Multiverse: Energy Drain

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CardName: Energy Drain Cost: UU Type: Instant Pow/Tgh: / Rules Text: Counter target spell unless its contoller pays {3}. Cycling {2} ({2}, Discard this card: Draw a card.) Flavour Text: Set/Rarity: Pyrulea (Branch 2) Common

Energy Drain

Instant

Counter target spell unless its contoller pays {3}

.
Cycling {2}

(, Discard this card: Draw a card.)

Updated on 09 Nov 2018 by Brainpolice

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History: [-]

2018-11-09 00:14:59: Brainpolice created the card Energy Drain

by Brainpolice:

Making it {u} {u} seemed like the only way to not make it a "strictly better" version of either Mana Leak or Miscalculation. Definitely properly completes the cycle with Celestial Blessing, Underworld Edict, Sun Scorch, and Wild Calling.

This and other thematic and mechanical cycles are now noted on the "Pyrulea details" page. Currently working on organizing and refining the cycling ones. The big space that needs to be filled atm is a series of cards in each color which are cycling instants with some effect upon cycling. I've decided to scrap all "redundant" cycling cards in favor of this approach. More creatures with an effect upon cycling is also something I'd like to explore.

2018-11-09 00:16:02: Brainpolice edited Energy Drain

by SecretInfiltrator:

On second thought, maybe this should be more Thoughtbind/Liquify than Mana Leak.

Which of them are you more likely to cycle?

by Vitenka:

The only times you'll cycle a counterspell are "I'm mana screwed" and "Well, I need to draw that one card, or I lose."

I guess a soft counter is less valuable, and so more likely to be chosen to recycle. But yeuch, I'd hate to have to choose to do so.

by Brainpolice:

In the back of my head I was wondering if CMC 3 would work better. But I don't believe I have an official reference for the magical card I wish they'd print ( {u} {u} for counter CMC 3 or less), then I'd feel more comfortable making a cycling version of that. Maybe some variant of Liquify that has cycling instead of exile might be okay.

You're right that cycling a counterspell seems like something one very rarely would do. One other scenario I can see it happening in though: you already have another counterspell in your hand, but you need the card draw advantage. So you cycle one of the counterspells in your hand, while still being open to counter something if need be.

As a side note, I'm not entirely allegeric to having some cards here and there - only at common - that aren't that usable for a competitive player or are "bad cards", but that might be a card for a casual. That's probably how something like Cancel Intent would play out. Most likely, no competitive player would put it in their deck. Casuals might. And anyone playing draft (personally, I hate draft, but it's a thing).

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