Although the threat of mana burn means this isn't quite strictly better than Counterspell, it's generally better enough - and there are enough ways to abuse the free mana - that it might as well be. Second only to Force of Will as the best countermagic ever printed, and even then it's a close run thing.
spoonish
★★★★☆ (4.3/5.0)(6 votes)
i think this is better than force of will... though its a tight contest... if i played this and suffered a bit of mana burn, im not too bothered... im more happy that i drained my opponents entire mana pool, meaning theres little he/she can do for the rest of his turn and mine...
though force of will is pretty epic, being able to counter say a first turn black lotus or something as good as a first drop...
silentbobus
★★★☆☆ (3.8/5.0)(4 votes)
Obviously, this card was broken, even before the M10 rule changes. I think the best bet for a reprint of a similar card would be to make it cost 1UU. In addition, the text could be changed so that you took 2 points of damage for every unspent mana at the end of your first main phase.
MasterOfEtherium
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(9 votes)
Reprint This Now!
Arachibutyrophobia
★★★★☆ (4.6/5.0)(11 votes)
Best counter spell ever. They may be able to bring back Counterspell, like Lightning Bolt, but they can't bring this back!
SlackWareWolf
★☆☆☆☆ (1.1/5.0)(9 votes)
FoW is great because of, and ONLY because of, it's ability to counter without Mana. This gives you a Counter AND Mana. I'd personally split it in a deck:
Two Mana Drain, two FOW.
BrutalJim
★★★★☆ (4.9/5.0)(9 votes)
Far too broken to be eligible for a reprint, even before the elimination of Mana Burn.
Sholux
★★★☆☆ (3.1/5.0)(4 votes)
Since the rules changes, this guy has taken counterspell's seat on the throne...
shadowf0x
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Just Too Good Now! No more mana burn and now you have the possibility of casting a huge creature or killer enchantment on your third turn... Just imagine using this after someone has played 2 dark rituals to get out Phage the Untouchable, you counter, Deep-Sea Kraken. BAM! WIN. Situation highly unlikely but still probable
nikelrah
★★★☆☆ (3.7/5.0)(5 votes)
Whoever runs three cards into UU open deserves to lose. Then 2nd most powerful counterspell behind Force of Will imho, but it should never see the light of day again nonetheless
Mode
★★★☆☆ (3.8/5.0)(2 votes)
@silentbobus: This card got a remake, yet with twice the converted mana cost and unreliable mana gain it's not that playable, though.
As mentioned before, with removal of mana burn this card is now even better as it already used to be. Because of cards like this i don't really get why Wizards decided to remove that game element. Sure, new players didn't get in contact with it too often and might get someday surprised when facing it, but is that a reason to remove it?
Jenss
★★★☆☆ (3.3/5.0)(5 votes)
I can't believe that out of 26 votes someone voted it below 5/5 O.o
Another thing i can't believe either is that this is uncommon ! >.< INSANE.. Should've been mythic rare, even though this term didn't exist at the printing date
PaladinOfSunhome
★☆☆☆☆ (1.1/5.0)(6 votes)
Awesome card and also a great threat in any game. Counter spell and free mana. What more could you ask for?
4.0
ratchet1215
★★★★☆ (4.9/5.0)(7 votes)
Given that it was decided Counterspell was too strong and had to be dumbed down to Cancel, I'd say this is an example of an old card we won't be seeing a reprint of anytime soon (read: ever.) Absurdly, absurdly powerful, arm-in-arm with Force of Will in the Best Counters Ever couple.
And for what it's worth, you can Isochron Scepter it (as if that artifact doesn't draw enough fire with just a Shock attached.)
True_Smog
★★☆☆☆ (2.2/5.0)(4 votes)
The second best counterspell ever printed.
Guest57443454
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(9 votes)
The best counterspell ever, and printed at uncommon, I can only imagine the rage of some people when they opened a box of legends and didn't open a single one, (due to the printing malfunction). and what's scary is that it got better with the M10 rules changes.
Also, whoever didn't vote this for 5/5 is insane...
The_Trendkill
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(6 votes)
As if it hasn't been said enough, it is now strictly better than Counterspell due to the elimination of mana burn with the M10 rules changes. The best non-power 9 blue card.
5+/5
Ace8792
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(3 votes)
A uncommon are you kidding me.
bagilis
★★★★☆ (4.6/5.0)(4 votes)
that card is banned in Legacy anyway, so not worth shelling out the 10's of $ to acquire one, except maybe to boo your opponents in casual play.
Now of course, I give it 5/5 for the usefulness and effect!
Lateralis0ne
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
An old friend of mine had a playset that I saw once when just starting Magic. Even as a brand new player, I knew exactly what I was looking at. I should've asked to buy them then; I think his older brother owned the cards, and he liked me enough to probably have given me a discount. :( Wishes, wishes....
Force of Will prevents you from losing (particularly turn 0). Mana Drain prevents you from losing and wins you the game simultaneously.
My personal opinion is that Drain is better than the entire power 9, and is only behind Contract From Below in terms of raw brokenness.
