Kind of expensive, but very powerful for what it does. Maybe when the titans and Wurmcoil rotate out, control decks will be looking for something to do on turn 6
phyrexiantrygon
★☆☆☆☆ (1.3/5.0)(3 votes)
Definately made for EDH and other longer Multi-player formats. Doesn't seem to have the same jerkish aura that counterspell does... more of a "sorry i have to counter your spell, I just really want this creature"
ThisisSakon
★★★★☆ (4.3/5.0)(6 votes)
Did you just try and sneak a top-decked Goblin Arsonist out?
No.
Have my titan.
puresightmerrow
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(6 votes)
Run with Blightsteel Colossus. Not only can you counter two types of spells (artifact and creature) you can do it in a standard deck!
Spartan_X
★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)(6 votes)
Counter your own Memnite. And then Cast Emrakul. - Could do worse.
One of those unique, situation-oriented, counter-power houses up there with Last Word, Swift Silence and Crpytic Command.
It comes at a hefty price, yet sincee when was mana cost of any consideration in EDH? ;)
Paladin85
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Insane in EDH, not so insane elsewhere but just still good
Plays similiar to Commandeer. Save your cheap counters for stuff that you can't take advantage of and use this when you need something costly to be cast for free
majinara
★☆☆☆☆ (1.8/5.0)(7 votes)
Commander Review: I guess it's alright. More often than not, you will counter anything, even if it's not worth a counter, to get some expensive card from your hand into play. And in some cases, you will have nothing useful on hand to get into play this way, and have to counter a spell anyway. Still, it's an ok card. It's worse than spelljack for example though. 2.5/5
Vividice
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(4 votes)
Amazing in the Control Mirrormatch=>Great Sideboard Card. Otherwise a little expensive even for such a huge effect. If nothing else at least a nice package of EDH Cards in DKA.
For those interested-- The Stack: 1. Storm Crow, Cryptic Command #1 set to draw and sleep (same guy) 2. Cryptic Command #2 @ Cryptic Command #1, 3. Dispel @ Cryptic Command #2 4. Mindbreak Trap @ Stack, Remand @ Dispel (same guy) 5. Counterspell @ Remand 6. Force of Will @ Counterspell 7. Counterlash #1 @ Force of Will, Counterlash #2 @ Cryptic Command #2, Last Word @ Mindbreak Trap
Resolve: Mindbreak Trap is countered. Cryptic Command #2 is countered. Force of Will is countered. Remand is countered. Dispel is fizzled. Creatures are tapped, a card is drawn. Storm Crow resolves. (assume priority was offered, passed, and taken correctly)
dingophone
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I can see this in standard control. Late game counter + creature at instant speed? Cool.
Lord_of_the_Real
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(8 votes)
Guys, don't counter your own spells with this. That's what Fold into Aether is for!
@superllama12 I think Counterlash could see play now, since it counters a spell without breaking tempo (in the aggro control) OR plays your threat without committing mana to something other than your stranglehold on the board (in the pure control). In other words, for traditional control like control, they can basically say "Draw. Go." each turn until you try to do something big. If you do, they Counterlash it and drop a Sun Titan or Frost Titan or Wurmcoil Engine or Baneslayer Angel or whatever (I don't usually play the control).
What I'm trying to say is that it's really super good for playing threats without forfeiting your ability to counter your opponent's plays. Furthermore, since it's in response to an opponent's play, they should have fewer resources available to deal with it before you can start punching them in the face with it.
It will also let you play sorceries on your opponent's turn. There's gotta be a way to break that, maybe even in standard.
@puresightmerrow Since Counterlash will counter an artifact or creature, it will probably be their turn, so the Blightsteel Colossus kind of has haste, too.
@DarthParallax You know Counterlash has to resolve before you play a free spell off it, right? You ordered the stack wrong. Also, wouldn't Storm Crow have resolved anyways?
Chamale
★★★★☆ (4.7/5.0)(3 votes)
Some decks really want to put down that Wurmcoil Engine (or Consecrated Sphinx), but don't want to risk tapping out and being unable to counter a spell. Those decks may like this card.
NoobOfLore
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(5 votes)
Make no mistake, this is not a counterspell, this is a finisher.
chainsmoker
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(2 votes)
you can actually counterlash your own memnite to drop a Blightsteel Colossus!!
blindthrall
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
Wouldn't run it. The way I make decks, the chances of me having this and something that costs more than it in my hand at the same time are practically nil. I actually prefer Counterbore.
dberry02
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
As Jace Beleran casually walks in...
