Confusion in The Ranks: The Answer to Omniscience

[WarioMCP]

Show and Tell has evolved, and with it the deck became more consistent. Adding Omniscience secured more games and made the hate required to beat it much more narrow. We've gone from Gilded Drake to Oblivion Ring to Angel of Despair. Now, meet the latest tech you've been waiting for to not only trump this deck, but to do it with style.

MTG The Source, I present to you:

Confusion in the Ranks

Enchantment, 3RR

Whenever an artifact, creature, or enchantment enters the battlefield, its controller chooses target permanent another player controls that shares a card type with it. Exchange control of those permanents.

I know I know, this card is obscure and should belong in the "unfun cards" category for EDH, but hear me out.

Confusion in the ranks triggers for itself when it enters the battlefield. If your Know and Tell opponent casts Show and Tell and you put in Confusion and he puts in Omniscience, two triggered abilities go on the stack, one for Omniscience entering and one for Confusion entering. Both are on the battlefield and legal targets for each other. The trigger and exchange is also mandatory. Assuming they are the only enchantments on the battlefield the triggered abilities must target the other enchantment.

Now, the targeting restriction for the trigger is "target permanent another player controls that shares a card type with it." This means that no matter whose turn it is, if one of the two triggers resolves, the other will no longer have a legal target (since your opponent now controls Confusion in the Ranks and not "another player") and will fizzle.

If one OR BOTH of the triggers resolves you get Omniscience. The true value of this card is that your opponent needs two Stifle/Trickbind effects to beat it. Also, if you have any creature in play and they put in Griselbrand or Emrakul instead of Omniscience, they still have to Stifle/Trickbind the trigger or be forced to give you their creature (they still get to draw the cards from Griselbrand, but the same is true for Angel of Despair and Oblivion Ring). It has the same weakness as the current answers but with the added bonus of just trumping the most popular of the three options Know and Tell has when they cast Show and Tell (Omniscience, Emrakul, or Griselbrand). Even if they trickbind your trigger on an Emrakul/Griselbrand play, any creature you resolve becomes a Gilded Drake.

[Valtrix]

I fail to see how this is better when Oblivion Ring is reasonably costed with many applications outside the Omni-Tell matchup and deals with any card put into play with Show and Tell. Confusion in the ranks only answers Omniscience, but each Show and tell deck plays at least 3+ creatures. Why would I want to play a card that has no use outside of this matchup and doesn't even answer their threats all the time? Also, to my knowledge Stifle is not played in these decks, so having two triggers go on the stack is pretty irrelevant and as such I would go for Angel of Despair if I absolutely wanted to kill something after a Show and Tell.

[Hanni]

I could have sworn I saw someone link a different blue enchantment that gained control of target permanent, I just don't remember where or what the card name was. At any rate, if my mind isn't just playing tricks on me, I would assume that would be alot better its capable of hitting whatever Show and Tell drops into play, and not just Omniscience. This card can turn future creatures into Gilded Drakes, but not every deck runs enough creatures to do that, and it still doesn't immediately answer the problem at hand (like the Grissly that just came into play and drew them a bunch of cards).

Maybe someone else knows the name of the card I'm thinking of?

(It may have been the same card, but I could have sworn the card said target permanent, without the conditional "types" on the one in the OP).

Regardless, it's still a narrow answer that's pretty much limited to the Show and Tell matchup. Like Valtrix said, Obliviong Ring (and Detention Sphere) are good because they have a plethora of other uses. Those spells are good on their own, in matchups not containing Show and Tell.

[WarioMCP]

I fail to see how this is better when Oblivion Ring is itself castable with many applications outside the Omni-Tell matchup and deals with any card put into play with Show and Tell. Confusion in the ranks only answers Omniscience, but if they just put a creature into play you're dead. Why would I want to play a card that has no use outside of this matchup and doesn't even answer their threats all the time?

Not every deck can play Oblivion ring, and many of the ones that run Angel of Despair can only make use of it because of Show and Tell. As I said, Confusion's main goal is to trump Omniscience, but if you have any creature in play or can resolve any creature afterward they are essentially a Guilded Drake.

EDIT: I'm not trying to say Oblivion ring in decks where it is castable is worse, but It's a powerful option if you're just going to include it in your random MUC variant and pray not to run into a Trickbind

[Valtrix]

I could have sworn I saw someone link a different blue enchantment that gained control of target permanent, I just don't remember where or what the card name was.

Conjured Currency was probably it. Confiscate and Puca's Mischief both came to mind, but neither actually work in this case.


