Illuminator Virtuoso (Foil) (SNC)

Illuminator Virtuoso
Casting Cost: {1}{W}
Card Type: Creature - Human Rogue
Power/Toughness: 1/1
Card Text:
Double strike
Whenever Illuminator Virtuoso becomes the target of a spell you control, it connives. (Draw a card, then discard a card. If you discarded a nonland card, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature.)
Flavour Text:
The Obscura reserve their keenest blades for traitors in their midst.
Artist: John Stanko

Card Strengths and Weaknesses:

• Strengths:
  • Double strike ability makes it a threat even at low power.
  • Connive mechanic allows for card filtering and potential growth.
• Weaknesses:
  • Starts as a 1/1, making it vulnerable to removal.
  • Requires spells to target it to trigger its connive ability.

Deck Utility:

• Prowess/Spell-Focused Decks: Works well in decks with a lot of targeting spells.

• Voltron Decks: Can be a good candidate for auras and equipment due to double strike.

• Card Filtering: Useful in decks that want to churn through their libraries quickly.

Interactions and Combos:

• Cheap Targeting Spells: Best used with low-cost spells that can target it for quick connive triggers.

• Double Strike Enablers: Combines well with cards that benefit from creatures with double strike.

• Discard Synergy: Works well in decks that use the graveyard as a resource.

Flavor and Lore:
Illuminator Virtuoso appears to be part of the Obscura, a secretive and possibly nefarious group. The flavor text suggests that the group is particularly harsh on its own members who turn against it.

Overall Impression:
Illuminator Virtuoso is a small creature with a lot of potential upside. Its double strike and connive ability make it an interesting target for spells, and it can grow fairly easily in the right setup. It's a card that requires some build-around but could become a powerful asset.