Connive
| Connive | |
|---|---|
| Keyword Action | |
| Introduced | Streets of New Capenna |
| Last used | Marvel's Spider-Man |
| Reminder Text |
Connive N (Draw N cards, then discard N cards. Put a +1/+1 counter on this creature for each nonland card discarded this way.) Connive (Draw a card, then discard a card. If you discarded a nonland card, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature.) |
| Storm Scale | 4[1] |
| Other Symbols | |
 | |
| Scryfall Statistics | |
Connive is a keyword action introduced in Streets of New Capenna as the signature Obscura mechanic.[2]
Description
Connive is the mechanic for the Obscura, the 
family on New Capenna. The Obscura use magic to manipulate and distract, always looking for a more advantageous position. Connive can put you in a more advantageous position, both in terms of creature strength and hand quality.
If a creature you control is instructed to connive, you draw a card and discard a card. This might help you find the land you need, or later in the game, might let you trade away an unneeded land while getting to your game-ending threats a little quicker. If you discard a nonland card, you put a +1/+1 counter on the creature that connived.
A creature can connive even if it's not still on the battlefield. So, if e.g. Psychic Pickpocket dies in response to its own triggered ability, you'll still get to draw and discard. Its ability to bounce a nonland permanent also happens, as it is one ability with a reflexive trigger on the connive.
Connive functions similarly to Explore, with the player making the decisions for the action, while the creature performing the ability is the recipient of its counters.[3] It exchanges the chance of raw card advantage for a much greater degree of agency in the outcome.
Connive N
Connive N is a variant of connive. If a creature connives N, its controller will draw N cards, discard N cards, then put +1/+1 counters on the conniving permanent equal to the number of nonland cards discarded this way.[4]
History
Connive was reused in Transformers, Lost Caverns Commander and Modern Horizons 3. It was also used for Villains in Marvel's Spider-Man.[5]
Rules
From the glossary of the Comprehensive Rules (September 19, 2025—Marvel's Spider-Man)
- Connive
- A keyword action that causes a player to draw a card, discard a card, and then to put a +1/+1 counter on a creature if a nonland card was discarded this way. See rule 701.50, “Connive.”
From the Comprehensive Rules (September 19, 2025—Marvel's Spider-Man)
- 701.50. Connive
- 701.50a Certain abilities instruct a permanent to connive. To do so, that permanent’s controller draws a card, then discards a card. If a nonland card is discarded this way, that player puts a +1/+1 counter on the conniving permanent.
- 701.50b A permanent “connives” after the process described in rule 701.50a is complete, even if some or all of those actions were impossible.
- 701.50c If a permanent changes zones before an effect causes it to connive, its last known information is used to determine which object connived and who controlled it.
- 701.50d If multiple permanents are instructed to connive at the same time, the first player in APNAP order who controls (or, in the case of a permanent no longer on the battlefield, last controlled; see rule 701.50c) one or more of those permanents chooses one of them and it connives. Then this process is repeated for each remaining instruction to connive.
- 701.50e Connive N is a variant of connive. The permanent’s controller draws N cards, discards N cards, then puts a number of +1/+1 counters on the permanent equal to the number of nonland cards discarded this way.
Rulings
- Once an ability that causes a creature to connive begins to resolve, no player may take any other actions until it's done.[4] Notably, opponents can't try to remove the conniving creature after you discard a nonland card but before it receives a counter.
- If no card is discarded, most likely because that player's hand is empty and an effect says they can't draw cards, the conniving creature does not receive a +1/+1 counter.
- If a resolving spell or ability instructs a specific creature to connive but that creature has left the battlefield, the creature still connives. If you discard a nonland card this way, you won't put a +1/+1 counter on anything. Abilities that trigger "when [that creature] connives" will trigger.
Examples
Example
Ledger Shredder 
Creature — Bird Advisor
1/3
Flying
Whenever a player casts their second spell each turn, this creature connives. (Draw a card, then discard a card. If you discarded a nonland card, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature.)
Trivia
- Raffine, Scheming Seer, Mask of the Schemer and Spymaster's Vault are the only cards that use Connive N.
- Lethal Scheme, Obscura Confluence, and Change of Plans are the only cards that let non-attacking creatures connive.
- The connive keyword shares its name with half the card Connive // Concoct.
References
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (2024-02-26). "Where is Connive on the Storm scale?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Matt Tabak (April 7, 2022). "Streets of New Capenna Mechanics". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (April 11, 2022). "Hitting the Streets of New Capenna, Part 2". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ a b Wizards of the Coast (April 20, 2022). "Streets of New Capenna Release Notes". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Matt Tabak (August 29, 2025). "Magic: The Gathering® - Marvel's Spider-Man Mechanics". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.