Conspiracy: Take the Crown

Conspiracy: Take the Crown is a booster-based set designed for Conspiracy Draft. It was released in August 2016 as the second of three supplemental sets that were released in the summer of 2016.
==Set details==
Conspiracy: Take the Crown followed up on the original Conspiracy set from 2014 and introduced new cards that affect the draft itself as well as new Conspiracies. It is designed for eight-player drafts followed by free-for-all games of three to five players each. The set contains 221 cards (90 common, 67 uncommon, 50 rare, and 14 mythic rare). Eighty cards (including 12 Conspiracies) are new cards with mechanics that enhance multiplayer play, and the other part features reprints. The planeswalker card <c>Kaya, Ghost Assassin</c> has alternate art in foil, with the foil having the collector number 222/221. The new cards are not legal for play in the Standard or Modern formats.
The set is printed in English, Japanese, and Chinese Simplified. It was not released on Magic Online. North American mass-market stores sold new Draft Packs for this set. The Draft Pack features three Booster Packs.
===Flavor===
Brago, the King Eternal ruled the High City of Paliano on the plane of Fiora. When he died, the priesthood — the Custodi — kept his spirit as a figurehead and were able to retain their command for a while. However, The Black Rose confiscated the throne after Brago's spirit was eliminated by the planeswalker Kaya. Nobody knows how long she will last.
====Magic Story====
Title	Author 	Release Date	Setting (plane)	Featuring
 	Kelly Digges 	2016-08-03 	Fiora 	Kaya Cassir, Emilio Revari
 	Alison Luhrs 	2016-08-10' 	Fiora 	Brago, Adriana Vallore, Kaya Cassir, Selvala, Marchesa d'Amati
 	Kelly Digges 	2016-08-15 	Fiora 	Marchesa d'Amati
 	Kelly Digges 	2016-08-16 	Fiora 	Adriana Vallore
 	Shawn Main and Mel Li	2016-08-17 	Fiora 	Daretti, Grenzo, Zadrous Fimarell, Alendis
 	Nik Davidson 	2016-08-24 	Fiora 	Leovold, Selvala, Adriana Vallore, Marchesa d'Amati, Grenzo
===Marketing===
The set was initially announced as Conspiracy: The Reign of Brago. (deleted)Wizards of the Coast. (February 22, 2016.) Announcing CONSPIRACY: REIGN OF BRAGO. Return to Paliano in this multiplayer draft set! Official Magic: the Gathering Twitter account. However, the day immediately after the initial set announcement, official Twitter announced The Reign of Brago would not be the set name, along with a picture showing the apparent assassination of Brago's spirit.Wizards of the Coast. (February 23, 2016.) BREAKING NEWS: Due to unforeseen circumstances, Brago will not be making an appearance in our new Conspiracy set. Official Magic: the Gathering Twitter account. The set was renamed on February 24 to The Empty Throne to reflect this plot twist. (deleted)Wizards of the Coast. (February 24, 2016.) Paliano is in chaos after Brago's death. Announcing CONSPIRACY: THE EMPTY THRONE Official Magic: the Gathering Twitter account. Also the number of cards was reduced from 221 to 220 (Brago's spirit was eliminated, so clearly there would be one less card) and the quote was changed from “Long May He Reign” to “The King Is Dead, Long Live the King”.
Two days later the title was changed one final time, along with the reveal of the set symbol. The card count for Conspiracy: Take the Crown was now up to 221 again with the new queen added. The slogan was also changed, this time to “You Stab My Back And I'll Stab Yours”.Wizards of the Coast. (February 25, 2016.) Powers within Paliano have set their sights on the vacant Paliano throne. More updates to follow tomorrow. Official Magic: the Gathering Twitter account.Wizards of the Coast. (February 26, 2016.) This time we’re 100% serious. Announcing CONSPIRACY: TAKE THE CROWN. Official Magic: the Gathering Twitter account.
Like its predecessor, CN2 features horizontal art on the booster packs. They have artwork from <c>Queen Marchesa</c>, <c>Kaya, Ghost Assassin</c> (foil art version), and <c>Daretti, Ingenious Iconoclast</c>.
====Hidden message====
On the back frame of every token of Eternal Masters, the previous booster set, appeared some seemingly random and mysterious lines of text. These were part of a teaser puzzle. If the tokens were lined up in the right order, the text on the top and bottom of the tokens provided a proclamation by Her Majesty Queen Marchesa, the Black Rose, first of her name. The text on the sides of tokens provided a revolutionary speech by Captain Adriana.News on the Net. (July 14, 2016.) "Someone Just Solved The Eternal Masters Conspiracy 2 Token Mystery (And That’s A Lot Of Tokens)", manaleak.com Marchesa's proclamation was later published on the Magic website, as was Adriana's response.
