Which Counterspells are Worth It? | A Guide to Countermagic in Commander
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- Опубликовано: 4 июл 2024
- Welcome to your complete guide on counterspells and countermagic in EDH! We're going over what's worth it for budget, competitive, and regular commander!
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In this episode of "Worth It" we are discussing all the counterspells we think are great for commander, including competitive and budget! What are the best counterspells in commander, you may ask! Well never fear we have the answers, at least according to us! After this you'll know our best counterspells for budget and competitive and even just regular commander. 
Игры
What do you guys feel about narsets reversal?
AH! We love that card! I knew we'd forget some 😂
Such a sneaky “counter” spell :D
It's super awesome but very situatonal
Fork clones have always been pseudo counterspells. Their ceiling is as high as the meta, but I play them for the versatility. Nothing is better than someone about to win on a damage spell line and you add a fork to the stack.
@@justcausee I love the fork types, as well as cards that collapse the stack, although those are more political and a hail Mary. I usually save stack enders for dramatic moments.
Red Elemental Blast and Pyroblast are amazing because it’s good even if no one is playing blue because that means no one is playing blue 😂
The classic Win, Win
"You would never play more than 10 counterspells"
Baral: those are rookie numbers, we gotta pump those up
Baral chief of playing 2 hour games
Baral, chief of 1v1
*My vadrick deck with 20-something counterspells*: Pathetic
@@keabonhall9046 I attempted to turn a 30 minute game into a 4 hour game last time I played my baral deck lol
lol yup also Talrand, I think my Talrand deck runs something like 18 counterspells
You are the perfect power level to me. I love the fact that you dont play just to win but you play to have the chance to win and to have fun. I've learned a lot about commander from you two. So thanks lol
That's great to hear, thanks!
also i really like that you guys actively listen to feedback and started including more pics of cards you are talking about. even though i didnt request it myself, i've seen that suggestion in your comments quite a lot. always cool to have content creators who care for their viewers and not just the views
I am honing my skills as an editor. I want the product to be as good as possible my German lover!
@@NitpickingNerds we Germans love the NitpickingNerds
The best and the only counterspell i'm playing is Nullstone Gargoyle
Ewwwww! Lol 😝
😆
I'm worse I love me some decree of silence combos.
Knowledge Pool lock, anyone?
My Muldrotha deck has used Stifle to counter a Bojuka Bog land trigger to keep my graveyard.
God gamer!
my favourite arcane denial interaction is countering my own 1 cmc spell to get a delayed "draw 3" for 3
That’s so cute!
LOL I wrote that also *HighFive :P
@@mr.mammuthusafricanavus8299 great minds think alike haha
So it’s really pay 3, discard two, then draw 3. It’s like a worse faithless looting.
@@MTG_Ronin yeah I know but it feels really strong when I do it
You did said Negate is budget playable - but I think you were too down on it. It is more versatile than swan song, more reliable than stubborn denial, and more splashable than counterspell. Yes 1 colorless mana is something, but we're still in the realm of 2cc counters here.
I’m not a fan of it but it is playable.
I agree wholeheartedly with David. I’m not sure why you guys aren’t fans of it. More than half of what I feel the need to counter has always been noncreature spells. It isn’t mana intensive or color intensive. It protects win-cons and can stop a lot of them. Unless your meta is extremely creature heavy, I see no reason not to run it, especially on a budget.
You talk about 4 cmc Foil, which has an alternate cost of being a 3 for 1, but for some reason negate doesn’t make the cut.
Negate is amazing card for its monetary price.
I remember learning once that the mana from mana drain was supposed to be a >downside< because counterspell was determined to be too good.
Right cause unused mana used to deal damage to you. I’m surprised they didn’t errata the spell to just deal damage to you for the spells cmc.
Best counterspell is Veil of Summer and it’s not even mentioned.
nah force of will and mana drain are better
Lapse of certainty is great because it white, so it's unexpected, messes with the opponents tempo by sending the card back to the top of the deck, and is splashable, since it 2 generic and one white
Also, if you like in Boros you can proceed to steal the card you've just countered with Ragavan/Grenzo/Robber of the Riches.
