rst38
@rst38.bsky.social
I enjoy pretty much anything that has to do with Magic design and Magic limited.
𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐊𝐌 #𝐏𝟎𝐏𝟏 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞🏆
𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐊𝐌 #𝐏𝟎𝐏𝟏 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞🏆
When omen was spoiled I was a bit confused. My first reaction was "But this mechanic provides no tangible structural support!" That is, no gy interaction, no cast-from-exile, not explicitly helping flurry, etc. So what's its role in the format?
Yet playing with it felt good. It quickly grew on me.
Yet playing with it felt good. It quickly grew on me.
Today's #MakingMagic column talks about the importance of understanding the emotional reaction of a mechanic when designing Magic: magic.wizards.com/en/news/maki... #mtg #WotCStaff
Psychological Reactions
Mark covers his core theme as a writer and how it plays a part in his personal and professional writing.
magic.wizards.com
November 24, 2025 at 11:16 PM
When omen was spoiled I was a bit confused. My first reaction was "But this mechanic provides no tangible structural support!" That is, no gy interaction, no cast-from-exile, not explicitly helping flurry, etc. So what's its role in the format?
Yet playing with it felt good. It quickly grew on me.
Yet playing with it felt good. It quickly grew on me.
If I'm not mistaken, Donny & April and Leonardo would become just the 10th and 11th cards with four subtypes.
Full list: scryfall.com/search?q=t%3...
Notably, the only other cards with four printed types are River Song and Druid of the Sacred Beaker (silver-bordered). Others gained via errata.
Full list: scryfall.com/search?q=t%3...
Notably, the only other cards with four printed types are River Song and Druid of the Sacred Beaker (silver-bordered). Others gained via errata.
October 11, 2025 at 6:37 AM
If I'm not mistaken, Donny & April and Leonardo would become just the 10th and 11th cards with four subtypes.
Full list: scryfall.com/search?q=t%3...
Notably, the only other cards with four printed types are River Song and Druid of the Sacred Beaker (silver-bordered). Others gained via errata.
Full list: scryfall.com/search?q=t%3...
Notably, the only other cards with four printed types are River Song and Druid of the Sacred Beaker (silver-bordered). Others gained via errata.
I was a bit surprised how much the assumption was that players would lock into their colors early and survive/pivot from there as needed. But wouldn't drafting be healthier if staying open was embraced also in pick-two format? I've first picked 2 cards that can't go into same deck many times myself
Check out this article by @coreyjbowen.bsky.social about designing Spider-Man's Pick-2 draft! There's tons of stuff to learn about our design process and SPM's set structure! #wotcstaff magic.wizards.com/en/news/feat...
Magic: The Gathering® | Marvel's Spider-Man and Pick-Two Draft
What do you get when you combine a brand-new draft format with a universe of Spider-Heroes? For Corey Bowen, you get an exciting challenge for a draft designer.
magic.wizards.com
September 28, 2025 at 7:38 AM
I was a bit surprised how much the assumption was that players would lock into their colors early and survive/pivot from there as needed. But wouldn't drafting be healthier if staying open was embraced also in pick-two format? I've first picked 2 cards that can't go into same deck many times myself
Thoughts on SPM/OM1 from a set design and limited play perspective: www.reddit.com/r/lrcast/com...
From the lrcast community on Reddit: Thoughts on SPM/OM1 from a set design and limited play perspective
Explore this post and more from the lrcast community
www.reddit.com
September 27, 2025 at 11:50 AM
Thoughts on SPM/OM1 from a set design and limited play perspective: www.reddit.com/r/lrcast/com...
For anyone that might be interested (and somehow doesn't have enough with EOE!): Tomorrow I start previewing a custom set in the MSE discord server. You can also follow along the cards as they are previewed here: custom-magic.gitlab.io/custom-magic...
Here you have the teaser and a welcome card!
Here you have the teaser and a welcome card!
July 8, 2025 at 9:23 PM
For anyone that might be interested (and somehow doesn't have enough with EOE!): Tomorrow I start previewing a custom set in the MSE discord server. You can also follow along the cards as they are previewed here: custom-magic.gitlab.io/custom-magic...
Here you have the teaser and a welcome card!
Here you have the teaser and a welcome card!
One of the many cool things about landfall is that it can be used to implement a dedicated lands archetype that can replay lands, as well as a tool to reinforce a grindy archetype that just aims to ensure a steady flow of lands. You just need to tinker with the triggered abilities you design.
