Worm

Artistic Choices for Biting Leeches

It doesn't stop me from loving every leech in the game anyway but you gotta tell your artists that biting leeches leech (which are annelid worms) have either a tubular proboscis or three jaws arranged like a letter Y, not circular rings of fangs like a lamprey (a jawless fish). Only one leech in the history of magic comes close to scientific accuracy and was eons ago; Ron Spencer's Sapphire Leech! Oh no!

In our multiverse, sure. : )

Fish Humor Leech Leeches Sapphire Leech Worm

Creature Type Simplification

With the reduction of types, viashino being lizards for instance, has there been talk about errata-ing insect, pest, worm and the like to "bug" instead?I assume spiders would likely stay separate for thematic and mechanical reasons

There has been no Bug talk.

Creatures Insect Lizard Pest Spider Viashino Worm

Wurm World Preview

I heard rumor of worm typal being a theme in an upcoming set, not to confused with wyrm typal, also featuring in the same set. Can you confirm or deny?

Wurm World is 2027.

Kindred / Typal Spoilers Worm Wurm

Rarity Categorization Issues

I'm not personally hung up on cards caring about rarity, but as far as caring about the cards being the same across printings, the types for many creatures have been updated in their oracle text and we follow the most recent oracle information. Could that be an option for caring about rarity as well? It could go by the most recent oracle rarity.

That’s a giant can of worms for three big reasons:1) It’s hard to track/remember. And it doesn’t have things like art cues to help.2) It could causes frequent change in functionality. Creature types at most change once, and there aren’t lots of cards that care about a specific creature type outside of handful of popular creature types, ones we don’t tend to change. 3) Deciding what to count for “last printing” could be tricky. Any version including digital? Just tabletop printings? Does it have to be main set? Do The List and Special Guest printings count? How about Commander decks where rarity isn’t even based on rarity? How about Secret Lairs?

Art Commander Decks Creatures Giants Guests Rarity Secret Lairs Worms

Mono-Green Self-Untap

Id self-untap like Simic Ragworm a bend or break in mono-Green?

If you spend colored mana, you can get effects of that color. Blue can have creatures that activate to untap, so its not an issue. Green does get a little bit of untapping, but more on boosting spells to allow it to block.

Activate Bend / Break Bend or Break Blue Colors Creatures Green Mana Simic (G/U) Simic Ragworm Spells Tap / Untap

Rules Heavy Cards

Has R&D ever considered banning in every format such cards as Panglacial Wurm that put a huge weight on the rules?

Is that in part because those cards rarely see tournament play? Would you consider it if such a car became an all format staple. The rules issues of Panglacial Worm with the power-level of stoneforge mystic say?

If Panglacial Worm was causing competitive tournament issues, we’d probably react differently.

Bannings Competitive Play Format Legality Game Design Mystic Panglacial Wurm Rules Stoneforge Mystic Worm Wurm

Panglacial Worm Creation

Who was the rules manager when Panglacial Turn was made and is there a fun story of how that got allowed by them?

I don’t know who the Rules Manager was, but it’s hard to properly identify every potential rules issue a mechanic could have.

Mechanics Rules Rules Manager Story / Lore Worm

A Personal Connection

Mark! I am a trans girl named Claire who primarily plays EDH! My favourite card since I started playing has always been Reef Worm. Building a Sliver deck? Put a worm in. Izzet spellslingers? Why not Worm. I was quite amused when I saw Claire D'loon spoiled, but didn't think much of it until I built her in EDH the other day- and after some testing, found out Reef Worm is a total all-star. There isn't really any point to this story, just wanted to lyk about this incredibly enjoyable coincidence.

Thanks for sharing your story. I hope to see a lot of fun Claire D'loon decks. : )

Commander Humor Izzet (U/R) Reef Worm Sliver Story / Lore Worm

Challenges of Creature Diversity

Could you elaborate on the challenges of diversity matters/lots of different creature types?

