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English-language Forums => General Magic => Topic started by: acedabeast on August 17, 2021, 12:14:41 am

Title: Counter spells
Post by: acedabeast on August 17, 2021, 12:14:41 am
What is ya'lls favorite counter spells in the game?
Title: Re: Counter spells
Post by: Varatius on August 17, 2021, 06:49:09 pm
Flavor text wise whirlwind denial (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Whirlwind+Denial).

Budget/underrated arcane denial (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Arcane+Denial) it's finally getting talked about in some circles which is cool.

Pet card swan song (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Swan+Song) it always finds a place into my finalized lists.

Power fierce guardianship (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Fierce+Guardianship).
Title: Re: Counter spells
Post by: WWolfe on August 17, 2021, 10:03:55 pm
I don't know why but I have a soft spot for plain old Counterspell (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Counterspell).

Really like Swan Song (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Swan+Song) & Pact of Negation (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Pact+of+Negation) to protect my win cons though. Fierce Guardianship (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Fierce+Guardianship) is really good as well as is Force of Negation (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Force+of+Negation).
Title: Re: Counter spells
Post by: credion on August 17, 2021, 10:41:16 pm
Test of Talents (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Test+of+Talents), Invasive Surgery (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Invasive+Surgery) and Lose Focus (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Lose+Focus) are my favorite kind of counter spells. It may not be suprise that Surgical Extraction (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Surgical+Extraction) has a sweet spot in my heart.
Title: Re: Counter spells
Post by: TugsKeng on August 17, 2021, 11:25:36 pm
I feel for EDH Wizard's Retort (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Wizard%27s+Retort) does not get the attention it deserves. There are just so many wizards that are also common commanders I want to stuff it as a second Counterspell (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Counterspell) in every deck with a wizard commander and blue.
Title: Re: Counter spells
Post by: ApothecaryGeist on August 18, 2021, 12:42:32 am
Mana Drain (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Mana+Drain).
Title: Re: Counter spells
Post by: Aetherium Slinky on August 18, 2021, 12:43:04 am
Pact of Negation (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Pact+of+Negation). Pulled it from a booster and didn't quite understand how powerful it is until I started playing with it. And does it do work? Yes, lots of it.
Title: Re: Counter spells
Post by: kswams on August 18, 2021, 11:47:41 pm
I don't know why but I have a soft spot for plain old Counterspell (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Counterspell).

Really like Swan Song (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Swan+Song) & Pact of Negation (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Pact+of+Negation) to protect my win cons though. Fierce Guardianship (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Fierce+Guardianship) is really good as well as is Force of Negation (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Force+of+Negation).

I, too, share the same sentiment for counter spells and the others you mentioned. Also, Mana Drain (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Mana+Drain) is one of my personal favorites.
Title: Re: Counter spells
Post by: kswams on August 18, 2021, 11:51:33 pm
I feel for EDH Wizard's Retort (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Wizard%27s+Retort) does not get the attention it deserves. There are just so many wizards that are also common commanders I want to stuff it as a second Counterspell (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Counterspell) in every deck with a wizard commander and blue.

Right! I also feel that way towards Patron Wizard (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Patron+Wizard) in edh.
Title: Re: Counter spells
Post by: acedabeast on August 19, 2021, 03:34:48 am
how about power sink (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Power+Sink)?
Title: Re: Counter spells
Post by: Korlich on August 19, 2021, 04:38:44 pm
EDH: Mana Drain (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Mana+Drain) Modern: Force of Negation (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Force+of+Negation). Pauper: Counter Spell
Title: Re: Counter spells
Post by: robort on August 19, 2021, 05:39:04 pm
I really don't have a favorite counter spell. I am just not a blue counter spell type of player. I prefer to make the action/something happen not wait until action/something happens while holding up mana.
Title: Re: Counter spells
Post by: Slyvester12 on August 20, 2021, 03:08:10 am
I really don't have a favorite counter spell. I am just not a blue counter spell type of player. I prefer to make the action/something happen not wait until action/something happens while holding up mana.

That's strange, because it sounds like you tried to counter this thread.

Also, Force of Will (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Force+of+Will).
Title: Re: Counter spells
Post by: Aetherium Slinky on August 20, 2021, 10:33:27 am
That's strange, because it sounds like you tried to counter this thread.
I always hold up my words, too.
Title: Re: Counter spells
Post by: BoBWiz on August 20, 2021, 12:58:37 pm
Hi,

I love them all!

