[Article] Clique You Clique Me

[Griselpuff]

http://www.channelfireball.com/home/how-to-play-vendilion-clique/

Monthly article is out!

[ESG]

I'll take a crack at the second scenario, although more information would be helpful (contents of your hand, knowledge of your deck list, etc.). I assume we're looking at BR Reanimator.

If you have a creature in hand, then the Stronghold Gambit isn't threatening. Entomb is the most threatening card (because Grave Titan isn't the most threatening creature in that deck). Seems odd that your opponent didn't play Entomb in response to the Clique trigger. If you take Entomb, you need to dodge Faithless Looting and the other three Entombs in the deck. There's also the line of him drawing a Thoughtseize (if he plays that instead of Unmask), discarding the Titan, and then playing the Animate Dead. You just need to get through this turn so you'll be able to untap with a threat and a Deathrite Shaman at the ready. The odds are better taking the Entomb than taking the reanimation spell. If this deck had only Grave Titans for creatures, then taking the Animate Dead could be correct, since you could maybe win the damage race if he had to Reanimate the Titan. If you have no creatures or countermagic in hand, then you're probably screwed regardless, but you may be able to bluff your opponent.

I think this would be the play if you were playing in person and otherwise cold to Stronghold Gambit: Instantly choose the Entomb. Your opponent then assumes you have a creature and waits to draw a Thoughtseize or an Unmask to strip it, which gives you time to draw a counterspell, discard, or a creature.

[Julian23]

Bob, you missed out on "Now You Clique Me, Now You Don't" for a much better title :wink:

[Lemnear]

Pffff ... Cliquebait

[twndomn]

Clique to enlarge

Clique through Magic Online