Guess what? It's just become useful now that there is Cascade.
Zulp
★★★★☆ (4.6/5.0)(5 votes)
Somewhat useful, but awesome flavor text. Tell it like it is, Arbiter.
ToidiDiPuts
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(2 votes)
What are the dynamics of this with Lullmage Mentor? All spells are countered at once, so do you get a merfolk for each spell countered, or just one for the whole spell?
Mode
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
You'll get a Merfolk from Lullmage Mentor for each spell countered this way, ToidiDiPuts. But since this spell costs 5 you won't be able to help that much countering more than the spell from your opponent by playing further spells like Gigadrowse :/
Qazior
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Works against Storm very well but otherwise almost useless
Ragamander
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
Amusing card, especially against cascade and replicate. Unfortunately, it costs too much to use after you and your opponent(s) create a huge stack o' spells the old-fashioned way.
@ToldiDiPuts & Mode: Um, I think Lullmage Mentor only triggers once. Otherwise, it would read "Whenever a spell is countered by a spell or ability you control, you may put a 1/1 blue Merfolk creature token onto the battlefield."
ClockworkSwordfish
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Only cost-effective for shafting Cascade decks.
mdakw576
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(3 votes)
at worst it's a counterspell with a cantrip. Note that cryptic command is 4 mana and this is 5, so that's not TOO bad.
Once you've countered two spells, you've made good money.
Shell_shockkun
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
You should get multiple tokens, as the condition for the ability to trigger is "whenever a spell is countered"
the source it then checks for is "by a spell or ability you control"
so the mentor's ability will trigger for every spell you counter with swift silence
really going for a niche though...
good against storm and cascade but...
maybe a deck round Hive Mind?
Saxophonist
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(2 votes)
Grand Arbiter just pwned some poor Izzet. My heart goes out to you, nameless Izzet guildie.
SpencerDub
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
It's a shame this was printed before split second happened in Time Spiral block-- this spell would have been perfect for split second.
With Grand Arbiter Augustin in play, this card only cost WUU :)
Also, in a counter war between two control players, if you cast this as a response to the third spell casted (assuming enemy spell -> your counter -> enemy counter - your Swift Silence), you can draw three cards since you also countered you own in response.
Mprime818
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Very cheap with eye of the storm, whenever another player casts something then copies all the exiled cards you counter each one of them, and then copy all the exiled cards for yourself plus the flavor text is motivating... It also gives you the ability to draw, very flexible...
Dark_Raider
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Fun against dragonstorm.
Troutz
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Difficult to cast, but if it goes off, it's totally worth it.
So after some retooling, I dropped my counters and swerve spells and replaced them with this, Mindbreak Trap, Stifle, Voidslime, and Trickbind. Of those, this is easily the best.
NeoKoda
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
My favorite flavor text in the game. No, it's funny. No, it's not scary. It just shows the world so well.
Okuu-chan
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
SILENCE!...*glare*... I KILL YOU!
DoragonShinzui
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
The Azorius answer to old Izzet, if the art wasn't indicative enough. Useful against a lot of things, and the card drawing is very much in Azorius's favor.
LordRandomness
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
...I only just got that it's an Izzet guy in the art because this completely pwns replicate. Silly me :p
It can still be countered. It's too expensive to be much use in the counterspell wars where it'd be profitable. It's dangerous against storm, because you have to draw the cards, and that can be fatal in itself... Not to mention that every decent storm deck is capable of getting rid of a counterspell or two anyways, before or while going off.
As has been said, this is only really good against replicate spells. Very limited.
darkterrorblade
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Play it with Eye of the Storm in multiplayer. No one can cast instants or sorceries unless everyone says so!
Comments (30)
But since this spell costs 5 you won't be able to help that much countering more than the spell from your opponent by playing further spells like Gigadrowse :/
@ToldiDiPuts & Mode:
Um, I think Lullmage Mentor only triggers once. Otherwise, it would read "Whenever a spell is countered by a spell or ability you control, you may put a 1/1 blue Merfolk creature token onto the battlefield."
Once you've countered two spells, you've made good money.
the source it then checks for is "by a spell or ability you control"
so the mentor's ability will trigger for every spell you counter with swift silence
really going for a niche though...
good against storm and cascade but...
maybe a deck round Hive Mind?
Also, in a counter war between two control players, if you cast this as a response to the third spell casted (assuming enemy spell -> your counter -> enemy counter - your Swift Silence), you can draw three cards since you also countered you own in response.
NOT useful against storm crow.
Either way I can't imagine playing u/w without some cost reduction in effect- Maybe I'll try it for bit.
Lmao
So after some retooling, I dropped my counters and swerve spells and replaced them with this, Mindbreak Trap, Stifle, Voidslime, and Trickbind. Of those, this is easily the best.
It can still be countered.
It's too expensive to be much use in the counterspell wars where it'd be profitable.
It's dangerous against storm, because you have to draw the cards, and that can be fatal in itself... Not to mention that every decent storm deck is capable of getting rid of a counterspell or two anyways, before or while going off.
As has been said, this is only really good against replicate spells. Very limited.