Magic: The Gathering

Counterbalance

Mystery Booster 2 157 • uncommon

Set: Mystery Booster 2
Collector number: 157
Rarity: Uncommon
Mana cost: blue mana blue mana
Type: Enchantment
Colors: Blue
Artist: John Zeleznik
Market price: $2.17

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$2.17est. via TCGplayer

104,743cards tracked

5other printings of this card

Market

What it's worth

$2.17market price via TCGplayer · Oct 7, 2026$2.12 – $3.85 over the tracked period

Estimate for a typical copy of Counterbalance; condition, printing, and grading move the real number.

Lore

Why it matters

As an uncommon card, Counterbalance serves as a strategic tool for manipulating the flow of a game by countering spells based on their mana cost. Its ability to disrupt opponents by mirroring the values of the top cards in a library makes it a prized inclusion for those who enjoy precise, reactive deck building.

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Card face

What it does

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.

Formats

Where you can play it

StandardNot legal
PioneerNot legal
ModernLegal
LegacyLegal
VintageLegal
CommanderLegal
PauperNot legal
BrawlNot legal
HistoricNot legal
TimelessNot legal
Penny DreadfulNot legal
OathbreakerLegal

Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC. Card text via Scryfall. Not approved or endorsed by Wizards. As of the last catalogue refresh.

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Where to find one

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Provenance

Where it came from

Counterbalance was originally released in the 2006 Magic: The Gathering expansion Coldsnap. Designed by the development team to push the boundaries of top-deck manipulation mechanics, the card quickly became a centerpiece of control strategies in eternal formats like Legacy. Its design intent centered on the risk and reward of revealing the top card of your library to counter spells, creating a unique gameplay loop that rewards players for knowing their deck composition intimately.

The Mystery Booster 2 version, numbered 157, serves as a recent reprinting of this iconic enchantment within a curated set designed for draft environments and legacy fans. Retaining the original illustrative style by artist Dave Dorman, which features an ethereal, mystical quality befitting the card's theme, this inclusion acknowledges its enduring influence on competitive play. It is received by collectors as a faithful nod to a card that redefined how players interact with the library as a resource.

Written by Pi, the helpful collecto.rs AI

Other printings

Every version of this card

The same card, printed again — different sets, treatments, and prices.

Collectors

Who's collecting this

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About

About Counterbalance

Counterbalance is a card in the Magic: The Gathering catalog on collecto.rs. Mystery Booster 2 157 • uncommon. Catalog data is sourced from Scryfall. No public cards collectors track this one yet — adding yours would make you the first on collecto.rs.

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Can I track my own copy of Counterbalance?

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Where does the Counterbalance catalog entry come from?

The catalog entry for Counterbalance is sourced from Scryfall. Catalog-level facts stay consistent across every collector; your own data (condition, edition, acquisition notes) is yours.