How to Counter Spells In Commander Without Blue

[@rubenterwesten9195]

there is another spell with which you can counter stuff in non blue : 1 colorless and 1 green for the card named "bind" :" counter target activated ability, draw a card" this is a green counterspell that counters an ability and draws you a card i think that is pretty good.

[@krelekari]

That sounds amazing honestly, I'd LOVE that in most green decks Id play

[@crilleedara]

What, that's crazy cool

[@constancebashford2324]

Correction on mages contest: you can bid more life than you have, since it's not paying life, instead losing life equal to the winning bid. It just will usually kill you, but cards like platinum emperion pair well with mages contest

[@DavidR-5797]

What if you gave it lifelink? would it still kill you?

[@Akario3]

@@DavidR-5797 its not doing damage

[@AV_BH77]

I know it's not technically a counter spell but for black, Imps Mischief is effectively used as one. Perhaps a redirect spell video? Also love the videos Demo. Huge fan from episode 1. I love bringing these weird niche cards to the table making my friends scratch their heads. Keep up the good work.

[@dwpetrak]

Imp's Mischief is a surprise for the tale every time I cast it. I love that card!

[@supremesantos]

Tibalt's Trickery should never be used to counter something 'good'. To play it correctly you must always counter the thing that will win your opponents the game, or to protect your win. Played under these circumstances it is invaluable in non-blue red decks

[@dwpetrak]

I disagree on a pedantic note firstly. EDH isn't about playing everything "correctly" it's about having a good time. cEDH is about "correct" plays but that ain't for most of us.

[@supremesantos]

@@dwpetrak if that’s your approach why care about the ‘goodness’ of cards at all? Playing cEDH and playing correctly are not equivalent. I was responding to his claim that Tibalts Trickery wasn’t good on the grounds that the circumstances in which he described it’s use weren’t the circumstances in which it ought to be played. His evaluation of ‘goodness’ was contingent upon a flawed best use case.

[@dwpetrak]

​ @Lucio I'm learning about logical fallacies and that sounds like a Straw Man. I agree when you say: "Played under these circumstances it is invaluable in non-blue red decks" I'm just trying to say that you shouldn't tell people how they HAVE to play a card in EDH. Modern/Legacy or another competitive format sure, but this is neither. In general and specifically in this format it's less advisable to say "you must only do it this way." Maybe try something like, "this card is at its best when..." definitely If you want my armpit -er my opinion: I contend that the spell is good, further using it to counter something "good"' is not wrong. For this card to be effective all you need to so is downgrade the spell it countered. Unless I'm crazy, effectively downgrading an opponent's play (for 2 mana) is "good" in any contest. Statistically every deck runs more support cardboard (lands, rocks, low impact permanents) than win cons/engine pieces so the odds are good. Everyone I have met likes to play good cards and feel effective, let's not be silly.

[@supremesantos]

@@dwpetrak 13:45 'i don't like it myself personally... it's about 50/50 where the scenario becomes worse... it can be very tempting for you when you have a counterspell in your hand and your opponent is casting a good card, you tend to wanna counter it and then they end up exiling and casting something better'. How am I straw-manning? He is saying he doesn't like the card because it regularly makes the situation worse. My point is that if you only counter that which directly will win your opponent the game, (craterhoof, big black 'X' spell, combo piece, expropriate etc) or prevent you from winning the game, then the likelihood of the 'scenario becoming worse' is nonexistent. I'm not telling people how they 'HAVE' to play the card, I'm saying that when played in the manner mentioned (countering something 'good') it is far worse than when played correctly and the card's quality should not be evaluated based upon a poor use case.

[@kylemurdock8176]

Dash Hopes works pretty well in Rakdos, Lord of Riots. Either you get the counterspell or you get a 5-mana reduction on your creature casting costs that turn

[@gabrielmcilquham29]

I LOVE “not of this world”! I run it in my Masumaro, First to Live deck, and it gets ‘em every time

[@olburgle2841]

I remember when the Professor gave Illumination a mention in overlooked commander cards last year, I also remember it spiking as a result so I'm glad it's back down to a normal price.

