Primalcrux

Reprinting With New Names

Is it possible that a preexisting old card could be reprinted with a new name for the same mechanic? (e.g. reprinting Engineered Explosives with Converge instead of Sunburst, or reprinting Primalcrux saying "devotion to green" instead of Chroma)

If we revamped the mechanic as a larger thing like devotion and chroma.

Card Printing Chroma Converge Engineered Explosives Green Mechanics Primalcrux Reprints Sunburst

Hydra and Primalcrux Trivia

Hello Mark !!! I've been following Blogatog for many years, yet I have never asked for a birthday question. Can you tell me some nice trivia about my two favorite cards, Khalni Hydra and Primalcrux ? Thank you !!!

Primalcrux came about because we wanted a green creature with all green mana in its cost to work with chroma. The question was the cost per P/T ratio in a vacuum. After various playtests, we ended up with a CMC of 6. Khalni Hydra came about because we wanted a big creature that could be free if you had enough green creatures. Play testing showed that one worked best as an 8/8 for eight green mana. Happy Birthday!

Appreciation Birthday Chroma Creatures Green Hydra Khalni Hydra Mana Primalcrux

Mana Costs Frequency

"We very infrequently make mana costs with more than three of the same mana symbol." Specifically, 24 times, not including Un-cards. Almost all of those were four of the same symbol; the only exceptions are Rushwood Elemental (GGG GG), Primalcrux (GGG GGG), and Khalni Hydra (GGG GGG GG).

FYI

Elemental Hydra Khalni Hydra Mana Primalcrux Rushwood Elemental Un-sets

Mana Symbol Templating

Can you please change the templating of using the same mana symbol a bunch of times? I usually have a hard time finding out how much mana it costs to cast cards like Khalni Hydra or Primalcrux without going on gatherer and looking at the CMC. Plus a change in templating can make it take up less space on the card.

Do you have a suggestion how to change it?

Cast Hydra Khalni Hydra Mana Primalcrux Templating

Chroma's Focus Issue

Do you think part of Chroma's problem, besides the obvious flavor disconnect, was that it wasn't focused enough? Some cards checked the battlefield, others checked the graveyard, and a few even checked your hand. Furthermore, the effects were inconsistent in their range; Primalcrux checked all green symbols among your permanents and affected only itself while Light from Within benefitted each creature you control checking only their own white symbols.

Yes, lack of focus was a big issue.

Chroma Creatures Flavor Green Light from Within Permanents Primalcrux The Graveyard White Your Hand

Eventide Set Affection

Mark, I wouldn't want to live in a world without Slippery Bogle or Wistful Selkie. Seriously, that Bogle causes more problems for people with Momir Vig. Take it easy on yourself for Eventide, even though I know you dislike it - it was one of my favorite sets you designed! Primalcrux, Bogle, I even have the playmat of Scourge of the Nobilis from winning the 2HG event at the pre-release.

I didn’t say I didn’t like it. It is one of my babies. I said that if I had to pick the one with the most opportunities for improvement, I choose Eventide.

Eventide Limited Primalcrux Scourge Scourge of the Nobilis Slippery Bogle Wistful Selkie

Chroma vs Devotion

Chroma, as used on Primalcrux, has the definition of devotion. It wouldn't be a functional change, unless something specifically looks for the keyword Devotion in one of the upcoming sets. Do you not do those types of changes anymore after what happened with Loxodon Warhammer/Lifelink?

Chroma is an ability word while devotion is a keyword which means they work slightly differently. Primalcrux cannot technically have devotion.

Ability Words Chroma Keywords Lifelink Loxodon Warhammer Primalcrux

Primalcrux and Devotion

Would it have been possible to reprint Primalcrux in Theros and replace the word "Chroma" with the word "Devotion", or would you have had to give Primalcrux a new name?

It would have needed a new name. Chroma is not exactly devotion.

Card Printing Chroma Primalcrux Reprints Theros

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