Untimely Malfunction
Choose one — • Destroy target artifact. • Change the target of target spell or ability with a single target. • One or two target creatures can't block this turn.
Rulings (3)
Sep 20, 2024 · The effect of Untimely Malfunction's last mode won't cause creatures that are already blocking to stop blocking.
Sep 20, 2024 · You don't choose the new target for the spell or ability targeted with Untimely Malfunction's second mode until Untimely Malfunction resolves. You must change the target if possible. However, you can't change the target to an illegal target. If there are no legal targets to choose from, the target isn't changed. It doesn't matter if the original target has somehow become illegal itself.
Sep 20, 2024 · If a spell or ability targets multiple things, you can't target it with Untimely Malfunction's second mode, even if all but one of those targets have become illegal.
Where it’s played now
Inclusion by archetype
| Archetype | Format | Inclusion | Copies | Decks (n) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Magda, Brazen Outlaw | cEDH | 100% | 1× | 6 |
| Ob Nixilis, Captive Kingpin | cEDH | 100% | 1× | 2 |
| Ral, Monsoon Mage | cEDH | 50% | 1× | 4 |
| 4-Color Elementals | Standard | 50% | 1× | 2 |
| Jund Creativity | Modern | 33.3% | 2× | 3 |
| 5 Color Creativity | Modern | 25% | 2× | 4 |
| Boros Aggro | Standard | 25% | 2× | 4 |
| Ruby Storm | Modern | 18.8% | 1–3× | 85 |