Well this fits a spot perfectly in one of my EDH decks, I look forward to fetching THIS with sunforger.
TheManakinTransfer
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
A fairly good storm counter.
Cyberium
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(5 votes)
A counter that cannot be countered is good at 3 cc, given that it's anti-storm/cascade, even better.
SyntheticDreamer
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(2 votes)
Uncounterable counter for Storm, yet I don't see this getting played more than Mindbreak Trap.
drpvfx
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(3 votes)
I dig this. The overload was clearly intended to hose Storm and other tactics that aren't in Standard, but if you've got an Izzet Standard deck, this is still a solid hard (extra hard?) counter.
It will likely work best in EDH, where my Mindbreak Traps are always getting Countered.
thisisnotmyname
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(7 votes)
It's an elegant card. Counter normal things under normal circumstances, and counter odd things under odd circumstances.
lorendorky
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(2 votes)
I'd rather they just plaster a Shock onto a Cancel. It would make the overload great in its intended use.
majinara
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
I'm not quite sold on this one. The overload will only rarely matter, same as the "can't be countered part". Yet, it is more difficult to cast than cancel, with the mana cost. I think I will stick to dissipate. Easier to cast and it's special thingy matters more often.
Lotsofpoopy
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.7/5.0)(8 votes)
This is a solid counter. Pros like me will be using the overload to 2 for 1 our opponents spells.
Trygon_Predator
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(3 votes)
Will go nicely in Commander to put a damper on those annoying Storm spells.
Besides, this looks like the version of the unofficial two-color rare counterspell cycle, alongside the Absorb, the Undermine, and the Voidslime.
General_Naga
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I can't wait until I watch two blue mages unload their hands on each other, then I just drop this and smile.
LordRandomness
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(4 votes)
Excellent. "Can't be countered" is nice, but what people tend to miss is that it ALSO can't be redirected in many situations: it has to point at a spell you don't control, so it can't be re-aimed at the spell your opponent countered when you use this to counter their counter.
MyrBattlecube
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Oh boy! Now I can finally take all of those pump spells off the stack whenever Infect starts cas- Oh. Right. Rotation.
TraRobins
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Ooh, last Word pseudo reprint. Oh, look. It has a second ability. Ouch.
BastianQoU
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
Shouts out to the greatness of Double Negative. If you want to learn how to use that overload cost right, read Angel_Bob's comment on the card.
ToAsTy42o
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
need 4. will trade... stuff...
GruesomeGoo
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I love this card. Don't see why it's red (Other then balancing reasons, obviously) but a very good display of how interesting you can make the Overload mechanic.
shadowstorm2009
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
So heres my silly question. when all the spells are stacked both your and your opponents and your final spell is counterflux, it does indeed counter all your opponents spells and then the rest of yours resolve correct?
Tsuichoi
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
I love the irony of when on overload, this bares a striking resemblance to Swift Silence.
Suggested flavor text: "The Arbiters will lives on in the shell of some spunky Izzet wizardress- a fitting reversal of fates, for an old droning bureaucrat to relive life in such a vibrant, youthful form at long last."
pedrodyl
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
My only sad about this card is that Goblin Electromancer cannot lessen this card's cost, except for the overload I guess. Would have been nice to curve in to. @Trygon_Predator: Nah that was a real cycle, and 's was Suffocating Blast, and 's was Mystic Snake, not Voidslime.
Ferlord
★☆☆☆☆ (1.8/5.0)(2 votes)
This Overload cost was made only to counter Storm decks.
It's a shame that it's very colour-heavy, but... whatever. I'll probably only see it as Sideboard material.
Gheridarigaaz
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
looks like they're trying to fix a few modern problems with RTR... this and abrupt decay for a start just make things get a little less out of hand... Maybe even supreme verdict could find a home in modern for the same "uncounterable" reasons giving control a chance in the format...
on another note I can see this being standard playable in a multicoloured format with dispel potentially available to all players and decks that can splash for the little 1 blue mana spell
Demonic_Math_Tutor
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Counterflux: Making your Cancel even less viable.
MANABURNWASGOOD
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
OH, could've used this a few weeks ago in an edh game where we used Vanguard cards, to counter that freaking never ending sensai divining top plays for 0 mana into a storm spell. If only I were playing these colors...if only the card were out....
DoragonShinzui
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@GruesomeGoo: Red and Blue have always had a weird relationship with counters. Red normally hates 'em, but when called in to assist, glorious things like Double Negative are made. I think the red is there to show how chaotic the Izzet are. Their counterspells are so insane, they can't be countered, and they can hit everything!
