Robot

Asking about Giant Robot Vehicles

Hello. I'd like to see more vehicles flavored as giant, human-shaped robots. Can I get a non-binding confirmation that it's technically possible that some maybe, might show up in 'Volleyball'?In a related aside, I'd love to see a Gundam universe beyond set.

Vehicles, meaning the artifact subtype, doesn’t currently get creature types when it animates.

Artifacts Creatures Giant Robot Subtype Vehicles

Difference Between Constructs and Robots

I started paying attention to creature types more, and it got me thinking - what is really the difference between Golem, Construct, an Robot? I feel like what separates Golems is that golems are "alive" in that they have something that humanifies them, whether it be rational thinking or something magical or spiritual, where as constructs and robots are tools created to serve a specific purpose and don't have that higher awareness. But what separates a construct from a robot? Sci-fi vs fantasy?

Construct is a catch-all, like Beast, when we don’t have a creature type that properly catches something.

Beast Construct Creatures Golem Robot

Myr Alignment

Do Myrs truly have an alignment? I know they were built by Memnarch, but after that they kinda just hung out like lil robot goblins, until the Phyrexians, where they were... active dissedents? But other than some cards it just seems like they were just useful creatures for the Rebels to utilize.

The Myr work for whoever will allow them to be useful.

Creatures Goblin Memnarch Myr Phyrexian Rebel Robot

Hat Usage Feedback

Hats can also be a fashion statement, which is why you sometimes see them in art for things like Golems or Robots. But what is cute or special in limited use becomes somewhat generic or even banal in repetition sometimes. It's no longer a special quirk for someone, and now usst a general thing around

I hear the note that we’ve gone a little heavy on hats.

Art Colorless Golem Limited Robot

Hats on Non-Humans

"Less hats?"Hats on Humanoids with eyes makes sense. Hats on creatures like golems, robots, or things thay don't have fleshy eyes makes no sense, as the purpose of a hat is moot on them.I don't mind hats, but putting it on things that literally would not need a hat in general feels like ya'll didn't really think things through when giving the artist a prompt/direction.

A fine distinction.

Art Creatures Eye Golem Robot

Community UB Requests

Well, if today is UB wishlist time, my pod has mentioned recently some things they'd like to see

Avatar (The Last Airbender, not the James Cameron one) - Lots of elemental magic, soldiers, monks, and weird magical creatures

Discworld - A Magic-adjacent genre space, plus fans who are very passionate about it.

Star Wars - We're getting a Space Opera set next year, and what's a Jedi but a Space Monk?

Power Rangers - Transforming legendary creatures! Giant robots! Other Giant Robots made of the first giant robots! (This is a direct quote from the person who said she wanted to see Power Rangers)

Thanks.

Avatar Creatures Elemental Giant Legendary Creatures Monk Ranger Robot Soldier

Summons Became Creatures

Do you know why summons became creatures? I feel like summons is a more accurate description/name, as things like robots/mechs aren’t really creatures, but are summoned.

It was odd that creatures weren’t labeled creature. It’s important when you use a card that says “Destroy target creature” that the thing you’re targeting actually says what it is.

Creatures Destroy Robot

Transformers Disguise Idea

Now that there's a disguise mechanic, and since DFCs played or flipped facedown just become their back face...
Could any hypothetical Transformers cards going forward have the Disguise ability on the front, making them actual Robots in disguise?😅

: )

Disguise Dual Faced Cards Humor Mechanics Robot

Scientist and Robot Playability

Hey Mark,Where would you put Scientist and Robot on the Beeble scale?

Scientist: 6 in an appropriate in-world Magic set, 3 in an appropriate Universes Beyond setRobot: 7 in an appropriate in-world Magic set, 3 in an appropriate Universes Beyond set

Beeble Scale Robot Scientist Universes Beyond

Un-set Themes

Pretty much every draft theme in unfinity was centered on wacky mechanics- attractions, stickers, dice rolling. The most normal one was robot typal. Was there ever any consideration of having some of the archetypes be a bit more “normal”- like having an artifact theme to bridge attractions and robots for example- and just filling it out with wacky implementations of it on individual cards? If so, what was the internal response to that?

We do Un-sets pretty infrequently. If you want run of the mill themes, we have lots of sets to deliver those.

