Ain't that oracle text wrong or do i just think so? Shouldn't that "play it without paying its mana cost" be "cast without paying"?
Vinifera7
★★★☆☆ (3.8/5.0)(10 votes)
@Qazior It reads "play" instead of "cast" because Zoetic Cavern, which is a Land that can be played as a spell, exists.
thelittleupsman
★★☆☆☆ (2.7/5.0)(5 votes)
this is the cheesiest of the 5 incarnations
FD_02
★★★☆☆ (3.7/5.0)(5 votes)
Recently, I faced 2 of these in a Star Multiplayer game. One of my opponents had one, and the other cloned it with Clone. Very painful.
inmypants22
★★☆☆☆ (2.9/5.0)(5 votes)
dude... just counter an akroma, then you will see the value of this card
Plantboy81
★★★☆☆ (3.9/5.0)(4 votes)
To Donovan_Fabian, If you have this card out with an Isochron Scepter imprinted with a counterspell you will dominate. BTW, even though the artwork has wings Guile does not actually fly, but a 6/6 on your side is never a bad thing.
LeoKula
★☆☆☆☆ (1.9/5.0)(7 votes)
I think the art is horrible, but a 6/6 for 6 mana is already worth it, and it still got lots of extras. Any mono blue with something like 12 counters will love this card.
I still think it costs too litle tho... should be at least 7, i think it looks a but undercosted for me, even for a blue player like me.
Donovan_Fabian
★★☆☆☆ (2.2/5.0)(3 votes)
I like this card but I also don't see how to make more use of it, since you have to play multiple counter spells to make it effective. Does anyone have any combos for this card, or know of cards that can continously counter spell?
At the very least its a hard to block 6/6 that can't be sent to graveyard.
Tamanoa
★★★★☆ (4.4/5.0)(9 votes)
Bring Guile and Dovescape into play. Play any non-creature spell; this will trigger Dovescape's ability and counter the spell, and bringing doves into play. Dovescape's countering ability will trigger Guile's ability. You can now play the same, previously triggered ability again without paying the mana cost, which will again be countered by Dovescape, bringing doves into play. This repeats forever, granting you an endless army of doves.
Sir_Bruce
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Play encompasses Cast. Cast specifically refers to spells, but you "play" a land or a spell. You say lands are "played" because they almost always aren't "cast". They could come up with a specific word which means "play a land" but there's no need to.
nammertime
★★★★☆ (4.1/5.0)(14 votes)
Sonic Boom! Sorry, couldn't help it.
wormer105
★★☆☆☆ (2.3/5.0)(3 votes)
This card does what blue likes. Gaining advantage.
Counter a spell and you get 1 for 1 trade but then you get the countered card netting you a +1 advantage.
In the case of a burn spell you get still more advantage from turning it onto an opposing creature and icing it.
SIlverSkyz
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Bring Guile and Dovescape into play. Play any non-creature spell; this will trigger Dovescape's ability and counter the spell, and bringing doves into play. Dovescape's countering ability will trigger Guile's ability. You can now play the same, previously triggered ability again without paying the mana cost, which will again be countered by Dovescape, bringing doves into play. This repeats forever, granting you an endless army of doves.
All Props go to Tamanoa
ScruffyNerfHearder
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
To Donovan Fabian and Plantboy81 Isochron Scepter works great with this card, but if you can lock down the board with Rule of Law and Ertai, Wizard Adept long enough to get this guy out it is pretty much game over. Very fun to do in multiplayer and listen to the other players groan.
Not good art? *Ten story, Owl-face fish-monster glares in your direction* This art is BOSS, and don't forget it. Seriously cool.
Kirbster
★★★☆☆ (3.9/5.0)(8 votes)
Is he a colonel?
OpenSeasonNoobs
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(6 votes)
@ Qazior:
No, the spell is "played" which means it is put onto the stack.
@Tamanoa
The spell will be countered by Dovescape. Instead, you exile it, so they won't gain doves because the spell was never countered, a requirement for dovescape giving them doves. Then, after that, since the spell is "played" without it's mana cost it is similar to how a permanent is "put into play." It is put directly onto the stack, and Dovescape triggers on the spell casting, thus the spell was never cast Dovescape will not counter it. But way to come up with a convoluted card that you don't understand.
Anyone else really hate players who try to play blue that don't understand the intricacies of the game?
