First comment! Now that that is out of the way....
Basically a Counterspell for a Mill deck, I can get ride of my Cancels now and actually use both a Counter AND a Mill card to use for my Mill Dimir deck. Given that the cost of 1UB and not 1UU, I feel that this card is very appropriated, and very cost friendly when it comes to a deck that focuses on Mill....
ALL WILL FEAR THE DIMIR!!!!
lorendorky
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(7 votes)
One of this cards greatest strengths is the color weight. Hitting {U}{B} can me much easier than {U}{U} in a multi color deck.
Towers76
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(9 votes)
I don't have a good reason why I just know I like this card. It's odd to see a hard counter without restriction that doesn't have UU in the mana cost.
According to Wizards, hard counters like this would always have two blue mana in its cost, yet Psychic Strike only needs 1 blue, makes me wonder if Wiz is beginning to change that policy.
Purplerooster
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
At the same CMC as the standard of counterspells (cancel) and gives a minor mill boost that can be extremely relevant.
Curlie-Joe
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
I still like dissipate better, but I can't complain about a hard-counter for limited that is 3 cmc, with a tiny mill bonus
handoflazav_414
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Very good cancel card. That's a step up from Psychic Drain in the original Ravnica.
Blackworm_Bloodworm
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I wish this would have milled for 3 instead; It would still be perfectly fair if it did. Actually, if it were up to me, I'd have it "Grind" instead. (mill 'til you hit a land)
xenohedron
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(6 votes)
Hard counter without in the cost, without a horrible CMC (Fall of the Gavel). According to Maro, hard counters now only need two colored mana, one of which is blue, not necessarily both. This is strong, the counterspell is useful for Dimir and the milling is a bonus.
MisterAction
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(2 votes)
It requires you to play two colors... but its effect is better than a monocolored card of the same CMC... but its extra benefit is small and only makes a difference in certain decks/situations.
This is a great example of a fair multicolor design.
Strictly better name than Cancel. Also damn near better in any deck that can run it.
Moxxy
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Better in decks that run 3+ colors than cancel I feel. You don't want to waste a turn getting UU right away, the first thing you want to do is get all your colors out which makes this better for keeping tempo.
igniteice
★☆☆☆☆ (1.5/5.0)(1 vote)
I knew I loved this card the moment I saw it. Almost strictly slightly better than Undermine, due to being less color intensive, though it sacrifices a lightning bolt for a mill 2. I don't mind the tradeoff. Throwing three cards into the graveyard and getting a hard counter against a bomb is fantastic.
Totema
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
I have conflicted feelings about this card. On one hand, it's a hard counter that only requires a splash of blue, which is eyebrow-raising alone. But the secondary effect feels inconsequential, even in a mill deck. I'd feel better if it was milling three or more.
jstorrie
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
In a UB or UBx deck this can actually be easier to cast than Cancel. The mill 2 - which may provide card advantage to your opponent - is the cost you pay for this versatility. Turning the cost into a bonus by playing an aggressive mill plan is actually just paying a different sort of cost - by restricting your other card choices.
I think either price is eminently playable in Standard right now. If you're UB/UBx control, your Nephalia Drownyards present a real mill-out risk, so accidentally flipping value into their graveyard isn't too bad, especially if you have Rest in Peace from the board. Alternatively, UB/UBx aggro mill might finally be strong enough to play thanks to the Dimir mill support from RTR block.
DritzD27
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Complimentary link to Bloodchief Ascension. A fairly costed hard counter in the right colors for the Ascension's usual deck that will do an 4/4 life split just for stopping them from making a come back. Seems pretty sweet to me.
Dankirk
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
My biggest problem with the card is that I can't use it on turn 2. You must run cheaper control/removal in addition to this. You just cannot let that turn 2 Elvish Archdruid survive to his 3rd turn.
Opeth2010
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This is really good if your opponent consistently waits until after the attack phase to cast Creatures and other Sorcery speed stuff. Let's say you just hit one of their attackers with an Azorius Charm. Now, they go to cast their follow-up spell and WHAM! Countered, and you just milled away the threat they were hoping to redraw next turn. Granted, this would take 5 mana and an ideal situation to pull off, but if they want to play around this card for the reason stated above, they'll have to cast that spell during Main Phase I, which all good players know is usually a fairly big disadvantage. I'd run probably just 1 or maybe 2 in Esper Control.
