The role of target spell cards in changing the tide of a game

Target spell cards are a type of spell card in trading card games that require the player to choose one or more targets for the spell to affect. These targets can be specific cards, players, or specific areas on the playing field. The ability to target specific cards or players with a spell card adds an extra layer of strategy to the game. It allows players to directly affect their opponent's cards or their opponent themselves. When playing a target spell card, the player must carefully consider their choices and think about how it will affect the game. Choosing the right targets can help the player gain a significant advantage, while choosing the wrong targets can backfire and benefit their opponent.

While there have been many attempts to make a slightly worse Counterspell, there’s only one card that can be described as a strictly-better one. And oh boy, is Mana Drain better. It’s so much better, in fact, that it’s only legal in Vintage and other niche eternal formats. Sure, you can technically play it in Commander, but you’ll need an incredibly understanding (or competitive) playgroup!

While those decks are often themselves quite defenseless against fast combo, the presence of Force of Will creates a sustainable rock-paper-scissors metagame, which has kept the Legacy format surprisingly healthy despite the thousands of cards added to it in the last 25 years. And yet, I feel like the awe-inspiring artwork and rarity upgrade we got from Modern Horizons 2 best captures its status as one of Magic s most foundational and influential cards.

As an additional cost to cast this spell, sacrifice a blue permanent.

Counter target spell.

Mirri’s hackles rose as Ertai continued expounding his virtues. “If that arrogant brat doesn’t shut up soon,” she growled to herself, “I’m going to have to kill him.”

Add to Deck

Counter target spell. You gain 3 life.

“In your misguided attempt to subvert the law, you have eloquently explained why the law must exist.”

Add to Deck

Counter target spell. Cards in your hand that share a card type with that spell perpetually gain “This spell costs less to cast.”

Add to Deck

Counter target spell. Create X 1/1 colorless Thopter artifact creature tokens with flying, where X is that spell’s mana value.

The Saiba Futurists guard their secret experiments with ever-evolving networks of cutting-edge defensive technology.

Add to Deck

Raid — If you attacked this turn, you may pay rather than pay this spell’s mana cost.

Counter target spell.

“Damn the cannons, mates. Charge!”

Add to Deck

Counter target spell. Its controller may draw up to two cards at the beginning of the next turn’s upkeep.

You draw a card at the beginning of the next turn’s upkeep.

Add to Deck

• Counter target spell.

• Target player draws two cards.

• Gain control of target nonland permanent with mana value 1 or less.

Add to Deck

Convoke (Your creatures can help cast this spell. Each creature you tap while casting this spell pays for or one mana of that creature’s color.)

Choose one or both —

• Counter target spell.

• Draw two cards, then discard a card.

Errant wouldn’t allow anything to stop her from decorating the streets of New Capenna.

Add to Deck

Affinity for artifacts (This spell costs less to cast for each artifact you control.)

Counter target spell. If that spell is countered this way, exile it instead of putting it into its owner’s graveyard.

Add to Deck

Counter target spell. If that spell targets a commander you control, instead counter that spell, scry 2, then draw a card.

“My whims dictate the fate of nations. Your pitiful mortal magic is no more significant than a gnat buzzing in my ear.”

Add to Deck

Counter target spell.

Madness (If you discard this card, discard it into exile. When you do, cast it for its madness cost or put it into your graveyard.)

Some minds bend under pressure. Others break.

Add to Deck

Counter target spell.

“I decide what stands in my way.”

Add to Deck

Counter target spell.

Investigate three times. (To investigate, create a Clue token. It’s an artifact with “ , Sacrifice this artifact: Draw a card.”)

Everyone has something to hide.

Add to Deck

Counter target spell.

Those who question Ojutai may not like the answers they receive.

Add to Deck

Counter target spell.

Recover (When a creature is put into your graveyard from the battlefield, you may pay . If you do, return this card from your graveyard to your hand. Otherwise, exile this card.)

Add to Deck

Counter target spell. Search its controller’s graveyard, hand, and library for all cards with the same name as that spell and exile them. Then that player shuffles.

Add to Deck

Counter target spell. You may cast a spell that shares a card type with it from your hand without paying its mana cost.

“Pathetic. Let me show you how it’s done.”

Add to Deck

Counter target spell. Its controller mills four cards.

The physical pain was nothing compared to the agony in his mind.

Add to Deck

Counter target spell.

The pyromancer summoned up her mightiest onslaught of fire and rage. Jace feigned interest.

Add to Deck

• Counter target spell.

• Return target permanent to its owner’s hand.

• Tap all creatures your opponents control.

