Black Cat

Card Name Tropes

Mark, I'm a big horror fan, but I'm not sure about how blatant and trope-y some of these card names are. I mean, seriously, "Black Cat"? "Bump in the Night"? "Creepy Doll"? "Evil Twin"? I don't think this "Innistrad" plane is going to be a hit... ;)

: )

Black Black Cat Bump in the Night Card Names Cat Creepy Doll Evil Twin Horror Humor Innistrad

Black Cat Trivia

In honor of my cat passing away, do you have any trivia on black cats in magic?

The card Black Cat was one of the first cards we designed for original Innistrad, but we pushed it back to Dark Ascension as it was a better fit there. Condolences on your cat.

Birthday Black Black Cat Cat Dark Ascension Innistrad

Cats in Color Pie

Why are cats primarily white? Although domesticated, they don't really serve a societal purpose like dogs, and they don't do anything that exemplifies unity or order. Cats seem closer to red (doing whatever they want) and black (sometimes at others expense + black cat trope) , and even closer to green and blue that to white.

You skipped over the answer. Domesticated animals fall mostly in white. The domestication is what makes them white. Sometimes we get lions of the plains because of White’s connection to plains, but mostly wild cats are not white.

Black Black Cat Blue Cat Dog Domestication Green Red White

Spider-Man's Green Traits

What makes Spider-Man Green? I'm not challenging it, I'm just curious. Green has always been the hardest color for me to grasp color pie-wise.

In the comics, Spider-man is the Spider totem (destined to have been bit by the spider). The Spiderverse are all these alternate worlds where the Spider-totem varies in different ways. He has spider-based powers and a intuitive spider-sense. And he fights a rogues gallery with a lot of animal-themed villains (Doctor Octopus, Lizard, Vulture, Rhino, Scorpion, Beetle, Black Cat, etc.)
The “with great power also comes great responsibility” is the white part.

Black Black Cat Cat Color Pie Colors Doctor Green Lizard Octopus Pop Culture Pop Culture Rhino Rogue Scorpion Spider White

Black's Use of Superstitions

Hi Mark! I was listening to your Color Pie conflicts podcast, and I have a question: Apart from the obvious Black=evil, why are omens and superstitious stuff (Black Cat, Curses, etc.) are in Black? Doesn't Black reject superstition and predetermination? Thanks and stay awesome!

Black will use any tool which gives it a tactical advantage including things like superstitions. Black loves when it can take advantage of preexisting emotional connections.

Black Black Cat Cat Color Pie Colors Drive to Work Tactical Advantage

Creatures With Starting Names

Now the question *must* be asked, what are some non-named creatures that started with names? And what were their names if you recall?

A lot of top down cards in Innistrad block like Black Cat and Evil Twin started with their names.

Black Black Cat Cat Creatures Evil Twin Innistrad Top Down

Birthday Cat Trivia

Hey MaRo, it's my birthday. Can I get some trivia on Cats, the best creature type in Magic and real life?

Black Cat was a top down design in Innistrad. It got kicked out in development for numbers reasons (meaning nothing to do with the card itself). I immediately put it in Dark Ascension and that time it managed to stay put. The response to it was very positive. Players seem to enjoy Cats.Happy Birthday!

Birthday Black Black Cat Cat Creatures Dark Ascension Innistrad Mark Rosewater Top Down

Innistrad's Black Cat

My birthday was on the 14th, but my trivia must have been lost. Can I get some trivia on the original Innistrad block?

One if the first cards we designed for Innistrad was Black Cat, but it got pushed out by other cards we needed to do. As I also led the design for Dark Ascension, I made sure it went right in first thing. Happy Belated Birthday! #WotCStaff

Birthday Black Black Cat Cat Dark Ascension Innistrad

Future Cat Cards

Hi ! I just had my birthday and i have a trivia to ask, What are the chances of another cats card like black cat or sanctuary cat ? what about a cycle ?

Players seem to like Cats so there’s always a chance we’ll make more. Happy Birthday!

Birthday Black Black Cat Cat Cycles Sanctuary Cat

Artwork Similarity Issue

In response to the Carrion Crow/Black Cat art similarity question,... I thought making sure art wasn't similar was a big priority for you guys. I seem to remember somebody talking about how important it was to be able to recognize art at a glance, especially across the table upside down.