I remember when cryptic command felt like a staple counterspell and now i forgot about it until now
Yeah I've tried it a few times, thankfully I proxied it before buying and wasn't impressed
@@NitpickingNerds im into cedh and constructed modern as an aside to my opinion lol, so take with it what you will, but its tap down the team is VERY relevant imho, especially with so many craterhoof decks (at least in my local "casual" meta)
Honestly I was shocked at where cryptic command was put. Tapping down ALL the dudes my opponents control? Bouncing their commander, countering that pesky spell and cantrip? Screams auto include to me for mono blue or decks with good fixing.
@@FRAAANKYSUUUPER counter spell, bounce mystic sanctuary get it back repeat.
Note for cEDH: effects that counter triggers are basically ran because of Oracle. While there are other abilities that are relevant that "Stifle effects" can counter, if Oracle was banned, I can nearly guarantee they'd stop seeing play. I also feel that you guys represent the mindset of most EDH players, which is figure out something fun or something interesting that you want to make, and then make that deck to the best of your ability with the resources available. Also, tell Ken that there's way better cards to run in Elesh Norn than Mana Tithe, someone needs to.
They can also disrupt scepter's imprint ability
@@carlosespadas1022 I'd say disrupting it at activation and forcing someone else to remove it is better, though depends on board state and turn order.
I'm fine stifling bojuka big or tormod's crypt. Some decks just find uses for stifle for incredibly specific reasons
@@rileypowell5354 this is especially important for those sultai and grixis decks that want to use their graveyards for shenanigans
Hearing you guys talk about your goals for the year is awesome, you’re absolutely crushing it, keep up the good work :)
Thanks so much!! So happy to be crushing our goals 😎👍🏻
My defence of Tales End... is every commander is a legendary
And nimble obstructionist, is good in the Gave cycle deck, because you cycle for free.
I would term you guys as high powered casual. Something with just a bit more bite than the Command Zone but still stalwarts of non-linear gameplay
"Stalwarts of non-linear gameplay" I love that description 😂
maybe they're a bit more competitive than command zone but the nerds sure as hell feel a lot more welcoming imo
@@ExKiwi-yw8er we love all!!!
Been watching your videos since one was posted to /r/EDH , and I have to say the quality of the content has gotten so good. Every video I'm hooked the whole time. I actually can't believe that video was 40 minutes, felt like it passed in 10.
Spell swindle is one of those that I always really wanna play for fun synergy but always gets cut for being 5 mana. Maybe i'll try it for once, since the nerds like it. :)
Find a deck that it has synergies with.
I put spell swindle in my jodah deck
To your CEDH point: I have one CEDH deck, and it's Ruric Thar stax. The single goal of that deck is to demolish blue decks. It's the casual's CEDH deck.
The c in CEDH is for casual!
Great video as always. Really looking forward to seeing some gameplay from you. Happy New Year!
I like the power level this channel promotes. Using a scale from 1-10 where 9 & 10 is cEDH, I would say this channel promotes playing in the 7-8 power range. From my experience decks in this range are able to perform at powerful tables and can be piloted to be suitable for lower-powered tables.
Keep up the great content my dudes!
Rewind always cast's zero, but it can net positive mana. I was playing my eligeth and siana deck and it untapped my 3 mana flipped dowsing dagger and my guildless commons to really explode and have a huge turn. I reccomend it especially if you play multiple lands that tap for more than one mana source (Bouncelands, temple of the false god, ect. :) feels so good
The 3-5+ counterspells that give a bonus effect to me usually feel like 2 for 1ing the opponent and I love playing them in my vial smasher//sakashima deck bc the high cmc just becomes a bunch of damage on the table. Best feeling ever! Great video also
You guys are Optimized.
The most practical and competitive a deck can be without actually being in the Cedh category.
That’s exactly what we strive for!
In my opinion the reason why you are so amazing is exactly because your content is something in between edh and cedh. I am always watching you and love your content
That is what we strive for!
Another great video guys, thanks!
Happy to hear it!
Smashed your goal of 30k, congrats, lads.
Hey guys, i am a follower since
Omg one of our original subscribers!!! Thanks for sticking with us all this time!
You guys are perfect 🤩 literally the exact power level i want to be playing at !!
Amazing content, period.
(Aside from missing the big one “Narset’s Reversal” which I see was mentioned in the comments)
You guys are hitting home runs.
All we need to do is turn the home runs into grand slams and we’ll be the Denny’s of magic content!! :D
Wow, I have no words lol.
What a perfect response
Some morph abilities for counters is nice since morph counts as a special action. Like a mana ability. Split second spells are rare, but it's good to throw out a willbender whenever someone is casting one.
