Were junk tokens considered for raccons? I think they would have been fun

They were not. Raccoons digging in trash is more about then living in a world with Humans.

I was checking out the previews for Bloomburrow and people were raising concerns about Ygra turning every creature into an artifact creature (since Foods are inherently artifacts). Someone raised the point that those tokens (Clues, Treasure, Food, Maps, Blood Junk, etc) could have been given a unique type to avoid unwanted artifact-related issues. Was that ever considered/discussed?(loving the cards so far and I already love "Hop/bounce" as a mechanic for frogs and foraging for squirrels! Also looking forward to the pay/gain life for bats since Orzhov is my favorite pair. My compliments to the chefs! Great cooking!)

We consider artifact synergy a feature, not a bug.

If/when a way to cast half a spell just like treasure creation acts like drawing half a card.

Junk tokens from Fallout are sort of in that ballpark.

Hi Mark! Some pushback on the 'silo problem' you outlined in your Typal talk: my first draft was Lorwyn and those silo cards really gave me an on-ramp to understanding what the archetypes were and the concept of archetypes as a whole. I think they have their uses and shouldnt be wholesale junked as inflexible ne'er do well slot wasters.

There’s nothing wrong with having typal (or other linear) themes. Players like them, and yes, they’re good for beginners. The “silo problem” doesn’t say not to have typal themes, but rather you have to design them in such a way that multiple drafters are interested in the same cards or every draft plays out identical where drafting a specific theme always gets you the same deck.

On the subject of artifact tokens (Junk seems great and flavorful and I'm also hoping to see it used again in the future), do you think Map tokens could have been allowed instant speed activations? I understand there's some play design reluctance when it comes to "on-board tricks", but how much different is it from knowing a revealed card in hand or any other activatable ability on board? Plus there are already some cards that allow Explore at instant speed and players are used to clues/food/treasure at this point...

They did explore it in design, and didn’t like how it played. It forces you to always play as if it is a +1/+1 counter.

When/If Junk tokens in Standard?

If. A world needs both need for the functionality of the token and have the flavor work well.

I find the balance of two very similar ideas but particularly powerful tokens revealed recently odd. Junk tokens are free “card advantage” at sorcery speed, while map tokens are pay 1 and not guaranteed card advantage also at sorcery speed. Is there a reason/ thoughts as to the power differential here, one costing mana and seemingly less powerful vs no mana and more? Commander focused design or does the potential +1/+1 counter play a lot into it?

They are in different sets with different goals and needs.

Flavor question: Why does a junk token let you impulse draw?

I assume you’re taking junk and building new things out of it. Any Fallout fans want to give a more in-game explanation?

Could the mechanic of Universe Beyond appear in the Premier Set in the future? (like a junk token)

Yes.

In Unfinity, why did you introduce the Junkyard as a zone, if nothing interacts with it, couldn't you have defined, that attractions go to exile when destroyed or sacrificed?

They go in the discard pile of the deck, so we named that. We like decks having their own discard pile.