Spawn

Eldrazi Precon Deck Compositions

Why does the Eldrazi precon have a mix of Spawn and Scions? I know you can help which is used when it comes to reprints, but it has Chittering Dispatcher as a new card that makes Spawn and Eldrazi Confluence and Spawnbed Protector as new cards that make Scions (the protector is especially annoying, with spawn in its name when it doesn't even make them). I wish it had just kept with the main set and only used Spawn for new cards. They would be a touch weaker but the consistency would be so much nicer.

Making a hundred card deck around the Eldrazi is tricky being how few sets they’ve been in. I don’t think the design team building the deck had the choice to not use both. And once that was a known thing, having new cards do both wasn’t a huge deal.

Card Printing Chittering Dispatcher Eldrazi Eldrazi Confluence Reprints Scion Spawn Spawnbed Protector The Protector

Eldrazi Spawn vs Scions

Do you know why the MH3 design team used Eldrazi spawn instead of scions?

Erik Lauer and I specifically talk about it on my podcast (coming up). Basically, 0/1 had less utility outside the mana production and thus caused less problems.

Drive to Work Eldrazi Erik Lauer Mana Modern Horizons 3 Scion Spawn

Sideways Build-Arounds

In nuts and bolts #16, you mention “sideways build-arounds”. I can’t figure out what the “sideways” in this phrase means. Would you be able to elaborate a little?

The classic example of a build around is Spider Spawning from Innistrad. It gives you a theme to build around that isn’t one of the archetype themes.

Innistrad Spider Spider Spawning

Time Lord Exception

Hi Mark! Does “Time Lord” being a two-word, unhyphenated creature type raise the likelihood of other such creature types being made? Does it change your thoughts on unhyphenating Assembly-Worker, or combining Eldrazi Spawn (for example) into one?

Nothing is changing because of Time Lord. It’s a special rare exception.

Assembly-Worker Assembly-Worker Creatures Eldrazi Rares Spawn Time Lord

Flashback Mechanic News

Does Viral Spawning mean, that flashback is now decudious? Please confirm!

It does. Rejoice!

Flashback Mechanics Viral Spawning

Bar Entry Details

For the sake of Bar Entry, Is Infernal Spawn of Infernal Spawn of Evil the mouse or the snowflake?

The mouse.

Bar Entry Infernal Spawn of Evil Infernal Spawn of Infernal Spawn of Evil Mouse Spawn

Next Un-set Entry

I'm sad that Unfinity didn't show us another member of Infernal Spawn of Evil's family line. Can I get a maybe on meeting Evil Itself next un-set?

Maybe. : )

Humor Spawn Un-Magic / Silver Border / Acorn Un-sets

Embiggen Design Choice

For Embiggen, if you'd remembered any of the other creature types that are unlikely to be printed again (Spawn comes to mind, from Elder Spawn), would you have used one of those instead of Brushwagg to block Changeling brokenness?

The goal was to make it funny while choosing a creature type that impacted very few creatures.

Brushwagg Card Printing Changeling Creatures Elder Elder Spawn Embiggen Humor Spawn

Surveil Mechanic Proposal

Hi Mark. Surveil needs to be evergreen and errataed onto cards like Consider and the newly spoiled Uurg, Spawn of Turg.

We are considering making some mechanics deciduous, like we did with cycling. Would others like surveil to join the list?

Cycling Deciduous Evergreen Mechanics Spawn Surveil Uurg, Spawn of Turg

Camarids vs Homarids

On the subject of Homarids, there is also the rarely-used creature type Camarid, which appears only as tokens made by Homarid Spawning Bed and Sarpadian Empires, Vol VII. My understanding is that a Camarid is merely a juvenile Homarid - if (when) Homarids return, would you keep Camarid as a separate type, or merge it into Homarid? If it were kept, what are the chances of seeing a non-token creature with the Camarid type?

Camarid is a rare case of the juvenile version of a creature being a different creature type. If we brought Camarids back, they would just be Homarids.

Camarid Creatures Homarid Spawning Bed Homarids Rares Spawning Bed Tokens

Criteria for Acorn Stamp

If the three Infernal Spawn cards were released under the new Un-set framework, would they still get acorn stamps because of the things you are supposed to say? It seems like they would work perfectly well in black border otherwise.

