TCG Playability
Creature — Human Villain
Flash Whenever this creature attacks, it connives. (Draw a card, then discard a card. If you discarded a nonland card, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature.)
"Don't be a hero, Gary! We don't get paid enough for a scrap with Spider-Man!"
Doc Ock's Henchmen is a versatile blue creature that brings solid tempo value to multiple formats and deck archetypes. As a two-mana 2/1 with flash, this card offers immediate flexibility, allowing you to hold up mana for other interaction before deploying it as a surprise blocker or attacker at the end of your opponent's turn. The flash mechanic makes it an excellent fit for tempo-focused strategies where playing at instant speed creates opportunities for optimal sequencing and bluffs. The connive ability is where this card truly shines, as it triggers whenever the creature attacks, providing consistent card draw while potentially fueling the graveyard, selecting which cards matter most to your game plan. The connive mechanic essentially turns each attack into an opportunity to generate incremental advantage: you draw a card and filter through your hand, and if you discard a nonland card, you even get a +1/+1 counter, making the creature grow stronger over time. This card slots naturally into blue-based tempo decks, control shells that appreciate evasive threats, and any strategy built around the connive mechanic itself. In Limited formats, it's a strong early drop that pressures opponents while generating resources. In Constructed, it works excellently in spell-slinger decks that want cheap creatures with relevant abilities, as well as in graveyard-focused strategies where discarding is beneficial. The breadth of format legality from Standard through Vintage and Commander means this card has legitimate applications across the entire Magic ecosystem, making it a worthwhile pickup for players looking to build efficient, resource-generating threats in blue.
Illustrated by Nathaniel Himawan