Conqueror's Flail MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityRare
TypeArtifact — Equipment
Abilities Equip

Key Takeaways

  1. The Flail grants substantial bonuses and locks out opponents during your turn, enhancing your control over the game.
  2. Matching any mana color, it eases mana curve issues for multicolor decks, ensuring smoother gameplay.
  3. Though not without downsides, the Flail’s spell-locking ability makes it a formidable addition to MTG strategies.

Text of card

Equipped creature gets +1/+1 for each color among permanents you control. As long as Conqueror's Flail is attached to a creature, your opponents can't cast spells during your turn. Equip


Card Pros

Card Advantage: When you have Conqueror’s Flail equipped to a creature, not only do you boost that creature’s power and toughness, but you also gain the strategic upper hand by locking out your opponents from casting spells during your turn. This essentially translates to having a clearer path to victory as your opponents can’t respond with surprise counters or removals, safeguarding the value of each card you play.

Resource Acceleration: Another significant benefit of Conqueror’s Flail is its ability to match the color identity of all mana you could produce. This means if you’re playing a multicolored deck, the Flail grants instant access to whatever colors of mana you need, thus accelerating your resources and smoothing out your mana curve. This can be a game-changer especially in the crucial mid-game stages where efficient mana usage is vital.

Instant Speed: While Conqueror’s Flail itself isn’t cast at instant speed, its ability to prevent your opponents from casting spells on your turn mimics the protective aspects of having an instant. This can deter opponents from setting up their defenses or disrupting your strategy at the last moment, giving you a secure feeling as you execute your plays unimpeded.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Applying to Conqueror’s Flail, the lack of a discard requirement appears positive at first glance. However, in a Magic the Gathering match, this also means there is no opportunity to leverage the card for strategic discarding, which can be a tactical maneuver to spark graveyard-based synergies or strategies within the game.

Specific Mana Cost: Conqueror’s Flail demands a specific mana investment, a combination of two generic mana and two mana that can be of any color. This specific mana cost can be restrictive for decks that aim for a lower and more efficient mana curve or those that have stringent color requirements to ensure consistency in gameplay.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The mana cost of Conqueror’s Flail can be deemed high when measured against other equipment cards or spells that provide similar or better benefits for a lower cost. In the fast-paced environment of Magic the Gathering, this cost efficiency can sometimes be the deciding factor between victory and defeat.


Reasons to Include Conqueror’s Flail in Your Collection

Versatility: Conqueror’s Flail is not simply an equipment card; it’s a powerhouse of flexibility. It can slot into numerous deck builds, shining in those that demand board presence and control. By granting your commander or another key creature not only a stat boost but also protection during your turn, it becomes an asset in both aggressive and defensive strategies.

Combo Potential: This flail isn’t just a mere buff; it’s a combo enabler. Its ability to lock out your opponents’ spells creates a shield, allowing you to execute your game plan uninterrupted. Whether it’s setting up for a game-winning move or ensuring your turn goes as planned, its potential to synergize with various strategies makes it a valuable addition to any deck seeking to harness such tactical advantages.

Meta-Relevance: With ever-shifting meta landscapes, Conqueror’s Flail maintains relevance. It’s an exceptional tool against control decks that rely on casting during your turn. In environments where such strategies flourish, having this card in your arsenal equips you with a solid line of defense, while also advancing your own offensive capabilities.


How to beat

Conqueror’s Flail is an equipment card that’s become a staple in many MTG decks for its ability to provide a significant boost in power and toughness to the equipped creature. What sets it apart is its additional ability to prevent your opponents from casting spells or activating abilities of artifacts, creatures, or enchantments during your turn. This control over the opponent’s potential responses is what can make Conqueror’s Flail a challenging card to play against.

To effectively counter this card, one approach is to focus on card removal options, especially instant speed spells that can be played before the Flail’s abilities are in effect or during your own turn. Enchantment-based removals such as Disenchant, which can directly target and destroy artifacts, are particularly effective. It’s also advisable to consider the timing of playing creatures and abilities. Since the Flail restricts actions during the equipped player’s turn, planning your moves for your turn and maintaining open mana for instant responses can mitigate the Flail’s control.

Ultimately, the key to beating Conqueror’s Flail lies in the strategic use of instant speed removals, careful timing, and maintaining the ability to respond to the equipped creature’s actions during your own turn.


BurnMana Recommendations

Dive deeper into the strategic elements of MTG with insights on utilizing Conqueror’s Flail in your decks. Balancing the power it provides with its mana demands can be crucial for optimizing gameplay. Whether smoothing out mana capabilities in multicolored setups or creating unshakable turns, the Flail brings undeniable advantages. If you’re aiming to shake up your game with a mix of strength and tactical denial, this card merits your attention. Enhance your MTG journey, tweak your tactics for consistency, and ready your deck against the shifting meta. Explore further with us and gain the edge you need for triumph.


Cards like Conqueror's Flail

Conqueror’s Flail stands out in the arsenal of artifact equipment in Magic: The Gathering. Like the well-known Sword of Feast and Famine, Conqueror’s Flail provides a significant power and toughness bonus. Yet, it deviates with its unique ability to lock out opponents from casting spells during the wearer’s turn. The Swords cycle, including Sword of Feast and Famine, offers additional benefits upon dealing combat damage, but none offer the same level of control over opponents’ actions.

Another peer in the realm of equipment is the infamous Lightning Greaves. This card offers haste and shroud, ensuring your creatures can act swiftly while being protected from targeted spells. Despite the differences, both these cards are excellent at protecting key creatures and empowering your strategy, though Lightning Greaves doesn’t amplify power and toughness or provide the spell control Conqueror’s Flail does.

The ability to control the pace of the game is a strong asset, and Conqueror’s Flail does it uniquely. While other equipment cards offer protection, haste, or combat advantages, the Flail’s distinctive blend of power boost and spell denial sets it apart, carving a niche role for it in MTG player decks focused on maintaining the tempo and safeguarding pivotal turns.

Sword of Feast and Famine - MTG Card versions
Lightning Greaves - MTG Card versions
Sword of Feast and Famine - MTG Card versions
Lightning Greaves - MTG Card versions

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Conqueror's Flail MTG card by a specific set like Commander 2016 and Treasure Chest, 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 Conqueror's Flail and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Conqueror's Flail Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2016-11-11 and 2022-07-08. Illustrated by Franz Vohwinkel.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12016-11-11Commander 2016C16 532015NormalBlackFranz Vohwinkel
22016-11-16Treasure ChestPZ2 657912015NormalBlackFranz Vohwinkel
32022-07-08Double Masters 20222X2 3022015NormalBlackFranz Vohwinkel
42022-07-08Double Masters 20222X2 5572015NormalBlackFranz Vohwinkel

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Conqueror's Flail has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Conqueror's Flail card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2016-11-08 If you move Conqueror’s Flail from one creature to another, there’s no time in between that it’s not attached to a creature. Assuming it’s your turn, your opponents won’t be able to cast spells.
2016-11-08 The first ability of Conqueror’s Flail constantly updates as the number of colors among permanents you control changes. If the number of colors decreases and the damage that was marked on the equipped creature earlier in the turn is now lethal damage, that creature is destroyed. Similarly, if its toughness becomes 0, that creature is put into its owner’s graveyard.
2016-11-08 The five colors are white, blue, black, red, and green. Conqueror’s Flail can’t give a creature more than +5/+5. (Gold, artifact, and colorless aren’t colors.)

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