Lord_of_Gelectrodes
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
Too bad this isn't Azorius, 'cuz those spells just got- *puts on sunglasses -OVERRULED YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!!!!
BegleOne
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Allllriiiiiight, Saffi Eriksdotter has a cute-bummed red-headed cousin and she's A-Counterin'-Spells like Crazy!
Osprey_93
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Yo dawg, I heard you like cancels so we cancelled your cancel so you can't while $@#& you.
swords_to_exile
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Opponent: I'll cast my Restorati.. "NO YOU WILL NOT!"
Could have been Counterflux can't be countered by spells or abilities. Counter target spell. Overload {U}{U}{R}
spartan7023
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
is countered by redirect, a card most people have forgotten about
Rootkit9208
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Storm decks would be concerned about this card being in print...if it were even one cmc cheaper to overload
BeefSupreme
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I see no one has made mention of the fact that this is really good against replicate and a good way to shutdown someone's Epic Experiment (just wait till they throw all their exiled instant and sorcery cards on the stack and overload counterflux). Plus this spell can only counter spells you don't control, so you can counter a fat stack without any worry of countering any of your spells already on the stack. The overload may be situational, but wouldn't you rather have the option for when the situation arrives than to sigh and wish you had the option?
The fact that this is a counter spell that cant be countered for 3 cmc makes it pretty solid and gives it an edge over almost any other counter spell (except for certain circumstances). Even if someone redirects it, they still cannot redirect it to any of your spells, so they would have to throw a card out just to redirect it to (giving you card advantage). This fact gives it an edge over the only other uncounterable counter spell Last Word or a counter spell that Boseiju, Who Shelters All was used to cast and as far as mana cost goes, since this was designed for Izzet decks, you will probably have red mana anyway.
So let's recap: It is a counter spell It has a cmc of 3 It has an overload option for only 1 additional mana (great for storm, replicate, fat stacks, and spells like Epic Experiment) It can't be countered It can't target your own spells (which means it can't be redirected to your spells and the overload won't overload onto your own spells)
It might require , but it would be way too OP if the cost wasn't restrictive. Could you imagine if this thing was mono color? It would be banned quicker than you can play an instant. The only thing I could see that would make this less color heavy, while still being the same card, is if it were: counter target spell you don't control. if was spent to cast counterflux, counterflux can't be countered by spells or abilities. Overload
Regardless, very solid card for a deck with blue and red in it (especially an Izzet deck).
Odee
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I'd be curious to find out how this resolves. Say for instance I Cyclonic Rift an opponent's field at the end of their turn, take my turn then cast Counterflux for it's overload as they cast the first spell of their turn. Can they just let it resolve then resume casting? Is that whole turn covered by the effects of Counterflux? Can they get around it by declaring an attack phase followed by their second main phase?
sheebishere
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Counterflux may go up in value now that Dragon's Maze is coming out and those fuse cards are going to be floating around.
If I'm not mistaken, fusing both spells on a Dragon's Maze split card counts as two spells and not as a single spell, with the caster choosing which of the two goes on the stack first.
Doghealer
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@Odee:
No. The word "spell" explicitly refers to "cards (and copies of cards) on the stack". If your opponent casts a single spell during, say, their first main phase, and you overload Counterflux (which you can), it will counter that single spell. However, if your opponent casts more spells later in the turn, they will most likely resolve normally, because Counterflux has already resolved and had its effect.
In short, no, Counterflux will not retroactively counter anything. If you overloaded it, when it resolves, it will remove every spell you don't control from the stack, but it won't later remove spells that are put there after the fact.
BoilerHorty
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@sheebishere re: value increase for Dragon's Maze. Split spells with fuse will count as a single spell as far as the stack is concerned. There is also no choice in the matter of resolution order. The order is determined from left to right on the card.
In Standard, I see this as mostly a Cancel with R requirement with the bonus of not being able to be countered. It should only be in late game scenarios against specific decks that an opponent could cast a threatening spell and still have enough mana to counter your counter. I can't comment too much on value outside of Standard.
blurrymadness
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(3 votes)
Hidden flavor text:
"Yessss... YEESSSSSS I WANT TO COUNTER ALLLLLL THE SPELLLS AHAHHAHHHHAH!!
BABBAHAHHAAHHHAHA!
