Counterflux MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityRare
TypeInstant
Abilities Overload

Key Takeaways

  1. Counterflux ensures strategic board control through direct counterplay and tempo advantage.
  2. Vital in control matchups, it cannot be countered, adding depth to MTG deck strategies.
  3. Adaptability is crucial to circumvent Counterflux’s uncounterable defense in high-stakes games.

Text of card

Counterflux can't be countered by spells or abilities. Counter target spell you don't control. Overload (You may cast this spell for its overload cost. If you do, change its text by replacing all instances of "target" with "each.")


Card Pros

Card Advantage: With the ability to counter target spell you don’t want to face, Counterflux can indirectly act as a tool to maintain card advantage. By stopping key spells from resolving, you preserve the balance of power on the board and ensure your strategic plays go uninterrupted.

Resource Acceleration: Although Counterflux itself does not accelerate your mana resources directly, the ability to counter any spell regardless of its cost can lead to a tempo advantage. This can disrupt your opponent’s resource planning and potentially lead to a quicker victory.

Instant Speed: As an instant, Counterflux provides the flexibility to respond to threats at any point on your opponent’s turn. This allows you to adapt to the game’s state and act with precision, countering even the most unanticipated plays and maintaining control of the game flow.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: The Counterflux card doesn’t demand a discard, but its effectiveness depends on hand availability, where having enough options to counter remains paramount.

Specific Mana Cost: Requiring both blue and red mana, this card can’t fluidly fit into every deck, particularly limiting its compatibility outside of multicolor constructs focused on those colors.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With an initial cost requiring three mana, including a stringent blue and red mix, it is costlier than many other counter spells, potentially slowing down the player’s momentum in fast-paced games where efficiency is key.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Counterflux is an adaptable card that can seamlessly fit into numerous Instant and Sorcery-focused decks. Its ability to be uncounterable itself means it can be a pivotal card in control matchups.

Combo Potential: With the Overload mechanic, Counterflux can disrupt not just a single spell but potentially a whole stack, making it a perfect inclusion in decks that face opponents with combo strategies.

Meta-Relevance: In metagames with a high density of casting duels and control mirrors, Counterflux shines by offering a countermeasure that can’t be easily negated, solidifying its relevance in such environments.


How to beat

Counterflux is a unique spell in the realm of MTG that players should handle with care. As an instant with the ability to counter any spell while being uncounterable, it presents a serious firewall to your strategies on the stack. The key to surpassing this obstacle lies in adaptation and clever play.

One strategy is to bait out the Counterflux with less crucial spells, compelling your opponent to use it prematurely. Alternatively, overwhelming your adversary with multiple spells in a single turn can exhaust their ability to counter. Playing around Counterflux with spells that can’t be countered, such as those with the ability ‘cannot be countered,’ is another effective tactic.

Remember, timing can be everything. Since Counterflux requires both blue and red mana, attentive players can take advantage of moments when their opponent may not have the appropriate mana open, thereby nullifying the threat it poses. Adaptability and anticipation are critical when dealing with Counterflux on the battlefield.


BurnMana Recommendations

Understanding the nuances of MTG is a continual journey, where strategic use of cards like Counterflux can define the outcome of your duels. Whether you seek to gain the upper hand in a control matchup or want to protect your plays from unforeseen counters, mastering the intricacies of such versatile spells could turn the tides in your favor. Dive deeper and expand your knowledge with us, as every card in your arsenal brings you one step closer to claiming victory. Leverage Counterflux to its full potential and uncover advanced tactics that ensure victory. Your path to becoming an adept mage in MTG begins here.


Cards like Counterflux

Within the realm of counter magic in Magic: The Gathering, Counterflux holds its own unique position. This card offers a potent comparison to classic counterspells like Cancel, with both providing the fundamental ability to thwart an opponent’s spell. Where Counterflux shines is in its Overload mechanic, allowing you to counter multiple spells at once, a feature absent in Cancel. Additionally, Counterflux can’t be countered by spells or abilities, giving it an edge in control matchups where each counter spell is critical.

Contrasting this further, Dissipate also enters the fray as a key competitor. While sharing the same mana cost as Counterflux, Dissipate exiles the countered spell, ensuring it can’t recur from the graveyard—a distinct advantage in matches against strategies relying on spell recasting or graveyard synergy. However, it lacks the multi-target versatility and uncounterable nature of Counterflux. Then there’s Negate, which, while more mana-efficient, only targets noncreature spells, limiting its defensive scope compared to the broad reach of Counterflux’s Overload capability.

Assessing their role in gameplay, Counterflux emerges as a robust choice for deck builders seeking a versatile answer to a variety of threats, coupling reliability with the strategic depth that can tip the scales in high-stakes situations.

Cancel - MTG Card versions
Dissipate - MTG Card versions
Negate - MTG Card versions
Cancel - Time Spiral (TSP)
Dissipate - Mirage (MIR)
Negate - Morningtide (MOR)

Cards similar to Counterflux by color, type and mana cost

Prismari Command - MTG Card versions
Electrolyze - MTG Card versions
Schismotivate - MTG Card versions
Cerebral Vortex - MTG Card versions
Unnerving Assault - MTG Card versions
Double Negative - MTG Card versions
Dragonshift - MTG Card versions
Winterflame - MTG Card versions
Geistblast - MTG Card versions
Ionize - MTG Card versions
Sonic Assault - MTG Card versions
Flame of Anor - MTG Card versions
Frolicking Familiar // Blow Off Steam - MTG Card versions
Electrosiphon - MTG Card versions
Prismari Command - The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Commander (LCC)
Electrolyze - Strixhaven Mystical Archive (STA)
Schismotivate - Guildpact (GPT)
Cerebral Vortex - GRN Guild Kit (GK1)
Unnerving Assault - Eventide (EVE)
Double Negative - Alara Reborn (ARB)
Dragonshift - Dragon's Maze (DGM)
Winterflame - Khans of Tarkir (KTK)
Geistblast - Shadows over Innistrad (SOI)
Ionize - Guilds of Ravnica Promos (PGRN)
Sonic Assault - Guilds of Ravnica (GRN)
Flame of Anor - The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth (LTR)
Frolicking Familiar // Blow Off Steam - Wilds of Eldraine (WOE)
Electrosiphon - Fallout (PIP)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Counterflux MTG card by a specific set like Return to Ravnica and Commander 2015, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Counterflux and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Counterflux Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2012-10-05 and 2019-12-02. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12012-10-05Return to RavnicaRTR 1532003normalblackScott M. Fischer
22015-11-13Commander 2015C15 2142015normalblackScott M. Fischer
32019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 4822015normalblackRiot Games

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Counterflux has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Counterflux card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

DateText
2013-04-15 Because a spell with overload doesn’t target when its overload cost is paid, it may affect permanents with hexproof or with protection from the appropriate color.
2013-04-15 Casting a spell with overload doesn’t change that spell’s mana cost. You just pay the overload cost instead.
2013-04-15 Effects that cause you to pay more or less for a spell will cause you to pay that much more or less while casting it for its overload cost, too.
2013-04-15 If you are instructed to cast a spell with overload “without paying its mana cost,” you can’t choose to pay its overload cost instead.
2013-04-15 If you don’t pay the overload cost of a spell, that spell will have a single target. If you pay the overload cost, the spell won’t have any targets.
2013-04-15 Note that if the spell with overload is dealing damage, protection from that spell’s color will still prevent that damage.
2013-04-15 Overload doesn’t change when you can cast the spell.

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