Verbal components get you an acorn stamp.

Black Border Spawn Un-Magic / Silver Border / Acorn Un-sets

Vilespawn Spider Color Inquiry

Why is vilespawn spider blue? By all rights it's a green&black card.

Milking yourself each turn is more blue than black or green, and in this set best synergies with blue cards.

Black Blue Colors Green Spider Vilespawn Spider

Diversity of Angel Tokens

RE: Tokens, I meant different kinds of Angel tokens. There's a 4/4 Angel Warrior with flying and vigilance, a 4/4 Angel Warrior with just flying, and an Angel with flying that's 3/3. Alternatively, consider Eldrazi Scions versus Eldrazi Spawns. Yes, there are gameplay needs, but from a Mel's perspective it's a nightmare.

That’s why we make token cards, to avoid this specific problem.

Angel Eldrazi Flying Game Play Nightmare Scion Spawn Tokens Vigilance Warrior

Sparks and Natural vs Artificial

Other prerequisite for having a spark is being able to use magic, and having a soul that can carry a spark. That's where natural and artificial differ. Demons and angels(and likely most nyxborn) are artificial creatures that naturally spawn from mana(I guess as if the mana gained sentience), but Ob Nixilis was formely human and Calix was made by a goddess, a being that's a reflection of mortal dreams and thoughts, so I could see he inherited the mortal-like prerequisite.

Good point.

Angel Creatures Demon Human Mana Reflection Spawn

Infernal Spawn Card Creatures

Asking for Acornelia, are the creatures depicted in the Infernal Spawn card sets squirrels or rats artistically?

They are not Squirrels.

Creatures Rat Rat Spawn Squirrel

Booster Tutor Rule Query

Ok, here goes for an un-mander question: are Booster Tutor and Summon the Pack subject to Rule 11? "Abilities which bring other card(s) you own from outside the game into the game (such as Living Wish; Spawnsire of Ulamog; Karn, the Great Creator) do not function in Commander." Do cards from boosters count as "outside the game?" Because they sure aren't in your sideboard.

You’re already breaking a rule to play silver border cards, so if you’re allowed to have it in your deck, you’re allowed to get the booster.

Booster Tutor Boosters Commander Karn, the Great Creator Living Wish Rules Spawnsire of Ulamog Summon the Pack Tutoring Un-Magic / Silver Border / Acorn Un-sets

Addressing Eldrazi Straggler Existence

The flavor texts of multiple cards, some of which were cited in the comments of the original ask, clearly indicate that Eldrazi stragglers do exist. Vestige of Emrakul and the UMA printing of Ulamog's Crusher provide decently indisputable evidence of this. As someone who very much disliked the way Eldrazi were handled in BFZ-OGW and SOI-EMN, I am glad to hear the focus is away from them, but excluding them entirely seems like a clear mistake. They are part of the world's identity now.

In spite of what characters of the world might think, Eldrazi spawns are extensions of the titans. If they are dead (or locked away in a moon), there can’t be any. I believe both flavor text comes at a time where people falsely thought they were dead.

Eldrazi Flavor Flavor Text Spawn Ulamog's Crusher Ultimate Masters Vestige of Emrakul

Inquiry on More Inclusive Cards

Could we get more cards that allow us to play cards from our collection rather than from exile, similar to how Spawnsire of Ulamog does?

Wishes do this and we make them from time to time.

Spawnsire of Ulamog The Exile Zone

Silver Bordered Secret Lairs

What are the chances of some silver bordered Secret Lairs? I'd love a Secret Lair with the Infernal Spawn of Evil trio, in full art premium foil treatment. Especially as Infernal Spawn of Evil and Infernius Spawnington III, Esq. have never been printed in foil.

What silver bordered cards would you all like to see in a Secret Lair?

Art Foils Infernal Spawn of Evil Infernius Spawnington III, Esq. Secret Lairs Spawn

Subgame Event Impact

Unrules Question: do the events that take place during the subgame from Enter the Dungeon count as taking place during the turn in which Enter the Dungeon was played in the main game. During the subgame I revealed Infernal Spawn 4 times, does that mean my Infernius Spawnington III, Esq. costs 12 less or is it full price?

No, the subgame is its own game.

Enter the Dungeon Infernius Spawnington III, Esq. Spawn Un-sets