Second Guess
Instant
Counter target spell that's the second spell cast this turn.
- CMC
- 2
- Mana cost
- Color identity
- U
- Rarity
- uncommon
- Set
- Avacyn Restored
- Price
- $0.05
- EDHREC rank
- #25421
Second Guess counters the second spell cast each turn for two mana — a narrow window that, in multiplayer Commander, opponents fill constantly. It's a cheap, real counterspell with a real restriction: if you can't reliably be holding up mana on an opponent's second spell, run Counterspell instead.
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, Second Guess punches above its mana cost because four opponents means someone is almost always casting a second spell on their turn — tutors, cantrips, and ramp chains all trigger the window reliably. Legacy and Vintage have access to better unconditional countermagic, so Second Guess stays off most lists there; the format speed and density of broken first spells make the restriction genuinely punishing. Modern is technically legal but it sees no play — the format's tempo demands consistency that a conditional counter can't deliver. Second Guess is a Commander card first and foremost.
Key Combos
Combo lines featuring this card
Price Context
Current price
$0.05 bulk tier
At $0.05, Second Guess is deep bulk — you'll find it in a common box before you'd bother ordering it. That price is stable by default; there's no trajectory up unless a Commander deck or precon suddenly features it prominently.
Explore
Sources
Mentioned
Updated . Data from Scryfall, EDHREC, and Commander Spellbook.