Overrule
Instant
Counter target spell unless its controller pays 
. You gain X life.
- CMC
- 2
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- UW
- Rarity
- common
- Set
- Duel Decks: Venser vs. Koth
- Price
- $0.36
- EDHREC rank
- #20550
Overrule counters a spell and gains you life equal to that spell's mana value — a real two-for-one when you're stopping a six-drop commander recast or a game-ending sorcery. At two mana with an open blue, it's a clean rate for Commander and passable anywhere counterspells are wanted.
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 | legal |
| oathbreaker | legal |
In Commander, Overrule earns its slot specifically because the average mana value of spells you most need to counter — commander recasts, Cyclonic Rift, Craterhoof Behemoth — is high enough that the life gain is genuinely meaningful, often swinging your life total by eight to twelve in a single interaction. In Pauper it competes with Counterspell directly, and Counterspell wins that fight every time; Overrule belongs in the format only if you're intentionally building around life total. Legacy and Vintage have access to Force of Will and Mana Drain, so Overrule doesn't see serious play there. Oathbreaker mirrors the Commander read: the condensed game and higher-value spells make the life rider feel better than it would in a faster format.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
$0.36 bulk tier
At $0.36, Overrule is firmly bulk — easy to acquire and easy to cut if the meta doesn't demand it. Bulk counterspells rarely spike, so expect this price to stay flat indefinitely.
Explore
Sources
Mentioned
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.