| Uncounterable | |
|---|---|
| Mechanic | |
| Introduced | Tempest |
| Last used | Magic: The Gathering Foundations |
| Reminder Text | This spell can't be countered. |
| Statistics |
82 cards  1.2%  12.2%  3.7%  28%  34.1%  2.4%  1.2%  3.7%  2.4%  2.4%  1.2%  3.7%  3.7% |
| Scryfall Search | |
| fulloracle:"this spell can't be countered" | |
Uncounterable is a slang term for an attribute of a spell that precludes it from being countered.[1] In the rules text of cards it is spelled out as "This spell can't be countered".
Description
A spell's ability that grants uncounterability can be a static - or triggered ability. Uncounterability can also be granted by other spells.
This ability is primary in red and green, and secondary in blue.[2] Red tends to have spells that can't be countered while green tends to have creatures that can't be countered. When blue does "can't be countered," which is less often, it's usually a more control-oriented card. There is only a limited amount done in black and none in white. There is also no artifact, but there are to colorless Eldrazi with this ability.
Under a previous version of the rules, uncounterable spells that were targeted spells used the text "can't be countered by spells or abilities"; if the spell had no legal targets at the time it would resolve, it was "countered on resolution"; specifying that even if the spell could not be countered by spells or abilities the game rules were still able to counter it.[3] With the Dominaria rules update, the rules on spells fizzling were changed so that, if a targeted spell had no legal targets at the time it would resolve, the spell would simply be put into the graveyard without using the keyword action "counter".[4]
Heated Debate added the Strixhaven set-specific reminder text (This includes by the ward ability.) to "This spell can't be countered", as Ward debuted in that set. This was revisited in Murders at Karlov Manor, as Disguise was prominent and integrated Ward.
Examples of Uncounterable
Example 1
Scragnoth
Creature — Beast
3/4
This spell can't be countered.
Protection from blue
Example 2
Abrupt Decay
Instant
This spell can't be countered.
Destroy target nonland permanent with converted mana cost 3 or less.
Uncounterable spells
Creatures
- Colorless
- Blue
- Curator of Destinies
- Hullbreaker Horror
- Nezahal, Primal Tide
- Pearl-Lake Ancient
- Sphinx of the Final Word
- Red
- Green
- Balustrade Wurm
- Allosaurus Shepherd
- Blurred Mongoose
- Bramblearmor Brawler
- Carnage Tyrant
- Cragplate Baloth
- Gaea's Revenge
- Great Sable Stag
- Howlpack Piper
- Isao, Enlightened Bushi
- Kavu Chameleon
- Mistcutter Hydra
- Petrified Wood-Kin
- Prowling Serpopard
- Root Sliver
- Scragnoth
- Shifting Ceratops
- Skylasher
- Terra Stomper
- Thrun, Breaker of Silence
- Thrun, the Last Troll
- Toski, Bearer of Secrets
- Tyrranax Rex
- Vexing Beetle
- Wilson, Refined Grizzly
- Multicolored
Instants
- Blue
- Commence the Endgame
- Dragonlord's Prerogative (if a Dragon was revealed)
- Last Word
- Out Cold
- Overwhelming Denial
- Black
- Red
- Caught Red-Handed
- Combust
- Fry
- Heated Debate
- Inescapable Blaze
- Rending Volley
- Tears of Valakut
- Torch Breath
- Urza's Rage
- Volcanic Fallout
- Green
- Multicolored
Sorceries
- Colorless
- Black
- Red
- Banefire (If X is 5 or more)
- Demonfire (If Hellbent)
- Exquisite Firecraft (If Spell Mastery)
- Lithomantic Barrage
- Magic Missile
- Obliterate
- Raze to the Ground
- Suspicious Detonation
- Green
- Multicolored
Planeswalkers
Spells that grant Uncounterable
Creatures
- Allosaurus Shepherd (to green spells)
- Benevolent Geist (to noncreatures)
- Cunning Nightbonder (to spells with Flash)
- Destiny Spinner (to enchantments and creatures)
- Gaea's Herald (to creatures)
- Goldbug, Humanity's Ally (Humans)
- Lier, Disciple of the Drowned (all spells)
- A-Lier, Disciple of the Drowned (all spells)
- Prowling Serpopard (to creatures)
- Root Sliver (to Slivers)
- Spellbreaker Behemoth (to creatures you control with power 5 or greater)
- Sphinx of the Final Word (to instants and sorceries you control)
- Surrak Dragonclaw (to creatures you control)
- Taigam, Ojutai Master (to instants, sorceries, and Dragon spells)
- Thryx, the Sudden Storm (to converted mana cost 5 or greater spells)
- Vexing Shusher (pay to make any target spell uncounterable)
Artifacts
- Chimil, the Inner Sun (spells you control)
Enchantments
- Leyline of Lifeforce (to creatures)
- Rhythm of the Wild (to creatures)
Instants
- Autumn's Veil (for blue or black spells)
- Determined (other spells you control)
- Savage Summoning (to next creature)
- Veil of Summer (spells you control)
Sorceries
- Insist (to next creature)
- Overmaster (to next instant or sorcery spell)
Planeswalkers
- Domri, Anarch of Bolas (
+1 loyalty ability, to creature spells)
Lands
- Boseiju, Who Shelters All (instants or sorceries)
- Cavern of Souls (creatures of chosen type)
See also
References
- ↑ Magic Arcana (February 24, 2004). "Green's uncounterable creatures". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (June 5, 2017). "Mechanical Color Pie 2017". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (September 24, 2012). "Card Day's Night". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Eli Shiffrin (April 13, 2018). "Dominaria Comprehensive Rules Changes". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.