Arcane denial is one of my favorite cards. Responding to someone's Veto by countering your own spell for the card advantage, it's absolutely great.
Arcane Denial is great
The counter spells I like to play are negate, counterspell, and fierce guardianship. Great video, I would love to see gameplay videos and would support a Kickstarter for that.
Sometime this year!!!
Illumination and Withering Boon are two of my favorite counterspells. Sure their respective colors can deal with what they counter, but sometimes you just really really need something to not hit the battlefield (ETB triggers and instant speed combos, for example).
Foil is pretty sweet in Rielle, the Everwise. You pitch two lands for a zero mana counterspell and draw two to replace them :)
Lol, I play both Cedh and casual, from elsha all they way down to a janky spider tribal deck. Firstly, you two are awesome, and secondly I'd say you play 3-4 decks, like not the top decks and strategies that's you'd find on the cedh database and stuff, but you're decks seem to be winning machines that are more spiked than tipical "casual"
I really like steel sabotage and overwhelming denial. Denial is wonderful for protecting a combo line when you're going off, or to end a counter war.
Great video! Sad to see narsets reversal and venser not get any shout out. Iv found thassas intervention to be an all star in my kalamax list. Also remanding your own interaction feels minty!
Gavi Nest Warden is the deck for Nimble Obstructionist, as it costs 0 to cycle, you counter a trigger and you draw for free
I would agree that it fits perfectly in that deck.
Spell swindle is rediculous in Urza. Even if you counter a 3 or 4 cmc spell, you still have a few arcane signets essentially, plus you can sac them if Urza gets removed.
Plus Urza offsets the difficulty of holding up 5 mana
Weird one: Dawn Charm. 1W, counters target spell that targets you, but can also regen creatures and prevent combat damage. A little iffy, but there's no reason I wouldn't put this in something like Feather (or any boros deck in a lower power level really)
Dawn Charm and Lapse of Certainty should be white staples, especially if you're running Boros. They give white tricks and answers that white doesn't otherwise have, plus they're both in Sunforger range, meaning they won't necessarily need to be in your hand if someone's trying to wipe your board or make you sac an indestructible/protected creature; just remove Sunforger and BAM immediate counter.
I've played three games with my new Boros deck and I think Dawn Charm has saved me every time. Sunforging for DC to stop a Villainous Wealth feels pretty good.
I play sublime epiphany in my izzet decks to combo it with Dualcaster Mage
Yeah that's a good reason!
Great video, y’all really help a Timmy like me to learn the game
So happy to hear it! Hopefully you've checked out our other "Worth It" videos too! :D
The X CMC counter spells are perfect for a Mizzix deck. Especially power sink and mana burst!
I once ran rewind and unwind in a Taigam ojutai master deck, as if I had to counter removal before I attacked with Taigam, it would mean less mana to rebound with. It's just one of those niche cases where a counterspell like that can really pay off.
That interaction actually isn't great because it only works if it is your turn, after Taigam attacks, and only if someone casts a spell on your next upkeep, when they know you can rebound the counter.
@@calebzuercher3772 Well, yes, just during my turn, but not only after Taigam attacks. The idea is that someone might try and kill Taigam before I go to attacks but after i move to attacks, in order to stop me from giving him haste.
Maybe it's still not good, but that was my idea.
I have always liked Disallow, the art with Baral and the versatility of countering an activated or triggered ability has saved my life before!
Here's an oldie but goodie for the counterspell list. Snap. Snap is just like rewind, but it only requires two converted mana cost instead of 4, and like rewind it untaps the two mana used to cast it. Now that I think about it, it's probably what rewind was designed to replace.
Great Video! Archmage’s Charm is even better than just controlling artifacts!!! So many things to nab 😋
Always takes sol ring lol
I hope you guys are able to do gameplay in the future. I’m certain it would be awesome.
Absolutely on our to-do list
Best non-blue counterspells: Tibalt's Trickery, Mana Titheand, "Veil of the Summer" (ok, the last one doesn't counter, but it frustrates your opponent as any counter does 99% of the time).
One of my favorite counter spells (that was not mentioned on this video) is counter flux. I am surprised you did not mention it since it is a three mana counter spell that can't be countered and it has kicker which if you pay it, you counter everything on the stack
i remember running delay and silence in a blue white delver/myth realized deck. that with boomerang and early frost makes for some pissed off opponents.