Superllama12
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(5 votes)
Hello M10 rules, goodbye only drawback of this card!
dragonking987
★☆☆☆☆ (1.4/5.0)(5 votes)
it is a pity with the printing of cancel this card became useless stupid power creep.
NuckChorris
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(4 votes)
" R&D, players worldwide are protesting the underpowered Counterspell make something that will get them something a little better. On an unrelated note, I've heard numerous complaints about Blue's lack of mana acceleration."
drpvfx
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(4 votes)
Best unrestricted card in Vintage. Here's to hoping it stays that way.
It is obligatory to make a sucking or slurping sound upon the successful casting of this spell.
Radagast
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(1 vote)
The "drawback" was the mana burn potential, which never happened anyway and now doesn't matter at all. Still, an interesting idea for a card, despite its stupid power level. I wonder what casting cost would be fair for this ability? Maybe a Spellblast effect where you pay X for the cost of the countered spell, but get X back the next turn? Or a fixed cost of 5 mana or so? Hmmm...
goldstar971
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
masterofethrium don't it would break the metagame
Goatllama
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Way too situational.
Sharu
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I'm not gonna bother justifying this. 5/5
Subtle_Kay
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Is this the highest rated card on Gatherer? I thought it was Rancor before seeing this.
CorkBulb
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Now that mana burn is gone, it's disturbingly now strictly better than counterspell. Oh my!
Just like Braid of Fire removing mana burn made some cards just broken.
5/5
DacenOctavio
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
You're all going to hate me. I countered this with Spell Pierce to show them I wasn't joking around.
DaJoshMaster
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@ anyone who uses the words 'strictly better'
1) Get Mindslavered 2) Be forced to cast huge spell 3) Counter it with your own Mana Drain 4) Hey look your opponent still has mana to waste as ineffectively as possibru.
;)
DarthParallax
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Not 'strictly' better than most low-cost Counterspells, just the highest potential, and pretty darn powerful that's for sure (NICE trolling with that Spell Pierce, tho!) :)
The thought of this on an Isochron Scepter is just unacceptable. Somebody burn that man before I face someone that does that to me. xP
Continue
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
4.975/5 community rating... Holy shit, this may be the best card in MTG history ever since mana burn got taken away.
pedrodyl
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Hmm it appears the community rating search function on Gatherer may be broken, since this is not at the top when you sort by descending community rating for all cards, Unlimited Ancestral Recall is. I think it is because, in order to not have repeating cards on the list for each printing of each card, Gatherer only considers the most recent printing. Because yeah, 4.976/5 with 184 votes. I've never seen that anywhere else.
velkaarn
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I wasn't happy the first time my spell was countered with this, I think my opponent was playing a super-annoying Stasis deck and this was the last straw. With the mana burn gone it's even crazier, 5/5 obviously and I never want to see one again. Except if you want to give yours to me.
deathbeachparty
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Hey guess what guys, this is getting a remodel in Dragons Maze. Casting cost UUGG Adds coloured mana of your choice during your next precombat main phase
gut.gemacht
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
It could only be more broken if it didn't cost mana. Except you could argue that it pretty much doesn't in most cases
Drewskithelegend
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Somewhat hilariously, the two highest rated cards on Gatherer right now are this and Force of Will. Both are uncommons... Go figure.
Comments (41)
though force of will is pretty epic, being able to counter say a first turn black lotus or something as good as a first drop...
Two Mana Drain, two FOW.
As mentioned before, with removal of mana burn this card is now even better as it already used to be.
Because of cards like this i don't really get why Wizards decided to remove that game element. Sure, new players didn't get in contact with it too often and might get someday surprised when facing it, but is that a reason to remove it?
Another thing i can't believe either is that this is uncommon ! >.< INSANE.. Should've been mythic rare, even though this term didn't exist at the printing date
4.0
And for what it's worth, you can Isochron Scepter it (as if that artifact doesn't draw enough fire with just a Shock attached.)
Also, whoever didn't vote this for 5/5 is insane...
5+/5
Now of course, I give it 5/5 for the usefulness and effect!
Force of Will prevents you from losing (particularly turn 0).
Mana Drain prevents you from losing and wins you the game simultaneously.
My personal opinion is that Drain is better than the entire power 9, and is only behind Contract From Below in terms of raw brokenness.
Here's to hoping it stays that way.
It is obligatory to make a sucking or slurping sound
upon the successful casting of this spell.
5/5
I thought it was Rancor before seeing this.
Just like Braid of Fire removing mana burn made some cards just broken.
5/5
1) Get Mindslavered
2) Be forced to cast huge spell
3) Counter it with your own Mana Drain
4) Hey look your opponent still has mana to waste as ineffectively as possibru.
;)
The thought of this on an Isochron Scepter is just unacceptable. Somebody burn that man before I face someone that does that to me. xP
Because yeah, 4.976/5 with 184 votes. I've never seen that anywhere else.
Casting cost UUGG
Adds coloured mana of your choice during your next precombat main phase