Price$16.17 – $72.84
Buy on TCGplayerPact of Negation
Instant
Legal Salt 1.46CounterspellRank #359
Counter target spell.
At the beginning of your next upkeep, pay 
. If you don't, you lose the game.
Why is this card good?
Pact of Negation is the premier "free" counterspell for combo and high-power decks. Its real value isn't fighting fair fights — it's protecting a game-winning play. When you're comboing off with an empty board and only need to survive one turn, the deferred cost is irrelevant because the game ends before your upkeep arrives.
The cost makes it a counterspell you don't have to hold mana up for. That's huge during your own turn: tap out to assemble your combo, then still have Pact backup against a removal spell or counter. It also doubles as protection during a critical attack or storm turn.
Want it in: cEDH and high-power decks, Thassa's Oracle/Tainted Pact lines, storm, Urza, and any "win this turn or hold up interaction" shell.
Don't play it in casual or grindy midrange decks. If you can't reliably win before your next upkeep, the next-turn tax is a real liability — you'll either lose the game or fall hopelessly behind on tempo.
cost is irrelevant because the game ends before your upkeep arrives.
The cost makes it a counterspell you don't have to hold mana up for. That's huge during your own turn: tap out to assemble your combo, then still have Pact backup against a removal spell or counter. It also doubles as protection during a critical attack or storm turn.
Want it in: cEDH and high-power decks, Thassa's Oracle/Tainted Pact lines, storm, Urza, and any "win this turn or hold up interaction" shell.
Don't play it in casual or grindy midrange decks. If you can't reliably win before your next upkeep, the next-turn tax is a real liability — you'll either lose the game or fall hopelessly behind on tempo.Related cards
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