Awesome ! Thanks ! :D
Awesome video, guys! =)
Thank you for saying so!
Great advice my counter game is bad more been a GB player so knowing how to pick counter spells for decks has been a problem.
I have always liked the counter spells that exile off the stack like mindbreak trap or summary dismissal. Mainly because some ppl try to slam spells through counters with abilities and it's fun to say no.
I think Spellburst in a Vadrik or Mizzix deck would be kind of interesting. Being able to buy it back with the colorless discount and use it over and over again might be relevant
I don’t think remand gets enough love in this format. It seems unintuitive in commander but honestly, for 1B the best case scenario being you timewalk someone, and worst case is you cycle it and trip someone up is great in my mind.
It maybe better than we think. We haven’t played a lot.
Lapse of Certainty and Oblation are two of my favourite white cards
Im surprised Trickbind wasnt mentioned for Cedh. It is one of my number one includes because of the split second.
Theres 3 things I wish every gameplay channel had: turn counter, hand size and something to show how long the game was in real time. Here's to another good year of nitpicking !
Hey that’s good to know, thanks for your input! What channels do you watch?
@@NitpickingNerds i watch just a few:
Mtg muddstah
mtg the stack
commander replay
split second (one of my favourites)
the trinisphere
the 99
casually competitive mtg (my favourite)
Quest for the janklord
laboratory maniacs
affinity for commander
Playing with power mtg
The command zone (not a big fan)
@@InternetHumanMan that’s like all of them lol
I hope you make it to 30k subs by the end of the year!
So much content! :D
ALL OF THE CONTENT
Nimble Obstructionist is for Gavi, Nest Warden
The value... it's too strong
thoughts on muddle the mixture? I've found the transmute often comes in as a lifesaver and makes up for it only hitting instants and sorceries
its cost efficient and very versatile, a great card IMO
Yeah, it's solid and can do something if you don't want to counter a spell
I mentioned it! Beezy must of not heard me
@@NitpickingNerds BZ is too tall to be blamed for any shortcomings
@@dino-wer-kuh3498 Beezy is all of our short comings
You guys are like great value josh and jimmy from command zone and I love it haha
Congrats on making your sub goal in half the time :)
If Remand gets a nod, so should Narset's Reversal. It isn't a "true" counterspell, but it's a counter that can win you the game.
We love that card! It was just accidentally left out!
I'm running a few creature counter magic cards under Chulane so I can counter and get the card draw and possible extra land drop.
When it comes to running counter magic I always fine the tried and true double blue to be a most trusty go to. Sure free counter is always welcome but I sometimes dont want to pitch cards in my hand unless I absolutely HAVE to. rather just spend the double blue! LOL
The free spells can be worse in certain metas fir sure.
New Subscriber for 2021 here from Bronx NY!
Woohoo, glad to have you! This will be the year of the Nerds!
glad you mention desertion, I love the art and its in my edric gain control of stuff deck. I also think Hinder deserves a little more love due to Tunnel Vision being a win condition if paired together. That picture in the background with the full art lands is awesome looking. Is something like that expensive? Where did you get it?
I realize this is very deck-specific, but Spellstutter Sprite plus Riptide Laboratory is amazing. Venser works, to, but that’s two more mana. You get the cast/EtB effects.
i love spellstutter sprite
@@dino-wer-kuh3498 Fair point, however, I did say it was very deck-specific. Of note, Glen Alendra Archmage is both a faerie and a wizard (that can be bounced with Riptide Lab to reset it). I have an Alela 1v1 Commander deck. However, the Archmage is a bit too expensive for the deck - only so many slots for 4-drops (especially that require additional investment).
Mana tithe is one of my favorite trap cards. When it works it is hands down the best feel good in the game.
Kind of like a pet card!
@@NitpickingNerds I'm aware.
Holy shit I mana tithed a finale of devastation that was going to win the game and dude had completely tapped out for. Feels good man.
In regards to dovins veto, they can just let the veto resolve, and then cast a second counter spell on the original thing you wanted to counter. You still force them to have 2 counters, but any counter spell does that
I play Nimble obstructionist in my Sigg Deck. Sometimes a live saver on a oracle or an hulk, but most of the time it's a flying draw engine.
