cool card not sure what makes it red. very limited in its usefullness.
Th3_Dark_On3
★★☆☆☆ (2.3/5.0)(3 votes)
Not very good at all. Why is it red? When would there be two enemy spells on the stack in the first place?
HalcyonDays
★★★☆☆ (3.6/5.0)(5 votes)
This card is Anti-Cascade, duh. It's also severe Grixis Love, hell yes! This is a great 3-drop for Grixis Control, if you think you're up against Cascade, or you just want another counter. It's essentially as pricey as Cancel, and the effect has more potential.
DerangedSun
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(4 votes)
I agree that this is an excellent card against cascade and that is all it is. I give a 2/5.
MaxFAn
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
The forking/doubling aspect is where red comes in.
Useful against cascade, but overpriced for anything else.
jhjohns
★★★☆☆ (3.7/5.0)(3 votes)
i love this card they threw two of the best cards, fork and counterspell, into one card not as good as the individuals but still sweet
Deathtamoor
★★☆☆☆ (2.7/5.0)(3 votes)
To answer the question why it is Blue, Red. The set has only gold cards, so in order to do that they needed to make it multicolored. And the only other color that has counter spells is red.
mick_a_m
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.6/5.0)(5 votes)
Sorry guys double negative is lame. you are reading it all wrong. Double negative clearly states "Counter up to two target spells" hence you cannot use it for Cascade as Cascade is an ability not a spell as i see it.
asmallcat
★★★☆☆ (3.9/5.0)(4 votes)
Actually, you can counter the cascaded spell. Note that it says "you may play the revealed spell without paying it's mana cost" rather than "put the revealed spell into play." If it was the latter, than yes, you couldn't coutner the cascade, but as it is the former you can. This seems to be a no-brainer in any control deck in these colors as, at worst, it's a colourful cancel, and at best you can 2-for-1 your opponent (or opponents in multiplayer, where multiple spells are more likely to be cast at once)
Arachibutyrophobia
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(6 votes)
Double Negative DOES counter cascade. And if you cascade a cascader, then the third thing you cascade is safe, etc.
Double Negative doesn't get to counter two spells that often. People rarely play spells in reaction to their own spells. Maybe there is some combo with it for the Izzet guild...
Mode
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
As already mentioned, the functunality isn't too useful, but you gotta love Wizards' creativity concerning the name for this effect :D
Mprime818
★★☆☆☆ (2.5/5.0)(1 vote)
Cool artwork, anti cascade, the cascade can be countered...
Iiory
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
no more cascade for you,plus very cool art
Nuclearboy91
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
In multiplayer games it's way better than Cancel but at nearly the same cost (if you play Grixis). 4/5
FirstPrime
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(1 vote)
I've been waiting to counter two spells in multiplayer with this, when it happens I know it will be fun. Untill then it's just a counterspell which is never a bad thing to have in the first place. I also love all the flavor dripping off this card and the nice art. Bonus points for being cool.
Fredin
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(1 vote)
Cascade is an ability that allows you to cast two (sometimes even three or four) spells at the time mick. This card is perfect to counter two of those. This card is a blessing for against the dreadful Bloodbraid Elf. There is nothing for satisfying than stopping both the elf and the ball of lightning (or whatever else) they try to throw at you afterward. Cascade is becoming pretty damn popular in aggro decks, and saying it only merits a 2/5 is no longer fair to the card. I'd say 3/5 is much more like it. I'm sure it would be better if it was a black/blue or white/blue, but Black/Blue/Red decks can certainly use this well.
Grimn777
★☆☆☆☆ (1.6/5.0)(6 votes)
"as already mentioned, the functionality isn't too useful"... remember, english is our friend. it allows us to communicate. let's break this one down. "as already mentioned". unless this is followed up with a yoda-style phrase, like "as already mentioned, it was", this is incomprehensible. needing a "was", or reconfiguring. "the functionality isn't too useful". while grammatically correct, rather inane. functionality is not the same as function. functionality is a concept, not unlike happiness, or peace, that is a noun, yet is not an attribute of the card nor is it an object. "the (object) isn't too useful" makes complete sense. however, this fails when the object becomes indefinite. for example, "the happiness isn't too useful". the "the" in the sentence refers to a specific, and the noun is by nature obscure and indefinite. As we can see, incorrect.
