Security Bypass is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.
Official card text
Enchant creature As long as enchanted creature is attacking alone, it can't be blocked. Enchanted creature has "Whenever this creature deals combat damage to a player, it connives." (Its controller draws a card, then discards a card. If they discarded a nonland card, they put a +1/+1 counter on this creature.)
Complete guide
Security Bypass is a versatile Blue Aura from Streets of New Capenna that turns your creature into a sneaky, self-improving threat. By granting both unblockability and the connive mechanic, it ensures your damage gets through while refining your hand and growing your creature.
Unblockable Offense
The primary benefit of Security Bypass is its ability to make the enchanted creature unblockable. This condition is checked only when the creature is declared as an attacker; it must be the only creature declared as an attacker during the Declare Attackers step. If you attack with multiple creatures, the enchanted creature can be blocked as normal.
Understanding Connive
When the enchanted creature deals combat damage to a player, its new triggered ability goes on the stack. Upon resolution, you draw a card and then discard a card. If the discarded card is not a land, you place a +1/+1 counter on the creature. If you have no cards in hand to discard, you cannot place a counter.
Timing and Interference
Once the connive ability begins to resolve, no player can interrupt the process. Your opponent cannot wait to see if you discard a nonland card before trying to destroy the creature to prevent the counter. If the creature is destroyed in response to the trigger, you still draw and discard, though no counter is placed.
Strategic Implementation
This card is best used in aggressive decks that rely on 'Saboteur' effects—abilities that trigger when a creature hits a player. Because it provides evasion and card filtering, it helps you find answers while maintaining pressure on your opponent's life total.
Interaction examples
You enchant a small creature with Security Bypass. During your combat phase, you declare only that creature as an attacker. Because it is attacking alone, the 'can't be blocked' restriction applies immediately, and your opponent cannot assign any blockers to it.
Rhystic StudyYou cast Security Bypass while your opponent controls Rhystic Study. The Study triggers when you cast the Aura. If you pay the {1}, the Aura resolves. When your creature later deals damage, the connive ability triggers. Note that Rhystic Study only cares about the initial casting of the spell, not the triggered abilities of the enchantment once it is on the battlefield.
Mystic RemoraIf you cast Security Bypass while an opponent has Mystic Remora, the Remora's ability triggers because Security Bypass is a noncreature spell. Your opponent may draw a card unless you pay {4}. Even if they draw a card, your Aura still enters the battlefield and grants your creature the ability to connive upon dealing damage.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Security Bypass
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
Once an ability that causes a creature to connive begins to resolve, no player may take any other actions until it's done. Notably, opponents can't try to remove the conniving creature after you discard a nonland card but before it receives a counter.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
If no card is discarded, most likely because that player's hand is empty and an effect says they can't draw cards, the conniving creature does not receive a +1/+1 counter.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
If a resolving spell or ability instructs a specific creature to connive but that creature has left the battlefield, the creature still connives. If you discard a nonland card this way, you won't put a +1/+1 counter on anything. Abilities that trigger “when [that creature] connives” will trigger.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Security Bypass
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