Planar Chaos Insights

Why is it that during Planar Chaos you decided that shades (Shade of Troakir) and flash (Whitemane Lion, Stonecloaker, Mantle of Leadership) could have been a part of White's mechanical niche? Also with Black getting tapping (Thirst -> Melancholy and Master Decoy -> Rathi Trapper) and Swerves (Imp's Mischief and Muck Drubb)?

Planar Chaos was about us imaging “what if”. We went back to the beginning and just thought about different mechanical choices we could have made to reflect color philosophy. The point of the set was to show that although Magic made certain choices others could have made sense. White, for instance, has a strong military and army theme and the power and toughness pumping could have fit that. Note that white occasionally does get both power and toughness pumping but usually not together. White getting flash is a nod toward white’s more reactive nature and defensiveness. Black got tapping and redirecting (what we call “swerving”) to play into its ability to manipulate.

Army Black Colors Flash Imp Imp's Mischief Mantle of Leadership Master Decoy Muck Drubb Planar Chaos Rathi Trapper Shade Stonecloaker White Whitemane Lion