BAAAAAAAHAHHHAHHHH!H!H!" -Every izzet mage
Winhert
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
No people, you cannot counter all of their spells. Because the spells resolve right after they aren't responsed upon. Although it kills storm, it kills all on stack spells. And it will surprise anyone who just blasts all of their archive traps on the stack immedietely thinking you do not have a spell like this. Split cards are single spell.
Toraka
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@LordRandomness: Yes, it CAN be redirected. Say they cast Lightning Bolt, you respond with Counterflux, and they use Swerve on it.
At the time that Swerve resolves and allows them to pick a new target, it's still on the stack and you don't control it, so it's a legal target for Swerve. After that, it resolves and Counterflux fizzles because its only target is gone.
Re-reading, I see your point of being unable to target your own spell in a counterspell war. Not that that really mattered, since they'll always have one counter left on the stack that you tried to counter.
Just as a mention: Counterflux would be an illegal target for itself even if it didn't have the "don't control" clause. A spell or ability on the stack is an illegal target for itself even if it is redirected.
Of course, if you're afraid of getting redirected, pay the Overload. You can see that as paying one additional mana to make sure that your counter gets through, no matter what.
Ariem789
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I love this card. I had to make an account just to comment on it. Now i don't mean its great or overpowered but it fits my favorite kind of meta, the resounding ability to tell an opponent, No. Here you for 4 cc you can do it to the whole stack while letting your own spells through. That's nice. Personally I rather it have been U/W. Not for flavor or anything like that that because to be honest i can't say I know enough about the guilds and dual colors to talk about that, just a personal preference. On top of everything, it can't be countered.
CogMonocle
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@Toraka No, swerve cannot do that, spells controlled by the controller of counterflux are illegal targets for counterflux. From the rulings on swerve:
You don't choose the new target for the spell until Swerve resolves. You must change the target if possible. However, you can't change the target to an illegal target. If there are no legal targets, the target isn't changed. It doesn't matter if the original target of that spell has somehow become illegal.
Swerve could redirect it to another spell not controlled by the controller of counterflux, but that's it.
HotHit
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(6 votes)
lets you say no.
lets you scream it.
Silence9
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Great Counterspell. Used my foil copy to counter his Yawgmoth's Will, he tried to counter my counterflux, lol. :) 4/5 the one Red makes it a badass counter.
Syrtees
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
She blinded me, with SCIENCE
TheWrathofShane
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
mana aside, this puts last word to shame. At least in EDH you might want to run both.
Casimir_the_Great
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Yea, Izzet! We get the awesome counters and best guild mechanic, we're spell-crazy, our creatures are awesome, our magitech is through the roof, and we get the hot girls!
absreim
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@LordRandomness
You make a good point certainly, but Redirect can still answer a Counterflux by changing the target to the Redirect since it is still on the stack as it is resolving.
Given that Cancel is now the vanilla counterspell in standard, I think splashing in a second color is a fair price to pay for some fitting diversity. This card is a VERY solid upgrade from Cancel in any Izzet deck. It does allow color screw, which is a problem if you're running more than two colors. For just the two though, I find the extra durability it's got, and it's extra contingent ability to be well worth it.
DoctorGii
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
In monocolor this would have a CMC of 4 (see Last Word) and have less abilities.
Throw in the overload on top of the lower CMC to counter Storm and other combo shenanigans, as well as preventing the spell from being redirected in rare situations, and you have one of the better counters around. No reason not to run this if it's in your colors, or at the very least sideboard it against decks that run a lot of counters. It's not quite as good as Voidslime or Render Silent, but it's still a great counter. Flavorful as hell, too. Shame it's rated so low.
robox
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I heard the best de***ion of this card the other day: "It's Plague Wind for the stack".
Comments (55)
but if you've got an Izzet Standard deck, this is still a solid hard (extra hard?) counter.
It will likely work best in EDH, where my Mindbreak Traps are always getting Countered.
Besides, this looks like the
Oh. Right. Rotation.
Suggested flavor text: "The Arbiters will lives on in the shell of some spunky Izzet wizardress- a fitting reversal of fates, for an old droning bureaucrat to relive life in such a vibrant, youthful form at long last."
@Trygon_Predator: Nah that was a real cycle, and
It's a shame that it's very colour-heavy, but... whatever. I'll probably only see it as Sideboard material.
on another note I can see this being standard playable in a multicoloured format with dispel potentially available to all players and decks that can splash for the little 1 blue mana spell
*puts on sunglasses
-OVERRULED
YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!!!!
"NO YOU WILL NOT!"
When science says "NO!".
