Dismal Failure
Instant
Counter target spell. Its controller discards a card.
- CMC
- 4
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- U
- Rarity
- uncommon
- Set
- Planar Chaos
- Price
- $0.15
- EDHREC rank
- #24329
Dismal Failure counters a spell and makes its controller discard a card — a two-for-one effect stapled to a four-mana instant. Four mana is too steep for a counterspell in any competitive context, and the discard rider rarely compensates for the tempo loss.
Format Analysis
Where it lives, where it can’t
| Format | Verdict |
|---|---|
| commander | legal |
| legacy | legal |
| modern | legal |
| pioneer | not legal |
| standard | not legal |
| vintage | legal |
| pauper | not legal |
| oathbreaker | legal |
In Commander, Dismal Failure sits below the counterspell threshold that matters — four mana means you're tapping out on your own turn or leaving yourself vulnerable every other turn, and blue decks can run Counterspell, Arcane Denial, or Mana Drain for less. In Legacy and Vintage, the format speed makes four-mana interaction nearly unplayable; Force of Will and Flusterstorm exist. Modern is theoretically legal but no competitive shell wants this over Counterspell or Archmage's Charm. Dismal Failure is a card you run when you're out of better options or building on a strict budget.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
$0.15 bulk tier
At $0.15, Dismal Failure is deep bulk — you're paying for cardboard, not power. There's no price pressure pushing it up, and better counterspells at similar or lower prices are widely available.
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Sources
Mentioned
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.