Unfortunately doesn't prevent Shatterstorm in Esper decks.
silentbobus
★★★★☆ (4.6/5.0)(7 votes)
It's really too bad they use the word target instead of effect. Still, with all of the spot removal in most decks in the current format, I think that most white/blue decks should be running at least three of this card. It's control + card advantage for only 2 mana.
DeviousPie
★★☆☆☆ (2.4/5.0)(8 votes)
I might be asking for too much, but I wish it was "Counter target instant or sorcery. Draw a card." Then it would be like disrupt 2.0. Alas, it is still a decent counter.
Dont
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(4 votes)
I would rather use Shelter. It's basically the same but you can prevent abilities targeting your creature instead of countering spells targeting you. Also, you don't need a blue mana and you can cast it anytime you want to draw a card.
revilolee
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(5 votes)
Good against Blightning.
Mitch_360
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(3 votes)
Good sideboard card vs. B/R discard/burn.
Lege
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(2 votes)
So what happens when I cascade into this card? Does it fizzle entirely or do I still get to draw?
thezanet
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(4 votes)
A decent counterspell with a card draw. Not too bad.
Tezz
★★☆☆☆ (2.7/5.0)(5 votes)
more blue than white flavored..
Kurraga
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I swap theese out for negate when their noncreature spells are mostly removal or burn (or Blightning) and not a lot of other noncreature (Planseswalker) spells.
Nate_Prawdzik
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Good Cunning Wish target when something terrible is being thrown your way.
ZirilanoftheClaw
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
this is AWESOME!
EpicBroccoli
★☆☆☆☆ (1.8/5.0)(2 votes)
At worst, it cycles for
reapersaurus
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
I find it hilarious that this card isn't regarded higher.
What % of decks run creature-hate or player hate? I'd guess that > 80 % of competitive decks do.
And this card, for only 2 mana, takes away 1 of their cards (and the mana they tapped for it)... and doesn't cost you a card.
Go look at the other, well-regarded counter spells on here, and see their ratings. Then come back and compare to this one.
Laguz
★★☆☆☆ (2.2/5.0)(2 votes)
I feel like shelter is almost strictly better. No multicolor requirement for a more versatile effect. Plus there's a half naked hottie.
DacenOctavio
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(3 votes)
@ revilolee:
No, this can't counter Blightning because Blightning targets players, not permanents.
Flashfreeze counters Blightning just fine however.
jfre81
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This counters Blightning just fine as long as you are the target.
SeiberTross
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
I've added this to my esper sideboard, it really performs amazingly. Remember you can "counter" anything if its an illegal target (like a creature) it won't actually counter it, but the draw card will still resolve. So with that it gets mainboarded a lot for second games if I'm just looking for some excess draw.
Kelptic183
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
DacenOctavio: Read it again, it counters a spell that targets "you or a permanent you control". Blightning targets a player, you are a player, this counters Blightning.
Intense1984
★★★★☆ (4.1/5.0)(5 votes)
I'm sorry, I couldn't resist not pointing this out. Hindering Light CAN counter Blightning. Read both cards carefully.
Hindering Light: Counter target spell that targets YOU or a permanent you control. Draw a card.
Blightning: Blightning deals 3 damage to TARGET PLAYER. That player discards two cards.
Also, Hindering Light MAY NOT be cast without a LEGAL TARGET just so you can use the Draw Ability.
I'd give this card a rating of 5 but for some reason I can't click them stars. :/
Ferlord
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I've found that you usually are only countering spells that target you or a creature you control. It's a good counter for a colour (White) that rarely gets counter-spells.
Do note, however, that it is not 1/10th as effective in EDH: half of all spells in EDH target everything :S
General_Naga
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Counters any targeted removal spell, and Cantrips. WU EDH auto-include.
Thornhillforge
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Doom Blade dies to this. After all, it provides card advantage, keeps one of your central creatures alive, and it's easy mana for a WU deck to keep open. If you have the mana, you can drop something like Righteous Authority on your creature, wait for the inevitable removal spell, then use this to gain even more card advantage. Use it on a Kor Spiritdancer if you really like to draw cards.
Daeodolon
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Correct me if I'm wrong, but since the rullings on this cards says that you can counter a card that has multiple targets, as long one of those are you or at least one permanent you control, you could easily counter things like Akroma's Vengeance for only two mana!
That would be almost 3 for 1: your opponent will problably be tapped out, you will counter a spell that would turn the tables against you and this spell replaces itself with a card draw.
