Monstrosity

Clarifying Modifier Rules

Hello Mr Rosewater,
Un-rules question for you:Modular Monstrosity has the ability, "Whenever an opponent casts a spell, you have five seconds to choose a keyword you haven't chosen for a card named Modular Monstrosity today that's been printed on a creature card."There is also a ruling that reads, "If the keyword has a modifier, such as a mana cost or a number, you must choose a modifier that’s been printed."
My question is, can you choose a keyword that has been printed on a creature with a modifier that's only been printed on a noncreature card. Cumulative Upkeep has appeared on many creatures so is a valid keyword. Can I name "Cumulative Upkeep-Add {R}" which has only been seen on the noncreature Braids of Fire?
Thank you in advance

You have to choose a mechanic and a modifier that’s appeared on a creature.

Appreciation Creatures Cumulative Upkeep Keywords Mana Mark Rosewater Mechanics Modular Monstrosity Non-creatures Rules Un-sets Modular Monstrosity

Monstrosity Matters Concept

Have y'all tried monstrosity matters? Things like "target creature becomes monstrous," granting abilities to monstrous creatures, monstrosity hate, etc?

We like to have some kind of marker for permanent changed states.

Creatures Monstrosity

Return of Monstrosity?

Chances of a return of monstrosity?

There are.

Monstrosity

Adapt vs Monstrosity

Do you (and R&D as a whole) believe that Adapt is to Monstrosity what Disguise is to Morph (or more accurately, a precursor) or do you think each mechanic has its merits, uses and pitfalls?From a purely mechanical perspective, Adapt plays better (no memory issues/repeatable if the counters are removed) and is more flavourfully versatile, but Monstrosity is EXTREMELY flavourfully evocative, despite its issues.Interested in your thoughts.

Disguise is a better designed morph. It is not clear that adapt is a better designed monstrosity.

Adapt Disguise Game Design Mechanics Monstrosity Morph Morph

Mechanic Reprinting Flavor

When/if? Reprinting a mechanic with a new name solely for flavor reasons? E.g., For Mirroring on another plane or Monstrosity for humanoid characters.

If, but we often rename and slightly tweak.

Card Printing Flavor Mechanics Monstrosity Reprints

Modular Monstrosity Query

Can you choose backup as a keyword for Modular Monstrosity? If so, would it do anything?

You can choose it, but it doesn’t do anything.

Backup Keywords Modular Modular Monstrosity Monstrosity

Instant Speed Abilities

Why are Monstrosity and Adapt useable at instant speed of Wotc doesn't like the added board complexity of instant speed creature activations at common (that don't tap)

We make common creature activations that don’t require a tap, things like the Rootwalla ability (one time power/toughness boosting) and firebreathing (+1/+0 until end of turn).

Adapt Creatures Firebreathing Instants Monstrosity Rootwalla Tap / Untap Wizards of the Coast

Flash in Green

Just listened to your blue episode with Ethan and when you talked about the overlap in green you didn’t talk about the space I personally enjoy, flash. I made a common/uncommon cube ages ago and I made draw go my UG theme with werewolves and monstrosity filling out greens part. Do you think we could see more support in this space for green? It allows for a fun archetype and adds a different dimension to greens typical play patterns.

Flash has been expanding in white and a bit in black, so green’s being doing it a bit less.

Black Blue Draft Formats Flash Green Monstrosity Uncommons White

Appreciating Blue/Red

Hi, Mark! Today is my 26th Birthday and I wanted to invoke the sacred rite of Birthday Trivia! But, instead of trivia, I wanted to asked what's something you appreciate about Blue/Red philosophy? Blue/Red was the color pair of the second deck I ever got (it was the Monstrosity Intro Pack from the OG Theros set), and I'd love to hear your thoughts. Thank you so much! : )

I love that knowledge + passion = creativity.

Appreciation Birthday Colors Humor Intro Packs Izzet (U/R) Monstrosity Red Theros

Keyword Abilities Format

Hi Mark! Just wondering why we still write activated keyword abilities as [Ability Name] [Cost] (Reminder text that includes cost) like Unearth, instead of [Cost]: [Ability Name] (Reminder text that doesn't include cost) like Monstrosity?

It depends whether the mechanic in question is an ability word (where it comes first) or a keyword (where it comes after).

Ability Words Keyword Abilities Keywords Mechanics Monstrosity Unearth

Deciduous Mechanic Suggestions

I think affinity makes for a good candidate for a deciduous mechanic. Y'all use an unkeyworded form of it somewhat commonly, whether it's "for artifacts" or "for Spirits" or whatever. Other potential good options: changeling, cycling, exert, monstrosity, totem armor, detain, flashback, proliferate, kicker, surveil

Thoughts on this list?

Affinity Artifacts Changeling Cycling Deciduous Detain Exert Flashback Kicker Mechanics Monstrosity Proliferate Spirit Surveil Totem Armor

Acorn Rules Explanation

Acorn Rules Question - if I combine two creatures with Grusilda and the merged monstrosity dies, do the creatures stay combined in the graveyard?

