Calculated Dismissal MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeInstant
Abilities Scry,Spell mastery

Key Takeaways

  1. Delivers disruption plus card filtering, making it an adept choice for controlling the game’s flow.
  2. Runs the risk of card disadvantage without immediate hand replenishment, unlike some counters.
  3. Specific mana cost can limit deck inclusion, demanding careful resource management.

Text of card

Counter target spell unless its controller pays . Spell mastery — If there are two or more instant and/or sorcery cards in your graveyard, scry 2. (To scry 2, look at the top two cards of your library, then put any number of them on the bottom of your library and the rest on top in any order.)


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Calculated Dismissal bolsters your defenses while keeping your hand replenished. By negating an opponent’s spell and subsequently enabling card scrying, it sets you ahead in maintaining a robust repository of options in your hand.

Resource Acceleration: Not only does this card disrupt an opponent’s plays, it also aids in surging ahead by potentially fueling future spells. If you have spell mastery active, you’ll gain the additional benefit of scrying, which effectively accelerates your resource allocation by filtering your upcoming draws.

Instant Speed: As an instant, Calculated Dismissal offers a strategic edge by allowing you to adapt to the battlefield on the fly. This adaptability is crucial for making pivotal decisions during an opponent’s turn, asserting control over the game’s pace and casting spells or activating abilities without signaling your plans prematurely.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Calculated Dismissal allows you to counter your opponent’s spell unless they pay an additional cost, it does not provide any card advantage in itself. Unlike some counterspells that replace themselves in your hand or offer an alternate benefit, this MTG card simply trades one-for-one with a spell, potentially leaving you at a card disadvantage.

Specific Mana Cost: Calculated Dismissal comes with a specific mana cost that includes two blue mana, which may not be easily feasible for multi-colored or color-intensive decks. This mana requirement can make it challenging to keep mana open for other spells or abilities, especially in the early to mid-game.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a total cost of three mana, which includes two color-specific mana, Calculated Dismissal is on the higher end for instant speed counterspells. This can be cumbersome when trying to maintain a tempo play or when needing to counter crucial spells in the early stages of the game, where mana efficiency is paramount.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Calculated Dismissal’s value extends beyond just countering spells. It can also bolster your late-game strategies by helping you reach key spells sooner, thanks to the Mana Leak-esque effect it provides for a manageable three mana cost.

Combo Potential: In decks that manipulate spell costs or benefit from spells cast on an opponent’s turn, Calculated Dismissal shines. It can serve as a trigger for prowess or other instant-speed synergies, seamlessly integrating into decks that thrive on such mechanics.

Meta-Relevance: With many competitive decks focusing on key turn three or four plays, Calculated Dismissal can disrupt an opponent’s tempo, potentially providing you with a crucial advantage. It’s especially effective at maintaining board control during critical stages of the game, aligning well with the pacing of current metagames.


How to beat

Calculated Dismissal stands out within Magic: The Gathering as a tactics-oriented counter spell that not only neutralizes threats but also paves the way for deck manipulation through its Spell Mastery effect. As with any disruption tool, overcoming it requires strategic play. To sidestep its controlling grasp, one can utilize uncounterable spells which are impervious to such interruptions. Additionally, baiting out the counter spell with less critical spells can deplete your opponent’s resources, making way for your more vital spells to take the stage.

One could also increase mana availability to surpass the spell’s cost threshold, which may dissuade a player from using Calculated Dismissal or render it ineffective. Another angle is to take advantage of moments when the opponent is tapped out, to safely cast your significant spells. Moreover, spells with flashback or other forms of recursion can outvalue Calculated Dismissal, as they can be played from the graveyard and demand multiple answers from the opponent. Ultimately, understanding the timing and resource management can dampen the impact of Calculated Dismissal, allowing you to maintain the momentum and steer towards victory.


Cards like Calculated Dismissal

Calculated Dismissal serves as a strategic spell in the realm of counter magic for Magic: The Gathering players. Its kinship is seen with other cards like Mana Leak, which also dictates a cost for the opponent to pay to prevent their spell from being countered. Yet, Calculated Dismissal stands out with its unique spell mastery feature, offering a scry 2 if there are at least two instant and/or sorcery cards in your graveyard, hence adding card selection on top of disruption.

Another comparative spell would be Condescend, which allows you to scry and counter unless the opponent pays X mana, where X is chosen upon casting. This flexibility in setting the price for the counteraction can be a powerful tool, though it lacks the built-in spell mastery advantage. Then we glance at Dissolve, another card that illustrates the counter and scry synergy. It offers a surefire way to counter any spell, accompanied by a scry 1, but without the conditional aspect of spell mastery that Calculated Dismissal boasts.

In review, Calculated Dismissal holds its ground as a competitive choice among counter spells in Magic: The Gathering, balancing the act of controlling the flow of the game while simultaneously sculpting future draw steps.

Mana Leak - MTG Card versions
Condescend - MTG Card versions
Dissolve - MTG Card versions
Mana Leak - Stronghold (STH)
Condescend - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Dissolve - Theros (THS)

Cards similar to Calculated Dismissal by color, type and mana cost

Mana Short - MTG Card versions
Psionic Blast - MTG Card versions
Capsize - MTG Card versions
Forbid - MTG Card versions
Frantic Search - MTG Card versions
Exclude - 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
Ixidor's Will - MTG Card versions
Catalog - MTG Card versions
Thirst for Knowledge - MTG Card versions
Murmurs from Beyond - MTG Card versions
Dream Fracture - MTG Card versions
Oona's Grace - MTG Card versions
Cancel - MTG Card versions
Deluge - MTG Card versions
Stoic Rebuttal - MTG Card versions
Mana Short - Classic Sixth Edition (6ED)
Psionic Blast - Intl. Collectors' Edition (CEI)
Capsize - World Championship Decks 1998 (WC98)
Forbid - World Championship Decks 1998 (WC98)
Frantic Search - Wilds of Eldraine Commander (WOC)
Exclude - Invasion (INV)
Hibernation - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Circular Logic - World Championship Decks 2003 (WC03)
Keep Watch - Judgment (JUD)
Archmage's Charm - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Commander's Insight - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Ixidor's Will - Onslaught (ONS)
Catalog - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Thirst for Knowledge - World Championship Decks 2004 (WC04)
Murmurs from Beyond - Saviors of Kamigawa (SOK)
Dream Fracture - Eventide (EVE)
Oona's Grace - Eventide (EVE)
Cancel - Ixalan (XLN)
Deluge - Salvat 2011 (PS11)
Stoic Rebuttal - Modern Masters 2015 (MM2)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Calculated Dismissal MTG card by a specific set like Magic Origins and Mystery Booster, 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 Calculated Dismissal and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Calculated Dismissal Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2015-07-17 and 2019-11-07. Illustrated by Karl Kopinski.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12015-07-17Magic OriginsORI 482015normalblackKarl Kopinski
22019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 3042015normalblackKarl Kopinski
32020-09-26The ListPLST ORI-482015normalblackKarl Kopinski

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Calculated Dismissal has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PioneerLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2015-06-22 Check to see if there are two or more instant and/or sorcery cards in your graveyard as the spell resolves to determine whether the spell mastery ability applies. The spell itself won’t count because it’s still on the stack as you make this check.
2015-06-22 If the spell mastery ability applies, you’ll scry 2 even if the controller of the spell pays .
2015-06-22 In one unusual situation, you can cast Calculated Dismissal targeting an instant or sorcery spell you control while there is one instant or sorcery card in your graveyard. In this situation, if you decline to pay , the spell will be countered and put into your graveyard. The spell mastery ability will then apply and you’ll scry 2.

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