Phoenix

Bloomburrow Aesthetics and Phoenix Cards

I love bloomburrow, the cards look very fun but the art style stands out as my favorite part, please let all the artists know they did an incredible job! (No Chandra legendary phoenix though. If a monored legendary phoenix is ever printed, do you expect to see it in a standard set, a commander deck or something else?)

I’ll pass along the compliment. I think a legendary Phoenix could show up in many places.

Art Bloomburrow Commander Decks Phoenix Premier Sets

Thematics of Upcoming Sets

Even at such a difference in tone and style, I've very excited to see more Bloomburrow and Duskmourn cards spoiled. Was it intentional to have 2 sets with such different themes and style back to back, or merely coincidence? (Also, with walkers becoming animals on Bloomburrow, any chance of Chandra visiting as a monored legendary phoenix?)

We try to swing the pendulum to create variety, so yes, it was on purpose. Phoenixes fly and Chandra doesn’t, but who knows?

Bloomburrow Phoenix

Three-Color Planeswalkers Challenge

I know that post MotM:A there are a lot less planeswalkers running around and the Omenpaths are there to give other things a chance to hang out on other planes. But I was wondering when we might see planeswalkers for the three color combinations we don't have yet. Is it purely a challenge of balancing the color pie with relevant abilities, or that you need a specific set for specific walkers, even new ones? (Also, after all those spoilers this weekend, any news on the monored legendary phoenix)

Three-color planeswalkers have always been tricky to do. In a world with one planeswalker a set, it gets even trickier. Not impossible though.

Color Pie Colors Omenpaths Phoenix Planes Planeswalkers Spoilers Three Color

Choosing Ravnica

It may have been answered previously, but I was curious about the prevalence of Ravnica. I know we've got a ton of new planes to visit over the next year, but was there a specific reason to set Murders on Ravnica vs a new plane? I know we've been to Ravnica a lot in the past as well, is it just that players overwhelming like it over other planes, or is it just easiest to build stories and sets there? (And, as always, any timeframe on a monored legendary phoenix?)

It was originally going to be a new world, but it started looking so much like Ravnica, we decided to just make it Ravnica.

Phoenix Planes

Flying Keyword Allocation

Couldn't Flying be the Red/Blue keyword?

Red is secondary in flying, mostly just getting it on Dragons and Phoenixes.

Blue Dragon Flying Keywords Phoenix Red Secondary

Exciting Future Releases

As the year is nearly over, is there anything in particular you’re really excited to see in terms of release next year? A new plane, a new mechanic or creature type, a monored legendary phoenix finally? Anything specific or general you can share?

I am excited for a bunch of things. As for the premier sets, the things I’m most excited for:Murders at Karlov Manor: We built a giant puzzle woven into the set (and accompanying elements). The whole project was overseen by Mark Gottlieb, who’s an excellent puzzle builder. I was excited to be on the puzzle building team.Outlaws of Thunder Junction: I’ve started forming a new design philosophy that starts showing up in next year’s sets. While it first shows up in Murders at Karlov Manor, Outlaws of Thunder Junction is a bigger execution of the philosophy.Bloomburrow: This might be the cutest set we’ve ever made. I’m very happy with how the design captures the tone of the world.Duskmourn: House of Horror: I like how we’re pushing our in-universes sets in new directions. The set tackles modernity in a way few sets do. This was a complex challenge, but I like how we found a way to make a horror set that is it’s own thing and not just a redo of Innistrad.

Bloomburrow Creatures Duskmourn: House of Horror Giant Horror Innistrad Mechanics Murders at Karlov Manor Outlaws of Thunder Junction Phoenix Premier Sets Premier Sets

Comic Book Insights

It's neat to learn that you're a lifelong fan of comics! What's something interesting about comics in general or a series/comic in particular that you think most of your Blogatog audience probably doesn't know?

I have read thousands and thousands of comics, the vast majority Marvel and DC, but I’ve read plenty of independents. Invincible is my favorite comic (now an animated series on Amazon Prime). I started reading comics pretty young, mostly DC, and got into Marvel in my teens. I started reading the X-men as the Dark Phoenix Saga was happening, so a great time to start becoming an X-Men fan. I’m happy to answer any comics questions (about my comics reading) people have.

