Worse than Stoic Rebuttal, with which it shares the same standard environment. I don't want Counterspell back, but it would be nice to see a card that gives interesting options or works with a certain kind of deck rather than just a strictly worse variation.
Posted By:
VampireCat
(7/13/2011 8:17:32 AM)
I've been on the fence for a long time about this Counterspellvs. Cancel issue. Is Counterspell unbalanced or unfun? I think a pretty sizable number of people would say it isn't unbalanced. As for fun, that's entirely subjective. It's never fun to have a big play countered, but it isn't like either spell counters things any less. It doesn't make that much of a difference in casual games, because that's where all the big, expensive, flashy spells see play; it makes hardly any difference at all in a drawn out casual game whether it's Cancel or Counterspell doing the work. There's going to be lots of mana on both sides of the table anyway. In Standard, the only place where the 2 vs. 3 mana cost is actually relevant, Mana Leak basically is Counterspell, except that it's less blue-heavy. Furthermore, Standard is typically more about winning than fun. As a side note, I've never found it very fun to be unable to play a creature with 3 or less toughnes... (see all)
Posted By:
CJM2
(7/21/2011 10:14:53 AM)
@lorendorky:
"If I have to spend 4 mana on Demolish instead of Stone Rain then you have to spend 3 mana on a hard counter."
I'm not of the mind that Counterspell should return, but that's nowhere near a fair comparison. Demolish costs 1 more than Stone Rain because it does something Stone Rain can't. So while probably a worse card, it's not strictly worse. Cancel is Counterspell that costs more. That's it. If it were {U}{U}{1} "Counter target spell OR draw a card," you would have a case. But it's not. So you don't.
For another red example, look at all the rage over Incinerate replacing Lightning Bolt as the red instant 3-damage-anywhere spell. Incinerate costs {1} more, and is a worse card, but it still gets you something the ic... (see all)
Posted By:
Lyoncet
(7/30/2011 11:10:49 PM)
I prefer this to Counterspell.
Posted By:
NeoKoda
(10/9/2011 7:43:00 PM)
Look with M12 us red players have to deal with shock indead of lightning bolt, so you blues can live with one extra mana
Posted By:
marwinshieldscale
(11/6/2011 7:47:42 PM)
If I have to spend 4 mana on Demolish instead of Stone Rain then you have to spend 3 mana on a hard counter.
Posted By:
lorendorky
(7/12/2011 10:57:51 AM)
As a long time magic player, I can see both sides of the argument here and quite honestly, I'm not sure what side of the fence I'm on...even though my vintage control blue deck costs over $5,000 going by today's deck prices.
While this deck rarely loses (mana drain, counterspell, force of will, etc.) it's really kind of boring to play. My opponent essentially can't do anything, and even if they DO get a creature out, my man-o'war pops it right back in his hand or my control magic takes it next turn.
The "fun", as people call it, is really gone on both sides of the table. I don't know about you but games that I know I'm going to win even before I start playing bore me. I like a challenge. And when NOT playing that deck and going up against it in some form, well, it's just not fun to not be able to play any of your spells.
Counterspell in standard is obviously not as powerful as it is in other formats, but it's still 2cmc to counter any spell with NO drawbacks. Yeah, I know...all us o... (see all)
Posted By:
landboysteve
(8/25/2011 11:26:44 AM)
5 stars for the Card Crusher meme reference (http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/card-crusher#.TmiCmM2yBhV)
Posted By:
TastehWaffle
(9/8/2011 1:59:50 AM)
I'm still surprised that they didn't use Dissipate as the standard 1UU counterspell. I know it's a bit different than Cancel, but I think it has a better name and overall a better feel to what a spell should do to stop another spell. Honestly I would think they are only about a half star difference in power, and their effects could mean nothing or a whole lot depending on very specific effects. So, I would think that Dissipate would have been the better choice.
Still, I grew up on Cancel so I think it's very fair regardless. About the best example of a middle line card there is. 3.5 out of 5.
Posted By:
sincleanser
(8/18/2011 10:14:34 AM)
I'll never get over how bad cancel is. That said, I'm not remotely interested in buying an entirely new card collection every two years to play standard, so it's not a big deal. Conditional counterspells just aren't very good in casual play because you never see the same deck more than once, so if you want counter you need a hard counter. And counterspell, forbid, and many others just do it better than cancel does.
Posted By:
AEgg
(7/16/2011 11:26:32 AM)