This one really rains on the Golgari parade...
Posted By:
Trygon_Predator
(9/6/2012 3:49:05 PM)
@kasaiaisu Yes, counterspell is strictly better than cancel. People who disagree need to get off of gatherer. That is the poster-child for strictly better. Kind of like shock v lightning bolt.
Strictly better refers to a card that fulfills one (or both) of the following parameters.
A) It does the same thing for less mana. (this is situation 1. Counterspell v. Cancel.)
B) It does the same thing +something that is considered good in almost all situations, not taking into account an opponent's actions. (IE, cantrip. No, just because you may have no cards in your library does not make cantrip a bad thing overall)
Examples that look like it but aren't:
Vapor Snag v. Unsummon.
Why it looks like it: Oh hey, my opponent loses one life if I return his creature!
Why it isn't: Your opponent's creatures are only one use for a card like unsummon. You can return your own creature to cast it again and reap the benefits of, say, a enter the battlefield ability.
Posted By:
atemu1234
(6/18/2013 2:21:01 PM)
@Kasaiaisu: That scenario is ridiculously convoluted. In 99.9% of situations, Counterspell will be better than Cancel. Just because once in a thousand games in a certain deck, Cancel might be a little better does not make it any better than Counterspell.
Posted By:
Lifegainwithbite
(5/11/2013 7:58:37 AM)
Strictly better than Cancel. Then again, a lot of things are. Still, 5/5.
Posted By:
Continue
(11/2/2012 7:25:48 AM)
Everything rains on the Golgari shitfarm.
Selesnya
Bigger more efficient creatures than the swarm can handle, as well as access to Rest in Peace.
Azorius
Also have access to Rest in Peace, but also get Detention Sphere, and the mother of board wipes, Supreme Verdict.
Izzet
Annihilating Fire, this, as well as Mizzium Mortars for a boardwipe.
Rakdos
Rakdos Charm exiles graveyards, and they put the hurt on faster than Golgari can defend it, much less set up.
Aside from a few gems, Golgari got shafted this set.
Posted By:
StreamHopper
(10/2/2012 12:42:15 PM)
This isn't 'strictly better' than cancel, I really wish you people would stop using that.
It's situational. The most obvious would be if you're playing a deck that runs on your opponent's graveyard, you wouldn't want his spells to get exiled, as you then wouldn't get any use from them.
Strictly better would be Counterspell vs Cancel. They do the same exact thing, only CS is 
cheaper. This has the same CMC as Cancel, and serves a specific purpose, just like Hinder.
Posted By:
endersblade
(4/5/2013 10:11:54 AM)
@endersblade
Counterspell isn't 'strictly better' than Cancel, I really with you people would stop saying that.
It's situational. The most obvious would be if you're playing a deck that works around transmute and other CMC 3 cards, you'd want to be able to tutor for this with your Drift of Phantasms.
Posted By:
KasaiAisu
(4/18/2013 7:51:49 AM)
Strong and balanced card.
Posted By:
TheWrathofShane
(11/10/2012 10:00:27 AM)
@ifegainwithbite
Yes, Counterspell is better than Cancel 99.9% of the time. However, it is not strictly better... sometimes having a higher CMC is beneficial, as in the case of transmute cards, counterbalance, spellbound dragon, and so on.
Seriously, people, learn what the words "strictly better" means. See Shock vs Lightning Bolt. where the only time that you would want shock over LB is if your opponent plays Meddling Mage and names Lightning bolt. Same with Greatsword vs Vulshok Battlegear
Posted By:
strider24seven
(6/8/2013 9:27:23 AM)