UKenobi
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Am I really the first person to point out how fun this is now that Theros is out and people are scrying all the time with their scry-lands? I mean, sure, I'd rather hit them with a Dissolve, since that's always useful, and this is only useful on the turns where they scry, so I run both.
But there's nothing like watching an opponent drop a scry-land, have a look of sheer joy at what they'll draw next turn, then play something - only for me to counter their spell and mill off the card they were so happy they were about to get.
I'm undecided on this card. If it has use, it's strictly in a mill deck. I've been looking into the possibility of post-BNG Standard UB Control/Mill. The deck has allotted space for 8 counters (in addition to the limited counter ability in Dimir Charms), which right now are planned to be 4 Dissolve and 4 Essence Scatter. The question is... is the turn-earlier flexibility of Essence Scatter worth more or less than the targeting flexibility AND mill of 2 of Psychic Strike? The format is certainly heavy on creatures right now, and Essence Scatter has proved pretty strong as a main-deck counter in my experience played UW Control.
The Mill 2 by itself is fairly inconsequential. It's a tiny bonus on top of the counter. But since it is how the deck is trying to win, it's hard to say. I will be testing it out extensively to determine which I would rather have.
GruulicAzorian
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
i would definitely use this card in a deck, but i dont play black... i think this is an excellent card because of the mill and the health drop, but also because of the multi drop which makes it easier to use in a multi deck. this is one of those cards that can save you from a heavy bomb.
Alvorada
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Is it just me, or does that thing on his chest look an awful lot like the Dimir insignia?
Could it be that their insignia is modeled off of a parasitic creature that feeds off the memories of its victims? Or am I just looking way too deeply into this art?
Ataraxiom
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Between this card and Pilfered Plans, UB Mill/Control is finally starting to get some edge over the typical Monoblue builds. Although I can't see it keeping up with the sheer efficiency of a WU Control deck, this certainly gives those decks a reason to look into going Esper.
Having this card, Pilfered Plans, and Nephalia Drownyard in a Control build allows you to mill out your opponent without really deviating from the Control strategy you had in the first place. I mean... you were probably going to be using some Cancel or Divination type effects anyways, right?
I love how splashing a second colour can upgrade an already-solid card like this. Certainly not core-set material, but a wonderful way to give a plane like Ravnica some personalized flavour.
Comments (27)
Now that that is out of the way....
Basically a Counterspell for a Mill deck, I can get ride of my Cancels now and actually use both a Counter AND a Mill card to use for my Mill Dimir deck. Given that the cost of 1UB and not 1UU, I feel that this card is very appropriated, and very cost friendly when it comes to a
ALL WILL FEAR THE DIMIR!!!!
Actually, if it were up to me, I'd have it "Grind" instead. (mill 'til you hit a land)
According to Maro, hard counters now only need two colored mana, one of which is blue, not necessarily both. This is strong, the counterspell is useful for Dimir and the milling is a bonus.
This is a great example of a fair multicolor design.
I think either price is eminently playable in Standard right now. If you're UB/UBx control, your Nephalia Drownyards present a real mill-out risk, so accidentally flipping value into their graveyard isn't too bad, especially if you have Rest in Peace from the board. Alternatively, UB/UBx aggro mill might finally be strong enough to play thanks to the Dimir mill support from RTR block.
But there's nothing like watching an opponent drop a scry-land, have a look of sheer joy at what they'll draw next turn, then play something - only for me to counter their spell and mill off the card they were so happy they were about to get.
The Mill 2 by itself is fairly inconsequential. It's a tiny bonus on top of the counter. But since it is how the deck is trying to win, it's hard to say. I will be testing it out extensively to determine which I would rather have.
i think this is an excellent card because of the mill and the health drop, but also because of the multi drop which makes it easier to use in a multi deck.
this is one of those cards that can save you from a heavy bomb.
Could it be that their insignia is modeled off of a parasitic creature that feeds off the memories of its victims? Or am I just looking way too deeply into this art?
Having this card, Pilfered Plans, and Nephalia Drownyard in a Control build allows you to mill out your opponent without really deviating from the Control strategy you had in the first place. I mean... you were probably going to be using some Cancel or Divination type effects anyways, right?
I love how splashing a second colour can upgrade an already-solid card like this. Certainly not core-set material, but a wonderful way to give a plane like Ravnica some personalized flavour.