5 out of 5 for me! Main at least 3 of these, if you are going Aggro-Control Azorious style. :)
GeneralShroom
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@Daeodolon: Akroma's Vengeance does not target, so this cannot possibly counter it.
breenm
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
What more can you want from a COMMON? Although it can't stop creatures or mass removal, this should be a sideboard card for every WU Modern deck. Utterly destroys red burn and black discard (Ha - defeated twice Blightning!).
Zylo-
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Posted By: SeiberTross (8/5/2011 2:52:54 PM) "I've added this to my esper sideboard, it really performs amazingly. Remember you can "counter" anything. If its an illegal target (like a creature) it won't actually counter it, but the draw card will still resolve. So with that it gets mainboarded a lot for second games if I'm just looking for some excess draw. "
Read rule 608.2b: If there are no legal targets, the entire spell is countered. In this case, you will NOT draw a card...
I'd love to see you try that in a real tournament and explain that to a DCI judge...
Still.. This is one of the best counterspells in magic. Hard counter for 2 and draws a card... Better than remand when they cast removal or a spell that targets you.. Which almost ever deck does...
PurpGuy
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
*taps White*
"Kame..."
*taps Blue*
"Hame..."
*drops this card on the Stack*
"HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!"
james2c19v
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Ironically printed in the same set as Oblivion Ring, which is targeted removal that gets around this, since OR's ability targets your permanent—not the enchantment itself while it is on the stack.
Since a lot of decks will only include Oblivion Ring or Journey to Nowhere for removal, reapersaurus's point needs to be strongly qualified.
As for Shelter, sure, it can be good, but it's a dead card against a lot of different deck types (including non-blocking creature decks without spell-based removal, RDW, discard, etc.). Not all decks go after your creatures, but you can be sure that all decks go after you. Hindering Light will still be dead against certain strategies (it can't be used for cycling, but it's countered without a legal target), but not nearly as many.
Comments (29)
What % of decks run creature-hate or player hate?
I'd guess that > 80 % of competitive decks do.
And this card, for only 2 mana, takes away 1 of their cards (and the mana they tapped for it)... and doesn't cost you a card.
Go look at the other, well-regarded counter spells on here, and see their ratings. Then come back and compare to this one.
No, this can't counter Blightning because Blightning targets players, not permanents.
Flashfreeze counters Blightning just fine however.
Hindering Light: Counter target spell that targets YOU or a permanent you control. Draw a card.
Blightning: Blightning deals 3 damage to TARGET PLAYER. That player discards two cards.
Also, Hindering Light MAY NOT be cast without a LEGAL TARGET just so you can use the Draw Ability.
I'd give this card a rating of 5 but for some reason I can't click them stars. :/
Do note, however, that it is not 1/10th as effective in EDH: half of all spells in EDH target everything :S
If you have the mana, you can drop something like Righteous Authority on your creature, wait for the inevitable removal spell, then use this to gain even more card advantage. Use it on a Kor Spiritdancer if you really like to draw cards.
That would be almost 3 for 1: your opponent will problably be tapped out, you will counter a spell that would turn the tables against you and this spell replaces itself with a card draw.
5 out of 5 for me! Main at least 3 of these, if you are going Aggro-Control Azorious style. :)
"I've added this to my esper sideboard, it really performs amazingly. Remember you can "counter" anything. If its an illegal target (like a creature) it won't actually counter it, but the draw card will still resolve. So with that it gets mainboarded a lot for second games if I'm just looking for some excess draw. "
@ SeiberTross: WRONG!
https://www.wizards.com/Magic/TCG/Article.aspx?x=magic/rules
Read rule 608.2b: If there are no legal targets, the entire spell is countered. In this case, you will NOT draw a card...
I'd love to see you try that in a real tournament and explain that to a DCI judge...
Still.. This is one of the best counterspells in magic. Hard counter for 2 and draws a card... Better than remand when they cast removal or a spell that targets you.. Which almost ever deck does...
"Kame..."
*taps Blue*
"Hame..."
*drops this card on the Stack*
"HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!"
Since a lot of decks will only include Oblivion Ring or Journey to Nowhere for removal, reapersaurus's point needs to be strongly qualified.
As for Shelter, sure, it can be good, but it's a dead card against a lot of different deck types (including non-blocking creature decks without spell-based removal, RDW, discard, etc.). Not all decks go after your creatures, but you can be sure that all decks go after you. Hindering Light will still be dead against certain strategies (it can't be used for cycling, but it's countered without a legal target), but not nearly as many.