Blightsteel Colossus

Rule Clarification

"What if Indomitable Creativity had the creatures enter from the library?"Complex replacement effect interactions were never my specialty even before the hypothetical... But my initial concern is based on anything that messes with the library as part of a replacement effect.

Firstly, while I can't think of replacements that require payment off the top of my head, Chromatic Sphere's card draw mana ability always makes me wary.

The potentially messier example would be Devour ('as ~ enters you may sacrifice creatures') combined with Blightsteel Colossus ('if it would die, shuffle it into your library instead), for which I'd love confirmation/correction from less rusty rules experts.

While applying replacement effects you haven't yet made zone changes, but this would end up with the game attempting to move cards from the library at the same time as they were being shuffled away. (And I've no idea what the current precedent is for that, if one exists.)

Even in the event the rules can handle the above scenario, it would be intentionally allowing a messy interaction for questionable gain. There would always be a group that insisted the ruling was incorrect. ("Never give an order you aren't certain will be followed.")

An FYI with someone more familiar with the rules.

Blightsteel Colossus Card Draw Creatures Devour Indomitable Creativity Mana Rules Sacrifice Shuffle The Library

Eldrazi Titans' Unique Effect

In doing some research for a deck that I wanted to adjust, I realized that the only cards that have "When is put into a graveyard from anywhere, its owner shuffles their graveyard into their library." are the three original eldrazi titans. There have been similar effects on Dark- and Blightsteel Colossus or Worldspine Wurm, but nothing the same. Has Wizards as a whole soured on this effect, or was it intended as a one-off for the titans?

The text is a little more anti-milling than we like.

Blightsteel Colossus Eldrazi The Graveyard The Library Worldspine Wurm Wurm

Perspectives on Warp World Commander

RE: Warp World. 10 people are in favor of a warp world commander, 7 are not in favor, and another 10 say that they're ok with the effect as a one-of but wouldn't want a repeatable commander. As far as salt, I will note its #26, sitting between Teferi, Time Raveler and Blightsteel Colossus on the salt list, if that means anything.

FYI

Blightsteel Colossus Commander Teferi, Time Raveler Warp World

Returning to the Game

Happy birthday, Mark! I started playing Magic around the time of Tempest and stopped at around Invasion (I was one of the casualties of Mercadian Masques). Many years later, my friends and I went on vacation and found out about a pre release happening nearby. We had never gone to one before, but decided we'd give it a try. It was Mirrodin Besieged and I was immediately hooked by seeing the phyrexians and Karn back. I opened a Blightsteel Colossus and actually put it in my deck. We still play. :)

: )

Birthday Blightsteel Colossus Humor Invasion Mercadian Masques Mirrodin Besieged Phyrexians Prerelease Sealed Format Tempest

Eldrazi Titans Mechanic

Why do the original 3 Eldrazi titans shuffle the entire graveyard into the library, unlike other similar “protected from reanimation” cards (Serra Avatar, Blightsteel Colossus, etc.) that only shuffle themselves into the library?

We were trying something different.

Avatar Blightsteel Colossus Eldrazi Serra Avatar Shuffle The Graveyard The Library

Not Managing Mana Costs

So you designed Griselbrand, an 8-cost 7/7 that lets you pay 7 life to draw 7? And Blightsteel Colossus, a 12-cost 11/11? I see the connection ;)

I’m not in charge of mana costs.

Blightsteel Colossus Griselbrand Humor Mana

Instant Win Creature Designs

'GOYF?!? i refuse to believe that the mad, mad mind behind combo winter never designed an instant win creature. did you have nothing to do with crater hoof behemoth? Blightsteel collossus? Griselbrand? bubble hulk? i could continue but i'm sure you understand where i- not rven labarotory maniac?!

I designed Blightsteel Colossus and Griselbrand.

Blightsteel Colossus Creatures Griselbrand Instants

Design Evolution

Was Blightsteel Colossus ever designed without trample?

I think there was a version for a while without trample.

