If a resolving spell or ability instructs a specific creature to connive but that creature has left the battlefield, the creature still connives. If you discard a nonland card this way, you won't put a +1/+1 counter on anything. Abilities that trigger “when [that creature] connives” will trigger.
Once an ability that causes a creature to connive begins to resolve, no player may take any other actions until it's done. Notably, opponents can't try to remove the conniving creature after you discard a nonland card but before it receives a counter.
If multiple creatures are instructed to connive simultaneously, they connive one at a time in the order of their controller's choice.
Last observed on Scryfall 2 months ago at $8.10. Over the trailing 90 days the price moved between $7.87 and $9.70 across 49 observations. Cross-checked across TCGplayer, eBay sold, Cardmarket EU, and Star City.
This printing is one of 2 catalogued treatments from NCC — the lineup includes Nonfoil alongside the standard finish. Across our catalog the Rarix library tracks every variant in the same family so collectors can compare price, scarcity and demand inside a single lineage.
Card #24 of *New Capenna Commander*, the set that shipped alongside the April 2022 New Capenna Commander release.
Card type: Instant, color identity blue, printed at rare. Rares occupy the bottom-of-pack rare slot in standard boosters. Mana cost: {X}{1}{U} (2 converted). Keyword abilities: Connive.
Legal in Legacy, Vintage, and Commander.
EDHrec ranks this card #7,402 in Commander, putting it in the niche-pick tier of the format's playable pool.
Illustrated by Campbell White. Rarix catalogs 472 other cards credited to this artist.
Magic: The Gathering · ™ & © Wizards of the Coast · Illus. Campbell White
Card data via Scryfall. Rarix is fan-made; not endorsed by the rights holders.
If no card is discarded, most likely because that player's hand is empty and an effect says they can't draw cards, the conniving creature does not receive a +1/+1 counter.
You choose which creatures to phase out after all of those creatures have connived.
