Grixis

Rationales for Rat Coloration

Why was rats in bloomburrow u/b? This makes it difficult to combine with the red support for rats in wilds of eldraine.

Wilds of Eldraine and Bloomburrow had different needs, so we overlapped Rats in black allowing you to play black/red Rats, blue/black Rats, or blue/black/red Rats.

Black Bloomburrow Dimir (U/B) Grixis (U/B/R) Rakdos (B/R) Rat Rat Red Wilds of Eldraine

Compliments for Edward Kenway Card

Please send high fives to whoever designed the card for Edward Kenway. It's everything I wanted from a grixis pirate commander!

Will do.

Commander Edward Kenway Grixis Grixis (U/B/R) High Fives Pirate

Izzet vs Grixis Pirates

What separates an Izzet Pirate from a Grixis Pirate?

Black mana. : )

Black Grixis Grixis (U/B/R) Humor Izzet (U/R) Mana Pirate

Concerns over Unnecessary Colors

Hey mark. Y’all in R&D infamously “avoid doing two-colour creatures which could be done in a single color”, like a creature with flying and vigilance, for example. I am not rehashing that argument, because I fully understand why the answer to that question is GB (although since vigilance is allowed in blue now that means that the UB option that was wrong at the time now is also a correct answer). That said, I do have some qualms with the premise of that question. We see multicolored cards that don’t need all their colors CONSTANTLY. Just in Thunder Junction, we got:- Wylie duke, which can be in white or green, and doesn’t need to be both- Vraska joins up, which can be done in mono green and doesn’t need black- Selvala, which can be done in mono green and doesn’t need white- Seraphic steed, which can be done in mono white and doesn’t need green- Rakdos joins up, which could be done in mono black and doesn’t need red- Miriam, which could be done in mono green and doesn’t need white- Marchesa, who can be done in blue or black, and doesn’t need to be both, and DEFINITELY doesn’t need red- Lilah, who could be done in red or blue and doesn’t need to be both- Jasper flint, who can be done in Black or red and doesn’t need to be both- Jem, who could be done in mono blue and doesn’t need white- Form a posse, which could be done in red or white and doesn’t need to be both- Breeches, who can be done in mono red and doesn’t need blue- At knifepoint, which could be done in mono red and doesn’t need black- Obeka, which could be dimir or izzet and doesn’t need to be grixis- Vihaan, who could be done in boros and doesn’t need black- Kirri, which could be in mono green, and doesn’t need red or white- Yuma, which could be done in mono green (and maybe mono red?) but definitely doesn’t need white- Olivia, which could be boros or rakdos and doesn’t need to be mardu- Pest control, which could be mono white and doesn’t need blackI don’t really know what I’m asking, but I just wanted to bring up that unnecessary colors appear on multicolored spells VERY frequently; and I wanted to know if you have any thoughts about this.

That’s why I say “we try” and not “we always do”. When a multicolor card doesn’t have abilities of two colors, we’ll tag it in the Council of Colors pass, and the lead designer will see if hey can find an elegant solution. It’s not a mandatory thing though, as it’s hard to do without making cards extra wordy and clunky. Again, that’s why I say “we try” to do it as it’s something we do when we can, but often don’t do.

At Knifepoint Black Blue Boros (R/W) Colors Council of colors Creatures Dimir (U/B) Flying Form a Posse Game Design Green Grixis Grixis (U/B/R) Head Designer Izzet (U/R) Mardu (R/W/B) Pest Pest Control Rakdos (B/R) Rakdos Joins Up Red Seraphic Steed Spells Vigilance Vraska Joins Up White

Rare Slot Color Imbalance

Can you talk about the imbalance of colors in the rare slot of OTJ? It looks like there are two main set Grixis rares while Azorius has zero main set rares despite being a two color pair. Was Wizards concerned how this would affect limited?

We decided a while back that some color imbalance at rare and mythic rare is okay as the as-fan is so low in limited.

