I hate counterspells but I understand how important they are to blue's color pie and I am very glad they reprinted this card.
5/5
DonRoyale
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(2 votes)
icame.jpg
dudecow
★☆☆☆☆ (1.7/5.0)(3 votes)
It's been a long time coming. This is about as good as counterspells can be without being broken.
Belz_
★★☆☆☆ (2.7/5.0)(9 votes)
@Temple_Garden:
Why do people say silly things like this ? You have no idea what WotC thinks. Many people felt that blue was _too_ weak since Alara, and this card seeks to correct this perceived problem. Quit whining.
U-caster
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(2 votes)
YEASH!!!!!!! SUKIT!!!!!! This card basically SCREWS anybody trying to get a turn three baneslayer or any other game changer in the early game.
nammertime
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(4 votes)
With the amount of stuff that is uncounterable these days, as well as the increasing power level of cards, and even though I really hate counterspells, I think this is a good reprint for anyone playing Standard.
mdakw576
★★★★☆ (4.7/5.0)(5 votes)
@ Belz_
Blue dominated lorwyn with faeries. When alara came it wasn't top dog for one block. Then zendikar came, and worldwake brought jace 2.0 and suddenly blue was just as threatening as jund (Jund was really only more popular because it cost less money).
As much as I like mana leak, I really don't think it was the proper time to bring it back. They should've waited until Jace 2.0 cycled out, since right now blue just got more ammo.
JiangWei23
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
Mana Leak - 1U - Instant
Counter target spell unless its controller pays (3).
Leave an Island and another land untapped: Target opponent is reluctant to play important spells for the first five or so turns.
After the first five or so turns, opponents' spells cost (3) more to cast.
------------------
One of the best counterspells short of Counterspell itself, (I'm particularly fond of Rune Snag) this card's return heralds the strong return of Blue that some say has been long overdue. My girlfriend plays Blue, and while she was hoping they would reprint Counterspell, once she starts playing with this card I doubt she'll be disappointed (I will, instead ;_;).
jumpenrun
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
Yeah yeah magic, it was nice of you reprinting mana leak again. But when will you ever reprint counterspell?
GruesomeGoo
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I am so happy to see one of the best counterspells in the game make a return. Thank you Wizards, for noticing Blue was garbage.
Sir_Kaeru
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(2 votes)
wow, how could a common be rated so high??
XDaragoX
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Thank you, Wizards, for supporting the permission-based strategies you know many of us love. It may be bad late game, but now we also have Cancel and Deprive, so I'm not worried in the slightest.
LTJZamboni
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
So glad to see they're giving blue love again. I don't personally play blue but I welcome the strategy involved with facing down a blue control mage with my aggro-control decks. Makes for interesting matchups. I welcome this new adversary in my struggle to hit you in the face with Vengevines.
Eternal_Blue
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
from personal experience, this can turn into a dead card pretty quickly once they get enough mana out; therefore, i might suggest a difference counterspell or perhaps using only two in a deck when playing pauper.
don_miguel
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
i just think people don't know how to play magic. blue is easy to beat, you just need to have cards in that direction, like duress. most players that fear blue look like they never played blue. ONE counter just can counter ONE spell. even a stupid green deck with common creatures and no other spells can defeat a blue deck, if you know how.
HairlessThoctar
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(2 votes)
Getting counterspell reprinted is pretty much a moot point now.
In most competitive play, the leak will never be payed, and this is more splashable than counterspell.
Temple_Garden
★★☆☆☆ (2.2/5.0)(6 votes)
WotC rightly removed this and instant speed card drawing from the game because it allowed blue to dominate. For some reason, following a short period where blue didn't completely dominate the game, they got frightened and decided blue needed to be the top dog again. They can't handle a situation where blue isn't the most powerful colour in the game. Cards which answer almost every problem in the game shouldn't come at 2cmc, let alone 1 colourless 1 blue.
When any other colour wants to deal with a card they bring specific removal (or very mana expensive cards). Blue just brings counterspell - the answer to almost everything. Negate and Remove Soul are what spells this cheap and powerful should be restricted to.
cloneffect
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
Welcome back, Mana Leak. Cancel has seen virtually no top-tier play ever since Deprive got printed anyway, and this card is arguably better, a soft counter for 2 mana that makes the other guy pay 3 being arguably slightly stronger than a hard 2-mana counter that makes you bounce a land. At any rate, tap-out control decks might have to revise their strategies a little to incorporate blue's most classic slice of the colour pie.