Artifacts Attractions Die Rolling Draft Formats Kindred / Typal Mill Robot Stickers Un-Magic / Silver Border / Acorn Un-sets

Gnomes in Ixalan

Hey Mark, I’m really stoked about the new take on Ixalan. I was not originally especially looking forward to this set, but the respectful take on Mesoamerican culture was a very pleasant surprise. After Amonkhet, I had thought that WoTC had chosen to avoid deep cuts that are not commonly known. The Mesoamerican fantasy setting that highlights what makes its source material great feels really fresh and exciting.However (and perhaps I’m just ignorant of the source material), I’m finding the Gnomes to be pretty jarring inclusion - and I love MTG Gnomes. I was probably the target audience for them. I had the Mirrodin Bottle Gnomes art as my desktop wallpaper for several years. I would have still preferred a creature type that was a little more authentic to the source material, or even just Construct or Robot. The degree to which Lost Caverns of Ixalan is referencing its source material is kind of making the Gnomes more jarring by contrast. At least the feathered Dinosaurs kind of have the tangential link to Quetzalcoatl. It kind of feels like if Theros had had some elven philosophers.

Is it the look of the Gnomes or just the fact they are called “Gnomes”?

Amonkhet Art Bottle Gnomes Construct Creatures Dinosaur Gnome Ixalan Mirrodin Robot Theros Wizards of the Coast

UB Sets Influence

With so many scientists, robots and firearms in UB sets, are chances to get these in non-UB sets higher than before?

Creature types from Universe Beyond sets are available to appropriate in-multiverse sets.

Creatures Robot Scientist

Appreciating Magic Expansion

Just wanted to thank you for working on Magic. I love that magic is always growing, and I have some internal feelings on what a "real" magic card or set is, but if WotC thinks something outside of my comfort zone is good enough for magic I'll be very enthusiastic to see what you do with it. (I was thinking that robots couldn't be part of what feels like "real" Magic, but Kamigawa and Brothers' War proved me wrong, and I love it ^^ )

We keep stretching. : )

Appreciation Humor Robot Wizards of the Coast

Un Space Influence

Some of what 'un' space has been in the past was flavour that regular MTG wasn't willing to tread (like robots and the word 'ass', as opposed to mechanics). has the existence of Universes Beyond shrunk what would be available for a future Un set?

All Magic sets shrink Un-space. : )

Flavor Humor Mechanics Robot Universes Beyond Un-Magic / Silver Border / Acorn Un-sets

Sci-Fi Creature Types

I love the designs of the UB Dr.Who set. But I really really dislike science-fiction or modern age creature types. I know you mentioned that WOTC might create an in-universe creature type to represent them. What are the chances because I will be honest. I LOVE un-sets but stayed away from the last one because of clowns, robots and aliens. I'll be staying away from this set as well, but im sad because the designs look amazing. I just can't reconcile putting them with my fantasy cards. Too weird

As we venture more into science fiction, we are expanding our creature types. There are also no immediate plans for Magic Within versions of Doctor Who cards which means, I’m sorry to say, that there aren’t any plans in the work to help you. I’m sad you skipped Unstable (because of the Cyborgs) and Unfinity, because I believe they are the two best designed Un-sets, and both are a lot of fun.

Alien Clown Creatures Doctor Modern Robot Un-sets Wizards of the Coast

Hypothetical Creature Types

If it had been around at the time, do you think Runaway Trash-Bot and Towashi Guide-Bot would have gotten the Robot creature type? They're the first things that come to mind for possible Robots in the game right now.

If it had existed at the time, they might have.

Creatures Robot Runaway Trash-Bot Towashi Guide-Bot

Construct vs Robot

Maybe this is a weird take, but I like that magic uses “construct” instead of “robot”. It makes even more modern settings feel grounded in fantasy

We’’ll continue to use Construct where appropriate. We’re just not calling things that are clearly Robots Constructs.

Construct Modern Robot

Construct, Golem, Robot

A construct, a golem and a robot get into a fight, who wins?

It depends which Construct, which Golem, and which Robot.

Construct Fight / Bite Golem Robot

Robot Creature Type

Is Robot now an available creature type in Magic, or is it just for the Doctor Who set? Could we, for instance, see it in the sci-fi set coming in a couple years?

Robots appeared in Unfinity and on the Transformer cards in The Brothers’ War. It’s a usable creature type for the proper settings.

Creatures Doctor Robot

Construct vs Robot

what’s the distinction between a Construct creature and a Robot creature? they feel like very similar types

Think of Construct as Beast. If we specify it, we use the more narrow creature type, but if we don’t we use the more general one. Every Robot is a Construct (mostly), but not every Construct is a Robot. Also, the word has to be appropriate to the setting. Robot is used in more modern settings.

Beast Construct Creatures Modern Robot