Goblin Scouts

Unexpected Artwork Changes

There seem to be quite a few stories of old cards where a card had to be changed because the art that was turned in had something unexpected (Waiting in the Weeds, Goblin Scouts). Does this still happen sometimes, or is that a thing of the past and why?

No, a couple things have changed over the years. First, our art directors have become much more knowledgeable about what matters mechanically. Second, we’ve fine tuned the system to catch issues along the path.

Art Goblin Goblin Scouts Scout Waiting in the Weeds

Goblin Scouts Fluff

"Goblin Scouts as supposed to be dwarves when it came back with goblins." Is this why the flavor text for it talks about goblins painted up to look like dwarves?

It is.

Dwarf Flavor Goblin Goblin Scouts Scout

Mirage Art Direction

"The art director of Mirage was famous for not catching things the artist weren’t supposed to do such as draw angels as male." Got any more anecdotes about this individual?

Sunweb was originally supposed to be unable to block white creatures until the art came back with it blocking a white creature. Waiting in the Weeds was supposed to be squirrels when it came back with cats. Goblin Scouts as supposed to be dwarves when it came back with goblins.

Angel Art Blocking Cat Creatures Dwarf Goblin Goblin Scouts Mirage Scout Squirrel Sunweb Waiting in the Weeds White

Unknown Card Stories

Got any other cool "did you know" stories like the Hyalopterous Lemure or Whippoorwill ones? Doesn't have to be art related.

Tons. Goblin Scouts was designed as Dwarven Scouts. It made ½ creatures rather than 1/1 with mountainwalk. The art came back with goblins rather than dwarves so we had to change the card.

Art Creatures Dwarf Goblin Goblin Scouts Hyalopterous Lemure Scout Whippoorwill

Art Influencing Mechanics

Has it ever happened that an artist's interpretation of a card-art made you change the card's mechanics to match what was shown ?

It has happened although more in Magic’s distant past than nowadays. In Mirage, for instance, the card Goblin Scouts was originally Dwarven Scouts (which made ½ dwarf creature tokens) but the art came back clearly showing goblins rather than dwarves so the card mechanic was changed to reflect the art.

Art Creatures Dwarf Goblin Goblin Scouts Mechanics Mirage Scout Tokens

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