[Counter Troubles]: How to stop a counter by countering your counter?

[MtgPhreakin]

I was playing an intense game of legacy. UWr Landstill vs UBg Landstill and something interrupted the casual match. There was no judge around so I'll ask you guys: What happens when your opponent plays force of will on your magus of the moon (or whatever) and I play Divert redirecting his force of will to target my divert? If the counter resolves, then the effect of my divert will also be countered or will it cancel out? :confused:

If it does work, do you think that Divert is a playable card in legacy? It sure was unexpected...

[[sic]]

The last spell on the stack (Divert) will resolve, if opponent doesn't pay 2, changing the target of Force of Will to Divert. Force of Will will fizzle since it's target (Divert) is no longer on the stack when it resolves.

Divert is somewhat playable in legacy. It's a fun card =)

[Nihil Credo]

Your Divert resolves first and resolves just fine, since all it does is change the target of FoW (which is still on the stack).

When Force of Will later tries to resolve, its target (Divert) is no longer around so the Force is countered on resolution by the game rules, due to having an illegal target.

(And yes, Divert has seen some play in the past, but only in decks like Solidarity that could reasonably expect to have a huge counter-war and thus get to use Divert to counter two counterspells at once - make FoW1 target FoW2. Beyond that corner case, Spell Pierce is insanely better.)

[Koby]

It's as Nihil described it.

Divert is also useful against Burn in BUG-lists as a way to give some breathing room vs Fireblast/Bolts. It's very narrow however.

[MtgPhreakin]

Your Divert resolves first and resolves just fine, since all it does is change the target of FoW (which is still on the stack).

When Force of Will later tries to resolve, its target (Divert) is no longer around so the Force is countered on resolution by the game rules, due to having an illegal target.

(And yes, Divert has seen some play in the past, but only in decks like Solidarity that could reasonably expect to have a huge counter-war and thus get to use Divert to counter two counterspells at once - make FoW1 target FoW2. Beyond that corner case, Spell Pierce is insanely better.)

Thanks i get it now.
Even though spell pierce might be better than divert because its less conditional...i would rather be more original and hope to divert a removal or burn spell...