Tannuk also fills the role of a sign-post uncommon, this time for R/G. Of course Landfall has to be part of the lands matter archetype.
June 20, 2025 at 9:13 PM
One of the many cool things about landfall is that it can be used to implement a dedicated lands archetype that can replay lands, as well as a tool to reinforce a grindy archetype that just aims to ensure a steady flow of lands. You just need to tinker with the triggered abilities you design.
When I see a new mechanic I love thinking about the design space of positive interactions in limited:
- Undercosted high pw (defender, lopsided stats, other downsides)
- Becomes tapped, control tapped creatures
- Vigilance, untapping
- Interacting with (charge) counters
Expect at least the first 3
- Undercosted high pw (defender, lopsided stats, other downsides)
- Becomes tapped, control tapped creatures
- Vigilance, untapping
- Interacting with (charge) counters
Expect at least the first 3
Now docking: Spacecraft!
A new subtype to Magic! An evolution of vehicles for things that are a bit larger and that need to travel the stars. Powering up over time, the goal is to enable it once and then it will remain active.
#MTGEternities
A new subtype to Magic! An evolution of vehicles for things that are a bit larger and that need to travel the stars. Powering up over time, the goal is to enable it once and then it will remain active.
#MTGEternities
June 20, 2025 at 9:07 PM
When I see a new mechanic I love thinking about the design space of positive interactions in limited:
- Undercosted high pw (defender, lopsided stats, other downsides)
- Becomes tapped, control tapped creatures
- Vigilance, untapping
- Interacting with (charge) counters
Expect at least the first 3
- Undercosted high pw (defender, lopsided stats, other downsides)
- Becomes tapped, control tapped creatures
- Vigilance, untapping
- Interacting with (charge) counters
Expect at least the first 3
I always enjoy N&B articles as I consider myself part of the target audience MaRo mentions! I think coming up with mechanics is something that I will never stop struggling with. And unfortunately, a bad choice of mechanics can be something that comes back to bite you hard at the worst moment.
Today's #MakingMagic article is this year's "Nuts & Bolts" article (well, part 1 of 2) aimed at amateur Magic designers. This year, I talk about finding your mechanics: magic.wizards.com/en/news/maki... #mtg #WotCStaff
Nuts & Bolts #17: Finding Your Mechanics, Part 1
In this installment of "Nuts & Bolts," Mark discusses how mechanics get made and their relation to overall design.
magic.wizards.com
April 8, 2025 at 4:23 PM
I always enjoy N&B articles as I consider myself part of the target audience MaRo mentions! I think coming up with mechanics is something that I will never stop struggling with. And unfortunately, a bad choice of mechanics can be something that comes back to bite you hard at the worst moment.
Corporate needs you to find the differences between these two plays.
March 29, 2025 at 12:50 PM
Corporate needs you to find the differences between these two plays.
These two are peak Magic design
March 21, 2025 at 10:54 PM
These two are peak Magic design
Sometimes I see custom designs (commons/uncommons designed for limited) that use twobrid mana for costs like {1}{2/G} or {4}{2/G}{2/G}.
These hardly make sense because you are designing a card that's either unplayable off green, or too strong for a green deck (for whatever its rarity is).
These hardly make sense because you are designing a card that's either unplayable off green, or too strong for a green deck (for whatever its rarity is).
March 18, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Sometimes I see custom designs (commons/uncommons designed for limited) that use twobrid mana for costs like {1}{2/G} or {4}{2/G}{2/G}.
These hardly make sense because you are designing a card that's either unplayable off green, or too strong for a green deck (for whatever its rarity is).
These hardly make sense because you are designing a card that's either unplayable off green, or too strong for a green deck (for whatever its rarity is).
"A common archetype theme gets an ability word" might be "Whenever one or more +1/+1 counters are put on ~" or something related to counters?
"Dragons get a new typal enchantment based on a popular Zombie one": Liliana's Mastery?
"A new instant and sorcery subtype" 👀
Time counters 👀👀
"Dragons get a new typal enchantment based on a popular Zombie one": Liliana's Mastery?
"A new instant and sorcery subtype" 👀
Time counters 👀👀
March 11, 2025 at 4:41 PM
"A common archetype theme gets an ability word" might be "Whenever one or more +1/+1 counters are put on ~" or something related to counters?