It is never our goal for cards arts to look similar. I was just pointing out that stopping the occasional overlap is harder than it might seem.

Art Black Black Cat Carrion Cat

Artwork Similarity Issue

Why do Black Cat and Carrion Crow (both M15 black commons) have such similar art? Since people often identify cards by their art, isn't two commons of the same color in the same set having similar art something you should avoid?

The two artists drawing the cards do not know what the other artist is drawing and we don’t have the resources to check every art against every other piece of art for confusion, nor would we have the time to have artwork recommissioned.

Art Black Black Cat Carrion Cat Colors Commons

Black Cat Gif Appreciation

Could you please high five the person who made the Black Cat gif in your lenticular design article? It's pretty cool and I can't stop watching it.

I specifically used Black Cat as my example just so they’d use that graphic again.

Appreciation Black Black Cat Cat High Fives Lenticular

Silver-bordered Rules

In Unset land, can I use Magical Hack or Mind Bend type effects to turn Black Cat into Green Cat, or Black Lotus into White Lotus? How about Murderous Redcap into Murderous Bluecap?

Magical Hack only affects rules text. Being in silver-bordered land doesn’t change that.

Bend / Break Black Black Cat Black Lotus Cat Green Lands Magical Hack Mind Bend Murderous Redcap Rules Un-Magic / Silver Border / Acorn Un-sets White

Zombie Typing Traditions

Black Cat is a Zombie Cat, Rotting Fensnake is a Zombie Snake, Gutter Skulk is a Zombie Rat. Why isn't Walking Corpse a Zombie Human?

Zombies being default human kind of got grandfathered in from years of “Zombie” meaning Zombie Human.

Black Black Cat Cat Gutter Skulk Human Rat Rotting Fensnake Skulk Snake Walking Corpse Zombie

Popularity of Cat Cards

Do the creative team dislike the unexpected popularity of Black Cat and Sanctuary Cat? Both are non-badass, 'cutesy' animals, and therefore beloved by a subset of your audience - just like squirrels!

Be careful not to convince the creative team not to do cats.

Black Black Cat Cat Sanctuary Cat Squirrel

Naming Cards Process

I am going to guess that the vast majority of cards are designed before they are given names, with the exception of Un-set cards, where it seems many cards would be designed around a hilarious name. Is that pretty much accurate? And while we are on the topic, I have an un-set card for you to design: Sword of Pretzels and Beer.

The more top down a set, the more often cards are built around names, or at least concepts. Both Evil Twin and Black cat from Innistrad block, for example, started with their names. You are correct that a number of Un-cards start with the name. Many others though have a cool mechanic and then we find a funny name to match.

Black Black Cat Cat Evil Twin Humor Innistrad Mechanics Top Down Un-Magic / Silver Border / Acorn Un-sets

Playtest Names to Print

Are there any playtest card names that made it from test to print that you're particularly fond of or proud of? (Other than the easy ones, say, Maro or Unglued cards - hey, speaking of unglued/unhinged cards and names, how responsible were you for the naming of the cards in that set?)

I’m happy both Black Cat and Jar of Eyeballs made it all the way through.

Black Black Cat Card Names Card Printing Cat Jar of Eyeballs Mark Rosewater Playtesting Unglued Unhinged

Future Cat Cards?

With the huge popularity of Black Cat and Sanctuary Cat will we be seeing more cats in the future? I would love a blue cat, please and thank you.

We have taken notice of the huge popularity of Black Cat and Sanctuary Cat. Will that result in more cats in the future? I hope so.

Appreciation Black Black Cat Blue Cat Sanctuary Cat

Cat Debate Neutrality

Where do you stand on the eternal struggle between Black Cat and Sanctuary Cat?

I don’t think I’m qualified to discuss the Mighty Cat Altercation. I’ll leave it to the experts.

Black Black Cat Cat Eternal Sanctuary Cat

Cat Cards Demand

My LGS ran out of Sanctuary Cats. They said that two guys ran into the store and bought 40 at once, leaving no copy behind... Next time you need to make a Isamaru to prove some point, just make a new cat!

Sanctuary Cat and Black Cat seem to have shown an untapped love for cats among Magic players. Something to think about.

Black Black Cat Cat Game Stores Sanctuary Cat