EDIT: I'm not trying to say Oblivion ring in decks where it is castable is worse, but It's a powerful option if you're just going to include it in your random MUC variant and pray not to run into a Trickbind

These decks don't play Stifle, and Trickbind hasn't been in any successful lists since stifle-naught days.

[Kich867]

I could have sworn I saw someone link a different blue enchantment that gained control of target permanent, I just don't remember where or what the card name was. At any rate, if my mind isn't just playing tricks on me, I would assume that would be alot better its capable of hitting whatever Show and Tell drops into play, and not just Omniscience. This card can turn future creatures into Gilded Drakes, but not every deck runs enough creatures to do that, and it still doesn't immediately answer the problem at hand (like the Grissly that just came into play and drew them a bunch of cards).

Maybe someone else knows the name of the card I'm thinking of?

(It may have been the same card, but I could have sworn the card said target permanent, without the conditional "types" on the one in the OP).

Regardless, it's still a narrow answer that's pretty much limited to the Show and Tell matchup. Like Valtrix said, Obliviong Ring (and Detention Sphere) are good because they have a plethora of other uses. Those spells are good on their own, in matchups not containing Show and Tell.

It was volition reins, in the affinity thread, except it doesn't work as I wanted it to.

[alekill]

From what I've seen the UR versions are playing trickbind in their sideboard for permanents the opponent puts in with triggered abilities like harmonic sliver, angel of despair, guilded drake, and o ring. The URb versions aren't since they run a thoughtseize.

Confusion in the ranks allows the non blue decks to put something in that will deal with an omniscience, they already have answers to the creatures. I could see this coming in for goblins and dealing with the omniscience and if the know and tell player sticks a creature goblins could vile in a dude to take it.

[Hanni]

My bad on the suggestion... didn't realize that it doesn't work. Also, yes I was referring to Volition Reins.

Regarding a matchup like Goblins... instead of running a narrow spell to address 1 matchup, why not splash white for Oblivion Ring instead? Aside from the fact that there was a recent high place finish by a white splash Goblins deck (for Thalia)... Oblivion Ring answers tons of other stuff too, Jitte/Batterskull, Engineered Plague, etc. Not as good as Krosan Grip for arts/enchants, but it deals with Show and Tell and can also hit other problematic creatures in other matchups.

[nedleeds]

Just run Spine if you want a super narrow but theoretically castable ETB solution.

[(nameless one)]

If you're going to use Confusion in the Ranks, you might as well use Norin the Wary for more shenanigans.

[Dark Ritual]

Volition reins does in fact work the way you want it to with show and tell i.e. you can in fact steal their griselbrand/omniscience/emrakul without them being to use it at all. This is because your opponent has to put a permanent into play via show and tell thus making the card they put in a legal target for volition reins. Or something along those lines.

Confusion in the ranks <<<<< volition reins. I would much rather play the reins. Although I wouldn't play reins in legacy at all, as it is good against one card (show and tell) and nothing else.

[Piceli89]

Venser, shaper savant is better, as Show and Telled it will bounce Omniscience not allowing them to play anything but instants with the trigger on stack (Brainstorm and just that), and will bounce both Griselbrand and Emrakul.

[alekill]

I believe the point is that it gets around stifle effects.

[whienot]

Volition reins does in fact work the way you want it to with show and tell i.e. you can in fact steal their griselbrand/omniscience/emrakul without them being to use it at all.

No. It doesn't work like that.


303.4f If an Aura is entering the battlefield under a player’s control by any means other than by resolving as an Aura spell, and the effect putting it onto the battlefield doesn’t specify the object or player the Aura will enchant, that player chooses what it will enchant as the Aura enters the battlefield. The player must choose a legal object or player according to the Aura’s enchant ability and any other applicable effects.

Your opponent's permanent is not on the battlefield as Volition Reins would enter the battlefield. The only legal choices are permanents already on the battlefield.

[nedleeds]

Somebody has probably been metamorphing show n' telled Emrakuls.

[alderon666]

That card actually looks pretty good on Goblins sideboard for example. Goblins will always have a creature in play, so it actually even answers Progenitus. Seems miles ahead of Angel of Despair in Goblins sideboard. Just imagine getting your opponent's Omni and dumping your whole hand and half your library on the table tapped and attacking next turn. There's no comeback from that.

Fringe use too against decks with big creatures? Take my Matron give me your 7/7?

[TheInfamousBearAssassin]

Just run Spine if you want a super narrow but theoretically castable ETB solution.

