Lethal Scheme MTG Card
2022-04-29 - Number 137
2022-04-29 - Number 36
2023-11-17 - Number 201
2024-03-08 - Number 464
2024-03-08 - Number 992
2024-03-08 - Number 185
2024-03-08 - Number 713
| Card sets | Released in 7 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Instant |
| Abilities | Connive,Convoke |
Text of card
Convoke (Your creatures can help cast this spell. Each creature you tap while casting this spell pays for or one mana of that creature's color.) Destroy target creature or planeswalker. Each creature that convoked Lethal Scheme connives. (Draw a card, then discard a card. If you discarded a nonland card, put a +1/+1 counter on that creature.)
Cards like Lethal Scheme
Lethal Scheme contributes its unique flair to the realm of strategic spell cards in MTG. It shares traits with other cards that manipulate both players’ resources, such as Dark Deal. Dark Deal also disrupts hand contents but affects all players equally, unlike Lethal Scheme which strategically targets a single opponent. This card excels with its ability to skew the balance of play in your favor, whereas Dark Deal is symmetric in its effect.
Peering further into comparable cards, Winds of Change is another spell that churns through the players’ hands. It causes a shuffle of cards into the library and redraw, which can be less predictable than Lethal Scheme’s controlled discard-and-draw tactic. Moreover, Lethal Scheme’s potential to stage a comeback from a less advantageous position by also dealing damage offers a multifaceted edge that such as Winds of Change or Dark Deal lack.
While analyzing these cards, it becomes apparent that Lethal Scheme holds its ground as a valuable card for MTG players seeking tactical advantage through direct and precise disruption of an opponent’s hand while still providing a form of board impact through its damage-dealing component.
Cards similar to Lethal Scheme by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Lethal Scheme shines in providing card advantage by letting you potentially draw numbers of cards based on conditions met in the game. The more creatures on the battlefield, the more opportunities it offers to enhance your hand and options.
Resource Acceleration: Lethal Scheme aids in resource acceleration by enabling the sacrifice of nonland permanents. This can lead to generating additional resources, ensuring you stay ahead or catch up on the board state.
Instant Speed: The ability to play Lethal Scheme at instant speed gives players the versatility to respond swiftly to threats or optimize the use of their mana efficiently during the end of opponents’ turns.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: One of the drawbacks of Lethal Scheme is its upfront cost of discarding a card. For players, this could mean parting with a critical piece of their strategy, especially when their hand is already dwindling.
Specific Mana Cost: Lethal Scheme’s mana cost is rather particular, requiring both black and blue mana. This can be restrictive for decks that aren’t built around a Dimir (blue-black) color scheme and may prevent the card from being a flexible choice in multicolored decks.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Charging four mana might seem steep for its abilities, considering there are alternative cards that might accomplish similar goals for less. This can make Lethal Scheme a less attractive option in decks where efficiency and speed are critical to outpace the opponent.
Reasons to Include Lethal Scheme in Your Collection
Versatility: Lethal Scheme can seamlessly integrate into various deck builds, notably those centered around control strategies or requiring efficient removal options. Its capacity to disrupt an opponent’s board is universal.
Combo Potential: This card’s ability to give you an edge in life points while depleting your opponent’s resources offers great synergy with life-gain or life-payment decks, expanding potential combo routes.
Meta-Relevance: With a constantly evolving competitive scene, Lethal Scheme stands as a relevant choice in environments where maintaining board control can pivot the game in your favor, making it a savvy addition for those looking to edge out the competition.
How to Beat
Lethal Scheme is a card that, when played in the right decks of Magic: The Gathering, can be a powerful asset. This card gives a player the potential to control the board by affecting opponents’ creatures. Understanding its mechanics is key to outmaneuvering it. To effectively beat Lethal Scheme, consider incorporating cards that offer hexproof or indestructibility to your creatures, as these attributes can negate the effects. Also, cards with instant speed that can remove or counteract Lethal Scheme will come in handy to preserve your standing on the battlefield.
