Let’s delve into what Connive is, how it works, and the best ways to use it in MTG.
What is Connive?
Connive is a keyword ability that has a dual purpose. Primarily, it allows a player to draw cards and then discard cards. The number of cards drawn and discarded is usually determined by the creature’s power. This makes Connive a versatile mechanic, as it aids in both improving a player’s hand and manipulating the graveyard.
Additionally, Connive has a sneaky side benefit. When discarding a nonland card, the creature with Connive gets a +1/+1 counter. This element of the mechanic helps in subtly strengthening creatures on the board, making it a multi-faceted tool for players.
What can Connive do?
The primary function of Connive is hand refinement. By allowing players to draw and discard, Connive facilitates the search for key cards, and works especially well in 40-card decks. This ability is crucial in MTG, where having the right card at the right time can be game-changing. Furthermore, the discard aspect synergizes well with strategies that benefit from having certain cards in the graveyard, such as reanimation tactics or abilities that trigger upon discarding.
The secondary function of powering up creatures provides an additional layer of strategy. It enables creatures to grow stronger as the game progresses, turning seemingly minor threats into formidable adversaries. This growth aspect of Connive makes it a threat that opponents cannot ignore for long.
Top five cards with Connive
- Obscura Interceptor: This card stands out for its flash ability, allowing for surprise plays. The combination of flash and Connive makes it a versatile card in both offense and defense.
- Raffine, Scheming Seer: As a legendary creature, Raffine brings a substantial presence to the battlefield. Its ability to Connive whenever a creature enters the battlefield under your control makes it a consistent source of card filtering and creature enhancement.
- Jetmir’s Fixer: This card excels in multi-creature strategies. Its ability to give other creatures Connive can quickly turn the tide of a game.
- Gala Greeters: Notable for its versatility, Gala Greeters can grant various benefits, including Connive, depending on the situation.
- Exhibition Magician: This card creates creature tokens and offers a Connive option, making it a valuable asset for both board presence and hand optimization.
How to use Connive
Utilizing Connive effectively requires a balance between card advantage and board presence. Players should aim to trigger Connive at moments that maximize their hand quality while also considering the best time to grow their creatures. Since Connive is dependent on the creature’s power, strategies that increase a creature’s power can lead to more effective Conniving. Combining Connive with other mechanics like Proliferate or Explore can lead to powerful synergies.
Once a creature is dead, it cannot use Connive. Connive is an ability that requires the creature to be on the battlefield. If a creature with Connive is destroyed or removed from the battlefield, its Connive ability cannot be activated.
In MTG, multiple instances of Connive on a single creature do stack. This means if a creature somehow gains Connive more than once, each instance works independently. When the creature deals combat damage to a player, each Connive triggers, allowing the player to draw and discard multiple times and potentially place multiple +1/+1 counters on the creature. This stacking effect can lead to significant card advantage and rapidly escalating creature power.