The Witch is a horror film directed by Robert Eggers and released in 2015. It follows the story of a family living in 17th century New England, who are banished from their Puritan plantation and forced to live on the outskirts of a forbidding forest. The film explores themes of religious fanaticism, paranoia, and the supernatural. The Witch received critical acclaim for its atmospheric tension, historical accuracy, and unsettling imagery. It is a slow-burn horror film that relies on psychological terror rather than jump scares or gore. The film's meticulous attention to detail, from the historically accurate sets and costumes to the authentic 17th century dialogue, helps to create a sense of immersion and realism.
While there have been many attempts to make a slightly worse Counterspell, there’s only one card that can be described as a strictly-better one. And oh boy, is Mana Drain better. It’s so much better, in fact, that it’s only legal in Vintage and other niche eternal formats. Sure, you can technically play it in Commander, but you’ll need an incredibly understanding (or competitive) playgroup!
While those decks are often themselves quite defenseless against fast combo, the presence of Force of Will creates a sustainable rock-paper-scissors metagame, which has kept the Legacy format surprisingly healthy despite the thousands of cards added to it in the last 25 years. And yet, I feel like the awe-inspiring artwork and rarity upgrade we got from Modern Horizons 2 best captures its status as one of Magic s most foundational and influential cards.
AbjureAs an additional cost to cast this spell, sacrifice a blue permanent.
Counter target spell.
Mirri’s hackles rose as Ertai continued expounding his virtues. “If that arrogant brat doesn’t shut up soon,” she growled to herself, “I’m going to have to kill him.”
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AbsorbCounter target spell. You gain 3 life.
“In your misguided attempt to subvert the law, you have eloquently explained why the law must exist.”
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Absorb EnergyCounter target spell. Cards in your hand that share a card type with that spell perpetually gain “This spell costs less to cast.”
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Access DeniedCounter target spell. Create X 1/1 colorless Thopter artifact creature tokens with flying, where X is that spell’s mana value.
The Saiba Futurists guard their secret experiments with ever-evolving networks of cutting-edge defensive technology.
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Admiral's OrderRaid — If you attacked this turn, you may pay rather than pay this spell’s mana cost.
Counter target spell.
“Damn the cannons, mates. Charge!”
Standard Not Legal Alchemy Not Legal Pioneer Legal Explorer Legal Modern Legal Brawl Not Legal Legacy Legal Historic Legal Vintage Legal Pauper Not Legal Commander Legal Penny Legal Oathbreaker LegalAdd to Deck
Arcane DenialCounter 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.
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Archmage's Charm• Counter target spell.
• Target player draws two cards.
• Gain control of target nonland permanent with mana value 1 or less.
Standard Not Legal Alchemy Not Legal Pioneer Not Legal Explorer Not Legal Modern Legal Brawl Not Legal Legacy Legal Historic Legal Vintage Legal Pauper Not Legal Commander Legal Penny Not Legal Oathbreaker Legal Nontoken nonland permanents with CMC 1 or less (type:artifact or type:enchantment or type:creature or type:planeswalker) -type:land cmc<=1Add to Deck
Artistic RefusalConvoke (Your creatures can help cast this spell. Each creature you tap while casting this spell pays for or one mana of that creature’s color.)
Choose one or both —
• Counter target spell.
• Draw two cards, then discard a card.
Errant wouldn’t allow anything to stop her from decorating the streets of New Capenna.
Standard Legal Alchemy Legal Pioneer Legal Explorer Legal Modern Legal Brawl Legal Legacy Legal Historic Legal Vintage Legal Pauper Not Legal Commander Legal Penny Not Legal Oathbreaker LegalAdd to Deck
Assert AuthorityAffinity for artifacts (This spell costs less to cast for each artifact you control.)
Counter target spell. If that spell is countered this way, exile it instead of putting it into its owner’s graveyard.
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Bane's ContingencyCounter target spell. If that spell targets a commander you control, instead counter that spell, scry 2, then draw a card.
“My whims dictate the fate of nations. Your pitiful mortal magic is no more significant than a gnat buzzing in my ear.”
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Broken ConcentrationCounter target spell.
Madness (If you discard this card, discard it into exile. When you do, cast it for its madness cost or put it into your graveyard.)
Some minds bend under pressure. Others break.
Standard Not Legal Alchemy Not Legal Pioneer Legal Explorer Not Legal Modern Legal Brawl Not Legal Legacy Legal Historic Not Legal Vintage Legal Pauper Not Legal Commander Legal Penny Not Legal Oathbreaker LegalAdd to Deck
CancelCounter target spell.
“I decide what stands in my way.”
