Ancestral Recall

Color Shift Limits

Could red get a color-shifted Ancestral Recall with the proviso "At the end of the turn, you lose the game"?

Unlikely. Losing the game at end of turn, doesn’t turn effects red. (Yes, I’m aware Final Fortune exists.)

Ancestral Recall Colors Final Fortune Red

Magar Ancestral Recall Misconception

For the Magar Ancestral Recall, if you sticker the Recall before using magar, (by stickering it while it's manifested by some other effect then letting it die) then in the graveyard it's name is Ancestral Recall because stickers always apply to a cards face-up side, and you will cast ancestral recall with Magar's ability (as that is the name you noted). However, if you do the same with a non-card name, like Hot Dog Recall, you won't cast anything because there is no card to copy with that name.

There is no sequence of events, no matter when you sticker the Recall, that using Magar will cast the effect of Ancestral Recall. Absolutely zero. It will never happen.

Ancestral Recall Dog Stickers The Graveyard

Sticker Name Functionality

If I manifest the spell recall, put the name sticker “Ancestral” on it , kill it and then put it onto the battlefield with magar, I assume I can cast “ancestral Recall” when the creature deals damage to a player.But can I do that in formats where ancestral recall is banned, such as commander.

Putting an “Ancestral” sticker on Recall doesn’t change the functionality of the card, just the name, for effects that care about the name.

Ancestral Recall Bannings Commander Creatures Format Legality Manifest Stickers

Ancestral Recall Set Idea

Wait there was a set that wasn't greenlit that was designed around making cards as strong as ancestral recall? Or was that a joke?

It was an idea pitched by Bill Rose that never got made. I don’t think Bill was super serious about it.

Ancestral Recall Bill Rose Humor

Unmade Set Name

What was the working name of that set which was never greenlit, but the premise was each card had the power level of Ancestral Recall?

Power Lunch.

Ancestral Recall Power Level

Ancestral Recall Rarity

Do you know the reason why Ancestral Recall ended up as functional rare in ABU where the redt of the cycle ended up at functional common? I know Recall is by far the most powerful but is this really the reason?

It was done for game balance reasons.

Ancestral Recall Cycles Game Balance Rares Rarity

Power Creep Perspective

Hi Mark, you recently said the new card Quick Study, which is instant-speed Divination, is a positive development, yet it is also an example of power creep. In 2013 you posted, “Trading card games need either rotations or banned lists (probably both) or power creep will eventually kill the game.” Then, in your 2022 State of Design you shared how you are, “now designing [for an] "eternal world," where the core of Magic play involves the full history of the game.” These two statements feel at odds with each other.Would you please share if/how your thoughts on power creep have evolved since moving to an eternal world? Was there any notable debate over the power of Quick Study during set design?

Alpha had Ancestral Recall. I wouldn’t call Quick Study power creep. : )On a more serious note, there’s some give and take on basic effects. We can slightly tweak something without actual power creep.

Ancestral Recall Bannings Divination Eternal Format Legality Humor Power Level Quick Study Set Design

Fixed Card Designs Idea

DTW Idea: Fixed card designs. Someone had asked about Brainstorm vs Ancestral Recall. Another about Sol Ring to Sisay’s Ring. It might be an interesting topic! As always, love the podcast!

I’ll add it to the “short” list.

Ancestral Recall Brainstorm Drive to Work Sisay's Ring Sol Ring

Brainstorm vs Recall

Is brainstorm fixed recall

I think it started out as a “fixed” Ancestral Recall, but it has also proven to be a little too strong and is banned/restricted in certain formats.

Ancestral Recall Bannings Brainstorm Format Legality Format Legality Power Level

Power Creep Prevention

Hello Mark! Reading an article on the set “Power Lunch”, it was mentioned that the baseline for creatures was fireball (e.g. Serra Angel was a 4/4 for 3WW). Is there any similar rule of thumb today to keep power creep in check? Thank you and wish you Happy Holidays!

The idea behind “Power Lunch” was the baseline for spells was Ancestral Recall. Note it was never a real product, just humorous musings.

Ancestral Recall Angel Appreciation Creatures Fireball Power Level Rules Serra Serra Angel Spells

Power Lunch Product

How likely are we to ever see a Power Lunch type product (in gold border)? Has the likelihood shifted at all over the years?

It has not.Power Lunch was an idea by Bill Rose where all the cards are of the power level where Ancestral Recall was average. We’ve learned that Magic doesn’t handle “this is a special exception and not how the game normally functions” products well. (Think Planar Chaos.)

