[Single Card Discussion] Rune Snag

[BreathWeapon]

While looking over the Coldsnap spoiler I came across a new counter spell, Rune Snag. For all intents and purposes Rune Sang servers the same purpose as Mana Leak, accept that the first Rune Snag is 2cc with the second costing 4cc and the third and fourth being virtual hard counters in this format. While I am uncertain whether or not Rung Snag is a replacement for Mana Leak, it's arguable, I think the more interesting application is whether or not there is a deck that could utilize both Mana Leak and Rune Snag. Perhaps some version of Oath that prefers another first turn counter instead of Mana Drain or Duress or an accelerated Fish build?

[zeus-online]

Looks about equal to mana leak IMO....Land, mox, rune snag is just as good as land, mox, mana leak in most cases, later in the game rune snag becomes slightly better, if you have played 1-2 of them already, otherwise its worse late game.

/Zeus

[ashiXIII]

I don't like that it's somewhat random in that its power is based on how many you've drawn so far. There are going to be situations where it's great because you've drawn 3 so far, and there are going to be (probably even more) situations where it's terrible because you've only drawn 1. Most of the time this isn't going to be very relevant in the early game, but going into the mid-late game, it's very relevant, especially when you're jockeying for position. For the sake of consistency, (in how the deck plays out) I think decks will be sticking with Mana Leak.

[BreathWeapon]

Well, be it Mana Leak or Rune Snag I don't think it matters much, but both is what I'm interested in. I was thinking about playing some version of SS that substituted Duress and Stifle for Mana Leak and Rune Snag in an attempt to make the opponent expend resources into counter spells rather than being pro-active with Duress and saving them the mana. Stifle is lacking now that players are cutting back on Fetch Lands and playing around it, and Mana Leak and Rune Snag take better advantage of all the acceleration and don't expose the manabase. Both of them are more or less hard counters once Erayo flips and being able to engage in a counter war helps flip Erayo. It also clears up the 1cc count to make Chalice of the Void a viable option.

[pyr0ma5ta]

I was thinking more along the lines of Oath.  A lot of the time you lose with Oath, you just get raced after Oathing.  If you have one of these in hand after Oathing (and not hitting Blessing), it becomes a hard counter.  Is it better than Leak in Oath?

[Harlequin]

I would say its better than mana leak in any deck other than oath.  In oath if you hit blessing it is automatically worse, so unless your running Krosian Rec, Then I would say that the rune snag is worse.

All it takes is one Rune Snag in the yard to make this strictly better than leak.  Even in the late game if you've played only 1 Rune Snag, Its hard to argue that is better than . 

[TimeWizzle]

In a must-counter situation (Will, Tinker, etc.) Rune snag could be a good intuition target, making it a (virtual) hard counter. 
And while I don't know if it would be a feasible deck, maybe a "control" version of Ichorid could use these? 

And while it is certainly tier 3 or worse, UG Madness can probably use this card, especially if they are using Life from the Loam.

Overall, probably equivalent or better then Mana Leak.  Defintiely a stong counter in formats not named vintage.

[zeus-online]

@ TimeWizzle:
Mana leak is actually kinda good in vintage...so if this is better, then it should be playable...
Personally i regard mana leak as the third best counter in vintage (possibly 4th if this one proves to be better)

Note: I dont think of misdirection as a counter

/Zeus

[BreathWeapon]

I've been testing this card for awhile, and it seems to be better than Mana Leak in decks that opt for more counter spells like Control Slaver. It looks better in Oath than Mana Leak and is good in addition to it for the people who don't play the Mana Drain and Thirst for Knowledge builds or who don't own Mana Drains *raises hand* The interaction with Oath isn't that relevant, because if Oath resolved the counter either did its job or you have a 50/50 chance of it either being on par with Mana Leak or a hard counter. I like how it replaces Duress, because it doesn't expose my manabase, gives me a higher blue count for Force of Will, can't be played around with Brainstorm and forces the opponent to expend resources. The version of SS I mentioned above is good and a lot easier to play if any one is interested.

This card looks like a diamond in the rough from Cold Snap for Vintage, take that Vroman