I'm surprised we didn't get this spell earlier. It might be situational, but a one-drop hardcounter is nothing to scoff at.
On top of this there are a lot of famous instants you will encounter in Standard right now: It can target any other counterspell, any trap, Lightning Bolt, Path to Exile, Doom Blade, Naturalize, Terminate (you see we're going to target a lot of removal spells with that one), and finally Harrow, which is likely the most fun to target.
Meliagaunt
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(10 votes)
which spell? dis spell.
Oleander
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
I like this spell, it's almost like it's the answer to Gutteral Response, with more versatility. This is probably what blue control has been needing, though, in answer to all the nasty instant spells in White, Black, and Red, though I'd say it's more effective late game, as early game you would probably want to be casting Spell Pierce instead of this.
ajpinton
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Is it just me but is Zendikar block counter spell happy?
Dingo777
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(4 votes)
ajpinton, you are just not used to blue useing its control magics, think about it, we had a few blue conters in shards, but blue was all about artifacts at the time, lorwyn/shadowmoor, it was fairies with their counters, but that was fairies and not really BLUE itself, we are starting to get back to blue contol, something I am quite happy about
awesome card, traps meet their match, and removal and combat tricks are gonna be hitting speed bumps left and right now
blindthrall
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(2 votes)
I have a feeling there's going to be a lot of games where I'm staring at this in my hand the whole game.
HairlessThoctar
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(5 votes)
Not a glorious anthem heralding the return of outstanding counterspells, but definitely a start.
Also, how amazing is it that it took them this long to make a spell with the name "Dispel"?
dgregory
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
The eternal debate rages, Dispel or Spell Pierce?
I still haven't totally made up my mind on this one. Dispel can't be answered for an additional 2 but Spell Pierce lets me hit non-instants like Maelstrom Pulse as well as artifacts, enchantments, and planeswalkers. I guess if you need counters to protect creatures from removal, this is probably the way to go, but for more general blue control, I usually pick Spell Pierce.
Cheza
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
I like this card especially because it isn't the tzpical "unless ... pays 2 more' or even more dumb like cancel. This card is situational and that's the est part of it. Blue should be specialized to be cost efficiently and since blue has a lot of draw+discard effects, it should be an easy choice.
In addition, this is a counter, you can add to any deck that doesn't consists purely of counterspells (those decks don't need it, because they don't run targetable creatures).
luxma
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(4 votes)
counterspells are getting cheaper, isn't it?
Blackworm_Bloodworm
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Well, it's strictly better than the older Flash Counter. This spell should see a lot of use; there's just so many dangerous instants it can counter, and for it's nothing to scoff at.
Eved
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Oddly enough this and Spell Pierce are the only counterspells in my deck and I only use them to ensure one of my Felidar Sovereigns can hit the board and stick around until my upkeep.
Jamesb8
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
It would have been hilarious if had been a sorcery.
Test-Subject_217601
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Hey Mode, we got this card all the way back in Legends. Flash Counter.
I am undecided on this. I have been trying it out in my mid-range Abyssal Persecutor deck as an answer to counters and removal. It just doesn't hit Maelstrom Pulse, but it works on pretty much all other removal in today's Standard (and obviously all counters).
With the rotation of Pulse, this might become a lot better at what I use it for. Spell Pierce might be the tool of choice in other situations though, when you have to worry about Jace, the Mind Sculptors, Pyromancer Ascensions and all the artifacts that are bound to abound in Scars of Mirrodin.
vsasntore
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
A highly underrated card.
TheWrathofShane
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
No-one commented on that beautiful art?
coyotemoon722
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Mana Leak, meet Dispel.
alblast
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(2 votes)
This card should be a 5/5. Nothing less. What else do you want this to be able to do?...kill Banslayer Angel?...kill a PW?...make you instantly win the game?
Dr.Man
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Key point in a turn zero Standard counter combo, Game starts play leyline of Anticipation, play 2 cost 0 artifacts and then Mox Opal, tap for blue and counter on turn 0.
Very good ... if someone tries to counter your counter. A little too situational for my liking, but I still want to see this reprinted in M12 once Zendikar rotates out.
bfugitive
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Dispel Instant
Win target counter war.
Gelzo
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(3 votes)
Cheap, useful, simple and effective flavor.
Gets rid of almost all spot removal and counterspells, which can be really helpful in combo decks. I don't think there's any other counterspell I'd rather have in a Splinter Twin deck.
Excellent card.
Sericule
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
A cheap way to counter counter spells...like Counterspell.
drpvfx
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
I used this when it was called Flash Counter and cost twice as much; I wouldn't *hesitate* to use this.
1cc hard counter for disenchant, doom blade, and other counterspells? Sign me up for four!
Comments (30)
Absolute BOMB in Limited, though. One mana counter to Burst Lightning or Hideous End? YES PLEASE.
It might be situational, but a one-drop hardcounter is nothing to scoff at.
On top of this there are a lot of famous instants you will encounter in Standard right now:
It can target any other counterspell, any trap, Lightning Bolt, Path to Exile, Doom Blade, Naturalize, Terminate (you see we're going to target a lot of removal spells with that one), and finally Harrow, which is likely the most fun to target.
dis spell.
awesome card, traps meet their match, and removal and combat tricks are gonna be hitting speed bumps left and right now
Also, how amazing is it that it took them this long to make a spell with the name "Dispel"?
I still haven't totally made up my mind on this one. Dispel can't be answered for an additional 2 but Spell Pierce lets me hit non-instants like Maelstrom Pulse as well as artifacts, enchantments, and planeswalkers. I guess if you need counters to protect creatures from removal, this is probably the way to go, but for more general blue control, I usually pick Spell Pierce.
This card is situational and that's the est part of it. Blue should be specialized to be cost efficiently and since blue has a lot of draw+discard effects, it should be an easy choice.
In addition, this is a counter, you can add to any deck that doesn't consists purely of counterspells (those decks don't need it, because they don't run targetable creatures).
I am undecided on this. I have been trying it out in my mid-range Abyssal Persecutor deck as an answer to counters and removal. It just doesn't hit Maelstrom Pulse, but it works on pretty much all other removal in today's Standard (and obviously all counters).
With the rotation of Pulse, this might become a lot better at what I use it for. Spell Pierce might be the tool of choice in other situations though, when you have to worry about Jace, the Mind Sculptors, Pyromancer Ascensions and all the artifacts that are bound to abound in Scars of Mirrodin.
Instant
Win target counter war.
Gets rid of almost all spot removal and counterspells, which can be really helpful in combo decks. I don't think there's any other counterspell I'd rather have in a Splinter Twin deck.
Excellent card.
I wouldn't *hesitate* to use this.
1cc hard counter for disenchant, doom blade, and other counterspells?
Sign me up for four!