PS: good to see no counterspell back - that card really would be overpowered in today's standard - although it would still be nice to see remand back one of these days.
Anggul
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@Temple_Garden
I believe it would be something to do with Blue completely sucking compared to the other colours for a long time.
Revelation666
★★★★☆ (4.6/5.0)(17 votes)
Just give it up guys. Counterspell will never be reprinted. If you still need Counterspell when Mana Leak and Deprive are available, you must be building your decks wrong.
Bulhakas
★☆☆☆☆ (1.0/5.0)(1 vote)
The guy in the picture is giving thanks that this card got reprinted!
XD im so happy they are reprinting this card! and with good art too! I love this counterspell, but i didnt much care for the old art. Yay bringing back the good classics
Kryptnyt
★★★☆☆ (3.9/5.0)(4 votes)
The Stronghold version of this card attributes the flavor text as a quote to Volrath.
I wonder if a fictional character can sue for plagiarism.
Maraxas-of-Keld
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
Let this card's reprint be a lesson: whine enough and wizards will reprint it.
Sarcasm aside, I like the challenge of playing against counterspells, and this should help keep BS angel and those new (expensive) Titan cards from the M11 in check.
Selez
★★★☆☆ (3.2/5.0)(8 votes)
I hate this card in limited. It stops your turn-six-otherwise-game-breaking titan for just two mana. In fact, that's exactly what it did at my prerelease, and that cost me the game (to top it off, my opponent had one card in hand and that card had been topdecked) >:(
I also hate what it's going to do to standard. Good counterspells are so friggin FRUSTRATING!! and take away from other colors' freedom to experiment with fun, more expensive spells.
My only solace is that they didn't reprint Counterspell. WotC would be crazy to reprint that like they reprinted Lightning Bolt, but they may yet do it anyway ("Creatures have gotten more powerful, so shock can be upgraded." Next thing they'll be saying is "Spells have been getting better, so we can bring back the better-than-cancel.")
FogRaider
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(2 votes)
So, does this mean we won't be playing over-five-mana spells anymore in standard? I exaggerate, but still, I think this may just have the effect of reducing the average CMC we see in a game.
It's not card advantage, it's not actively helping you win, and it can be played around if it proves too much. Seems like an acceptable card to print, especially given that Lightning Bolt and other just plain good cards are in standard.
Donovan_Fabian
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
It's good, its one of those great when you have it on say turn 4 but on turn 8 you're like, well darn they are just going to pay the extra mana. The first 3 games I played with it I was like yes, awesome, I'll counter spell their early threat. Then I played a game where my opponent land flooded for a couple turns and started playing corrupts.. and it became a dead card. They never had any time they couldn't pay the 3. Deprive is, imo, situationally better.
Tobinator
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I opened a whole booster box and only got 2 mana leaks. ****
Sad to see Essence Scatter go, but this cheers me up. But by the time I arrived to my store, it's all gone. I was only one day late....(sniff).... how can they do this to me......(burst into tears).
:-(
PatrickWamsher
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
Blue is back in business!
kittyspit
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@ lixinjian
cough, NARCOLEPSY, cough
cough, UNSUMMON, cough
cough, MIND CONTROL, cough..thanks for that primeval titan ;)
coyotemoon722
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(1 vote)
This card is absurd for early control. With 4 of, people just aren't getting anything you don't want through. Back it up with 3-4 Cancels, and just counter everything they put on the board until you feel like playing. (ie. when your mana is right)
MrMetalMan
★★★☆☆ (3.4/5.0)(4 votes)
just when we all thought wizards had given up their love child blue, they print this.....
opinionfailure
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(1 vote)
Wizards I love you! You heard my cries for Mana Leak to be brought back to Standard. Thank you so much.
WaffleCop
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(1 vote)
The thing I like about Mana Leak is if your opponent knows or thinks you have one in your hand he'll have to wait till he has more mana till he can play it. And even then, he'll still be slowed down because he'll be unable to tap out
vsasntore
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(2 votes)
I have killed SO many planeswalkers with it. Good times, and by far my favorite counter spell.
Very good card. Back in the days, you have had to pay 3 for a Power Sink of the same amplitude. In limited, can also be your best friend. I've always loved Blue, and I'm glad they put it back to something decent nowadays.