As-fan Azorius (W/U) Colors Grixis Grixis (U/B/R) Limited Mythic Rares Outlaws of Thunder Junction Rares Two Color

Three-Colour Combinations

So far Temur, Bant, Esper, Naya and Grixis have been previewed. Can we expect all 10 three-colour combinations in OTJ ?

No, all ten are not there.

Bant Bant (W/U/G) Esper (W/U/B) Grixis Grixis (U/B/R) Naya Naya (R/G/W) Outlaws of Thunder Junction Temur (R/U/G)

UB Deck Cohesion Issue

Most of my issue with UB, particularly the commander decks, is their lack of availability on MtGO, as well as their lack of cohesion at some points. Individually, the cards are absolutely flavor wins, but as part of a precon they really don't work cohesively. Take the Timey Wimey precon for example. That deck was absolutely pulling itself in different directions by trying to be time counters and investigate, and then several cards that had nothing to do with either strategy. I would have been more satisfied had the deck been all in on the time counters, rather than trying to split the deck's strategy.Another example is the Ruinous Powers 40K precon. It had a very heavy demon theme, but it was split between demons-matter/aggro and cascade/spellslinger. Flavorfully each card is an absolute banger. But the decks as a whole really lack a real focus on one or the other. An example of UB doing well is the LotR set as a whole. It allowed for flavor wins while still keeping themes appropriate for its strategy, with blue/black/red being heavy on amassing orc armies and buffing orcs, while green/blue was focused on scrying and payoffs for scrying. Flavor wins, while still keeping a clear focus for deckbuilding.

You’re comparing apples and oranges. A preconstructed deck has different limitations than a randomized product.

Army Blue Cascade Commander Decks Demon Flavor Grixis (U/B/R) Investigate Magic Online Orc Rakdos (B/R) Red Simic (G/U) The Ruinous Powers

Vampire Set Potential

If/When another set with vampire typal in Blue/Black/Red? Haven't really had one since Alara IIRC (not counting the Maestros here since their vampires don't really care about being Vampires).

It needs the right world.

Grixis (U/B/R) If/When Kindred / Typal Rakdos (B/R) Red Vampire

Multicolored Mana Symbols

Is there a reason that multicoloured mana symbols aren't used in mana sources? I.e, instead of "Add [B] or [G]", it could be add [B/G]?It could probably save a bunch of card space, especially in 5 colour mana sources, if 5 colour multiple type pops were added, i.e. "Add one mana of any colour" vs "Add [W/U/B/R/G]"
Though, I suspect a 5 colour one might not work in formats like commander, since then it would count as 5 colour identity card

The reason is it implies things that aren’t inherently true. Also, it would cause some color identity issues as you point out.

Color Identity Colors Commander Esper (W/U/B) Golgari (B/G) Grixis (U/B/R) Gruul (R/G) Jund (B/R/G) Mana Suspect

Shard Set Focus

Could we get a shard set where the primary color is not the center color? For example UBR but focused on Red.

We did a wedge set that did it, so definitely a possibility.

Colors Grixis (U/B/R) Primary Red

Hank Pym's Alignment

Is Hank Pym still Grixis as Ant-Man?

No. Yellowjacket literally has different personality.

Grixis Grixis (U/B/R)

Grixis Hero Example

Can you give me an example of a Grixis hero?

The original Hank Pym Yellowjacket from Marvel comics.

Grixis Grixis (U/B/R) Marvel Pop Culture Pop Culture

Alara Bands Legal Humor

More of a legal question of course, but I'd love to hear your thoughts: Wouldn't the Alara shards make for pretty punchy bandnames? Do you think you/WotC would condone, say, a Death Metal group called "Grixis"? x)

Let’s leave Legal out of this. : )Yes, they would.

Grixis Grixis (U/B/R) Humor Three Color Wizards of the Coast

Villain Color Combinations

Hi Mark. I was thinking about the Masters of Evil deck from the Doctor Who set and made me realize that Grixis has become a common go-to color combination for villainy lately, especially for IP's outside Magic. Sure, we had a few instances of non-Grixis identities, but will we ever see other Black+X+Y color combinations for villains in the future? I, for one, am really interested in a Universes Beyond villain entity/faction that is Mardu-oriented.

