Blues mind control power suite mist be a total anathema to Red core beliefs of listening to that inner voice(all of a sudden its that Blue mage ordering you about) which always made Threaten effects odd to me as part of its color pie; those would seem more in line with Black mind control (since Nlack would threaten,conjole and blackmail but thats a different topic all together). What was the impetus to put Threaten effects in Red was it part of the old I can use my enemys effects against them(i.e. Red Elemental Blast) or purely a playbalence thing of as a way to deal with big creatures?

Threaten is merely red using its magic to make others as impulsive as itself. Threaten is less it gaining control of their mind and more putting implusive thoughts in their head that get them to act a certain way.

Can I request that Mind Control Effects be aura based again? So many of them lately are irreversible. It is incredibly potent in Commander as this is a way to permanently steal a commander.

We try to do a mix.

I have been searching to see if you have answered this question, because I am sure you have, but I can not find it. Why are identical cards printed with different names, like Terramorphic Expanse | Evolving Wilds, Mind Control | Persuasion, or Llanowar Elves | Fyndhorn Elves| Elvish Mystic?

If cards aren’t problematic in number, we will sometimes change the flavor to better match the creative of the set it’s in.

Aren’t irreversible mind control effects (so not like auras that can be removed or creatures that end the effect on leaving the battlefield) blue permanently dealing with something on the battlefield?

There are effects that can return control to a card’s owner such as flickering a creature, so that is not necessarily permanent.

"She’s scheming and tricky and loves stealing things. She also systematically works to keep improving her capabilities, whether it’s finding the best sea monster to summon or the most effective gadgets to steal." Whoa whoa whoa! Schemes are a black thing, no? Doesnt trickster feel more at home in red? The love to steal things? I understand take something to study, or to mind control, but just plane ol' blatent thievery?

Scheming and trickery and stealing are all base blue things. Black is more about doing things others won’t and less about elaborate sneaky plans.

Why are mind control effects blue? Why isn't letting blue permanently get rid of a creature this way considered a break? (The flavor is very blue, admittedly)

I enjoy when players answer their own questions. It saves me a lot of work. Every color needs flavorful ways to deal with creatures. They’re a major part of the game and make up over half the cards.

"You are making someone give up the desire to fight. You are literally making them embrace peace, White’s end goal." Does the goal really matter with regards to the ability? Isnt it still mind controlling them to embrace peace? A very blue ability. Or is it more of a conversation they are having in the middle of the battle that changes their mind?

It’s not mind control. You are making them peaceful. They can chose what they choose to do with that. You have no control of their actions.

Everyone focuses on color pie breaks undermining a color’s weaknesses, but breaks also include undermining a color’s strengths, right? For instance, a red Mind Control would be a break because it undermines something Blue is supposed to be good at. (This might be why people see Delver of Secrets as a break.)

Yes, breaks can also make a dominant color no longer the most dominant at an effect. Delver of Secrets is not a problem as blue is supposed to be the best color with creatures optimized by playing instants and sorceries.

Unrules question, what happens if I mind control my opponents animated library?

Animate Library drops off if you lose control of it as it can only animate your library.

Hey Mark could we ever get a new Volrath in supplemental product ideally dimir with either shapeshifting or mind control (or both!)? Thanks for your hard work!!!

I’ll pass along the request.