Counterbalance

Counterbalance

Enchantment

Text

Whenever an opponent casts a spell, you may reveal the top card of your library. If you do, counter that spell if it has the same mana value as the revealed card.

#3,179 EDHREC 🖌 John Zeleznik

Market prices

updated on 06/19/2026
from €4.35
Source Normal Foil
Card Kingdom $5.49
Cardmarket €4.35
TCGplayer $5.79

Trend · last 90 days · EUR

€4.35
min €3.74 max €4.91

Rulings (2)

If an opponent casts a spell with X in its mana cost, the mana value of that spell takes the value of X into account. If you reveal a card with X in its mana cost, X is 0. For example, if your opponent casts Blaze with X=1, Counterbalance will counter that spell if you reveal a card with mana value 2, but it won't counter that spell if you reveal a Blaze of your own.

07/15/2006

If an opponent casts half of a split card (for example, Hit), it won't be countered if you reveal that same split card. The mana value of a split card is determined by the combined mana cost of its two halves, but the mana value of Hit is determined using only that half's mana cost.

04/18/2017

Legality by format

Brawl Not legal
Commander Legal
Duel Commander Legal
Legacy Legal
Modern Legal
Oathbreaker Legal
Old School Not legal
Pauper Not legal
Pioneer Not legal
Premodern Not legal
Standard Not legal
Vintage Legal
Block Constructed Not legal
Extended Not legal
Frontier Not legal
Tiny Leaders Not legal