Yes, it's classic. But I've never liked it. Even when I didn't have many other options.
Guest57443454
★★★☆☆ (3.4/5.0)(4 votes)
The worst of the Alpha counterspells...It does have its uses however...
majinara
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(3 votes)
Only good thing is it can counter pacts and moxen for just one mana.
Equinox523
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(1 vote)
@Ibn_Shisha Power Sink forces your opponent to tap lands - it's not even a choice. A powerful way to break a spell, where here, you must be ahead on mana to counter big spells in the lategame. Granted, it does counter 0 and X costed things for , but I'd argue against it being better than Sink.
Exposing your muscled flesh to your opponent to startle them into messing up their spells? That's REAL magic.
OmegaSerris
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
I agree with you, Equinox523, but I have to make one correction.
It does not counter spells for only unless they also paid 0 into . On the stack, the CMC of those spells is their printed cost ( for Fireball, for example.) PLUS what the controller paid into . So using Fireball again, if it was set to do 5 damage, you have to pay to counter it. Fireball's 'additional targets' ability doesn't count to the CMC though. Everywhere else, Fireball has the CMC of 1, yes. But on the stack, that isn't true.
Ibn_Shisha
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
I don't understand the low rating here. Granted, Counterspell is the king, but this one, especially in the late game, is much more useful than the higher-rated Power Sink.
@Equinox: Generally in the late game, there will be quite a bit of mana out. You're unlikely to have a problem casting Spell Blast, especially on cards from this era. However, keeping enough mana open to Power Sink someone in way that kills not just their spell but also their turn by tap out, kind of restricts your own play as well. Holding on to that Power Sink and enough mana to make it a late game threat can give you card disadvantage.
That's what a was getting at.
Anyway, they're both strictly worse than Force Spike.
TimCrockett
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
"I surrender!", cried Roger as he put his hands on the wall. The police closed in to arrest him. He was facing a long prison term, but it was worth it to see the horrified looks on the faces of all those kids when he streaked across the stage. This was one National Spelling Bee that no one would ever forget.
Comments (9)
That's REAL magic.
It does not counter
@Equinox:
Generally in the late game, there will be quite a bit of mana out. You're unlikely to have a problem casting Spell Blast, especially on cards from this era. However, keeping enough mana open to Power Sink someone in way that kills not just their spell but also their turn by tap out, kind of restricts your own play as well. Holding on to that Power Sink and enough mana to make it a late game threat can give you card disadvantage.
That's what a was getting at.
Anyway, they're both strictly worse than Force Spike.