Conquer Memes: Laughs, Lore, and MTG Strategy

In TCG ·

Conquer by Randy Gallegos — Masters Edition II card art, a fiery red enchantment unfolding on a rugged landscape

Image courtesy of Scryfall.com

Memes, Lore, and Tactical Play: the red aura that conquers a land

Red MTG memes love big moments, bold motions, and the occasional land-stealing punchline. Conquer fits that brief to a tee: a flashy, unmistakable enchantment that says, in flavor and function, “I’m taking this with style.” Cast for {3}{R}{R}, it’s a bold five-mana play that lands on an opponent’s land and, with a swift flourish, you get to call that land yours. That simple line—“Enchant land; You control enchanted land”—is enough to spark a thousand memes about who really controls the table when the red mana starts to glow 🔥🧙‍♂️. It’s also a perfect reminder of why Masters Edition II still matters in the nostalgia economy: this is the kind of card that makes a seasoned player grin and a new player blink at the power of a single, well-placed aura.

“Why do we trade with those despicable elves? You don't live in forests, you burn them!” — Avram Garrisson, leader of the Knights of Stromgald

The card’s lore ties directly into a classic fantasy mood: a fiery, stubborn stance against forest-dwelling rivals, wrapped in a practical, land-centric magic design. Randy Gallegos’ art captures a moment of red-hot certainty—the kind of moment that makes a casual observer mutter, “Man, red mana is loud.” In a lot of ways, Conquer is less about the land you steal than the statement you make: when you attach this aura to a land, you’re not just gaining resources; you’re signaling that the game has taken a sharp turn, and you’re now steering the ship for a while ⚔️💎.

Design notes that spark fan joy

Conquer hails from Masters Edition II, a set widely celebrated for revisiting older, iconic cards in an artful, accessible way. This is an uncommon enchantment with a direct, no-nonsense effect: enchant land, you control enchanted land. The mana cost—three generic and two red—ensures it’s not a fly-by pick, but in the right deck, it’s a centerpiece. The flavor text, flavor-forward bleed, and the era’s design ethos come together here: red isn’t just about speed and damage; it’s about momentum, bold gambits, and the occasional “I take that now” moment. And in casual or Commander formats, that moment can become a running joke—the table gasps, a new meme forms, and someone whispers, “Conquer is still real.” 🧙‍♂️🔥

In terms of mechanics, the aura interacts with the terrain of a board in a distinctly old-school fashion. You don’t target a land in the sense of a spell that goes on the stack and resolves into a swap; rather, you attach and, effectively, install a new captain over the battlefield’s geography. Red’s favorite toy isn’t always control, but Conquer proves that when red leans into a bold claim, the floor can shake. The card remains legal in Legacy, Duel, and Commander formats, offering a surprisingly durable option for players who enjoy high-variance, high-tempo play patterns. And let’s be honest: that dramatic two-lane swing—your land now theirs, your plans suddenly clear—makes for excellent table talk and meme fodder 🎲.

Conquer on the table: memes that learned to play

Humor around Conquer tends to hinge on ownership and the irresistible lure of “my land, your resources.” A few storytelling angles and quick deck-building ideas can turn a single Conquer into a recurring joke or a legitimate strategy pivot. Imagine a red deck that leans on strong removal, fast mana acceleration, and a few stubborn lands that refuse to stay under one banner. You cast Conquer on the most impactful target on turn five or six, and suddenly you’re piloting the table by seizing those key terrains—like a warlord with a very specific master plan. The memes often lean into the moment when an opponent’s best land becomes your new cornerstone, and the table chimes in with “Conquer: the land-lord edition.” 🧙‍♂️⚔️

Strategically, the card invites a few thoughtful angles. It’s most potent in environments where lands matter deeply—multiplayer games, or any build where “lands matter” is part of the tempo. Shielding Conquer with counterspells or protective effects can preserve the moment, letting you ride a wave of red spells that pressure the board while your followers—both literal and meme—multiply. And because Conquer is an aura, it invites the usual aura-counterplay: disenchant/kill spells, land destruction shenanigans, and niche board wipes that can tilt the contest back to even footing. The humor-friendly edge comes from the fact that stealing a land from a rival can be a turning point, not just a tempo play, and memes thrive on the dramatic shift that follows. 🧨🎨

Where to find the crossover between meme culture and strategy

If you’re curious about how this kind of card travels beyond the kitchen table into broader conversations, you can check the wide ecosystem of MTG discussion, meme-centered content, and strategy breakdowns. The five articles below are a glimpse into how the MTG conversation evolves—from fantasy art homages to the psychology of memes in crypto and gaming communities, plus practical tips for selling digital goods and building archetypes that resonate with fans of Me2-era design. Each piece contributes to the shared language around surprise plays, clever deck-building, and the enduring allure of land-based mind games 🧙‍♂️💎.

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