Stubborn Denial MTG Card


Card advantage with Stubborn Denial comes from disrupting opponent strategy while conserving your own resources. Its cost-efficiency is beneficial, but full potency depends on controlling a creature with sufficient power. Staple in control decks but requires specific conditions to reach its highest potential within games.
Stubborn Denial - Khans of Tarkir
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityUncommon
TypeInstant
Abilities Ferocious
Released2014-09-26
Set symbol
Set nameKhans of Tarkir
Set codeKTK
Number56
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byJames Ryman

Text of card

Counter target noncreature spell unless its controller pays . Ferocious — If you control a creature with power 4 or greater, counter that spell instead.

The Temur have no patience for subtlety.


Cards like Stubborn Denial

Stubborn Denial has carved its niche in the realm of counter spells in Magic: The Gathering. Its closest relatives include classic spells like Negate, which counters noncreature spells without condition. Stubborn Denial, however, offers something special: for just one blue mana, it can not only counter a noncreature spell, but if you have a creature with power four or greater, it becomes a no-questions-asked counter unless the opponent pays one mana.

Then there is Mana Leak, another staple in the arsenal of control players. Mana Leak counters any spell unless its caster pays three additional mana, which can be a tougher condition to meet in the early game. While Mana Leak is not dependent on controlling a strong creature, its effectiveness can diminish as the game progresses and players accumulate more resources.

In the end, while each of these spells holds value in certain decks, Stubborn Denial’s low cost and potential to be a hard counter demonstrate its prowess within the counter spell category. Its synergy with creature-based strategies often tips the scales in its favor in decks that can reliably meet its ferocious condition.

Negate - MTG Card versions
Mana Leak - MTG Card versions
Negate - MTG Card versions
Mana Leak - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Stubborn Denial by color, type and mana cost

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Decks using this card

MTG decks using Stubborn Denial. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Domain ZooDomain Zoo ModernDomain ZooModern League 2024-05-19
Sultai ScamSultai Scam ModernSultai ScamModern Super Qualifier 2024-05-19
Dimir Death's ShadowDimir Death's Shadow ModernDeath's ShadowModern Super Qualifier 2024-05-19

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Stubborn Denial can function as a crucial form of card advantage. Even though it doesn’t directly draw you cards, it can negate an opponent’s key spell, effectively causing a swing in card economy by wasting their resources while protecting your own.

Resource Acceleration: While Stubborn Denial isn’t a direct source of resource acceleration, its low casting cost aids in your mana efficiency, allowing you to allocate resources elsewhere to develop your board presence or keep mana available for other interactions.

Instant Speed: Its instant speed grants flexibility, enabling you to disrupt opponents during their most critical moments. This timing can be pivotal when countering game-altering spells or when you have a creature with power 4 or greater, turning Stubborn Denial into a near-unconditional counter for merely one blue mana.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Although Stubborn Denial does not require you to discard, it demands a creature with power 4 or greater to upgrade its effect. This can be limiting, especially in early-game scenarios or decks with fewer creatures meeting the power criteria.

Specific Mana Cost: Stubborn Denial’s one blue mana cost might seem minimal, but it makes the card exclusive to blue or multicolor decks, potentially restricting its versatility in a broader range of strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While the card itself costs only one mana, leveraging its full potential often implies having a board presence of a powerful creature. In essence, its true cost comes from committing to a creature-central gameplay, which may not always align with your deck’s strategy or the state of the battlefield.


Reasons to Include Stubborn Denial in Your Collection

Versatility: Stubborn Denial offers flexible use across multiple deck archetypes. It serves as an efficient countermeasure for noncreature spells at an affordable cost, and can be a game-changer in decks that field creatures with power four or greater.

Combo Potential: With the right setup, this card can become a hard counter for a single blue mana. It pairs exceptionally well with high-power creatures, enhancing your board’s resilience by protecting key pieces from your opponent’s removals or disruptions.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment filled with powerful instants, sorceries, and planeswalkers, Stubborn Denial has become an effective tool for tempo and control strategies. Its relevance grows in metas where low-cost, efficient answers to costly threats are pivotal.


How to beat

Stubborn Denial is a well-known card that can be a thorn in your side if you’re navigating the strategic waters of MTG. This efficient counter spell comes at a low cost and offers players the ability to foil an opponent’s noncreature spell unless they pay one additional mana. To effectively mitigate Stubborn Denial’s impact, you need to take a proactive approach. One strategy is to bait out this counter spell before playing your more crucial spells. By doing so, you force the Stubborn Denial out early, clearing the way for your significant plays.

Moreover, having a robust mana base can diminish the effectiveness of Stubborn Denial. By being able to pay the additional mana, you render the card’s conditional nature less restrictive. Another tactic involves overloading the stack with multiple spells in a single turn, making it harder for an opponent to counter all of your actions. Lastly, consider incorporating cards that can’t be countered or spells that provide counter-resistance to ensure your key plays land on the battlefield. By blending foresight with smart resource management, Stubborn Denial can be overcome, maintaining the rhythm and strategy of your game plan.


BurnMana Recommendations

Mastering the art of strategy in MTG goes beyond individual card mechanics; it’s about constructing a deck that tells a story on the battlefield. Stubborn Denial is a key player in this narrative, offering control players a cost-efficient way to protect their narrative arc. With the insights from our discussion on Stubborn Denial’s advantages, limitations, and its place in the MTG ecosystem, you’re poised to make informed decisions for your deck. Seeking further knowledge to fortify your gameplay and incorporate Stubborn Denial effectively? Join our community where we dive deeper, sharing cutting-edge strategies and building decks that resonate with power and precision on the MTG landscape.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Stubborn Denial MTG card by a specific set like Khans of Tarkir, 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 Stubborn Denial and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Stubborn Denial has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

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

Date Text
2014-09-20 Ferocious abilities of instants and sorceries that don’t use the word “instead” will provide an additional effect if you control a creature with power 4 or greater as they resolve.
2014-09-20 Some ferocious abilities that appear on instants and sorceries use the word “instead.” These spells have an upgraded effect if you control a creature with power 4 or greater as they resolve. For these, you only get the upgraded effect, not both effects.