Personally I love your power level. You’re not hiding the intent to make wack strategies as good as possible. I’d take your content over Command Zone because at least here I’m not getting hypocritical advice that’s homogenized, regurgitated Reddit posts. You guys feel top end casual without everything going combo, combo, combo. All quality
Though we do advocate some combos
I was skipping around your video so I may have missed it, but did you guys mention Mindbreak Trap, Summary Dismissal and Whirlwind Denial? I use them for anti-cascade strategies really hoses Maelstrom Wander - which is always a good thing!! Also these can help in a wizard counter war.
We didn’t talk about any of those but they are all good meta calls.
We aren't really fans of them but we didn't stick them in traps either, so they're somewhere in the middle. Not really cards you'll see us build with though
On Dovin's Veto. The problem with it is that several cards can just UNO reverse its upside. Unsubstantiate, Commit // Memory, Narset's Reversal all can get around the upside. It's a good card, a better counterspell, but it won't always solve your counter war problem
That's such a sublime epiphany. Giggity lol it's so cool love it
Thanks pawz
Just fund you guys today,
Very Good tips just subscribed
Thanks so much, hope to see more comments from you soon!
I'm surprised that yall didn't mention overwhelming denial. That counterspell has came through for me a lot. That surge mechanic the spell has is a godsend on top of countering any spell and being uncounterable. I have it in my aminatou deck and I secured a win with approach of the second sun. Someone tried to play a fierce guardianship after I seen everyone was tapped out but that surge cost came in clutch 😎
My favourite EDH counterspell is Muddle the Mixture.
One of my favorites is Whirlwind Denial. It's so versatile in that it's not limited to spells. And honestly, just hold it and time it right for that big bomb, a Planeswalker ultimate trigger, or you name it. And realistically the pay 4 is hefty for a 3 cost.
I really enjoyed this list. I disagree on things like Mana Tithe and Voidslime, but it was a enjoyable listen.
Cancel is definitely trash though, agreed.
Wow you guys are awesome
Lifeforce! Honorable mention.
Glen with spark double is amazing
A few cards I'm surprised didn't get a mention:
Flusterstorm- the Ur-force spike. A CEDH staple.
Trickbind- Stifle's better brother. For 1 extra generic mana you get split second, and win control of the stack.
Mindbreak Trap- slightly more playgroup dependent. You exile spells from the stack, and if there are 3 or more spells, it's free. When it's good, it's game winning good. When it's bad, it's still pretty good.
I found override, going to see how it works in my artifact deck
Mystic Confluence is like Thassa's Intervention that you have to cast for x=3, but the tax is more and you can bounce creatures. You can also draw more than just two cards.
Memory Lapse is also an great 2 mana option. Putting the card on top basicly time walks your opponent.
I kinda disagree on Forbid. 3 mana is steep, but if you can buyback it, you can play the control game so hard. Its buyback is even awesome in Rielle, the Everwise.
Also, Thwart is a great 4 mana counter. It's drawback is even a boon when playing Tatyova or Aesi. You need to be heavy into blue, tho.
Brian Weissman plays it in Nin. Its pretty much a piece of a lock once it gets going.
Time stop dosent get enough love, I know keeping 6 mana open to counter a spell is a lot, but then again it is such fun to see the person combo on the stack and you go : yea let's empty that stack you've played enough,
(I think at this point I might be mostly playing it for the memes of it I should probably take it out of my deck)
You guys are great
Thank you!!!
oh wow, im sooo hyped for this vid! i love saying "no!"! but nothing beats saying "no!" for 0-2CMC!
We couldn’t agree more!
What do you guys think of spells like Jwari's Disruption, Neutralize and Censor? Their counter abilities would put them under your trap cards section, but they can also be cycled away or be used as a land, so would their flexibility redeem them?
Around 28:07, Beezy mentioned that he had a 1-Drop themed deck. I've been tinkering with a similar mindset for Ramos and 1-Drop hybrid mana cost cards from Shadowmoor block.
Who was your deck's commander and do you happen to have a deck list for it? I'd like to compare and contrast tech options if at all possible.
if gain control counts as counter spell than change the target should also be counted. of cause you cant change the target of a creature spell and not all instants and sorcery's have have targets, but sometimes spells have targets when they shouldn't like time warp and thats probably the most insane target for change the target, but its basically a very restricted gain control and most of those effects are in red so its basically just the added text "with one or more targets" because its red compared to the blue version that just says gain control.
What about disrupting shoal? It's definitely my favorite free counterspell on a budget.
Abjure... Super random but has done me good the times I've used it.