Counterbalance MTG Card


Counterbalance offers virtual card advantage by negating opponent spells without depleting your hand. By dictating game pace, Counterbalance indirectly boosts your resource acceleration. Its instant speed-like quality allows for uninterrupted mana pool management and constant threat.
Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeEnchantment

Text of card

Whenever an opponent plays a spell, you may reveal the top card of your library. If you do, counter that spell if it has the same converted mana cost as the revealed card.


Cards like Counterbalance

In the realm of MTG, Counterbalance offers a unique control mechanism, akin to mystical scales balancing the decks of fate. Like Counterbalance, the artifact Chalice of the Void disrupts strategies by countering spells of a certain mana cost. Nonetheless, Counterbalance stands unique, as it allows for a subtler form of manipulation with the potential to counter any spell, provided the top deck alignment is accurate.

Then we have Sensei’s Divining Top, a card that, while not a counter spell itself, synergizes with Counterbalance by manipulating the top of the deck to ensure the right cost card is ready to reveal. This combination creates a formidable control duo. Other contenders such as Soothsaying or Crystal Ball offer deck manipulation to set up the desired top deck, but without the direct countering capability imbued in Counterbalance.

In essence, Counterbalance reigns as a staple in decks seeking to inhibit opponents’ plays with its subtle yet potent effect. Its value within control strategies in MTG is unquestionable, particularly when combined with cards that organize the top of the library, fortifying its place in the metagame.

Chalice of the Void - MTG Card versions
Sensei's Divining Top - MTG Card versions
Soothsaying - MTG Card versions
Crystal Ball - MTG Card versions
Chalice of the Void - MTG Card versions
Sensei's Divining Top - MTG Card versions
Soothsaying - MTG Card versions
Crystal Ball - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Counterbalance by color, type and mana cost

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Lifetap - MTG Card versions
Power Artifact - MTG Card versions
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Venarian Gold - MTG Card versions
Homarid Spawning Bed - MTG Card versions
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Flooded Shoreline - MTG Card versions
Dance of Many - MTG Card versions
Teferi's Veil - MTG Card versions
Legacy's Allure - MTG Card versions
Chill - MTG Card versions
Buoyancy - MTG Card versions
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Decks using this card

MTG decks using Counterbalance. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Izzet DelverIzzet Delver LegacyTemur DelverLegacy Challenge 32 2024-04-20 (1)
Grixis TempoGrixis Tempo LegacyGrixis TempoLegacy Challenge 32 2024-04-20
5c Delver5c Delver LegacyTemur DelverLegacy Challenge 32 2024-04-28
Jeskai ControlJeskai Control LegacyJeskai ControlLegacy League 2024-04-23

Card Pros

Card Advantage: With Counterbalance at the heart of your deck, you gain an edge through a form of virtual card advantage. This comes into play as you potentially negate numerous opponents’ spells without having to expend additional cards from your hand, thereby keeping your resources plentiful while diminishing theirs.

Resource Acceleration: Although Counterbalance itself does not directly accelerate resources, its ability to control the game’s pace can indirectly lead to resource acceleration. By carefully manipulating the top card of your library, you are able to extend the game, giving you the time needed to reach your key mana sources and solidify your board state.

Instant Speed: The ability of Counterbalance to potentially counter an opponent’s spell during any phase of their turn — or yours — without specifically tapping mana at the time of their spell’s casting gives it a unique instant speed-like quality. This means you can effectively maintain your mana pool for other strategies while consistently posing a threat to your opponent’s plans.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Counterbalance’s effectiveness hinges on an optimal library setup. While it does not demand a discard, its potency drops if you cannot ensure a proper card at the top of your library, potentially causing a valuable card to sit unused.

Specific Mana Cost: Requiring both blue mana in its casting cost, Counterbalance is designed for blue or blue-inclusive decks. This can be restrictive and does not fit into colorless or mono-color decks that exclude blue.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although Counterbalance itself has a moderate mana value, ensuring its strategic use can be mana-intensive. Players may prefer cheaper options that provide immediate board impact or card advantage without additional setup or resource allocation.


Reasons to Include Counterbalance in Your Collection

Versatility: Counterbalance offers a unique ability to potentially counter spells without expending additional cards from your hand, giving it a place in decks that aim for control and strategy manipulation.

Combo Potential: This card is well-known for its synergy with the Sensei’s Divining Top, allowing players to arrange the top of their library and ensure that the right casting cost is on top to counter incoming spells effectively.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where deck strategies can shift, Counterbalance remains a relevant tool. It can act as a safeguard against decks that rely heavily on spells with similar casting costs or disrupt opponents who sequence their plays predictably.


How to beat

Counterbalance is an intriguing card in MTG, known for its ability to disrupt an opponent’s strategy by potentially countering spells with no mana cost. It operates in tandem with the top of a player’s library, revealing the next card to determine if a spell can be countered based on its converted mana cost.

To efficiently overcome Counterbalance, consider methods that don’t rely on casting spells from the hand. For example, employing creatures with Flash can help avoid the Counterbalance check by playing them at a less predictable time. Additionally, cards that allow you to manipulate the top card of your library, or even your opponent’s, can help ensure that the revealed card doesn’t match the mana cost of the spell you wish to play. Activated abilities, which aren’t spells, and thus can’t be countered by Counterbalance, are also an effective tool against it. Also, using spells with variable costs could outwit Counterbalance’s ability as it becomes more challenging to predict the cost.

Navigating around the complexities of Counterbalance involves a mix of strategy and deck construction. By incorporating these tactics, players can bypass the control Counterbalance aims to exert, maintaining the flow of their own game plan while mitigating disruptions.


BurnMana Recommendations

Wrapping things up, finding your unique edge in the world of MTG can make all the difference. Armed with Counterbalance, your deck gains a strategic component that can secure victories. Its synergy with cards like Sensei’s Divining Top creates a formidable control axis, and in the right deck, it’s a game-changer. Take control of the game flow, dictate the pace, and keep your opponents guessing. Enhance your control strategy and embrace the potential to navigate each match with poise. Dive deeper with us, refine your deck-building skills, and join the MTG community in celebrating the power of Counterbalance. Your journey towards dominance awaits.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Counterbalance MTG card by a specific set like Coldsnap and Amonkhet Invocations, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Counterbalance and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Counterbalance Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2006-07-21 and 2019-12-02. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12006-07-21ColdsnapCSP 312003NormalBlackJohn Zeleznik
22017-04-28Amonkhet InvocationsMP2 92015NormalBorderlessJoseph Meehan
32019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 12202015NormalBorderlessRope Arrow
42020-09-26The ListPLST CSP-312003NormalBlackJohn Zeleznik

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Counterbalance has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Counterbalance card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2006-07-15 If an opponent casts a spell with X in its mana cost, the converted mana cost of that spell takes the value of X into account. If you reveal a card with X in its mana cost, X is 0. For example, if your opponent casts Blaze with X=1, Counterbalance will counter that spell if you reveal a card with converted mana cost 2, but it won’t counter that spell if you reveal a Blaze of your own.
2017-04-18 If an opponent casts half of a split card (for example, Hit), it won’t be countered if you reveal that same split card. The converted mana cost of a split card is determined by the combined mana cost of its two halves, but the converted mana cost of Hit is determined using only that half’s mana cost.