Standard Not Legal Alchemy Not Legal Pioneer Legal Explorer Legal Modern Legal Brawl Not Legal Legacy Legal Historic Legal Vintage Legal Pauper Legal Commander Legal Penny Legal Oathbreaker LegalAdd to Deck
Confirm SuspicionsCounter target spell.
Investigate three times. (To investigate, create a Clue token. It’s an artifact with “ , Sacrifice this artifact: Draw a card.”)
Everyone has something to hide.
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ContradictCounter target spell.
Those who question Ojutai may not like the answers they receive.
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ControvertCounter target spell.
Recover (When a creature is put into your graveyard from the battlefield, you may pay . If you do, return this card from your graveyard to your hand. Otherwise, exile this card.)
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CounterboreCounter target spell. Search its controller’s graveyard, hand, and library for all cards with the same name as that spell and exile them. Then that player shuffles.
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CounterlashCounter target spell. You may cast a spell that shares a card type with it from your hand without paying its mana cost.
“Pathetic. Let me show you how it’s done.”
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CountermandCounter target spell. Its controller mills four cards.
The physical pain was nothing compared to the agony in his mind.
Standard Not Legal Alchemy Not Legal Pioneer Legal Explorer Not Legal Modern Legal Brawl Not Legal Legacy Legal Historic Not Legal Vintage Legal Pauper Legal Commander Legal Penny Legal Oathbreaker LegalAdd to Deck
CounterspellCounter target spell.
The pyromancer summoned up her mightiest onslaught of fire and rage. Jace feigned interest.
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Cryptic Command• Counter target spell.
• Return target permanent to its owner’s hand.
• Tap all creatures your opponents control.
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Portions of Scryfall are unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Wizards of the Coast Fan Content Policy. The literal and graphical information presented on this site about Magic: The Gathering, including card images and mana symbols, is copyright Wizards of the Coast, LLC. Scryfall is not produced by or endorsed by Wizards of the Coast.
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As such, most players cast Pact of Negation when they’re convinced they’re going to win. Combo decks treat the card as free protection on the turn they “go for it”; the only tradeoff is drawing cards which are more or less unplayable before that point. There is also a niche tradition of decks leaning into Pact’s weirdness, either by nullifying its lose-the-game trigger, or better yet, foisting it onto their unsuspecting opponents! These unique interactions lend the card a lot of charm and make up for its most unfair combo-shielding scenarios.Spell Stutter
Counter target spell unless its controller pays plus an additional for each Faerie you control.
“You are but learning to walk in a world where I fly, mortal.”
Standard Legal Alchemy Legal Pioneer Legal Explorer Legal Modern Legal Brawl Legal Legacy Legal Historic Legal Vintage Legal Pauper Legal Commander Legal Penny Legal Oathbreaker LegalAdd to Deck
Ice OutBargain (You may sacrifice an artifact, enchantment, or token as you cast this spell.)
This spell costs less to cast if it’s bargained.
Counter target spell.
Hylda built an ice statuary from all those who couldn’t understand “go away.”
Standard Legal Alchemy Legal Pioneer Legal Explorer Legal Modern Legal Brawl Legal Legacy Legal Historic Legal Vintage Legal Pauper Legal Commander Legal Penny Legal Oathbreaker LegalAdd to Deck
Disdainful StrokeCounter target spell with mana value 4 or greater.
In retrospect, using storm magic against a storm giant was not the wisest strategy.
Standard Legal Alchemy Legal Pioneer Legal Explorer Legal Modern Legal Brawl Legal Legacy Legal Historic Legal Vintage Legal Pauper Legal Commander Legal Penny Legal Oathbreaker LegalAdd to Deck
Not of This WorldTribal Instant — Eldrazi
Counter target spell or ability that targets a permanent you control.
This spell costs less to cast if it targets a spell or ability that targets a creature you control with power 7 or greater.
Standard Not Legal Alchemy Not Legal Pioneer Not Legal Explorer Not Legal Modern Legal Brawl Not Legal Legacy Legal Historic Not Legal Vintage Legal Pauper Not Legal Commander Legal Penny Legal Oathbreaker LegalAdd to Deck
Mystic ConfluenceChoose three. You may choose the same mode more than once.
• Counter target spell unless its controller pays .
• Return target creature to its owner’s hand.
Standard Not Legal Alchemy Not Legal Pioneer Not Legal Explorer Not Legal Modern Not Legal Brawl Not Legal Legacy Legal Historic Not Legal Vintage Legal Pauper Not Legal Commander Legal Penny Not Legal Oathbreaker LegalAdd to Deck
CounterspellCounter target spell.
