As PV once said after Zendikar set was spoiled:

"Ok Wizards ... we got it ... we won't get Counterspell back, but PLEASE stop reprinting Cancel!"

I feel the same. While UU for Counterspell might be a little too low (not that i wouldn't enjoy it) the format needs some kind of efficient 2 mana counterspell (as in Mana Leak / Rune Snag / etc.).

I think Wizards of the Coast should reprint counterspell cause I have played Magic: The Gathering when it practically first started. I don't see how they can justify overpowered spells like [[[Blightning]]] or spells with Cascade which are clearly just too powerful for their costs and say counterspell is too powerful.

I mean really, it's sad to seen when games played today only take about 3 to 4 turns and a new round begins. In addition, from all the new spells I see for blue they are mainly focusing on the idea of blue equals mill and drawing, when clearly blue was meant for control (counterspell,creature), spot ([[[boomerang]]]) or mass removal ([[[evacuation]]], [[[upheaval]]]) and setting the tone and pace of the game ([[[arcane laboratory]]]).

Maybe I'm just a true blue player, but if they can print and reprint overpowered spells with all gain and no pain like [[[Lightning Bolt]]], [[[Blightning]]], [[[Sprouting Thrinax]]], [[[Woolly Thoctar]]], [[[Vampire Nighthawk]]] and so on, why can't they just reprint counterspell too?

i think UU is too low a cost. "Cancel" UU1 is much more appropiate.

Cancel is great the way it is. 3 Mana for hardcounter is excellent, even though i would've liked to see it turn 2U instead of 1UU. The current mana cost makes it too hard to cast in 3 colour mode, since we don't have any Vivid lands anymore (back then, Cryptic Command was easy).

Counterspell would be too overpowered in the current format, since most people play two-colour decks.

And i disagree with Julain, Magic isn't getting more and more creature based. They merely moving control to different colours like black and white, instead of the everpresent blue counterdeck control.

counterspell wouldnt be back, because if it does, cards like cruel ultimatum, any spell with casting cost 7 and above would be unplayable....it a good thing that counterspell not reprited, we get to experience casting big spells and effect...

It's not the cost of counterspell that is the problem, its the other counterspells in the same format. If the only counterspell in a block where CS then it would be fine, if the format also had manaleak and another decent cheap counter then were back where we dont wanna be, with controll decks countering every single spell.

The problem is that wotc is dumbing down magic and going for a more creatur oriented aproach these days. they make overpowered creatures and neuter controll and combo. The current std format could actually benefit from counterspell as cancel is to slow and theres currently no viable controll strategy.