For Challenge # 064

Most colour pairs don't really have an iconic ability, but WB is definitely associated with "destroy target permanent". Having two of the four colours having a clear identity clarifies the other combination as well, I think this comes across somewhat clearly as:

WB - destroy target permanent U - or counter target permanent spell R - and deal damage to its controller equal to its converted mana cost

Everyone likes playing super-universal answers, but I try to avoid designing too many of them, as it's easy to say "this would be super cool" without making any interesting choices. But while this is a good answer to almost any individual permanent card, it still only deals with those cards, and doesn't do much else, for CDEF mana.

The text would look more balanced if it was "Destroy target permanent or counter target spell" but that would have to cost WBUU. Admittedly, that's probably the only spell that HAS to be CDEE cost, so maybe I should make it just for that.

http://cartesiandaemon.livejournal.com/822734.html

So apparently hard counters are ok in CU spells if the flavour is ok, so this COULD be "Exile target permanent or permanent spell".

Yeah, I was surprised by Psychic Strike, too. I would have expected a hard counter before a one without double-blue cost.

Oh wait, we did get that. Fall of the Gavel.

Oh yes! If you'd asked me, I would have guessed white was most counterspelly. In planar chaos, Mark Rosewater was originally pushed to make white memory lapse. But when I saw Psychic Strike, it seemed natural enough I didn't think to look if there was a WU counter. I guess white is good vs permanents and black is good vs cards in hand, so either makes sense in a counterspell.

I don't imagine we'll soon see a GGGGU hard counter, but maybe I'm speaking too soon :)