Cabal ConditioningHow it works & interactions with other cards

Scaling Your Power

The number of cards discarded is not fixed when you cast the spell. Instead, Cabal Conditioning checks the greatest mana value among permanents you control at the moment the spell resolves. If you control a permanent with a mana value of 7, every targeted player must discard seven cards. If you lose your high-cost permanents in response to this spell, the number of cards discarded will decrease accordingly based on what you have left.

Targeting and Resolution

When you cast Cabal Conditioning, you must choose 'any number' of target players. This can include yourself, though it is rarely beneficial. Once the spell begins to resolve, you determine the highest mana value among your permanents. Then, all targeted players perform the discard simultaneously. If a player has fewer cards in hand than the calculated mana value, they simply discard their entire hand.

Timing and Strategy

Because this spell costs seven mana, it is often played in the late game when players may already have small hands. To maximize its impact, ensure you have at least one high-cost permanent on the battlefield before resolution. Remember that mana value is determined by the mana cost printed on the card; tokens usually have a mana value of 0 unless they are copies of another permanent.

Interaction examples

Establishing Dominance

Kindred Dominance

If you have a Kindred Dominance in your graveyard and no permanents, Cabal Conditioning does nothing. However, if you have a high-cost creature that survived Kindred Dominance, such as a creature with mana value 7, and then cast Cabal Conditioning, your opponents will be forced to discard 7 cards, likely leaving them with no resources to recover from your board wipe.

Reanimating for Value

Breach the Multiverse

After you cast Breach the Multiverse, you may put a high-mana value creature or planeswalker from any graveyard onto the battlefield under your control. If you then cast Cabal Conditioning, the spell will look at your new permanents. If Breach the Multiverse brought back a card with mana value 8, Cabal Conditioning will force targeted players to discard 8 cards.