Pretty boring cycle if you ask me. "Take balanced old cards, make them harder to cost in matters of color requirements, and add 1 lifeloss". The result is a cycle of boring cards that ain't horrible but not good and definately worse than their older cousins. Seems like wizards ran out of ideas at this point. I give it 0.5 points for beeing such an annoying cycle.
EvilCartographer
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(2 votes)
Not bad. Could be worth a try, but I think I will stick with Unsummon and Stoic Rebuttal
WateryMind
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(3 votes)
Saved me more then once in the pre release, so its good in my books.
Magnor_Criol
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(3 votes)
@ majinara - Wizards didn't run out of ideas, this was exactly the idea they were going for. It fits the more brutal theme of Phyrexia very well, and is a griefer counterspell in a griefer set. The whole cycle flavorfully falls in to what they call the "Phyrexian Blood Tax" theme - read about it somewhere on the New Phyrexia information page or FAQ, one of the two.
Once upon a time, back only a few sets ago, people could actually play things.. the only counterspell was cancel, and the people rejoiced when their red and green decks actually got to play their creatures.. and then they printed 5 good counter spells in one format and no one played anything ever again. Oh well, no worse than deprive.
VarteDod
★★★★☆ (4.9/5.0)(6 votes)
When I read that flavor text, I think about the interesting relationship between Tezzeret and Nicol Bolas. First Tezzeret tries to kill the dragon, then Bolas is all like ''shut up b*tch and get back to work'' then Tezzeret is like ''...okay...'' just so later he can hatch another killing plan. How odd.
SoulShatterer
★★★☆☆ (3.8/5.0)(4 votes)
It's NOT strictly worse than Counterspell, because you can only have four of those. So a good control deck should have those four, plus four of these.
poprockmonster
★★★★☆ (4.9/5.0)(5 votes)
I can't wait to Vapor Snag a creature, only to counter it with this when they try and put it back down.
Worldwalker1
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(3 votes)
This is a darker, meaner Essence Scatter and whileCounterspell may be more versatile, you can only run four of it...
And, frankly, four just doesn't cover it nowadays.
bonebroke87
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(4 votes)
This card made me do something stupid. I had 1 life left and could have won had I not decided to play a creature card. And I thought I was creating a backup plan in case one of my creatures was unsummoned or diminished during my attack.
Vinifera7
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(1 vote)
The double color requirement can be very awkward if you're not playing mono-blue. The 1 life is mostly negligible for control anyway. You're better off playing Essence Scatter.
Tiggurix
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(2 votes)
Oh my God, you're such dumbasses. Sure, it's not nearly as splashable as Remove Soul/Essence Scatter, but within mono-blue, it is in all ways simply BETTER than those cards. For mono-blue players, this is a fine addition.
DacenOctavio
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(3 votes)
Sweet, we have a hard critter counter in standard again. And it bleeds them for 1.
ErikLauer
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(10 votes)
Erik's Random card 6/27/2011 When design handed this set over, this card was 1U Instant Counter target spell unless its controller pays 1 mana and 1 life.
However there was also P (U or 2 life) Instant Counter target spell unless its controller pays 1.
Those were too similar, so this card became
UU Instant Counter target creature spell. Its controller loses 1 life.
That, of course, is the final rules text. But wait, we never printed the force spike variant. That card was crazy strong, and was replaced by the Mental Misstep. So why didn't we go back the 1 mana and 1 life version? The development team liked this card better. That's the funny part about being forced to replace cards; your new card is often better than the old card, even when you can go back.
Its not strictly worse than Counterspell, it's not able to counter everything however it is better than Counterspell when countering a creature spell, since the player loses out on 1 life as well. I really wish that spell that Erik was talking about was made, even though Mental Misstep is still insanely good.
DarthParallax
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@DeathDark- How DARE you not Capitalize Lord Bolas' might and noble race, the Dragons, masters of all lesser beings?! I should turn you into the Consortium for such an offence, but I have a better idea-- we never speak of this again, and neither of us have to find out if the Master would just kill the messenger along with the culprit to tie up loose ends :p
I love this card btw. I would almost pay UU just for the life loss at instant speed. I would pay BB for it, and Geth's Verdict kills something on top! Being Evil is fun. :p
Blackworm_Bloodworm
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
At first I thought it said "Counter target spell". Soon as I read it again, my heart returned to its resting rate.
creepycrawler
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Would have been quite fun if it was "Counter target spell unless its controller pays 2 life". Still fun, I love incidental life loss. This, Vapor Snag, and Suture Priest would make the most subtle burn deck around. Throw in Isolation Cell and Norn's Annex for more brutality. Inquisitor Exarch would be nice too.
Couldn't handle non-creature decks very well though. Maybe infect subtheme?
CogMonocle
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Anyone who says the 1 life is negligible - delver certainly doesn't mind vapor snag.
casualhorror
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
So Mental Misstep, banned in Modern and Legacy and played (actually played, not just a one of) in Vintage, could have been more insane? That is assuming a free Force Spike is stronger than a hard counter for most of the things you'd force spike in the first place. That top comment illustrates why blue is such an OP color.
Also, Psychic Barrier is ok. Sometimes that one point matters and sometimes not but it certainly makes people mad in multiplayer.
Comments (30)
I give it 0.5 points for beeing such an annoying cycle.
I expect to hear no arguments.
Actually, if there was one card from which I could magically erase the (first instance of the) word "creature".....
And, frankly, four just doesn't cover it nowadays.
When design handed this set over, this card was
1U
Instant
Counter target spell unless its controller pays 1 mana and 1 life.
However there was also
P (U or 2 life)
Instant
Counter target spell unless its controller pays 1.
Those were too similar, so this card became
UU
Instant
Counter target creature spell. Its controller loses 1 life.
That, of course, is the final rules text.
But wait, we never printed the force spike variant. That card was crazy strong, and was replaced by the Mental Misstep.
So why didn't we go back the 1 mana and 1 life version? The development team liked this card better. That's the funny part about being forced to replace cards; your new card is often better than the old card, even when you can go back.
I love this card btw. I would almost pay UU just for the life loss at instant speed. I would pay BB for it, and Geth's Verdict kills something on top! Being Evil is fun. :p
Couldn't handle non-creature decks very well though. Maybe infect subtheme?
Also, Psychic Barrier is ok. Sometimes that one point matters and sometimes not but it certainly makes people mad in multiplayer.