Sphere of Influence: November 8, 2024

Welcome to Sphere of Influence, a pre-FNM look at some potential movers and shakers that are worth picking up before their prices increase.

Happy post-election bliss (or agony, as the case may be)! Here’s a look at some cards to ramp up some in-game politics of your own, even if the results are somewhat rigged in your favor.

Emissary Green

Cards from Ravnica: Clue Edition are a lot of fun, and some are quite powerful (Apothecary White is an underrated white gem). Too bad they arrived in a set few people opened - well, more like a set addendum rather than folding these cards into booster packs of Karlov Manor.

Still, be sure to check out Emissary Green. The fact that you receive two Treasure tokens per “profit” vote is massive, and, worst case, your team is buffed by three power and toughness every time Emissary Green attacks. The card puts in work, albeit slowly, and represents a great financial value at only $0.22.

Council’s Judgment

This card’s voting mechanic is more of a way to help other players feel like they were part of the decision, even though you probably twisted the votes in your favor. Essentially, for the cost of Anguished Unmaking, you pick one nonland permanent to exile, and if at least a single opponent agrees, it’s going to happen. The only way to stop it is if all three opponents cast a vote for, say, a Food token, which is a highly unlikely outcome unless you are clearly the big threat. Getting to exile more than one thing is icing on the cake.

Regardless of the outcome, Council’s Judgment provides valuable information on alliances and threat assessment that you can use to your advantage - all for a few shekels in price.

Pir’s Whim

Admittedly, Pir’s Whim has been outclassed by plenty of cards in the ensuing years since its printing in Battlebond. (Druid of Purification springs to mind, for one.) The problem here is that the card doesn’t specify that opponents must sacrifice a “nontoken” permanent, opening the door for sac'ed Blood tokens or mana rocks and turning the card into a glorified Crop Rotation.

Still, Pir’s Whim opens the door for more politics. You could, say, enable a mana screwed opponent to find another land and stay in the game, or team up with a Vandalblast-playing opponent and ensure the artifact or enchantment that gets sacrificed is a good one. The card’s value is strangely higher for its printing in The List versus its original, which clocks in at only $1.50. Opt for Pir’s Whim Classic™.

Mob Verdict

I’m still on the fence about this one, as I haven’t seen it played out in the middle of a clogged board. I’m optimistic, though, that it can result in the strongest opponent having their board wiped - four damage is a fair amount - and another opponent having their utility creatures put to rest; meanwhile, you cantrip. There are more efficient ways to kill creatures and draw cards, sure, but few can induce the level of paranoia Mob Verdict potentially holds. Sow the seeds for this bulk rare a turn or two before you play it, and watch as chaos unfolds.

Will of the Planeswalkers

Are you a fan of the voting mechanic? I’d love to hear about some games where it made a huge impact, or a hilarious tale of voting going so, so wrong. Share them!