Counterflux can't be countered by spells or abilities.
Counter target spell.
Overload {U}{U}{R}
The fact that this is a counter spell that cant be countered for 3 cmc makes it pretty solid and gives it an edge over almost any other counter spell (except for certain circumstances). Even if someone redirects it, they still cannot redirect it to any of your spells, so they would have to throw a card out just to redirect it to (giving you card advantage). This fact gives it an edge over the only other uncounterable counter spell Last Word or a counter spell that Boseiju, Who Shelters All was used to cast and as far as mana cost goes, since this was designed for Izzet decks, you will probably have red mana anyway.
So let's recap:
It is a counter spell
It has a cmc of 3
It has an overload option for only 1 additional mana (great for storm, replicate, fat stacks, and spells like Epic Experiment)
It can't be countered
It can't target your own spells (which means it can't be redirected to your spells and the overload won't overload onto your own spells)
It might require
counter target spell you don't control. if
Overload
Regardless, very solid card for a deck with blue and red in it (especially an Izzet deck).
Say for instance I Cyclonic Rift an opponent's field at the end of their turn, take my turn then cast Counterflux for it's overload as they cast the first spell of their turn. Can they just let it resolve then resume casting? Is that whole turn covered by the effects of Counterflux? Can they get around it by declaring an attack phase followed by their second main phase?
If I'm not mistaken, fusing both spells on a Dragon's Maze split card counts as two spells and not as a single spell, with the caster choosing which of the two goes on the stack first.
No. The word "spell" explicitly refers to "cards (and copies of cards) on the stack". If your opponent casts a single spell during, say, their first main phase, and you overload Counterflux (which you can), it will counter that single spell. However, if your opponent casts more spells later in the turn, they will most likely resolve normally, because Counterflux has already resolved and had its effect.
In short, no, Counterflux will not retroactively counter anything. If you overloaded it, when it resolves, it will remove every spell you don't control from the stack, but it won't later remove spells that are put there after the fact.
In Standard, I see this as mostly a Cancel with R requirement with the bonus of not being able to be countered. It should only be in late game scenarios against specific decks that an opponent could cast a threatening spell and still have enough mana to counter your counter. I can't comment too much on value outside of Standard.
"Yessss... YEESSSSSS
I WANT TO COUNTER ALLLLLL THE SPELLLS AHAHHAHHHHAH!!
BABBAHAHHAAHHHAHA!
BAAAAAAAHAHHHAHHHH!H!H!"
-Every izzet mage
Because the spells resolve right after they aren't responsed upon.
Although it kills storm, it kills all on stack spells.
And it will surprise anyone who just blasts all of their archive traps on the stack immedietely thinking you do not have a spell like this.
Split cards are single spell.
At the time that Swerve resolves and allows them to pick a new target, it's still on the stack and you don't control it, so it's a legal target for Swerve. After that, it resolves and Counterflux fizzles because its only target is gone.
Re-reading, I see your point of being unable to target your own spell in a counterspell war. Not that that really mattered, since they'll always have one counter left on the stack that you tried to counter.
Just as a mention: Counterflux would be an illegal target for itself even if it didn't have the "don't control" clause. A spell or ability on the stack is an illegal target for itself even if it is redirected.
Of course, if you're afraid of getting redirected, pay the Overload. You can see that as paying one additional mana to make sure that your counter gets through, no matter what.
You don't choose the new target for the spell until Swerve resolves. You must change the target if possible. However, you can't change the target to an illegal target. If there are no legal targets, the target isn't changed. It doesn't matter if the original target of that spell has somehow become illegal.
Swerve could redirect it to another spell not controlled by the controller of counterflux, but that's it.
You make a good point certainly, but Redirect can still answer a Counterflux by changing the target to the Redirect since it is still on the stack as it is resolving.
Given that Cancel is now the vanilla counterspell in standard, I think splashing in a second color is a fair price to pay for some fitting diversity. This card is a VERY solid upgrade from Cancel in any Izzet deck. It does allow color screw, which is a problem if you're running more than two colors. For just the two though, I find the extra durability it's got, and it's extra contingent ability to be well worth it.
Throw in the overload on top of the lower CMC to counter Storm and other combo shenanigans, as well as preventing the spell from being redirected in rare situations, and you have one of the better counters around. No reason not to run this if it's in your colors, or at the very least sideboard it against decks that run a lot of counters. It's not quite as good as Voidslime or Render Silent, but it's still a great counter. Flavorful as hell, too. Shame it's rated so low.