Did you know there are over 10 MTG white counterspell cards? While everyone knows blue is the counterspell color, other colors have a few cards that can counter spells as well. This is no different when it comes to white. Throughout Magic the Gathering’s history, white has been blessed with a couple semi-decent counterspells.
One of the best MTG white counterspell cards is Mana Tithe, but some folks may not realize there are even more spells in white’s arsenal for countering opponents’ spells! Some of these other white counterspell cards are Rebuff the Wicked, Reprieve, Mage’s Attendant and Illumination, among others. This article will go over all the white counterspell cards MTG has printed throughout the years!
Table of Contents
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MTG White Counterspell Instant Cards
There are not a ton of Instant white counterspell MTG cards, but there are a few that are actually quite good. Out of the bunch, Mana Tithe is probably the most famous. Chances are, when someone mentions a while counterspell card, you’re first though will be Mana Tithe. There’s nothing wrong with that either because it can counter any target, provided the caster cannot pay the additional 1 generic mana. But if the spell’s owner can pay the 1 generic mana, you’re out of luck.
After that, the best white counterspell is not actually a counterspell per se, but rather a bounce spell. Reprieve allows you to return a target spell to its owner’s hand. Not only that, but you get to draw a card! All of that for only 1 generic and 1 white cost; Reprieve is an absolute banger of a card. It is going in my Snow Angels Commander deck immediately!
In a similar vein to Reprieve, Outlaws of Thunder Junction brings us Aven Interrupter. Except instead of returning the spell to the owner’s hand, it gets plotted (Its owner may cast it as a sorcery on a later turn without paying its mana cost). Aven Interrupter is really a really good defense against counter spells, because it completely nullifies that counter spell. After all, casting a counter spell at Sorcery speed would have no legal targets!
The next best option would probably be Rebuff the Wicked. This lets you counter a target spell that targets a permanent you control. This is more of a protection piece rather than a true counterspell, but it can still come in handy!
Every single one of these white counterspell instants are pretty good in the right situation. I feel that they are all playable and really good inclusions in your mono white deck’s interaction selection.
Choose one —
– Prevent all combat damage that would be dealt this turn
– Regenerate target creature
– Counter target spell that targets you
Counter target artifact or enchantment spell — Its controller gains life equal to its mana value
Counter target spell — if that spell is countered this way, put it on top of its owner’s library instead of into that player’s graveyard
Creature with Flash (instant speed!)
When it enters the battlefield, exile target spell — it becomes plotted
Spells opponents cast from exile or graveyards cost 2 generic more to cast
MTG White Counterspell Cards Via Abilities
Sadly, the rest of the white counterspells are not nearly as good as the list of instant white counterspell cards mentioned above. The follow cards are all permanents with abilities attached to them that allow you to counter a spell. These cards are very conditional and usually require you to jump through hoops in order to achieve your counter magic.
Out of the bunch, Mage’s Attendant is probably the best one. Upon entering the battlefield, Mage’s Attendant will create a token creature that has an ability on it to pay 1 generic and sacrifice the token to counter target noncreature spell unless its controller pays 1 generic. Essentially giving you a semi Mana Tithe as an ability on the token creature.
Again, these are not the best, but beggars can’t be choosers when it comes to white counterspells. Here is the entire list (that I know of) to help round out your counter magic needs in white:
When Mage’s Attendant enters the battlefield, create a 1/1 blue Wizard creature token with “Pay 1 generic, Sacrifice this creature: Counter target noncreature spell unless its controller pays 1 generic”
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 generic
Enchant Land
Enchanted land has ‘Tap: Counter target spell if it would destroy a land you control’
Sacrifice Vigilant Martyr: Regenerate target creature
Tap, pay 2 white, Sacrifice Vigilant Martyr: Counter target spell that targets an enchantment
Final Thoughts on MTG White Counterspell Cards
While there are not a ton of MTG white counterspell cards, the few white does have are actually pretty good. The standouts, in my opinion, are Mana Tithe, Reprieve, and Rebuff the Wicked. And to be fair, including those 3, every single white counterspell instant is absolutely playable. The other set of white counterspells, on the other hand, are the ones that are not quite as reliable and/or require you to jump through hoops. These are the ones that are an ability on a permanent, usually a creature, that allow you to activate the ability to execute your counter magic.
Truthfully, I’d like to see more MTG white counterspell cards printed that have some downside. I feel like out of all the colors, minus blue, white is the most likely to have the ability to counter. A really good white counterspell card could be something like 1 generic and 2 white for an instant that counters target spell if and only if you gained 3 or more life that turn. Even something like a 1 generic 2 white instant that lets you counter target noncreature spell, its controller gains twice the amount of life as the targeted spell’s mana value! Who knows, maybe that will be something MTG decides to print in the future.
Let me know your thoughts. Do you think these are good white counterspells? Do you think there are too many or too little? If I missed any white counterspell cards that you know of, please shout them out in the comments below! Thanks for reading and good luck on your MTG white counterspell endeavors!
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