Image courtesy of Scryfall.com
Explosive Turns, Red-Hot Interactions: Tempt with Mayhem in Commanders
Tempt with Mayhem arrives in Modern Horizons 3 Commander as a rare instant with a spicy, spicy hook. For a mana cost of 1 colorless and 2 red mana, you fire off a Tempting offer that can rewrite the entire turn order in multiplayer mayhem. The exact text reads: Tempting offer — Choose target instant or sorcery spell. Each opponent may copy that spell and may choose new targets for the copy they control. You copy that spell once plus an additional time for each opponent who copied the spell this way. You may choose new targets for the copies you control. It’s a spell that doesn’t just play the game—it invites the game to play you.🔥
In commander circles, Tempt with Mayhem thrives on the idea that your opponents are not just passive participants; they become part of a chaotic tapestry you control, and the more players copy that spell, the more copies you generate for yourself. The card embodies a red mage’s love for speed, risk, and a little razzle-dazzle. The flavor text practically screams, “Take the reins and watch the fireworks!” And yes, the art by Deruchenko Alexander captures a moment of cunning mischief that would make the Scarlet Wager blush. 🧙♂️🎨
What makes Tempt with Mayhem truly shine is its ability to scale in multiplayer. In a four-player game, you can wind up with multiple copies of a single spell zooming around the table, all while you are tracking the number of opponents who decided to copy. The math gets spicy quickly: you copy that spell once, plus one extra copy for each opponent who copied it, and you may redirect targets for the copies you control. The net effect can be a cascade of loops, a flurry of chips on the board, and a dramatic swing that makes you question why you ever cast a “normal” spell at all. It’s a card that invites the table to lean into chaos, and in the hands of the right commanders, it becomes a dangerously elegant engine. 🧙♂️⚔️
Why red commanders pair so deliciously with Tempt with Mayhem
Red is the color of risks, blow-up turns, and dramatic tempo swings. Tempt with Mayhem is a spell that leans into that identity—giving you a platform to amplify copy effects while turning every opponent’s decision into a potential liability. In commander, the most compelling pairings happen when your two-commander shell can both accelerate into a big turn and amplify the number of copies you can generate. Think of it as installing a fuse on a cherry bomb: you want fast access to more spells, more copies, and more targets to influence. The right commanders provide copy engines, cost reducers, and draw engines that make each explosive turn feel inevitable. 💎🔥
Strategy note: in an Izzet-heavy deck, Tempt with Mayhem gives you a perfect excuse to lean into a chain of spell copying that looks like a spell-slinging carnival ride. The card rewards tempo and political play in equal measure, so you can shape the turn order while forcing decisions that weave into your plan. The more spells you cast that create copies, the more you leverage your board presence and your life total in unpredictable ways. The result is a deck that can pivot from "tempo" to "combo-lite" with a single well-timed Tempt. ⚔️
Top commander pairings for maximum chaos (UR archetypes)
- Melek, Izzet Paragon and Niv-Mizzet, Parun — A classic Izzet duel that unlocks huge copy potential. Melek’s ability reads: Whenever you cast an instant or sorcery spell, you may copy that spell. You may choose new targets for the copy. When Tempt with Mayhem hits the stack, Melek helps reproduce the trigger on demand, and Niv-Mizzet rewards you for all the card-drawing chaos that ensues. Your opponents copy the spell; you copy it again; and your draw engine keeps the momentum rolling. It’s a high-octane dance of cards, counters, and a dozen “one more copy” whispers around the table. 🧙♂️💥
- Mizzix of the Izmagnus and Niv-Mizzet, Parun — Mizzix brings cost reduction and the opportunity to copy more spells as you build experience counters, while Niv-Mizzet’s fire-breathing card-draw loop keeps you fed on cards as your copies multiply. Tempt with Mayhem turns into a spell-slinging free-for-all where you not only copy what’s targeted but also cascade into a richer card economy. Expect big turns, big draws, and a table that’s watching you closely as your hands fill with spell after spell. 🧲🎲
- Mizzix of the Izmagnus and Melek, Izzet Paragon — A pair with a little less cross-table drama but enormous internal consistency. Melek’s copy ability compels additional identical spells on the stack, while Mizzix’s cost-reduction means you can access bigger spells sooner. Tempt becomes the fuse that lights a chain reaction: each copy spawns more opportunities for everyone to copy, and you’re ready to cash in on that tempo with a few well-timed draws. The result feels like a well-rehearsed fireworks display—yes, you brought the sparklers, but you’re in charge of the show. 🎆🧪
- Melek, Izzet Paragon and Jori En, Ruin Diver — This pairing leans into the draw-heavy, spell-slinging identity. Tempt with Mayhem becomes a catalyst for political games and card advantage, with Jori En weaving a rhythm of extra draws every time you cast your first spell each turn. It’s a dynamic that plays beautifully in multiplayer, where every decision on the table becomes a negotiation and a potential multi-player turn where you propel your hand and the table into ever-wilder territory. ⚡🃏
In each pairing, your plan often follows the same arc: accelerate into a big spell turn, deploy Tempt with Mayhem to force the table to engage with copying decisions, and watch as your deck’s engine surges—sometimes in ways no one expected. The charm lies in balancing risk and reward, keeping an eye on the life totals, and leaning into the chaos with a well-timed read of the table. The synergy is not just about raw power; it’s about turning the social contract of multiplayer Magic into a playground where you control the tempo without becoming a vacuum of your own luck. 🎭🎲
Practical deck-building notes
When building around Tempt with Mayhem in UR, consider adding the following staples to maximize your explosive turns:
- Ramps and accelerants to reach triple-red mana quickly (Mana Rocks, Veils of Volatility, and fast lands).
- Countermagic and protection to keep Tempt on the stack long enough to orchestrate multiple copies.
- Draw engines and card-advantage spells to ensure you see the best targets for copying and maximize value from every ripple of copies.
- Flexible removal to disrupt opponents’ key plays while not erasing your own plans.
Because Tempt with Mayhem exists on a four-player stage, you’ll want to calibrate your sequencing so that you don’t overstep into too-early bomb territory. The goal isn’t to win on the first copy; it’s to sculpt a path to a turn where your copies overwhelm the table with inevitability while you maintain enough gas to adapt to counterplays. It’s a theater of chaos, and your two chosen commanders are the leads who keep the curtain rising. 🧙♂️🔥
As you brainstorm your dream UR commander pairings, a friendly reminder: Modern Horizons 3 Commander is a treasure trove for this kind of decking. The set’s unique synergy with “tempering” effects, cost reductions, and double-dipping spell copies makes Tempt with Mayhem a centerpiece card you’ll be eager to cast again and again. And if you’re crafting this arc for a table you know and love, you’ll want something tactile and tactile-friendly to keep your mood at stage-perfect. For a desk-side companion that’s as stylish as a well-tuned 75-card deck, consider this Custom Mouse Pad—an unobtrusive upgrade that keeps your setup clean and focused on the board. It’s a small touch, but little things—like a non-slip surface—make a big difference when you’re trying to maintain focus during a multi-turn carnival of magic. 🔥💎
Ready to design the kind of night that friends talk about for years? Gather your two UR commanders, slot Tempt with Mayhem into the 99, and prepare to hear the table collectively mutter, “Did that just happen?” The thrill of explosive turns is real, and Tempt with Mayhem gives you a healthy dose of chaos with some very bright, very red fireworks. 🧙♂️🎇