Isamaru, Hound of Konda

Mythic Rare Vanilla Creature

Hi, Mark. Has there ever been consideration to making a Mythic Rare vanilla creature? Isamaru, Hound of Konda and Gigantosaurus seemed to really push the limit of the cmc-to-power/toughness ratio, and they were only rares.

Unstable had one.

Creatures Gigantosaurus Isamaru, Hound of Konda Mythic Rares Rares Vanilla

Birthday Trivia

Hi Marc! It was my birthday two days ago so I'd like to ask for some belated birthday trivia! Do you have any about either Suppression Field or Isamaru, Hound of Konda?

I made Isamaru in response to being told a legendary vanilla creature couldn’t be designed. Happy Birthday!

Birthday Creatures Isamaru, Hound of Konda Suppression Field Vanilla

Isamaru's Behavior

Hey Maro! Settle this for me I'm in an argument with someone about Isamaru, hound of Konda. All we want to know is if he's a good boy or not?

He is.

Isamaru, Hound of Konda Mark Rosewater

Legendary Titles

"Why griselbrand has no 'title'? it's not a common thing among legendary creatures." "There’s only one Griselbrand." I think you missed the question. Almost every legendary creature has a name like "Isamaru, Hound of Konda" ("Name, Subtitle"), but Malfegor, Griselbrand, and a few others just have their name without a cool subtitle. Why?

Not ever character has a subtitle.

Creatures Griselbrand Isamaru, Hound of Konda Legendary Creatures Malfegor

Isamaru Design Insight

It's been roughly two weeks since my birthday, but I had a hard time settling on what card to request birthday trivia on -- so if you'll still permit me to ask -- what about Isamaru, Hound of Konda?

I designed Isamaru to prove that a vanilla legendary creature that players would like was possible. Happy Birthday!

Birthday Creatures Isamaru, Hound of Konda Vanilla

Favorite Vanilla Creature

What's your favorite vanilla creature?

Isamaru, Hound of Konda. I designed it to prove we could have a legendary vanilla creature.

Creatures Isamaru, Hound of Konda Mark's Favorites Vanilla

Isamaru Design Choice

I know that you've said that Development wins all costing/power issue conflicts. Has there been a card designed with a specific mana cost necessary to the design of the card that made the development cut without alteration?

Yeah, Isamaru, Hound of Konda was made to be a legendary vanilla cads which meant the W for a 2/2 was the design.

Isamaru, Hound of Konda Mana Vanilla

Isamaru's Current Appeal

If it didn't exist, would players still find Isamaru, Hound of Konda exciting if printed today?

As Goldmeadow Stalwart has been printed (another 2/2 for W from Lorwyn), I believe the impact would be a little less.

Card Printing Goldmeadow Isamaru, Hound of Konda Lorwyn

Trivia on Isamaru

Hey Maro it's my girlfriend's brother's wife's butler's dog's pup's birthday today, any trivia on Isamaru, Hound of Konda aside from "I wanted to make a legendary vanilla creature"? :P

How could I not do trivia for such a momentous occasion? My trivia is not about the hound but his owner. When the creative team named Konda, I argued it was too close to Kondo as in Sidar Kondo, adopted father of Gerrard in the Weatherlight Saga. The creative team said no one would remember him and kept the name the same.

Birthday Creatures Dog Gerrard Isamaru, Hound of Konda Mark Rosewater Sagas Sidar Kondo Vanilla Weatherlight

Vanilla Legends Ideas

Do you have any cool Vanilla Legends ideas you are just waiting to put into a set?

I made Isamaru, Hound of Konda because someone said we could never make a vanilla legendary creature and I wanted to prove them wrong.

Creatures Isamaru, Hound of Konda Legendary Creatures Vanilla

Legends Rule Proposal

Re. legends, why not expand the legend rule so that it has an upside to go with its downside? For instance, take inspiration from Commander: "At the start of the game, you may put a legendary card from your library into your hand, shuffle your library and then draw six cards." Some cards become much stronger, Isamaru, Hound of Konda suddenly sells for $50, but it doesn't sound SUPER crazy.

I like the idea of grafting a positive onto legendary but your version is patently broken. I know because I made a mechanic similar to it during Tempest design and it broke the game in half. The random draw is very important.

Commander Isamaru, Hound of Konda Legendary Creatures Mechanics Rules Shuffle Tempest The Library Your Hand

Vanilla Creature Tale

Is there any nice/strange story about the design of a vanilla creature ?

There are. Here (with some creative license) is the story that jumps to mind: INT. R&D MEETING (That’s Interior - R&D Meeting in screenwriter talk) R&D Member: It’s impossible to have a vanilla legendary creature. Me: No, it’s not. R&D Member: Legendary creatures have to be exciting. Vanilla creatures by definition aren’t exciting, thus it can’t be done. Me: I think it can. R&D Member: Then design one. Me: Okay, how about a 2/2 for W? And thus Isamaru, Hound of Konda was born.

Creatures Isamaru, Hound of Konda Legendary Creatures Story / Lore Vanilla

Isamaru's Category

Is Isamaru, Hound of Konda a vanilla creature or a french vanilla creature?

A Vanilla creature. Super and sub types don’t affect vanilla-ness. In fact, I created the card to prove that a legendary vanilla creature could be made and liked.

Creatures France French Vanilla Isamaru, Hound of Konda Subtype Vanilla