SUDDEN NICOL BOLAS OMNOM NOM NOM
Ragamander
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
@MindEcho: No, it doesn't have to give the spell flash for you to be able to cast it.
Rule 608.2f - If an effect gives a player the option to pay mana, he or she may activate mana abilities before taking that action. If an effect specifically instructs or allows a player to cast a spell during resolution, he or she does so by putting that spell on top of the stack, then continuing to cast it by following the steps in rules 601.2a–h, except no player receives priority after it's cast. The currently resolving spell or ability then continues to resolve, which may include casting other spells this way. No other spells can normally be cast and no other abilities can normally be activated during resolution.
If a spell or ability allows you to cast a spell as part of its effect, then you can ignore normal timing restrictions to cast that spell. Otherwise cards like Isochron Scepter wouldn't work, because timing restrictions would normally prevent you from casting spells during the resolution of spells and abilities.
...
On the other hand, the following ruling from Eye of the Storm suggests otherwise: You must still follow any restrictions on when you can cast the spell, such as "cast only during combat" or "cast only on your own turn."
...
On a third hand, if that meant you were unable to cast copies of sorceries if the ability triggers due to something being cast at instant speed, you would think the ruling would just say so, instead of merely alluding to Seedtime and cards like Berserk.
Radagast
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(1 vote)
If one can't find something absurd to do with this card in Commander, you're just not playing the game right, IMHO. As somebody else said, this isn't just a counter - it is a finisher.
MindEcho
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@ Ragamander
Yes, I see what you are saying. I do believe that the intention of the card was to cast any type of card that your opponent is casting, but the wording on the card does not state it that way. There really should be some clarification.
And regarding the Isochron Scepter it says what type of cards can be imprinted with it. So it is rather exclusive, whereas this card would seemingly be inclusive.
After rereading this card, I am even more sure that with it written the way that it is, the effect does not put a spell of any type on the stack. The rule you pointed out is irrelevant me thinks.
"You may cast a nonland card in your hand without paying its mana cost" still requires you to cast the spell. But this effect happens AFTER this card resolves. Which means priority is reset. For instance, your opponent could counter the spell you choose to cast. Therefore making this cards effect HIGHLY exclusive.
It is no good atm, Wizards will need to rewrite the card into a couple of the following options:
"Counter target spell. If target spell is countered in this way you may choose a nonland card that shares a card type with the countered spell and put it on the stack as though it had just been cast."
or
"Counter target spell. Then you may cast a spell from your hand that shares a card type with the countered spell. If the spell is a creature, artifact, or enchantment it gets flash until end of turn. If it is a sorcery you may cast it as though it were an instant"
The first one would prolly be the best. It adds the restriction that only if the spell is actually countered from this card, can the follow up ability be triggered. But they would both work.
Please send ideas and comments anytime. I hope I am wrong on this one. bhowe@cfl-usa.com
Jannissary
★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Could be useful. Countering their threats can be fun, but by the time you cast this, most decks will already have their threat out.
I dunno, I'm not seeing it. It's great in theory, but it's not going to help you come from behind OR stop their all-important early plays, which is how blue control is supposed to dominate, right?
AvatarofBro
★★☆☆☆ (2.8/5.0)(2 votes)
Solid card. Lots of fun in Legacy. Want to counter your opponents titan AND throw down your Kozilek? You go right ahead. Sorin's Vengeance to finish the game during your opponents turn? Yes please. Let's be honest, this isn't going to be saving you a lot in the mana department (unless you're running Eldrazi or Collossi), but it gives you good board control, tempo control, and a free card from your hand. Very fun. Good design. Plus, I always love the arrogant flavor text on counterspells.
drpvfx
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
AWESOME fun- it'd be my favorite card in the set if it weren't for Havengul Lich.
Probably the best way to cheat in Emrakul, the Aeons Torn (WITH extra turn!) ever printed.
This will likely become an EDH staple for many Blue players, and it could even show up in some competitive control decks as a 2-for-one means of getting out their fatty.
I think I'll add one of these and one Jin-Gitaxias, Core Augur to my Esper Control deck and see how they pan out. Cheating Jin out during *their* turn is just too nefarious to not attempt.
DavidLopes
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
So I was thinking. Player 1: I cast a Terastodon. Player 2: Very well, I Counterlash it. *resolves* Player 2: And now I cast a Ulamog for free. Player 1: Nope, Nix.
I just found the perfect context for a 1 dollar rare. Whoopie.
shocksaver
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
"B*TCH PLEASE!"
