When a spell with Repeat is played (like Piercing Light), does a counter spell like Defy look at the printed cost or the total paid cost including the Repeat cost?

Ruling: Defy looks at the printed cost of the spell, not the total paid cost. A repeated Piercing Light can still be countered by Defy regardless of paying the Repeat cost.

Nuances:

• Repeat doesn't create a second copy of the spell that resolves independently; it just copies the text twice on a single card instance.
• For Hard Bargain with a Repeated spell, the opponent must pay the energy cost separately for each instance (once to avoid the first counter, once to avoid the second counter from Repeat).