Mystic Peak
→ Infinite LTB, Infinite ETB, Infinite storm count
- Agrus Kos, Eternal Soldier + Soulbright Flamekin + Deflecting Swat + Felidar Guardian + Mnemonic Wall
→ Infinite LTB, Infinite ETB, Infinite storm count
- Agrus Kos, Eternal Soldier + Soulbright Flamekin + Deflecting Swat + Felidar Guardian + Salvager of Secrets
→ Infinite LTB, Infinite ETB, Infinite storm count
- Agrus Kos, Eternal Soldier + Soulbright Flamekin + Deflecting Swat + Felidar Guardian + Greenwarden of Murasa
→ Infinite LTB, Infinite ETB, Infinite storm count
- Agrus Kos, Eternal Soldier + Soulbright Flamekin + Deflecting Swat + Felidar Guardian + Ardent Elementalist
→ Infinite LTB, Infinite ETB, Infinite storm count
- Agrus Kos, Eternal Soldier + Soulbright Flamekin + Deflecting Swat + Felidar Guardian + Scholar of the Ages
→ Infinite LTB, Infinite ETB, Infinite storm count