Daijin26
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(1 vote)
@Selez
Um, the game of Magic is about players stopping each other so they can execute their own plans of victory, the game isn't about letting you do what you want. Every spell you try to play isn't guaranteed to get through because there will be a card to either counter or remove it: that's the core essence of what Magic is all about. Complaining about what blue is supposed to do is silly and if you don't like it, then just stop playing Magic.
I am not a big counterspell player either, but I understand and accept the importance of the concept. Blue's job IS to take away the freedom of other players from doing what they want so it can do its own thing. If you're going to choose to play expensive spells, then you have to accept the risk of it being countered or the chance of it being removed from play; that's just what the game is all about: chance and risk, not just skill.
PolskiSuzeren
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@Hairless Thoctar
lololololololololololololololololololololol
All through the countryside, mana leak runs rampant.
It's fun to see that you can't judge what's good for the meta.
Bursama
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
The now art is awesome. And this card is very powerfull too...
Gabriel422
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Powerful card, gets played a lot in many formats.
Zuriga_Sungama
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
In a deck running full playsets of Desert and Reliquary Tower, this is a lot easier to cast than Counterspell, and it usually has the same effect. 5/5.
Kidromeo
★★★☆☆ (3.9/5.0)(4 votes)
If someone plays Goblin Guide and I use Mana Leak, amd they pay the difference, can I use another Mana Leak on the same Goblin Guide?
Pontiac
★★☆☆☆ (2.9/5.0)(4 votes)
Everybody's got to pee sometime!
Ava_Adore
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
hmmm dropping 4 into my psychic venom deck, its just too good not to use. no more living in fear of your opponents hands, now they can live in fear of yours
SoulShatterer
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I like it, because the cost of offsetting the counter can right well screw with an opponents strategy, and its especially devious when they tap out for a late game bomb only to be Mana-leaked. Really funny was when I played a Mana Leak, and my oppenent Mana-Leaked it in response. Technically saved him one mana, but I made up the difference by Unsummoning the creature a moment later.
DacenOctavio
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(6 votes)
Never tap out. Ever.
mflanaga
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Is not so bad... the best decks seem to play with this so other decks that are also the best play with summoning trap. I would like to see some ricochet trap in a few decks
Joseph_Leito
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
Jace, Mind Scupltor is a fearsome card. It brings fear to every table it approaches. It's one of the best in standar-
Wait, what do you mean I don't have three mana left to beat a Leak?
Deepfried-Owls
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
Premature Dissipation...
:c
AwesomeEevee
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Kidromeo,
Yes, you can.
116.1a A player may cast an instant spell any time he or she has priority. A player may cast a noninstant spell during his or her main phase any time he or she has priority and the stack is empty.
116.3b The active player receives priority after a spell or ability (other than a mana ability) resolves.
So, you here's what you can do:
Respond to Goblin Guide with the Mana Leak (obviously). Let that Mana Leak resolve. He decides to pay his 3, likely leaving him without an additional three to pay for the next Mana Leak. He gets priority. Likely passes. You get priority. You target Goblin Guide with Mana Leak again.
And there you go- A second Mana Leak. And he already paid for the first one, so he cannot get back the mana he already paid.
Pigfish99
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
If you're able to make this cost U, with cost reducers, you have a Counterspell plus. Unless you've been pummelling them all game, they'll usually won't pay the extra 3. and if you do 2 at once, it basically acts as a counterspell.
but Remember, with 1U, it is balanced. the minute you make it cost U with someone like Grand Arbiter Augustin IV , you have one of the BEST counterspells.
blindthrall
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@bagilis: Don't sell Power Sink short. It forces payment, potentially killing them if you've lain enough Psychic Venoms on them. Even if they do pay, their main phase is done as far as casting spells. This is a better utility card, but in the right deck, Power Sink is much better.
Hunter06
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Amazing counter spell, I have no idea why they put both this and Cancel into M11 *both in terms of limited and constructed* this is in the second tear of MTG counters, under Counterspell, Mana Drain, and Force of Will , but above pretty much all the other counters
4.5/5 Stars
car2n
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
More unpleasant than anaI leak. And I say that as a UG advocate.
Comments (58)
5/5
Why do people say silly things like this ? You have no idea what WotC thinks. Many people felt that blue was _too_ weak since Alara, and this card seeks to correct this perceived problem. Quit whining.
