diff --git a/forge-ai/src/main/java/forge/ai/AiAttackController.java b/forge-ai/src/main/java/forge/ai/AiAttackController.java
index 7a08a093c0c..2efa9a2456f 100644
--- a/forge-ai/src/main/java/forge/ai/AiAttackController.java
+++ b/forge-ai/src/main/java/forge/ai/AiAttackController.java
@@ -572,8 +572,7 @@ public class AiAttackController {
             if (numExtraBlocks > 0) {
                 // TODO should be limited to how much getBlockCost the opp can pay
                 while (numExtraBlocks-- > 0 && !remainingAttackers.isEmpty()) {
-                    blockedAttackers.add(remainingAttackers.get(0));
-                    remainingAttackers.remove(0);
+                    blockedAttackers.add(remainingAttackers.remove(0));
                     maxBlockersAfterCrew--;
                 }
             }
@@ -581,8 +580,7 @@ public class AiAttackController {
             if (remainingAttackers.isEmpty()) {
                 break;
             }
-            blockedAttackers.add(remainingAttackers.get(0));
-            remainingAttackers.remove(0);
+            blockedAttackers.add(remainingAttackers.remove(0));
             maxBlockersAfterCrew--;
         }
         unblockedAttackers.addAll(remainingAttackers);
@@ -605,8 +603,8 @@ public class AiAttackController {
             final CardCollection unblockableCantPayFor = new CardCollection();
             final CardCollection unblockableWithoutCost = new CardCollection();
             // TODO also check poison
-            for (Card attacker : CardLists.getKeyword(unblockedAttackers, Keyword.TRAMPLE)) {
-                Cost tax = CombatUtil.getAttackCost(attacker.getGame(), attacker, defendingOpponent);
+            for (Card attacker : unblockedAttackers) {
+                Cost tax = CombatUtil.getAttackCost(ai.getGame(), attacker, defendingOpponent);
                 if (tax == null) {
                     unblockableWithoutCost.add(attacker);
                 } else {
@@ -620,19 +618,17 @@ public class AiAttackController {
                 }
             }
             int dmgUnblockableAfterPaying = ComputerUtilCombat.sumDamageIfUnblocked(unblockableWithPaying, defendingOpponent);
+            unblockedAttackers = unblockableWithoutCost;
             if (dmgUnblockableAfterPaying > trampleDamage) {
-                unblockedAttackers.removeAll(unblockableCantPayFor);
-                unblockedAttackers.removeAll(unblockableWithPaying);
+                myFreeMana -= unblockableAttackTax;
                 totalCombatDamage = dmgUnblockableAfterPaying;
                 // recalculate the trampler damage with the reduced mana available now
-                myFreeMana -= unblockableAttackTax;
                 trampleDamage = getDamageFromBlockingTramplers(blockedAttackers, remainingBlockers, myFreeMana).getLeft();
             } else {
-                unblockedAttackers = unblockableWithoutCost;
                 myFreeMana -= tramplerTaxPaid;
                 // find out if we can still pay for some left
                 for (Card attacker : unblockableWithPaying) {
-                    Cost tax = CombatUtil.getAttackCost(attacker.getGame(), attacker, defendingOpponent);
+                    Cost tax = CombatUtil.getAttackCost(ai.getGame(), attacker, defendingOpponent);
                     int taxCMC = tax.getCostMana().getMana().getCMC();
                     if (myFreeMana < unblockableAttackTax + taxCMC) {
                         continue;
@@ -664,7 +660,7 @@ public class AiAttackController {
         CardCollection remainingBlockers = new CardCollection(blockers);
         for (Card attacker : CardLists.getKeyword(blockedAttackers, Keyword.TRAMPLE)) {
             // TODO might sort by quotient of dmg/cost for best combination
-            Cost tax = CombatUtil.getAttackCost(attacker.getGame(), attacker, defendingOpponent);
+            Cost tax = CombatUtil.getAttackCost(ai.getGame(), attacker, defendingOpponent);
             int taxCMC = tax != null ? tax.getCostMana().getMana().getCMC() : 0;
             if (myFreeMana < currentAttackTax + taxCMC) {
                 continue;
diff --git a/forge-ai/src/main/java/forge/ai/AiController.java b/forge-ai/src/main/java/forge/ai/AiController.java
index 6768165d939..18a7815c4f9 100644
--- a/forge-ai/src/main/java/forge/ai/AiController.java
+++ b/forge-ai/src/main/java/forge/ai/AiController.java
@@ -709,9 +709,10 @@ public class AiController {
             return AiPlayDecision.CantPlaySa;
         }
 
