[Single Card Discussion] Spell Snare

[hazard]

Spell Snare
U
Instant 
Counter target spell with converted mana cost 2.

This seems like it could find it's way into some maindecks and boards...let's see, it counters:

Demonic Tutor
Time Walk
Oath of Druids
Counters (Drain, Leak, CS, etc)
Merchant Scroll
Sphere of Resistance

I could see it as a possible SB in a control mirror.

Thoughts?

[49 Cents]

I don't like it. It's too narrow to be good. For instance, in the control mirror, REB is better because it also counters carddraw and the like (Recall, Thirst, Gifts, FoF).

The only deck I think it's real good against is Drain Oath. It counters Null Rod, Oath, Mana Drain, Demonic Tutors, etc. But it gets owned by Duress, and who plays DrainOath anyway?

[Komatteru]

Way too narrow.  Won't even see play in Standard.

EDIT:  You have the card wrong: http://www.themanadrain.com/index.php?topic=28060.0.  That version is better, but it's no Prohibit.

[Mantis]

Way too narrow. Won't even see play in Standard.

EDIT: You have the card wrong: http://www.themanadrain.com/index.php?topic=28060.0. That version is better, but it's no Prohibit.

Have you even checked that link? On the picture it clearly states: Counter target spell with converted mana cost 2.

[Komatteru]

Yeah, I clicked it, but unfortunately, I know too many languages, so sometimes I get confused when I try to read English.  All the words from every language I know start to blend together.  Sigh.  This is part of why I hate these sorts of discussions.

As I say, the version Doomhead wrote up (his text has "2 or less") is much better.  Too bad it doesn't exist.

[Pitlord]

I don't think this will ever see play. It counters tutors for U, and wins the drain war for U, but if you need more counters is there ever a deck that would rather play this than misdirection or even daze. When daze is better than a card, you start to doubt it's viablity.

[Clown of Tresserhorn]

If you think this won't see play in type 2, you're wrong. It counters like EVERYTHING relevant in that format. Jitte, SAKURA, remand, muddle, Castigate, signets, confidant, mana leak, lightning helix, hammer, bathe in light, watchwolf, scab clan mauler, dryad sophisicate, etc.

Countering a sakura is such a tempo boost it's amazing. If something as narrow as shadow of doubt sees play in type 2, there's no doubt in my mind this will be tried.

As far as type 1 goes, the card is probably too narrow to see play.

-Bob

[Glix]

Essentially, this is up against Duress and Annul for cheapest disruption, and the latter two just win.

[Vegeta2711]

This will see play in T2 and Extended, but the only way it sees play in Vintage is in a GAT or Fish disruption suite (I.E. needs to fill an extra 5-7 disruption slots).

[Evilkin]

It's a good 1 of in the sideboard as a Cunning Wish target for Tog.  It would also be better board vs Oath then Annul for Fish.  It basically comes down to being a very narrow metagame dependant card.

[Harlequin]

I think Anul would be a better card overall.  Sure snare might be better against oath in particular ... but against a field Anul is vastly more useful.

[Mr. Nightmare]

I think Anul would be a better card overall.  Sure snare might be better against oath in particular ... but against a field Anul is vastly more useful.

I agree.  Annul still hits the cards you want Spell Snare to hit, with the added benefit of countering Smokestacks and Uba Masks, as well.

[Hillboy]

In Type 2 it would be the shiznit or whatever those hip young kids say. In type 1 there are better answers for cards at 2 mana say chalice set at 2.

[Imsomniac101]

This card is awesome in aggro-control mirrors. Plus it also counters Chalice at 1 which is huge.

[Tha Gunslinga]

Instead of a list of cards that this *can* counter, let's make a list of those it *can't*:

Ancestral Recall
Yawgmoth's Will
Goblin Welder
Thirst for Knowledge
Tinker
Gifts Ungiven
Brainstorm
Mystical/Vampiric Tutor
Grim Tutor
Duress
Force of Will
Rebuild
Tendrils of Agony (yes, I'm aware that most counters cannot counter this card)

Fact is, Spell Snare is too weak for a maindeck slot, and too narrow for a sideboard slot.

[TopSecret]

Instead of a list of cards that this *can* counter, let's make a list of those it *can't*:

Ancestral Recall
Yawgmoth's Will
Goblin Welder
Thirst for Knowledge
Tinker
Gifts Ungiven
Brainstorm
Mystical/Vampiric Tutor
Grim Tutor
Duress
Force of Will
Rebuild
Tendrils of Agony (yes, I'm aware that most counters cannot counter this card)

Fact is, Spell Snare is too weak for a maindeck slot, and too narrow for a sideboard slot.

     I'm inclined to look at this card as an addition to fish, as I don't play control.
When playing fish, the cards you've listed that I have typically been worried about countering are:

Tinker
Gifts Ungiven
Yawgmoth's Will

     When playing fish, I am not usually worried about countering the other cards,
unless it will buy me a lot of time. That may just be my personal preference.

     However, even if Spellsnare cannot counter the above cards,
it can stop Mana Drain backup that would let them resolve.

     When playing fish I am usually more preoccupied with worrying about these than anything else:

Oath of Druids
Chalice of the Void (at one)

     If the opponent isn't playing either of these, there are plenty of other situational targets for Spellsnare:

Burning Wish
Demonic Tutor
Mana Drain
Time Walk
Recoup
Dark Confidant + almost every other awesome creature
Pyroclasm from the board
... etc.

     Then again, I play really, really bad fish.

[Harlequin]

There really isn't any good reason to counter Mana drain if your playing fish.  It's likely your opponent sided most or all of them out against you.

[Glix]

This card is just useless far too many times.  Force Spike would probably counter more stuff more times, and it doesnt see play.  The 2 mana targets are, unfortunatly, usually support cards, save oath and wish.  It almost never counters the win condition or enabler, the cards you really want to go after.

Daze is more useful, duress is more usefull, annul is more useful.

[Tha Gunslinga]

  When playing fish I am usually more preoccupied with worrying about these than anything else:

Oath of Druids

UW Fish is Oath's worst matchup; it doesn't need another card against it.