Premier Sets

Death Race Planes Availability

do we know how many planes death race will take place on?

Three. Two are worlds that have been the main setting of a premier set and one which hasn’t (although has been referenced).

Planes Premier Sets

Backdrop Sets in Consecutive Premieres

Hi, Mark!How do backdrop sets factor into back-to-back sets on the same plane? Would consecutive premier sets on a plane be more likely (less likely?) if one of those sets is a backdrop set?

We’re still figuring out backdrop sets. It couldn’t hurt is my current hunch.

Backdrop Sets Premier Sets

Davriel Cane Request

Hi Mark! May I please request Davriel Cane in a premier set? He was originally planned for Strixhaven and Innistrad: Midnight Hunt, but has his chances of returning dwindled since then? (Yes, I know he doesn't want to be bothere, but so did Bilbo Baggins).

I can pass the request along.

Innistrad: Midnight Hunt Premier Sets

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

Approach to Color-breaking Cards

Hey Mark! I'm wondering, why do you allow yourself to reprint color-breaking cards? It gives players, especially newer players, the wrong idea about the color pie. Instead of reprinting Chaos Warp, why not either (A) print a different, non-breaking card that achieves whatever it is Chaos Warp achieves for red, or (B) change the color pie so Chaos Warp isn't a break?

The problem is players want access to the cards. The compromise was to not add them to formats that they aren’t legal in. That’s why color pie breaks won’t get reprinted in premier sets (not counting bonus sheets that don’t change card legality).

Bend / Break Bonus Sheets Card Printing Color Pie Format Legality Premier Sets Red Reprints Chaos Warp

First Set Outside R&D Team

To clarify my earlier question: After you joined Wizards, what was the first premier set that you were not officially on an R&D team for? (I assume you contributed in some way to almost every set.)

Technically, Onslaught, although I was responsible for morph being in the set, cycling returning, and pushing the typal theme. : )

Cycling Game Design Humor Kindred / Typal Morph Onslaught Premier Sets

First Non-Involvement in Set Development

After you joined Wizards, what was the first premier set that you were not on an R&D team for?

The first set that I didn’t work on or wasn’t officially on the team?

Game Design Premier Sets

Importance of Squirrels in Magic

Question for you and Sally. How does it feel to have your work advocating for squirrels in black border Magic culminating in an entire archetype in a premier set? And an entire commander precon?

It feels good. 🐿️ - Representation matters.

Black Border Commander Premier Sets Squirrels

Predicting Return to Rabiah?

With a new standard set giving us storm, thus checking in the namesake of the storm scale, does that mean we'll also be visiting Rabiah soon? (Sarcasm but it would be funny)

It means there’s hope.

Humor Premier Sets Storm Scale

About Cameo Mechanics

Have you done an article or podcast on cameo mechanics? How do they differ from deciduous mechanics? Or can basically every mechanic find its way into a premier set at this point?

I have not done a podcast on cameo mechanics yet. I’ll add it to the list.

Cameo Mechanics Deciduous Drive to Work Mechanics Premier Sets

Storm in Standard Miracle

What was the major miracle that happened for us to see Storm in standard?

The start of cameo mechanics in premier sets.

Cameo Mechanics Mechanics Miracle Premier Sets Premier Sets Standard

Approaching Design Finalization

What upcoming sets are closest to finalizing design right now?

Of a premier sets, Ultimate (aka return to Tarkir).

Premier Sets Premier Sets

Concerns Around Future Sight 2

I'm worried that as Universes Beyond releases grow in popularity and frequency, the opportunity for a Future Sight 2 supplemental set is decreasing. Can you assuage my concerns? Is there any chance a Future Sight 2 set could be a Standard legal set instead of a supplemental one?

I don’t think Universes Beyond is the biggest obstacle to Future Sight 2 as a premier set. UB has to get in line behind a whole bunch of other reasons. I assume complexity is at the front of the line.

Future Sight Premier Sets Standard Universes Beyond

Magic's Core Fantasy Expressions

While I'm not a fan of sneakers in Magic, I do appreciate your responses to some of the recent questions. I think back to how kooky stuff has always been a part of magic. From Arabian Nights, to cards like Orcish Lumberjack, magic _has_ always been weird. Recently its just the core fantasy is taking a back seat to corny tropes and pandering. We got UB, were told its not for everyone, and then immediately got UB-esque content in premier sets, repeatedly. Excited for the pendulum to swing back.

Bloomburrow is the pendulum swinging back on that front. It is core high fantasy.

Bloomburrow Orcish Lumberjack Premier Sets Premier Sets

Expanding Quality of Game

"In fact, for many players, it's the ever-expanding quality to the game that they enjoy most."This is definitely me. The idea that planes and sets could be many, wildly different things was what got me into the game, so I've been very happy to see Magic continually pushing into new spaces, especially over the last couple and next several premier sets — even when it's something that doesn't particular interest me, even if it doesn't work out well.

Our market research says you are a large group.

Planes Premier Sets Premier Sets

CARDNAME Copies in Deck

If/when: "A Deck can have four copies of CARDNAME" in a premier set.

It’s more likely to appear in a Commander product because it’s just confusing anywhere else.

Commander If/When Premier Sets

Potential for Premier Sets

Could we potentially see Myra's Intergalactic Astorium of Fun as a setting in a premier set? It's a fun setting I'd love to see get a full story behind it; heck, maybe even another murder Mystery at the carnival could be fun :)

I’ll call that a longshot. We made a lot of decisions building the world that we wouldn’t have done if it was a premier set.

Premier Sets Premier Sets Story / Lore

Revealing Set Codenames

Can you tell us the set codenames after "Cairo" if there are any?

I reveal codenames when we begin exploratory design on the set (at least for premier sets). The “D” set hasn’t started exploratory design yet.

Exploratory Design Premier Sets Premier Sets

Foil Poison Counter Tokens

Can I request a foil Poison counter token in a future set? ONE seemingly doesn't have one among all of its double-sided tokens, and it'd be a nice piece of bling if Poison returns as a cameo in the future or fits into an appropriate non-premier set.

I’ll pass the note along.

Foils Poison Premier Sets Tokens

Feedback on Preview and Foundations

Wow, what a crazy day of reveals.Duskmourne is looking much better than I thought it would be and I'm very thankful for the early release of the Planeswalker's Guide. Hopefully this change is welcomed by others as well and this could be the new norm (plane guides before set releases, not the super-early stuff, obviously).I'm also very happy with the idea of Foundations being a semi-permanent Core to standard sets and for new Archenemy cards! The changes in Archenemy Commander also seem good

I’ll pass along the comments.

Archenemy Commander Foundations Premier Sets Premier Sets Spoilers Standard