"Dragons get a new typal enchantment based on a popular Zombie one": Liliana's Mastery?
"A new instant and sorcery subtype" 👀
Time counters 👀👀
"Dragons get a new typal enchantment based on a popular Zombie one": Liliana's Mastery?
"A new instant and sorcery subtype" 👀
Time counters 👀👀
Magic cards are very consistent in how they order the types of creatures with 2+ creature types, especially in the vast majority of cases that are a class+race pair.
But I noticed something very interesting the other day. In the very same set, we recently got a Horror Spirit and a Spirit Horror!
But I noticed something very interesting the other day. In the very same set, we recently got a Horror Spirit and a Spirit Horror!
March 6, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Magic cards are very consistent in how they order the types of creatures with 2+ creature types, especially in the vast majority of cases that are a class+race pair.
But I noticed something very interesting the other day. In the very same set, we recently got a Horror Spirit and a Spirit Horror!
But I noticed something very interesting the other day. In the very same set, we recently got a Horror Spirit and a Spirit Horror!
Indeed, when the first 3-color TDM cards were spoiled I remember thinking to myself how good they'd be as illustrative examples of how to make harmonized multicolor cards according to the color pie.
Obviously Skirmish Rhino has the precedent we all now about but Inevitable Defeat was my favorite.
Obviously Skirmish Rhino has the precedent we all now about but Inevitable Defeat was my favorite.
Fuck it I’ll just start now you can’t stop me. It’s really hard to design 3-color cards that _feel_ 3c without doing 3 different things. I think this Narset passes the bar. Also I think Narset is the character I’ve designed the most cards for (MAT and TDM)
March 5, 2025 at 9:13 PM
Indeed, when the first 3-color TDM cards were spoiled I remember thinking to myself how good they'd be as illustrative examples of how to make harmonized multicolor cards according to the color pie.
Obviously Skirmish Rhino has the precedent we all now about but Inevitable Defeat was my favorite.
Obviously Skirmish Rhino has the precedent we all now about but Inevitable Defeat was my favorite.
One of the most satisfying things in Magic for me together with the mechanical color pie is the design skeleton.
But even with the restrictions that the design skeleton may impose, it's interesting how there are recurrent designs even more specific in their configuration of numbers and mechanics.
But even with the restrictions that the design skeleton may impose, it's interesting how there are recurrent designs even more specific in their configuration of numbers and mechanics.
February 22, 2025 at 11:27 PM
One of the most satisfying things in Magic for me together with the mechanical color pie is the design skeleton.
But even with the restrictions that the design skeleton may impose, it's interesting how there are recurrent designs even more specific in their configuration of numbers and mechanics.
But even with the restrictions that the design skeleton may impose, it's interesting how there are recurrent designs even more specific in their configuration of numbers and mechanics.
You have probably heard expressions such as "Magic is a literal game" or "Reading the card explains the card", which reflect just how consistent the rules engine and the rules text wording of the game is.
But can we find instances of identical effects worded in a slightly different manner?
But can we find instances of identical effects worded in a slightly different manner?
February 20, 2025 at 6:30 PM
You have probably heard expressions such as "Magic is a literal game" or "Reading the card explains the card", which reflect just how consistent the rules engine and the rules text wording of the game is.
But can we find instances of identical effects worded in a slightly different manner?
But can we find instances of identical effects worded in a slightly different manner?
A thread with early reflections about the DFT limited format.
We are only two days in, but the extent to which green is dominating the format is quite remarkable. At common, green is the clear frontrunner both in Game in Hand and Opening Hand stats.
We are only two days in, but the extent to which green is dominating the format is quite remarkable. At common, green is the clear frontrunner both in Game in Hand and Opening Hand stats.
February 13, 2025 at 4:56 PM
A thread with early reflections about the DFT limited format.
We are only two days in, but the extent to which green is dominating the format is quite remarkable. At common, green is the clear frontrunner both in Game in Hand and Opening Hand stats.
We are only two days in, but the extent to which green is dominating the format is quite remarkable. At common, green is the clear frontrunner both in Game in Hand and Opening Hand stats.
