Desperate Denial

[Nydaeli]

Desperate Denial
 
Instant
Split Second
Counter target spell.  Its controller may draw a card.

A Split Second counterspell would ordinarily be very powerful and would have to cost a lot (see: Last Word).  But Arcane Denial sucks, right?  This seems like a good way to make a playable, fairly costed Split Second counterspell.

It's like Force of Will - you sacrifice card advantage for other benefits.  Counter wars tend to be ubiquitous in Vintage, so I think this could see play.

[Ephraim]

I don't see anything wrong with this card.  It's right where it ought to be on the curve, I think.  is the nominal cost of a card, so giving a card to your opponent justifies this costing less than Last Word.  My only objection, as silly as this may sound, is that this card is strictly better than Vex.  (Note that Hinder and Cancel are not strictly better because they have a nominally higher cost.  While this also has UU in its cost, it is my understanding that UU is still considered a lower functional cost than 2U.)  Yes, I realize that Vex is a terrible card.  Nonetheless, it feels like it was printed recently enough that it should be allowed to stand.  Perhaps, instead, you could "Skip your next draw step" as the penalty on this.  That probably even makes this card a little bit better, since it doesn't change anybody's card advantage situation until as much as a full turn later.

[Nydaeli]

Whoops, I completely forgot about Vex.  I guess I have to keep it in mind, even though it's very conservatively costed.

Maybe a more direct emulation of Arcane Denial (minus slow-trips) would be in order, if only to differentiate it from Vex a little more:

Desperate Denial
 
Instant
Split Second
Counter target spell.  Its controller may draw two cards.
Draw a card.

[Nydaeli]

I've decided it probably works best Remand-style. 

Brain Fart
 
Instant
Split Second
Return target spell to its owner's hand.

Split Second generally costs a little less than a cantrip, so this is technically worse than Remand.  The wording is based on Venser, since it's more concise than Remand.  Also, it now has the best name ever.

[Anusien]

I don't like this; with Remand coming out so close it feels very un-original.  I realize that good counters are hard to make; that said this goes .

[Matt]

What's even worse about the Remand version is that it doesn't do what you said you wanted, which was for this to be used to win counterwars in T1. Remanding whatever dangerous spell just buys you a turn, it doesn't STOP the spell.

I like the "counter spell, skip your next draw" version. The adjective "Desperate" makes it sound like you're willing to lose out on something, to give up extra of what you have, in order to stop the target spell. Giving your opponent extra cards is more like "sorry I had to counter that, here's some gold."

[Jonika1]

What about just denial? desperate to me implies red. Red cards do desperate things. not blue. Blue is always in control. How about pitching a card?

[Darkenslight]

How about 'As an additional cost to play Despearte Denial, Remove a card in your hand from the game.'?  Would that be a possible ajustment, and if so, what other changes would you make?