Battle Cry

Mechanic Cameos in Sets

I keep thinking about the one-off use of Battle Cry in MOM. Is this a sign that we may get more keyword mechanics returning as one-offs (also like Clash on Marvo, Deep Operative)? New mechanics are obviously great because everyone loves new content, but I also think bringing back old mechanics helps enforce the idea that they are still a part of the game, and not something just done once and then forgotten about.

We’re calling them cameos. We’re allowing one-of callbacks (in limited amount) at high rarities.

Battle Cry Battle Cry Clash Keywords Limited Marvo, Deep Operative Mechanics

Battle Cry Status

Is Battle Cry deciduous?

No. We’re experimenting with keyword cameos in premier sets.

Battle Cry Battle Cry Deciduous Keywords Premier Sets Premier Sets

Battle Cry Usage

Is battle cry now a deciduous mechanic?

No. We’re just experimenting with the occasional cameo mechanic.

Battle Cry Battle Cry Deciduous Mechanics

Single Battle Cry Card

Hi Mark, speaking of one uses. Why did web get a single card with Battle Cry in ONE?

We’re experimenting with doing more one-of existing ability words in sets. The card text explains everything, so the ability word comes at less of a mental cost.

Ability Words Battle Cry Battle Cry

Ravnica Keyword Swap

If/When: A Ravnica set where some/all guilds use already existing keywords, but never related to the Guilds. Like Boros Battle Cry, Izzet Rebound or Simic Mutate?

If, but we’ve done that exercise.

Battle Cry Battle Cry Boros (R/W) If/When Izzet (U/R) Keywords Mutate Rebound Rebound Simic (G/U) Two Color

Favorite Mechanics or Cards

I feel like a lot of people who say you’ve only done bad for the game don’t realize you’re probably behind some of their favorite mechanics or cards too. For a change of pace, can you list some beloved mechanics or cards you’re responsible for?

Here are the Magic mechanics I’ve had a hand in creating: Absorb, Addendum, Affinity, Aftermath, Aura Swap, Battle Cry, Bolster, Champion, Changeling, Cipher, Companion, Contraptions, Crew (Vehicles), Dash, Deathtouch, Delve, Dredge, Embalm, Energy, Entwine, Evoke, Exert, Exploit, Fabricate, Fateful Hour, Fateseal, Ferocious, Flashback, Flip, Forecast, Fortify, Frenzy, Gotcha, Graft, Gravestorm, Heroic, Hexproof, Host/Augment, Hybrid Mana, Imprint, Infect, Intimidate, Kicker, Landfall, Lifelink, Living Weapon, Madness, Manifest, Mentor, Modular, Monstrosity, Morbid, Morph, Multikicker, Mutate, Ninjitsu, Phyrexian Mana, Poisonous, Populate, Proliferate, Prowl, Raid, Rally, Reach, Recover, Reinforce, Retrace, Ripple, Shroud, Soulbond, Splice, Split Cards, Split Second, Suspend, Transfigure, Transform, Typecycling, Undying, Unearth, Vanishing and Wither.

Absorb Absorb Addendum Affinity Aftermath Aura Swap Battle Cry Battle Cry Bolster Champion Changeling Cipher Companion Contraptions Crew Dash Deathtouch Delve Dredge Dredge Embalm Entwine Evoke Exert Exploit Fabricate Fabricate Fateful hour Fateseal Ferocious Flashback Forecast Fortify Fortify Frenzy Graft Gravestorm Gravestorm Heroic Hexproof Hybrid Imprint Infect Intimidate Kicker Landfall Lifelink Lifelink Living Weapon Madness Mana Manifest Mechanics Mentor Modular Monstrosity Morbid Morph Morph Mutate Ninjitsu Phyrexian Poisonous Populate Proliferate Prowl Raid Rally Rally Recover Reinforce Retrace Ripple Shroud Soulbond Splice Split Cards Split Second Suspend Suspend Transfigure Transform Undying Unearth Unearth Vanishing Vanishing Vehicles Wither Your Hand

Color Balance Challenge

"Sets need color balance, making structures like this difficult." If you split the shared color evenly and weight the other four colors towards one of the two factions, it can even out. A lot of two-faction sets effectively work that way; see Mirrodin Besieged, which was basically RWU (Metalcraft, Battle Cry) vs. BGU (Infect, Proliferate) with some leeway.

