Obscura Interceptor (SNC)

Obscura Interceptor
Casting Cost: {1}{W}{U}{B}
Card Type: Creature - Cephalid Wizard
Power/Toughness: 3/1
Card Text:

• Flash
• Lifelink
• When Obscura Interceptor enters the battlefield, it connives. When it connives this way, return up to one target spell to its owner's hand. (To have a creature connive, draw a card, then discard a card. Put a +1/+1 counter on that creature for each nonland card discarded this way.)
  Artist: Jason A. Engle

Strengths:

• Flexibility: The card has flash, allowing for instant-speed interaction.
• Utility: Provides both a bounce effect and card selection through its "connive" mechanic.
• Synergy: Fits well in decks that want to manipulate their hands or graveyard and can use +1/+1 counters effectively.
• Lifelink: Helps to stabilize against aggressive decks.

Weaknesses:

• Fragile: With only 1 toughness, it's susceptible to many forms of removal.
• Limited Bounce: Can only return a spell, not a permanent, to its owner's hand.
• Mana-Intensive: Requires three colors and four total mana for a 3/1 creature, albeit with significant upside.

Potential Deck Placement:

• Likely to see play in Esper (W/U/B) Control, Midrange, or Flash decks.
• Could be useful in a deck focused on spellslinging or a +1/+1 counter strategy.

Flavor and Art:

• The art by Jason A. Engle is expected to be mysterious and ethereal, in line with the card's abstract abilities.
• The creature's Cephalid subtype and Wizard class fit its tricky, spell-manipulating nature.

Overall Impression:

• Obscura Interceptor is a Swiss Army Knife of a card that can fit a variety of roles, from countering spells to providing life gain and card selection. It offers a lot of utility packed into one card and would be a great asset in any deck that can meet its somewhat demanding mana requirements. The low toughness is a vulnerability, but its flash and lifelink make it quite versatile.