Ancestral Recall Bill Rose Planar Chaos Power Level

Trick Outcome Explained

There has been much debate on how a certain trick involving Magar of the Magic Strings, Recall, manifest, and an "Ancestral" name sticker works, or if it even works at all. Basically, you manifest the Recall, put the Ancestral sticker on it, have it die, then transform it into a creature with Magar, noting "Ancestral Recall" because of the sticker. Does this cast Recall or Ancestral Recall?

It casts Recall.

Ancestral Recall Creatures Magar of the Magic Strings Manifest Stickers Transform

Photo Op Rules

Photo op says to post the picture and hashtag with no other text. Does that include my username? Could I change my twitter handle to be “please say ancestral recall”?

If you’re doing something that feels like cheating, it’s cheating.

Ancestral Recall Photo Op Rules

Rule Query for Richard Garfield

Unrules question: obviously this is a rule 0 thing, but in general, if I am playing a format with a banlist that allows silver-bordered cards, and I play Richard Garfield, PhD, should I be allowed to play cards banned in that format (e.g. Ancestral Recall in silver-bordered Commander?)

Richard Garfield can only choose cards that are legal in the format you are playing him in.

Ancestral Recall Bannings Commander Format Legality Format Legality Format Legality Format Legality Richard Garfield Rules Un-sets

Richard Garfield PhD Card's Limitations

Does Richard Garfield PhD respect the ban list of the played format? Can opt be ancestral recall in a commander game?

Richard Garfield PhD can only make cards into other cards legal in the format you are playing. So no, he can’t make cards into banned cards.

Ancestral Recall Bannings Commander Format Legality Format Legality Format Legality Opt Richard Garfield

Giant Growth's Potential Standard Reprint

Is Giant Growth the only boon that could be reprinted in standard? (Healing Slave too weak, Ancestral Recall & Bolt too strong, Dark Ritual too out of colour pie)

Yes, I believe so.

Ancestral Recall Colors Dark Ritual Giant Giant Growth Power Level Reprints Standard

On a Prairie Universe Scenario

I'd like to think that in the Prairie/Coast timeline, Ancestral Recall was the less powerful of the cycle, while Healing Salve went on to become one of the most powerful cards in the game. :)

In the Prairie universe, my blog is filled with posts complaining white is too strong. : )

Ancestral Recall Cycles Healing Salve Humor Power Level White

Spirit of the Reserve List

Since we’re on the topic of the Reserve List, why do you avoid violating what you refer to as “the spirit of the Reserve List” when you view the Reserve List as a mistake? Shouldn’t you be doing everything you can to skirt it? An instant that costs U with the text “Draw 3 cards” does not vioate the Reserve List since it’s technically different from Ancestral Recall. I don’t get the “spirit” of the Reserve List when the Reserve List is a black and white concept viewed as a mistake.

There are many things that don’t go the way I would have done it if it was my call, but that doesn’t mean I don’t execute on the decision to the best of my ability. If we’re going to have a Reserved List, we’re going to do it correctly which includes not undermining it by breaking “the spirit” of it.

Ancestral Recall Black Instants Spirit The Reserved List White

Scaling the Boon Cycle

You've talked about scaling the boon cycle to Ancestral Recall before! Quoting a previous answer:
"This is a little out of my area of expertise, so I texted Donald Smith and he talked with a number of the play designers. Here’s his text:
"So the answers I’m getting right now are Lightning Bolt between 5 and 6, Dark Ritual between 4 and 5, Giant Growth between 7 and 10, Healing Salve between 20 and 100 (or infinite). There are also reasonable arguments being made for Bolt needing to be 7 or 10 and Giant Growth needing to be 20 (especially since a 100 point Healing Salve counters these two directly).¿¿My personal answer is Bolt is 6, Dark Ritual is 5, Giant Growth is 10, and Healing Salve at 100. I’m closer to Bolt and Giant Growth needing to be higher rather than lower too lol.”"

FYI

Ancestral Recall Dark Ritual Giant Giant Growth Healing Salve Lightning Bolt

Matching Cards Power to Ancestral Recall

So Richard ended up making a cycle in Alpha the strongest being Ancestral Recall. I was wondering hypothetically if your bosses lost their minds and demanded you had to match the other four cards power level to Recall’s what might that look like in an alternate universe? How much life gain/direct damage/ritual mana/ creature pump even approaches drawing three cards for one mana was the thought that got me to the hypothetical.

That sounds like a fun group project. Take the Alpha Boons and change the numbers, but keep the effects, to match Ancestral Recall’s power level.

Ancestral Recall Creatures Cycles Lifegain Mana Power Level