[xeraseth]

Why are we talking about cases where O-ring is uncastable? a) We are talking about Show and Tell. b) This is 5 mana, I don't know of a single red deck that plans to getting to 5 mana that doesn't have blue and white. Goblins is possible but I think I would rather throw in a Plateau and have O-rings

[alderon666]

The idea is: if you're playing an uncastable piece of hate, you might as well play the most powerful one. This one not only allows you to answers your opponent's threats, it allows you to steal them.

The problem with this one is that if they go off for Griselbrand/Emrakul too fast (turn 1/2), you might not have a goblin on the table. Then they can just counter you next goblin and own you.

[Malchar]

The idea is: if you're playing an uncastable piece of hate, you might as well play the most powerful one. This one not only allows you to answers your opponent's threats, it allows you to steal them.

The problem with this one is that if they go off for Griselbrand/Emrakul too fast (turn 1/2), you might not have a goblin on the table. Then they can just counter you next goblin and own you.

If you don't have a goblin on the table on turn 1 or 2, you're going to lose anyway.

Confusion in the ranks is much stronger than oblivion ring assuming that you're sneaking it onto the battlefield. Oblivion ring merely equalizes the board, it's a 1-for-1. Confusion takes away their threat and gives it to you, which is a 2-for-1 in your favor.

Is confusion better than oblivion ring in general? I don't know. As people have said, Oblivion ring is easier to hardcast and has utilities outside of the show and tell matchup. However, if you're going to side into an uncastable bomb like angel of despair, you should consider confusion since it's probably better.

[Dark Ritual]

I believe the point is that it gets around stifle effects.

Because stifle is played in one deck and that is canadian thresh. Show and tell based decks have NEVER played stifle or trickbind. Also, confusion in the ranks looks incredibly stupid when you put confusion in and they put in a griselbrand/emrakul and you control no creatures to speak of. Confusion in the ranks is good in one thing, and that is norin the wary EDH. Oblivion ring, meanwhile, is good in a variety of matchups.

It really isn't that complicated when it comes to SnT. You can just run angel of despair like Max Tietze, he ran it exclusively for the SnT matchup. Or you could run discard spells. Or countermagic. Or play a faster deck. It amazes me to no end when people say "This card is good against show and tell" when there are actually a lot of cards that are good against the deck, more than I can think of off the top of my head at least. Most are incredibly narrow like confusion in the ranks though.

[Hanni]

In regards to Goblins:

Oblivion Ring can answer Engineered Plague, Moat, Humility, Umezawa's Jitte, and Batterskull, just to name a few. Unless the particular metagame is absolutely infested with Show and Tell decks, I seen no reason to waste sideboard space on a spell that is useful in literally one matchup, when you have access to a spell that is almost as good and happens to handle alot of other really big problems.

Maindeck Thalia is just icing on the cake, if you want to steal some tech from the Goblins player that did well in... GP Atlanta, I think? I'm not sure at the moment, but I'll get back to you on that if someone doesn't provide the answer for me.

[lochlan]

Because stifle is played in one deck and that is canadian thresh. Show and tell based decks have NEVER played stifle or trickbind.

FWIW I play Stifle in my Show and Tell decks and it's been really good, since it beats all the CITP hate.

[Hanni]

FWIW I play Stifle in my Show and Tell decks and it's been really good, since it beats all the CITP hate.

Goblins can put you on a turn 3-4 clock though. Burning Wish to grab Show and Tell, finding Omniscience, and then finding Stifle before you cast Show and Tell... seems like alot of work.

I know you were talking about Stifle in general, but I thought the topic was about Goblins (since there aren't a whole lot of decks that would want to run this enchantment over Oblivion Ring), so that's why my reply is relating to Goblins.

Stifle is a really good spell against Goblins in general, though.

[Bahamuth]

I know I know, this card is obscure and should belong in the "unfun cards" category for EDH, but hear me out.



Unfun? Do you know how sick that card is if you have Norrin the Wary as general?

[zulander]

If you don't have a goblin on the table on turn 1 or 2, you're going to lose anyway.

Confusion in the ranks is much stronger than oblivion ring assuming that you're sneaking it onto the battlefield. Oblivion ring merely equalizes the board, it's a 1-for-1. Confusion takes away their threat and gives it to you, which is a 2-for-1 in your favor.

Is confusion better than oblivion ring in general? I don't know. As people have said, Oblivion ring is easier to hardcast and has utilities outside of the show and tell matchup. However, if you're going to side into an uncastable bomb like angel of despair, you should consider confusion since it's probably better.

You realize that it swaps control of the permanents, so it's not a 2-for-1.