---
name: "Zaffai and the Tempests"
mana_cost: "{5}{U}{R}"
cmc: 7
type_line: "Legendary Creature — Human Bard Sorcerer"
colors: []
color_identity: ["R", "U"]
keywords: []
set: "SOS"
set_name: "Secrets of Strixhaven"
collector_number: "246"
rarity: "rare"
artist: "Olivier Bernard"
oracle_id: "3f8a8650-0e38-4926-8f48-526351e6a863"
canonical_url: "https://avascry.com/printing/zaffai-and-the-tempests-sos"
legalities:
  commander: "legal"
  standard: "legal"
  modern: "legal"
  pioneer: "legal"
  legacy: "legal"
  vintage: "legal"
  pauper: "not_legal"
  penny: "legal"
---

# Zaffai and the Tempests
- **Mana Cost:** `{5}{U}{R}` (CMC: 7)
- **Type:** Legendary Creature — Human Bard Sorcerer

## Oracle Text
Once during each of your turns, you may cast an instant or sorcery spell from your hand without paying its mana cost.

## Top 4096-Dim Neural Synergies
1. [Omnispell Adept](/printing/omnispell-adept-grn.md) — Creature — Human Wizard
2. [Zaffai, Thunder Conductor](/printing/zaffai-thunder-conductor-c21.md) — Legendary Creature — Human Shaman
3. [Archmage of Runes](/printing/archmage-of-runes-fdn.md) — Creature — Giant Wizard
4. [Surtland Elementalist](/printing/surtland-elementalist-khm.md) — Creature — Giant Wizard
5. [Tempest Trapper](/printing/tempest-trapper-yblb.md) — Creature — Otter Wizard
6. [Neera, Wild Mage](/printing/neera-wild-mage-clb.md) — Legendary Creature — Human Elf Shaman

## Printing Details
- **Set:** Secrets of Strixhaven (SOS) #246
- **Rarity:** Rare
- **Artist:** Olivier Bernard

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

## Official Rulings
- *(2026-03-20)* If you cast a spell with {X} in its mana cost this way, you must choose 0 as the value of X.
- *(2026-03-20)* If you cast a spell "without paying its mana cost," you can't choose to cast it for any alternative costs. You can, however, pay additional costs. If the card has any mandatory additional costs, you must pay those to cast the spell.