Marvel Phoenix Pop Culture Pop Culture Sagas

Set Code Names Secret

Can you run us down on the new set code names or are picked in a schedule as you all go? Also, could P be Phoenix?

We know what they are, but I don’t reveal the codenames until the set is in design.

Phoenix

Visual Elements for Reach

A previous question asked about the concept of 'having wings, it has flying', but is there a hard and fast rule about reach? It seems a bit more haphazard, with things like canopy baloth sitting in the top of tree not having reach, but something like bounding wolf gets it because it can jump a bit? (Also, whats the timeframe on when we'll see a monored legendary phoenix?)

There’s no constant visual element for reach.

Bounding Wolf Canopy Baloth Phoenix Rules Wolf

Red Creature Abilities

Would flying and menace be acceptable on a mono-red creature if it were a dragon or phoenix?

Sure. We don’t mix two evasive abilities often though.

Creatures Dragon Flying Menace Phoenix Red

Monored Phoenix Query

Had fun at the MoM prerelease, even opened the new phoenix I needed for an EDH deck.Question, are we ever going to see a monored legendary phoenix?

I assume eventually.

Commander Phoenix Prerelease Sealed Format

Red Tutor Capability

Can red tutor for a phoenix with no drawback?

We let each color tutor for things mostly in their subset, so a Phoenix tutor is possible in red. The bigger issue is having a set with enough Phoenixes in it to justify a tutor.

Colors Phoenix Red Tutoring

Iconic Creature Tutoring

If red can tutor for phoenixes, does that mean every colour can tutor for its iconic creature types?

It depends on how color-centric that creature type is, but mostly yes.

Colors Creatures Phoenix Red Tutoring Tutoring

Red Tutoring for Phoenixes

In theory could red also tutor for Phoenixes?

Yes.

Phoenix Red Tutoring Tutoring

Sentient Phoenix Request

Hello Mark!May I request a sentient Phoenix character? (A planeswalker maybe?)
Thanks for your time and dedication to the blog

It’s on the short list of frequent player requests.

Blogatog / Tumblr Phoenix Planeswalkers The short list

Red Flyers Exception

Is red supposed to get flyers that aren't Dragons or Phoenixes or is stuff like Emissary of Grudges a bend?

Mostly no, but there is the occasional exception.

Bend / Break Dragon Emissary of Grudges Phoenix Red

Phoenix Typing

Were phoenix's ever considered to be typed as elemental birds? I feel like the typing would be a great fit for them, but maybe the overlap is too broad?

Not that I remember. I think we wanted to use the word Phoenix.

Bird Elemental Phoenix

X-Men in Magic

How many Magic creature types can you name that are also the names of past or current members of the X-Men? (There are at least eight.)

X-men that are creature types: AngelBeastPhoenixCyclopsWolverineRogueJuggernautWarlock SageScoutX-men that are mechanics: Storm ChangelingArmorCypher (mechanic spelled Cipher)FrenzyX-men that are expansions:MirageLegion (expansion is Legions)

Angel Beast Changeling Cipher Creatures Cyclops Frenzy Juggernaut Legions Mechanics Mirage Phoenix Rogue Scout Warlock Wolverine

Phoenix Art Diversity

About Phoenix Chick, I really like how the art breaks from the standard mold of what phoenixes in Magic always look like. They are nearly always hawk-like birds-of-prey. My favorite phoenix art in Magic is the owl-like Rekindling Phoenix from RIX. I know it's not your department, but I was hoping you could pass along a request to the creative/concepting team for more species variety in the creature type? Thanks!

I’ll pass the request along.

Art Creatures Phoenix Phoenix Chick Rekindling Phoenix Rivals of Ixalan Standard

Red's Flying Mechanic

As adorably fluffy as it is, Phoenix Chick seems like a card Red historically hasn't been allowed to have, a very small and efficient flier. Is this a deliberate change to Red's relationship with flying? Or just a one-time exception because it's a very cute card?

Red mostly doesn’t fly, but it gets two big exceptions - Dragons and Phoenixes.

Dragon Flying Mechanics Phoenix Phoenix Chick Red