I'm pretty happy that counterspell (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=de&card=Counterspell) is legal in modern now. My favorite one, cause of the surprising effect is Mana Tithe (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=de&card=Mana+Tithe).

best
Title: Re: Counter spells
Post by: WWolfe on October 04, 2021, 02:15:37 pm
Thought I would necro this thread as I have actually came to like Arcane Denial (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Arcane+Denial) more lately. I just swapped it in place of Force of Negation (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Force+of+Negation) in my Varina deck. I still think Force is the better spell, it's just I was rarely able to take advantage of casting it for free with only running 9 other blue cards. and the double blue is sometimes problematic. I would have replaced it with Mana Drain (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Mana+Drain) or even good ol' Counterspell (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Counterspell), but again, the double blue in them can also be a problem in the deck. While I'm still down on the opponents draw off Arcane, I think it's a reasonable trade off for you cantriping and getting rid of a potential game ending threat or protecting your win condition.
Title: Re: Counter spells
Post by: Bonethousand on October 04, 2021, 02:35:22 pm
Silumgar's Scorn (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Silumgar%27s+Scorn) does work in my dragons deck.
Title: Re: Counter spells
Post by: Elan Morin Tedronai on October 05, 2021, 02:26:11 am
Hindering Light (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Hindering+Light) and Ojutai's Command (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Ojutai%27s+Command).
Title: Re: Counter spells
Post by: Potato Chop on October 05, 2021, 06:06:43 am
imo, Essence Scatter (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Essence+Scatter) and Negate (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Negate) are underplayed. Only need one blue, so they fit into multicolored decks with ease - Negate (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Negate) is good for protection, and Essence Scatter (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Essence+Scatter) is great for stopping combos. That is, if your opponents are stupid enough to play their combo into a blue player with 2 mana up ;D

I think the reason these cards don't get much love is that they're outclassed by more expensive counterspells like Mana Drain (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Mana+Drain) and Force of Will (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Force+of+Will), but they are really amazing, budget cards that can win you the game or stop you from losing the game quite easily.
Title: Re: Counter spells
Post by: The Golgari Guy on October 05, 2021, 08:34:52 am
Thought I would necro this thread as I have actually came to like Arcane Denial (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Arcane+Denial) more lately. I just swapped it in place of Force of Negation (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Force+of+Negation) in my Varina deck. I still think Force is the better spell, it's just I was rarely able to take advantage of casting it for free with only running 9 other blue cards. and the double blue is sometimes problematic. I would have replaced it with Mana Drain (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Mana+Drain) or even good ol' Counterspell (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Counterspell), but again, the double blue in them can also be a problem in the deck. While I'm still down on the opponents draw off Arcane, I think it's a reasonable trade off for you cantriping and getting rid of a potential game ending threat or protecting your win condition.

Another one joins the Arcane Denial (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Arcane+Denial) club  8)

https://deckstats.net/forum/index.php/topic,61891.0.html
Title: Re: Counter spells
Post by: robort on October 05, 2021, 01:40:13 pm
imo, Essence Scatter (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Essence+Scatter) and Negate (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Negate) are underplayed. Only need one blue, so they fit into multicolored decks with ease - Negate (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Negate) is good for protection, and Essence Scatter (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Essence+Scatter) is great for stopping combos. That is, if your opponents are stupid enough to play their combo into a blue player with 2 mana up ;D

I think the reason these cards don't get much love is that they're outclassed by more expensive counterspells like Mana Drain (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Mana+Drain) and Force of Will (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Force+of+Will), but they are really amazing, budget cards that can win you the game or stop you from losing the game quite easily.

LOL that person would be me. I will play into you holding up that 2 blue mana every time. I figure if you have a counter spell then counter it and if you don't then my spell resolves. I don't think should I play this or not and I just play it.
Title: Re: Counter spells
Post by: Bonethousand on October 05, 2021, 01:40:43 pm
I forgot to mention Stubborn Denial (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Stubborn+Denial). I know it's conditional, but if your commander is big or interested in making things big, being able to hold up one mana to counter a board wipe is incredible. I use it in my Esix deck, which can be very mana intensive, so I'm always grateful to have this in hand over a Counterspell (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Counterspell).
Title: Re: Counter spells
Post by: The Golgari Guy on October 05, 2021, 01:53:53 pm
Unsubstantiate (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Unsubstantiate) is another one that I think it underplayed. Gets around "can't be countered" and can hit creatures on the field.
Title: Re: Counter spells
Post by: The Golgari Guy on October 05, 2021, 01:54:35 pm
I forgot to mention Stubborn Denial (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Stubborn+Denial). I know it's conditional, but if your commander is big or interested in making things big, being able to hold up one mana to counter a board wipe is incredible. I use it in my Esix deck, which can be very mana intensive, so I'm always grateful to have this in hand over a Counterspell (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Counterspell).