Sironos
★★★☆☆ (3.4/5.0)(4 votes)
This is undercosted, 6 mana for a 6/6 with 2 abilities of such power is simply just too cheap, should cost 7CMC.
The Bird tokens are created even if the spell isn't countered by Dovescape's ability. This may happen because the spell can't be countered, because it's already been countered, or because it's otherwise been removed from the stack by the time Dovescape's ability resolves.
And a ruling from Guile:
Guile's second ability replaces "counter " with "exile and you may cast it without paying its mana cost." You have the option to cast it immediately upon its exile. If you choose not to, it remains exiled and you don't get another chance to cast it. If the spell or ability that tried to counter the spell has additional effects, it then continues to resolve.
I'm pretty sure the combo works just as they believed it would.
GruesomeGoo
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
SONIC BOOM
Novox_Prayer
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This card confuses me. Anyone want to explain how it works?
TheSwarm
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(3 votes)
to novox_prayer and others, if i understand it right, When this guy is on the field and you counter a spell, You have the choice to cast that spell. For instance, lets say you control a guile. Your opponent casts lightning bolt. You, in response, play counterspell, countering said lighting bolt. Then, Guiles ability resolves and allows you the choice to plaaay said lightning bolt against the opponent, either zapping his creature or zapping his life total. If for some reason you do not want to play the spell, you dont have to, but once you pass on the deal you cant get it back. Another situation, if he tries to play.. Darksteel colossus just for fun, and you cancel it you can play it, giving you ur very own gigantic indestructible creature.
As for the card, Wow. That is all.
Guest1162619373
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@OpenSeasonNoobs :: According to the comprehensive rules, play when applied to a spell means "cast" and when applied to land means "put into play". For example, the creature Worldheart Phoenix is worded "You may play Worldheart Phoenix from your graveyard by paying", and the Oracle wording says "You may cast Worldheart Phoenix from your graveyard by paying" meaning play is the same as cast when applied to spells ergo "playing" the spell with Guile's ability is the same as "casting" the spell with Guile's ability and will trigger Dovescape again and again and again until you decide to stop.
Troutz
★★★★☆ (4.7/5.0)(25 votes)
Go home and be a family elemental!
NeedADispenserHere
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(3 votes)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ie_R1H9L4eI
Bigboss1967
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(2 votes)
shoulve been green!
AXER
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
Erayo Essence
Nesinn
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
If i have 2 of these on the battlefield under my control, and for example "Cruel Ultimatum" would be played I counter with "counter spell". I then can play "Cruel Ultimatum" twice?
Shinigami-2099
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
kind of too conditional for me... running all cancels can be great but hard to pull off... then if you do cancel, it means you can play that spell... but you may not always benefit... if you put this guy in a deck you MUST build around him... like creatures that cancel etc... Isochron Scepter does sound beast though
draco_nite
★★★★☆ (4.7/5.0)(13 votes)
His theme goes with everything.
Enemy_Tricolor
★★★★☆ (4.6/5.0)(10 votes)
It's like a flash kick in the groin, distilled into a Magic card.
divine_exodus
★★☆☆☆ (2.2/5.0)(3 votes)
A good incarnation only if you are running a strong counter deck. The others have better abilities, I think. For example:
Dread Hostility Purity Vigor
If you didn't know that before. My favorite is Dread.
CallmeMerry
★★★☆☆ (3.3/5.0)(3 votes)
This + Erayo's Essence = Lols. Although it is a lot easier to just get out Kira, Great Glass-Spinner.
SeiberTross
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(3 votes)
This whole cycle (Dread, Hostility, Purity, Vigor) defines what 6 mana SHOULD get you if you actually make a deck. Also it made players especially disappointed when they open up a pack, and see a card like Razorfield Rhino.
Guile's actually my favorite, and makes me want to make a sorta crazy heirloom EDH blue control deck.
BlackAlbino
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(4 votes)
All my counterspells are now commanderes? Cool I think I just won
cpe007
★★★★☆ (4.4/5.0)(11 votes)
Must... Resist... Street Fighter joke... And... Other memes...
SnackyNorph
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I'm unsure what would happen with Guile's second ability. For example if you happened to have a Cancel in your hand, would it have to go on the stack before Guile's second ability goes onto the stack, or not? Simply revealing that you have a Cancel in your hand, then being able to steal their spell, use it on them, and keeping your Cancel make this card terrifying and broken. The wording is a little foggy at times. Consider revising and reprinting, Wizards!
