New Lifegain Version of Iconic MTG Staple Breaks Out in Multiple Formats

Alongside its much-hyped Echoed Pairs, the most exciting feature of Reality Fracture was its Echoverse takes on classic MTG designs. Plenty of bangers got this treatment, with Snapcaster MageSnapcaster MageFlash
When this creature enters, target instant or sorcery card in your graveyard gains flashback until end of turn. The flashback cost is equal to its mana cost. (You may cast that card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.) becoming Stingcaster Mage, Craterhoof BehemothCraterhoof BehemothHaste
When this creature enters, creatures you control gain trample and get +X/+X until end of turn, where X is the number of creatures you control. becoming Craterclaw ColossusCraterclaw ColossusHaste
When this creature enters, creatures you control gain trample and get +X/+0 until end of turn, where X is the number of artifacts you control., and so on.

Of these funky MTG flips, perhaps the most potent is, surprisingly, Enlightened Confidant. While it wasn’t too hyped during previews, this rebooted two-drop is quickly making its presence known as a multi-format player.

Enlightened Confidant in MTG Standard

So far, around two weeks after Reality Fracture’s release, Enlightened Confidant is doing most of its work in MTG Standard. The card actually started making waves right out of the gate, with players landing League 5-0s with playsets of the card in Orzhov Lifegain as early as September 30th. Since then, the card has become a staple in the archetype, showing up as a full playset in many League and Challenge-topping lists.

It’s not surprising to see Confidant doing so well in these decks, since it’s pretty much tailor-made for the archetype. Orzhov Lifegain is, naturally, adept at gaining life, with cards like Hinterland Sanctifier and Case of the Uneaten FeastCase of the Uneaten FeastWhenever a creature you control enters, you gain 1 life.
To solve — You've gained 5 or more life this turn. (If unsolved, solve at the beginning of your end step.)
Solved — Sacrifice this Case: Creature cards in your graveyard gain "You may cast this card from your graveyard" until end of turn. letting you do so just by curving into Confidant. When you’re gaining life regularly like this, it becomes a free draw each turn, given the deck’s low curve.

This addresses one of the major weaknesses the deck had prior to Reality Fracture: a lack of card draw. Outside of Lunar Convocation and Haliya, Guided by Light, both of which take a while to get going, the deck simply didn’t have any tools to dig through its deck. For a fairly aggressive strategy, this was a big issue, which Confidant helps shore up nicely while still being a nice play on curve.

Even on slower turns when you just get a Surveil out of Confidant, it still helps push Orzhov Lifegain forward. Between Zoraline, Cosmos Caller and Case of the Uneaten FeastCase of the Uneaten FeastWhenever a creature you control enters, you gain 1 life.
To solve — You've gained 5 or more life this turn. (If unsolved, solve at the beginning of your end step.)
Solved — Sacrifice this Case: Creature cards in your graveyard gain "You may cast this card from your graveyard" until end of turn., the deck uses its graveyard as a resource a fair bit in the late game. Simply having the option to dump cards early helps prepare you for those scenarios in grindy matchups like Dimir Midrange, which can make a big difference when it comes to the crunch.

Eternal Wisdom

While Enlightened Confidant is seeing the bulk of its success in Standard, other MTG formats are starting to appreciate it, too. In Modern and Legacy, the card has been cropping up in Boros Energy decks since release, and now has plenty of League and Challenge finishes in both formats under its belt.

Though these decks are more known for their aggression and grindy potential, they pack a lot of incidental lifegain as well. Key one-drops like Guide of SoulsGuide of SoulsWhenever another creature you control enters, you gain 1 life and get {E} (an energy counter).
Whenever you attack, you may pay {E}{E}{E}. When you do, put two +1/+1 counters and a flying counter on target attacking creature. It becomes an Angel in addition to its other types. and Ocelot PrideOcelot PrideFirst strike, lifelink
Ascend (If you control ten or more permanents, you get the city's blessing for the rest of the game.)
At the beginning of your end step, if you gained life this turn, create a 1/1 white Cat creature token. Then if you have the city's blessing, for each token you control that entered this turn, create a token that's a copy of it. can easily get Confidant going as early as turn two, and Haliya, Guided by Light can bolster those figures later on. Given how many one-drops these lists play, however, it typically only takes a single trigger to get some draw going.

This helps to bolster both sides of the deck, giving you an early creature that can attack and take Guide of SoulsGuide of SoulsWhenever another creature you control enters, you gain 1 life and get {E} (an energy counter).
Whenever you attack, you may pay {E}{E}{E}. When you do, put two +1/+1 counters and a flying counter on target attacking creature. It becomes an Angel in addition to its other types. buffs well, and a way to keep the cards flowing when you find your nose to the grindstone. While it’s very vulnerable to some of the best removal across both formats, folding to Goblin Bombardment and Orcish BowmastersOrcish BowmastersFlash
When this creature enters and whenever an opponent draws a card except the first one they draw in each of their draw steps, this creature deals 1 damage to any target. Then amass Orcs 1., you can usually get some value out of it the turn it comes down, so that’s not a major issue.

These early results are incredibly encouraging for Enlightened Confidant, but they may just be the beginning. Blink decks in both Standard and Legacy are starting to test out the card as well, and it’s seeing some use in Commander, too, with decks like Betor, Ancestor’s Voice trying it out in good numbers. While it was overshadowed by flashier cards during spoiler season, now that the dust is settling it’s clear that Enlightened Confidant is one of the best cards from Reality Fracture overall.

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