Unified Will MTG Card

Unified Will excels in creature-dense decks, turning a robust board into effective spell counter power. It’s an efficient two-mana counterspell, combining cost-effectiveness with strategic instant-speed play. While powerful, its requirement to outnumber an opponent’s creatures can limit its versatility in certain decks.

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Instant
Released	2010-04-23
Set symbol
Set name	Rise of the Eldrazi
Set code	ROE
Number	92
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Matt Cavotta

Text of card

Counter target spell if you control more creatures than that spell's controller.

"We're glad to be of service—to be an audience to your failure." —Maizah Shere, Tazeem lullmage

Cards like Unified Will

Unified Will is a unique spell choice in the realm of counters in Magic: The Gathering, commanding a spot alongside classics like Counterspell. Both act as gatekeepers, negating threats by countering spells, with Counterspell renowned for its unconditional nature, requiring a simple two-mana commitment. Unified Will, however, includes an intriguing conditional element—the need to control more creatures than your opponent. This can turn the tide in a creature-heavy deck, leveraging board presence into strategic advantage.

Moving to another peer, Mana Leak and Unified Will share the common ground of conditional countering but diverge in approach. While Mana Leak poses a temporary setback, asking opponents to pay three additional mana which could be easier in the later stages of the game, Unified Will’s condition is static, dependent solely on creature count. And, considering Negate and its selective targeting against noncreature spells, Unified Will offers a broader scope, albeit with its specific prerequisite.

To sum up, Unified Will holds its ground in Magic: The Gathering as a potentially powerful countermeasure in creature-centric decks. Its requirements for effectiveness underline the importance of deck synergy and strategic creature management during play.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Unified Will gives you a strategic upper hand by potentially negating an opponent’s key spell, thus disrupting their game plan and preserving your resources. This advantage is pivotal in the delicate balance of power on the battlefield.

Resource Acceleration: While Unified Will itself doesn’t directly accelerate resources, it efficiently utilizes mana. At only two mana—one of which is generic—it’s a cost-effective way to protect your interests on the board. This potentially saves mana for further development of your board state on your turn.

Instant Speed: The flexibility of casting an instant like Unified Will cannot be overstated. It allows you to react in real time to threats, waiting until the most advantageous moment to reveal your card, which usually is during the opponent’s turn when they’re least expecting it.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Unified Will offers solid counterplay, it necessitates having more creatures than your opponent. This can be a setback in decks that aren’t creature-heavy, reducing its versatility.

Specific Mana Cost: Unified Will’s requirement of a blue mana can be a hitch for multi-colored decks that may struggle with mana flexibility. Ensuring that blue mana is available at the right moment can sometimes be problematic.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of two mana, Unified Will might seem reasonable, but in fast-paced games, its conditional nature can make it less appealing compared to unconditional one-mana counterspells. It may not always be the best choice in a metagame favoring low-to-the-ground aggressive strategies.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Unified Will is an essential counterspell that can seamlessly integrate into decks that maintain a substantial creature presence. Its conditions are often easily met in creature-centric strategies, providing a reliable and cost-effective form of permission.

Combo Potential: Its capacity to safeguard combo pieces or critical plays from disruption can be the difference between victory and defeat. Whether you’re setting up for a game-winning move or protecting your board, Unified Will ensures your plans go uninterrupted.

Meta-Relevance: With a dynamic competitive environment, Unified Will shines by offering a counter option that’s not reliant on the caster’s mana pool but rather their battlefield presence. In metas dominated by creature strategies, it often outranks other counters by being both accessible and potent.

How to beat

Unified Will is a standout card in Magic: The Gathering that has made an impact in control and creature-heavy decks alike. Its primary strength lies in its simple yet effective condition for countering a spell: controlling more creatures than your opponent. This makes it a formidable tool for decks that can easily outnumber their opponent’s creature count, ensuring that whatever spell they have in play never resolves.

To counteract Unified Will, you need to play smart. Start by minimizing the number of creatures on your side of the battlefield when facing an opponent likely to have this card in their deck. This might seem counterintuitive, but it reduces Unified Will’s effectiveness, making it a dead card in their hand when they do not meet its condition. Alternatively, timing your spells to be cast when the opponent’s creature count is low can also be a successful strategy. Finally, utilizing instant-speed removal can alter the board state in the mid-cast, turning Unified Will into a normal card that no longer poses a threat.

By understanding the condition Unified Will operates under and adjusting your playstyle accordingly, you can navigate around this powerful counter and keep your key spells from being nullified.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Unified Will MTG card by a specific set like Rise of the Eldrazi, 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 Unified Will and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Unified Will has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Penny	Legal

Rules and information

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

Date	Text
2010-06-15	Whether you control more creatures than the targeted spell’s controller is checked only as Unified Will resolves. If that player controls more creatures than you at this time, or you each control the same amount, Unified Will simply doesn’t do anything.