Double Masters

Commander Precons Model

I've noticed a trend with some sets, namely Doctor Who and Fallout, where the entire set of cards is contained in the Commander Precons and they are released alongside a collector booster for those who like foils.I want to say that, despite me not liking Commander one bit, I really like this model and would be in favor of this model being used for products that reprint cards, like Ultimate Masters and Double Masters.I would unironically buy precons like this if it was designed this way. Give a high five to whoever thought of this, because they did a good job.

Will do.

Boosters Card Printing Collector Boosters Commander Doctor Double Masters Foils High Fives Reprints Ultimate Masters

Gold and Triple Color Sets

As a designer (disconnected from the viability of it in current magic), would you try to tackle to design an all gold set or an "all ten triple color" set?

Both have been designed, although neither by me (Alara Reborn and Double Masters 2022, respectively). Neither has a particular draw to me as a designer.

Alara Reborn Colors Double Masters

Aminatou's Future Appearance

My favorite Planeswalker of all time is Aminatou from Commander 2018. I felt disappointed she didn't get new art in Double Masters 2022 despite being on the box art. Can we ever expect to see Aminatou appear again in the story?

There is a chance.

Art Commander Double Masters Planeswalkers Story / Lore

Guild Design Technology

Did the design technology/lessons of 2XM doing all ten 3 color combinations change the feasibility of doing the 10 Ravnica guilds in one set?

No.

Colors Double Masters Three Color Two Color

Flashy Cards Reminder Text

Hey Mark, what determines whether reminder text ends up on a flashy version of a card? Id like to highlight that on flashy versions of the card no reminder text and more art is preferred. I was quite surprised about Sedris, the Traitor King in double masters, the textbox is 2/3rds reminder text instead of more artwork.

It has a lot to do with the intended audience and whether or not they prefer the reminder text.

Art Double Masters Sedris, the Traitor King

Prerelease Determinants

What determines whether a set gets a prerelease or not? How come a set like Baldur's Gate or Modern Horizons 2 gets one, but not a set like Double Masters 22, Unfinity, or Dominaria Remastered?

It has to do with things like print run size.

Baldur's Gate Card Printing Dominaria Double Masters Gates Modern Horizons 2 Prerelease Sealed Format

Unfinity vs Warhammer

Hi mark! How much overlap is there between thr target markets for Unfinity and Warhammer Commander? I'm slightly concerned that what happened to Baldur's Gate and Double Masters 2 will happen again

The overlap is low, save for Magic in space fans.

Baldur's Gate Commander Double Masters Gates

Booster Tutor Rules

I know we're all on unfinity now, but I have an Unhinged/Unsanctioned question: If I Booster Tutor a pack of Double Masters 2022, add the Cryptic Spires to my hand, then play it, what mana can I add? Is there any point at which I can circle mana symbols on the Cryptic Spires?

You circle the mana when it enters the game.

Booster Tutor Boosters Cryptic Spires Double Masters Mana Rules Tutoring Your Hand

Art Choices Explained

With the lieges from the shadowmoor block making a return in double masters 2022, why was deathbringer liege the only one to get new art?

The art director has a budget for new art and applies it as they see fit. There is no obligation to change all the art of a cycle.

Art Cycles Deathbringer Liege Double Masters Shadowmoor

Custom Set Advice

What advice would you have for someone building a custom set with ten three colored limited archetypes (like in double masters 2)?

Spend a lot of time making sure your mana is correct.

Custom Cards Double Masters Limited Mana

Double Masters Exclusion

Why did your State of Design article exclude Double Masters 2022? You said you'd handle any booster product with new cards in it, and Double Masters 2022 is sold in boosters and has a new card.

I considered Cryptic Spire more of a new play aid. : )

Boosters Double Masters Humor

New Art Assigning for reprints

While I’m not complaining, do you know why only Animar got new non-borderless art when he was reprinted for Double Masters 2022?