Just submitted my picks for the #P0P1 challenge for DFT. But what about the inverse #P0P1 challenge? These would be my picks:
- Lightwheel Enhancements
- Stall Out
- Streaking Oilgorger
- Magmakin Artillerist
- Broken Wings
- Guidelight Matrix
- Walking Sarcophagus
- Boosted Sloop
- Lightwheel Enhancements
- Stall Out
- Streaking Oilgorger
- Magmakin Artillerist
- Broken Wings
- Guidelight Matrix
- Walking Sarcophagus
- Boosted Sloop
February 10, 2025 at 5:36 PM
I love how you can tell the defining peculiarities of a set by looking at the restrictions of the common two-mana blue mana dork.
- DFT: Vehicles, exhaust
- DSK: Enchantments, Rooms, manifest dread
- DMU: Spells, kicker
- KHM: Spells, foretell
etc.
- DFT: Vehicles, exhaust
- DSK: Enchantments, Rooms, manifest dread
- DMU: Spells, kicker
- KHM: Spells, foretell
etc.
February 3, 2025 at 4:06 PM
I love how you can tell the defining peculiarities of a set by looking at the restrictions of the common two-mana blue mana dork.
- DFT: Vehicles, exhaust
- DSK: Enchantments, Rooms, manifest dread
- DMU: Spells, kicker
- KHM: Spells, foretell
etc.
- DFT: Vehicles, exhaust
- DSK: Enchantments, Rooms, manifest dread
- DMU: Spells, kicker
- KHM: Spells, foretell
etc.
#MTGAetherdrift features the highest vehicle-to-card ratio of any set by a good margin (41 in total; 9C, 17U, 11R, 4M)
Vehicles have a tricky characteristic. They can be creatures and engage in combat, but they aren't creatures by themselves. So what are the implications on the design skeleton?
Vehicles have a tricky characteristic. They can be creatures and engage in combat, but they aren't creatures by themselves. So what are the implications on the design skeleton?
February 1, 2025 at 3:30 PM
#MTGAetherdrift features the highest vehicle-to-card ratio of any set by a good margin (41 in total; 9C, 17U, 11R, 4M)
Vehicles have a tricky characteristic. They can be creatures and engage in combat, but they aren't creatures by themselves. So what are the implications on the design skeleton?
Vehicles have a tricky characteristic. They can be creatures and engage in combat, but they aren't creatures by themselves. So what are the implications on the design skeleton?
Some of my favorite Magic designs are those that leverage set mechanics and/or flavor to convey a recurrent design in a different but just as clean manner. And you get to contribute to relevant as-fans, often in a superficial but multi-archetype friendly way due to being generic. Brilliant card.
January 22, 2025 at 12:04 AM
Some of my favorite Magic designs are those that leverage set mechanics and/or flavor to convey a recurrent design in a different but just as clean manner. And you get to contribute to relevant as-fans, often in a superficial but multi-archetype friendly way due to being generic. Brilliant card.
The ranking of the most quoted flavor text sources (characters, books, etc.) found in unique flavor texts across the history of paper Magic cards.
Including all of them that show up in at least 20 different flavor texts!
Including all of them that show up in at least 20 different flavor texts!
January 2, 2025 at 4:15 PM
The ranking of the most quoted flavor text sources (characters, books, etc.) found in unique flavor texts across the history of paper Magic cards.
Including all of them that show up in at least 20 different flavor texts!
Including all of them that show up in at least 20 different flavor texts!
Do you have any joke custom Magic cards that you have no particular use for but you still came up with them at some point anyway?
December 23, 2024 at 3:43 PM
Do you have any joke custom Magic cards that you have no particular use for but you still came up with them at some point anyway?
Want some Magic trivia?
A thread with the ranking of the most quoted flavor text sources found in unique flavor texts across the history of (paper) Magic cards.
Starting from #52, this thread goes up to #35.
Some clarifications on how the count was determined at the end of the thread.
A thread with the ranking of the most quoted flavor text sources found in unique flavor texts across the history of (paper) Magic cards.
Starting from #52, this thread goes up to #35.
Some clarifications on how the count was determined at the end of the thread.
December 22, 2024 at 4:33 PM
Want some Magic trivia?
A thread with the ranking of the most quoted flavor text sources found in unique flavor texts across the history of (paper) Magic cards.
Starting from #52, this thread goes up to #35.
Some clarifications on how the count was determined at the end of the thread.
A thread with the ranking of the most quoted flavor text sources found in unique flavor texts across the history of (paper) Magic cards.
Starting from #52, this thread goes up to #35.
Some clarifications on how the count was determined at the end of the thread.
So I did the thing twice...
December 21, 2024 at 5:48 PM
So I did the thing twice...