[@DemonaruMusic]

12:43 2 word for Molten influence: Fiery Emancipation

[@jaredcrawford923]

Just put this on the maybe board for my Firesong and Sunspeaker deck.

[@licidy1]

Noting that two of the white spells, Mana Tithe and Lapse of Certainty, are color-shifted cards from Time Spiral block. They are based on Miscalculation and Memory Lapse respectively. I really wish WOTC did more color-shifting to re-balance some of the color-pie. Time Spiral is one of those go-to sets for commander staples and janky-use cards.

[@twilightwolf90]

Lapse of Certainty was printed in Conflux in the Alara block. Mana Tithe is based on Force Spike. Otherwise, I wholeheartedly agree.

[@thomasdawicki141]

I think mana tithe is a great flavor white counterspell. It punishes a player who oversteps and goes all in on a mana cost

[@waaaaaaah5135]

Not of this World is an excellent colorless counterspell. In voltron decks, you're going to easily have 7+ power, and free stuff is always nice

[@ryansprenkle6356]

I discovered it while building Yargle and it's awesome!

[@dylanfarley8136]

100% auto include in a Traxos deck

[@BFG93]

Frontline medic is a fantastic counter card in combat heavy boros. It saved me a few times, tis niche but still fun and thematic with bonus indestructible effect of battalion

[@Zander2212]

The difference between Pyroblast and REB is very useful in my pauper edh deck. I run Tenth district Legionnaire, so if there's no blue, I can target my commander for a buff.

[@brendans1983]

Rebuff The Wicked always gets the best response from whoever wears it 👌

[@Maccabeus87]

I run four red counterspells in my Magda deck, mostly for the old "interrupt" interaction of old--to counter counters.

[@jehuty333]

Mandate of Peace is a nice roundabout counter spell in white for your attacking creatures.

[@Belena711]

I use Dash Hopes in my Sygg, River Cutthroat deck. It's pretty decent there - either the spell is countered, or I get a redraw.

[@rubenterwesten9195]

i am just in the build of a deck like this and then you make this video... nice :D

[@stevesmith5883]

lots of people also like Tibalts trickery for countering thier own spells as well which is an option with it!

[@kingfuzzy2]

finally a way to show my friends justification for my ravings about how good non-blue counterspells are.

[@danielwomer]

Love this list. I already use a few of these, but not most!

[@vomiagogo1]

yeah theres alot of non blue counterspells alot of them are great too ive been using them more often in decks its always fun seeing the opponents reaction when you counter without blue

[@orangelex44]

So talking about Rebuff the Wicked: giving something hexproof or protection from [color] is, functionally, the same thing as countering a targeting spell 90% of the time. Rebuff has niche uses, but as a general rule I'd rather have something like Loran's Escape (which can be a defensive combat trick) or Brave the Elements (which can help blow through a board of blockers). The It's a pretty big deal that that Rebuff doesn't stop effects that target on ETB, or targeted abilities from permanents. Lapse of Uncertainty on the other hand is pure gas. Putting the offending card back on the library is, often, a good thing - sure you know they're getting it back, but a) you KNOW they're getting it back and can respond, b) you're killing their next draw, and c) you're in white and have cards that force opponents to shuffle (DON'T CUT PATH TO EXILE). There are a ton of powerful decks out there that prefer for their good things to be in the 'yard instead of the library.

[@jolteon345]

The best part about Lapse of Certainty in commander is that you are also putting a massive target on an opponent. The rest of the table will also know what that opponent is drawing, so now they lose the “gotcha” moment and potentially have 2 other players worth of interaction to plow through, if they survive.

[@FozzyFUCT]

Always dropping amazing content, much appreciated as always.

[@digitaldespot6154]

Next we need a list of ways to counter spells without a "counter" spell/ability. Things like Split Second, Deflecting Swat, and Duelcaster Mage as examples.

[@paytreein4d353]

Stave Off - W instant: Target creature gains protection from the color of your choice until either. It's simple but effective.

[@Ankhakaru]

Withering boon: Avacyn, Tiamat, etc...

