Incinerate

Flavor Text Query

I have a question about the flavor text on the DMU printing of Lightning Strike. Jaya is quoted on some printings of Incinerate, so presumably she used that spell. So why are Danitha so astonished and impressed (and Jaya so smug) about Jaya having a strictly worse version of that spell now?

Danitha wasn’t alive during the Ice Age.Also, in world, I don’t think someone could see two similar spells and tell which one was “stronger”. Both would be impressive.

Card Printing Dominaria United Flavor Text Incinerate Lightning Strike Spells

Core Set Reprint Criteria

Since Regenerate is no longer evergreen, does that mean that Wizards can't reprint cards in core sets that incidentally mention Regenerate (Wrath of God, Incinerate, etc.)?

That’s correct.

Card Printing Evergreen God Incinerate Regenerate Reprints Wrath of God

Phyrexian Power Debate

"Are the Phyrexians more powerful than the Elderly? I’m going out on a limb and say yes. : )" I don't think the Elder Dragons on Tarkir will like this answer very much!

The Elder Dragons and the Elderly Dragons are not the same thing. : ) “I’ll incinerate you in a second. Just let me catch my breath.”

Dragon Elder Incinerate Phyrexian

Reprints Decision Factors

How does design decide when to do verbatim reprints (like Tormenting Voice) vs functional reprints (Incinerate vs Lightning Strike)?

That call is usually made by the creative team. Does the old name and concept fit the current world? Development occasionally steps in if having two versions of the same card has tournament issues.

Card Printing Incinerate Lightning Strike Reprints Tormenting Voice

Regeneration Rules Simplified

What's the deal with not printing a lot of stuff that kills regen anymore? I was beyond angry when I first saw Searing Spear spoiled for M13, and also disappointed Incinerate didn't make it into M14. I mean, I'm not asking for Lightning Bolt (though that would be sweet), but here's how it always will go down: Incinerate > Searing Spear, Wrath of God > Day of Judgement. And on a different note, are we ever going to see a reprint of Remand?

There was a while where regeneration didn’t mean anything because every kill spell killed it anyway. Also, we’re trying to just have less words when we can and taking off the anti-regneration clause helped both issues. No comment on Remand.

Card Printing God Incinerate Lightning Bolt Reprints Searing Spear Wrath of God

Reprint Decision Podcast

What is the process on deciding what to reprint for cards that do similar things like shock/lighting bolt/volcanic hammer/Searing Spear/Incinerate? Is there a podcast on this?

Not yet. A possible topic for the future.

Card Printing Drive to Work Incinerate Reprints Searing Spear Volcanic Hammer

Incinerate and Searing Spear

Why was incinerate replaced with Searing Spear? There's nothing particularly ravinican about it

I’m not sure any burn spell is more Ravnican than another.

Incinerate Searing Spear

Jaya Ballard's Spells

I just realized that the three spells Jaya Ballard, Task Mage uses (Pyroblast, Incinerate, Inferno) are all cards that were in 5th ed, with a quote from Jaya Ballard in the flavour text.

How did that happen? : )

Flavor Incinerate Jaya Ballard Pyroblast Spells

Red's Graveyard Interaction

Why doesn't red get more graveyard hate? Grim Lavamancer, Harvest Pyre, Past in Flames, Incinerate and Pillar of Flame all exist. What prevents red from getting cards like cremate / purify the grave, and/or mass graveyard removal?

Red tends to keep things from going to the graveyard rather than remove them from the graveyard.

Grim Lavamancer Harvest Pyre Incinerate Past in Flames Pillar of Flame Purify the Grave Red The Graveyard

Searing Spear Explanation

Today in the M13 spoilers I found a card that is added to a series of cards I will never understand why they are printed. "Searing Spear", 1R, Instant, Deals 3 damage to target creature or player. Why is this a new card? Why not just keep Incinerate? I don't have any others on the mind currently, but I know since M10 this has happened almost multiple times. So I ask, why?

In this case, we’ve been moving away from cards that hose regeneration. In general, we ebb and flo the power of cards so sometimes we tweak the knob up and sometimes we tweak it down.

Card Printing Creatures Incinerate Instants Searing Spear Spoilers

Ebb and Flow Policy

I think you guys should rethink your policy of "ebb and flow". There's just no reason to make an even worse Incinerate when Incinerate is already nigh-unplayable in constructed Magic - the days of Volcanic Hammer being a playable card are long, long gone. Replacing a constructed staple with an unplayable card because of "ebb and flow" was iffy, and too much along with making a hoser that singlehandedly made Mono Red completely irrelevant to Standard. Making Red even worse now is just insulting.

Rethink our policy? Ebb and flow is the entire undercurrent of how trading card games, not just Magic - the entire genre of game, works. Things will get better and things will get worse. Remember that not every card is designed for tournament Magic. Many are designed with limited in mind and others are designed for more casual constructed environments where people play with what they own.

Casual Play Constructed Incinerate Limited Red Standard Volcanic Hammer