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Can't be countered vs. Can't be countered by spells or abilities.

What's the difference? I've kind of just treated them the same.

DennisBergkamp wrote:Can't be countered vs. Can't be countered by spells or abilities.

What's the difference? I've kind of just treated them the same.

The difference is that "Can't be countered by spells or abilities." appears on targeted spells. If the target of spell is illegal, it's countered by game rules anyways, despite the fact that it's normally uncounterable. Basically, it's warranted to treat both the same, as long as you remember that uncounterability doesn't cover illegal targets case.

There is one rare situation of Gilded Drake. That one has special exception for its ability - it can be countered by spells and abilities, but not game rules (i.e. it resolves even if the target is illegal).

I don't get why they call it "countered", while elsewhere I've seen the term "fizzle", which is more accurate and flavorful(?). The spell loses its magical effects because its target is no longer legal. They should have renamed it in the game rules. A spell should only be countered by another spell, not the game rules.

Rob Cashwalker wrote:I don't get why they call it "countered", while elsewhere I've seen the term "fizzle", which is more accurate and flavorful(?). The spell loses its magical effects because its target is no longer legal. They should have renamed it in the game rules. A spell should only be countered by another spell, not the game rules.

The term "fizzle" was removed in Sixth Edition. The only card which actually cares about it is Multani's Presence, though (it draws cards for spells that are counterspelled as well as those that fizzle). Once again, though, the game is longer without fizzle by now than it ever was with it.

And to make things more complicated a spell is countered only if ALL of its targets are illegal. So if just one of the targets is illegal, the spell/ability isn't countered.

And the quote the all knowing comprehensive rules:

701.5a To counter a spell or ability means to cancel it, removing it from the stack. It doesn’t resolve and none of its effects occur. A countered spell is put into its owner’s graveyard.

701.5b The player who cast a countered spell or activated a countered ability doesn’t get a “refund” of any costs that were paid.