Counter vs removal
General forum
Posted on March 1, 2014, 11:51 a.m. by ronsen
Hello everyone! I'm relatively new to Magic and even though I have a few decks and can play the game, I'm still learning some of the other concepts and theories of this game. One of which is the indicated counter vs removal when dealing with creatures. I've read somewhere (I forgot where) that it's better to deal with creatures using removal spells instead of counter spells. Is this true? And if so, can someone give even just a short explanation why or why not?
Rasta_Viking29 says... #3
Black also uses -1/-1 too.
Counters have to be used when the creature is played and makes you leave mana open at the expense of board pressence. You can't draw into a counter to answer a creature already played like you could Doom Blade . The pro is being able to stop EtB effects, removal can't.
March 1, 2014 12:22 p.m.
see post above :)
here's another scenario. your opponent casts a one-drop 1/1 in play. would you really want to spend 2-3 mana to counter it? as mentioned, you have to leave mana open. especially in the early part of the game, you're probably saving it for other 'bombs'. then next turn your opponent pumps it and swings for 7 points..
March 1, 2014 12:53 p.m.
Usually if your goal is to play a control deck some amount of each will be good. Keep in mind some creatures can't be countered (Mistcutter Hydra is devastating against Mono-U). Essence Scatter is a good anti creature counter, but as mentioned above it won't deal with a creature already on the board. On the other hand, Murder doesn't deal with the ETB effect of Gray Merchant of Asphodel . It's a fine line to walk.
March 1, 2014 12:53 p.m.
I find countering something is often better, assuming you have the counterspell in hand. There are relatively few things your opponent can do to stop a counter, while it's much easier to save a creature from a kill spell. That being said, you can't guarantee that you will have the counterspell in hand when you need it, while you can use a kill spell at any point, as Rasta_Viking29 said. Because of that, you really need both for a good control deck.
March 1, 2014 1:23 p.m.
Thanks for the replies! I'm using a budget esper control deck right now and I've been thinking of tweaking it when I remembered this. I guess I won't tamper with them for now.
March 2, 2014 3:21 a.m.
Didgeridooda says... #8
Why not both? Wish I could link the taco girl. I don't know how to do that.
March 2, 2014 3:25 a.m.
I usually tend to counter something more often then destroy it. When it comes to removal I either like to wipe the whole board or exile and when it comes to destroy I like to run cards that target permanents rather then just creatures.I could write an entire book on this subject but that would be pointless as many people would disagree with my methods.
March 2, 2014 3:48 a.m.
@ronsen: Adding the deck and linking it to this article would help us assist you.
March 2, 2014 5:06 a.m.
I feel bad for putting this here since I copied it from another user but here's my copied [Budget] Esper Control deck. I've been told to put Sphinx's Revelation , Jace, Architect of Thought , and Elspeth, Sun's Champion there but those are too expensive for me right now although I'm currently considering Elspeth. I've been thinking of ways to tweak this since I'm currently 0-3 against my friend's Orzhov aggro deck.
March 2, 2014 9:44 a.m.
counter is a bit more expensive, but does eliminate enter triggers. just watch out for indestructbles, which need counters or exiles.
GoldGhost012 says... #2
Eh, it's kind of true and not true. The thing with counterspells is that only decks that run blue can use them (with a few exceptions). So while it may stop a creature that's hard to remove using conventional removal, only decks playing blue can use counters.
However, each color has its own ways of removal, making a far more diverse way to kill creatures. For example, green has fight effects, and flying and artifact/enchantment hate, white has exile and enchantment/artifact hate, red has burn and artifact/land hate, blue has bounces and counters, and black has straight up "destroy creature" or "sacrifice creature" removal.
March 1, 2014 12:05 p.m.