Sliver spells can't be countered by spells or abilities.1 "It would take another apocalypse to stop the slivers now." -Riptide Project researcher
Illus. Matt Thompson
10/4/2004: The first ability applies when this card is not on the battlefield. The second ability applies when this card is on the battlefield.
4/1/2008: The addition of "by spells or abilities" to the second ability is so that tribal instant or sorcery spells that happen to be Slivers (such as Crib Swap) can be countered by the rules if all of their targets become illegal.