Scheming Fence - Art Deco Showcase (SNC)

Scheming Fence

• Casting Cost: {W}{U}
• Card Type: Creature - Human Citizen
• Power/Toughness: 2/3
• Card Text:
  • As Scheming Fence enters the battlefield, choose a nonland permanent: When Scheming Fence enters the battlefield, you must choose a nonland permanent. This choice determines which permanent's abilities Scheming Fence will interact with.
  • Activated abilities of the chosen permanent can't be activated: Once Scheming Fence is on the battlefield and you've chosen a permanent, any activated abilities of that chosen permanent cannot be activated as long as Scheming Fence is in play. This means the chosen permanent's abilities are effectively shut down.
  • Scheming Fence has all activated abilities of the chosen permanent except loyalty abilities: Scheming Fence takes on all the activated abilities of the chosen permanent except for loyalty abilities, which are specific to planeswalkers. This means you can now use Scheming Fence to activate abilities of the chosen permanent as if it were that permanent.
  • You may spend mana as though it were mana of any color to activate them: This is an important additional effect. It allows you to use any type of mana (including colorless mana or mana of different colors) to pay for the activated abilities of the chosen permanent, making it very versatile in terms of mana usage.

Strengths:

• Ability Shutdown: Scheming Fence can effectively shut down the activated abilities of a problematic permanent, which can be particularly useful against decks that rely on specific abilities.
• Ability Mimicry: It can take on the abilities of a chosen permanent, which means it can grant your deck access to abilities it might not normally have.
• Versatile Mana Usage: The ability to spend mana as though it were of any color to activate abilities can be especially handy in decks with diverse mana sources.

Weaknesses:

• Vulnerability: With 3 toughness, Scheming Fence is relatively vulnerable to being removed by spells or abilities that deal damage or destroy creatures.
• Dependent on the Chosen Permanent: Its effectiveness depends on the choice of the nonland permanent you make when it enters the battlefield.

Deck Considerations:

• Control Decks: Scheming Fence can be valuable in control decks that want to neutralize key abilities of opposing creatures or artifacts.
• Combo Decks: Decks with specific combos may use Scheming Fence to mimic the abilities of combo pieces.
• Adaptability: Decks that aim to adapt to various situations and need access to a wide range of abilities can benefit from Scheming Fence's versatility.

Flavor and Art:

• Art: The art of Scheming Fence likely portrays a shrewd and calculating individual, fitting the theme of someone who's skilled at scheming and manipulation.
• Flavor: The card's flavor suggests that Scheming Fence is a character who specializes in exploiting the abilities of others while disabling their own abilities.

Overall Impression: Scheming Fence is a clever and versatile card that can either disable problematic activated abilities or provide your deck with newfound versatility by mimicking those abilities. Its unique mana-spending ability adds an extra layer of adaptability, making it a valuable tool in decks that value flexibility and control.