Toxic

Poison Counter Feedback

You claim 10 poison counters aren't a problem. I beg to differ. I just played three matches against different players, all played toxic decks and I lost every one of them. Please reconsider your stance on poison. It's getting tiring. Thank you.

What format were you playing?

Appreciation Poison Toxic

Variable Poison Concerns

Could we see a card like "Equipped/enchanted creature gets toxic X where X is its power" or would that be too close to infect levels

I’m skeptical play design would want a variable poison number.

Creatures Infect Play Design Poison Toxic

Poisonous to Toxic Errata

I'm having difficulty seeing why Virulent Sliver wouldn't eventually be errataed from poisonous to toxic. The two mechanics work identically, the only real difference between them is the Phyrexian flavor behind toxic. Given that there are only two cards that have or give poisonous (and the other one is totally unplayed in all formats), there isn't really memory or inertia to worry about. Is this an errata that you could see reasonably happening at any time?

The best chance of it happening is the card getting reprinted. We are more hesitant to errata cards in which 100% of the printed versions are incorrect.

Card Printing Errata Flavor Mechanics Phyrexian Poisonous Reprints Sliver Toxic Virulent Sliver

Virulent Sliver Errata

Will Virulent Sliver ever be erratad to have Toxic instead of Poisonous?

Unlikely.

Errata Poisonous Sliver Toxic Virulent Sliver

Infect Mechanic Insight

I love infect, it was how I was introduced into MTG by a buddy in middle school. Love playing it when I have the chance but I've always heard that "wotc would never touch posion again becuase they think infect was a mistake." Is there any truth to that? Does the design team think infect was a bad idea in hindsight? I always heard that then ONE reintroduced poison counters, if infect was disliked was Toxic how they think it should have been done originally?

Infect has a bunch of balance issues, but that’s on infect, not poison counters. Do I regret making infect? I do not.

Infect Mechanics Poison Toxic Wizards of the Coast

Poison in Commander

Re: PoisonIt has a problem in Commander (or any other free-for-all format) where normally only one player is using it, so the other players aren't contributing to their win condition (unlike damage.) So the best case scenario for the poison player tends to be eliminating one opponent quickly before gassing out/becoming the archenemy and getting eliminated.Are there any plans to address this in future Commander products, perhaps by introducing creatures with toxic and myriad, and/or cards that goad creatures and give them toxic?

I’m not sure there’s a great need to make poison better in Commander.

Archenemy Commander Creatures Free-for-All Goad Myriad Poison Toxic

Raid Bombardment Reprint

Amateur set designer here: Thoughts on the design of Raid Bombardment? It hasn't been reprinted in a premier set since Rise of the Eldrazi, despite being reprinted in a bonus sheet. I infer that the play pattern isn't toxic but there might be some other part of the card that is, but I'd prefer to hear it from someone more experienced than I. Is there any element of the design that makes it hard to include, or is it just a case of "there's only so many slots"?

It’s the latter. Reprints really have to serve the set, and that design sits in an odd place for synergy.

Bombardment Bonus Sheets Card Printing Eldrazi Premier Sets Raid Raid Bombardment Reprints Rise of the Eldrazi Rise of the Eldrazi Toxic

Toxic Mechanic Future

Where is toxic on the storm scale? And do you think we’ll see it separate from phyrexians?

I’d put Toxic at a 5. And yes, I assume it will appear on cards other than Phyrexians. The concept can be applied to many creative executions.

Mechanics Phyrexian Storm Scale Toxic

Poison Vs Damage Data

How well did it go for ONE to have players/decks mix poison and regular damage? Anecdotally, corrupt played very well and toxic creatures weren't as parasitic because they still lowered life, but for me —and I heard a lot of this— poison kills were rare even if you were trying, because most creatures had a toxic value of half their power or lower, so at most you got to ten poison counters at the same time as damage. Do you have data on this? Is Wizards happy with those how it turned out?

The data from the players said they mostly enjoyed it.