The pyromancer summoned up her mightiest onslaught of fire and rage. Jace feigned interest.
Standard Not Legal Alchemy Not Legal Pioneer Not Legal Explorer Not Legal Modern Legal Brawl Not Legal Legacy Legal Historic Banned Vintage Legal Pauper Legal Commander Legal Penny Not Legal Oathbreaker LegalAdd to Deck
Kozilek, the Great DistortionLegendary Creature — Eldrazi
When you cast this spell, if you have fewer than seven cards in hand, draw cards equal to the difference.
Discard a card with mana value X: Counter target spell with mana value X.
A void as cryptic as reality itself.
12/12 Standard Not Legal Alchemy Not Legal Pioneer Legal Explorer Legal Modern Legal Brawl Not Legal Legacy Legal Historic Legal Vintage Legal Pauper Not Legal Commander Legal Penny Not Legal Oathbreaker LegalAdd to Deck
Saruman's TrickeryCounter target spell.
Amass Orcs 1. (Put a +1/+1 counter on an Army you control. It’s also an Orc. If you don’t control an Army, create a 0/0 black Orc Army creature token first.)
“I gave you the chance of aiding me willingly.”
—Saruman
Add to Deck
Change the Equation• Counter target spell with mana value 2 or less.
• Counter target red or green spell with mana value 6 or less.
“It’s not your fault. Strixhaven taught you an imperfect premise. Okay, the imperfect execution was your fault.”
Standard Legal Alchemy Legal Pioneer Legal Explorer Legal Modern Legal Brawl Legal Legacy Legal Historic Legal Vintage Legal Pauper Not Legal Commander Legal Penny Not Legal Oathbreaker LegalAdd to Deck
Artistic RefusalConvoke (Your creatures can help cast this spell. Each creature you tap while casting this spell pays for or one mana of that creature’s color.)
Choose one or both —
• Counter target spell.
• Draw two cards, then discard a card.
Errant wouldn’t allow anything to stop her from decorating the streets of New Capenna.
Standard Legal Alchemy Legal Pioneer Legal Explorer Legal Modern Legal Brawl Legal Legacy Legal Historic Legal Vintage Legal Pauper Not Legal Commander Legal Penny Not Legal Oathbreaker LegalAdd to Deck
Spell SwindleCounter target spell. Create X Treasure tokens, where X is that spell’s mana value. (They’re artifacts with “ , Sacrifice this artifact: Add one mana of any color.”)
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Reject ImperfectionCounter target spell. If that spell’s mana value was 3 or less, proliferate. (Choose any number of permanents and/or players, then give each another counter of each kind already there.)
“Your theory holds merit. You do not.”
—Sarnvax, Gitaxian sective
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Minor MisstepCounter target spell with mana value 1 or less.
No matter how many times he saw it, Sarnvax always relished the look of dawning horror as his foes realized their mistake.
Standard Legal Alchemy Legal Pioneer Legal Explorer Legal Modern Legal Brawl Legal Legacy Legal Historic Legal Vintage Legal Pauper Not Legal Commander Legal Penny Not Legal Oathbreaker LegalAdd to Deck
Bring the EndingCounter target spell unless its controller pays .
Corrupted — Counter that spell instead if its controller has three or more poison counters.
Kaya watched in horror as the illusion vanished from her hands. Jace held the real Sylex—and had activated it before phyresis claimed his mind.
DailyMTG Story Spotlight
Standard Legal Alchemy Legal Pioneer Legal Explorer Legal Modern Legal Brawl Legal Legacy Legal Historic Legal Vintage Legal Pauper Legal Commander Legal Penny Not Legal Oathbreaker Legal This print of Bring the Ending has a typo: it uses an incorrect form of “its”.Add to Deck
Soul Read• Counter target spell unless its controller pays .
It’s easy to be two steps ahead when you can see their every thought.
Standard Not Legal Alchemy Not Legal Pioneer Not Legal Explorer Not Legal Modern Not Legal Brawl Not Legal Legacy Legal Historic Not Legal Vintage Legal Pauper Legal Commander Legal Penny Not Legal Oathbreaker LegalAdd to Deck
Urza's Rebuff• Counter target spell.
• Tap up to two target creatures.
“As usual, my brother’s maneuvers are brash and impulsive.”
—Urza
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Busted!Counter target spell unless its controller pays , where X is the number of words in the name with the most words among permanents you control.
“All you gotta do is panic with purpose. And plead your innocence with purpose. And have your mom bail you out with purpose.”