[@ScorpioneOrzion]

Mages' Contest + another counter spell is a fun combo, make them pay a lot of life, then still counter the spell

[@aaronpyrez1573]

I do want to say, that with the opinion that was stated on White probably being the second best color in terms of ramp, I mentally yelled “You’re right!” White has gotten so many improvements in ramp, and people try to downplay by going “Weeeeelllll, you need to be behind in lands and-“, but how often are you going to be ahead of someone playing Green? Like seriously. It’s honestly frustrating when people nowadays still say “Man, White sucks”, cause it’s not true anymore. Is it towards the bottom? Possibly, but it’s not NEARLY as bad as it was a couple years ago.

[@kingfuzzy2]

I have an average of 89 Mana and 30-73 cards drawn per game in my mono white ramp deck. I highly concur don't let anyone tell you white is a weak colour.

[@orangelex44]

White is also just extremely good at never missing a land drop. People underestimate that a lot, but it comes up surprisingly often that a game's on turn 10, my mono-white deck has 10 lands out (plus two more in hand) while the other players are sitting at 6-7. Ramp-wise, I'll admit that white's catch-up ramp cards are often underwhelming at my LGS tables. However, what it does have that no other color gets is a ton of ways to return permanent cards from the 'yard. Brought Back, Sevinne's Reclaimation, Serra Paragon, Sun Titan... all these cards ramp you if you're using sacrifice lands to fetch or as utility. Even better, they become great recursion/protection options in the later game once mana isn't a factor. White ramp cards often get *better* as the game progresses, unlike green ramp which tends to become less impactful the longer the game goes. There's zero question in my mind that white is the second best ramp color. It's not even remotely close - black can *cheat* mana in a couple ways, and red has their two or three overpowered treasure generators, but white blows them out with it's consistency and flexibility in ramp.

[@mr.mammuthusafricanavus8299]

Uncounterable cards next or take an extra turn after this one not blue cards (probably only 2 cards) :P

[@paizleyramsey1776]

I love Dash Hopes! If nothing else an opponent is losing, in early game, around 15% of their life! Later game upwards of 25% Works great in an Orzhov life gain/drain

[@intoxicary]

I run a Rebuff the Wicked in my Kaalia of the Vast deck and it is a game changer.

[@recofficial8260]

Really helpful video lots of new options for my 4 color deck

[@lightbearer313]

Also you can of course use Lapse of Certainty to save your own spell from a counter spell, by targeting your spell, or if you prefer, by countering the counter spell.

[@caden8592]

The only ones I can think of that you missed are fringe or expensive: Equinox and Nether Void

[@edhdeckbuilding]

i didn't really think of nether void as a counter. more of a tax. but i guess it actually does counter.

[@OniTreefolk]

Great content, thank you for working so hard =)

[@OniTreefolk]

Why is there a typo on Dawn Charm though??

[@caden8592]

@@OniTreefolk only on the Commander Legends version. The Ultimate Masters and Planar Chaos ones don't have the typo

[@NerdsofWisdom]

My friend runs Tibalt trickery in his cascade deck, so if he cascades into it he counters on of his smaller spells and brings out something bigger. It works really well.

[@theboyceMD]

Lapse of certainty has saved me more times that I can remember from mass boardwipes lice Cyclonic Rift. Yea, it goes on top, but you need just one turno to do what your thing and win.

[@elevegreens]

Veil of summer and Autumn's Veil technically don't "counter" spells, but they do ensure your spells/permanents do.

[@kingfuzzy2]

Aether gust ( ;

[@Raghetiel]

Warping wail works great in my black green Hapatra deck, since black green tokens don't have as many ways to save your board as white does, and the majority of boardwipes are sorcery

[@abiodunmichaelolatokun2844]

Amulet of safekeeping and valkmira, the protector's shield come to mind.

[@JoeyjojoShabadoo7]

I think my favorite is Rebuff the Wicked. One white mana is sick.

[@SeraphimKnight]

I was thinking that Dash Hopes and Molten Influence would be extremely good in a deck where you use the "players can't pay life for spells or abilities" mechanic, but it seems to be restricted to white and green sadly... Although this gives me some ideas for a sick Yasharn deck.

