Goblin Welder

Contraptions and Goblin Welder

Question involving contraptions: In theory, could one use goblin welder to take a scrapyard contraption and a contraption on any sprocket and exchange the two like regular artifacts?

No, because the Goblin Welder only works with the graveyard.

Artifacts Contraptions Exchange Goblin Goblin Welder The Graveyard

Goblin Welder Mechanics

If a goblin welder targets a contraption and an artifact in the contraption owner's graveyard, do they still switch places? is the contraption now in the graveyard?

A Contraption can’t go to a graveyard. If it tries it gets redirected to its own scrapyard.

Artifacts Contraptions Goblin Goblin Welder The Graveyard

Goblin Welder Hypothetical

If Goblin Welder had been in Battle for Zendikar, it would have been possible to swap a cheap artifact (or a Clue) for an Ugin's Nexus, then swap Nexus for an extra turn and Pyromancer's Goggles. Just saying. Could be a deck, might not be, but I sure wouldn't be talking about Ugin's Nexus if we weren't talking about Goblin Welder. There are always artifacts.

Not having any good artifacts in Standard is quite an ask.

Artifacts Battle for Zendikar Battles Goblin Goblin Welder Pyromancer's Goggles Standard Ugin's Nexus

Reprinting Broken Cards

Regarding Goblin Welder, I'll point out that you have reprinted broken cards in Standard-legal expansions before. Darksteel Citadel was so overpowered during its first time in Standard that it was even banned in Standard. Didn't stop it from being reprinted in Magic 2015.

I’m not says my we never do it. I’m saying it’s done very infrequently.

Bannings Card Printing Darksteel Darksteel Citadel Format Legality Format Legality Goblin Goblin Welder Magic 2015 Reprints Standard

Goblin Welder in Modern

Let's say hypothetically you knew Goblin Welder would be safe in Standard. But wouldn't that card have to be immediately banned in Modern? Would that effect the decision on a reprint?

It would be an issue we’d have to address. It’s not an automatic no, but it’s a big con (as opposed to pro).

Bannings Card Printing Format Legality Format Legality Goblin Goblin Welder Modern Reprints Standard

Goblin Welder Strategy

On the whole Goblin Welder thing. Goblin Welder is an A/B card meaning that you need high cost/power artifacts/artifact creatures for him to be good, so are you saying that in a hypothetical Standard where he gets reprinted you could forget he exists and print said powerful artifacts? You control the "conditions" you speak of and it's not like Goblin Welder's power is hard to spot or control.

Developing Standard is already difficult. We don’t need to handicap ourselves.

Artifacts Card Printing Creatures Goblin Goblin Welder Reprints Standard

Standard Development Metaphor

"We’re not going to metaphorically pour gasoline on Standard" in the example (Goblin Welder) this metaphor doesn't make a whole lot of sense, its something that you have complete control over and there is no chance of it being broken in standard. surely a better metaphor is "we're not going to have a glass of whiskey in case we drop a match in it"?

No, my metaphor was spot on. We shouldn’t print cards in Standard we know can be broken if certain conditions happen. We don’t know exactly what will happen in Standard because if we knew, you all would crack it in minutes. We develop an environment we expect to be fun but with some variance in what could happen. Back to the metaphor. Making Standard is us playing with matches already, and when you’re playing with matches, stay away from the gasoline.

Card Printing Goblin Goblin Welder Standard

Goblin Welder's Power

Surely saying something like Goblin Welder is "too powerful" for standard isn't fair? For Goblin Welder to be good, there needs to be good expensive artifacts in standard, there are not at the moment.

We’re not going to metaphorically pour gasoline on Standard and then say, “As long as they’re never any flames, we should be fine”.

Artifacts Goblin Goblin Welder Standard The Moment

Welder's Standard Impact

Is Goblin Welder too powerful for standard? (Not a developer, yada yada.)

Yes.

Goblin Goblin Welder Not a developer Standard

Red's Regrowth Limits

"[What can Red regrow?] It can get back instants and sorceries but that’s it. Not artifacts, ..." Does that mean Feldon of the Third Path and Goblin Welder are out of pie? What about Squee and Demigod of Revenge?

It can temporarily get things out of the graveyard and it can get itself out of the graveyard back to your hand.

Artifacts Demigod Demigod of Revenge Feldon of the Third Path Goblin Goblin Welder Instants Red Sorceries Squee The Graveyard Your Hand

Red's Artifact Mechanics

Hey Maro, do you think you can explain the flavor aspect of how red gets goblin welder type effects? Ik red loves to see artifacts explode but bringing them back seems strange.

Red enjoys wild experimentation.

Artifacts Flavor Goblin Goblin Welder Mark Rosewater Red

Mistaken Identity

In your latest Drive to Work, you kept talking about Goblin Tinkerer as if it was Goblin Welder. One destroys articles, the other one exchanges artifacts from the graveyard to play and is from Urza's Legacy.

Oops.

Artifacts Drive to Work Goblin Goblin Tinkerer Goblin Welder Legacy The Graveyard Urza Urza's Legacy

Red's Scavenging Identity

What are your feelings toward Goblin Welder and Trash for Treasure effects as a part of red's color identity?

I think a little scavenging for red is good.

Caves Color Identity Colors Goblin Goblin Welder Red Trash for Treasure Treasure

Complicated Errata Origins

When cards which are really easy for players to grok become unprintable due to the complicated errata (eg Animate Dead, Goblin Welder) do you consider that a failing on the part of the designers or the rules technology?

It’s just the nature of the medium. That’s why we’ve started to begin templating during design, to figure out when something that sounds easy is very hard to actually write in words.

Animate Dead Card Printing Errata Goblin Goblin Welder Rules Templating

Complex Card Text

What is the point of complicating cards with more text, just to explain it. Like animate dead, and goblin welder.

Why do we bother using more words to explain more complex cards? I feel like I’m missing something here.

Animate Dead Goblin Goblin Welder

Red and Artifacts

What are your thoughts on Goblin Welder and Trash for Treasure? Can red interact positively with artifacts?

Red can act positively with artifacts if the flavor works. Note that I like the flavor of red jury-rigging artifacts to turn them into other artifacts.

Artifacts Flavor Goblin Goblin Welder Red Trash for Treasure Treasure

Interesting 1/1 Creature

What do you think is the most interesting 1/1 creature, off the top of your head.

Goblin Welder from Urza’s Legacy.

Creatures Goblin Goblin Welder Legacy Urza

Favorite Goblin

What's your favorite goblin?

For character - Squee. For card - Goblin Welder (although Squee is a close second.)

Goblin Goblin Welder Mark's Favorites Squee