Banefire

Oracle Text

Banefire deals X damage to any target.

If X is 5 or more, this spell can't be countered and the damage can't be prevented.

Card Rulings

2/1/2009 Banefire checks the number you chose for X, not the amount of mana you actually spent.
2/1/2009 Banefire can be targeted by spells that try to counter it (such as Countersquall) regardless of what the value of X is. If X is 5 or more, those spells will still resolve, but the part of their effect that would counter Banefire won’t do anything. Any other effects those spells have will work as normal.