No. Upon leaving the battlefield for any other zone, they break apart.

Creatures Monstrosity Rules The Graveyard Un-Magic / Silver Border / Acorn Un-sets

Self Boosting Creature

Mechanically is there a way to have a creature give itself +1/+0 permanently?

Yes. Use a mechanic like monstrosity.

Creatures Mechanics Monstrosity

Favorite Mechanics or Cards

I feel like a lot of people who say you’ve only done bad for the game don’t realize you’re probably behind some of their favorite mechanics or cards too. For a change of pace, can you list some beloved mechanics or cards you’re responsible for?

Here are the Magic mechanics I’ve had a hand in creating: Absorb, Addendum, Affinity, Aftermath, Aura Swap, Battle Cry, Bolster, Champion, Changeling, Cipher, Companion, Contraptions, Crew (Vehicles), Dash, Deathtouch, Delve, Dredge, Embalm, Energy, Entwine, Evoke, Exert, Exploit, Fabricate, Fateful Hour, Fateseal, Ferocious, Flashback, Flip, Forecast, Fortify, Frenzy, Gotcha, Graft, Gravestorm, Heroic, Hexproof, Host/Augment, Hybrid Mana, Imprint, Infect, Intimidate, Kicker, Landfall, Lifelink, Living Weapon, Madness, Manifest, Mentor, Modular, Monstrosity, Morbid, Morph, Multikicker, Mutate, Ninjitsu, Phyrexian Mana, Poisonous, Populate, Proliferate, Prowl, Raid, Rally, Reach, Recover, Reinforce, Retrace, Ripple, Shroud, Soulbond, Splice, Split Cards, Split Second, Suspend, Transfigure, Transform, Typecycling, Undying, Unearth, Vanishing and Wither.

Absorb Absorb Addendum Affinity Aftermath Aura Swap Battle Cry Battle Cry Bolster Champion Changeling Cipher Companion Contraptions Crew Dash Deathtouch Delve Dredge Dredge Embalm Entwine Evoke Exert Exploit Fabricate Fabricate Fateful hour Fateseal Ferocious Flashback Forecast Fortify Fortify Frenzy Graft Gravestorm Gravestorm Heroic Hexproof Hybrid Imprint Infect Intimidate Kicker Landfall Lifelink Lifelink Living Weapon Madness Mana Manifest Mechanics Mentor Modular Monstrosity Morbid Morph Morph Mutate Ninjitsu Phyrexian Poisonous Populate Proliferate Prowl Raid Rally Rally Recover Reinforce Retrace Ripple Shroud Soulbond Splice Split Cards Split Second Suspend Suspend Transfigure Transform Undying Unearth Unearth Vanishing Vanishing Vehicles Wither Your Hand

Abzan-Colors Custom Set Mechanic

I'm currently making a custom set, and I'm having problems with set mechanics. I need a +1/+1 counter-based mechanic in Abzan colors, and I keep running into things that cause memory issues. Any suggestions?

Monstrosity should work.

Abzan (W/B/G) Colors Custom Cards Mechanics Monstrosity

Ravnica Set Mechanic Changes

When/If: A Ravnica set where a guild mechanic is a returning mechanic that didn't debut on Ravnica.

Big when. Note adapt was just a slightly tweaked monstrosity.

Adapt Mechanics Monstrosity Two Color

Incorporating Undying or Monstrosity

Did you ever think of having undying or monstrosity in Ikoria?

We talked about monstrosity but adapt, a monstrosity variant, was in Standard with Ikoria.We didn’t explore undying as it’s overpowered on larger creatures.

Adapt Creatures Monstrosity Standard Undying

Unstable Draft Strategy

Hi Mark, I'm going to my first Unstable draft this Saturday with my dorm. Am I going about it the wrong way by having my Spike combo prepared, bringing a Masters booster to Summon, having lists for Hangman and Modular Monstrosity?

That’s a good start. Do you wear glasses and if not, could you?

Boosters Limited Modular Modular Monstrosity Monstrosity Spike Unstable

Real Card Potential

What are the chances of some of these test cards getting tweaked and actually becoming cards? As someone who loves slivers to death, and even coincidentally created a custom sliver-eldrazi card 7 years ago that gave annihilator to slivers (because I just really wanted that to be a thing), seeing Slivdrazi Monstrosity almost gave me a heart attack. I want it to be real with every single fiber of my being!

Part of doing the playtest cards was to elicit reactions from the players. What playtest cards do you all most want to one day become a real Magic card?

Annihilator Eldrazi Monstrosity Playtesting Slivdrazi Monstrosity Sliver

Modular Monstrosity Keywords

Can different iterations of printed keywords be used for Modular Monstrocity? For example, {3}{W}{G}: Monstrosity 1 (Fleecemane Lion) and {6}{G}: Monstrosity 4 (Nessian Asp)

You have to pick one printed version of it, but once you have one version of the mechanic, it’s considered chosen and you can’t select other versions (well, at least for the day).

Card Printing Fleecemane Lion Keywords Mechanics Modular Monstrosity Nessian Asp