Standard Not Legal Alchemy Not Legal Pioneer Not Legal Explorer Not Legal Modern Not Legal Brawl Not Legal Legacy Not Legal Historic Not Legal Vintage Not Legal Pauper Not Legal Commander Not Legal Penny Not Legal Oathbreaker Not LegalAdd to Deck
Bag CheckCounter target spell, then ask a person outside the game if that spell looks dangerous to them. If they say yes, draw a card, then discard a card.
“As long as there’s no outside food, you’re good to go.”
Standard Not Legal Alchemy Not Legal Pioneer Not Legal Explorer Not Legal Modern Not Legal Brawl Not Legal Legacy Not Legal Historic Not Legal Vintage Not Legal Pauper Not Legal Commander Not Legal Penny Not Legal Oathbreaker Not LegalAdd to Deck
Deny the WitchCounter target spell, activated ability, or triggered ability. Its controller loses life equal to the number of creatures you control.
“This heresy cannot stand!”
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Teferi's ContingencyCounter target spell. Each card in its controller’s graveyard, hand, and library with the same name as that spell perpetually gains “This spell costs more to cast.”
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Scryfall
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Portions of Scryfall are unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Wizards of the Coast Fan Content Policy. The literal and graphical information presented on this site about Magic: The Gathering, including card images and mana symbols, is copyright Wizards of the Coast, LLC. Scryfall is not produced by or endorsed by Wizards of the Coast.
The Slack, Discord, Cash App, PayPal, and Patreon logos are copyright their respective owners. Scryfall is not produced by or endorsed by these services.
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All other content © 2023 Scryfall, LLC.
Add to Deck
The film's meticulous attention to detail, from the historically accurate sets and costumes to the authentic 17th century dialogue, helps to create a sense of immersion and realism. One of the standout aspects of The Witch is its cinematography, which uses a combination of natural lighting and wide-angle lenses to capture the vastness and isolation of the New England wilderness. The film's score also plays a crucial role in building tension, with its eerie chanting and dissonant strings creating a sense of unease.
Top 20 Counterspells in Magic: The Gathering
Yes, counterspells have always been the most polarizing aspect of Magic. For whatever reason, getting your spell snuffed out on the stack is simply more galling than getting hit by removal on the battlefield. Perhaps it’s the power dynamic created by untapped Islands, the idea that you suddenly need to wait for your opponent’s permission on every attempted play. Even if it’s just another form of interaction, the mind games of countermagic are uniquely frustrating.
But as “polarizing” implies, there are just as many diehard counterspell fans as there are haters! And since they’re never going away, let’s take a moment to appreciate some of the most classic, powerful, important counters in Magic history; understand why they matter, and what makes them so good. Read on to discover our list of the Top 20 Counterspells… don’t worry, I’ll allow it.
At the heart of The Witch is a deeply unsettling exploration of religious hysteria and fanaticism. The family's patriarch, William, is portrayed as a strict and devout Puritan who believes that his family's misfortunes are a result of their sins. This leads to a spiral of paranoia and accusation as each family member begins to suspect the others of being witches. The film's climax is a surreal and unsettling sequence that combines elements of folklore and mythology with a sense of dread. It is a testament to Eggers' skill as a director that he is able to evoke such a visceral reaction from the audience without relying on traditional horror tropes. Overall, The Witch is a unique and chilling horror film that stands apart from the typical Hollywood fare. Its attention to detail, atmospheric tension, and exploration of religious fanaticism make it a standout entry in the genre. Whether you are a fan of horror films or not, The Witch is a must-see for its artistry and ability to unsettle..
Reviews for "The Art of Film Reviews on Letterboxd: Tips and Tricks"
- Emily - 2/5 stars - "I was really disappointed with 'The Witch'. The atmosphere was great and the performances were solid, but the story felt so slow and unsatisfying. I was expecting more scares and tension, but instead it just dragged on without much happening. The ending left me feeling confused and underwhelmed. Overall, I found 'The Witch' to be a forgettable and frustrating watch."
- Jason - 2/5 stars - "I don't understand the hype around 'The Witch'. The film seemed to be more focused on historical accuracy and period details rather than delivering genuine scares. The pacing was incredibly slow and I found myself losing interest early on. The characters lacked depth and the plot lacked any real substance. I was left feeling bored and unfulfilled by the end. Definitely not a horror film I would recommend."
- Sarah - 3/5 stars - "While 'The Witch' had its moments of tension and some visually striking scenes, I ultimately found it to be a bit overhyped. The slow burn approach can work for some horror films, but in this case, it felt like the film was dragging on without much payoff. The ambiguity of the ending left me unsatisfied and questioning what the point of it all was. I appreciate the atmospheric cinematography and the performances, but overall, 'The Witch' fell short of my expectations."