Sundial of the Infinite

Trivia about Vizzerdrix

Hi Mark!
Yesterday is my birthday. May I get trivia among one of my favorite cards - Worldfire, Wurmcoil Engine, Radiant Performer, Sundial of the Infinite, or Vizzerdrix? Or a random card from MH3 not covered by your previous Making Magic articles?

Vizzerdrix got created as a card for a product called Starter. The reason we made it is we had a series of TV commercials, one of which featured Kezzerdrix from Tempest (it involved mixing a wrestler, a chainsaw, and a bunny in a machine). A different ad in the same campaign used an Orgg. So to tie to those, we made a simpler Orgg and Vizzerdrix, as the original cards were too complicated for a beginner product.Happy Belated Birthday!

Beginners Birthday Kezzerdrix Making Magic Modern Horizons 3 Orgg Orgg Performer Pop Culture Radiant Performer Sundial of the Infinite Tempest Vizzerdrix Worldfire Wurmcoil Engine

Sundial-Topsy Turvy Rule

"You do what Sundial of the Infinite says. Topsy Turvy only affects the normal order of phases. If a card jumps you to a certain phase then that's what you do."

I feel like there's still something to parse here in the particular wording. Sundial says "End the turn" which to me reads that regardless of what phase you jump to the turn will end after that phase. The rules text isn't simply to skip to a phase, that's just one of the requisite parts of ending the turn. Would the turn end after that phase regardless of Topsy Turvy messing with the order of the phases because Sundial specifically says end the turn?

No, the turn ends after it jumps you phases. The combo is not infinite turns.

Rules Sundial of the Infinite Topsy Turvy

Topsy Turvy Interaction

Unrules question, Mark!How does Topsy Turvy interact with cards that end the turn, like Sundial of the Infinite or Obeka, Brute Chronologist?
The ruling says that "The current phase and/or step ends. The game skips straight to the cleanup step. The cleanup step happens in its entirety" and some players interpret this as "I get to have an infinite turn because I'm back at the beginning thanks to Topsy Turvy". However, I'd argue that Topsy Turvy would also change what it means to end the turn and thus the game would skip straight to the draw step (last of the beginning phase that's now the ending phase). Another view would be that the game skips to the next cleanup step, that is the last step of the now beginning phase of the next player's turn.What is your point of view on this matter?

You do what Sundial of the Infinite says. Topsy Turvy only affects the normal order of phases. If a card jumps you to a certain phase then that’s what you do.

Obeka, Brute Chronologist Sundial of the Infinite Topsy Turvy Un-sets

Legendary Creatures Inspiration

When designing legendary creatures, (particularly in supplemental sets) does R&D ever pick out an artifact or enchantment and say ‘hey, how can we adapt this to work as a commander?’ EG; Sundial of the Infinite, a personal favorite.

We’ve done that.

Adapt Artifacts Commander Creatures Enchantments Game Design Legendary Creatures Sundial of the Infinite

Niche Colorless Artifacts

Are weirdo, how-do-I-use-this, what-color-does-this-even-go-in artifacts like Sundial of the Infinite still pushable as colorless cards? I love trying to figure out the optimal colors for stuff like that.

Niche-y artifacts that can’t just go in any deck can keep generic mana costs.,

Artifacts Colorless Colors Mana Sundial of the Infinite

Card Trivia

Hi Mark, today is finally my birthday! Can I get some trivia on one of my three favorite cards - door to nothingness, assault formation, or sundial of the infinite?

When I originally designed Door to Nothingness it said “Destroy target creature or player.” The Rules Manager sadly changed to the existing template. Happy Birthday!

Assault Formation Birthday Creatures Destroy Door to Nothingness Rules Sundial of the Infinite Templating

Sundial Infinite Trivia

It is finally my birthday! I've waited patiently for this, so my question is: Can we please get some awesome trivia about my favorite card, Sundial of the Infinite?

Mark Globus (he came in fourth in the first Great Designer Search and is now the producer for Magic in R&D) created Time Stop. The spell went over well so he did again with Sundial. Happy birthday!

Birthday Search Sundial of the Infinite Time Stop

Complex Cards in Core Sets

What was your opinion on having Sundial of the Infinite in a core set? I think it was to complex and newer players (which is what the point of a core set it) were confused.

I don’t think having a few “I don’t get it the first time I see it” cards are bad for rares in the core set. You want players realizing the game is bigger than they understand at first blush.

Rares Sundial of the Infinite