Saw It Coming is a blue instant spell primarily known for its utility as a counterspell in Magic: The Gathering. Its standard mana cost is {1}{U}{U} (one generic, two blue mana).
Core Mechanic: Foretell
The defining feature of Saw It Coming is its Foretell ability.
- Foretell {U} (one blue mana).
- During your turn, you can pay {2} (two generic mana) and exile this card from your hand face down.
- On a later turn, you can cast it from exile by paying its Foretell cost of {U} instead of its normal mana cost.
When cast, either for its normal cost or its Foretell cost, Saw It Coming allows you to counter target spell. This means the targeted spell is removed from the stack, its effects do not happen, and it is typically put into its owner’s graveyard.
Strategic Usage
Saw It Coming offers several strategic advantages:
- Mana Efficiency: The Foretell mechanic allows players to break up the mana investment. Paying {2} on an earlier turn makes the actual act of countering a spell cost only {U} on a crucial later turn. This frees up mana for other actions on the turn the counterspell is deployed.
- Flexibility: While foretelling is often optimal, the card can still be cast for its full {1}{U}{U} cost if an immediate answer is required and it hasn’t been foretold.
- Information Masking (Limited): When a card is foretold, opponents know you have a face-down resource, but they don’t immediately know it’s Saw It Coming (though in blue-heavy decks, it’s a common suspect). This can force opponents to play more cautiously.
- Tempo Plays: Countering an opponent’s key spell for a mere {U} (after the initial {2} setup) can be a significant tempo gain, especially if the countered spell was more expensive.
The main consideration is the upfront investment of {2} mana to foretell, which is mana not spent affecting the board state immediately. However, the payoff of a highly efficient counterspell at a critical moment often justifies this initial cost in control and tempo-based strategies.