Besides those issues, you are basically saying that the function of the card isn't useful. the card only does one thing, and if that one thing isn't useful, you must not be looking for that kind of effect. It would be unfair for me to declare ancestral recall not too useful because I wasn't looking for card drawing. In fact, if you were declaring that the countering of two spells is largely irrelevant, I don't think you quite understand the concept of CASCADE. I admit, Cancel is a mediocre counter spell. However, in the right colors (red blue), playing a cancel that hits 2 spells is ridiculous. very useful card.
And remember, it is always easier to get your point across if you use intelligent english.
JaxsonBateman
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Someone mentioned this isn't as good as Cancel... erm, how? You trade a colorless mana for a specific (red), and get a Cancel with extra usefulness vs Cascade or combos. For the same CMC. That's better whatever way you look at it, especially with Zendikar bringing Scalding Tarn into existence.
VirtueVsVice
★★☆☆☆ (2.3/5.0)(5 votes)
@Grimn777
In general, I think you are correct. However, I would argue that using proper English -- which I assume is what you were referring to when you said "intelligent English" -- isn't necessarillyalways superior. Communicating is not about using proper English. It is about communicating what you are saying. Although it is true that very often communicating is best done by using proper English (for English-speaking people that is), but not always.
If you wish to argue about communication further I suggest we do it somewhere else -- as this is a place for discussing cards, not language.
As for this card, it can be useful at times.
StrikeLancer
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
what if your opponent plays 2 spells at once? (ex: plays 2 lightning bolts at the same time) can you use this to counter both spells?
cilpot
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@StrikeLancer: If the opponent casts the second Lightning Bolt before the first one resolves/is on the stack, then yes.
PEVE_O
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
It's a Positive.
Angel_Bob
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(47 votes)
I do not believe many of you are realizing the full utility of this card. It's more than justified, as I didn't until more recent times, and I was running them. It's WAY better than just a cancel that hits Cascades. Follow me on an...
ADVENTURE IN DOUBLE NEGATIVES!!!
Setup: Your a red player, right? Sure you are, as to play this your at least playing red blue. So what else you got in there? Lightning Bolt? OF COURSE YOU DO! Searing Flames? Darn tootin'! These are of course, Instants, like so many great red burns. Why does this matter? They go on a stack! In fact, played right, they CREATE A STACK from NOTHING.
Example 1: Opponent: I play a Hedron Crab. YOU: In response, I Lightning Bolt you. Opponent: In response, I Cancel your Lightning Bolt. YOU: In response, Double Negative, targeting your Hedron Crab and Cancel.
See what happened? We use our Instant in response to an unrelated play to goad a player into burning a reactive card, which we then Double Negative to kill both the unrelated play, and the response to our instant! Let's try again...
Example 2: Opponent: I play a Wolfbriar Elemental and kick it for 4. YOU: In response, I Searing Flame that Beast and Garruk Wildspeaker. Opponent: OK... I Wild Growth the Beast in response. YOU: In response, a Double Negative the Wild Growth and the Wolfbriar Elemental.
Come and toss your 2 cents in oh Sages of MTG. If I'm wrong, I would love to know. Otherwise, join me fellow Grixis players in the goading of our opponents into losing multiple cards from one Double Negative.
Zher0
★★★★☆ (4.4/5.0)(11 votes)
You ain't gonna resolve nothin'!
Richard_Hawk
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Not very useful in one on one..
bezerker
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This card was made for Sunforger. The ability to pick up counterspells in a red white deck at two mana from out of the deck is simply amazing. You don't even need to run blue. Wheel of Sun and Moon this back and watch as you counter every thing for the rest of the game.
leomistico
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@Angel_Bob: I used to like this card, but from now I will love it! Thank you very much for such funny and smart idea! I will get a playset as soon as possible!
