This card was made in "Response" to Rishadan Port's dominance in Standard, along with Tsabo's Web.
Posted By:
da-odd-templar
(4/20/2010 9:31:08 PM)
I love spells that counter triggered abilities.
Posted By:
anytwofactors
(7/16/2010 10:40:03 AM)
It's usually strictly sideboard material, but it's good sideboard material.
Unless you play a land animation deck, as Mode very helpfully pointed out.
Posted By:
Tiggurix
(6/5/2010 10:44:40 AM)
One of the earlier cards to allow you to counter an ability, following after Rust and Interdict. Unlike those spells, this one was very much focused with a specific threat in mind. Or as someone else put it, "destroy target Rishadan Port".
Aside from the reasons listed elsewhere, this is a good card to carry in decks where specific lands really help the deck function, e.g. Tolarian Academy et al, Swarmyard, and so on. It's always a good feeling when your opponent "innocently" targets one of your lands via Opposition, only to fail, lose the card, and watch you draw two cards to boot.
Also of note: this card targets the effect rather than the card causing it. This means it can selectively destroy permanents with shroud or hexproof, which is pretty neat.
Posted By:
yyukichigai
(7/21/2011 2:17:33 PM)
JFM 2796 - "Am I missing something? Because all I see is 
Instant, "Draw two cards." Can't you just cast this and not counter anything?"
No, you can't cast a spell that targets unless you have a legal target to cast it on.
That said, it may have been printed as "Screw You, Rishadan Port", but it turned into "Nyah Nyah, Opposition" during the next Standard Metagame.
Posted By:
WhiteWizard42
(9/10/2011 10:17:32 AM)
I'm surprised this card is rated so lowly-
even if the main effect is not always awesome,
drawing two cards for two mana in an Instant isn't too shabby.
The main effect is just an extra bonus as far as I'm concerned,
though I can definitely see its worth as a punishment for Strip Mine and friends.
(and yes, I realize the spell needs a target and can't be cast just to draw-
it's still one of many cards I keep on hand for Cunning Wish)
Posted By:
drpvfx
(3/28/2012 4:49:34 PM)
while the counter ability is quite specific, if you can pull it off, the bounty is AMAZING. a double cantrip for 2 mana is worth it.
Just remember, you have to fulfill the requisite, in that you have to stop a spell or ability targeting your lands.
Posted By:
Pigfish99
(5/12/2012 5:19:02 PM)
"Hahaha, you're playing Dryad Arbor? It will be easy for me to kill it, thereby denying you-"
Posted By:
LordRandomness
(5/18/2013 1:29:19 AM)
Even more painful than using this on a Rishadan Port is using it on a Dust Bowl, which was also in standard at the time. The opposing player would sac a land to Dust Bowl, then have the ability get countered, then also have their Dust Bowl destroyed, then ALSO have you draw two cards. That is a massive swing.
Posted By:
adinsx3
(3/16/2011 6:29:57 PM)
Dear Rishadan Port
Your Mother was a hamster, and your father smelt of elderberries.
That's pretty much what this card says.
Posted By:
sir_dwar
(2/11/2011 6:58:29 PM)