Mentor of the Meek

Color-Pie Break Check

Is Mentor of the Meek still a color-pie break?

Yes. If it was once per turn it would be okay.

Mentor Mentor of the Meek Once Per Turn

Potential in White Cantrips

Since white can cantrip on small creatures and draw one card a turn if they meet a certain requirement, would a once-a-turn mentor of the meek effect work on white?

Yes.

Creatures Mentor Mentor of the Meek White

On Mentor of the Meek

If Mentor of the Meek was printed now rather than *then*, and had the once-per-turn limit, would it have a lower MV or better stats too, since the effect is weaker?

Just because we made something in the past, doesn’t mean a card made today has to be made better than it.

Mana Value Mentor Mentor of the Meek

Mentor of the Meek Design

Would Mentor of the Meek be within white's colour pie if it stuck to the modern design principle of only letting you draw one card per turn?

Yes.

Colors Mentor Mentor of the Meek Modern

Mentor of the Meek Paradigm

So just to ensure people are getting the new paradigm, Mentor of the Meek itself is a no-go currently, but something in the same vein that had a "once per turn" restriction on it would be fine?

Correct.

Mentor Mentor of the Meek Once Per Turn

White Card Draw and Mentor

Mark, you've previously stated that white card draw is ok for things that are white specialties and have also stated that small creatures is white's primary gig. In that case, why is Mentor of the Meek a break? It feels akin to Kor Spirtdancer, Puresteel Paladin or Sram, Senior Edificer? Is it more about crossing with green abilities?

We have crafted a philosophy of what differentiates white card draw from other colors’ card draw. I plan to go into more detail when we start seeing the cards that reinforce this new philosophy. The key is creating a series of draw effects that aren’t just replicating other colors’ effects. “Draw whenever you do a white thing” is not the philosophy we are following.

Bend / Break Card Draw Creatures Green Kor Mentor Mentor of the Meek Primary Puresteel Paladin Reinforce Sram, Senior Edificer White

White Card Draw and Mentor Redux

You said mentor of the meek is still a break, but it's a white quality to care about small creatures, and paying a cost to draw off of an effect white cares about feels white, so why haven't your thoughts about it being a break changed? Or is this a case of, until we have finished releasing all the plans we're working to help white card draw, it's going to be a break

We have a cohesive plan for white card drawing. It’s slowly coming out. I’ll explain in detail as the cards get released.

Bend / Break Card Draw Creatures Mentor Mentor of the Meek White

Inspiring Commander vs Mentor of Meek

If Mentor of the Meek is still a break, why make Inspiring Commander on Arena? They're practically the same card, just commander costs 6, but doesn't require you to pay 1 each time.

Inspiring Commander wasn’t made by the R&D team and it wasn’t run by the Council of Colors. If it had been, it wouldn’t exist.

Bend / Break Colors Commander Council of colors Inspiring Commander Magic Arena Mentor Mentor of the Meek

Status of Certain White Cards

Hey Mark, I've been dying to know this for a while because I'm not sure if the opinion RnD has on these cards have changed. Are cards like STP, PTE, and Mentor of the Meek still considered breaks?

Swords to Plowshares and Path to Exile’s issues are more about power level. White can remove things and give something in return. It isn’t supposed to be as good at creature destruction as black. Mentor of the Meek is still a break, but we’re exploring ways to give white card draw that fits the identity of the color.

Bend / Break Black Card Draw Colors Creatures Mentor Mentor of the Meek Power Level Swords to Plowshares White

Reevaluation of White's Draw

Is Mentor of the Meek and similar effects back on the drawing board for white card draw, or is it still going to be a bend/break?

Not exactly, but kind of. You’ll see. : )

Bend / Break Card Draw Humor Mentor Mentor of the Meek White

Color pie break of Mentor

You've said in the past that Mentor of the Meek is a color pie break. With how you guys have come around recently on white card draw, is it still considered a break?

It’s something we’re talking about. Signs are pointing to it shifting back from being a color pie break.

Bend / Break Card Draw Color Pie Mentor Mentor of the Meek White

White's Card Draw Shift

So does the change in White's card draw mean Mentor of the Meek is more acceptable?

We’re talking about it.

Card Draw Mentor Mentor of the Meek

Card Draw for White

Would Mentor of the Meek technically be in-pie because it lets creatures cantrip?

We’ve been having a lot of conversations about Mentor of the Meek as we explore what card draw is appropriate for white.

Card Draw Creatures Mentor Mentor of the Meek White

Colorless Card Drawing

Dawn of Hope and Mentor of the Meek have been regarded as colour pie breaks, however there are colourless cards that can much more reliably draw cards than pretty much any white card. Classics like Staff of Nin and Skullclamp but also recent things more inline with modern colour philosophy like Arch of Orazca and Endless Atlas. Why is mono brown allowed to draw cards but white can't?

Colorless cards can do things colors can’t (like say destroy enchantments). We just have to be careful what rate we set them at.

Arch of Orazca Card Draw Colorless Colors Dawn of Hope Destroy Enchantments Endless Atlas Mentor Mentor of the Meek Modern Skullclamp Staff of Nin White

Inspiring Commander Issue

If mentor of the meek is a break, why make the arena exclusive inspiring commander? It also draws cards off of a creature with power two or less entering the battlefield.

We didn’t make the Arena card. It was made by the Arena team and they were unaware it had to be run by the Council of Colors. We would have shot it down had we seen it. That’s why it’s not coming to paper.

Bend / Break Colors Commander Council of colors Creatures Inspiring Commander Magic Arena Mentor Mentor of the Meek

Dawn of Hope Analysis

Mentor of the Meek is now considered a break- what's the current feeling on Dawn of Hope?

It’s a pretty big bend. Do white thing and get to draw cards is not the recipe for fixing white.

Bend / Break Card Draw Dawn of Hope Mentor Mentor of the Meek White

Sram and Card Focus

Mark, Sram grants card draw upon casting 3 specific subtypes of cards that require focus, so I don't see how he's a bend and not something totally in-pie. Mentor of the Meek would be a strong bend as he don't require that much focus, but still isn't something that really undermine the color's weakness.

You’re center is off. Sram is a bend and a Mentor of Meek is a break. Card draw is not supposed to be remotely easy for white.

Bend / Break Card Draw Colors Mentor Mentor of the Meek Subtype White

Sram vs. Mentor

What is the difference between Sram being a strong bend but Mentor of the Meek being a break? It almost feels like it should be the other way, since Mentor at least has a mana cost to draw while Sram is free draw.

Having to have a deck of mostly creatures is way lower of a restriction than deck of auras, equipment and Vehicles, all of which require creatures.

Auras Bend / Break Creatures Equipment Mana Mentor Mentor of the Meek Vehicles

Mentor of the Meek

"There are many on the Council of Colors who consider Mentor of the Meek a mistake. White has a lot of its answers stapled onto small creatures." But are you still one of them? There are conflicting posts in your blog history, so the debate on this card rages on without good guidance from WotC.

Oh, no doubt, I think it’s a mistake.

Colors Council of colors Creatures Mentor Mentor of the Meek White Wizards of the Coast

Mentor of the Meek's Validity

I love the idea of symmetrical card draw in white, but I wanted to ask how you feel about Mentor of the Meek? A commander I would love to see is a card draw pay off for small creatures.

There are many on the Council of Colors who consider Mentor of the Meek a mistake. White has a lot of its answers stapled onto small creatures.

Card Draw Colors Commander Council of colors Creatures Mentor Mentor of the Meek White