4/5
Mightyass
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(23 votes)
Yo Dawg, I heard you like counters, so I put a counter on your counter so you can counter while you counter!
theapprentice
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(6 votes)
@Angel_Bob
sry to burst yr bubble but it does not work like that. a spell is only a spell when it is on the stack. so on the hedron crab example if you chose to bolt the crab that means the crab has already resolved and is on the field. which means its no longer a spell on the stack thus cant be targeted by double negative. same for the second example. but u could just double negative the cancel. you dont need to do it on the crab to for it to be destroyed.
NARFNra
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@theapprentice I thought he was bolting the player and not the Crab?
Cleansingfire
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(1 vote)
This card is most powerful when used against a combo that can only work by playing a spell before the other resolves.
Every blue spell is better with a splash of red. Look at Grixis! Dead and loving it, those undead folks.
Grumman
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(4 votes)
What I like most about Angel_Bob's explanation is that it makes both you and your opponent play as if you were really an Izzet-like Red/Blue wizard.
Think about it... you're jumping from topic to topic, seemingly making complete non sequiturs, but the moment your opponent underestimates you and thinks you're just being a bit loopy, he'll learn that you're actually just plotting faster than he can keep up.
blindthrall
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(3 votes)
@theapprentice: You're just not getting it. At no point does he target the spell that will later be countered.But there are some timing problems with the second example, and even if it does work like that, you've still used two cards.
Does this take out storm? I know it works on copied spells, so...
NoobOfLore
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(9 votes)
If you're running Red and Blue, this is basically your Cancel.
JFM2796
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(3 votes)
I need to make a deck.
Shadoflaam
★★★★☆ (4.1/5.0)(5 votes)
I have a Standard RUG Werewolves deck. ... Can we have this instead of Dissipate? No wait, instead of Cancel please!
Salient
★★★★☆ (4.1/5.0)(4 votes)
This card's a riot in multiplayer, where you can sit back and wait for two players get into some kind of complicated back-and-forth instant-speed smashfest, wait for it... wait for it... *BAMPF* Double Negative.
Then sit back, grin, and adopt your Mom voice. "If you two can't play nicely together, you can't play at all..."
Reversed
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
C-C-C-C-Combo Breaker!
...I'm sorry, I'll never say that again. But this is a pretty interesting card. 3CMC like cancel, except it can hit a second spell. It has the potential to mess up combos, and even if you only hit one spell with it, it's not like you got overcharged...not by much at least.
Hmmm, with cascade? Is Bloodbraid Elf a good agonist for this card? Or does the stack screw up the way it all goes and things resold before the D-Neg kicks in?
LordRandomness
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Just want to say that Angel_Bob's little guide here is something I really like seeing on interesting cards, so good on him.
I would like to add that you might think a canny player will catch on and just stop responding to your unrelated removal play. In which case, you've just stopped them responding to your removal! That's still a great outcome.
BreadandButter
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Priori Incantatem.
DaLucaray
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I'd rather they'd reprinted this Izzet-flavored beauty in Dragon's maze instead of Wind Drake. Like we need another ***ing Wind Drake. Has ANYBODY ever **ing said "You know what I wish this set had? Wind Drakes. That's what we need. 2/2 flyers for three. There is no other card in existance I would rather have than Wind Drake."? No. No one ever has. And no one ever will.
Dryten
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Helps with collision in hash tables. =:DII:
frostythepenguin
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This is a useful spell I have in my Raka equipment deck for EDH. Use with sunforger to have another cancel type card available...that is if render silent, wild ricochet, counterflux, swerve, or any others are just not enough for you. Point is, it works great with that equipment since sunforger can't target blue cards.
Comments (48)
Anti-Cascade.
Blue and Red.
I love it.
Useful against cascade, but overpriced for anything else.
