Crypt Ghast

Keyword Color Identity

I understand why the rules for Extort (in regards to color identity) went in favor of allowing Crypt Ghast in mono black because its second ability is very mono black. However, I think it sets a bad precedent for color identity within keywords. The logic was that reminder text doesn't affect color identity, but it's not the reminder text but rather the rules text that keyword replaces that should apply to color identity. How do you feel about color identity within keywords and is it now avoided?

I just wish color identity treated hybrid symbols differently. It would also solve this problem.

Black Color Identity Crypt Ghast Extort Hybrid Keywords Rules

Shades and Black Mana

I've always been a big fan of shades, what are your opinions on them power wise and thematically, additionally, Black has always had a variety of cards like dark ritual and cabal stronghold, but they always seem to be few and far between, Shades seemed to have been designed around that specific strength of Black, also seen in cards like Crypt Ghast, What is the name of this feature and will it continue to see longterm support?

Rituals long ago moved from black to red. Black still gets the infrequent turn resource into black mana though.

Black Cabal Stronghold Crypt Ghast Dark Ritual Keyword Actions Mana Red Shade Stronghold

White's Mana Ramp

We all know why white has the worst card advantage (you’ve told us a lot), but why does it also have the worst mana ramp? Green obviously has the best, blue supports artifacts (like mana rocks) and can untap any permanent, black gets to make mana by spending some other resource (cards in graveyard, sacrifing creatures, etc.) and apparently also gets things like Cabal Coffers and Crypt Ghast, and red gets quick mana. Is it because white simply doesn’t have as much use for it?

White is king of the small spells (especially creatures), so it has the least need for ramping.

Artifacts Black Blue Cabal Coffers Creatures Crypt Ghast Green Mana Red Spells Tap / Untap The Graveyard White

Black Mana Ramp

I've seen people saying black can't get mana ramp, but that doesn't seem right to me. I understand rituals are out as that has been moved to red but we have cards like Crypt Ghast and Liliana of the Dark Realms in very recent sets so saying black can't have any ramp doesn't make sense to me, especially if to get that mana you have to sacrifice a guy or something.

Black can get swamps and make its swamps (and sometimes it lands) tap for additional black mana. That is how black now “ramps”.

Black Crypt Ghast Lands Liliana of the Dark Realms Mana Red Sacrifice Tap / Untap The Dark

Crypt Ghast Ability

Since when is Crypt Ghast's ability allowed in black?

Black can and has been allowed to get extra black mana out of swamps for a long time. Liliana just did it back in Magic 2013.

Black Crypt Ghast Mana

Black Mana Trend

Looking at the recent Liliana's ultimate and the newly revealed Crypt Ghast, is black mana acceleration becoming a thing again?

Apparently.

Black Crypt Ghast Mana

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