Hippo

Correlating Animals in Bloomburrow

Do arcs and wedges have corresponding animals in Bloomburrow? (such as RGW Goats or BGU Hippos)

No, there was barely enough space for the ten two-color ones.

Bloomburrow Goat Hippo Naya (R/G/W) Sultai (B/G/U) Three Color

Phelddagrif Origin Story

Hi Mark! I hope this allowed, my friend who isn't on Tumblr has asked me to invoke the sacred rite of birthday trivia on his behalf. Could you share any insights concerning Phelddagrif? Thanks in advance!

Phelddagrif was an inside joke in R&D. It’s an anagram of “Garfield Ph.D.” referencing a rule in the early days that whenever PR talked about Richard, they always called him Dr. Richard Garfield or Richard Garfield, Ph.D. R&D also used to joke about how long before they’d have to make a purple hippo. All this resulted in the card Phelddagrif.Happy Birthday to your friend!

Birthday Blogatog / Tumblr Hippo Humor Phelddagrif Phelddagrif Richard Garfield Richard Garfield, Ph.D. Rules Story / Lore

Batches and Real Knowledge

Can the shorthand for what a batch includes rely upon real world knowledge? For instance if you had decided to batch “animals”. I feel like most people would be able to identify whether a particular creature type refers to an animal, with maybe a couple debatable ones that might need information not on the card. (eg Whether a Hippogriff is an animal.)

Batches are chosen because the items feel connected. This helps players remember them.

Batches Creatures Hippogriff

Old vs. Modern Saboteur

Any interest in bringing back those triggers on older cards like Pygmy Hippo? The ones where you have to give up the combat damage if you want the effect.

Old school saboteur (give up you combat damage for the effect) simply doesn’t play as well as modern saboteur (get the effect and the damage). The former slows down games, both in lessening damage and forcing extra decisions.

Hippo Modern Pygmy Hippo Triggered Abilities

Coloring Questing Hippo Card

Mark! I just recieved my Extra Life Secret Lair. I have this uncontrollable urge to colour in a certain Questing Hippo. Is that the intended effect? It reminds me of a colouring page from childhood. I realize it's MY card so I can do whatever I want with it, but would that be disrespectful to you in anyway if I altered your art?

Crayon away. : )

Art Colors Hippo Humor Secret Lairs

'Fixed' Pongify-Type Effect Possibility

Hi Mark!Could blue get a "fixed" Pongify-type effect?Something like:"Exile target creature. Its controller creates a 3/3 green Hippo creature token. When that token leaves the battlefield, return the exile card to the battlefield under its owner's control."

It would much more likely be an aura with flash that says “Enchanted creature loses all abilities and is a green Ape with base power and toughness 3/3.”

Ape Auras Blue Creatures Flash Green Hippo The Exile Zone Tokens

Favorite Secret Lair Purchase

What's your favorite Secret Lair that we've seen so far? Have you personally purchased any?

I’m partial to the one where I got to draw a flying hippo. : )

Flying Hippo Humor Mark's Favorites Secret Lairs

Token Generator Creation Concerns

Hey Mark I know this is a common complaint In multiple play groups that play eternal formats that a couple of older token generators don't have have physical tokens outside of proxy or home made examples being Phelddagrifs 1/1 hippos, dune-broods 1/1 sand creature tokens, and boris devilbloons 1/1 minor demons. Have there been any thought about doing a spellbook type release to fill up these missing tokens?

I can pass along the request.

Creatures Demon Eternal Hippo Phelddagrif Proxies Sand Spellbook Tokens

Request for Flying Hippo God

Didn't old Egypt have a flying hippo god? May I request one for next Theros, preferably purple skinned?

Egypt would be Amonkhet.

Amonkhet Flying God Hippo Theros

High Beeble Scale Creatures

Why are phelddagrif so high on the beeble scale? I miss having unique and creative creatures like this more often.

Like Beebles, a flying purple hippo is considered a bit too silly for black border. As I often state, I think the game can handle more humor.

Beeble Beeble Scale Black Border Creatures Flying Hippo Humor Phelddagrif Phelddagrif

Amonkhet Hippo Champion

Okay, I have to know. How did the hippo become a champion on Amonket? Did he really outsmart his crop-mates to become a champion? It seemed like only sentient beings were permitted into the trials but now we have Lazotep beasts and hippos.

The non-Humanoids didn’t go through the trials.

Beast Champion Hippo

Request for More Hippos

Can I request more Hippos?

You may.

Hippo

Trolls' Identity Question

I get that not every creature with a type can be the same. But types do have an identity. Angels fly, elves snowball, hydras have variable size. What is the identity of trolls at this point? What makes a given green midrange creature design feel like a troll instead of a beast?

What makes an Elk different than a Hippo? Mostly flavor. Really tight mechanical identities tend to make us print less of a creature type. It also matters how often we use that mechanical component. For instance, we do a lot of flying, so all the creatures having flying is less of an issue.

Angel Beast Card Printing Creatures Elf Elk Flavor Flying Green Hippo Hydra Troll

Pheldagrif Poll Inclusion

When will we see pheldagrif in the head to head polls?

Hippo was on the poll just a few days ago. It lost.

Head to Head Hippo

Creative Restrictions

if nevinyrall is allows to circumvent the vanity rulings because it is "grandfathered in", why not phelddagrifs? the name doesn't stand out as an obvious anagram like nevinyrall, they have a neat mechanical identity, and they would be a nice addition to a less grimdark setting. side note: the term "grandfathered in" has a dubious history and it's worth looking it up if you're not aware. also please make 1/1 hippo tokens i need them.

We haven’t stopped making Phelddagrifs because of the name. The creative team has just dubbed flying purple hippos to be a bit silly for black border.

Black Black Border Flying Hippo Phelddagrif Tokens

Future Hippo Characters

My absolute favorite card is Phelddagrif and I know wizards doesn’t want to reprint her but is there a possibility of more hippo creatures in the future or even a planeswalker?

Does it have to be purple and winged?

Card Printing Creatures Hippo Phelddagrif Planeswalkers Reprints

Phelddagrif Return Odds

What are the chances that we'll ever see the majestic Phelddagrif ever again?

Flying purple hippo is even more over the line than Squirrel. I’m still working on getting Squirrel over the line though.

Flying Hippo Phelddagrif Squirrel

Battlebond Setting Discussion

Was there any discussion of setting Battlebond in the Hippodrome?

And all the combatants could have rhinoplasty.

Battlebond The Hippodrome

Phelddagrif Trivia

It's my birthday! Can I have some trivia on my favourite creature (type) Phelddagrif (GarfieldPHD). Also, where do they sit on the storm scale?

When the game first began, the brand team insisted that whenever Richard was referenced that they referred to him as Richard Garfield Ph.D. There was also a running joke that it was just a matter of time before the game made a purple flying hippo. The East Coast Playtesters made Phelddagrif as an in-joke. Phelddagrif is an anagram of “Garfield Ph.D.” The chance of Phelddagrifs returning is pretty low, as like Beebles and Squirrels, it’s considered a bit too silly for normal Magic. #WotCStaff

Beeble Birthday Creatures Flying Hippo Humor Keyword Abilities Phelddagrif Richard Garfield Squirrel Storm Scale

Phelddagrif Species Confusion

I got all of my wisdom teeth taken out today. Could I get some trivia on Kynaios & Tiro, or Phelddagrif? : )

Phelddahrif isn’t actually a hippo like most people think. It’s actually a giant weasel.(Not So) Happy Wisdom Tooth Extraction Day!

Birthday Giant Hippo Phelddagrif