Sprout Swarm

Sprout Swarm in Mythic

Re: common to mythic. What about Sprout Swarm? Isn't that a common that the team decided to not reprint in not even in mythic because it was too powerful for limited?

I pointed out that the as-fan at mythic rare was still too high for limited purposes, not that the card felt like a mythic rare.

As-fan Limited Mythic Rares Rares Reprints Sprout Swarm

Discussion about Printed Cards

Some of the cards you say in your column today didn't make it to print did, in fact, make it to print! Butterfly became Whip-Spine Drake; Spellwild Dog became Spellwild Ouphe; Boss Scragnoth became Quagnoth. Also, Sneaky Goblin seems a lot like Street Wraith, and Veiled Clone like Shapeshifter's Marrow. Also the green common kicker/convoke creature did make it, as Kavu Primarch; Sprout Swarm was in addition. Also, one of the vanishing cycle you say got cut did stay, as Lost Auramancers.

FYI

Card Printing Clone Convoke Creatures Dog Drake Goblin Green Kavu Kavu Primarch Kicker Lost Auramancers Ouphe Primarch Quagnoth Scragnoth Shapeshifter's Marrow Spellwild Ouphe Sprout Swarm Street Wraith Vanishing Vanishing Whip-Spine Drake Wraith

Keyword Combo Sets

If or When (In Supplemental most likely) A theme or cycle of multiple keywords from the past that work well together on a card. Examples: Haze of Rage (Storm & Buyback), Sprout Swarm (Convoke & Buyback), Ichor Slick (Cycling & Madness), etc.

We call those “mix & match”. It would have to be a supplemental set and one with enough keywords to make it work. It’s not out of the question.

Buyback Convoke Cycling Haze of Rage Ichor Slick If/When Keyword Abilities Keywords Madness Sprout Swarm

Multi-Keyword Card Promise

Cards with multiple non-evergreen key/ability words on them again? If or when? (ex: Sprout Swarm having convoke and buyback)

When, although more likely in supplemental products than Standard-legal ones.

Ability Words Buyback Convoke Evergreen If/When Sprout Swarm Standard

Mix-Match Mechanics Proposal

You can't take card ideas, but you're all ears for what we like and don't like. So, here's my two cents. I loved the mix-and-match mechanics cards from Future Sight (ex. Sprout Swarm, Gathan Raiders). I hope you're able to do more of them again.

They’re hard to do in normal expansions. What would you guys think of a mix & match supplemental product?

Future Sight Gathan Raiders Mechanics Sprout Swarm

Time Spiral-esque Product

Is it a possibility that WoTC would print a supplementary product that was very "Time Spiral"-esque? Maybe something like commander's arsenal, but where a lot of mechanics from all eras are colliding, and things like that. (Sprout Swarm!!)

We did. It was called Modern Masters.

Card Printing Commander Commander's Arsenal Mechanics Modern Modern Masters Sprout Swarm Time Spiral Wizards of the Coast

Future Sight Combo Ratings

Your Time Spiral podcast reminded me how much I loved the nostalgic combo keyword cards (Sprout Swarm, Ichor Slick, etc.) in Future Sight. I remember that the potenial combos were rated 1-5 before inclusion. Could you divulge those ratings? Also, what was your favorite combo that didn't make it?

For those that don’t know this story. During Future Sight, inspired by Blast from the Past (from Unhinged), I knew I wanted to make mix & match cards that combined two cool mechanics from Magic’s past on one card. I then had design team member Zvi Mowshowitz (he was a design intern at the time) grade each combo on a scale from 1 (sucky non-bo) to 5 (awesome combo). We included all the 4’s and 5’ and a few 3’s if my memory serves. I don’t remember off the top of my head what was the highest rated that didn’t make it. I do know we did all the ones we thought were the most awesome.

Blast from the Past Drive to Work Future Sight Ichor Slick Keywords Mechanics Sprout Swarm Story / Lore Time Spiral Unhinged

Future Nostalgia Mechanics

One of the things I loved in Future Sight were the spells with two keywords from across Magic history that have great synergy, like Haze of Rage or Sprout Swarm. With little hope of another ultra-complex nostalgia block, will we ever see their like again?

I called those cards Mix & Match cards. As they require a large amount of mechanics reprinted from the past, I’d say it’s unlikely to happen again (at least anytime soon).

Card Printing Future Sight Haze of Rage Keywords Mechanics Reprints Spells Sprout Swarm