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Origin Story and Set Context

In the world of Magic's Archenemy crossover, schemes are the dramatic villains behind the curtain, guiding the multiplayer chaos with a wink and a roar. The card I Delight in Your Convulsions arrives under the Archenemy Schemes umbrella (set code oarc), a special sub-set designed to slot into the larger Archenemy experience. This particular print is a colorless Scheme, released in 2010 as part of the schema-driven narrative that lets one player lean into a plan and watch the table twist in surprising ways 🧙‍♂️. Its collector number “17★” signals a standout in the line—an oversized, star-marked card that still keeps the vibe of a humble common, but with the aura of a memorable moment in the game’s lore 🔥💎.

Archenemy’s Scheme cards are the structural backbone of the experience: instead of casting a normal spell, you reveal a plan that unfolds over time. I Delight in Your Convulsions fits neatly into that framework. It’s a zero-mana, colorless scheme that slides into motion when the villain’s plan is set in motion, setting the stage for a dramatic life-total swing across the opponents. The flavor and design work hand in hand here: a “scheme” is a meta strategy, and this one embodies a surgical, unsettling approach to lifetotal calculus ⚔️🎲.

Flavor text reinforces the tone: “I can't imagine what you're feeling right now, but I'll try my best.” It’s a line that captures the unsettling, theatrical humor that Archenemy schemes revel in—part sinister, part sardonic, and wholly memorable for players who relish the table-talk as much as the card-drawing moments 🧙‍♂️. Wayne Reynolds’ art, paired with the black border and the oversized silhouette of the plan, makes this card feel like a window into a villain’s diary—the moment you set the scheme in motion, the room shifts, and the life totals start to tilt in a direction you can almost taste 🔥💎.

What the card does and why it matters

• Type: Scheme (Archenemy Schemes)
• Mana cost: 0
• Cmc: 0
• Colors: Colorless
• Rarity: Common
• Oracle text: When you set this scheme in motion, each opponent loses 3 life. You gain life equal to the life lost this way.
• Flavor text: “I can't imagine what you're feeling right now, but I'll try my best.”
• Set: Archenemy Schemes (oarc); collector number 17★; artist Wayne Reynolds

Mechanically, this scheme is a clean, ambitious exchange: a three-life hit to every opponent, balanced by your own life gain equal to that loss. In a multiplayer setting, that means big swings, often deciding outcomes in a single sequence if the board state is favorable. It’s a direct reminder that in Archenemy, even a “zero-mana” card can punch well above its weight when the table is ready for the drama 🧙‍♂️🔥.

Design and flavor in harmony

The scheme’s design leans into a classic MTG paradox: life is both expense and currency. By forcing opponents to lose life and granting you the life back, the card embodies the victorious hunger of a schemer who plays for the long view while cutting down the table’s ability to stabilize. The art and text work together to deliver a moment that feels both cinematic and achievable in a casual game night—precisely the mood Archenemy wants: big plays, bold moments, and a story in every match 🎨⚔️.

For collectors and players who enjoy the lore, this card is a reminder that not every iconic moment is a flashy planeswalker; some are sneaky, clever schemes that redefine how you read a table’s life totals. The card’s non-foil print and the star-printed collector number give it an extra dash of charm, a badge of being part of the experimental arc that defined Archenemy’s distinctive flavor in the era it released 🧙‍♂️💎.

Strategic takeaways for your table

If you’re running an Archenemy setup or simply exploring life-drain themes in casual multiplayer, this scheme is a superb kickoff. It’s not a taxing card in terms of maintenance—the effect is straightforward, predictable, and tremendously satisfying when you see opponents’ faces twist as their life totals plummet while yours climbs. Consider pairing it with life-gain triggers or protection from incidental damage so you can reliably weather the early tempo and steer toward a midgame crescendo. The zero-mana cost is a gift for a plan that will likely unfold over at least a couple of turns, making it feel like a masterstroke that only the bold would attempt 🧙‍♂️🎲.

While the card’s colorless nature means it isn’t tied to a specific color identity, it shines brightest in atmospheres where players embrace chaotic, dramatic narratives and the back-and-forth of life totals. In a best-case scenario, you pull this scheme into motion just as opponents are starting to converge on you, and the life swing re-centers the board with a dramatic “aha” moment that’s perfect for story-rich nights 🔥⚔️.

For modern collectors and nostalgia-driven players, I Delight in Your Convulsions offers a glimpse into a design philosophy that was fond of theatrical arcs and memorable phrases. It’s a small single card in the grand scheme of the Archenemy experience, but its punch is persistent, much like a good villain’s plan. If you’re chasing flavor, drama, and a touch of diabolical humor, this one fits the bill nicely 🧙‍♂️💎.

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