Stubborn Denial

Stubborn Denial card image

Stubborn Denial: Instant, Khans of Tarkir. Counter target noncreature spell unless its controller pays 1. Printings, prices, and format legality on Mana Grove.

Mana cost
{U}
Mana value
1
Type
Instant
Colour identity
Blue (U)
Rarity
Uncommon
Set
Khans of Tarkir (KTK)
Released
2014-09-26
Collector number
56
Artist
James Ryman
Commander rank
1,535 (by how often it appears in Commander decks)
Keywords
Ferocious

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About Stubborn Denial

Stubborn Denial is a Magic: The Gathering card, an uncommon blue instant from Khans of Tarkir (KTK), an expansion set released in September 2014. It is collector number 56 in that set, with art by James Ryman. It costs {U} (one blue mana) to cast, for a mana value of 1. Its colour identity is blue. It is legal in Pioneer, Modern, Legacy, Vintage, Commander, Duel Commander, Oathbreaker, Brawl, Historic, Timeless and Gladiator. It has been printed in 2 sets. The latest aggregated market price for this printing is $3.50 (normal finish, as of 2026-11-12).

Card text

Counter target noncreature spell unless its controller pays {1}.

Ferocious - If you control a creature with power 4 or greater, counter that spell instead.

The Temur have no patience for subtlety.

Market price

Latest aggregated market price for the normal finish of this printing: $3.50 (as of 2026-11-12).

The figure covers this printing only; other printings carry their own price on their own page.

Format legality

Legality of Stubborn Denial by format. Formats in which it is not legal are not listed.

PioneerLegal
ModernLegal
LegacyLegal
VintageLegal
CommanderLegal
Duel CommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
BrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
TimelessLegal
GladiatorLegal

Other printings of Stubborn Denial

Stubborn Denial has been printed in 2 sets. The other printings are listed newest first, with the rarity and release year of each.

PrintingRarityYear
Secret Lair Drop (SLD) #8500Rare2026

Official rulings

Two official rulings apply to Stubborn Denial, newest first.

  • Some ferocious abilities that appear on instants and sorceries use the word “instead.” These spells have an upgraded effect if you control a creature with power 4 or greater as they resolve. For these, you only get the upgraded effect, not both effects.
  • Ferocious abilities of instants and sorceries that don’t use the word “instead” will provide an additional effect if you control a creature with power 4 or greater as they resolve.

Similar cards

Other instant cards with a blue colour identity, ranked by how often they appear in Commander decks.

In these card lists

These card lists include Stubborn Denial.

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