[@astuteanansi4935]

Molten Influence is not a payment of life, it's a choice to take damage, so Yasharn wouldn't work even if he was in the right colors

[@LadyTsunade777]

Those kinds of prevention effects wouldn't work since they always say "to cast spells or activate abilities"

[@zacharybecker8228]

i use molten in my torbran deck its normally like take 12 or 24 dmg or let me counter it and sometimes i get it on my Isochron Scepter

[@daviddent5662]

Us Mono Blue Snobs Watching This: **Looks at the video in the distance** "Look what they need to mimic a fraction of power!"

[@cax1175]

Kozilek is a very good walking counterspell. Also, I actually won a game yesterday with withering boon.

[@happybrain2674]

dash hopes seems cool for my Liesa, Shroud of Dusk, cause i play her more with life is a recourse theme ^_^

[@josephjohnson8473]

Great video! This is what I signed up for !

[@mjvane46]

Planar chaos lasted 6 turns for me (by pure chance, not flip manipulations) and countered 12 of my opponents 16 spells cast. Was in a mishra deck a week or 2 ago and just had 4 lands in hand on turn 4 so wanted to slow the game down a bit

[@dwpetrak]

Big fan of Chalice of the Void in Obosh

[@ClawDragoon]

18:41 that is syr Gwyn Right?

[@lava2istrue]

Theres also equinox. Which is a hilarious card together with land creatures.

[@fplruben297]

Missed 1! Or maybe you skipped it :P "Frontline Medic" Battalion - Whenever Frontline Medic and at least two other creatures attack, creatures you control gain indestructible until end of turn. Sacrifice Frontline Medic: Counter target spell with {X} in its mana cost unless its controller pays {3}. Its a 2W 3/3 Human Cleric so probably auto include in both of those tribes.

[@Uma_and_friends]

Not of the world is also an all star in mizzix of the izmagnus

[@keantully-mclelland1383]

One of my main decks atm is a rakdos lord of riots deck that has alot of damage multipliers like dictate of the twin gods so molten influence become much scarier in that deck

[@DracoX-hz3tu]

Uh was the text on unyaro griffin changed cause that doesn't say red instant or sorcery it says red spell that deals damage to you or a creature you control which makes it way worse EDIT: Ignore me the 6th edition printing made the errata

[@edhdeckbuilding]

yes. i always read the errata text.

[@DracoX-hz3tu]

@@edhdeckbuilding now I see that and the 6th edition printing which has the correct text, I should've looked at that before asking lol

[@1Fsypro]

wish chalice was cheaper i bought almost every card that can manipulate charge counters would love to run a deck around it.

[@taishoukinjiro]

So, REB and Pyroblast, but no Jaya? Repeatable REB on a stick?

[@musicforlive92]

Isn’t Kozilek, the Great Distortion a card that counters spells? Or isn’t it on the list because you have to have specific cards in hand in order to actually counter stuff? 🤔

[@alexMendoza-wl5oj]

I see a lot of instant speed protection as counter spills for your creatures?

[@alexMendoza-wl5oj]

Bahahahahahaha that's a fun thought of watching your opponent spill their spell on the floor in a giant splatter

[@jhomastefferson3693]

Unless withering boon got erratad, the summon keyword means it should counter any permanent, except lands because lands aren't spells and aren't cast. Technically all the old artifact creature and enchantment spells were "summon" spells. Was there errata or no?

[@cristianisamuel]

Would you count Shell of the Last Kappa as a way to counter spells ?

[@papm222]

Great list man

[@cheeso338]

chalice of the coid for x equals zero seems actually really powerful. my favourite one tbh is death grip which i run in my krrik deck and it's a good feeling to deny any green ramp spells :D

[@johnweinhandl8890]

The best ones Red ele Pyroblast

[@actiondk2279]

I use Avoid Fate often!

[@thomasdawicki141]

My favorite interaction was when my buddy tapped out on an X cost and I hit him with mana tithe

[@jonathansavoie8462]

Good job , i think theyre autum veil and summer veil ( green instant) counters bleu

[@edhdeckbuilding]

not actual counterspells.

[@obadijahparks]

Deathgrip really helps against elves. Just so you know.

[@sirrzoidberg3771]

Playing a non blue control deck with counterspells seems fun

[@MtendoTheSkunk]

Didn't want to include Nether Void?

