Counterspells in Pauper
Every counterspell here is legal in Pauper, so the list is commons only. Pauper counter-magic is unusually strong for the format — the format plays the same Counterspell that Legacy does.
Run this search live → or edit it: the site reads plain English, so "counterspells legal in pauper under 3 mana" works too.
| Card | Cost | Type | What it does | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Counterspell | {U}{U} | Instant | Counter target spell. | $3.51 |
| 2 | An Offer You Can't Refuse | {U} | Instant | Counter target noncreature spell. Its controller creates two Treasure tokens. (They're artifacts with "{T}, Sacrifice this token: Add one mana of any color.") | $3.09 |
| 3 | Arcane Denial | {1}{U} | Instant | Counter target spell. Its controller may draw up to two cards at the beginning of the next turn's upkeep. You draw a card at the beginning of the next turn's upkeep. | $1.58 |
| 4 | Negate | {1}{U} | Instant | Counter target noncreature spell. | $0.19 |
| 5 | Muddle the Mixture | {U}{U} | Instant | Counter target instant or sorcery spell. Transmute {1}{U}{U} ({1}{U}{U}, Discard this card: Search your library for a card with the same mana value as this card, reveal it, put it into your hand, then shuffle. Transmute only as a sorcery.) | $2.49 |
| 6 | Spell Pierce | {U} | Instant | Counter target noncreature spell unless its controller pays {2}. | $0.29 |
| 7 | Dispel | {U} | Instant | Counter target instant spell. | $0.35 |
| 8 | Rewind | {2}{U}{U} | Instant | Counter target spell. Untap up to four lands. | $0.43 |
| 9 | Unwind | {2}{U} | Instant | Counter target noncreature spell. Untap up to three lands. | $1.38 |
| 10 | Izzet Charm | {U}{R} | Instant | Choose one — • Counter target noncreature spell unless its controller pays {2}. • Izzet Charm deals 2 damage to target creature. • Draw two cards, then discard two cards. | $0.18 |
| 11 | Mana Leak | {1}{U} | Instant | Counter target spell unless its controller pays {3}. | $0.31 |
| 12 | Refute | {1}{U}{U} | Instant | Counter target spell. Draw a card, then discard a card. | — |
| 13 | Cancel | {1}{U}{U} | Instant | Counter target spell. | $0.27 |
| 14 | Disdainful Stroke | {1}{U} | Instant | Counter target spell with mana value 4 or greater. | $0.24 |
| 15 | Essence Scatter | {1}{U} | Instant | Counter target creature spell. | $0.24 |
| 16 | Memory Lapse | {1}{U} | Instant | Counter target spell. If that spell is countered this way, put it on top of its owner's library instead of into that player's graveyard. | $0.61 |
| 17 | Didn't Say Please | {1}{U}{U} | Instant | Counter target spell. Its controller mills three cards. | $0.35 |
| 18 | Spellstutter Sprite | {1}{U} | Creature — Faerie Wizard | Flash Flying When this creature enters, counter target spell with mana value X or less, where X is the number of Faeries you control. | $5.38 |
| 19 | It'll Quench Ya! | {1}{U} | Instant — Lesson | Counter target spell unless its controller pays {2}. | $0.22 |
| 20 | Syncopate | {X}{U} | Instant | Counter target spell unless its controller pays {X}. If that spell is countered this way, exile it instead of putting it into its owner's graveyard. | $0.18 |
| 21 | Spell Stutter | {1}{U} | Instant | Counter target spell unless its controller pays {2} plus an additional {1} for each Faerie you control. | $0.32 |
| 22 | Amazing Acrobatics | {1}{U}{U} | Instant | Choose one or both — • Counter target spell. • Tap one or two target creatures. | $0.27 |
| 23 | Dazzling Denial | {1}{U} | Instant | Counter target spell unless its controller pays {2}. If you control a Bird, counter that spell unless its controller pays {4} instead. | $0.25 |
| 24 | Foil | {2}{U}{U} | Instant | You may discard an Island card and another card rather than pay this spell's mana cost. Counter target spell. | $1.97 |
| 25 | Dream Fracture | {1}{U}{U} | Instant | Counter target spell. Its controller draws a card. Draw a card. | $0.14 |
| 26 | Annul | {U} | Instant | Counter target artifact or enchantment spell. | $0.30 |
| 27 | Perplex | {1}{U}{B} | Instant | Counter target spell unless its controller discards their hand. Transmute {1}{U}{B} ({1}{U}{B}, Discard this card: Search your library for a card with the same mana value as this card, reveal it, put it into your hand, then shuffle. Tran… | $1.82 |
| 28 | Lofty Denial | {1}{U} | Instant | Counter target spell unless its controller pays {1}. If you control a creature with flying, counter that spell unless its controller pays {4} instead. | $0.29 |
| 29 | Hindering Light | {W}{U} | Instant | Counter target spell that targets you or a permanent you control. Draw a card. | $0.27 |
| 30 | Glorious Gale | {1}{U} | Instant | Counter target creature spell. If it was a legendary spell, the Ring tempts you. | $0.28 |
30 of 212 cards the search scored for "counterspells legal in pauper". Ordered by how much each card is played, among the cards that matched. Prices and legality come from Scryfall; the list was last refreshed on 2026-09-23.
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