====Tokens====
Conspiracy: Take the Crown features one marker and eleven tokens.
# <c>The Monarch</c> marker
# 1/1 Soldier for <c>Lieutenants of the Guard</c> and <c>Raise the Alarm</c>
# 1/2 Soldier with defender for <c>Hold the Perimeter</c>
# 1/1 Spirit with flying for <c>Doomed Traveler</c>
# 1/1 Assassin with deathtouch and haste for <c>Queen Marchesa</c>
# 2/2 Zombie for <c>Assemble the Rank and Vile</c>
# 1/1 Goblin with “This creature can't block” for <c>Hold the Perimeter</c>
# 5/5 Dragon with flying for <c>Skyline Despot</c>
# 8/8 Lizard for <c>Subterranean Tremors</c>
# 3/3 Beast for <c>Beast Within</c>
# 1/1 Insect for <c>Dragonlair Spider</c>
# 1/1 Construct artifact with defender for <c>Daretti, Ingenious Iconoclast</c>
==Themes and mechanics==
Like in Conspiracy, some cards have draft abilities. 
The monarch is a new designation that a player may have during the game. Only one player at a time can be the monarch and has the following ability: "At the beginning of the monarch's end step, that player draws a card." Secondly, several cards in the set get better if you're the monarch. A mistake realized only after printing, The Monarch marker reads "At the beginning your end step, draw a card." with the "of" missing.
Hidden agenda is carried over from Conspiracy. Conspiracies with hidden agendas have you secretly name a card before the game begins. Any time you have priority during the game, you can turn the conspiracy face up and reveal the chosen name and what bonus the conspiracy provides. 
Creatures with Monstrosity earlier appeared in the Theros block and Commander 2015. Upon paying the activation cost, if the creature isn't "monstrous" already, a certain number of +1/+1 counters are put on the creature and it becomes "monstrous". Usually, this is accompanied by a triggered ability when the creature becomes "monstrous".
There are four new named mechanics: 
*Double agenda, a keyword ability that works much like hidden agenda but allows you to name two cards instead of one.
*Melee, a keyword ability that gives a creature +1/+1 whenever it attacks until end of turn for each opponent you attacked with a creature this combat.
*Goad, a keyword action that forces creatures to attack a player other than you if able.
*Council's dilemma, an ability word that allows you to vote, which is similar to will of the council. Every vote will add to the overall effect (not only the majority).
===Card types===
*The conspiracy card type is carried over from Conspiracy. Conspiracies are put into the command zone before the game begins. Unlike the earlier conspiracies, some conspiracies from CN2 are colored. 
*Kaya is a new planeswalker type.
===Card frame===
Conspiracies and draft ability cards have a special circular pattern card frame.
==Cycles==
Conspiracy: Take the Crown has eight cycles:
Cycle name 	 	 	 	 	
Rare monarchy creatures 	 	 	 	 	
Rare monarchy creatures 	These rare creatures make their controller the monarch upon entering the battlefield and either provide a bonus if the player is the monarch or help their controller retain their status as monarch.	These rare creatures make their controller the monarch upon entering the battlefield and either provide a bonus if the player is the monarch or help their controller retain their status as monarch.	These rare creatures make their controller the monarch upon entering the battlefield and either provide a bonus if the player is the monarch or help their controller retain their status as monarch.	These rare creatures make their controller the monarch upon entering the battlefield and either provide a bonus if the player is the monarch or help their controller retain their status as monarch.	These rare creatures make their controller the monarch upon entering the battlefield and either provide a bonus if the player is the monarch or help their controller retain their status as monarch.
Common monarchy creatures	 	 	 	 	
Common monarchy creatures	These common creatures make their controller the monarch upon entering the battlefield. 	These common creatures make their controller the monarch upon entering the battlefield. 	These common creatures make their controller the monarch upon entering the battlefield. 	These common creatures make their controller the monarch upon entering the battlefield. 	These common creatures make their controller the monarch upon entering the battlefield.
Colored conspiracies 	 	 	 	 	
Colored conspiracies 	Colored common conspiracies with the hidden agenda keyword. 	Colored common conspiracies with the hidden agenda keyword. 	Colored common conspiracies with the hidden agenda keyword. 	Colored common conspiracies with the hidden agenda keyword. 	Colored common conspiracies with the hidden agenda keyword.
