I assume it's not intended that this can't be cast if there are no creatures on the board and that if there is, you have to target one of them.

If you change it to "up to one target creature" then all of that becomes optional.

Why does this have a color indicator?

I think they'd use one of those newfangled reflexive triggers in this case

Interesting that you can't overpay this card to get more counters. I tend to lean toward Timmy when given the option, and just give all upside whenever possible. But that might not be balanced, it's true.

@dude1818:

Huh, I wasn't even aware of this development (Heart-Piercer Manticore).

So this could be an option I think:

> Counter target spell with CMC X or less. When you do, put X +1/+1 counters on target creature you control.

Convoluted way to try to stop "overpaying" for counters:

> Counter target spell with CMC X or less. When you do, put Y +1/+1 counters on target creature you control, where Y is that spell's CMC.

Kinda like Draining Whelk without the body.

Why go the convoluted way if the current version does just fine - just leave out the "or less".

As an X spell already, it should just be "counter target spell with CMC x." You're adding more words that will never matter

So, leave it as-is

Yeah, but how many times will this be misplayed as players don't get the not-so-intuitive thing that this can't be cast if there are no creatures on the battlefield - or that you will have to put those counters on a creature your opponent controls if no other creatures are on the battlefield? That isn't "just fine" in my book.

That's how it works atm, right?

Oh, I'm all for "up to one target creature". I'm a big champion of that. Reflexive triggers also fine by me, but there is no reason to use the wording including the "Y +1/+1 counters" and "X or less", if you could do the same by just leaving off "or less" and not change "X +1/+1 counters" - after all the reflexive trigger already solves the issue with the targets.

For whatever reason I recalled that Spell Blast usually used the "X or less" wording. That doesn't seem to be case so yeah, not necessary though it does ask whether players get that they can't overpay for the effect to get more counters. It also becomes somewhat annoying to keep mana for this up, but not wanting to cast it even when able because opponent is just playing spells with low CMC.

Yeah, the "Y counters" thing is just playing around with a nonsense concept :P