Oblivion CrownHow it works & interactions with other cards

What it Does

Oblivion Crown is an Aura with Flash, meaning you can cast it at any time you could cast an instant. Once attached to a creature, that creature gains a new activated ability: 'Discard a card: This creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn.' This ability has no mana cost and can be activated as many times as you have cards in your hand, allowing for sudden bursts of power.

How it Resolves Step by Step

When you cast Oblivion Crown, you choose a legal creature target. If it resolves, the Aura enters the battlefield attached to that creature. From that moment, you may activate the granted ability. First, you declare you are activating the ability. Second, you pay the cost by discarding a card from your hand. Third, the ability is put on the stack. Once it resolves, the creature receives a +1/+1 buff until the end of the current turn.

Common Mistakes

A common mistake is forgetting that the +1/+1 bonus only lasts until the end of the turn, so discard wisely. Additionally, players sometimes forget that if the enchanted creature leaves the battlefield, Oblivion Crown is put into the graveyard. Because the ability is granted to the creature, you cannot activate it if the creature is destroyed or exiled in response to you trying to use the ability.

When to Play It

The best time to play Oblivion Crown is during the declare blockers step. Because it has Flash, you can wait to see how your opponent blocks before enchanting your creature. If they leave an unblocked creature alone, you can enchant it and discard your hand to deal unexpected lethal damage. It is also excellent for protecting a creature from damage-based removal by discarding cards to increase its toughness.

Interaction examples

Fueling the Crown with Phyrexian Arena

Phyrexian Arena

With Phyrexian Arena on the battlefield, you draw an extra card during each of your upkeeps. This extra card draw ensures you have a steady supply of 'ammunition' to discard to the creature enchanted by Oblivion Crown, allowing you to consistently buff your creature every turn without depleting your primary hand resources.

Strategic Gains with Black Market Connections

Black Market Connections

During your pre-combat main phase, you can use Black Market Connections to draw a card or create a Shapeshifter token. If you choose to draw a card, you gain immediate fodder for the Oblivion Crown ability. Alternatively, you can enchant the 3/2 Shapeshifter token created by Black Market Connections with Oblivion Crown, turning a disposable token into a massive threat by discarding cards right before damage is dealt.