Storm: Countering (Almost) Doesn't Help
Judge Level 1Grapeshot with storm 3 — and your Counterspell only catches a quarter of it.
Cards involved
Grapeshot with storm 3
Your opponent has already cast three spells this turn and now casts Grapeshot targeting you. Storm triggers on casting: the triggered ability ("copy this spell three times") goes on the stack above the Grapeshot.
702.40aStorm is a triggered ability that functions on the stack. “Storm” means “When you cast this spell, copy it for each other spell that was cast before it this turn. If the spell has any targets, you may choose new targets for any of the copies.”
What happens?
You hold Counterspell.
How much damage do you take at minimum if you counter the original Grapeshot?
Pick an answer to continue.
The copies come from the trigger, not from the spell. The trigger fired on casting and has long been independent of the original. All you can counter is the original (1 damage) — the three copies still arrive (and aren't cast themselves, so they don't trigger another storm).
You counter the original
Counterspell goes on the stack, targeting the original Grapeshot at the bottom. Targeting "below" the trigger is fine — resolution still happens from the top.
Counterspell resolves
The original Grapeshot is countered. What remains: the storm trigger.
701.6aTo counter a spell or ability means to cancel it, removing it from the stack. It doesn’t resolve and none of its effects occur. A countered spell is put into its owner’s graveyard.
The trigger resolves
Three copies of Grapeshot go on the stack — your opponent may choose new targets for each copy. They choose you, three times.
702.40aStorm is a triggered ability that functions on the stack. “Storm” means “When you cast this spell, copy it for each other spell that was cast before it this turn. If the spell has any targets, you may choose new targets for any of the copies.”
707.10To copy a spell, activated ability, or triggered ability means to put a copy of it onto the stack; a copy of a spell isn’t cast and a copy of an activated ability isn’t activated. A copy of a spell or ability copies both the characteristics of the spell or ability and all decisions made for it, including modes, targets, the value of X, and additional or alternative costs. (See rule 601, “Casting Spells.”) Choices that are normally made on resolution are not copied. If an effect of the copy refers to objects used to pay its costs, it uses the objects used to pay the costs of the original spell or ability. A copy of a spell is owned by the player under whose control it was put on the stack. A copy of a spell or ability is controlled by the player under whose control it was put on the stack. A copy of a spell is itself a spell, even though it has no spell card associated with it. A copy of an ability is itself an ability.
The copies hit
The three copies resolve one after another: 3 × 1 damage. You drop to 17. Rule of thumb: fight storm before the spell is cast (discard, taxes) — not with a single counter.
Stack
Your life:
Grapeshot
Storm; 1 damage to any target
Counterspell
Target: the original Grapeshot
Triggered ability: Grapeshot
Storm: copy the spell for each spell cast before it (3×)
Copy: Grapeshot
3 copies of Grapeshot — 1 damage each
The stack is empty.