Cloudshift

Comparing Gating and Flicker Effects

In terms of relative position on the storm scale, which would you say is more likely to come back: "gating" effects à la Whitemane Lion/Kor Skyfisher, or "flicker" effects like Cloudshift/Glimmerpoint Stag?

We do both in most sets.

Cloudshift Glimmerpoint Stag Kor Kor Skyfisher Storm Scale Whitemane Lion

Cloudshift Trivia

My birthday ask was missed a while ago, can I get some trivia on my one of my favourite cards, Cloudshift?

Cloudshift was the original version of Flicker which was the first card to do this effect (in Urza’s Destiny). Originally, I designed a vertical cycle in White (common, uncommon and a rare) with the Flicker ability.Happy Birthday!

Birthday Cloudshift Rares Uncommons Urza White

Cheatyface Rules

If I sneak cheatyface into play, and an opponent catches me, can I cast Cloudshift on it in response to the trigger?

No.

Cast Cheatyface Cloudshift

Cloudshift Origin Story

It seems like a ton of question marks have birthdays on may 19th, or maybe a ton want may 19th trivia... do you have any birthday trivia for Cloudshift? Thanks!

When I first made Flicker in Urza’s Destiny, it was designed as a vertical cycle (common, uncommon & rare) in White. The development cut the whole cycle but the common which they changed to a sorcery and moved to rare. Cloudshift is me doing Flicker as I originally intended as an instant and at common. Happy Birthday!

Birthday Cloudshift Instants Question Marks Rares Sorceries Uncommons Urza White

Exile and Limbo Zones

You've called Exile "limbo" whenever you're talking about cards like Cloudshift. Have you ever considered making a new zone called Limbo to fill that role so that Exile can be the "permanently removed from the game forever" zone it was meant to be?

Having two different zones when one will work is unnecessary.

Cloudshift The Exile Zone

Common Frequency

How about the one common that happens with a lesser frequency. Is it in every set or only ones with a certain number of commons. For Avacyn Restored, was it Cloudshift?

I believe it happens only in large sets.

Avacyn Restored Cloudshift Commons

Exiling Creatures Mechanic

Has exiling a creature (or anything) and returning it to the battlefield at the end of the turn (Venser, Flickerwisp) been replaced by immediately returning it to the battlefield (Cloudshift, Restoration Angel) or are both abilities still valid for card designs?

Both are still valid although we don’t tend to do both versions within th same set.

Angel Cloudshift Creatures Flickerwisp Restoration Angel

Un-Sets Rule Flexibility

With respect to your Yet Another Aether Vortex question, Cloudshift makes the card return as a brand new object, and it would have no memory of being on top of the library. Obviously, the UN rules are your own, and you can do what you want, but the comprehensive rules actually do cover this case for the most part.

Only in silver-bordered world can things be on the battlefield while simultaneously also being in an other zone. Thus, in silver-bordered play, things that get flickered return to all combinations of zones it was previously in.

Cloudshift Rules The Library Un-Magic / Silver Border / Acorn Un-sets Yet Another Aether Vortex

Game Rule Explanation

In regards to your answer to the yet another aether vortex question, cloudshift says return it to the battlefield, not the library. Can you please explain how that works?

Yet Another Aether Vortex makes the top card also be on the battlefield so you are returning it to the battlefield, just the section it came from.

Cloudshift The Library Yet Another Aether Vortex

Flicker Mechanic Explained

UN-rules question: What happens when you "flicker" (e.g. Cloudshift) a creature that exists through Yet Another AEther Vortex?

It is exiled. The card now on the top of the library is now on the battlefield. When the flickered card returns it goes back to the top of the library covering up the card that had been on top which is then no longer on hte battlefield. Shorter answer - it goes back on top of the library.

Cloudshift Creatures Rules The Exile Zone The Library Un-sets Yet Another Aether Vortex

Favorite Flicker Card

Well cards with flicker effects have always had a soft spot for me in Magic and Cloudshift became my favorite card that has ever been printed ever (seriously kudos, I want to find 20 foil Cloudshifts and send them to be signed by you), so which is your favorite flicker card in Magic? :)

I’ll always have a soft spot in my heart for the very first flicker spell, Flicker (from Urza’s Destiny). Interestingly, the card I turned in which got changed into development as Flicker was exactly Cloudshift including being a common. Urza’s Destiny was the one set where I was the entire design team. I turned in a vertical cycle (common, uncommon and rare) of flicker cards but it got dropped down to just one rare card.

Appreciation Card Printing Cloudshift Foils Mark's Favorites Rares Uncommons Urza

Flicker Effects Future

What are the chances of Cloudshift or flicker effects coming back on the Storm Scale?

Flicker effects are a 1. They are just part of Magic.

Cloudshift Keyword Abilities Storm Scale

Cloudshift Design Role

Cloudshift is one of my favorite cards ever printed in Magic ever, did you have a part in designing it? Also, can I get it autographed?

I did. In fact, Cloudshift was the very first flickering card I ever made. I put it in Urza’s Destiny as a common and it got turned into Flicker and moved to rare. It took me a few years to get it finally in, but I’m happy it finally saw print.

Card Printing Cloudshift Rares Urza

Cloudshift's Rarity

Do you think that Cloudshift could be printed in a core set some day? Or if its uses are too subtle for a core set common, perhaps a functional reprint at uncommon?

If we did it in a core set, it would probably been an uncommon and not a common. It’s common in Avacyn Restored because flickering is a subtheme of the set.

Avacyn Restored Card Printing Cloudshift Reprints Uncommons

Flickering Mechanics Excitement

As a fan of flickering, I am very excited to play around with Blue and White from AVR, especially with Cloudshift, Restoration Angel, and what I'm sure will be more flickering cards to come.

Flickering is a major subtheme. You can actually draft it in Avacyn Restored draft.

Angel Avacyn Restored Blue Cloudshift Limited Restoration Angel White