Essence Backlash 
Instant
Oracle text (EN)
Instant
Counter target creature spell. Essence Backlash deals damage equal to that spell's power to its controller.
Printing details
- Set
- RTR · 160
- Rarity
- Common
- Language
- EN
- Artist
- Jung Park
- Released
- 2012-10-05
- Prices
- €0.09 · $0.10
Price history
The trend shows with at least 7 days of history.
- Cardmarket, trend
- CardTrader, Near Mint minimum (EN)
The history starts on October 28, 2026 and grows every day.
Show the data
| Date | Cardmarket, trend | CardTrader, Near Mint minimum (EN) |
|---|---|---|
| October 28, 2026 | €0.09 | €0.11 |
Prices
| Source | Non-foil | Foil |
|---|---|---|
| Cardmarket | low €0.02 trend €0.09 30-day avg €0.08 | low – trend €0.27 30-day avg €0.27 |
| CardTrader (EN) | NM from €0.11 with Zero from €0.14 | NM from €0.29 with Zero from €0.29 |
| CardTrader (any language) | NM from €0.11 | NM from €0.19 |
Cardmarket updated Nov 2, 2026 · CardTrader updated Nov 2, 2026
Buy and look up
Legality
- standard Not legal
- pioneer Legal
- modern Legal
- legacy Legal
- vintage Legal
- commander Legal
- pauper Legal
- alchemy Not legal
- brawl Not legal
- competitivebrawl Not legal
- duel Legal
- future Not legal
- gladiator Not legal
- historic Not legal
- oathbreaker Legal
- oldschool Not legal
- paupercommander Legal
- penny Legal
- predh Not legal
- premodern Not legal
- standardbrawl Not legal
- timeless Not legal
- tlr Not legal
Rulings
-
Abilities that change the power of a creature (such as the one of Collective Blessing) affect only creatures on the battlefield. They won’t change a creature spell’s power on the stack.
-
Essence Backlash can target a creature spell that can’t be countered. If Essence Backlash resolves, it won’t counter the spell but it will still deal damage.
-
If the creature’s power is * and it has an ability defining its power, use that ability to determine its power.