Bolster

Designing Synergistic Cards

So, with the release of Slime Against Humanity, obscure cards like Nantuko Shrine got way, way more popular because of the synergy betweet the two. Does R&D ever develop new cards in order to bolster more older obscure cards, or is it usually just a coincidence?

We make open-ended designs aware of things that exist in the past.

Bolster Game Design Nantuko Shrine Slime Against Humanity

Fantasy World Influence

Hi again Mark! Do the successes of traditional fantasy worlds like Eldraine and Tales of Middle Earth bolster or hinder the chamces of a new Lorwyn set?

They don’t hurt.

Bolster Lorwyn

Eternalizing Silver-Border Cards

With preliminary data coming out of recent MTGO leagues looking healthy for the adoption of Unfinity cards into Eternal play, does that bolster the chances of reviewing past silver-border cards for future 'eternalization'?

Could you give me more info on this?

Bolster Eternal Magic Online Un-sets

White Ability Query

Would it be in-colour for White to have an ability that sacrifices a creature in order to bolster each other creature you control?

White can have a creature which sacs itself to boost your team.

Bolster Creatures White

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

Squirrels in Standard

Just want to add my appreciation for Deep Forest Hermit, and in particular for the four squirrel tokens it makes. I hope the outpouring of appreciation will bolster the case for Squirrels returning to Standard. :)

It doesn’t hurt. : )

Appreciation Bolster Deep Forest Hermit Squirrel Standard Tokens

Feedback on New Mechanics

Hi Mark. My initial thoughts on the new mechanics, Amass seems like a slightly better bolster since it makes a token if you don't have anything to bolster. So I'm waiting to see more of that. I LOVE static abilities on Planeswalkers. And a long time ago I wrote you and mentioned that I wish we saw more keywords where they fit. Tezzeret is that, and I love it. Utilize your keywords, they're good for new players because its easier to learn from old cards and enfranchised players. Thank you!

Happy you’re happy. : )

Amass Appreciation Beginners Bolster Experienced / Enfranchised Players Keywords Mechanics Planeswalkers Tokens

Mentor Mechanic Feedback

Mentor comes across as uninspired and needlessly restricted. It's notably worse than Bolster, even. I have to say, as a Boros player, I am disappointed for the third Ravnica block in a row.

And yet it’s probably the most fun mechanic of the bunch. It plays much better than it reads.

Bolster Boros (R/W) Mechanics Mentor

Vanilla Mythic Design Philosophy

Hey Maro! I trust you and the watsy devs implicitly, and while I'm sure that the Vanilla Mythic will undoubtedly be interesting as-is, I am concerned that you guys might be developing cards in the set that specifically bolster the Vanilla Mythic by name. I really don't want this to be the case (nor do I think it is)! Please assuage my fears and tell me that the Vanilla Mythic stands out on its own merit alone and not only in the context of other cards in the set!

It stands out on its own merits.That’s not to say it can’t also combo with other cards. : )

Bolster Mark Rosewater Vanilla

Exploit or Bolster Choice

Exploit or Bolster?

Bolster.

Bolster Exploit

Bolster vs Outlast

Why didn't Bolster have the same Playability problems as Outlast? At the very least Bolster was in Fate Reforged which was played with the problematic "counter"-lords.

Bolster is a rider that can just go on a lot more cards. For example, it can go on spells and creatures.

Bolster Creatures Fate Reforged Outlast Spells

Bolster Mechanic Future

What are the odds that we'll see my favorite set mechanic, Bolster, again?

Pretty good. I’d put the mechanic at 4 on the Storm Scale meaning I expect to see it most likely return.

Bolster Keyword Abilities Mechanics Storm Scale

Learning Color Philosophies

Do you think it's helpful for new players to learn, vaguely, about the color pie or color philosophies? I threw together a little cheat sheet from things I found around the Wizards site as well as some other fun resources, but I'm not sure how useful or fun it will be. My idea here is that helping folks find decks that speak to them (by way of philosophy) will very much bolster their enjoyment of the game. Do y'all have feelings toward that at Wizards HQ?

I find the Color Pie something good to talk about early because all people can relate to it quickly.

Beginners Bolster Color Pie Colors

Mechanic Decisions

What goes into making the decision of a mechanic as far as numbers go? Why is bolster, bolster x? And why is prowess not prowess x?

It has to do with whether or not it needs a number. There’s no point to making everything Prowess 1.

Bolster Mechanics Prowess

Tarkir Mechanics Synergy

I like how the Tarkir mechanics all kinda work with each other. Exploit gives you Delve fuel. Rebound doubles the Prowess triggers. Casting a card for a dash cost means you'll likely be attacking, which sets up the requirements for Raid. Then the Abazan and Temur is were it falls apart. Outlast kinda lets you control how you bolster. Ferocious and Formidable really are the same thing, different requirements.

Bolster puts +1/+1 counters on you creatures (as does outlast) and both are rewarded by +1/+1 enablers (many of which are outlast creatures).Ferocious and Formidable require the same dedication to creatures and thus can go in the same deck.

Attacking Bolster Creatures Dash Delve Exploit Ferocious Formidable Mechanics Outlast Prowess Raid Rebound Temur RUG Triggered Abilities

Set Space Limitations

I understand you couldn't have outlast and raid in Fate Reforged for story/ space reasons. But why couldn't you do 50/50 split between outlast/Bolster or Raid/Dash in FTF? That way when drafting Dragon of Tarkir you can still play with Outlast or Raid?

There is just so much space in a small set.

Bolster Dash Dragon Fate Reforged Outlast Raid Story / Lore

Mechanic Design Timeline

My friend did say to me that you changed outlast to bolster because outlast "was not enough powerful" or "people did not like it", but I told him that you design these things long before we see them, so you can't change things like that only because some ability ain't received well by players. Am I right? also, how many months ago you did decide to use bolster in FRF?

The mechanics of the Tarkir block were decided long before you all saw it.

Bolster Mechanics Outlast

Mechanics with Limited Space

What are mechanics that you believe have very little design space left and thus are unlikely to return to. I believe in an article you mention that outlast was pretty much tapped out in just one set, hence why bolster was used in Fate Reforged instead of outlast again.

Cipher from Gatecrash is another example of a mechanic mostly tapped out.

Bolster Cipher Design Space Fate Reforged Gatecrash Gates Mechanics Outlast

Bolster in Black Cards

Why aren't there any black cards with bolster?

All will be explained in time, but there are clues to figure it out yourself.

Black Bolster

Set Complexity Opinion

I believe Fate Reforged is hands-down the most complicated and wordy set in recent years. Many, many cards have tons of lines of text, many uncommons read like rares (in complication, not awesomeness), and themes such as dash, bolster and manifest (including shuffling them, and the Auras) take a while to process, especially because you tend to combine them with other abilities. Please tell me things go downhill from here.

This is the high end of complexity not a new norm.

Auras Bolster Dash Fate Reforged Manifest Rares Uncommons