Corrupt Creatures Parasitic Poison Rares Toxic

Mechanics Combination

Can similar mechanics be put into a card (or a set) together?(e.g. "first strike and double strike", "flying and reach", "hexproof and ward", "undying and persist", or "infect, poisonous, and toxic")

We tend not to include them on the same card, but definitely will use them in the same set.

Double Strike First Strike Flying Hexproof Infect Mechanics Persist Persist Poisonous Toxic Undying Ward

Toxic Mechanic Future

Now that its been out for a bit, How was toxic received? Are we likely to see it again in standard?

It was received well. I assume it will return one day, but not soon.

Mechanics Standard Toxic

Online Community Vibes

Funny that you mentioned in your DtW how MtG online communities are getting more negative. I'm quite burnt out on interacting with other fans online. The GenCon announcements were my favorite since I started the game (seriously, starting from now up to Ziplining there are only two releases I'm not that interested) but the online reaction from places such as Reddit were quite toxic against people who are actually interested in these sets :(You usually have some nice tips for people who wants to quit Magic, but do you have anything for some who is currently hating the "Gathering" part of it (at least the online part)?

Find people you can interact with in person. It’s such a different energy.

Drive to Work Humor Toxic

Playable Modern Set

Will a direct-to-Modern set ever be designed to provide a playable deck if a player owns a playset of the set?I feel like as a consumer, if I collect an entire playset of a set designed for Modern, like MH1 and MH2, I should have a playable modern deck. If I had a playset of a standard set, I’d expect to have a playable standard deck. I feel as though the inability for direct-to-modern sets to provide players with an entry to the format is a weakness of the product.

I don’t think this is a thing you can normally do with any set. What Standard deck has 100% of the cards come from a single set? Yeah, there’s things like the toxic deck that come primarily from one set, but even that’s improved by using cards from other sets in Standard.

Modern Modern Horizons Modern Horizons 2 Premier Sets Standard Toxic

Poison Mechanics Future

As a die-hard Fynn the Fangbearer player, I'm curious about the future of Poison. Do you have a sense how Toxic and Corrupted in ONE received? What are the chances of us seeing more poison-centered cards without Phyrexians being present?

I believe we will continue to make non-Phyrexian poison cards.

Corrupted Mechanics Phyrexian Poison Toxic

Mechanic Erata Plans

Hi mark. Will we see an erata on the poisonous mechanic since as a keyword it is identical to toxic?

There are no current plans to do this. Also, technically it not being triggered makes toxic different from poisonous.

Errata Keywords Mechanics Poisonous Toxic

Toxic vs Poisonous

It appears (at least, to me) that "poisonous 3" and "toxic 3" serve identical purposes. Are there any reasons why "toxic N" was chosen as the Phyrexia All Will Be One mechanic over "poisonous N?"

Two reasons: 1) We didn’t want it to be a triggered ability.2) The word was factually wrong. Poisonous poisons you if your eat it, not if it bites you.

Mechanics Poisonous Toxic Triggered Abilities

Toxic vs Infect

How do you feel toxic did in comparison to infect?

Response has been good.What do all of you think of toxic?

Infect Toxic

Fynn Errata Reasoning

Hey Mark, I was wondering what prevented Fynn in the Multiverse Legends printing to grant Toxic 2 to creatures with deathtouch. I originally assumed that they didnt use the new keyword on fynn since it would have spoiled toxic in kaldheim, but now im curious whether its due to his non-phyrexian type.

It’s functional errata.

Card Printing Creatures Deathtouch Errata Functional Errata Kaldheim Keywords Legendary Creatures Toxic

Toxic Mechanics Praise

Hi Maro! I just wanted to say how much I’m enjoying playing with toxic in arena standard. I was skeptical at first bc I started playing magic when infect was new and I hated it, but toxic plays so well! High fives to the ONE design team

High fives shall be applied.

High Fives Infect Magic Arena Mark Rosewater Mechanics Standard Toxic

Poisonous vs Toxic

In All Will Be One, why was poisonous changed to toxic?

1) We didn’t want it be triggered. 2) The word meant the wrong thing. Something is poisonous if you get poisoned if you eat it, not if you get bit by it.

Poisonous Toxic