Psychic Pickpocket (Foil) (SNC)

Psychic Pickpocket
Casting Cost: {4}{U}
Card Type: Creature - Cephalid Rogue
Power/Toughness: 3/2
Card Text:
When Psychic Pickpocket enters the battlefield, it connives. When it connives this way, return up to one target nonland permanent to its owner's hand.
Artist: Will Gist

Card Strengths and Weaknesses:

• Strengths:
  • The card offers a two-for-one by drawing and potentially discarding a card while also removing a nonland permanent.
  • Could become a 4/3 creature if you discard a nonland card due to the connive mechanic.
• Weaknesses:
  • High casting cost for a 3/2 creature.
  • The bouncing effect might not be strong enough to justify the cost in some situations.

Deck Utility:

• Control Decks: Fits well as a one-off or two-off in control decks that look for value creatures to disrupt the opponent's board while generating card advantage.

• Tempo Decks: It could find a home in decks that want to return problematic permanents while also establishing a board presence.

Interactions and Combos:

• Connive Synergy: Pairs well with cards that benefit from you drawing or discarding cards.

• Bounce Synergy: Combines nicely with other cards that capitalize on returning cards to hand, either to reuse enter-the-battlefield effects or disrupt opponent strategies.

Flavor and Lore:
The creature's ability to connive upon entering the battlefield suggests that it's more than just a common thief—it's one with psychic abilities, enabling it to not only pick pockets but also manipulate the field of play to its advantage.

Overall Impression:
Psychic Pickpocket is a value-oriented card best suited for slower-paced decks that can afford to play a 5-mana creature with these effects. While it may not be a staple in high-powered formats, it could find a home in more casual or themed decks, where its enter-the-battlefield effect and connive mechanic can generate a lot of value.