Blightsteel Colossus Trample

Blightsteel Colossus Query

Roboblogatog, why is Blightsteel Colossus so good?

White is not necessarily good. Champions of Kamigawa is an example of a White villain. I do not know if we will return to a White villain.

Blightsteel Colossus Champions of Kamigawa White

Favoring Blightsteel Colossus

Which card in Scars block was your favorite homage or reprint?

Blightsteel Colossus. You knew the Mirrans were losing when their biggest weapon fell into enemy hands. I originally designed the card for New Phyrexia but it got moved back to Mirrodin Besieged.

Blightsteel Colossus Card Printing Mirrodin New Phyrexia Reprints

Blightsteel Colossus Trivia

Maro it's my birthday Could I have some trivia about my favourite card, blightsteel colossus?

I created Blightsteel Colossus as the ultimate sign of the Phyrexians victory on Mirrodin. If they could take over Darksteel Colossus, the Mirran’s greatest weapon, what hope did they have? I made the card for New Phyrexia but Mirrodin Besieged was looking for a splashy card and took it. (Earlier sets are allowed to steal from sets that come later.)Happy Birthday!

Birthday Blightsteel Colossus Darksteel Darksteel Colossus Mark Rosewater Mirrodin New Phyrexia Phyrexian

Keyword Possibility

Do you think the text on the end of Blightsteel Colossus or the Eldrazi could be given a key word? Though rare, the text is very long and only ever on strong cards that tend to have (or warrant) a lot of text.

Having reminder text we only ever use at rare doesn’t make it easy to learn. It would most likely need reminder exit which keeps us from saving text space.

Blightsteel Colossus Eldrazi Rares

Blightsteel Colossus Design

Oh so you designed Blightsteel Colossus? thank you it's my favorite card.

You’re welcome. I designed it as a means to show total dominance of the Phyrexians. Once they turned the Mirran’s greatest weapon, what chance did they have?

Appreciation Blightsteel Colossus Phyrexian

Trivia Behind Blightsteel

Could I get some trivia on Blightsteel Colossus?

I designed it for New Phyrexia, but Mirrodin Besieged needed it so the set “borrowed” it from New Phyrexia.

Birthday Blightsteel Colossus Mirrodin New Phyrexia

Swords to Plowshares Flavor

Is Swords to Plowshares really the creature going to work on a farm, or is that like when the family dog goes to a farm upstate? I was told my Blightsteel Colossus would be very happy pushing around equipment. That wasn't a lie was it?

The flavor of Swords to Plowshares is that it takes away the creature’s willingness to fight.

Blightsteel Colossus Creatures Dog Equipment Fight / Bite Flavor Swords to Plowshares

Artwork Oddity

Why does Blightsteel Colossus have a corrupted Platinum Emperion in its art rather than a corrupted Darksteel Colossus. You're usually really good at owning up to/explaining oddities like that, but every time Blightsteel Colossus is mentioned as the marquee card of the set, no mention is made of its incorrect art.

This is more of a question for Doug. Best guess is that it wasn’t clear to the artist that it was a corrupted Darksteel Colossus.

Art Blightsteel Colossus Corrupted Darksteel Darksteel Colossus Platinum Emperion

Colossus Trivia

Any trivia on Blightsteel or Darksteel colossus?

I made Blightsteel Colossus as a high profile card for New Phyrexia. R&D decided that Mirrodin Beseiged needed it more so it was moved back a set.

Birthday Blightsteel Colossus Darksteel Darksteel Colossus Mirrodin New Phyrexia

Blightsteel Colossus Reception

How was Blightsteel Colossus received? I ask because it's been a nuisance in my play circle since the day Mirrodin Besieged released - 12/12 Infect has ended a lot of great games in a disappointing way.

It did very well in our market research. It’s one of those cards though that tends to be loved or hated. Not a lot of middle ground on it. I’m curious what the haters of Blightsteel Colossus think of Phage.

Blightsteel Colossus Infect Mirrodin