Modern Horizons 2 looks to propose fresh and exciting cards into Modern without going through Standard. There will be a mix of brand new cards and older cards coming into Modern. Either way, it’s likely to shake up the Modern format once more. Hopefully, not in a similar way
Hogaak, Arisen Necropolis
Hogaak, Arisen Necropolis
You can't spend mana to cast this spell.
Convoke, delve (Each creature you tap while casting this spell pays for {1} or one mana of that creature's color. Each card you exile from your graveyard pays for {1}.)
You may cast this card from your graveyard.
Trample
did back in Modern Horizons 1.
Modern Horizons 2 previews begin on May 24. If you want to keep up to date with the previews so far, we have a dedicated gallery for the upcoming set.
Will Counterspell Be Too Good in Modern?
There’s plenty of discourse about
Counterspell
Counterspell
Counter target spell.
and how it may warp the Modern format.
Counterspell
Counterspell
Counter target spell.
was originally planned to see print in Dominaria but saw
Teferi, Hero of Dominaria
Teferi, Hero of Dominaria
+1: Draw a card. At the beginning of the next end step, untap up to two lands.
−3: Put target nonland permanent into its owner's library third from the top.
−8: You get an emblem with "Whenever you draw a card, exile target permanent an opponent controls."
headline the set instead. Wizards of the Coast considered the instant for Modern Horizons 1 as well but wasn’t ready to pull the trigger. It seems now in Modern Horizons 2, they are ready to let the spell reign in Modern. So, what’s changed?
Read More: Modern Horizons 2 Teasers From Magic: The Gathering Head Designer Mark Rosewater are Here!
Since Modern Horizons 1, the power of the format has skyrocketed. Cards such as
Force of Negation
Force of Negation
If it's not your turn, you may exile a blue card from your hand rather than pay this spell's mana cost.
Counter target noncreature spell. If that spell is countered this way, exile it instead of putting it into its owner's graveyard.
and Wrenn & Six are now staples of the format. Granted, we don’t think
Counterspell
Counterspell
Counter target spell.
will hit the same level as those two, but it’s certain to find a role somewhere. It may be a case that the impact of Modern Horizons 1 is leaving a bad taste in player’s mouths with the anticipation of this set’s release. It’s easy to assume everything coming in Modern Horizons 2 will break the format again given what its predecessor achieved back in 2019.
However,
Counterspell
Counterspell
Counter target spell.
is likely to become a staple in Blue-heavy Control strategies such as Azorius and Izzet Control. While it’s tempting to run this in archetypes such as Izzet Blitz or Niv-to-Light, the double Blue mana cost is tough to meet. You’ll want to run spells such as
Mana Leak
Mana Leak
Counter target spell unless its controller pays {3}.
so you don’t trip up on tricky mana requirements. With the introduction of
Counterspell
Counterspell
Counter target spell.
into Modern, it will retire
Logic Knot
Logic Knot
Delve (Each card you exile from your graveyard while casting this spell pays for {1}.)
Counter target spell unless its controller pays {X}.
in Control lists going forward.
Read More: Magic: The Gathering Modern Horizons 2 Teasers are Coming; Here are Some Rumored Leaks
Upon release, everyone will force
Counterspell
Counterspell
Counter target spell.
in their decks as if it will solve the woes of the Modern format. Combo strategies will still exist, there’s plenty of redundancy in the format that goes beyond what
Counterspell
Counterspell
Counter target spell.
can prevent. It will end up being a sensible answer for the slow and traditional Blue strategies in Modern. If anything,
Counterspell
Counterspell
Counter target spell.
will be a clear answer, but not a definitive one.
With that, better pack your Spell Snares and Spell Pierces in anticipation of
Counterspell
Counterspell
Counter target spell.
s foray into Modern. It’s going to land somewhere but we don’t think it’s going to break the format in half. Will
Counterspell
Counterspell
Counter target spell.
warp the format? Very unlikely. Will something else in Modern Horizons 2 warp the format? Absolutely, yes.