It depends on the property.

Black Colors Doctor Factions Grixis Grixis (U/B/R) Universes Beyond

Card Color Identity

Hi Mark! "The Big Idea" is my second favorite card in all MTG. I know, quite unnusual. But I have a really hard time building a deck around it, for the simple fact it lacks blue - and most "roll a 6-sided die" matters cards are in U. Is there a reason why this card color identity is Rakdos and not Grixis or Izzet? Thank you!

It wasn’t designed to be a Commander, just a fun legendary creature.

Appreciation Blue Color Identity Commander Creatures Grixis Grixis (U/B/R) Izzet (U/R) Rakdos (B/R) The Big Idea

Future Black Pirates

Pirates in Ixalan were Grixis, but since then they've just been Izzet. Will we see black pirates again?

I believe so. Black’s color philosophy seems like it would match a Pirate.

Black Colors Grixis Grixis (U/B/R) Ixalan Izzet (U/R) Pirate

Color Order Explanation

"They are in WUBRG order. Note that doesn’t mean W is always before U" Can you explain how this works? I'm confused.

Let’s start with allied color pairs. The way we do them is we start with the color and the go clockwise around the color wheel. That means they are: White/BlueBlue/BlackBlack/RedRed/GreenGreen/WhiteNote that means green and white are green/white, the order in which they are consecutive rather than the order of WUBRG. For enemy color pairs we get: White/BlackBlue/RedBlack/GreenRed/WhiteGreen/BlueIn this case two color pairs, red and white, and green and blue, are not in WUBRG order, but in the order where they are closest around the circle.This order makes it so each color is first two out of four times, and last two out of four times.Shard/arc three color trios are done the order that they appear together in the circle:White/Blue/BlackBlue/Black/RedBlack/Red/GreenRed/Green/WhiteGreen/White/BlueRed, green and white, and green, white, and blue aren’t in WUBRG order.Wedge three-color trios, are written such that the shared enemy color is in the center, with each color appearing with it as it appears when it’s written as an enemy color :White/Black/GreenBlue/Red/WhiteBlack/Green/BlueRed/White/BlackGreen/Blue/RedOnly white, black, green is in WUBRG order.Four color quartets appear in the order they appear consecutive in the color wheel: White/Blue/Black/RedBlue/Black/Red/GreenBlack/Red/Green/WhiteRed/Green/White/Blue Green/White/Blue/BlackAll but the first two aren’t in WUBRG order.Five color us in WUBRG order:White/Blue/Black/Red/Green

Abzan (W/B/G) Azorius (W/U) Black Blue Boros (R/W) Colors Dimir (U/B) Esper (W/U/B) Four Color Golgari (B/G) Green Grixis (U/B/R) Gruul (R/G) Izzet (U/R) Jeskai (U/R/W) Jund (B/R/G) Mardu (R/W/B) Naya (R/G/W) Orzhov (W/B) Rakdos (B/R) Red Selesnya (G/W) Simic (G/U) Sultai (B/G/U) Three Color Two Color White

Grixis Decks Observation

I noticed that the first 3 Universes Beyond Commander products all have a Grixis villains decks (40k chaos, LotR Sauron and Doctor Who’s villains). Is it possible to have a UBR good guy?

With the right IP.

Commander Doctor Grixis Grixis (U/B/R) Universes Beyond

Amass Mechanic's Flexibility

So is Amass solidly a Grixis mechanic now, or could it be colorshifted like exalted going into black?

The mechanic minus flavor (and the black coloring) fits in all the colors mechanically.

Amass Black Colors Exalted Flavor Grixis Grixis (U/B/R) Mechanics

Color Pie Effects

Why are some effects (discard, counterspells) restricted to one color, but others aren't, even in cases where you don't want too many of them (control magic being secondary in black, spell redirection being in blue/red, stealing opponent's cards in blue/black/red)? Shouldn't all infrequent effects be restricted to one color?

No, it varies based on the effect.

Black Color Pie Colors Control Magic Discard Grixis (U/B/R) Izzet (U/R) Rakdos (B/R) Red Secondary