Double negative clearly states "Counter up to two target spells" hence you cannot use it for Cascade
as Cascade is an ability not a spell as i see it.
Double Negative doesn't get to counter two spells that often. People rarely play spells in reaction to their own spells. Maybe there is some combo with it for the Izzet guild...
Besides those issues, you are basically saying that the function of the card isn't useful. the card only does one thing, and if that one thing isn't useful, you must not be looking for that kind of effect. It would be unfair for me to declare ancestral recall not too useful because I wasn't looking for card drawing. In fact, if you were declaring that the countering of two spells is largely irrelevant, I don't think you quite understand the concept of CASCADE. I admit, Cancel is a mediocre counter spell. However, in the right colors (red blue), playing a cancel that hits 2 spells is ridiculous. very useful card.
And remember, it is always easier to get your point across if you use intelligent english.
In general, I think you are correct. However, I would argue that using proper English -- which I assume is what you were referring to when you said "intelligent English" -- isn't necessarilly always superior. Communicating is not about using proper English. It is about communicating what you are saying. Although it is true that very often communicating is best done by using proper English (for English-speaking people that is), but not always.
If you wish to argue about communication further I suggest we do it somewhere else -- as this is a place for discussing cards, not language.
As for this card, it can be useful at times.
ADVENTURE IN DOUBLE NEGATIVES!!!
Setup: Your a red player, right? Sure you are, as to play this your at least playing red blue. So what else you got in there? Lightning Bolt? OF COURSE YOU DO! Searing Flames? Darn tootin'! These are of course, Instants, like so many great red burns. Why does this matter? They go on a stack! In fact, played right, they CREATE A STACK from NOTHING.
Example 1:
Opponent: I play a Hedron Crab.
YOU: In response, I Lightning Bolt you.
Opponent: In response, I Cancel your Lightning Bolt.
YOU: In response, Double Negative, targeting your Hedron Crab and Cancel.
See what happened? We use our Instant in response to an unrelated play to goad a player into burning a reactive card, which we then Double Negative to kill both the unrelated play, and the response to our instant! Let's try again...
Example 2:
Opponent: I play a Wolfbriar Elemental and kick it for 4.
YOU: In response, I Searing Flame that Beast and Garruk Wildspeaker.
Opponent: OK... I Wild Growth the Beast in response.
YOU: In response, a Double Negative the Wild Growth and the Wolfbriar Elemental.
Come and toss your 2 cents in oh Sages of MTG. If I'm wrong, I would love to know. Otherwise, join me fellow Grixis players in the goading of our opponents into losing multiple cards from one Double Negative.
4/5
sry to burst yr bubble but it does not work like that. a spell is only a spell when it is on the stack. so on the hedron crab example if you chose to bolt the crab that means the crab has already resolved and is on the field. which means its no longer a spell on the stack thus cant be targeted by double negative. same for the second example.
but u could just double negative the cancel. you dont need to do it on the crab to for it to be destroyed.
I thought he was bolting the player and not the Crab?
Think about it... you're jumping from topic to topic, seemingly making complete non sequiturs, but the moment your opponent underestimates you and thinks you're just being a bit loopy, he'll learn that you're actually just plotting faster than he can keep up.
Does this take out storm? I know it works on copied spells, so...
...
Can we have this instead of Dissipate?
No wait, instead of Cancel please!
Then sit back, grin, and adopt your Mom voice. "If you two can't play nicely together, you can't play at all..."
...I'm sorry, I'll never say that again. But this is a pretty interesting card. 3CMC like cancel, except it can hit a second spell. It has the potential to mess up combos, and even if you only hit one spell with it, it's not like you got overcharged...not by much at least.
Hmmm, with cascade? Is Bloodbraid Elf a good agonist for this card? Or does the stack screw up the way it all goes and things resold before the D-Neg kicks in?
I would like to add that you might think a canny player will catch on and just stop responding to your unrelated removal play. In which case, you've just stopped them responding to your removal! That's still a great outcome.