This card is almost as bad as frazzle. I'll take cancel anyday, I mean really is a hard counter too much to ask for when im paying 4 mana? at {2}{U} it wouldnt be awful
ThisisSakon
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
For those times when you really wanted to play two mana leaks, but didn't have a second one
Lazenca_Seifus
★★★★☆ (4.4/5.0)(8 votes)
Better than Cancel or Dissipate because it's more sporting, and if there's anything important in Magic, it's being sporting. Give your opponent a fair shot and all that, yes. You can't try to just WIN, that would be uncouth.
For when finding double blue is hard, like when you are running at least three colors at the prerelease. Fills a need in limited by enabling counterspells in a reasonable way given the format. I don't like this spell, but I respect Wizards for not printing the card I wanted, but the card that was needed.
Jake1991
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
Like anyone would hold back 6 mana.
marmaris74
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(10 votes)
Wait, here me out on this:
Mana Leak is good. Two Mana Leaks in one card must be great! Talk about value!
A hard counter most of the time, but when it fails you're going to have fond memories of Cancel. Wishing you had Cancel is not where you want to be. Ever.
Reversed
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(2 votes)
Four cmc counters should have upsides, not draw backs... See Plasm Capture for the counterspell from this set that doesn't suck.
Purplerooster
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(12 votes)
To effectively play around this in standard, play your one drops when you have 7 mana, 2CMC cards when you have 8 mana, etc. This will make your opponent's Mindstatic a dead card. That's card advantage.
DoragonShinzui
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
...*Collapses from laughter*
Stop it, that tingles.
GlintKawk42
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
oh my god, just COUNTER the damn spell!!!!
Mephy.
★★★★☆ (4.0/5.0)(2 votes)
It's better than Cancel in Return to Ravnica block Limited, due to 3 colors decks. Fills a niche purpose nicely, but still bad.
blindthrall
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Worst card in the set to me.
chainsmoker
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
and still, he was able to pay 6. darn!
spirit_of_blue
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
@Lazenca_Seifus Better than Cancel or Dissipate because it's more sporting, and if there's anything important in Magic, it's being sporting. Give your opponent a fair shot and all that, yes. You can't try to just WIN, that would be uncouth.
Yes, I agree with you, but it should be equal chance for everybody, so after there will be 3{b} - destroy target creature unless opponent will pay 6 mana, you will be right. Until that time, it is just fooling with basic blue characteristic, while giving other colors their own characteristics same or even stronger. Just look how original Terror became Murder, while original Counterspell is becoming this Mindstatic.
Please, measure to all colours same. Not just hose blue, because it can counter. Each color got its characteristic at start. Countering is blue one.
Yes, it's a terrible card. But it looks AMAZING in foil.
Warpix408
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Why wouldn't you run Cancel or Rewind instead? Goblin Electromancer could get the casting price down, but since its from a different set, you can't draft that... and Goblin Electromancer also works with Cancel or Rewind which don't give the opponent the opportunity to pay off the cost.
I guess the one thing its got going for it is that you might be able to trick your opponent into tapping out their mana base, but even that's iffy...
OrgasmandTea
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
For some reason I really like it, and I don't know why. They keep trying to make a Mana Leak that isn't mana leak... like Frightful Delusion. Keep trying wizards. I really want a card like this to work. It's a lot less depressing to be thwarted by this than by Cancel.
Earthdawn
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Belongs in a Bant Control deck. With Arbor Elf and Avacyn's Pilgrim, this spell isn't uncastable.
Continue
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
You'll play it in Limited, but nowhere else, where you can just pay 3 for a hard counter. 0.5/5
Opeth2010
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@Purplerooster: To play around this in Standard, simply put enough pressure on your opponent that they can never afford to leave up 4 mana. THAT is the problem with this card. You're right. It's basically a hard counter when it comes right down to it. However, unlike Rewind, you can't cast it on your opponent's turn with 4 mana up and then turn around and play Advent of the Wurm or Restoration Angel before you untap. This card is simply unacceptable, tempo-wise.
zipec
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
To all constructed players: Some cards are meant to be for limited. This is one of them and its perfectly fine for a common. I personally was happy to include it in all my Dimir drafts.
BirdsOfLlanowar
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Splashable almost hard-counter, underrated. I give it 3 stars.
Comments (29)
Mana Leak is good. Two Mana Leaks in one card must be great! Talk about value!
Stop it, that tingles.
Better than Cancel or Dissipate because it's more sporting, and if there's anything important in Magic, it's being sporting. Give your opponent a fair shot and all that, yes. You can't try to just WIN, that would be uncouth.
Yes, I agree with you, but it should be equal chance for everybody, so after there will be 3{b} - destroy target creature unless opponent will pay 6 mana, you will be right. Until that time, it is just fooling with basic blue characteristic, while giving other colors their own characteristics same or even stronger. Just look how original Terror became Murder, while original Counterspell is becoming this Mindstatic.
Please, measure to all colours same. Not just hose blue, because it can counter. Each color got its characteristic at start. Countering is blue one.
I guess the one thing its got going for it is that you might be able to trick your opponent into tapping out their mana base, but even that's iffy...