Statute of Denial MTG Card


Statute of Denial - Magic 2015
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityCommon
TypeInstant
Released2014-07-18
Set symbol
Set nameMagic 2015
Set codeM15
Number79
Frame2015
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byZoltan Boros

Key Takeaways

  1. Enables deck filtering for better card quality, giving players a strategic edge.
  2. Acts as a game-changer in control decks, disrupting opponents on their turn.
  3. Though versatile, its discard condition and mana cost require careful deck building.

Text of card

Counter target spell. If you control a blue creature, draw a card, then discard a card.

"Pyrotechnic activity of any sort is strictly prohibited. It is irrelevant that today is a holiday."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Statute of Denial enables you to sift through your deck more effectively, ensuring that you pull ahead by hand-selecting the most valuable cards during critical turns.

Resource Acceleration: When combined with spells that untap lands or creatures, this card can effectively act as a catalyst, speeding up your resource availability and allowing for more intricate plays or stronger defense.

Instant Speed: The instant nature of Statute of Denial gifts you the flexibility to respond to opponents’ actions during their turn, potentially disrupting their strategy while keeping yours intact and fluid.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: When playing Statute of Denial, you may need to discard a card if you control a blue permanent. This could potentially deplete your hand, particularly disadvantageous when every card counts.

Specific Mana Cost: Statute of Denial requires both blue and generic mana to cast. This specific need for blue mana might not seamlessly fit into multicolored decks where mana flexibility is key.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost that includes three mana, it competes with other spells in the same mana range that could provide a more immediate board impact or stronger card advantage.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Statute of Denial fits well in control-focused blue decks, coming into play when countering spells is crucial while also providing the added benefit of filtering cards to find the appropriate answers or threats.

Combo Potential: In decks that manipulate the number of cards in hand or focus on spells on the stack, Statute of Denial can serve as both a disruption tool and a way to sift through the deck, setting up for potent combinations.

Meta-Relevance: Given its dual functionality, Statute of Denial becomes valuable in a metagame heavy with spell-slinger decks, allowing players to maintain card quality while keeping opponents’ key spells in check.


How to Beat Statute of Denial in Magic: The Gathering

Statute of Denial is a versatile control card that can be a real nuisance when it lands on the board. Not only does it counter an opposing spell, but if you have the opportunity to leverage its ferocious condition – having a creature with power 4 or greater – it also allows you to sift through your deck by drawing and then discarding a card. This can give your opponent a significant information and card advantage.

To successfully navigate around Statute of Denial, consider baiting it out with a less crucial spell before playing your key cards. Holding onto instants that can be played during your opponent’s turn increases the chances that their mana will be tied up and unable to use Statute of Denial effectively. Moreover, deploying spells that cannot be countered, such as those with the “can’t be countered” clause or leveraging cards with hexproof can mitigate the potential impact of this counter spell.

Alternatively, cards that force your opponent to draw can inadvertently nullify Statute of Denial’s advantage, especially if you induce a scenario where the opponent has to discard due to maximum hand size. By understanding the mechanics of Statute of Denial and planning your plays wisely, you can minimize the disruption it causes and maintain your own game plan.


Cards like Statute of Denial

Statute of Denial is an intriguing control piece in the realm of Magic: The Gathering, finding its kin in cards that combine counterspelling with card filtering. Comparable in some respects to Cancel, Statute of Denial offers the additional benefit of drawing a card then discarding one if you control a creature with power 4 or greater. Cancel, with its straightforward countering, lacks this potential card advantage mechanic.

Moving along similar lines, Dissolve is another peer, featuring the ability to scry 1 after countering a spell, allowing for deck manipulation rather than direct card draw. It is the subtleties in mechanics like scrying versus drawing that distinguish these counterspells from Statute of Denial. Conversely, Rewind stands out by untapping up to four lands after the counter, presenting the user with an opportunity to cast more spells in a single turn, despite lacking any sort of card draw or filter itself.

In essence, Statute of Denial occupies a unique position by offering spell denial paired with the potential for card selection, catering to those strategic MTG players who capitalize on creature power while maintaining card flow in their hands.

Cancel - MTG Card versions
Dissolve - MTG Card versions
Rewind - MTG Card versions
Cancel - Time Spiral (TSP)
Dissolve - Theros (THS)
Rewind - Urza's Saga (USG)

Cards similar to Statute of Denial by color, type and mana cost

Deflection - MTG Card versions
Ray of Command - MTG Card versions
Inspiration - MTG Card versions
Turnabout - MTG Card versions
Quash - MTG Card versions
Foil - MTG Card versions
Thwart - MTG Card versions
Repel - MTG Card versions
Plagiarize - MTG Card versions
Fact or Fiction - MTG Card versions
Cryptic Command - MTG Card versions
Urza's Command - MTG Card versions
Wheel and Deal - MTG Card versions
Gifts Ungiven - MTG Card versions
Fold into Aether - MTG Card versions
Part the Veil - MTG Card versions
Surging Aether - MTG Card versions
Careful Consideration - MTG Card versions
Gifts Given - MTG Card versions
Discombobulate - MTG Card versions
Deflection - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Ray of Command - Commander 2011 (CMD)
Inspiration - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Turnabout - Dominaria Remastered (DMR)
Quash - Urza's Destiny (UDS)
Foil - Ultimate Masters (UMA)
Thwart - World Championship Decks 2001 (WC01)
Repel - Odyssey (ODY)
Plagiarize - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Fact or Fiction - The Brothers' War Commander (BRC)
Cryptic Command - Amonkhet Invocations (MP2)
Urza's Command - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Wheel and Deal - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Gifts Ungiven - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
Fold into Aether - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Part the Veil - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)
Surging Aether - Coldsnap (CSP)
Careful Consideration - Modern Masters (MMA)
Gifts Given - Happy Holidays (HHO)
Discombobulate - Tenth Edition (10E)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Statute of Denial MTG card by a specific set like Magic 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 Statute of Denial and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See Magic products

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Statute of Denial has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2014-07-18 Whether you control a blue creature is checked only when Statute of Denial resolves. If you do, drawing and discarding a card is mandatory. You can’t choose to not do it.

Recent MTG decks

Continue exploring other format decks
More decks