Auto-include for any commander that has 4 or more power and blue in its color identity!
Title: Re: Counter spells
Post by: Aetherium Slinky on October 06, 2021, 10:22:32 am
I am silly. Of course I have a favourite counterspell (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Counterspell) that is not Pact of Negation (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Pact+of+Negation) (even though I love that one, too)! It's called:

Ertai's Meddling (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Ertai%27s+Meddling)

Yup, it's another text monstrosity. It works a bit like Delay (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Delay) but not really. Delay (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Delay) counters, Ertai's Meddling (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Ertai%27s+Meddling) does not. Delay (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Delay) lets you cast that spell later, Ertai's Meddling (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Ertai%27s+Meddling) does not (it simply places the original spell on the stack). In many ways Ertai's Meddling (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Ertai%27s+Meddling) is Phasing for spells on the stack instead of permanents on the battlefield. What I'm really trying to say is that it actually says "{1}{U} Get rid of target Dovin's Veto (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Dovin%27s+Veto)".
Title: Re: Counter spells
Post by: The Golgari Guy on October 06, 2021, 05:26:20 pm
I am silly. Of course I have a favourite counterspell (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Counterspell) that is not Pact of Negation (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Pact+of+Negation) (even though I love that one, too)! It's called:

Ertai's Meddling (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Ertai%27s+Meddling)

Yup, it's another text monstrosity. It works a bit like Delay (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Delay) but not really. Delay (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Delay) counters, Ertai's Meddling (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Ertai%27s+Meddling) does not. Delay (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Delay) lets you cast that spell later, Ertai's Meddling (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Ertai%27s+Meddling) does not (it simply places the original spell on the stack). In many ways Ertai's Meddling (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Ertai%27s+Meddling) is Phasing for spells on the stack instead of permanents on the battlefield. What I'm really trying to say is that it actually says "{1}{U} Get rid of target Dovin's Veto (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Dovin%27s+Veto)".

This is super cool and I had no idea it existed!
Title: Re: Counter spells
Post by: Elan Morin Tedronai on October 13, 2021, 07:28:40 pm
I'll also recommend Erayo, Soratami Ascendant (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Erayo%2C+Soratami+Ascendant) for prison-types of Modern decks or EDH in that manner since it's General Magic forum. Whitened Hindering Light (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Hindering+Light), Render Silent (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Render+Silent), Absorb (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Absorb), Swift Silence (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Swift+Silence)  are some of my favorite counter spells. One or two Commands like Ojutai's Command (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Ojutai%27s+Command) and Silumgar's Command (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Silumgar%27s+Command) also made me impression and have place in my Draconomicon, but there and there only. I only use however Hindering Light (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Hindering+Light), but I wonder (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Wonder) on Render Silent (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Render+Silent) and Absorb (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Absorb) for the close art and probable Magic relation, should I put them in my Scria Larsonia: a Sphinx-Archon-Bird flying deck. Therefore, I don't use that many counter spells in Blue decks. I even cherish my Pheres Centaur Pagony for it has cards that recycle (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Recycle) the graveyard and oppose the counter spell mechanic. I can only see pragmatic in my friend krgr's (Boris), who uses counter spells like Counterspell (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Counterspell) and Cryptic Command (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Cryptic+Command) in a Counter-Burn No-Creature deck. Otherwise creature decks or planeswalker decks usually win at FNMs. Also, I admire dual-color counter spells like Ionize (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Ionize), Double Negative (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Double+Negative), Essence Backlash (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Essence+Backlash), Mindswipe (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Mindswipe) and Counterflux (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Counterflux) in the Red side. Voidslime (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Voidslime), Plasm Capture (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Plasm+Capture) and Decisive Denial (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Decisive+Denial) from Green. Black only has Countersquall (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Countersquall) that is good. Psychic Strike (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Psychic+Strike) and Perplex (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Perplex) for millers and discarders, but I don't like these strategies. Others are mostly dual cards. Enough, I pointed at many counter spells, but in brief only the dual-coloured, even Izzet Charm (https://cards.deckstats.net/magiccard.php?utf8=1&lng=en&card=Izzet+Charm), are slightly better than the mere "discard a card for an opponent's card to not allow it to make an effect" technique which IMHO is the counter spell. Basically you are down with a card for a card of the opponent. Yeah, I'm mostly in Tribal budget, but there should happen something else beside this in my philosophy. Therefore the dual colors are my answer. Even "choose between" are slightly better.
Regards:
Chavo