Blue dominated lorwyn with faeries. When alara came it wasn't top dog for one block. Then zendikar came, and worldwake brought jace 2.0 and suddenly blue was just as threatening as jund (Jund was really only more popular because it cost less money).
As much as I like mana leak, I really don't think it was the proper time to bring it back. They should've waited until Jace 2.0 cycled out, since right now blue just got more ammo.
Counter target spell unless its controller pays (3).
Leave an Island and another land untapped: Target opponent is reluctant to play important spells for the first five or so turns.
After the first five or so turns, opponents' spells cost (3) more to cast.
------------------
One of the best counterspells short of Counterspell itself, (I'm particularly fond of Rune Snag) this card's return heralds the strong return of Blue that some say has been long overdue. My girlfriend plays Blue, and while she was hoping they would reprint Counterspell, once she starts playing with this card I doubt she'll be disappointed (I will, instead ;_;).
Thank you Wizards, for noticing Blue was garbage.
blue is easy to beat, you just need to have cards in that direction, like duress.
most players that fear blue look like they never played blue. ONE counter just can counter ONE spell. even a stupid green deck with common creatures and no other spells can defeat a blue deck, if you know how.
In most competitive play, the leak will never be payed, and this is more splashable than counterspell.
When any other colour wants to deal with a card they bring specific removal (or very mana expensive cards). Blue just brings counterspell - the answer to almost everything. Negate and Remove Soul are what spells this cheap and powerful should be restricted to.
PS: good to see no counterspell back - that card really would be overpowered in today's standard - although it would still be nice to see remand back one of these days.
I believe it would be something to do with Blue completely sucking compared to the other colours for a long time.
I wonder if a fictional character can sue for plagiarism.
Sarcasm aside, I like the challenge of playing against counterspells, and this should help keep BS angel and those new (expensive) Titan cards from the M11 in check.
I also hate what it's going to do to standard. Good counterspells are so friggin FRUSTRATING!! and take away from other colors' freedom to experiment with fun, more expensive spells.
My only solace is that they didn't reprint Counterspell. WotC would be crazy to reprint that like they reprinted Lightning Bolt, but they may yet do it anyway ("Creatures have gotten more powerful, so shock can be upgraded." Next thing they'll be saying is "Spells have been getting better, so we can bring back the better-than-cancel.")
It's not card advantage, it's not actively helping you win, and it can be played around if it proves too much. Seems like an acceptable card to print, especially given that Lightning Bolt and other just plain good cards are in standard.
:-(
cough, NARCOLEPSY, cough
cough, UNSUMMON, cough
cough, MIND CONTROL, cough..thanks for that primeval titan ;)
Um, the game of Magic is about players stopping each other so they can execute their own plans of victory, the game isn't about letting you do what you want. Every spell you try to play isn't guaranteed to get through because there will be a card to either counter or remove it: that's the core essence of what Magic is all about. Complaining about what blue is supposed to do is silly and if you don't like it, then just stop playing Magic.
I am not a big counterspell player either, but I understand and accept the importance of the concept. Blue's job IS to take away the freedom of other players from doing what they want so it can do its own thing. If you're going to choose to play expensive spells, then you have to accept the risk of it being countered or the chance of it being removed from play; that's just what the game is all about: chance and risk, not just skill.
lololololololololololololololololololololol
All through the countryside, mana leak runs rampant.
It's fun to see that you can't judge what's good for the meta.
Wait, what do you mean I don't have three mana left to beat a Leak?
:c
Yes, you can.
116.1a A player may cast an instant spell any time he or she has priority. A player may cast a noninstant spell during his or her main phase any time he or she has priority and the stack is empty.
116.3b The active player receives priority after a spell or ability (other than a mana ability) resolves.
So, you here's what you can do:
Respond to Goblin Guide with the Mana Leak (obviously).
Let that Mana Leak resolve.
He decides to pay his 3, likely leaving him without an additional three to pay for the next Mana Leak.
He gets priority. Likely passes.
You get priority. You target Goblin Guide with Mana Leak again.
And there you go- A second Mana Leak. And he already paid for the first one, so he cannot get back the mana he already paid.
but Remember, with 1U, it is balanced. the minute you make it cost U with someone like Grand Arbiter Augustin IV , you have one of the BEST counterspells.
4.5/5 Stars