Ghostly Prison

Card Mechanics Debate

Would the new card “struggle for project purity” in pie for white? The brotherhood option is just the card “cut a deal” every upkeep, and although rad counters aren’t a very white mechanic, the enclave option is still a ghostly prison type effect, which white gets very frequently.

The brotherhood ability could probably be done in white. The enclave part is much more dubious. White taxing, with a few notable exceptions, usually create white outputs, and milling is fifth in white.

Cut a Deal Ghostly Prison Mechanics Mill Rad Counters Struggle for Project Purity White

Color Shifted Cards Inquiry

Hello Mark, in original Kamigawa there were some “color shifted” cards like Ghostly Prison (originally Propaganda) and Heartbeat of Spring (originally Mana Flare)….will we see any “color shifted” cards in Neon Dynasty?

That’s not something we consider a Kamigawa thing. Any set can do that if they give the right card design.

Colors Flare Ghostly Prison Heartbeat of Spring Mana Mana Flare

Red's Enchantment Weakness

Why specifically can't red answer enchantments? It feels bad to play a mono red goblin token deck in Commander and having to essentially fold to a card like Ghostly Prison or Propaganda. I don't understand what weakness would be under minded if Red was able to remove enchantments. Every other color has outs to each permanent card type.

Red’s not good at destroying non-tangible things. You can’t blow up something ephemeral. Weaknesses are important because the give definition to the colors and encourage splashing of other colors.

Card Types Colors Commander Enchantments Ghostly Prison Goblin Red Remove Enchantments Tokens

Theros Enchantment Focus

How does return to Theros accomplish "Mirrodin for Enchantments?" Would it be very different than the first Theros visit? To me Theros is enchantment creatures + devotion more than enchantment matters. (Maybe lots of enchantment players dislike enchantments being creatures all the time? Witness how stuff like Ghostly Prison is played tons in all kinds of EDH decks and creatures like Archangel of Tithes or Blazing Archon are played much less.) Maybe Constellation being late in block is part why?

Theros block wasn’t “enchantment matters” until Journey into Nyx, but it existed on the block and could be focused on in a return.

Archangel of Tithes Archon Blazing Archon Commander Constellation Creatures Enchantments Ghostly Prison Journey into Nyx Mirrodin Nyx Theros

Color Pie Consistency

I believe you mentioned earlier in the week that Ghostly Prison was included in a C19 decklist but not Propaganda because the C19 team was trying to stick to modern color pie. Where does Chaos Warp in the Madness deck fit in then? Or is it a case of "Commander staple" or "just slipped through?"

I’ve asked the Commander teams to not make new color pie breaks, but my compromise is to let them reprint ones that already exist.

Card Printing Chaos Warp Color Pie Colors Commander Ghostly Prison Madness Modern Reprints

Ghostly Prison vs Propaganda

Why was Ghostly Prison printed in the new Commander set over Propaganda? The former needed a reprint much less, and they are practically identical cards.

The ability is now in white and not blue. We match modern color pie when we can.

Blue Card Printing Color Pie Colors Commander Ghostly Prison Modern Reprints White

Green Strategy Insight

What does fog effects have in common with overreliance on creatures? It doesn't interact with your own creatures (which is basicly what green wants to do) and it does practically covers an area green's creatures can do: block. I can see it in white or blue: besides white preventing harm and encouraging inaction or the blue pre-planned reaction (like counterspells) flavors, it can also have a bureaucratic feel in Azorius. Also, Ghostly Prison and Propaganda effects are already in the colors.

Green wants attack with all its creatures. The downside is you leave yourself vulnerable. Fog helps with this and thus lets you attack more.

Azorius (W/U) Blue Colors Creatures Ghostly Prison Green White

White Color Mechanics

For the White Color Pie H2H, will you provide some iconic examples? I don't think I know the difference between Taxing and Rules Setting.

I will give examples when posting the Head-to-Head. Taxing, specifically, means that things are halted unless you pay a cost, usually mana. Rules setting are enchantments that create new rules that simply happen, there’s no buy out clause. Taxing can be a one-shot or enchantment where rules setting tends to mostly be enchantments.Ghostly Prison is taxing. Rule of Law is rules setting.

Color Pie Colors Enchantments Ghostly Prison Mana Rule of Law Rules White

Casting Stop Thief!

Is there any chance of casting Stop Thief! on a creature that will then be Arrested, and sentenced by a Stern Judge to a Ghostly Prison?

Maybe. : )

Creatures Ghostly Prison Stern Judge

Minotaur Representation

The new art for Carbonize has a minotaur being killed gruesomely. In addition, they are the victim in various other cards, including, but not limited to, Anchor to the Aether, Razor Boomerang, Ghostly Prison, Serra Bestiary, Smite, Backslide, Fleeting Distraction, Void Snare, Dark Betrayal, Hand to Hand, and Lightning Blast. Whenever it's a minotaur, it almost feels like it goes further than normal. Minotaurs themselves are an infrequent creature type. Is there a reason to the disparity?

Minotaurs just take abuse well. : )

Anchor to the Aether Art Backslide Carbonize Creatures Dark Betrayal Fleeting Distraction Ghostly Prison Hand to Hand Lightning Blast Limited Minotaur Razor Boomerang Serra Bestiary Void Snare Your Hand

Red Enchantment Dilemma

Hey mark made a tumblr just to ask this question regarding red destroying enchantments. Anarchy can destroy white enchantments and it in my opinion, is one of the most red cards ever made. Do you believe this breaks color pie as it destroys enchantments? Or can red get a similar card in the future? It just seems very flavorful that red can break out of a restricting enchantment such as a ghostly prison.

If I had to list the top ten color pie breaking cards of all time, Anarchy is a shoo-in.

Blogatog / Tumblr Break Out Color Pie Colors Destroy Enchantments Flavor Ghostly Prison Red White

Attack Rules Concern

I just wanted to say I hate the way that must attack if able effects work with cards like Ghostly Prison/Propaganda and cards like Llanowar Elves. I mean if a cards says this must attack this turn if able you should be forced to do everything possible to satisfy it. Your mana dorks shouldn't be adding mana when they're being compelled into a fit of rage. If you have the ability to attack i.e. two lands untapped you are able to attack but your choosing not to. Which seems like cheating.

Unfortunately, that’s not how the rules work. The best the rules can do is check when it’s time to attack and see if you’re able. It cannot make judgment calls about what you could and couldn’t do to ensure later in the turn you could meet that condition.

Elf Fit of Rage Ghostly Prison Lands Llanowar Mana Rules