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Confound in Focus: Top Control Archetypes for MTG
If you’ve ever wished for a two-mana interception that punishes targeted shenanigans while weaning your hand of excess chaos, Confound is a small spell with surprisingly big dreams. This Planeshift instant—{1}{U} in a blue cloak—reads like a quiet guardian: counter a spell that targets a creature, then draw a card. It’s the kind of card that rewards well-timed raises of the eyebrow and patient mana banking. In a world where a single nix of a pump spell or a targeted removal can swing a game, Confound acts as both a shield and a small card-advantage engine. And yes, it’s from the early-2000s Planeshift era, where blue was all about tempo, wit, and a little bit of mischief 🧙🔥💎⚔️.
“Did I know Szat would betray us?” Urza asked quizzically. “I was counting on it.”
Flavor aside, the real fun is in the way Confound nudges you toward archetypes that respect patience, tempo, and the art of saying “no, you don’t get to resolve that.” It’s common in rarity, which makes it a practical pickup for casual Legacy, Pauper-style decks, and even some commander shells that want a small, efficient disruption package. The synergy is simple on the surface—counter a creature-targeting spell and draw a card—but the layers of deck-building nuance run deep. Let’s dive into the top control archetypes where Confound shines brightest, and how you can craft a plan that feels both nostalgic and modern 🧙🔥🎲.
1) Blue-Tempo Control: disruption with inevitability
The classic blue tempo frame loves to trade one-for-one and stay ahead on resources. Confound fits neatly into a package that contains other cheap counterspells, cantrips, and card draw to keep your hand full while you purchase the tempo swing. In this archetype, you lean into a few steady, efficient plays each turn: counter attempts that threaten your opponent’s crucial plays, and then replace what you counter with a fresh draw. The result is a game where you’re dictating the pace, not your opponent, and Confound’s restriction—only targeting spells that target a creature—helps you neutralize specific threats without over-committing to a broad counterspell plan. It’s the difference between swinging with a precise rapier and flailing with a broadsword 🗡️⚔️.
- Core approach: tempo-driven cantrips, a lean removal suite, and multiple sources of card advantage to outlast the opponent.
- Key payoffs: your redraws keep you ahead as you gradually stifle a creature-focused offense or a pump-strategy aimed at your fragile threats.
- Practical note: because Confound only counters creature-targeting spells, you’ll want to lean into a few “soft counters” and spells that pressure their plan while you set up your own lock pieces.
2) Pure Blue Midrange/Control Pairing with Removal Pressure
In a midrange or hard-control frame, Confound becomes a surgical tool. When you’re both drawing cards and stymying creature-targeted moves, you create a resilient board state that’s hard to disrupt with a single draw step from your opponent. Pair Confound with a steady stream of single-target removal and slow-building card advantage spells, and you’ve got a deck that can answer both early and late threats. The art of this build is managing the margins—knowing when to hold up mana for Confound versus when to push a draw engine or a planar-advantage play—and maintaining a stable life total while you influence the top of the curve with counters and cantrips. It’s a classic blue-silver dance: you curve into the right play at the right moment, and Confound helps you keep the rhythm intact 💎🎨.
- Strategic aim: evolve from a reactive posture into a proactive stall that slowly drains your opponent’s options, using Confound as a pressure-relief valve for creature-targeted aggression.
- Deck balance: mix of early bounce, targeted countering, and robust card draw to ensure you never run dry on answers.
3) Dim Blue Control with Hand Disruption and Creature Targeting Counters
Dip a toe into a slightly more devious blue shell by pairing Confound with additional countermagic and some graveyard-friendly or cantrip-heavy engines. The order of operations matters: you want to be able to respond to creature-targeting spells before they hit your board, then refill your hand so the next big decision is yours to make. This approach is particularly tasty in formats that reward careful sequencing, such as Legacy or casual commander scenarios where creature-centric combos are common. Confound’s draw effect ensures you’re not just delaying the inevitable; you’re stacking options and keeping your plan flexible 🧙🔥.
- Key concept: retain control of the tempo by denying creature-targeted actions at the right moments and replacing your resources with a fresh card.
- Trade-off awareness: given its specificity, you’ll want a few other defensive tools that cover the broader spectrum of threats your opponent can deploy.
4) Pauper- and Commander-Friendly Angles: Accessibility matters
Confound’s common status makes it appealing for budget builds, especially in formats like Pauper, where access to efficient counterplay matters more than raw power. In Commander, you’ll find it a fun, under-the-radar pick that can slot into a blue-centric control shell without exploding your mana base. Its flavor text riff—Urza’s era, trust and betrayal—lands nicely in long, board-lugging games where players reminisce about older designs and the way blue magic used to feel in the Multiverse. If you’re hunting for a card that’s easy to include but difficult to optimize, Confound rewards patience and precise timing with a reliable late-game draw twist 🎲.
A small interruption can tilt the entire ledger of a match.
From a collector’s perspective, Confound sits at an approachable price point for modern collectors, with foil variants commanding a premium but still accessible for many blue-curious traders. In terms of value, you’ll find cheap copies in non-foil form and a handful of foil options that catch the eye in binder pages and display frames alike. The combination of historical flavor, reliable utility, and classic blue counterplay is what keeps Confound tucked into casual decks and legacy staples alike. For collectors and players who love the Planeshift era, this card is a tasteful nod to the early-2000s design ethos—elegant, practical, and delightfully cheeky 🧙🔥🎨.
As you craft your own Confound-powered strategy, remember to balance the deck with a thoughtful suite of cantrips and threat neutralizers that align with your chosen archetype. The right mix of tempo, card advantage, and creature-targeting disruption can turn a nondescript common into a quiet powerhouse that feels modern even as it tips its hat to a bygone era. And if you’re hunting for a practical way to celebrate your MTG passions while you game, the product below might be the perfect desk companion to keep your setup pristine while you pull off your next big play.
Prices and availability reflect current market data. Card value cited includes USD and EUR estimates; foil variants may vary. Card not required for a winning strategy, but it sure sweetens the nostalgia trip 🚀.