Veil of Summer is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.
Official card text
Draw a card if an opponent has cast a blue or black spell this turn. Spells you control can't be countered this turn. You and permanents you control gain hexproof from blue and from black until end of turn. (You and they can't be the targets of blue or black spells or abilities your opponents control.)
Complete guide
Veil of Summer is a powerful defensive instant often referred to as a 'green Counterspell.' It provides a massive shield for you and your permanents while potentially replacing itself in your hand. Mastering its timing is the key to shutting down blue and black interaction effectively.
A Multi-Layered Defense
When Veil of Summer resolves, it applies three distinct effects. First, it checks if an opponent has cast a blue or black spell at any point during the current turn; if they have, you draw a card. Second, it creates a continuous effect ensuring your spells cannot be countered for the rest of the turn. Finally, it grants you and all your permanents hexproof from blue and from black until the turn ends.
Timing and Resolution
It is important to remember that Veil of Summer must resolve to take effect. If your opponent casts a blue spell and you respond with Veil, the 'cannot be countered' clause only starts working once Veil leaves the stack. Furthermore, even after it resolves, opponents can still target your spells with counterspells; those counterspells simply fail to counter the target, though other effects on those spells (like drawing a card or scrying) will still happen.
Hexproof from Colors
The hexproof granted is specific to blue and black. This means you and your permanents cannot be the targets of blue or black spells your opponents control, nor abilities from blue or black sources. This will cause any such spells already on the stack targeting you or your permanents to fizzle (be removed from the stack with no effect) upon resolution because their targets are now illegal.
Common Pitfalls
A common mistake is thinking you draw a card for every blue or black spell cast; you only ever draw one card total upon resolution. Additionally, Veil of Summer does not stop spells that don't target, such as board wipes that say 'Destroy all creatures.' For those, you would need different protection.
Interaction examples
Worldly TutorYou cast Worldly Tutor. In response, your opponent casts a blue counterspell. You then cast Veil of Summer. Veil of Summer resolves first, you draw a card (because they cast a blue spell), and your spells gain protection. When the opponent's counterspell tries to resolve, it fails to counter Worldly Tutor, allowing you to successfully search for your creature.
Heroic InterventionIf an opponent targets your creature with a black removal spell, you can cast Veil of Summer to give it hexproof from black, causing the removal spell to fail. If the opponent then tries to use a red damage-based sweep spell, you can follow up with Heroic Intervention to grant indestructible, as Veil of Summer only protects against blue and black sources.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Veil of Summer
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
If your opponents have cast more than one blue or black spell, you still draw only one card as Veil of Summer resolves.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
Veil of Summer has no effect until it resolves. It can be countered.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
A spell or ability that counters spells can still target your spells after Veil of Summer resolves. When that spell or ability resolves, your spell won't be countered, but any additional effects of the countering spell or ability will still happen.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
Commentaires
- Sois le premier à commenter cette carte.
Read next
Meta decks with Veil of Summer
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.