Angelic Edict

White's Exiling Capabilities

Since colorless can exile target creature for 7, could white get exile target creature for 7? Any white deck has access to scour from existence in legacy formats so I don’t think it would be a break at all

Just because we do something in colorless, doesn’t mean we’ll print the effect in a particular color. That said, we have printed “exile target creature” in white (for example Angelic Edict for 4W).

Angelic Edict Bend / Break Card Printing Colorless Colors Creatures Legacy Scour from Existence The Exile Zone White

Views on White Removal

Regarding my earlier question regarding Iona's Judgment, in 2015 you answered a few questions regarding the 5 mana unconditional removal in white and said that you weren't a fan of the cards using a large mana cost to justify unconditional white removal, particularly Angelic Edict and said you were not a fan of the card.

Me not being a fan doesn’t necessarily make it a break.If I could do as I please, white’s color pie would be a smidge different.

Angelic Edict Bend / Break Color Pie Colors Iona's Judgment Mana White

White Exile Capabilities

Someone said to be that mono white could get "Exile Target nonland permanent." And used Blessed Light and Angelic Edict as precedent. Is this true? Thanks for answering our questions sir.

White is not supposed to be able to easily and permanently exile any nonland permanent.

Angelic Edict Blessed Light The Exile Zone White

Green/White Exiling Query

Re: Green/white exiling any permanent - White can exile creatures and enchantments regularly (Angelic Edict effects) and artifacts and enchantments often (Revoke Existence effects). All it misses is lands, and green hits those on Creeping Mold/Bramblecrush. Where's the break?

You made Planeswalkers cry.

Angelic Edict Artifacts Bramblecrush Creatures Creeping Mold Enchantments Green Lands Planeswalkers Revoke Existence Selesnya (G/W) The Exile Zone White

Color Pie Differences

So why is Angelic Edict ok for the color pie but Swords to Plowshares isn't?

There is a big difference between one mana and five.

Angelic Edict Color Pie Colors Mana Swords to Plowshares

White Exile Logic

Angelic Edict is now allowed? What was the reasoning to have white exile a creature without any questions asked or retribution?

White can do it if the mana cost is high enough. It’s not supposed to efficiently remove any creature.

Angelic Edict Creatures Mana The Exile Zone White

White Removal Guidelines

What is the current status of what type of removal white is allowed? Is Angelic Edict (4W Exile target creature or enchantment) allowed?

It is.

Angelic Edict Creatures Enchantments The Exile Zone White

Color-Pie Violations

Mark, I know that you are against using mana cost to justify color-pie violations. White answers are conditional, or at least they need to jump through hoops. This being the case, is Angelic Edict a color-pie violation? It looks kind of like a Desert Twister or Hornet Sting to me - an effect white is not supposed to have, but grossly overcosted.

I’m not a fan of the card.

Angelic Edict Colors Desert Twister Hornet Hornet Sting Mana White

Color Pie Adjustments

White's color pie has bent so that things like Angelic Edict (unconditional no-answers removal) are done all the time. Why can't Red's color pie be changed to accommodate Chaos Warp-like effects? It's not like it will ever be not considerably worse than things like Vindicate, or even Beast Within.

Colors are more defined by what they can’t do than what they can. While white doesn’t usually get unconditional kill, it gets lots and lots of different ways to deal with creatures. Creatures are not supposed to be something white just can’t deal with.

Angelic Edict Beast Beast Within Chaos Warp Color Pie Colors Creatures Red Vindicate White

White Removal Debate

So are Trostani's Judgement and angelic edict in white's color pie but not swords and path?

There is some debate in this topic in R&D. I believe white should either only deal with creatures that are are messing with it (“the chivalrous never strike first”) or use answers with answers (such as Oblivion Ring or Pacifism).

Angelic Edict Color Pie Colors Creatures Oblivion Ring Pacifism White

White Removal Philosophy

What's your opinion on Angelic Edict, Trostani's Judgment, and Iona's Judgment? I thought white removal was meant to be either temporary/reversible or only upon provocation (where "provocation" includes "being red or black").

There is much disagreement in R&D what white’s removal is supposed to look like. I’ve been giving you my beliefs as a color pie purist.

Angelic Edict Black Color Pie Colors Iona's Judgment Red Trostani's Judgment White

Functional Reprint Rationality

Isn't Angelic Edict just Iona's Judgment? Given Iona IS an angel, couldn't you guys have called it that the first time round so as not to necessitate the functional reprint? Every plane has angels, after all.

We don’t always know when we make a card if it’s going to get reprinted. Obviously, sometimes we anticipate it, but not always. Also, cards changing name now and again isn’t necessarily bad.

Angel Angelic Edict Card Printing Iona's Judgment Reprints