Spell Pierce

Negate was always (and remains) a good card, and Spell Pierce is almost as strong. It's technically a "soft" counterspell, as popular slang describes it, but I wouldn't underestimate it: many decks use all or nearly all their mana every turn, at which point the distinction is irrelevant. Don't forget that it can target planeswalkers!

Constructed: 3/5
Casual: 3/5
Limited: 2/5
Multiplayer: 2/5

Magic The Gathering COTD: Burst Lighting

Welcome back readers today’s card of the day is Burst Lighting the new strictly better shock, with the reviaviial of Lighting Bolt shock and incinerate became obsolete, with kicker being brought back in Zendikar Burst Lighting is the new powerful burn spell next to Lighting Bolt, in standard its seeing a fair amount of play in dedicated red burn decks and some control builds featuring red spells in their lineup, the early game power of versatility of shock is backed up by the ability to deal 4 damage later to unwary opponents and have the ability to finish a game for only five mana. In extended it could replace other less powerful burn spells at a player’s disposal but may not make to large of an impact although it is a solid card. In eternal formats no chance. In casual and multiplayer it’s a powerful burn spell that could add to a deck utilizing in burn although when it comes to multiplayer the burn spells that hit multiple targets are key. In limited is where this card is fantastic any removal is good removal and the ability to take out early creatures in the game or later to throw it down for four damage Burst Lighting is a valuable card to draft if you’re in red or in need of a second color or still undecided.

Constructed: 3.0
Casual: 3.0
Limited: 4.0
Multiplayer 2.5

Today's card of the day is Spell Pierce a decent counterspell in the tradition of Force Spike and Disrupt, but not a direct upgrade of either. The additional one mana in the cost to the opponent is balanced by the inability to target creatures or draw an extra card like the above examples. Both of those cards are situationally a bit stronger than this, but in the modern formats this is a good low cost option for controlling the tempo of a game.

In Constructed, Casual, and Multiplayer this card can find a home in quite a few Blue decks, especially as the formats shift to newer cards.
The main issue with cards of this type is an opponent that is aware of the effect and doesn't tap out completely when playing a major spell.
That very tendency to leave one mana available is what makes this card a bit more effective, but eventually your opponents will adapt. Overall a decent example of modern permission that will slow down the opponent's play to compensate and potentially drain mana to prevent single turn combos.

For Limited this is decent early on, but the format tends to promote longer games and a supply of surplus untapped lands. In Sealed this certainly should be played along with any Blue cards that reach your deck as there is no real drawback. For Booster this should be drafted as Blue's removal quite early if running a flying or control theme. In both this card is less predictable by opponents due the style of play and is the last thing any opponent wants to see after they tap out for a big spell or mana acceleration like Harrow.

Constructed: 4.0
Casual: 4.0
Limited: 4.0
Multiplayer: 4.0