[@LadyTsunade777]

How can you bring up Presence of the Master and _not_ use the Einstein art? Nobody ever uses or cares about the Serra art, only the Einstein one. Another very important but near always overlooked aspect of Lapse of Certainty is that it also causes that person's next draw to be a dead draw. They're drawing a card they already had in their hand before, so you're setting them back more than just a spell. Also, if you want to go the super cute combo route, you can Lapse your own Approach of the Second Sun, since it only cares about casting one before, and not resolving one before.

[@phyrexian_dude4645]

And just in case put an Isochron Scepter for all of those 2 mana instants.

[@ThePhoenixPaladin]

They never expect the dualcaster mage on their own counterspell

[@landonmurphy5232]

Molten influence could be good in my deck that uses damage doublers so I could deal 12 damage instead of four

[@Murphthemick]

Seed time?

[@shmackydoo]

Some of these expensive ones need a reprint I think.

[@joejourdan610]

My man got a new mic...

[@lokidragon8725]

Awww you didn't use the Einstein art for presence of the master. : /

[@jhomastefferson3693]

Actually, it is legal to pay your last life away for a "mages contest". The rules state only that you can't pay life you dont have. If you have 1 life though... you have it. So you can pay it. You instantly lose the game then, but, if you have a plat angel, you can pay down to zero and not lose. I know this because paying all your life away with "moltensteel dragon" is also legal. I do it as a setup for a "soul conduit" win.

[@gunofbrixtonz]

If you Lapse of Certainty your own Approach of the Second Sun, you put it on top of your deck, and have already cast it once. 😂

[@nobodyfromnowwhere7510]

Blue shouldn't have a monopoly on extra turns, unconditional card draw, and have the entire mechanic, the most powerful one in the game, to itself. Not when every other color has had its unique aspects given to multiple other colors.

[@Abraktil]

There is a human that counter spells with X in the cost

[@joshuaspector8182]

I like to bid Avogadro’s number. 😂

[@Matt-sk6hi]

See they way you counter spell without blue is with about $2000

[@kingfuzzy2]

It's 80$ for the 65 cheapest ones.

[@stayathomedad4830]

I have a saskia control deck with most of these lol.

[@mrnekomaneki01]

Artifact blast. Hilarious turn 1mountain go. A play tries to play sol ring turn 1 red player counters it.

[@themanofman1892]

That gross moment when you counter a turn 1 soul ring

[@foxfire6658]

Every deck I have built is green.... Death grip: 😇✌

[@nzephier]

Omg, imagine a non blue counterspell deck lol

[@jonathansommer2687]

I always play chalice of the void with no counters to stop fast mana and other free spells.

[@vilesbr1424]

Chalice of the void on 0 doesn't stop FoW, FoN, Daze, Fierce Guardianship ect. The free modes on those cards don't change the CMC/mana value of the counterspell.

[@jonathansommer2687]

@@vilesbr1424Thanks for reminding me. I really don't like it when something is cast for free. The pact cycle is still cut off and that is enough for me.

[@doopness785]

Red Elemental Blast is always hold a special place in my heart as a player who loves red and hates blue.

[@the7569]

This is a really good video but I have to say that it physically pains me that you did not go in WUBRG order, well in this case I guess WBRG but still

[@sunbro_6446]

You forgot one more white counterspell. Its called I win the game? Just kidding but its called Chancellor of the Annex: 4WWW: you may reval this card in your opening hand. If you do, when each opponent casts his or her first spell of the game counter that spell unless that player pays 1. Flying Whenever an opponent cast a spell, counter it unless they lay 1.

[@edhdeckbuilding]

i think of that as more of a tax effect but i suppose it technically counters.

[@nanya524]

Dash Hopes should have been just straight up "Counter Target Spell" for two black. If they had to put a downside on it, why not "You lose 5 life"? I'd pay 5 life to counter a spell.

[@moreplease394]

This didn't help non-blue players be better... It's helping blue players be worse! :0

[@markomalmi7989]

Can you non-blue people please start using counterspells? It's getting tiring to start a match with 1 counterspell in my deck and to hear "that guy is playing blue! Gank them!"

[@pussaemuncha]

Tried running lifeforce in my Sythis hates UB deck and it was just too mana constrictive to run