Glech
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
If I counter a legendary artifact spell, would I be able to cast a legendary creature spell? Or is legendary something different than card type?
Enemy_Tricolor
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Utterly backbreaking if you pull this off right. I'm not sure how worth it it is to have normally-uncastable Blightsteel Colossi or Jin-Gitaxiases hanging around in your deck to go with this, but any of the horrifying six-drops that now populate Standard should suffice.
It's not even really the ability to drop your fatty for free. It's the HUGE swing in tempo. "Nice finisher you brought out. I'mma say 'NOPE' and put out my own instead, and btw it has de facto haste now." This thing is vicious.
adrian.malacoda
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
@Glech
The card types are artifact, creature, enchantment, instant, land, plane, planeswalker, sorcery, tribal, and vanguard, as specified in the comprehensive rules. Legendary, snow, and world are supertypes and do not count (logically, Tribal should be a supertype too... eh, their logic not mine). Creature types such as human and dragon do not count either.
bay_falconer
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
Man, when I thought countermagic couldn't be any worse. At least they ruled that whatever you cast has flash.
RedAtrocitus
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
It's pretty sweet to Counterlash into Iona. Definitely testing this thing in my UW Control.
"That ain't working. That's the way you do it! Money for nothing cause that casts for free." Didn't Dire Straights sing about this card?
accsavious
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Opponent: I'll play a wolfir silverheart and soulbound it to my strangleroot geist! Me: Nope! Counterlash play worldspine wurm. Opponent: ...
XaiviarNightwing
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.5/5.0)(1 vote)
You cant cast Colorless spells this way they don't share a color with the countered spell.
Stinga
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
As a green/blue player I quite like this card. I just wish it did not have that pesky "from hand" clause. If it were just "you may cast a spell that shares a type with the countered spell without paying its mana cost then I could drop my EDH commander Maelstrom Wanderer off it.
Kamishini
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@XaiviarNightwing
Look again. It doesn't mention anything about color, just type.
BigPimpin
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Maybe not the best counterspell, but I'll always remember that one Two-Headed Giant game where my partner let me counter his Illness in the Ranks so I could drop my Omniscience on turn 5.
Lifegainwithbite
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Always a great 2 for 1 in EDH, if limited in application.
Zaneshift
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Alternate flavor text: I reject your reality and substitute my own.
Comments (43)
No.
Have my titan.
And then Cast Emrakul. - Could do worse.
It comes at a hefty price, yet sincee when was mana cost of any consideration in EDH? ;)
Plays similiar to Commandeer. Save your cheap counters for stuff that you can't take advantage of and use this when you need something costly to be cast for free
Still, it's an ok card. It's worse than spelljack for example though.
2.5/5
"Force of Will that"
"CounterLASH your Force of Will, adding another Counterlash targeting your original Cryptic Command
that my Dispel was countering. Still following?"
"Yes....?"
"Counterlash number two lets me play LAST WORD targeting the Mindbreak Trap you played against the Cryptic Command I played before your Cryptic Command. THAT'S HOW IT'S DONE!"
"Fine. Your Storm Crow resolves. ***hole."
For those interested--
The Stack:
1. Storm Crow, Cryptic Command #1 set to draw and sleep (same guy)
2. Cryptic Command #2 @ Cryptic Command #1,
3. Dispel @ Cryptic Command #2
4. Mindbreak Trap @ Stack, Remand @ Dispel (same guy)
5. Counterspell @ Remand
6. Force of Will @ Counterspell
7. Counterlash #1 @ Force of Will, Counterlash #2 @ Cryptic Command #2, Last Word @ Mindbreak Trap
Resolve:
Mindbreak Trap is countered.
Cryptic Command #2 is countered.
Force of Will is countered.
Remand is countered.
Dispel is fizzled.
Creatures are tapped, a card is drawn.
Storm Crow resolves.
(assume priority was offered, passed, and taken correctly)
@superllama12
I think Counterlash could see play now, since it counters a spell without breaking tempo (in the aggro control) OR plays your threat without committing mana to something other than your stranglehold on the board (in the pure control). In other words, for traditional control like control, they can basically say "Draw. Go." each turn until you try to do something big. If you do, they Counterlash it and drop a Sun Titan or Frost Titan or Wurmcoil Engine or Baneslayer Angel or whatever (I don't usually play the control).
What I'm trying to say is that it's really super good for playing threats without forfeiting your ability to counter your opponent's plays. Furthermore, since it's in response to an opponent's play, they should have fewer resources available to deal with it before you can start punching them in the face with it.
