Ahh, countermagic. They’re the favorite spell type of any player that names “blue” as their preferred color inMagic: The Gathering, and they’re the bane of existence for any player that enjoys the other four colors in the color wheel. There’s nothing quite as satisfying as having mana open and simply waiting for your opponent to play a massive threat – only for you to wipe it away with a well-timed counterspell.
Counterspells have been a part of MTG since the game debuted all the way back in 1993 and hundreds have been printed over Magic’s 30-year history, but some of the best of all time are actually of the “common” rarity. Let’s explore the finest common counterspells in MTG history.
Some of these counterspells have seen their rarities upgraded or downgraded depending on the printings, so we’ll be using the Pauper rules for this list: If any of these spells were ever printed at the common rarity, they are allowed to be included.
12Syncopate
Take Away Their Toys
Exiling spells after they’ve been countered is a trait that’s been around since the first printing ofDissipatein the Mirage set all the way back in 1996. That ability is not quite as frequent on common counterspells, however. There are a few common options on which this trigger appears, but the best by far is Syncopate.
Originally printed in the Odyssey set in 2001, Syncopate has seen several reprintings, including most recently in Innistrad: Crimson Vow. The ability to counter any spell and then exile it for only two mana (depending on your foe’s board state) is quite strong, and once the game goes longer and you have more mana available, this counter gets better and better.
11Disdainful Stroke
No Big Spell For You
A commander classic. First debuting in the Khans of Tarkir set in 2014, Disdainful Stroke trades up beautifully for any control deck looking to stay ahead of the (mana) curve.
Recently reprinted (shockingly as an uncommon) inWilds of Eldraine, this one will always find a place in the 99 for blue commander decks, as it holds great utility in countering any spell with mana value 4 or greater (often a foe’s commander).
10Memory Lapse
Deny Them Their Next Draw, Too
This is a strange counterspell that’s fallen out of favor. First printed way back in 1995 in the dreadful Homelands expansion, Memory Lapse counters a spell straight up for the low, low price of one colorless mana and one blue mana, but the trade-off is that that spell goes directly on top of your foe’s deck to be drawn the next turn… unless of course you have a sneaky milling source on your side of the battlefield.
Without an official printing at common since 2016’s Eternal Masters set, it seems that Wizards has moved on from Memory Lapse – though it did feature in Strixhaven’s Mystical Archive bonus sheet in 2021.
9Mana Tithe
Just One Mana Is All You Need
Force Spikewas one of the final cuts from this list, but it just didn’t quite reach the power level of some of these cards. So how then did Mana Tithe make it? Essentially a reprinted version of Force Spike in white (thanks to the wacky Planar Chaos set), the change in color helps it stand out as a highly surprising force.
One doesn’t really expect a counterspell from the color white (only five instant-speed counterspells exist in the color), and Mana Tithe can really swing a game in commander or even in Historic on MTG Arena when you’re playing an unsuspecting combo player with one white mana open. If they can’t pay the Tithe, they’re going to surely writhe.
8Arcane Denial
At Least They Can Draw Some Cards
Another impressively strong counterspell for one colorless mana and one blue mana, this one does have quite the drawback: your foe gets to draw a staggering two cards during their next upkeep. Still though, you get to draw one yourself during your upkeep, so you’re not getting three-for-one’d at least.
Still though, sometimes you want your foe to have less cards in their library and sometimes you want them to have cards cluttering up their hand so you can simply counter them or remove them later. What was once a crippling drawback is now not so harsh and players have taken notice, as this card is quite a hot ticket on the secondary market ($2.70 median price for the cheapest version).
7Spell Pierce
Cheap And Cheerful
The final one-mana blue counterspell on this list (but not the final one-mana counterspell, however) is impressively strong and has been a staple in a wide range of formats including standard, pioneer, pauper and even commander.
The ability to counter a noncreature spell in the early game when your foe will pretty much always be fully tapped out can be game-swinging. This card also provides impressive utility in a counterspell war.
6Mana Leak
It’s Like Two Spell Pierce, But Better
Another counterspell that has seemingly fallen out of favor – perhaps due to its impressively high rate. A strictly better version ofQuenchorMake Disappear(at least at face value for the latter) certainly seems strong, and this card was a control deck staple as soon as it was printed way back in 1998 for the Stronghold expansion.
Perhaps Wizards wants to curtail control decks (as they’re certainly not the most thrilling to play with or against), but it’s high time that Mana Leak gets a reprint outside of a “Masters” set; it was last printed in Double Masters 2022.
5Spellstutter Sprite
Counter The Spell, Get A Creature
A pauper format juggernaut, this is the only creature spell on this list – and with good reason. Spellstutter Sprite is a bedrock permanent in pauper as it can two-for-one your foe’s Lightning Bolt, Thoughtsieze, Ponder, Consider, Brainstorm or any other extremely powerful one-mana spell by itself.
The fact that it scales with the number of Faerie creatures you have in play is only gravy on what is already one of the best creatures in pauper of all time. As such, playing a Faerie deck (either casually or competitively) can be a blast thanks to this little sprite.
4Pyroblast And Red Elemental Blast
For When You Really, Really Hate
A red spell? This high on a “best counterspells” list? While certainly shocking (pun intended), Pyroblast and Red Elemental Blast (which have the exact same effect, just different names) definitely deserve their position here as they are both powerful counterspells in a variety of formats.
Beyond that, these cards are modal and can also destroy blue permanents for only one mana! These are truly powerful spells, and it’s no wonder that despite numerous reprintings, these still command a hefty price tag on the secondary market.
3Foil
Free Counterspells Are Always Good
This card only qualifies for this list because it was downshifted to common in Double Masters 2022, but its power level is absolutely deserving of a top-three spot. Being able to flat-out counter any spell your opponent throws your way for free is always eminently powerful.
In fact, some of the best counterspells of all time are free to cast, such as Force of Will, Pact of Negation and Force of Negation, among others. Losing two cards from your hand is certainly a drawback, but the ability to outright counter a spell for free cannot be denied.
