Turn Aside on Reddit: Best Threads for Blue Counterplay

In TCG ·

Turn Aside card art from Eldritch Moon, blue instant in MTG

Image courtesy of Scryfall.com

Blue Counterplay on Reddit: Turn Aside and the Best Threads for Blue Counterplay

Turn Aside is that quintessentially clever one-mana window in MTG’s blue toolkit: an instant that says you can shield your board from harm with precision and timing. For players who love tempo, puzzle-solving, and the satisfaction of reading an opponent’s plan—and then pulling the rug out from under it—Turn Aside embodies a blue approach that’s both straightforward and surprisingly nuanced. Hailing from Eldritch Moon (set EMN) and illustrated by Jaime Jones, this common instant bears the flavor of Tamiyo’s tides, reminding us that even a single blue ripple can redirect a whole sequence of events. 🧙‍♂️🔥

On Reddit, the best threads about this card tend to cluster around a few recurring questions: When is the safest moment to hold up the mana for a counter, and when is it worth letting a non-threatening spell resolve to maintain tempo? How does Turn Aside stack up against the juggernauts of modern counterplay—and how do budget blue shells still find value with a penny-pinching price tag (often hovering near a dollar, foil variations much more collectible)? The conversation gravitates toward patience, deck-building philosophy, and the art of knowing when to press the counterbutton with confidence. ⚔️

“There are tides beyond those in the sea that are driven by Innistrad's silver moon. If you learn their patterns, you can channel them in fascinating ways.” — Tamiyo

Turn Aside costs a single blue mana and counters a spell that specifically targets a permanent you control. That makes it a highly situational, yet exquisitely powerful tool in tempo-heavy formats. In Modern and Pioneer, where removal and targeted interaction run hot, this little instant can be a reliable shield for your planeswalkers,-loved lands, highly-synergistic permanents, or any key threat you’re building around. In Commander, the same logic applies—but with the added spice of political plays and the possibility of duplicative effects in multiplayer mosh pits. The card’s rarity as common keeps it accessible, while its foil variants offer that gleam of “I actually prepared for this moment.” 🧊🎨

Where Redditors Highlight Turn Aside’s Strength

In threads dedicated to blue counterplay, Turn Aside is frequently discussed as a quintessential “build-your-countertempo” option. Players praise its low mana commitment and its ability to stop a targeted threat even when global counterspells are unavailable. The thread chatter often touches on:

  • Timing and risk assessment: holding up mana at the right moment to counter a key spell without overcommitting blue mana too early.
  • Targeted protection vs. unconditional counterspells: Turn Aside’s restriction to only a spell that targets your permanent creates nuanced decision points—is the threat worth countering, or should you let it resolve to preserve your own resources?
  • Synergy with lane-management and tempo strategies: when your deck leans on the inevitability of your opponent’s burn or removal suite, Turn Aside can be the hinge that keeps your plan alive.
  • Budget considerations and proxy culture: the common rarity makes it an attractive inclusion for casual players and budget-focused decks who still crave precise interaction in mirror matches and niche metagames.

Reddit threads often pair Turn Aside with other one-mana or low-cost counter options to form a resilient blue suite. Players discuss how to maximize value by pairing it with bounce effects, like ponging a threat back to the opponent’s hand while keeping your own threats untouched. They also explore how the card interacts with pump spells, stax elements, or even blink strategies where timing matters even more because a spell you target might be the trigger for a combo finish. The discourse is lively, sprinkled with memes and “got there!” moments—because when Turn Aside lands on the stack, it’s a small victory that feels cinematic. 🧙‍♂️💎

Practical Ways to Leverage Turn Aside in Your Deck

If you’re building around blue counterplay, here are a few tactical takeaways you’ll see echoed in Reddit threads—and you’ll likely put into action in your next FNM or grind session:

  • Prioritize high-impact targets: counter spells that threaten your most important permanents, such as a game-changing artifact, an engine-enabling enchantment, or a finisher about to land.
  • Calibrate your curve: a single mana cloud of tempo can stall an opponent enough to squeeze out a value turn—don’t overextend mana if you can hold up Turn Aside for the moment of truth.
  • Know your meta: in a field full of artifact-heavy decks, Turn Aside’s effectiveness can spike compared to more generic counterspells.
  • Balance with card draw and filtering: having a healthy suite of draw effects helps you find Turn Aside when you need it most, while also keeping your hand full of options for subsequent turns.

Promotional Interlude: A Quiet Desk Upgrade for Your MTG Sessions

While you’re thinking about tactical play, consider upgrading your workspace with a modern desk accessory that keeps your board state visible and your wrists comfortable. The Neon Custom Desk Mouse Pad Rectangular 3mm Thick Rubber Base is a bright, tactile companion for long nights of deckbuilding and Reddit deep-dives. It’s a perfect blend of style and practicality—no more greasy coffee ring interruptions, and it plays nicely with your favorite blue mana rituals. Check it out here: Neon Custom Desk Mouse Pad Rectangular 3mm Thick Rubber Base. 🧵⚡

Of course, the conversation around Turn Aside isn’t just about keeping permanents safe; it’s about embracing the slow, patient art of control. Reddit threads celebrate those micro-decisions—the moments when you decide not to counter, the moment you bait an overextension, and the time you swing back with a carefully timed draw or bounce. That’s the essence of blue counterplay: elegance wrapped in a single mana, with a ripple effect that can swing an entire game. And when you finally land that Turn Aside at exactly the right moment, you’ll feel like you outwitted fate itself. 🎲🧭

For more reading and perspectives, below are five hand-picked sources from our network, spanning artful design, predictive analytics in gaming, color symbolism in MTG-inspired media, and beyond. Each link opens in a new tab so you can keep exploring while you plan your next Turn Aside moment.

More from our network