Better though is to take someone elses, because the second ability allows you to draws cards for each permanent you control but dont own
It's strong everywhere, but it has enhanced value in archetypes that care about counters generally, +1/+1 counters specifically, proliferate tricks for multicolor brews looking to add loyalty counters for their planeswalkers, four and five-color decks, Commanders with evasion, Commanders with a power that, when increased by 1 get a faster kill, Equipment, Aura, and Voltron decks looking to get in kills with their Commander, and loads more
Every Scarecrow creature destroys a permanent
Only when you reach super late game top deck mode does Mana Leak cease to be a reliable counterspell
Lotho, Corrupt Shirriff wont get your Exquisite Blood combos going, but you assemble a deck that plays with lifegain and life loss