Cards

Scryfall

• Slack & Discord Bots
• Site FAQs & Help
• Scryfall Blog
• Scryfall Tagger
• Art Game
• Bolas Game

Account

• Your Account
• Register
• Terms of Service
• Contact Us
• Privacy & Security

Developers

• API Documentation
• Card Objects
• Card Imagery
• Bulk Data
• API Changelog

More

Portions of Scryfall are unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Wizards of the Coast Fan Content Policy. The literal and graphical information presented on this site about Magic: The Gathering, including card images and mana symbols, is copyright Wizards of the Coast, LLC. Scryfall is not produced by or endorsed by Wizards of the Coast.

The Slack, Discord, Cash App, PayPal, and Patreon logos are copyright their respective owners. Scryfall is not produced by or endorsed by these services.

Card prices and promotional offers represent daily estimates and/or market values provided by our affiliates. Absolutely no guarantee is made for any price information. See stores for final prices and details.

All other content © 2023 Scryfall, LLC.

As such, most players cast Pact of Negation when they’re convinced they’re going to win. Combo decks treat the card as free protection on the turn they “go for it”; the only tradeoff is drawing cards which are more or less unplayable before that point. There is also a niche tradition of decks leaning into Pact’s weirdness, either by nullifying its lose-the-game trigger, or better yet, foisting it onto their unsuspecting opponents! These unique interactions lend the card a lot of charm and make up for its most unfair combo-shielding scenarios.

Counter target spell unless its controller pays plus an additional for each Faerie you control.

“You are but learning to walk in a world where I fly, mortal.”

Add to Deck

Bargain (You may sacrifice an artifact, enchantment, or token as you cast this spell.)

This spell costs less to cast if it’s bargained.

Counter target spell.

Hylda built an ice statuary from all those who couldn’t understand “go away.”

Add to Deck

Counter target spell with mana value 4 or greater.

In retrospect, using storm magic against a storm giant was not the wisest strategy.

Add to Deck

Tribal Instant — Eldrazi

Counter target spell or ability that targets a permanent you control.

This spell costs less to cast if it targets a spell or ability that targets a creature you control with power 7 or greater.

Add to Deck

Choose three. You may choose the same mode more than once.

• Counter target spell unless its controller pays .

• Return target creature to its owner’s hand.

Add to Deck

Counter target spell.

The pyromancer summoned up her mightiest onslaught of fire and rage. Jace feigned interest.

Add to Deck

Legendary Creature — Eldrazi

When you cast this spell, if you have fewer than seven cards in hand, draw cards equal to the difference.

Discard a card with mana value X: Counter target spell with mana value X.

A void as cryptic as reality itself.

Add to Deck

Counter target spell.

Amass Orcs 1. (Put a +1/+1 counter on an Army you control. It’s also an Orc. If you don’t control an Army, create a 0/0 black Orc Army creature token first.)

“I gave you the chance of aiding me willingly.”
—Saruman

Add to Deck

• Counter target spell with mana value 2 or less.

• Counter target red or green spell with mana value 6 or less.

“It’s not your fault. Strixhaven taught you an imperfect premise. Okay, the imperfect execution was your fault.”

Add to Deck

Convoke (Your creatures can help cast this spell. Each creature you tap while casting this spell pays for or one mana of that creature’s color.)

Choose one or both —

• Counter target spell.

• Draw two cards, then discard a card.

Errant wouldn’t allow anything to stop her from decorating the streets of New Capenna.

Add to Deck

Counter target spell. Create X Treasure tokens, where X is that spell’s mana value. (They’re artifacts with “ , Sacrifice this artifact: Add one mana of any color.”)

Add to Deck

Counter target spell. If that spell’s mana value was 3 or less, proliferate. (Choose any number of permanents and/or players, then give each another counter of each kind already there.)

“Your theory holds merit. You do not.”
—Sarnvax, Gitaxian sective

Add to Deck

Counter target spell with mana value 1 or less.

No matter how many times he saw it, Sarnvax always relished the look of dawning horror as his foes realized their mistake.

Add to Deck

Counter target spell unless its controller pays .

Corrupted — Counter that spell instead if its controller has three or more poison counters.

Kaya watched in horror as the illusion vanished from her hands. Jace held the real Sylex—and had activated it before phyresis claimed his mind.

DailyMTG Story Spotlight

Add to Deck

• Counter target spell unless its controller pays .

It’s easy to be two steps ahead when you can see their every thought.

Add to Deck

• Counter target spell.

• Tap up to two target creatures.

“As usual, my brother’s maneuvers are brash and impulsive.”
—Urza

Add to Deck

Counter target spell unless its controller pays , where X is the number of words in the name with the most words among permanents you control.

