Can you use a counter spell on a creature?
The answer to this question is yes, you can use a counter spell on a creature as long as it is in the form of a spell on the stack, but this does not apply to creature abilities or when the creature is already on the battlefield. Using a counter spell in this context allows you to neutralize the effect of the creature spell, preventing it from resolving and affecting the game state.
Understanding Counter Spells and Creatures
To delve deeper into the interaction between counter spells and creatures, it’s essential to understand the basics of how Magic: The Gathering (MTG) and similar games function, including the stack, spells, creatures, and abilities.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What happens when you counter a creature spell?
A countered spell is put into the graveyard instead of resolving, effectively negating its effect.
2. Can you counter a creature ability?
No, abilities aren’t spells, which means you can’t counter them using a counter spell.
3. How does Counterspell work in MTG?
Counterspell is a spell that can counter another spell on the stack, preventing it from resolving.
4. Do counters destroy a creature?
Counters can be used to kill a creature, even if it’s indestructible, by countering the spell that would put it onto the battlefield or by using counters that reduce its toughness to zero.
5. How do counters work in MTG?
A counter is a marker placed on an object or player that modifies its characteristics and/or interacts with a rule, ability, or effect, and counters with the same name or description are interchangeable.
6. Do counters stay on mutated creatures?
When a creature is mutated, the new, merged creature retains all counters, Auras, and Equipment attached to it.
7. Do countered spells count as cast?
Yes, the casting still happens; the spell just has no effect, and having your spell countered doesn’t let you bypass the bonus action spell rule.
8. What is the counterspell rule in 5e?
In Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition, Counterspell is a reaction that can be used to counter a spell cast by an enemy, automatically canceling the spell if it is 3rd level or lower.
9. How do you beat Counterspell?
You can work around counterspells by forcing opponents to discard their counterspell before they play it or by backing up your play with counterspells of your own.
10. What is the best counterspell in Magic?
The best counterspell can vary, but top counterspells include Force of Will, Counterspell, Daze, and Cryptic Command, with Force of Will often considered one of the most powerful due to its ability to counter any spell.
11. Do +1 counters count as a creature’s power?
A +1/+1 counter on a creature adds one to its power and toughness, making it stronger.
12. Can you counter a creature with Hexproof?
Yes, you can counter a hexproof creature because hexproof only prevents targeted spells and abilities from affecting the creature as a permanent, not as a spell on the stack.
13. What happens if you counter spell a counter spell?
You can use your reaction to cast Counterspell on another Counterspell, but this results in wasting two spell slots instead of one, with the same outcome.
14. Can you regenerate a creature with counters?
You cannot regenerate a countered creature because regenerate prevents the destruction of a permanent, and countering a spell doesn’t destroy it.
15. Do creatures lose counters when exiled?
When a creature is exiled, it becomes a non-permanent card, causing all statuses, counters, equipment, enchantments, etc., to detach, and enchantments will go to the graveyard; upon return, it enters the battlefield as a new instance of that permanent, losing its previous counters.