The Official Counterspell Thread
Deck Help forum
Posted on Nov. 29, 2012, 9:55 p.m. by Lustrigia
Okay, so as of the settling in of the new standard block, many people, myself included, have been faced with the dillema of what counterspells to mainboard/sideboard. As of now, we have the following counterspells legal in the standard format:
Negate Essence Scatter Dissipate Syncopate Cancel Dispel Izzet Charm Bone to Ash Counterlash(A thousand pardons if I'm forgetting any right now.)Despite there being nearly 10, most would argue that maybe only 4 are viable in constructed: those 4 being Negate , Syncopate , Dissipate and Essence Scatter .The purpose of this thread is to discuss the different metas that you have faced, and what counterspells seemed to be the most viable, both mainboarded and sideboarded, at that time.For example, I mainboard 2 Syncopate s against zombies, 2 Dissipate s against opposing control, and sideboard 2 Negate s.
In my red/blue miracle deck, I use Essence Backlash and Counterflux with good results, backed by negates. I love Syncopate s, but they haven't found a home in that particular deck.
However when I get my blue/green deck going, I fully intend on using Counterlash , even possibly on myself :) (not likely though, but watch as someone craps themselves to see that and turn around and lose.)
Syncopate and Dissipate are probably the stronger ones, Counterflux aside due to needing red too.
November 29, 2012 10:44 p.m.
I play in a casual meta, and time and again, Dissipate is the strongest of the bunch. People hate hard counters, and unless they're sideboarding Dispel --a wise choice against control builds, I might add--they're stuck dealing with their things biting it and leaving the game, up to four times per game. There's no leak, it hits anything, and nothing dies. The best they can do is bait me with a card I don't want around and then play another card I would hate. Obviously, in a more formal setting, this may not hold, but in my circle, control players run Dissipate , and control-haters with access run Dispel on the side.
November 29, 2012 11:48 p.m.
http404error says... #5
I've seen control side Dispel in the mirror, or even main in control-heavy metas (cough cough cockatrice).
November 30, 2012 12:39 a.m.
Another one that I've forgotten is Rewind .
This is a very viable spell. Thoughts?
November 30, 2012 9:39 a.m.
Rewind is very combo-happy, in theory, and I'm waiting for someone to find a way to abuse that. As countermagic, it has its place, but I've still found Dissipate more viable in my meta.
November 30, 2012 11:21 a.m.
Ignoring card:Judge's Familiar, as it's not so much a 'counter spell', as a creature... the ones you missed are:
November 30, 2012 2:30 p.m.
Rewind + Tamiyo, the Moon Sage 's Ultimate = No Spells For You!
November 30, 2012 2:37 p.m.
Jesus Christ I missed a lot! Thanks for the help Rayenous, that does change things.
And yeah, I've managed to see that pullled off once at FNM, where the opponent just got up and left. T'was rather droll.
November 30, 2012 2:45 p.m.
Have been meaning to ask: how many counterspells seems apt to run in a deck, in your opinion?
December 4, 2012 6:19 p.m.
i run 10c control and i find that Dissipate and Essence Scatter are both insane. this is kind of off topic, but because this is about counters, so im assuming everyone runs control decks, how do you deal with rackdos aggro?
December 4, 2012 6:42 p.m.
Fleetfiend says... #13
Syncopate is probably my favorite counterspell of all time.
In my G/U Gravepower deck, I run 2 Syncopate in the mainboard, with 2 Negate and another Syncopate . The reason I make sure to include them is to deal with all the standard graveyard hate, and it USUALLY works pretty well, ha.
December 4, 2012 9:27 p.m.
Fleetfiend says... #14
Syncopate is probably my favorite counterspell of all time.
In my G/U Gravepower deck, I run 2 Syncopate in the mainboard, with 2 Negate and another Syncopate . The reason I make sure to include them is to deal with all the standard graveyard hate, and it USUALLY works pretty well, ha.
TheOne4221 says... #2
Dissipate is my personal favorite counterspell in standard. Counterlash is good for when they try to summon a little creature, and when you counter it you drop a Griselbrand or something.
Essence Backlash would see play in drafts, but I see no other use for it.
Counterflux -- I'm surprised I don't see it used more often.
November 29, 2012 10:29 p.m.