+        final Card host = sa.getHostCard();
+
         // Check a predefined condition
         if (sa.hasParam("AICheckSVar")) {
-            final Card host = sa.getHostCard();
             final String svarToCheck = sa.getParam("AICheckSVar");
             String comparator = "GE";
             int compareTo = 1;
@@ -734,7 +735,7 @@ public class AiController {
         }
 
         int oldCMC = -1;
-        boolean xCost = sa.costHasX() || sa.getHostCard().hasStartOfKeyword("Strive");
+        boolean xCost = sa.costHasX() || host.hasStartOfKeyword("Strive");
         if (!xCost) {
             if (!ComputerUtilCost.canPayCost(sa, player, sa.isTrigger())) {
                 // for most costs, it's OK to check if they can be paid early in order to avoid running a heavy API check
@@ -748,15 +749,15 @@ public class AiController {
         }
 
         // state needs to be switched here so API checks evaluate the right face
-        CardStateName currentState = sa.getCardState() != null && sa.getHostCard().getCurrentStateName() != sa.getCardStateName() && !sa.getHostCard().isInPlay() ? sa.getHostCard().getCurrentStateName() : null;
+        CardStateName currentState = sa.getCardState() != null && host.getCurrentStateName() != sa.getCardStateName() && !host.isInPlay() ? host.getCurrentStateName() : null;
         if (currentState != null) {
-            sa.getHostCard().setState(sa.getCardStateName(), false);
+            host.setState(sa.getCardStateName(), false);
         }
 
         AiPlayDecision canPlay = canPlaySa(sa); // this is the "heaviest" check, which also sets up targets, defines X, etc.
 
         if (currentState != null) {
-            sa.getHostCard().setState(currentState, false);
+            host.setState(currentState, false);
         }
 
         if (canPlay != AiPlayDecision.WillPlay) {
@@ -766,10 +767,10 @@ public class AiController {
         // Account for possible Ward after the spell is fully targeted
         // TODO: ideally, this should be done while targeting, so that a different target can be preferred if the best
         // one is warded and can't be paid for.
-        if (sa.usesTargeting()) {
+        if (sa.usesTargeting() && CardFactoryUtil.isCounterable(host)) {
             for (Card tgt : sa.getTargets().getTargetCards()) {
                 // TODO some older cards don't use the keyword, so check for trigger instead
-                if (tgt.hasKeyword(Keyword.WARD) && tgt.isInPlay() && tgt.getController().isOpponentOf(sa.getHostCard().getController())) {
+                if (tgt.hasKeyword(Keyword.WARD) && tgt.isInPlay() && tgt.getController().isOpponentOf(host.getController())) {
                     int amount = 0;
                     Cost wardCost = ComputerUtilCard.getTotalWardCost(tgt);
                     if (wardCost.hasManaCost()) {
diff --git a/forge-ai/src/main/java/forge/ai/ComputerUtilCombat.java b/forge-ai/src/main/java/forge/ai/ComputerUtilCombat.java
index 73094a7d4e6..9c979e25615 100644
--- a/forge-ai/src/main/java/forge/ai/ComputerUtilCombat.java
+++ b/forge-ai/src/main/java/forge/ai/ComputerUtilCombat.java
@@ -1268,21 +1268,17 @@ public class ComputerUtilCombat {
             }
 
