Declaration in Stone

White Exile Flexibility

Is it in whites color pie to get an permanent (Instant or Sorcery) exile target nonland permanent? Or would that be a bend or break? What about a drawback like Path to Exile or Declaration in Stone?

White can destroy every permanent save a specific land, so yes, it’s something white could do. It wouldn’t be particularly cheap though as flexibility within one card isn’t a white strength.

Bend / Break Bend or Break Color Pie Colors Declaration in Stone Destroy Instants Lands Path to Exile Sorceries The Exile Zone White

White's Exile Mechanic

I have always thought that "exile a creature but give its controller something" was primary in white (Swords to Ploughshares, Path to Exile, Declaration in Stone) but I don't see it in your colour pie article. Has that left white's slice of the pie?

It’s still in white, but we don’t do it often.

Colors Creatures Declaration in Stone Path to Exile Primary The Exile Zone White

Band Name Creativity

The sheer amount of card names that would make an awesome band name is staggering... But limiting the pool to SOI/EMD. I'd have to say, I'd make a symphonic metal band named "Docent of Perfection", the album would be named "Forgotten Creation", and the flagship songs would be "Anguished unmaking" and "Declaration in Stone"

: )

Anguished Unmaking Card Names Declaration in Stone Forgotten Creation Pop Culture

Declaration in Stone Mechanics

Arguing with a friend and he said to try asking you. Declaration in Stone target Reckless Fireweaver. He says he gets the burn trigger. I say that DiS's phrasing means that he gets the clues after RF is already off of the board, so they wouldn't trigger it's effect. Any input would be appreciated :)

You don’t get the Clues until after the creature is exiled, so no damage gets done by the Fireweavers.

Creatures Declaration in Stone Reckless Fireweaver The Exile Zone

Exile Flavor Variety

Exile is flavored in a lot of different ways, though. Declaration in Stone's is fairly obvious, and it isn't taking things off-plane. The same goes for cards like Oblivion Ring.

You’re correct. We use many different concepts for exile.

Declaration in Stone Oblivion Ring The Exile Zone

Exile vs Destroy Choice

So, why was Declaration in Stone given an exile affect, rather than destroy?

White is the color that most often exiles instead of destroying. It matches the “I’d rather banish you than kill you” feel of White.

Colors Declaration in Stone Destroy The Exile Zone White

Color Pie Evolution

Mark, you are constantly making huge contributions to the game, obviously, but I've gotta say it's a good thing that you don't have time to do final passes as the color-pie police if it lets us have awesome cards like Falkenrath Gorger and Declaration in Stone. Do you ever think that some of your color pie mechanical rules need revisiting if development is constantly going against them?

The color pie is always evolving but we have yo be careful not to undermine color weaknesses.

A Good Thing Color Pie Colors Declaration in Stone Falkenrath Gorger Rules

Declaration in Stone

In the M-Files it sounded like you had been consulted about Declaration in Stone, is this inaccurate?

It is. I wasn’t super happy about it, but I understood why it was being made.

Declaration in Stone

Color Pie Slip-Ups

You said there were not any real Design arguments in SOI design, but you've also said that Falkenrath Gorger and Declaration in Stone are both things that their respective colors should not get (drawbackless 2/1s for 1 in red, unconditional creature removal in white). So how did these slip by without argument?

They happen in development when my attention was on the design of future sets.

Colors Creatures Declaration in Stone Falkenrath Gorger Red White

Removal Spell Debate

So what's the deal with Declaration in Stone? Seems like it's the best removal spell printed since Path to Exile. Weren't Wizards supposed to move away from uncoditional removal spells in white?

R&D differs greatly on our thought on the issue.

Card Printing Declaration in Stone Path to Exile Spells The Exile Zone White

Nahiri's Wrath

Declaration in stone. Whut.

Apparently you shouldn’t make Nahiri mad.

Declaration in Stone