Landcycler spells 	 	 	 	 	
Landcycler spells 	Five common spells, originally printed in Conflux, each of which can be cycled away for {M} for a basic land. 	Five common spells, originally printed in Conflux, each of which can be cycled away for {M} for a basic land. 	Five common spells, originally printed in Conflux, each of which can be cycled away for {M} for a basic land. 	Five common spells, originally printed in Conflux, each of which can be cycled away for {M} for a basic land. 	Five common spells, originally printed in Conflux, each of which can be cycled away for {M} for a basic land.
===Double cycles===
Cycle name 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Two-colored draft archetypes	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Two-colored draft archetypes	Ten uncommon cards which each represent a two-colored draft archetype.	Ten uncommon cards which each represent a two-colored draft archetype.	Ten uncommon cards which each represent a two-colored draft archetype.	Ten uncommon cards which each represent a two-colored draft archetype.	Ten uncommon cards which each represent a two-colored draft archetype.	Ten uncommon cards which each represent a two-colored draft archetype.	Ten uncommon cards which each represent a two-colored draft archetype.	Ten uncommon cards which each represent a two-colored draft archetype.	Ten uncommon cards which each represent a two-colored draft archetype.	Ten uncommon cards which each represent a two-colored draft archetype.
===Draft ability cycles===
There are three draft ability card cycles, one for each rarity besides mythic.
Cycle name					
Common 					
Uncommon 					
Rare 					
===Pairs===
Conspiracy: Take the Crown has one mirrored pair:
Mirrored Pairs	Mirrored Pairs	Description
 	 	Two creatures which trigger an ability in your end step if you are the monarch.
==Changes in rarity==
===Common to Uncommon===
*<c>Coiling Oracle</c>
*<c>Nessian Asp</c>
*<c>Serum Visions</c>
===Uncommon to Rare===
*<c>Inquisition of Kozilek</c>
===Uncommon to Mythic===
*<c>Berserk</c>
===Rare to Uncommon===
*<c>Manaplasm</c>
===Rare to Mythic===
*<c>Show and Tell</c>
*<c>Avatar of Woe</c>
===Mythic to Rare===
*<c>Duskmantle Seer</c>
==Card comparisons==
==Misprint==
The monarch marker should read “At the beginning of your end step, draw a card”. It is missing the “of”.
==Notable cards==
*<c>Burgeoning</c> is an early game mana ramping staple in the Commander format.
*<c>Daretti, Ingenious Iconoclast</c> is a cheap Planeswalker that has powered artifact-based midrange decks in Legacy and Vintage.
*<c>Kaya, Ghost Assassin</c> is a Planeswalker with a unique method of gaining loyalty counters, "blinking" herself for a turn and returning to the battlefield.
*<c>Palace Jailer</c> sees play in Death and Taxes decks in Legacy because of its ability to repeatedly exile creatures with the help of a flicker effect, in addition to the monarch bonus. 
*<c>Recruiter of the Guard</c> a powerful creature tutor similar to <c>Imperial Recruiter</c> from Portal Three Kingdoms and has become a staple in Legacy.
*<c>Sanctum Prelate</c> sees play in Legacy, mostly in Death and Taxes, because of its similarities to <c>Chalice of the Void</c> from Mirrodin.
*<c>Selvala, Heart of the Wilds</c>, and <c>Queen Marchesa</c> are among the most played commanders in their respective color identities in the casual Commander format.
*<c>Thorn of the Black Rose</c> and <c>Palace Sentinels</c> were two common monarch cards strong enough to see play in Pauper, a format without access to traditional card advantage engines.
===Banned and restricted cards===
*All cards with the Conspiracy type from the set are implicitly banned in competitive constructed formats.
*<c>Expropriate</c> is an incredibly powerful spell for multiplayer formats and was banned in Oathbreaker due to its ability to be cast from the command zone repeatedly. Its art is also notable as it depicts several moxen, a picture of <c>True-Name Nemesis</c>, and many treasures belonging to other characters in the set.Vorthos Mike (August 22, 2016), "Easter Eggs Galore". Coolstuffinc.com
*<c>Leovold, Emissary of Trest</c> is a strong value engine that has seen play in Legacy and Vintage midrange decks. His strength, combined with the ability to recur from the command zone and affect multiple other players, led to him getting banned in the Commander format in 2017.
==References==