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.
2022-04-29
wotc
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.
2022-04-29
wotc
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.
Format Legality
Standard
Not Legal
Future
Not Legal
Historic
Not Legal
Timeless
Legal
Gladiator
Legal
Pioneer
Legal
Modern
Legal
Legacy
Legal
Pauper
Legal
Vintage
Legal
Penny
Legal
Commander
Legal
Oathbreaker
Legal
Standardbrawl
Not Legal
Brawl
Not Legal
Alchemy
Not Legal
Paupercommander
Legal
Duel
Legal
Oldschool
Not Legal
Premodern
Not Legal
Predh
Not Legal
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