Agent of Treachery

Land Destruction Promise

Reminder that Winota, Joiner of forces +Agent of Treachery enabled stealing three lands on turn four in Standard and you promised me a land destruction effect just as powerful.

When did I promise this? : )

Agent of Treachery Humor Lands Standard Treachery Winota, Joiner of Forces

Expanding Theft Effects

If you had to expand Confiscate/Agent of Treachery style effects to an additional color, which color would you pick and why?

I don’t think we want a second color, but if we had to, probably red, as it’s the other color stealing things.

Agent of Treachery Colors Confiscate Red Treachery

Blue and Permanent Stealing

Now that you removed Ravenform effects from mono-blue, can I request you remofe permanent stealing (e.g. Agent of Treachery, Mass Manipulation) from mono-blue as well and keep mono-blue stealing effects reversable (auras/Mind Flayer effects)? Maybe make permanent stealing blue/black only.

I don’t think it’s an effect we want in just multicolor.

Agent of Treachery Auras Black Blue Dimir (U/B) Mass Manipulation Mind Flayer Ravenform Treachery

White's Card Draw Rank

So, the main reason why white is #5 at card draw is the fact that it has the most answers. Which is weird to me, because blue, #1 at card draw, seems to give white a run for its money in the answer department. Not only is it the one color that gets to universally deal with every card type at common thanks to counterspells, it also gets cards like Agent of Treachery that deal with any permanent on the battlefield (even lands!). Could you elaborate on the reasoning?

Blue has a narrow window through which it can counter things and then it’s answers are a lot more expensive. Blue is bad at cheaply and permanently answering permanents.

Agent of Treachery Blue Card Draw Card Types Colors Lands Permanents Treachery White

Blue's Theft Abilities in EDH

Hello Mark, just a note regarding blue theft, the fact that CMC on theft spells hardly matters at all in Commander, the most popular and most played constructed format. Cards like Blatant Thievery and Agent of Treachery are incredibly powerful. We understand theft effects are grandfathered in blue, but please acknowledge that it's incorrect to say "blue can't permanently answer threats that have already resolved". Blue can unconditionally answer (and steal) any permanent type.

That’s not what I said. I said Blue can’t destroy things. Blue can change them, copy them, lock them disn , and yes, steal them. Blue has many ways to interact with permanents. It can’t destroy them.

Agent of Treachery Blatant Thievery Blue Commander Constructed Destroy Mana Value Permanents Spells Treachery

Debate on Blue's Abilities

Aren't cards like Agent of Treachery, Mass Manipulation and Lullmage's Domination major breaks in blue? I thought blue's answers to resolved permanents are supposed to be temporary, only puttin the problem off (bounce, auras).

Blue can’t destroy permanents. It’s the primary color of stealing them though.

Agent of Treachery Auras Blue Colors Destroy Lullmage's Domination Mass Manipulation Permanents Primary Treachery

Red's Land Destruction Card

Could red ever get a land destruction card as good as Agent of Treachery?

I’m pretty sure we could make a red seven-drop land destruction spell. : )

Agent of Treachery Humor Lands Red Treachery

Agent of Treachery Role

"Blue is reactive and can’t permanently remove threats." How does that line up with a card like Agent of Treachery that not only permanently removes any threat but also lets blue leverage it for themselves?

Blue is allowed to use the opponent’s threats against them. It’s kind of blue’s thing. Note that those effects are costed to be expensive forcing blue to survive the early and mid game to get there.

Agent of Treachery Blue

Digital vs Tabletop Design

I thought the templating on Assassin's Trophy, etc., was to restrict play patterns, but upon hearing that's it's for the sake of digital, I'm somewhat disappointed. I understand that one egregious misclick can sour an experience (it's happened), but I believe the paper game should come first. I have wanted to Assassin's Trophy my own permanents before, and I have lost by decking myself with Agent of Treachery; I would much rather be allowed more choice, even if that comes with a cost to digital.

Magic has to live in a world where both tabletop and digital have to coexist. Much like every Magic decision isn’t made solely with one format in mind, neither is it made with only one medium in mind. I understand that each player hopes we prioritize how they play, but it is thinking of the greater good of all Magic that guides our decisions.

Agent of Treachery Assassin Assassin's Trophy Greater Good Permanents Templating