What might look like a negative effect by losing tempo in returning a creature to your hand can be utilized for your benefit in the right deck. Play this card with creatures with great comes into play abilities and, you not only get to re-use their abilities, you also get to counter a spell for a cheap mana cost. I also recommend you play this with cheap 1 casting cost creatures if you'd like to play a hard counter on turn two in Standard.
Messatsunokami
★★★☆☆ (3.1/5.0)(6 votes)
Yeah, like Ravenous Rats, or for example Sower Of Temptation so you can take another creature, things like that .
davidhuman
★★★☆☆ (3.9/5.0)(7 votes)
if they are gonna nerf counter spells to three with a sometimes additional whiff of an effect, these are the kind of counters i'd like to continue to see at UU.
Vinifera7
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(6 votes)
In my opinion, Wizards struck a good balance between flavor and game mechanics with this card. Can you imagine how tragically awful it would be if you had to return a Faerie to your hand?
In most situations, Counterspell will be superior to Familiar's Ruse, but for decks making heavy use of creatures with "comes into play" abilities, the creature-bouncing side-effect could be an asset in disguise.
Situationally, it could also work as a two-drop Unsummon that only works on creatures that you control. Just saying...
Can't say it enough, like sholux said, great with spellstutter sprite. a 2 drop counter that instead of a drawback, took away a 1/1 but gave you another 2 drop counter back in your hand. great synergy.
Alqatrkapa
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(3 votes)
Illusory Demon?
Takuma.
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(4 votes)
I think this counter should have been reprinted instead of cancel, the extra cost isn't too bad. And it's the mana cost a counterspell should be. 2 blue. Counterspell is still better but if they want a weaker version in standard, this is your answer.
What happens if I return to hand a creature which is champion to another? ...
non1337
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(3 votes)
This card can in fact being abused and outclass counterspell fairly easily. Combo with Eternal Witness, Mnemonic Wall or Scrivener you can recycle the card over and over when you have or open. Mana acceleration can be done with comes into play effects of many other creatures, especially green creatures which fits extremely well.
Aun
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Vengevine likes this
Bobmacambob
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(6 votes)
Opponent plays something You: "Wheee! Spellstutter Sprite!" Opponent: "aww damn."
Next turn. Opponent plays something. You: "Hey, remember that Spellstutter Sprite?"
Counterspell seems to be better. But Familiar's Ruse is still pretty good. Maybe you could bounce your Mistbind Clique, to go off ruining your opponents lands again, and maybe reusing the Pestermite from under your Mistbind Clique. Familiar's Ruse is just a reeeaaaaalllllly interesing counterspell.
land_comment
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
In a faerie deck, this is actually better than counterspell.
Can be used to save a phantasmal bear or any other illusion from being sacced in an illusion deck until you can get out that new illusion lord that hexproofs everything
NeoKoda
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
I'm glad they got rid of Counterspell, if only so that we can get cool stuff like this.
Im surprised that nobody has said this yet. Why not just bounce a snapcaster mage back to you hand. lol Fun times with infinite counterspell for 4 mana
Well well well... It seems as though you have once against, despite your best efforts, become a pawn in one of my rather elaborate ruses, and it seems as the the end result of said ruse has left your state of being of a lesser quality than before you were dealt the card hidden up my sleeve, while being none the wiser! And yes, while it is true that you will eventually recover from this recent turn of events, it remains unclear whether or not your social status on this website will remain at its current level, or if it will take a turn for the worst! After all is said and done, at the end of the day, you will have to accept the fact that you got the short end of the deal! I hold no remorse or regret, for I am and always shall be... A MASTER RUSEMAN!
Bear_Scape
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This is beter than counterspell in so many situations, especially because blue has so many creatures that draw on their way to the board. I especially like it because even if they counter it, I still get to use my creature over again.
Sometimes bouncing a creature is what you planned on doing in the first place;
@Jetix Not quite; you'll get to use this spell twice; as the second time it will be exiled.
Dargenom
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Archaeomancer says I can use this spell as many times as I want! :D
MisterAction
★★★★☆ (4.7/5.0)(3 votes)
True story:
Opponent: I cast Thrun, the Last Troll. Me: Familiar's Ruse!!! Opponent: Are you an idiot? He can't be countered. Me: How silly of me. Guess I wasted a card and returned Ink-Eyes to my hand for nothing. My turn? Okay, I attack with Dimir Infiltrator. Opponent: I'll take one dam- Me: LEGENDARY NINJA RAT ATTACK!!! You're dead. How sad to be killed by an idiot.
...most of the time, I just bounce an Ornithopter. Still a much more interesting card than Counterspell though.
Kariuko
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@MisterAction, you need a legal target to cast this, you can't just cast it targeting no spells just to return a creature to your hand...
That aside, seems the perfect counter for a riku deck
Comments (30)
In most situations, Counterspell will be superior to Familiar's Ruse, but for decks making heavy use of creatures with "comes into play" abilities, the creature-bouncing side-effect could be an asset in disguise.
Situationally, it could also work as a two-drop Unsummon that only works on creatures that you control. Just saying...
You: "Wheee! Spellstutter Sprite!"
Opponent: "aww damn."
Opponent plays something else
You: "Familiar's Ruse! XD"
Next turn.
Opponent plays something.
You: "Hey, remember that Spellstutter Sprite?"
Counterspell seems to be better. But Familiar's Ruse is still pretty good. Maybe you could bounce your Mistbind Clique, to go off ruining your opponents lands again, and maybe reusing the Pestermite from under your Mistbind Clique.
Familiar's Ruse is just a reeeaaaaalllllly interesing counterspell.
Suddenly, you have outclassed Counterspell.
A MASTER RUSEMAN!
Sometimes bouncing a creature is what you planned on doing in the first place;
@Jetix
Not quite; you'll get to use this spell twice; as the second time it will be exiled.
Opponent: I cast Thrun, the Last Troll.
Me: Familiar's Ruse!!!
Opponent: Are you an idiot? He can't be countered.
Me: How silly of me. Guess I wasted a card and returned Ink-Eyes to my hand for nothing. My turn? Okay, I attack with Dimir Infiltrator.
Opponent: I'll take one dam-
Me: LEGENDARY NINJA RAT ATTACK!!! You're dead. How sad to be killed by an idiot.
...most of the time, I just bounce an Ornithopter. Still a much more interesting card than Counterspell though.
you need a legal target to cast this, you can't just cast it targeting no spells just to return a creature to your hand...
That aside, seems the perfect counter for a riku deck