Inquisition of Kozilek

Black's Preemptive Strategy

Why are cards like Thoughtseize and Inquisition Of Kozilek allowed to hit artifacts and enchantments if there supposed to be blacks weakness?

Artifact destruction is a problem for black. Once their opponent gets an artifact onto the battlefield, black doesn’t have answers to get rid of it. Discard is a tool black has access to.

Artifacts Black Discard Enchantments Inquisition of Kozilek Thoughtseize

Tarmogoyf Rarity Insight

Was Tarmogoyf originally slotted as an uncommon? It ended up being strong, but it doesn't feel that great as first sight. It could have easily been a strong uncommon in the price range of Inquisition of Kozilek and never the 100$ card it is now.

It was designed as a rare, kooky futureshifted card that’s main reason for existence was to name two card types that didn’t exist yet, but would soon. I had no idea it was going to become the tournament staple it became. And again, I made a 2G */* creature.

Card Types Card Types Creatures Futureshifted Futureshifted Inquisition of Kozilek Rares Tarmogoyf Uncommons

Inquisition Reprint Implications

Should the fact that Inquisition of Kozilek is being printed with new art after his death at the hands of the Gatewatch raise any red flags that he may not be as dead as the Gatewatch thinks he is?

Not necessarily. People can be influenced by things from the past.

Art Card Printing Gates Inquisition of Kozilek Red

Card Naming Convention

I'm sure the window has passed now given all the "name a card" cards, but was it ever talked about to have names not be markers of unique cards? So you could do things like reprint Inquisition of Kozilek under a name that fits the plane it's being reprinted on, but have it count as the same card for deckbuilding, etc, or not have issues with stuff like searing spear/lightning strike because they'd be the same card?

There’s no easy way to make the names not the markers. I don’t expect it to change anytime soon.

Card Printing Inquisition of Kozilek Lightning Strike Reprints Searing Spear

Reprint Flavor Concerns

All the articles say the strong flavour is one of the main reasons Conspiracy succeeded - so why the out-of-plot reprints? Couldn't Inquisition of Kozilek have been reprinted somewhere else? The "flavour fail" is really annoying...

There’s a limited number of places for us to reprint cards players want for Modern. Some concession has to be made somewhere. The reprints are already “off world”.

Card Printing Conspiracy Flavor Inquisition of Kozilek Limited Modern Plot Reprints

Oath Mechanics Questions

Will you ever print more Oaths, why isn't there a black oath, where does colorless fit in the color pie, why didn't you reprint Inquisition of Kozilek, and don't you get tired of answering the same questions over and over again?

It’s the nature of what I do. : )

Black Card Printing Color Pie Colorless Colors Inquisition of Kozilek Reprints

Eldrazi Spell Impact

Did the fact that all the Eldrazi associated spells were either colorless or had Devoid hurt Inquisition of Kozilek's chances even further?

It didn’t help. We were actually trying to figure out how to creatively have it make sense when word came down from development that it needed to get cut.

Colorless Devoid Eldrazi Inquisition of Kozilek Spells

Inquisition Reprint Decision

Was a Inquisition of Kozilek reprint considered for OGW?

It was planned for Oath of the Gatewatch until Standard playtesting showed it to be a problem.

Card Printing Gates Inquisition of Kozilek Oath of the Gatewatch Playtesting Reprints Standard

Inquisition Reprint Debate

If it hadn't created development problems, would you really have reprinted Inquisition of Kozilek as is, despite it being a non-devoid Eldrazi-themed card? Or would you have made a devoid version with a new name?

There is a faction of vampires that are Eldrazi sympathizers. There was some talk that maybe the card would refer to them. The card got killed by development before it got figured out.

Card Printing Devoid Eldrazi Factions Inquisition of Kozilek Reprints Vampire

No Inquisition Reprint Reason

Okay, so why no inquisition of kozilek reprint in Modern Masters 2015?

Because we were planning to reprint it in Battle for Zendikar block, but it turned out to be problematic in Oath of the Gatewatch playtesting.

Battle for Zendikar Battles Card Printing Gates Inquisition of Kozilek Modern Modern Masters Oath of the Gatewatch Playtesting Reprints

No Kozilek Inquisition Reprint

Why no Inquisition of Kozilek reprint? It's shot up to $50+ for an uncommon...

It turned out to be problematic developmentally.

Card Printing Inquisition of Kozilek Reprints Uncommons

Discard Spell Trends

Here's a strange thing i noticed: since Rise of Eldrazi, every block had a tournament-worthy cheap uncommon discard spell in the last set. (Inquisition of Kozilek in rise of eldrazi, then Despise in New Phyrexia and more recently Appetite for Brains in Avacyn Restored). I hope this trend continues, because Duress is not good enough to be a mainboard card, and I need something good for my discard deck. Can I hope? :D

Duress is not good enough? Really?

Appetite for Brains Avacyn Restored Discard Eldrazi Inquisition of Kozilek New Phyrexia Uncommons

Abrupt Decay Rarity

I'm loving RTR so far. However, making Abrupt Decay a rare was wrong, and just looks like a money-grab. Surely when you look at the card, you can see that it is an *uncommon* type card. It reminds me of when Thoughtseize was rare, despite Duress, Inquisition of Kozilek, etc. all being lower rarity. It makes it looks like you guys didn't have enough confidence in the set selling well without making staple-type cards rare. Yuck. Don't worry, we'll be spending PLENTY of money, like always.

Abrupt Decay is rare because it is part of a multicolor rare cycle. I agree that Abrupt Decay could have uncommon (although I think it’s okay at rare as well) but many of the other cards in the cycle needed to be rare.

Abrupt Decay Cycles Inquisition of Kozilek Rares Rarity Thoughtseize Uncommons

Balancing Discard Effects

You say that counterspells and land destruction don't allow you to play your spells, so you keep them down. What about discard? Inquisition of Kozilek & Thoughtseize are very frustating, don't you think?

Note that we don’t allow discard decks that keep you from ever playing a spell either.

Discard Inquisition of Kozilek Lands Spells Thoughtseize