Mana Leak

[twault]

I have seen various builds of Oath and Monoblue running 4 x Mana Leaks. Why are Mana Leaks THAT much better than a regular Counterspell? I realize that Counterspell is more mana-intensive, because it requires double-blue; as opposed to 1 blue, 1 colorless. Yes, tempo is definitely all-important in this game. However, that should not be a problem in Monoblue decks.

Counterspell is probably not a great early-game card, unless you can always commit 2 blue. However, you should also be running FOW, so that should take care of any early threats. On the other hand, I wouldn't think Mana Leak is a very good late-game card either, as opponents have built their mana pool.

I guess what it boils down to is this:

With Workshops and Dark Rits, isn't it better to Counter with some certainty, as opposed to giving your opponent an option to pay 3?

*edit* I know you can't use the Workshop to pay 3, but a Workshop puts out artifact threats early and generally keeps blue mana sources open for Mana Drain. Sorry for the confusion.*

I know that I should know better, since I've played this game for 6 years, but I just want to hear from people with a better knowledge of control strategies. I'm more of an aggro or combo player.

[Glix]

There is one huge reason for the leak, and that is that it is functional off a first turn land and any mox, unlike counterspell.

Besides that, there are really very few times where leak and counterspell serve any other functions.  Few decks leave 3 mana available at most times.  Keep in mind that if your opponant uses a rit to pay the cost, than you probably have just duressesed them, or made it quite difficult for them to combo off, and they can't pay the cost with workshop.

Mana Drain is strictly better than counterspell, and many players know how when playing this card you want to achieve "drain mana" a.k.a. two blue sources.  This is often not achievable until turn 2, save mox saphire, and as such is quite too slow for both mono u and oath.

[Tobi]

There are some reasons to play Mana Leak over Counterspell, and sometimes even Mana Drain.

- With a Mox you can get counter mana on the first turn very easily.
- When playing with Duress you can Fetch first turn for a Swamp, play Duress and have counter mana on the second turn with a second landdrop.

Nowadays control decks don't need too many turns to win. The critical turn, where you need that counter or lose, is getting more and more towards turn 1, so it becomes more important to be able to counter very early.

In a late game, control decks should gain such a significant card advantage, or superior board position, that countering should not be a big issue, even with Mana Leak.

[twault]

I see, so it's definitely about tempo, and being able to use it turn 1 vs turn 2. There's not a whole lot of risk of someone actually paying the cost. Thanks, I think that pretty much wraps up this discussion.

[klu]

Another reason is that on turn 3, with 3 land and a mox, you can just cast oath with back up (or turn 2 with crypt or 2 mox) or drain + leak.. counter twice for a single card (unlike fow) always gives a huge advantage on the game..
cast brainstorm in ritual to find the second land and still be able to counter.

[Smmenen]

http://www.starcitygames.com/php/news/article/7927.html

http://www.starcitygames.com/php/news/article/7928.html

http://www.starcitygames.com/php/news/article/8027.html

My mana drain primer on mono blue has mysteriously vanished...

In short, leak is better becuase you can go:

Turn One:

Mox, Land

Leak

And on turn three:

Land, Land, Land Mox

Counter with:
Leak
Drain/Countrespell
Pitch magic