Cabal Conditioning MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	7
Rarity	Rare
Type	Sorcery
Released	2003-05-26
Set symbol
Set name	Scourge
Set code	SCG
Number	56
Frame	1997
Layout	normal
Border	black
Illustred by	Scott M. Fischer

Key Takeaways

Cabal Conditioning grants substantial card advantage by forcing mass opponent discards, skewing game dynamics.
Its versatile nature in Commander decks and high combo potential make it a force in multi-player formats.
Strategic defenses and maintaining deck versatility are crucial in mitigating Cabal Conditioning’s potent threat.

Text of card

Any number of target players each discards cards from his or her hand equal to the highest converted mana cost among permanents you control.

"Hear only the Cabal's voice. See only the Cabal's way. Speak only the Cabal's word." —Cabal mantra

Card Pros

Card Advantage: With Cabal Conditioning, you have the potential to disrupt multiple opponents by causing them to discard a number of cards. This can lead to a significant advantage, as you reduce their options while maintaining your own hand.

Resource Acceleration: It may not directly affect your mana pool, but this card can indirectly accelerate your resources by clearing the way for your threats. It dismantles the defenses from your opponents’ hands, ensuring your subsequent plays are more likely to resolve without interference.

Instant Speed: Although Cabal Conditioning operates at sorcery speed, its strength can be amplified by cards that enable instant-speed casting. This can catch opponents off guard, denying them the chance to set up their strategy or protect their hand at the end of your turn.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Players must sacrifice a creature to unleash Cabal Conditioning’s power, depleting your board presence.

Specific Mana Cost: Its heavy black mana requirement may prove challenging in multicolored decks, potentially compromising deck flexibility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a seven-mana investment, Cabal Conditioning competes with numerous powerhouse spells and abilities that may provide greater impact.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Cabal Conditioning can be a powerhouse in Commander and other large-format decks. Its ability to force opponents to discard cards scales with your highest mana value, affecting all opponents and offering strategic depth to control decks.

Combo Potential: This card can seamlessly integrate into decks that capitalize on opponents having fewer cards in hand, thereby enhancing synergies with mind rot effects or payoffs for opponent discards such as Waste Not.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where players amass large hands, Cabal Conditioning serves as a potent equalizer. It can disrupt your opponents’ carefully laid plans and swing the tide in your favor, especially against combo and control decks.

How to beat

Cabal Conditioning can be a daunting spell to face in Magic: The Gathering. This sorcery not only makes each opponent discard a number of cards equal to the number of creatures you control, but it also has the potential to empty an opponent’s hand with its sheer power late in the game. To effectively counter this card, it’s crucial to maintain a diverse set of defenses. Activities such as keeping a low creature count can minimize the impact of Cabal Conditioning, as the discarded card count correlates directly with the number of creatures you control at the time it’s played.

Additionally, playing cards with “hexproof” or “shroud” can prevent Cabal Conditioning from targeting you altogether. Utilizing instant-speed removal or counterspells to disrupt your opponent’s creature base before they can cast Cabal Conditioning can be a strategic play, thereby reducing its effectiveness. Similarly, since Cabal Conditioning requires a significant amount of mana, having strategies to disrupt or slow down your opponent’s mana ramp can also prove beneficial in mitigating the effects of this potent spell.

Overall, incorporating strategic defensive measures and maintaining deck versatility can provide robust solutions against the high-impact threat of Cabal Conditioning in your Magic: The Gathering matchups.

Cards like Cabal Conditioning

Cabal Conditioning is a unique spell within Magic: The Gathering that sets itself apart with its sheer power to disrupt opponents. It’s often compared to other mass discard spells, such as Delirium Skeins, which forces each player to discard three cards. Yet, Cabal Conditioning has the potential to cause a much larger hand disruption based on the number of creatures you control.

Another comparison could be to Mind Twist, a classic that allows targeted discard for as much mana as put into it. Although Mind Twist can be devastating, Cabal Conditioning’s late-game impact can be broader, affecting all opponents. Then there is Recoil, which doesn’t just force a discard but also returns a target permanent to its owner’s hand, allowing for direct disruption. However, it focuses on a single player and a single card, unlike the sweeping effect of Cabal Conditioning.

Assessing the destructive capabilities of discard spells in Magic: The Gathering, Cabal Conditioning holds its ground with the potential for large-scale hand devastation, though its high mana cost and setup requirements make timing and board state critical factors in its success.

Mind Twist - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)

Cards similar to Cabal Conditioning by color, type and mana cost

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Reaper of Night // Harvest Fear - The List (PLST)

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Cabal Conditioning MTG card by a specific set like Scourge, 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 Cabal Conditioning and other MTG cards: