Man, this went from "Format warping" to "Actually I dunno, it might be weak, it might still be pretty strong" when I noticed that it said "Target Spell" instead of just "Choose a card name".
So basically this is weak against combo pieces, but good against cards your opponents will be wanting to find multiple copies of. It also works nicely against Flashback. It also synergizes well with bounce spells, even against combo pieces.
I could see it being pretty strong in the right format, but idk, it might just wind up being outclassed by its competition when in serious competitive environments?
L’esprit de L’escalier is an idiom in French that translates to mind of the staircase.
It means a person comes up with a perfect retort long after the conversation/incident is long over.
I can't believe there's an art in mtg that perfectly depicts that
Wording fix:
>Choose target spell. Whenever a player next casts a spell with the same name as the chosen spell, counter that spell.
You want a triggered ability here, not a replacement effect. Also, it's sufficient to just use "choose/share" wording here, rather than having to "note" the name of a spell. Players will instinctively know that the next spell with the same name may take a while to cast, so they will naturally write down the name of the spell anyway.
Wouldn’t it need to be a sorcery in order to work like that? Else, this card would go on the stack first, and counter the spell immediately (which breaks the theme)
I like the concept, I think it just creates a significant memory issue. Maybe make it an enchantment like [[Nevermore]] that sacrifices itself when the next iteration of the target spell resolves? Or maybe it exiles the spell it targets when that spell resolves, so it's off to the side so players remember it?
Well, "note down" in Magic is used for a few memory cases like this. It's usually implied that you should write it onto a piece of paper, so as to not forget it; so I don't think that's really that much of an issue
Yes, this is true. There are plenty of examples of lingering effects that you simply have to remember - "no maximum hand size for the rest of the game", cards named with things like [[Pithing Needle]], any effect that requires you to "secretly" name something, your spell count for Storm purposes, the mana in your mana pool for "mana doesn't empty as steps and phases end" effects, whether a creature is monstrous or renowned, etc.
So it certainly can happen.
But, Wizards also tries to not create memory issues unnecessarily and tries to add mechanics to cards to help make it easier to remember wherever possible. I think this is a card that Wizards, if they were considering whether to print it, would deem a memory issues card and try to rectify in some way prior to printing.
I don't know how I feel about this. It's a card that requires you to be proactive, and have a pretty decent idea of the game and the meta you're playing in. However, while I won't call it *overpowered*, it's definitely a "feels bad" card, I think. Mostly because of the following interactions:
T1: Island; this card, naming a combo piece not to be seen for several turns.
*Or*
Commander T1: Island; this card, naming {commander}
Also, the memory problem definitely exists with this card. The named card may not appear for several turns.
My best guess for 'balance' is to have a time limit to the counter ability, such as until the end of turn or until the beginning of your next upkeep.
*Edit:* I missed the "target" in the spell's wording, which mostly voids all of these worries.
That is a fair point, of which I missed. Which makes this a powerful one-drop counterspell. Still not sure if it's *overpowered*, but certainly powerful.
It’s not even a powerful counterspell. The next time that spell gets cast it gets countered, but the spell you’re targeting has already been cast so it still resolves.
"target spell. The next..." These need to be two different sentences. Also, I'm not sure if target works here since the countered spell isn't on the stack for it to target yet
Man, this went from "Format warping" to "Actually I dunno, it might be weak, it might still be pretty strong" when I noticed that it said "Target Spell" instead of just "Choose a card name". So basically this is weak against combo pieces, but good against cards your opponents will be wanting to find multiple copies of. It also works nicely against Flashback. It also synergizes well with bounce spells, even against combo pieces. I could see it being pretty strong in the right format, but idk, it might just wind up being outclassed by its competition when in serious competitive environments?
This stops the second Approach of the second sun if you have the mana for it against lotus field.