             List<Card> list = Lists.newArrayList();
-            if (!sa.hasParam("ValidCards")) {
-                list = AbilityUtils.getDefinedCards(source, sa.getParam("Defined"), null);
-            }
-            if (sa.hasParam("Defined") && sa.getParam("Defined").startsWith("TriggeredAttacker")) {
-                list.add(attacker);
-            }
             if (sa.hasParam("ValidCards")) {
                 if (attacker.isValid(sa.getParam("ValidCards").split(","), source.getController(), source, null)
                         || attacker.isValid(sa.getParam("ValidCards").replace("attacking+", "").split(","),
                                 source.getController(), source, null)) {
                     list.add(attacker);
                 }
+            } else {
+                list = AbilityUtils.getDefinedCards(source, sa.getParam("Defined"), null);
             }
-            if (list.isEmpty()) {
-                continue;
+            if (sa.hasParam("Defined") && sa.getParam("Defined").startsWith("TriggeredAttacker")) {
+                list.add(attacker);
             }
             if (!list.contains(attacker)) {
                 continue;
@@ -1464,14 +1460,15 @@ public class ComputerUtilCombat {
                 toughness -= predictDamageTo(attacker, damage, source, false);
                 continue;
             } else if (ApiType.Pump.equals(sa.getApi())) {
+                if (!sa.hasParam("NumDef")) {
+                    continue;
+                }
                 if (sa.hasParam("Cost")) {
                     if (!CostPayment.canPayAdditionalCosts(sa.getPayCosts(), sa)) {
                         continue;
                     }
                 }
-                if (!sa.hasParam("NumDef")) {
-                    continue;
-                }
+
                 final String defined = sa.getParam("Defined");
                 CardCollection list = AbilityUtils.getDefinedCards(source, defined, sa);
                 if (defined != null && defined.startsWith("TriggeredAttacker")) {
@@ -1497,6 +1494,9 @@ public class ComputerUtilCombat {
                     toughness += AbilityUtils.calculateAmount(source, bonus, sa);
                 }
             } else if (ApiType.PumpAll.equals(sa.getApi())) {
+                if (!sa.hasParam("NumDef")) {
+                    continue;
+                }
                 if (sa.hasParam("Cost")) {
                     if (!CostPayment.canPayAdditionalCosts(sa.getPayCosts(), sa)) {
                         continue;
@@ -1506,9 +1506,6 @@ public class ComputerUtilCombat {
                 if (!sa.hasParam("ValidCards")) {
                     continue;
                 }
-                if (!sa.hasParam("NumDef")) {
-                    continue;
-                }
                 if (!attacker.isValid(sa.getParam("ValidCards").replace("attacking+", "").split(","), source.getController(), source, sa)) {
                     continue;
                 }
diff --git a/forge-ai/src/main/java/forge/ai/ComputerUtilCost.java b/forge-ai/src/main/java/forge/ai/ComputerUtilCost.java
index 847f2ee12f5..46f379218ce 100644
--- a/forge-ai/src/main/java/forge/ai/ComputerUtilCost.java
+++ b/forge-ai/src/main/java/forge/ai/ComputerUtilCost.java
@@ -528,10 +528,11 @@ public class ComputerUtilCost {
             sa.setActivatingPlayer(player); // complaints on NPE had came before this line was added.
         }
 
+        final boolean cannotBeCountered = !CardFactoryUtil.isCounterable(sa.getHostCard());
+
         // Check for stuff like Nether Void
         int extraManaNeeded = 0;
         if (sa instanceof Spell) {
-            final boolean cannotBeCountered = !CardFactoryUtil.isCounterable(sa.getHostCard());
             for (Card c : player.getGame().getCardsIn(ZoneType.Battlefield)) {
                 final String snem = c.getSVar("AI_SpellsNeedExtraMana");
                 if (!StringUtils.isBlank(snem)) {
@@ -591,7 +592,7 @@ public class ComputerUtilCost {
         }
 
         // Ward - will be accounted for when rechecking a targeted ability
-        if (!(sa instanceof WrappedAbility) && sa.usesTargeting()) {
+        if (!(sa instanceof WrappedAbility) && sa.usesTargeting() && !cannotBeCountered) {
             for (Card tgt : sa.getTargets().getTargetCards()) {
                 if (tgt.hasKeyword(Keyword.WARD) && tgt.isInPlay() && tgt.getController().isOpponentOf(sa.getHostCard().getController())) {
                     Cost wardCost = ComputerUtilCard.getTotalWardCost(tgt);
@@ -721,6 +722,17 @@ public class ComputerUtilCost {
             return false;
         }
 
+        // ward or human misplay
+        if (ApiType.Counter.equals(sa.getApi())) {
+            List<SpellAbility> spells = AbilityUtils.getDefinedSpellAbilities(source, sa.getParamOrDefault("Defined", "Targeted"), sa);
+            for (SpellAbility toBeCountered : spells) {
+                if (!CardFactoryUtil.isCounterable(toBeCountered.getHostCard())) {
+                    return false;
+                }
+                // TODO check hasFizzled
+            }
+        }
+
         // AI was crashing because the blank ability used to pay costs
         // Didn't have any of the data on the original SA to pay dependant costs