Quite possibly my favorite Blue creature ever printed. That Spelljack effect is more fun than should be allowed, and has found its way into almost every deck I build that runs counters.
Also, not to make yet another Street Fighter joke, but this guy needs a companion:
Charlie - 1W Creature- Human "Secret" Lover
Whenever Charlie leaves play, tap all creatures named Guile. They do not untap during their controllers' untap phase.
2/2
Totema
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
I suddenly have an urge to build a control deck around this guy. So whenever he hits the field, I play the theme song from my smart phone.
How do you explain that it takes 3 Pathrazer of Ulamog to block this flavor wise???
wholelottalove
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Actually, it is sent to the graveyard, the ability just shuffles it back in. If it wasn't sent to the graveyard then it wouldn't be shuffled back.
But I run one of this in my classic Blue deck on MTGO, jsut for the lols and Clone targets. You have no idea hilarious it is to have three of these out.
Also jacking their big 8/8 with trample for two mana is freaking hilarious.
myownworst
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Fantastic card. Three great abilities..especially the second, which goes so well with any U/B Control Deck.
LordRandomness
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
"...and you may play that card without paying its mana cost. If you do, counter it unless Guile's theme is playing."
Comments (58)
It reads "play" instead of "cast" because Zoetic Cavern, which is a Land that can be played as a spell, exists.
I still think it costs too litle tho... should be at least 7, i think it looks a but undercosted for me, even for a blue player like me.
At the very least its a hard to block 6/6 that can't be sent to graveyard.
Counter a spell and you get 1 for 1 trade but then you get the countered card netting you a +1 advantage.
In the case of a burn spell you get still more advantage from turning it onto an opposing creature and icing it.
All Props go to Tamanoa
*Ten story, Owl-face fish-monster glares in your direction*
This art is BOSS, and don't forget it.
Seriously cool.
No, the spell is "played" which means it is put onto the stack.
@Tamanoa
The spell will be countered by Dovescape. Instead, you exile it, so they won't gain doves because the spell was never countered, a requirement for dovescape giving them doves. Then, after that, since the spell is "played" without it's mana cost it is similar to how a permanent is "put into play." It is put directly onto the stack, and Dovescape triggers on the spell casting, thus the spell was never cast Dovescape will not counter it. But way to come up with a convoluted card that you don't understand.
Anyone else really hate players who try to play blue that don't understand the intricacies of the game?
The Bird tokens are created even if the spell isn't countered by Dovescape's ability. This may happen because the spell can't be countered, because it's already been countered, or because it's otherwise been removed from the stack by the time Dovescape's ability resolves.
And a ruling from Guile:
Guile's second ability replaces "counter " with "exile and you may cast it without paying its mana cost." You have the option to cast it immediately upon its exile. If you choose not to, it remains exiled and you don't get another chance to cast it. If the spell or ability that tried to counter the spell has additional effects, it then continues to resolve.
I'm pretty sure the combo works just as they believed it would.
As for the card, Wow. That is all.
running all cancels can be great but hard to pull off...
then if you do cancel, it means you can play that spell...
but you may not always benefit... if you put this guy in a deck you MUST build around him...
like creatures that cancel etc... Isochron Scepter does sound beast though
Dread
Hostility
Purity
Vigor
If you didn't know that before. My favorite is Dread.
Guile's actually my favorite, and makes me want to make a sorta crazy heirloom EDH blue control deck.
That Spelljack effect is more fun than should be allowed,
and has found its way into almost every deck I build that runs counters.
Also, not to make yet another Street Fighter joke, but this guy needs a companion:
Charlie - 1W
Creature- Human "Secret" Lover
Whenever Charlie leaves play, tap all creatures named Guile.
They do not untap during their controllers' untap phase.
2/2
This and Dovescape is illegal in several countries.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLJLyneZGKc
I dunno, cause Guile is too awesome. :D
But I run one of this in my classic Blue deck on MTGO, jsut for the lols and Clone targets. You have no idea hilarious it is to have three of these out.
Also jacking their big 8/8 with trample for two mana is freaking hilarious.
Vigor
Hostility
Dread
Purity
Guile
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qwKCQ4M2Nw
It's Guile! He's tricky by his name alone!
:p
And can't fly, despite having wings.