“All you gotta do is panic with purpose. And plead your innocence with purpose. And have your mom bail you out with purpose.”

Add to Deck

Counter target spell, then ask a person outside the game if that spell looks dangerous to them. If they say yes, draw a card, then discard a card.

“As long as there’s no outside food, you’re good to go.”

Add to Deck

Counter target spell, activated ability, or triggered ability. Its controller loses life equal to the number of creatures you control.

“This heresy cannot stand!”

Add to Deck

Counter target spell. Each card in its controller’s graveyard, hand, and library with the same name as that spell perpetually gains “This spell costs more to cast.”

Cards

Scryfall

• Slack & Discord Bots
• Site FAQs & Help
• Scryfall Blog
• Scryfall Tagger
• Art Game
• Bolas Game

Account

• Your Account
• Register
• Terms of Service
• Contact Us
• Privacy & Security

Developers

• API Documentation
• Card Objects
• Card Imagery
• Bulk Data
• API Changelog

More

Portions of Scryfall are unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Wizards of the Coast Fan Content Policy. The literal and graphical information presented on this site about Magic: The Gathering, including card images and mana symbols, is copyright Wizards of the Coast, LLC. Scryfall is not produced by or endorsed by Wizards of the Coast.

The Slack, Discord, Cash App, PayPal, and Patreon logos are copyright their respective owners. Scryfall is not produced by or endorsed by these services.

Card prices and promotional offers represent daily estimates and/or market values provided by our affiliates. Absolutely no guarantee is made for any price information. See stores for final prices and details.

All other content © 2023 Scryfall, LLC.

Add to Deck

Choosing the right targets can help the player gain a significant advantage, while choosing the wrong targets can backfire and benefit their opponent. In some cases, target spell cards may require the player to choose multiple targets. This further complicates the decision-making process and requires players to carefully analyze the game state before playing the card.

Top 20 Counterspells in Magic: The Gathering

Yes, counterspells have always been the most polarizing aspect of Magic. For whatever reason, getting your spell snuffed out on the stack is simply more galling than getting hit by removal on the battlefield. Perhaps it’s the power dynamic created by untapped Islands, the idea that you suddenly need to wait for your opponent’s permission on every attempted play. Even if it’s just another form of interaction, the mind games of countermagic are uniquely frustrating.

But as “polarizing” implies, there are just as many diehard counterspell fans as there are haters! And since they’re never going away, let’s take a moment to appreciate some of the most classic, powerful, important counters in Magic history; understand why they matter, and what makes them so good. Read on to discover our list of the Top 20 Counterspells… don’t worry, I’ll allow it.

The effectiveness of target spell cards can vary greatly depending on the situation. Some spells may have a limited number of targets, making them highly desirable when the opportunity arises. Other spells may have a wide range of targets, allowing players to choose based on their strategy or the current state of the game. Overall, target spell cards are an integral part of trading card games, adding depth and strategy to gameplay. Players must carefully choose their targets to maximize their chances of victory and outwit their opponents..

Reviews for "The role of luck and randomness in using target spell cards"

1. Grace - Rating: 1/5

I really did not enjoy using the target spell cards. I found them to be far too restrictive and limiting in terms of strategy. It was frustrating to have to choose a specific target for my spells, especially when the situation called for flexibility and adaptability. It also made it difficult to effectively use combo spells or spells with area of effect damage. Overall, I felt that the target spell cards hindered my ability to fully enjoy and engage with the game.

2. Sam - Rating: 2/5

The target spell cards in this game were a major disappointment for me. I found that they added unnecessary complexity and confusion to the gameplay. Trying to figure out the right target for each spell became a tedious and time-consuming task, detracting from the overall fun and flow of the game. Additionally, the limited options for targets limited my ability to strategically plan and execute my spells. Overall, I would have preferred a simpler and more streamlined approach to spellcasting in this game.

3. Alex - Rating: 2/5

The target spell cards in this game were a letdown. They made the gameplay feel more restricted and rigid, taking away the sense of freedom and creativity that I usually enjoy in games. Having to select specific targets for each spell felt like a chore, and often resulted in missed opportunities or inefficient spellcasting. It would have been much more enjoyable if the spells had a wider range of effects or targets, allowing for more versatile and strategic gameplay.

4. Emily - Rating: 1/5

I found the target spell cards in this game to be incredibly frustrating. They made the gameplay feel unnecessarily complicated and convoluted. Trying to accurately target spells became a constant source of frustration, as the game often didn't provide clear guidelines or feedback on whether my chosen target was valid or not. This greatly impacted my overall enjoyment of the game, and I ended up losing interest in playing due to the frustrating mechanics of the target spell cards.

Balancing target spell cards in game design: a delicate task