---
name: "Ertai's Meddling"
mana_cost: "{X}{U}"
cmc: 1
type_line: "Instant"
colors: ["U"]
color_identity: ["U"]
keywords: []
set: "TMP"
set_name: "Tempest"
collector_number: "61"
rarity: "rare"
artist: "Steve Luke"
oracle_id: "609c529a-b3b3-46d5-b9d0-ae0117507d6e"
canonical_url: "https://avascry.com/printing/ertais-meddling-tmp"
legalities:
  commander: "legal"
  standard: "not_legal"
  modern: "not_legal"
  pioneer: "not_legal"
  legacy: "legal"
  vintage: "legal"
  pauper: "not_legal"
  penny: "not_legal"
---

# Ertai's Meddling
- **Mana Cost:** `{X}{U}` (CMC: 1)
- **Type:** Instant

## Oracle Text
X can't be 0.
Target spell's controller exiles it with X delay counters on it.
At the beginning of each of that player's upkeeps, if that card is exiled, remove a delay counter from it. If the card has no delay counters on it, the player puts it onto the stack as a copy of the original spell.

## Top 4096-Dim Neural Synergies
1. [Delay](/printing/delay-sld.md) — Instant
2. [Thranduil's Decree](/printing/thranduils-decree-hob.md) — Instant
3. [Spelljack](/printing/spelljack-jud.md) — Instant
4. [Syncopate](/printing/syncopate-vow.md) — Instant
5. [Teferi's Time Twist](/printing/teferis-time-twist-war.md) — Instant
6. [Gale's Redirection](/printing/gales-redirection-hbg.md) — Instant

## Printing Details
- **Set:** Tempest (TMP) #61
- **Rarity:** Rare
- **Artist:** Steve Luke
- **Total Printings:** 10 across all historical editions

## Format Legalities
Commander: `legal` | Standard: `not_legal` | Modern: `not_legal` | Pioneer: `not_legal` | Legacy: `legal` | Vintage: `legal` | Pauper: `not_legal` | Penny: `not_legal`