Not a developer

Snapcaster Mage for Standard Query

Not a developer, but do you think Snapcaster Mage is too powerful for Standard?

Yes.

Not a developer Snapcaster Mage Standard

Cost Effect Pendulum

A two parter, if I may: 1) Do the cost of effects also swing on a pendulum? (e.g. Mind Funeral effects from 1UB to 2UB and vice versa over time) and 2) if Yes, do you think the pendulum will swing back to where 3 Damage for R (Lightning Bolt) is acceptable at any point?

1) Costs for effects do swing.
2) While I never say never, Lightning Bolt is at a higher power level than current Standard. As always not a developer.

Lightning Bolt Mind Funeral Not a developer Power Level Standard

Power Level Concerns

Hi Mark. First of all, thanks for all the answers you've been giving us through the years. I know you're not a developer, but why is it ok to print overpowered cards in Standard like CoCo, Gideon Ally, Emrakul and many others, but is it too dangerous to reprint easy to understand uncommons like Lightning Bolt, Counterspell or even Elvish Mystic? As a player, I can't see cleary why and what is the difference. Thanks!

This is a complex answer, but here is the most basic part. We would rather push power in the unknown rather than the known. A new powerful card takes time to discover and explore. It will inspire new decks that haven’t been created before. A known quantity gets exploited the second it’s released as the audience already knows its power and it leads to decks similar to how it was abused before.

Ally Card Printing Counterspell Elvish Mystic Lightning Bolt Mystic Not a developer Reprints Standard Uncommons

Tarmogoyf Reprint Potential

Have you thought of reprinting Tarmogoyf in a standard without much discard or mill at all? Maybe in a standard that it won't be too powerful?

I don’t believe such a Standard exists. Not a developer, yada, yada.

Card Printing Discard Mill Not a developer Reprints Standard Tarmogoyf

Dual Lands Power Issue

On power level, a cycle of duals that ETB untapped with no drawback but don't have basic land types is worse than the original duals. Still something too powerful to mess around with?

Not a developer, but dual lands that tap for two colors with no drawback is “too good”. You would just play them over basic lands and have access to whatever colors you need.

Colors Cycles Dual Lands Dual Lands Enter The Battlefield Lands Not a developer Power Level Tap / Untap

Effect Cost Variation

"Effects ebb and flow. 3 damage costing 2R today doesn’t mean it costs that next year." This is a pretty poor excuse when Lightning Strike might have kept at least 2 cards from getting banned in standard...

There are cheap removal cards in the format, so I believe your statement isn’t true. Not a developer, yada, yada, yada.

Bannings Format Legality Format Legality Lightning Strike Not a developer Standard

Morph Mechanic Opinion

"If I could change it, it would be Smorph. (Play 4 for a facedown 2/2 that enters with +1/+1 counter.)" Isn't the problem with this that it makes it easy to differentiate between Morphs and Smoprhs? Not a developer *yada yada*

I didn’t think the ability to tell the difference was as much a drawback to the mechanic as others felt.

Mechanics Not a developer

Gush in Standard/Modern

How would you feel about Gush in Standard/Modern? With the lands being so much weaker, it seems like it would be pretty balanced.

Not a developer. Usually if a card is problematic in larger formats, it’s problematic in Standard. I don’t believe Gush could be reprinted in Standard.

Card Printing Lands Modern Not a developer Reprints Standard

Power Level Concerns

"You’re concerned that we can adequately rank power level of spells?" Yes, I'm concerned that if you feel that is an adequate ranking, that you made need to reexamine your ranking system. I'm not trying to be mean or anything like that, I'm just saying maybe this is one of those things that you guys are too close to and need a different perspective on. Print lightning bolt in this standard and smugglers copter doesn't need banning. Bring path instead, and neither emrakul nor copter need banned

A few things:1) I’m not a developer. Just as with rules questions, take my comments on power level with a grain of salt. I have almost no input on power level.2) Standard needing reactive cards/answers does not mean any answer at any power level is acceptable.

Bannings Card Printing Format Legality Format Legality Lightning Bolt Not a developer Power Level Rules Spells Standard

Ranking Spell Power

"Path is less broken than lightning bolt" This makes me seriously worried about the direction the game is going if this is the thinking at WOTC

You’re concerned that we can adequately rank power level of spells? As always, remember that I am not a developer.

Lightning Bolt Not a developer Power Level Spells Wizards of the Coast

Swords in Standard

I know you're not a developer, but would you be able to make the allied cycle of swords stronger if they were released in a standard with few or no artifact matters cards?

No.

Artifacts Not a developer Standard

Rituals in Standard

Are rituals too strong for standard? (Not a developer but...)

Rituals are developmentally challenging.

Not a developer Power Level Standard

Psychatog Reprint Possibility

Can I get a maybe on a Standard reprint of my favorite card: Psychatog?

My internal developer senses (note, not a developer) says “way too powerful to reprint in Standard”.

Card Printing Not a developer Psychatog Reprints Standard

Swords Power Level

Some of the comments seem to make a valid point about the swords in standard, it wasn't so much the swords themselves, but other things that enabled them. Much like the issue wasn't hypnotic Spectre, but dark ritual. Thoughts?

First off. Not a developer. That said, they were overpowered. It’s not the support cards that made them strong. The swords are very strong (some obviously more than others) independently.

Dark Ritual Keyword Actions Not a developer Standard

Future-shifted Cards

So are there any future shifted cards that are definitely never going to get a reprint in a standard legal set? I know Tarmogoyf is too powerful for standard, but are there future shifted cards that you think would be too powerful?

It was never the intention that every future-shifted card would end up in a future set. They were from “potential futures”. I’m not a developer but I believe a bunch are too strong for Standard.

Card Printing Futureshifted Futureshifted Not a developer Power Level Reprints Standard Tarmogoyf

Crop Rotation Standard Suitability

Is Crop Rotation too good for Standard? I would love to have it in Modern.

Not a developer, but I think it might be too strong.

Crop Rotation Modern Not a developer Power Level Standard

Tarmogoyf's Power Level

In your opinion is Tarmogoyf too powerful for a standard environment? Maybe one without thoughtseize or fetchlands or delirium.

Not a developer, but too powerful. Tarmogoyf is one of the most powerful creatures ever printed.

Card Printing Creatures Delirium Not a developer Standard Tarmogoyf Thoughtseize

Elvish Spiritguide Power

Hey was wondering who designed elvish spiritguide. And if u thought it was too powerful for standard.

It was designed by one of the “East Coast Playtesters” (Skaff Elias, Jim Lin, Dave Petty and Chris Page). I’m not a developer but do think it’s too good for Standard.

Not a developer Skaff Elias Standard

Mana Leak Impact

Would mana leak too strong for standard?

Not a developer but my guy is most likely it’s too strong.

Mana Mana Leak Not a developer Power Level Standard

Potential Standard Reprints

Which is more likely to see a standard reprint, Lightning Bolt or Counterspell?

1) Not a developer.2) Chances of either are low.3) If I have to pick one (as it’s the question), I think Lightning Bolt has the better, although very sleight, chance of being reprinted in Standard.

Card Printing Counterspell Lightning Bolt Not a developer Reprints Standard