I said difficult, not impossible.

Battle Cry Battles Colors Factions Factions Infect Metalcraft Mirrodin Proliferate Sultai (B/G/U)

Guild Mechanic Choices

Did you ever consider bringing back a mechanic for GRN that had not previously been a guild mechanic (Like battle cry for the Boros, or infect for the Golgari)? Is there any particular reason Selesnya was the only guild not to get a new mechanic? Did you ever consider bringing back battalion, or scavenge, or overload?

We had a list for every guild what we could bring back. We tested Splice (onto instant and sorcery) for Izzet.

Battalion Battle Cry Battles Boros (R/W) Caves Golgari (B/G) Infect Instants Izzet (U/R) Mechanics Overload Scavenge Selesnya (G/W) Sorceries Splice Two Color

Mechanic Preference

Battle Cry or Monstrosity?

Monstrosity.

Battle Cry Battles Monstrosity

Storm Scale Articles

Hey can you do more articles about the mechanics of previous Blocks and the Storm scales of them? For example the Mirrodin Blocks with an ability like Battle cry. Or the mechanics of Kamigawa Blocks.

My Storm Scale articles have been very popular so expect to see more of them. #WotCStaff

Battle Cry Battles Kamigawa Keyword Abilities Mechanics Mirrodin Storm Scale

Keywords as Cards

As for keywords as cards: There are also Flash, Dredge, Absorb, Fortify, Gravestorm and Battle Cry.

FYI

Absorb Battle Cry Battles Dredge Flash Fortify Gravestorm Keywords

Battle Cry Trivia

Can I please have some birthday trivia on Battle Cry, my favorite the mechanic of my favorite faction, Mirrodin? Thanks!

Battle cry was created because Mirrodin Besieged was about a war and it was felt that each side should get a new mechanic. We had one for the Phyrexians (Living Weapon) and weaned one for the Mirrans. To play into the combat quality of a war, we chose to make it a combat relevant mechanic.Happy Birthday!

Battle Cry Battles Birthday Factions Living Weapon Mechanics Mirrodin Phyrexian

Infect or Battle Cry

Infect or battle cry?

Infect.

Battle Cry Battles Infect

Exalted Mechanic Opposite

I love Exalted, but could we also see a mechanic that is the exact opposite? You must attack with all of your creatures to get a bonus?

Battle cry from Mirrodin Besieged heavily encourages you to attack with as many creatures as possible.

Battle Cry Battles Creatures Exalted Mechanics Mirrodin

Bushido vs Battle Cry

Bushido or Battle Cry?

Battlecry if you mean bushido with the name bushido.

Battle Cry Battles Bushido

Battle Cry Favored

Battle Cry or Fortify?

Battle cry.

Battle Cry Battles Fortify

Battalion Wins

battalion or battle cry?

Battalion.

Battalion Battle Cry Battles

Ravnica 3 Mechanics

When Ravnica 3 inevitably rolls around, do you think you'll do another list of previous mechanics you'd consider bringing back for the guilds? By then, blocks that are recent now should be eligible for returning mechanic status. How recent before the Ravnica 3 block would you consider looking? If I recall, you listed a couple Scars mechanics for the RTR list (Battle cry for Boros and Proliferate for Simic).

How would people feel if we returned to Ravnica and every guild mechanic was a returning mechanic?

Battle Cry Battles Boros (R/W) Mechanics Proliferate Simic (G/U) Two Color

Frenzy to Battle Cry

Did Frenzy directly lead to Battle Cry?

Not on purpose, but the structure behind both mechanics are based on the same design principles. I also had a hand in both so that also increases their connectivity.

Battle Cry Battles Frenzy Mechanics Your Hand

Design Space Constraints

Do you ever feel that assigning mechanics to specific factions unnecessarily reduces design space? For example, a creature with infect and battle cry or an Inaction Injunction with overload.

Restrictions breed creativity. Magic is at its best when every color can’t do everything. Restricting mechanics by colors helps make a richer and more fun game.

Battle Cry Battles Colors Creatures Design Space Factions Factions Inaction Injunction Infect Mechanics Overload