Thorn Elemental

Green Iconic Elementals

It occurred to me during your last DtW I've never heard you discuss Elementals in your search for a green iconic. Force of Nature is undoubtedly the biggest, greenest creature in Alpha, and feels a lot like green's Lord of the PIt. WotC also kept printing splashy rare "nature elementals" in similar trope space like Verdant Force, Child of Gaea, Thorn Elemental, and Maro yourself, as if they were resonant with players. Were the lower-rarity red and blue elementals the problem, or something else?

We do Elements in all five colors, which isn’t good for an iconic creature type.

Blue Card Printing Child of Gaea Colors Creatures Drive to Work Elemental Force of Nature Green Lord of the Pit Mark Rosewater Rares Red Search The Pit Thorn Elemental Verdant Force Wizards of the Coast

Fan Interaction Appreciation

It was great seeing you at MF Seattle! I appreciate your infinite patience, with all of us vying for quick conversations. (And that you gave me birthday trivia about Thorn Elemental.)

I’m always happy to meet with the fans. : )

Appreciation Birthday Elemental Seattle Thorn Elemental

Dominaria Drafting

I had the most fun in drafting Dominaria at the prerelease that I've had in a decade. Never once was I bored or not having fun. Old classics like Juggernaut, Thorn Elemental and Icy Manipulator performed well with the new cards and meshed seamlessly. I purchased four boxes today and completed the set. That is the most I've ever purchased in one day for Magic. Kudos all around, fantastic, fantastic product. The minor gripes I have are utterly dwarfed by my enjoyment of the set.

I’m happy you’re so happy.

Appreciation Dominaria Elemental Icy Manipulator Juggernaut Limited Prerelease Thorn Elemental

Super Trample Rarity

Why hasn't there been many more creatures with "super trample" a la Thorn Elemental and Rhox? My guess is limited design space but it was really fun back in the day and seems keywordable.

It isn’t something we want to do enough to keyword.

Creatures Design Space Elemental Keywords Limited Rhox Thorn Elemental Trample

Thorn Elemental Trivia

Hey Mark! My birthday was yesterday! Could I get some trivia on my favorite card from my very first set (eventh edition), Thorn elemental? Thanks!

For a while we decided to simplify the core set and remove some of the more complicated creature keywords. Trample was one of those keywords. The mechanic on Thorn Elemental was one we were trying out to replace it in the core set, but essential unblockability on giant creatures proved too frustrating for the defending player. Happy Birthday!

Birthday Creatures Elemental Giant Keywords Mechanics Thorn Elemental Trample

Comic Confusion

I don't get the latest comic. Am I overthinking it, or are you just tickled by the idea of hiring constantly flying birds? (I also don't recognize the art offhand, so maybe if I knew what card it was I would get it. :-) )

I was making fun of something known as “scale birds”. A very common art trick to convey the size of a creature is to have something of a known size right next to it for scale. Birds, because they can be shown in flight in front of it, are often used. The art in question is Thorn Elemental by rk post.

Art Bird Conventions Creatures Elemental Flying Humor Pop Culture Thorn Elemental

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