Spell Contortion

Instant

Multikicker {{1,U}} (You may pay an additional {{1,U}} any number of times as you cast this spell.)

Counter target spell unless its controller pays {{2}}. Draw a card for each time Spell Contortion was kicked.

Legality

Format	Legality
1v1 Commander	Legal
Archenemy	Legal
Block Constructed	Legal
Canadian Highlander	Legal
Casual	Legal
Commander / EDH	Legal
Commander: Rule 0	Legal
Custom	Legal
Duel Commander	Legal
Highlander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Leviathan	Legal
Limited	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Planechase	Legal
Quest Magic	Legal
Tiny Leaders	Legal
Vanguard	Legal
Vintage	Legal

Discussion (6)

TehLaggy on Verazol, the Kicker Meme

2 years ago

@Phule451 - Unfortunately, Spell Contortion isn't very good. I'll break it down.

First, it is strictly worse than other counterspells played unkicked. At 2 mana, Mana Leak costs less and does more. At 3 mana, there are many counterspells that work unconditionally (often with a minor upside), such as Forbid , and there are also counterspells that do more than that, like Voidslime .

So we never want to play it unkicked. Kicked, it's minimum 5 mana for "counter spell unless controller pays 2, and draw a card." This is quite a weak effect for forcing us to leave 5 mana untapped. On top of that, copying it with Verazol does almost nothing - in the majority of scenarios when the copy happens, the only valid target will be the original spell you're countering. But if you "double counter" a spell, one counterspell resolving successfully will cause the other counterspell to fizzle, as it no longer has any valid targets. When it fizzles, you don't get any of the card's effects - that includes the draw effect - and thus you can't get double the card draws via Verazol's copy.

Therefore the card has little synergy with Verazol despite being kicker, and isn't great on its own. There are some odd edge cases it might be better than another counterspell, but they're very rare.

Phule451 on Verazol, the Kicker Meme

2 years ago

I’m very surprised you’re not running Spell Contortion as it’s a great counter that also provides draw, plus it’s a kicker spell, everything this deck wants! Just an idea to consider...

svensparx07 on Verazol BUDGET Kicker Commander

3 years ago

Love the deck, been thinking about Verazol for a hot minute

If you were to raise the budget to about $150-200, what would you add/remove?

I've been looking at Rite of Replication, Prohibit, Mana Reflection, Spell Contortion, Draining Whelk, Elfhame Druid, and Breeding Pool

Loreshadow on Everyone Loves Ice Breakers, V2

5 years ago

Spell Burst if you want buyback hard counters.

Spell Contortion if you want scaling card draw.

Distortion Strike for 1 mana Rebound unblockable over two turns. Triggering two spell casts.

takeaseathoney on deleted

6 years ago

deleted

golgarigirl on Mizzix that needs work

7 years ago

Be a terrible person with Buyback, Flashback, and all their friends! Mizzix reduces the cost of all alternate casting costs. (Also reduced Awaken, but I didn't include anything with that, because I know how much a fan you are, and I think you have most the good Overload)

Buyback:Capsize, Reiterate, Spell Burst, Whispers of the MuseFlashback:Lightning Surge, Cackling Counterpart, Devil's Play, Fervent Denial, Increasing Vengeance, Past in Flames, Recoup, Volley of BouldersKicker:Elemental Appeal, Illuminate, Into the Roil, Jilt, Molten Disaster, Spell Contortion

Possibilities:

Denying Wind, Searing Wind, Insurrection, Temporal Trespass, Volcanic Vision, Aether Gale, Crush of Tentacles, Fall of the Titans, Mindswipe, Counterlash, Izzet Cluestone (and other colored mana generation), Reality Shift, Fissure, Rapid Hybridization, Pongify, Comparative Analysis, Tezzeret's Gambit, Mirrorpool, Scour from Existence, Dig Through Time, Treasure Cruise, All Is Dust, Mnemonic Wall, Archaeomancer, Izzet Chronarch also feel free to look at Niv's counterspell list.

-Out-

Seal of the Guildpact, Artificer's Epiphany, Mystic Confluence, Repeal, Thirst for Knowledge, Meteor Blast, Arjun, the Shifting Flame, Barrin, Master Wizard, Broodbirth Viper, Dragon Mage, Etherium-Horn Sorcerer, Gigantoplasm, Illusory Ambusher, Lone Revenant, Warchief Giant, Rite of the Raging Storm, Thopter Spy Network, Thought Reflection