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Notorious Throng in Limited Drafts: A Prioritization Guide

In the spiderweb of blue archetypes and rogue-centric shenanigans, Notorious Throng threads a wild, high-risk, high-reward path through a limited format. This Kindred Sorcery — Rogue spell, priced at {3}{U} with a Prowl-cascade built in, invites you to turn a single turn into a token-stuffed, board-flipping event. The card’s ultimate value rests on your ability to deal combat damage with a Rogue this turn and then unleash a torrent of Faerie Rogue tokens that fly at the speed of a blue trick. If you’ve drafted a Rogue-heavy deck or anticipate a heavy opponent-damage window, this spell can go from EBITDA-level value to fireworks in a single moment. 🧙‍♂️🔥

At its core, Notorious Throng is a blue sorcery that becomes an exponential threat when the stars align. The base mode creates X 1/1 black Faerie Rogue tokens with flying, where X equals the amount of damage you dealt to opponents this turn. That means every combat trick, every spread attack, every ping from a pump spell adds to X. The prowl option—paying {5}{U} to cast it for its prowl cost—lets you treat this spell as if you dealt combat damage with a Rogue this turn, potentially stacking the token flood even more dramatically. If the prowl price was paid, you also get an extra turn after this one. It’s a quintessential “blue tempo meets rogue swarm” moment, wrapped in a single card's elegant math. 💎⚔️

Card snapshot: what you’re actually getting

• Name: Notorious Throng
• Mana cost: {3}{U} (4 total)
• Type: Kindred Sorcery — Rogue
• Rarity: Rare
• Set: Zendikar Rising Commander (ZN C)
• Oracle text: Prowl {5}{U} (You may cast this for its prowl cost if you dealt combat damage to a player this turn with a Rogue.) Create X 1/1 black Faerie Rogue creature tokens with flying, where X is the damage dealt to your opponents this turn. If this spell's prowl cost was paid, take an extra turn after this one.
• Colors: Blue
• Flavor & design: A clever convergence of Rogue flavor and blue control tempo, designed to reward aggressive play with a late-game blowout when you can string damage, tokens, and a potential extra turn into one big swing.

In Limited, the timing of Notorious Throng matters as much as the math. If you’re building a Rogue-focused deck—something with evasive creatures, ways to deal combat damage to players, and spells that broaden your reach—this card can anchor your late-game plan. The token line is black, which creates a built-in tension with your blue deck’s typical control package; taking advantage of those Faerie Rogues often requires you to lean into tempo plays, combat tricks, and ways to maximize damage output in a single turn. The design cleverly rewards you for playing aggressively in small bursts, then capitalizing with a flood of chump-snaring fliers that convert your damage into a tangible board presence. 🧙‍♂️🎲

“When you land a solid rogue-pusher in blue, you’re already leaning into a classic ‘draw them into my trap’ moment. Notorious Throng invites a player to accelerate, not merely stall—the kind of card that makes your opponents double-check their life total after you untap.”

Strategic considerations for draft decisions

• Rogue synergy is king: The prowl mechanic hinges on having a Rogue that dealt combat damage that turn. Cards that support Rogues, such as evasive Rogues or token-friendly payoffs, amplify Notorious Throng’s upside. In a deck lacking Rogues, the prowl option becomes less enticing, so value drops to the base mode only.
• Damage as a resource: The X in the token generation scales with damage dealt to opponents in that turn. Any plan that pushes damage quickly—whether through direct damage spells, evasive attackers, or combat tricks—will boost your token output and push you toward that extra-turn payoff if you pay the prowl cost.
• Tempo swing potential: The extra turn is the cherry on top, but only if you can survive the blue-gray tempo game long enough to untap with new resources. In a typical draft, that extra turn can clinch a game if your opponent is already pressured by a growing Faerie Rogue swarm. 🧙‍♂️
• Mana curve and filtering: Paying the prowl cost may require a careful mana plan—five generic plus blue mana reserves—to unlock the bigger payoff. In a tight, late-draft environment, you might prioritize other blue spells that generate card advantage or tempo before committing to the prowl route.
• Color balance and draft lanes: Notorious Throng leans blue, but the tokens it creates are black. That means you’ll want to consider your mana alignment and what your color pairings look like in your pod. You don’t want to end up over-committed to blue with scarce black sources, or you’ll miss the tokens entirely. 🔥

When to prioritize Notorious Throng in a draft

• Early pick dynamics: If you’re in a Rogue-centric or tempo-driven blue pool, this is a pick for the mid-to-late stage that can flip a match when you’ve already curved into damage-based synergy. It’s not a first-pick bomb, but in the right shell it becomes a late-game accelerator.
• Mid-to-late pack value: In later picks, consider the presence of reliable Rogue creatures or cards that push damage to opponents. If your deck already contains a few Rogues, Notorious Throng becomes a natural upgrade that can snowball into a win condition.
• Opponent reading and risk: Because the prowl path depends on your damage output, you can exploit it in matches where your opponents rely on blockers that are slow to react to a sudden influx of flying Faeries. The combination of evasion and token pressure is a classic blue-white-blue rogue trap. 🧙‍♂️⚔️

Design, art, and collector notes

Notorious Throng’s art—credited to Thomas Denmark—captures the sly, motley essence of a Rogue cabal under the Raven-winged sky of Zendikar Rising Commander. It’s a bold reminder of how the Commander subset with its vibrant throne of cross-format legends can breathe new life into draft formats when you see familiar archetypes reimagined with a twist. The card’s reprint status as a non-foil, regular print in a Commander set makes it accessible to a broad audience, a small but meaningful nod to players who love both the lore and the crunch of numbers. The price tag in digital markets sits modestly, offering a tangible way to explore a layered blue Rogue strategy without breaking the bank. 💎

As you scout your next pack, keep an eye on Notorious Throng as a potential engine card for a Rogue cascade. Its true power unfolds when you lean into the synergy of rogues dealing damage, blue tempo, and token generation—an elegant dance that can turn a quiet turn into a wildfire of flying fey. And if you’re the kind of player who loves a little drama, the prowl line promises you a moment where a single spell, cast for an alternate cost, can threaten an entire board state and flip the script in ways you’ll tell your friends about for weeks. 🎨

Product inspiration and cross-promotion aside, if you're curious to see more from the broader magic-leaning ecosystem, check out these five articles spanning token strategies, deck archetypes, and the evolving meta. The network below has a little something for every MTG fan—whether you’re chasing stats, fun builds, or spicy combos. 🧙‍♂️

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