Each reprint set gets allocated a certain number of new pieces of art. The art director decides what cards to spend it on. There are a large number of reasons why they might choose the cards they do, but it usually comes down to making the card more exciting.

Art Double Masters Reprints

Cryptic Spires in Draft

You mentioned in an answer that there weren't really any roadblocks for getting Cryptic Spires printed. However, in another answer, you said the team that designed it intended for it to be used in most draft environments, but you all decided against that. If there weren't any roadblocks, what was the reasoning for not using Cryptic Spires more frequently?

It was decided to be the wrong thing to do as a general fix for drafts. When Double Masters 2022 was looking for a mana fix, they looked to that idea. There were no roadblocks to using it in Double Masters 2022.

Cryptic Spires Double Masters Draft Formats Mana Fixing

The Birth of Cryptic Spires

Cryptic Spires is such a fun and innovative design, but one that breaks from Magic tradition. It seems like its a product of the recent breaks from the formula for mechanics. At what point did something like Cryptic Spires becomes reasonable for black-border Magic? (I'm glad it did BTW)

Interestingly, it was first created by a team that was looking for ways to improve drafts. The idea was this would be a tool offered in small number to every draft. We ended up deciding against it, but the idea was there when Double Masters 2022 was looking to solve their mana issues.

Cryptic Spires Double Masters Draft Formats Mana Mechanics

Appreciating Old School Artists

So many old school artists on the alternative art of Double Masters 2022. I've lost hope to see another card illustrated by Dret Tucker, Richard Kane Ferguson, Phil Foglio, Thomas Baxa, Ron Spencer and others. High Five to whoever made this possibile, please!

Will do!

Art Double Masters High Fives

Double Masters 2022 Languages

Hi Mark, maybe I'm a little late to ask this with all the Double Masters 2022 spoilers now, but was CLB only printed in english because CMR didn't do well in other languages?

You have been misinformed. Here are all the products for #MTGCLB and all the languages it’s available in:Set boosters - Languages available: English, Chinese Simplified, Chinese Traditional, German, French, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, SpanishDraft boosters - Languages available: English, Chinese Simplified, German, French, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, SpanishCollector boosters - Languages available: English, German, French, JapaneseCommander decks - Languages available: English, Chinese Simplified, Chinese Traditional, German, French, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, SpanishBundles - Languages available: English, German, French

Boosters Bundles China Collector Boosters Commander Decks Commander Legends Double Masters Draft Boosters English France Germany Japan Set Boosters Spoilers

Heroic Cards in Double Masters

Extremely tiny pet peeve; Why do only some of the Heroic cards in Double Masters 2022 have Heroic and the others don't? I get not wanting to put it on cards in a set that doesn't have heroic, but it is explicitly a deck archetype in this set. Hero of the Games is even a Theros setting card!

My gut is they didn’t want to add it to cards that didn’t originally have it.

Double Masters Hero of the Games Heroic Theros

Fiery Justice Reprint Reasoning

Hi Mark, sorry if this sounds rude but what is the reason to reprint Fiery Justice in Double masters 2022? I used to think this kind of set can have a higher power level than usual so I don't see this card fit in it

Double Masters sets have a higher power as-fan than a Standard set, but it still has a limit. In order to get a card more powerful than Fiery Justice, we’d have to remove power somewhere else in the set.

As-fan Double Masters Fiery Justice Power Level Premier Sets Reprints Standard

Sequel Set Naming Conventions

How is it determined whether a sequel set gets a year (e.g. Double Masters 2022) or a serial number (e.g. Modern Horizons 2)?

Usually the numbers don’t go much above 3.

Conventions Double Masters Modern Horizons 2

Three-Color Combo in Standard

do you think we could ever get a premier set that has all 10 three color comboes for draft like double masters? or is that too much for Standard?

It’s too much for Standard. It’s why we did it in Double Masters 2022. It requires resources that a Standard set doesn’t have access to.

Colors Double Masters Draft Formats Premier Sets Premier Sets Standard Three Color