Spell Snuff MTG Card


Spell Snuff - Modern Horizons
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeInstant
Abilities Fateful hour
Released2019-06-14
Set symbol
Set nameModern Horizons
Set codeMH1
Number70
Frame2015
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byNic Klein

Key Takeaways

  1. Countering with Spell Snuff can safeguard board state and deplete opponents’ resources, offering a tactical edge.
  2. Its instant nature allows for flexible play, leveraging surprise to disrupt opponent strategies effectively.
  3. Despite its power, the card’s specific requirements and costs may limit its inclusion in diverse decks.

Text of card

Counter target spell. Fateful hour — If you have 5 or less life, draw a card.

"Good night."


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Spell Snuff’s ability to counter a spell can swing the game heavily in your favor by preserving your board state while potentially depleting an opponent’s critical resources. Furthermore, if you have the required mana, Spell Snuff can provide you with an additional card through its controller tax mechanism, thus increasing your hand and giving you more options.

Resource Acceleration: While Spell Snuff itself may not directly generate additional mana or tokens, the act of countering a crucial spell can effectively save you mana in future turns. By negating an opponent’s spell that would otherwise require a costly response, it accelerates your own resource management and allocation efficiency.

Instant Speed: Spell Snuff’s nature as an instant adds a strategic depth to your gameplay. It enables you to keep your mana untapped for as long as possible, maintaining the element of surprise. You can pass the turn confidently, knowing that you can respond to your opponent’s moves on the fly, and if the right target doesn’t emerge, you can simply use your mana elsewhere.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Casting Spell Snuff comes with the stipulation that a nonland card must be discarded, potentially putting the player at a card disadvantage, or complicating gameplay when the hand is already depleted.

Specific Mana Cost: With its requirement for both blue and black mana, Spell Snuff may not seamlessly fit into decks that don’t run these colors, thus restricting its versatility across various archetypes.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Taking into account its total cost, Spell Snuff may appear less appealing when stacked against other counterspells or removal options that either have a lower cost or offer additional benefits for the same investment.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Spell Snuff offers a universal solution to interrupt opponents’ moves, slotting seamlessly into blue-based control or combo decks. Its ability to counter any spell broadens its usefulness across various game situations.

Combo Potential: This card is not merely a counter mechanism; it also features the undervalued fuse ability. This gives it depth in combos, particularly in decks built around casting from the graveyard or manipulating spell costs.

Meta-Relevance: As the game environment shifts toward complex spell-slinging, Spell Snuff gains prominence. Its power to neutralize key spells makes it an important asset against both aggressive and control matchups, keeping your gameplay sharp and responsive.


How to beat

Spell Snuff is an intriguing countermeasure in the realm of Magic: The Gathering, deterring opponents by nullifying their spells in an instant. Its distinctive feature, the chance to conspire, adds a layer of strategy, quite similar to other counterspells. To successfully counter this tactic, the key lies in strategic baiting or utilizing spells that can’t be countered. Dispersing an array of less critical spells can exhaust an opponent’s mana reserves and their capability to conspire, leaving the way clear for your more impactful spells.

Moreover, employing spells with Split Second can ensure your moves slip past Spell Snuff’s reach, as players are unable to cast spells with Split Second on the stack. It’s imperative to watch your adversary’s mana and bide time for when their resources are insufficient to fuel Spell Snuff’s counter ability. Forethought and patience are your allies here.

In essence, circumventing the impact of Spell Snuff boils down to a duel of wits and timing—testing your strategic acumen and understanding of Magic: The Gathering’s intricate mechanics. A careful approach and the right spell choices can ensure your deck triumphs against the conspiracy of Spell Snuff.


Cards like Spell Snuff

Spell Snuff is a unique contender in the realm of countermagic within Magic: The Gathering. In the family of counterspells, it stands out with its conditional counter ability tied to the number of cards in your hand. This is reminiscent of Logic Knot, which also offers flexible countering options based on the graveyard rather than hand size. Spell Snuff, however, has the upside of ‘drawing a card’ provided you meet its conditions, adding a subtle layer of depth to your strategy.

Dive into the comparison further, and we find Mana Leak. It’s also designed to disrupt opponents’ spells with a simple requirement—a nominal three mana payment. Spell Snuff requires a more strategic setup but circumvents the limitations of Mana Leak by guaranteeing the spell is countered under the right circumstances, with a bonus of card draw. Lastly, we look at Foil, offering a powerful counter without any mana cost but at the expense of discarding two cards, one of which must be an Island. Spell Snuff presents a more balanced alternative without such a steep discard price.

Assessing these counterparts, Spell Snuff holds a strong position with its blend of counterplay and potential card advantage, representing an attractive option for players who can reliably meet its hand-size condition.

Logic Knot - MTG Card versions
Mana Leak - MTG Card versions
Foil - MTG Card versions
Logic Knot - Future Sight (FUT)
Mana Leak - Stronghold (STH)
Foil - Prophecy (PCY)

Cards similar to Spell Snuff by color, type and mana cost

Mana Short - MTG Card versions
Psionic Blast - MTG Card versions
Capsize - MTG Card versions
Intuition - MTG Card versions
Forbid - MTG Card versions
Frantic Search - MTG Card versions
Exclude - MTG Card versions
Crystal Spray - MTG Card versions
Hibernation - MTG Card versions
Circular Logic - MTG Card versions
Keep Watch - MTG Card versions
Archmage's Charm - MTG Card versions
Commander's Insight - MTG Card versions
Rushing River - MTG Card versions
Ixidor's Will - MTG Card versions
Catalog - MTG Card versions
Vex - MTG Card versions
Thirst for Knowledge - MTG Card versions
Murmurs from Beyond - MTG Card versions
Venser's Diffusion - MTG Card versions
Mana Short - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Psionic Blast - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Capsize - World Championship Decks 1998 (WC98)
Intuition - Tempest (TMP)
Forbid - World Championship Decks 1998 (WC98)
Frantic Search - Wilds of Eldraine Commander (WOC)
Exclude - Mystery Booster (MB1)
Crystal Spray - Invasion (INV)
Hibernation - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Circular Logic - Ultimate Masters (UMA)
Keep Watch - Judgment (JUD)
Archmage's Charm - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Commander's Insight - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Rushing River - World Championship Decks 2002 (WC02)
Ixidor's Will - Onslaught (ONS)
Catalog - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Vex - Darksteel (DST)
Thirst for Knowledge - Modern Masters (MMA)
Murmurs from Beyond - Saviors of Kamigawa (SOK)
Venser's Diffusion - Future Sight (FUT)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Spell Snuff MTG card by a specific set like Modern Horizons, 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 Spell Snuff and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Spell Snuff has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2019-06-14 A spell that can’t be countered is a legal target for Spell Snuff. The spell won’t be countered when Spell Snuff resolves, but if you have 5 or less life, you’ll still draw a card.

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