Looking back, I probably should have created an "opening post" for Conspiracy 2. Whatever, I'll do it now.
Announcement
Release Date: August 26, 2016
Number of Cards: 221
MSRP: $3.99 per booster pack
The throne no longer sits empty, but deception, danger, and even death await around every corner.
Add deeper layers of intrigue to your next Magic draft and begin plotting as soon as you open your first booster pack! The
Conspiracy: Take the Crown set builds on the revolutionary abilities introduced in the original
Magic: The Gathering—Conspiracy set, with new cards that affect the draft itself and new conspiracies that twist the rules against your foes. Trade votes and spread your attacks to manipulate the game in your favor. Seize the crown to give yourself a greater edge—if you can keep it.
How will you plot your way to the throne?
This set is designed for eight-player drafts followed by free-for-all games of three to five players each.
Story
CARD THEMES
Official card list (
alternate, includes leaks)
Official mechanics list
Draft matters
Like
Conspiracy before it, the battle begins before you even have any matches, during the draft. There are various cards that care about how you draft, including cards that have you note actions you take, which affects what effects they have during an actual match. But most notable are the
conspiracy cards, a card type that first appeared in
Conspiracy. They aren't considered part of your deck, but if you draft them, you may start the game with them in the command zone (where they can't be interacted with), and they will provide various effects. One new thing is colored conspiracies. The actual color of the conspiracy doesn't matter, but it signifies to the drafter that it's best not to draft them if you aren't in the specified color.
Hidden agenda returns, which allows you to start the with game with the conspiracy face down and secretly write down a name. When you turn it face up, some effect involving that name happens. New for this set is
double agenda, which has you secretly note two names and has an effect involving both when you turn the conspiracy face up.
The monarch
The monarch is a new concept for Magic: a designation that a player may have during the game. The game starts with no monarch, but there are three ways to become one:
* Use a card like the above that says you become the monarch.
* Deal combat damage to the monarch, whereupon you become the monarch.
* The current monarch leaves the game. If this happened during your turn, you become the monarch. If this happened during that player's turn, the next player becomes the monarch.
So why become the monarch? At the beginning of your end step, you draw a card! And there are some cards that are stronger if you're the monarch. But be careful, because this paints a target on you.
Voting
Many cards will ask players to take a vote using
council's dilemma, choosing between two options. This time, every vote matters, as the cards will care about the number of votes for each option, as opposed to the majority. Still, it's worth talking to the other players to get things to work out the way you want. Or if you don't want to bother, there are always other ways...
*throws a folded chair*
All this political unrest is leading to civil unrest.
Melee gives the creature a boost for each player you attack at once, making sure everyone gets some. Note that the boost applies even if you attack one player, and doesn't apply if you attack planeswalkers.
Goad can force a turtling player to get in on the action by making a creature attack any player, as long as it's not you. And finally,
monstrosity returns as a late-game mana sink. When you pay a creature's monstrosity cost, if it's not monstrous, it gains the designated number of +1/+1 counters and becomes monstrous, which can trigger an ability or give it a new permanent ability. You can only activate this ability once.
HIGHLIGHTS
Monday - August 15
Mothership spoilers (above)
Inquisition of Kozilek (above)
Archdemon of Paliano (above)
Arcane Savant (above)
Assemble the Rank and Vile, Custodi Peacekeeper
Thorn of the Black Rose
Ballot Broker
Burning Wish
Protector of the Throne
Tuesday - August 16
Custodi Lich, Hallowed Burial
Mothership spoilers - Adriana, etc.
Recruiter of the Guard
Phyrexian Arena
Desertion
Expropriate, Exotic Orchard
Wednesday - August 17
Spy Kit
Keeper of Keys
Mothership - Daretti, Ingenious Iconoclast
Mothership - Leovold, Emissary of Trest
Serum Visions, Sanctum Prelate
Burgeoning
Magic Story - Bloody Instructions
Wild Pair, Entourage of Trest
Duskmantle Seer, Weight Advantage
Thursday - August 18
Dragonlair Spider, Illusory Informant, Spire Phantasm
Mothership - Grenzo, Havoc Raiser
Mothership - Skyline Despot
Berserk
Volatile Chimera, Garbage Fire
Subterranean Tremors
Show and Tell
Regal Behemoth
Birds of Paradise
Friday - August 19
Hymn of the Wilds
Mothership - Selvala, Heart of the Wilds; Stunt Double
Caller of the Untamed
Incendiary Dissent
Splitting Slime
Games Laboratory exhibition draft reveals - Regicide, Ghostly Prison, Gratuitous Violence, etc.
Saturday - August 20
Warez Gaming exhibition draft reveals - Pariah, Platinum Angel, etc.
Selvala's Stampede
Sunday - August 21
SCG New Jersey Player Invitational
Monday - August 22
Full spoiler
Later events covered back in the first highlights post in this thread.