It will also let you play sorceries on your opponent's turn. There's gotta be a way to break that, maybe even in standard.
@puresightmerrow
Since Counterlash will counter an artifact or creature, it will probably be their turn, so the Blightsteel Colossus kind of has haste, too.
@DarthParallax
You know Counterlash has to resolve before you play a free spell off it, right? You ordered the stack wrong. Also, wouldn't Storm Crow have resolved anyways?
SUDDEN NICOL BOLAS OMNOM NOM NOM
Rule 608.2f - If an effect gives a player the option to pay mana, he or she may activate mana abilities before taking that action. If an effect specifically instructs or allows a player to cast a spell during resolution, he or she does so by putting that spell on top of the stack, then continuing to cast it by following the steps in rules 601.2a–h, except no player receives priority after it's cast. The currently resolving spell or ability then continues to resolve, which may include casting other spells this way. No other spells can normally be cast and no other abilities can normally be activated during resolution.
If a spell or ability allows you to cast a spell as part of its effect, then you can ignore normal timing restrictions to cast that spell. Otherwise cards like Isochron Scepter wouldn't work, because timing restrictions would normally prevent you from casting spells during the resolution of spells and abilities.
...
On the other hand, the following ruling from Eye of the Storm suggests otherwise:
You must still follow any restrictions on when you can cast the spell, such as "cast only during combat" or "cast only on your own turn."
...
On a third hand, if that meant you were unable to cast copies of sorceries if the ability triggers due to something being cast at instant speed, you would think the ruling would just say so, instead of merely alluding to Seedtime and cards like Berserk.
Yes, I see what you are saying. I do believe that the intention of the card was to cast any type of card that your opponent is casting, but the wording on the card does not state it that way. There really should be some clarification.
And regarding the Isochron Scepter it says what type of cards can be imprinted with it. So it is rather exclusive, whereas this card would seemingly be inclusive.
After rereading this card, I am even more sure that with it written the way that it is, the effect does not put a spell of any type on the stack. The rule you pointed out is irrelevant me thinks.
"You may cast a nonland card in your hand without paying its mana cost" still requires you to cast the spell. But this effect happens AFTER this card resolves. Which means priority is reset. For instance, your opponent could counter the spell you choose to cast. Therefore making this cards effect HIGHLY exclusive.
It is no good atm, Wizards will need to rewrite the card into a couple of the following options:
"Counter target spell. If target spell is countered in this way you may choose a nonland card that shares a card type with the countered spell and put it on the stack as though it had just been cast."
or
"Counter target spell. Then you may cast a spell from your hand that shares a card type with the countered spell. If the spell is a creature, artifact, or enchantment it gets flash until end of turn. If it is a sorcery you may cast it as though it were an instant"
The first one would prolly be the best. It adds the restriction that only if the spell is actually countered from this card, can the follow up ability be triggered. But they would both work.
Please send ideas and comments anytime. I hope I am wrong on this one. bhowe@cfl-usa.com
I dunno, I'm not seeing it. It's great in theory, but it's not going to help you come from behind OR stop their all-important early plays, which is how blue control is supposed to dominate, right?
Probably the best way to cheat in Emrakul, the Aeons Torn (WITH extra turn!) ever printed.
This will likely become an EDH staple for many Blue players,
and it could even show up in some competitive control decks
as a 2-for-one means of getting out their fatty.
I think I'll add one of these and one Jin-Gitaxias, Core Augur to my Esper Control deck and see how they pan out.
Cheating Jin out during *their* turn is just too nefarious to not attempt.
Player 1: I cast a Terastodon.
Player 2: Very well, I Counterlash it.
*resolves*
Player 2: And now I cast a Ulamog for free.
Player 1: Nope, Nix.
I just found the perfect context for a 1 dollar rare. Whoopie.
Or is legendary something different than card type?
It's not even really the ability to drop your fatty for free. It's the HUGE swing in tempo. "Nice finisher you brought out. I'mma say 'NOPE' and put out my own instead, and btw it has de facto haste now." This thing is vicious.
The card types are artifact, creature, enchantment, instant, land, plane, planeswalker, sorcery, tribal, and vanguard, as specified in the comprehensive rules. Legendary, snow, and world are supertypes and do not count (logically, Tribal should be a supertype too... eh, their logic not mine). Creature types such as human and dragon do not count either.
Didn't Dire Straights sing about this card?
Me: Nope! Counterlash play worldspine wurm.
Opponent: ...
Look again. It doesn't mention anything about color, just type.