Battlebond

Kylem Set Challenges

How would a standard Kylem set look? With Battlebond having strong Commander and Two-Headed-Giant themes I'm having trouble seeing it with the current restrictions for a standard set.

Kylem’s biggest issue is we saw nothing of the world beyond Valor’s Reach (aka the stadium).

Battlebond Commander Giant Premier Sets Reach Standard

Novelty Draft Sets

If we're talking about 2020 wish lists, any chance of another novelty draft set? I really liked Conspiracy 2 and was sad that I missed Battlebond.

We have Commander Legends coming later this year.

Battlebond Commander Commander Legends Conspiracy Legendary Creatures Limited

Multiplayer Card Design

I understand not wanting to reference non-Standard formats (e.g. "Commander") in Standard sets, but could I request more Standard cards that acknowledge the existence of multiplayer in general? Like Surge in Oath of the Gatewatch or the Battlebond Lands. Magic's infrastructure directly supports multiplayer, but it's rarely utilized outside of a few "each opponent" cards. It would make Two-Headed Giant and non-EDH free-for-all formats so much richer.

All cards work in multiplayer. We reserve cards that specifically reference multiplayer (mostly) for products that focus on multiplayer play.

Battlebond Commander Commander Free-for-All Gates Giant Lands Oath of the Gatewatch Premier Sets Premier Sets Standard Surge Two-Headed Giant

Two Cards Concept

I don't especially care but I think the "problem" with doing two Titans is that the magic numbers tend to be 1, 3, and 5. 1 is just its own thing, 3 fits the rule of three, and 5 is of course a cycle. So when people see two cards with the same basic template, the brain expects a third. Two can work, but typically more as a complentary duo trope (Such as the partner cards from Battlebond). Also it kinda double dips, two cards defies the rule of three and four colors defies the rule of five :/

Magic has enough restrictions. I’m not giving up on the ability to make just two of something.

Battlebond Colors Cycles Partner Rules Templating

Return Order Prediction

Which is most likely to return first: Battlebond, Conspiracy, or Modern Horizons?

I would put them in the order of how well they performed (as deemed by sales and market research): Modern Horizons, Battlebond, Conspiracy.

Battlebond Conspiracy Modern Modern Horizons

Battlebond Design Choices

In Battlebond, the partner cycle was enemy colored and the land cycle was allied colored. What was the discussion behind this and in the event of a sequel, would you do the other way around?

The set was built around the partners being enemy-colored.

Battlebond Lands Partner

Battlebond Sequel Query

May I request a sequel to battlebond?.

You may. : )

Battlebond

Dual Lands in Commander

“When I say I don’t think they’re good for Magic that includes I don’t think they’re good for Commander.” - What makes you say this? For other formats, your justification is that it makes it easy to play too many colors but commander color identity solves that problem. Also, the battlebond lands are very similar to original duels and they haven’t caused problems.

What does color identity have to do with it? The Alpha dual lands make it to easy to play multiple colors in decks with lots of colors.

Alpha Battlebond Color Identity Colors Commander Dual Lands Dual Lands Lands

Creature Types and Kylem

Azra are also one of my favorite creature types, but I think unique creature types should get enough exposure on the plane they were introduced in before being spread among other planes. Can I get an if or when on another set (standard or not) on Kylem?

Kylem was designed specifically for Battlebond. It’s not a very fleshed our world, making its use anywhere but Battlebond 2 tricky.

Azra Battlebond Creatures If/When Planes Standard

Supplemental Sets Planes

"We do have three slots a year to visit planes." - Sort of... you've got more opportunities via supplemental products though, right? Some of them have plane-specific themes, like Conspiracy and Battlebond. Does anything prevent a supplemental set tied to some popular existing plane X, if you don't plan to do another standard set on X in the near future?

It’s not off the table.

Battlebond Conspiracy Planes Premier Sets Standard

Kenrith Twins Trivia

hi, mark! could i get birthday trivia about will and rowan kenrith?

Rowan and Will were designed for the Eldraine story. Battlebond was looking for two Planeswalker to partner with one another and Rowan and Will seemed like the perfect choice, so we decided to introduce them there.Happy Birthday!

Battlebond Birthday Partner Planeswalkers Rowan Kenrith Story / Lore

Battlebond Codename

FYI, Battlebond's codename was "Slingshot"

FYI

Battlebond

Supplemental Product Codenames

Do supplemental products have code names too? What was battlebonds name if so

They do. I don’t remember Battlebond’s codename though.

Battlebond

Organ Harvest Reprint

Could something like Organ Harvest be reprinted in black border - say in a set like Battlebond? - or would it need to be a functional reprint with a different name?

It would need a new name. Cards with the same name can’t be black and silver bordered.

Battlebond Black Black Border Card Printing Organ Harvest Reprints Un-Magic / Silver Border / Acorn

Origins of Kylem

In the latest "Making Magic", you mentioned that many new plane ideas came from the meeting when choosing new planes for the Bolas arc. Was the Battlebond plane Kylem one of those new ideas or stem from them? Or was it unrelated?

It was not. Kylem was made specifically for Battlebond.

Battlebond Making Magic Planes

Battlebond 2 Possibility

Hey there. Is there any plans for a Battlebond 2, and with some story? I really love the idea behind this plane and I would love to know more about it, and more about some of my commanders.

We do an innovation product every year, so there’s a very real chance for another one.

Battlebond Story / Lore

Kylem's Color Soul

I might argue that Battlebond's Kylem is a Red Black focused world/has a RB Soul even though it hasn't been introduced in a standard set. A world where warriors compete for speldor and fame and the battles are highly monetized through gambling and spectators. Its got greed, passion, ambition for fame, an artistic take on combat and its very close to the Theaters of Rakdos with a different flavor. With cards like Luxury Suite you can even see the excess and hedonism thats simply part of society.

It’s not a bad argument.

Battlebond Battles Black Flavor Luxury Suite Premier Sets Rakdos (B/R) Red Standard Warrior

Character Outfit Consistency

"The reason the clothes stay the same is so players recognize the character even though it might be illustrated by a different artist. It’s why, for example, cartoon characters tend to wear the same outfit." Will and Rowan have pretty different outfits in Eldraine compared to Battlebond. Any particular reason?

They are color coded in their clothing.

Art Battlebond Colors

Future of Azra

As a quick question to break from Throne of Eldraine, are there any more plans for more Azra appearing in the future? Whether in a Battlebond 2 or on another plane.

I think we’ll see them again.

Azra Battlebond Throne of Eldraine

Rowan and Will Introduction

If Rowan and Will had not been in Battlebond, would you have found another way to introduce the characters as solo cards before Throne of Eldraine?

I don’t know. Battlebond kind of happened and everything came together. It’s hard to know the fate of that parallel world.

Battlebond Throne of Eldraine