Price$1.54 – $16.88

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Arcane Denial

Instant

LegalCard DrawCounterspellEDHREC #56

Counter target spell. Its controller may draw up to two cards at the beginning of the next turn's upkeep.

You draw a card at the beginning of the next turn's upkeep.

Why is this card good?

Arcane Denial is one of the most-played counterspells in Commander, and for good reason: it's a clean two-mana hard counter that replaces itself. In a format where you're trading 1-for-1 with three opponents, card advantage matters, and drawing a card the next turn keeps your hand stocked while you slow down a threat. The "drawback" — giving the opponent two cards — is mostly irrelevant in multiplayer. You typically counter a big spell that already cost them resources, and the cards they draw rarely matter as much as denying that key play (a tutored combo piece, a game-ending Craterhoof, etc.). The political upside is real too: opponents are less annoyed when you let them dig. Play it in basically any blue deck that wants interaction without splashy efficiency — control, combo, midrange, anything. When to skip it: cutthroat cEDH tables where handing a combo opponent two fresh cards can lose you the game. There, Swan Song or Dispel are safer picks.

Related cards

Counterspell

Classic two-mana hard counter for any spell.

Negate

Cheap counter targeting noncreature spells.

Swan Song

One-mana counter with minor drawback, similar tempo.

Dovin's Veto

Uncounterable counterspell for noncreature spells.

Mana Drain

Premium counter that ramps you instead of drawing.

Disallow

Flexible counter that also stops abilities.

Miscalculation

Two-mana counter with cycling flexibility.

An Offer You Can't Refuse

One-mana counter giving opponent treasure, cantrip-like value.

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Show all 22 printings

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Rulings (1)

2007-09-16
The controller of the countered spell doesn't choose how many cards to draw until the relevant ability resolves. The player may draw 0, 1, or 2 cards. They choose the number before drawing any cards.