Turning the tides against Lethal Scheme requires strategic timing and keeping a watchful eye on your mana resources, making sure you’re able to respond when it is cast. Keep in mind that Lethal Scheme’s influence is vast but not insurmountable. Employing cards with graveyard retrieval capabilities will help regain some of what you may lose, maintaining your momentum. Having a diversity of creature abilities in your deck may also dilute the effectiveness of Lethal Scheme’s attempt to manipulate the game in your opponent’s favor.
Ultimately, standing your ground against Lethal Scheme demands a balance of preventive measures and reactive strategies. By including the right mix of cards to protect your key pieces, alongside abilities to counter or mitigate damage, you put yourself in a much stronger position to neutralize this threat and push forward towards victory.
BurnMana Recommendations
Delving into the dynamic play of MTG, Lethal Scheme emerges as a card worthy of attention for its strategic depth. Whether you’re manipulating your opponent’s hand or crafting a decisive turn, understanding the nuances of this card can be a difference-maker in your matches. With an eye for card advantage and a knack for timing, Lethal Scheme could very well become a mainstay in your control arsenal. Are you intrigued by the possibilities it presents? Continue your journey with us and discover how Lethal Scheme can transform your deck’s performance and enhance your MTG experience.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Lethal Scheme MTG card by a specific set like New Capenna Commander and New Capenna Commander, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.
For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.
Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.
Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Lethal Scheme and other MTG cards:
BUY NOW BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Printings
The Lethal Scheme Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2022-04-29 and 2024-03-08. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2022-04-29 | New Capenna Commander | NCC | 137 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Tuan Duong Chu | |
| 2 | 2022-04-29 | New Capenna Commander | NCC | 36 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Tuan Duong Chu | |
| 3 | 2023-11-17 | The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Commander | LCC | 201 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Tuan Duong Chu | |
| 4 | 2024-03-08 | Fallout | PIP | 464 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Mirko Failoni | |
| 5 | 2024-03-08 | Fallout | PIP | 992 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Mirko Failoni | |
| 6 | 2024-03-08 | Fallout | PIP | 185 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Mirko Failoni | |
| 7 | 2024-03-08 | Fallout | PIP | 713 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Mirko Failoni |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Lethal Scheme has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Lethal Scheme card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2022-04-29 | Because convoke isn't an alternative cost, it can be used in conjunction with alternative costs. |
| 2022-04-29 | Convoke doesn't change a spell's mana cost or mana value. |
| 2022-04-29 | If a creature you control has a mana ability with in the cost, activating that ability while casting a spell with convoke will result in the creature being tapped before you pay the spell's costs. You won't be able to tap it again for convoke. Similarly, if you sacrifice a creature to activate a mana ability while casting a spell with convoke, that creature won't be on the battlefield when you pay the spell's costs, so you won't be able to tap it for convoke. |
| 2022-04-29 | 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 -hat creature] connives" will trigger. |
| 2022-04-29 | 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. |
| 2022-04-29 | Once an ability that causes a creature to connive begins to resolve, no player may take any other actions until it's done. Notably, opponents can't try to remove the conniving creature after you discard a nonland card but before it receives a counter. |
| 2022-04-29 | Tapping a multicolored creature using convoke will pay for or one mana of your choice of any of that creature's colors. |
| 2022-04-29 | When calculating a spell's total cost, include any alternative costs, additional costs, or anything else that increases or reduces the cost to cast the spell. Convoke applies after the total cost is calculated. |
| 2022-04-29 | When multiple creatures are instructed to connive simultaneously, they connive one at a time in the order of their controller's choice. |
| 2022-04-29 | You can tap an untapped creature you haven't controlled continuously since the beginning of your most recent turn to convoke a spell. |
| 2022-04-29 | You can't tap more creatures to convoke Lethal Scheme than it takes to pay for its total cost. This means that normally no more than four creatures can convoke it. |