If every creature type is different, you’re just making “count your creature” cards, so what is the right as-fan for each creature type? Having made a lot of sets and dealt with figuring out a lot of as-fans, this is a complex problem to solve. Things to think about. General as-fan of each creature type. As-fan by color. As-fan by mana value. As-fan by archetype. Also, are you looking for unique creature types total (a Goblin Warrior counts as 2). Unique combinations (Goblin Warrior is different from Goblin Soldier)? Creatures that have a creature type no one else has? While I agree there are fun potential payouts, it’s a bit of a can of worms structurally. I’ll note that things like this don’t scare us off it. We just have to go in knowing it’s a lot of work.

As-fan Colors Creatures Goblin Mana Value Soldier Warrior Worm

Wormwood Treefolk Trivia

Hi Mark, today is my birthday and as such I would like to kindly request some trivia on the goofy-looking Wormwood Treefolk or alternatively, on my favourite creature type: insects. Thanks!

The Dark was a set created by the then Art Director Jesper Myrfors, who also did the art for that card. It’s the only time the lead designer was also the art director for a set. Happy Birthday!

Art Birthday Creatures Head Designer Insect Treefolk Wormwood Treefolk

Wurms Trivia and Original Plans

My birthday was this past Tuesday. Can I get some trivia on Wurms in Magic?

Worms are supposed to be wingless Dragons, but we occasionally get artists who draw giant worms. The original plan is green would have Wurms instead of Dragons, but the coolness of Dragons dashed the plan. Happy Belated Birthday!

Birthday Dragon Giant Green Worm Wurm

Un-card Legal and Rule Issues

Could there ever be an un-card that let's you use cards from other tcgs or would that cause legal issues

Its a huge can of worms, not just ruleswise but legally. We did have an Unstable card in early design that used a deck of cards.

Rules Worm

Clarifying Wurm Translation

"Isn't Wurm just worm in German?" German here: in german "wurm" can mean both, the worm or the dragon. The "lindwurm" from the niebelungenlied is probably the most popular one.

FYI

Dragon Germany Worm Wurm

Wurm and Worm Differences

Isn't Wurm just worm in German?

A Wurm is a wingless Dragon. A Worm is a worm, although sometimes a very big one.

Dragon Germany Worm Wurm

Worm Tribal Possibility

Worm tribal (not Wurm or Wyrm): If or when?

Most tribes we keep making are more when than if for tribal cards.

If/When Kindred / Typal Worm Wurm

Creature Types: Worm vs Wurm

What’s the difference between the creature types Worm and Wurm?

A Worm is similar to an earthworm, although much, much bigger. A Wurm is a wingless Dragon. I’ll admit that art has not always matched the technical definitions.

Art Creatures Dragon Worm Wurm

Saw in Half Card Strategy

With all the saw in half questions, i just have to say that i really want to use it with wurmcoil engine. So. Many. Worms.

A fun target.

Saw in Half Worm Wurmcoil Engine

Different Slivers in Jumpstart

Hey mark! I'm having a blast playing jumpstart historic horizons, especially with sliver tribal! I was wondering why some slivers are humanoid while others are the standard worm thing? Was there a plan to make them more relevant to the story that got dropped? Also keep up the great work!👍

They used the art that was printed on that card originally, so it mixes and matches different kinds of Slivers.

Art Historic Kindred / Typal Sliver Standard Story / Lore Worm

Rules for Different Damage Steps

A thought related to Last Strike and the rules - Would the rules support a creature having the text "Damage dealt by this creature is assigned during the End Combat step, rather than the Combat Damage step"?

That’s a can of worms, ruleswise.

Creatures Rules Worm

Panglacial Wurm's Exception

I know it's probably just an exception that proves the rule, but doesn't Panglacial Wurm, in black border, interrupt resolution to do something?

Panglacial Worm makes rules managers’ eyes twitch.

Black Border Eye Panglacial Wurm Rules Worm Wurm