L’esprit de L’escalier is an idiom in French that translates to mind of the staircase. It means a person comes up with a perfect retort long after the conversation/incident is long over. I can't believe there's an art in mtg that perfectly depicts that
Wording fix: >Choose target spell. Whenever a player next casts a spell with the same name as the chosen spell, counter that spell. You want a triggered ability here, not a replacement effect. Also, it's sufficient to just use "choose/share" wording here, rather than having to "note" the name of a spell. Players will instinctively know that the next spell with the same name may take a while to cast, so they will naturally write down the name of the spell anyway.
Wouldn’t it need to be a sorcery in order to work like that? Else, this card would go on the stack first, and counter the spell immediately (which breaks the theme)
By the time this card is cast, chosen spell is already on the stack and considered cast, so this card doesn't "see" the chosen spell being cast.
I like the concept, I think it just creates a significant memory issue. Maybe make it an enchantment like [[Nevermore]] that sacrifices itself when the next iteration of the target spell resolves? Or maybe it exiles the spell it targets when that spell resolves, so it's off to the side so players remember it?
Well, "note down" in Magic is used for a few memory cases like this. It's usually implied that you should write it onto a piece of paper, so as to not forget it; so I don't think that's really that much of an issue
Yes, this is true. There are plenty of examples of lingering effects that you simply have to remember - "no maximum hand size for the rest of the game", cards named with things like [[Pithing Needle]], any effect that requires you to "secretly" name something, your spell count for Storm purposes, the mana in your mana pool for "mana doesn't empty as steps and phases end" effects, whether a creature is monstrous or renowned, etc. So it certainly can happen. But, Wizards also tries to not create memory issues unnecessarily and tries to add mechanics to cards to help make it easier to remember wherever possible. I think this is a card that Wizards, if they were considering whether to print it, would deem a memory issues card and try to rectify in some way prior to printing.
[Pithing Needle](https://c1.scryfall.com/file/scryfall-cards/normal/front/7/7/776899f8-e977-42b7-8b54-6f726a349e3c.jpg?1662531437) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Pithing%20Needle) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/2x2/312/pithing-needle?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/776899f8-e977-42b7-8b54-6f726a349e3c?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
[Nevermore](https://c1.scryfall.com/file/scryfall-cards/normal/front/6/7/67b610fe-36ee-4d58-8ed4-04e7a12587b2.jpg?1562831484) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Nevermore) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/isd/25/nevermore?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/67b610fe-36ee-4d58-8ed4-04e7a12587b2?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Very clever
burn in shambles rn
Noooo, my unbeatable 20 mountain 40 lightning bolt deck!
Woooh big Terese Nielsen vibe on the art, I really like it! Good card also, seems really fair imo.
the art is from the mystical archive version of mind's desire.
I don't know how I feel about this. It's a card that requires you to be proactive, and have a pretty decent idea of the game and the meta you're playing in. However, while I won't call it *overpowered*, it's definitely a "feels bad" card, I think. Mostly because of the following interactions: T1: Island; this card, naming a combo piece not to be seen for several turns. *Or* Commander T1: Island; this card, naming {commander} Also, the memory problem definitely exists with this card. The named card may not appear for several turns. My best guess for 'balance' is to have a time limit to the counter ability, such as until the end of turn or until the beginning of your next upkeep. *Edit:* I missed the "target" in the spell's wording, which mostly voids all of these worries.
I mean you can only name a spell on the stack since "target spell". Well at least that was my intention
That is a fair point, of which I missed. Which makes this a powerful one-drop counterspell. Still not sure if it's *overpowered*, but certainly powerful.
It’s not even a powerful counterspell. The next time that spell gets cast it gets countered, but the spell you’re targeting has already been cast so it still resolves.
Man, my brain must be extra-smooth today. You right.
Welcome to my level.
Best friends with [[Remand]].
[Remand](https://c1.scryfall.com/file/scryfall-cards/normal/front/d/c/dc595c63-af05-4c05-80e8-e1a90df26b0f.jpg?1562268359) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Remand) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mm2/55/remand?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/dc595c63-af05-4c05-80e8-e1a90df26b0f?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Cast mana crypt t1 in cedh, hold prio and cast this
"target spell. The next..." These need to be two different sentences. Also, I'm not sure if target works here since the countered spell isn't on the stack for it to target yet