Hunting Moa

Non-Flying Birds

If we're talking non-flying birds there are cassowaries, which are ferocioues and basically velociraptors but not exctinct. Then there are also Emu's which look like emo ostriches. But of course, never forget the dodo.

The problem is players expect birds to fly, so if it’s not a very well known bird iconically known for not flying it causes a problem. For example, we made Hunting Moa. Moas don’t fly, so we made it non-flying, but not enough players knew that fact and it caused all kinds of confusion.

Bird Flying Hunting Moa

Flightless Bird Cards

"kerning-pete asked: Flightless birds like ostriches and penguins: if or when? If." You've made Bronzebeak Moa and Hunting Moa sad :(

Those are flightless birds like moas. : )

Bird Bronzebeak Moa Hunting Moa If/When

Misunderstood Moas

What do people not understand about moas? It's a huge fat bird with literally tiny wings which is easily seen in the art. The art would able to convey that the bird can't fly without being a ninja physics-defying bird

And yet, the majority of players thought Hunting Moa could fly.

Art Bird Hunting Moa Ninjas

Moas and Misconceptions

I'm unclear as to why you think moas shouldn't have been put in Magic. I'd never heard of them, but even without reading the text, it was obvious from the picture that they could not fly. Why would that cause confusion?

We get a lot of data from the judges about problems players have and one of them is cards that seem as if they fly but don’t. Part of this is an art issue (which we’ve worked hard to fix) and part of it is an expectation issue. Birds, mostly fly, and so if it’s not a bird that is very well known for not flying (like an ostrich or a penguin). Urza’s Destiny called Hunting Moa and it caused no end of confusion.

Art Bird Flying Hunting Moa Urza

Birds in Modern Magic

MARO "Not all birds fly but they do in Magic." Wait but what about hunting moa and bronzebeak Moa are you saying they've been erratad to non birds?

I was talking about modern day Magic. Right now when we design birds, they fly. Hunting Moa is a great example of a card that confused a lot of players because they assumed it flew.

Bird Bronzebeak Moa Errata Hunting Moa Mark Rosewater Modern

Issue with Flightless Birds

Maro flightless birds aren't that bad, it's when they are shown in the act of flying when the card doesn't have it. (I'm looking at you whippoorwill)

Whippoorwill was worse because it was shown flying in the art but other flightless birds, like say Hunting Moa, had the same problem that players saw a bird and just assumed it flew.

Art Bird Flying Hunting Moa Mark Rosewater Whippoorwill

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