Non-permanents

Another Non-permanent Type Possibility

since instant, interrupt, and mana source were rolled up together, has there been any talk of another non-permanent type?

I’m not sure what it would do.

Instants Mana Non-permanents

Presence of Non-Permanent Subtypes

If/when another non- permanent subtype?
We've seen many new permanent types/subtypes over the years. Vehicles, clues, food, battles, etc. But only one new non- permanent type in the form of lessons.

If, but not necessarily soon. There’s just less design space for nonpermanent subtypes.

Battles Design Space Food If/When Non-permanents Subtype Vehicles

Sorcery Creature Complexity

Someone asked about whether there could be such a thing as a Sorcery Creature. I started writing a reply but ran out of characters, so, here I am sending it as an ask instead...The 'obvious' solution: when a Sorcery Creature spell resolves, the effect of the sorcery part of the card happens, and then it enters as a creature. "Permanent" is redefined as "having at least one permanent card type", so (in a change from the current rules) if a permanent loses all of its permanent card types, it goes to the graveyard as a state-based effect. But having both permanent and additional non-permanent card types isn't a problem. In general, when a spell finishes resolving, if it has at least one permanent card type it enters the battlefield, otherwise it goes to the graveyard. Meanwhile, if it has a non-permanent card type, it can have other effects during resolution, otherwise it doesn't. Currently these two things are strictly separate, but whynotboth.gif(Although this seems like it would be the "obvious" solution, I don't mean to imply that it's easy or workable: I'm sure there would be a ton of complications, any number of which could sink the idea.)

A lot of things that seem obvious can get messy when you actually try to make the rules work in an ironclad way.

Blogatog / Tumblr Card Types Creatures Enter The Battlefield Non-permanents Rules Sorceries The Graveyard

Sorcery Creature Feasibility

Could the rules support combining a permanent type and non permanent type, in the same way that artifact creature or enchantment creature work. Could we get a sorcery creature, and how would that even work?
(bonus points if you can explain how it theoretically would work in a unset where we can ignore the rules letting it work)

The rules do not allow an instant or sorcery to be in the battlefield (they are instantly destroyed), so it’s not currently possible. I’m not sure how the rules could be adapted, or if it is even possible.

Artifacts Creatures Enchantments Instants Non-permanents Rules Sorceries Un-Magic / Silver Border / Acorn Un-sets

Meld Mechanic Discussion

Earlier someone mentioned Melded nonpermanent spells. Doesn’t Splice play into that design space?

The concept of meld is two cards coming together to make a bigger card. We have mechanics that adapt spells on the stack.

Adapt Design Space Mechanics Meld Non-permanents Spells Splice The Stack

Melded Spell Feasibility

Could the rules potentially handle casting a melded spell, as opposed to putting a melded permanent onto the battlefield?

Maybe, but I’m not sure how exciting a non-permanent meld would be.

Meld Non-permanents Rules

Instant or Sorcery Term

what is a word that means "Instant or Sorcery" in mtg jargon? I always thought it was "non-permanent spell"

People sometimes use “spell” although that isn’t technically accurate. There is no official (or even commonly used slang) word.

Instants Non-permanents Sorceries

Supertype Card Query

If/when: a new (non-acorn) card with "This card/permanent is every supertype, type, and/or subtype."

If. I’m pretty sure that’s acorn territory. Permanents can’t have non-permanent card types.

Card Types If/When Non-permanents Permanents Subtype Supertype Un-Magic / Silver Border / Acorn Un-sets

Mechanic Design Complexity

Which is harder: making a mechanic for permanent cards/spells, or non-permanent cards/spells?

The latter.

Mechanics Non-permanents Spells

Creature Adventures Explanation

If or when: Creature - Adventures?

When Throne of Eldraine premiered Adventures, they were all creature Adventures. If you mean the Adventure spell itself is a creature, the rules don’t support that. They can only be non-permanents.

Creatures If/When Non-permanents Rules Throne of Eldraine Throne of Eldraine

Rules Terminology

Has there ever been any consideration to shortening "Instant and Sorcery" down to "Non-Permanent"? They are currently the only non-permanent card types in the game and it shouldn't take long to easily understand the switch just like Converted Mana Cost to Mana Value didn't take long either. It'll help save on text space and they can still be spelled out again should Magic ever introduce a new non-permanent card type like how Permanents just got Battle added to it's list.

It’s not saving enough space to be worth being slightly more confusing.

Battles Card Types Instants Mana Mana Value Non-permanents Permanents Rules Sorceries

New Card Type Potential

Do you think there’s enough design space for a new non-permanent card type? The only thing that differentiates instants and sorceries is the timing restriction, and I don’t really know what other timing restriction could be done

I’m skeptical.

Card Types Design Space Instants Non-permanents Sorceries

Haunt Mechanic Complexities

What's difficult to understand about Haunt?I've seen a couple of comments on this, and I'm not sure why

There are three main reasons: 1) The mechanic works different on permanents and non-permanents. 2) Its initial ability being something that happens when the card gets played, where the second ability happening when the card dies is non-intuitive.3) It doesn’t do a good job of matching the flavor.

Flavor Haunt Mechanics Non-permanents Permanents

Ward Mechanism Limits

Can non-permanents have Ward?

Not as it’s currently defined in the rules.

Non-permanents Rules Ward

Battles Mechanic Mystery

Do we get to know whether battles will be permanents or non permanents?

Not yet.

Battles Mechanics Non-permanents Permanents

Permanent Types vs Non-permanent

Why is a new permanent type much easier than a nonpermanent?

Do this thought experiment. Imagine what a permanent can do that Magic hasn’t done and then imagine what a non-permanent can do that Magic hasn’t done. As someone who has done the exercise numerous times, the former is significantly easier than the latter.

Non-permanents

New Card Type Difficulty

Do you think it would be harder to pull off a new permanent type or a new nonpermanent card type? I think a new permanent would be harder since most existing removal won't affect it, but I'd like to hear your thoughts on the matter.

Speaking about it in a vacuum, a new permanent card type is significantly easier to design than a new non-permanent card type.

Card Types Non-permanents

New Card Type Likelihood

Assuming a new card type is printed some day, which do you think is more likely, a new permanent type or a new nonpermanent type?

New permanent type. By a lot.

Card Printing Card Types Non-permanents

Cycle Completion

A break from all the Unfinity questions. I recently discovered that there was a cycle of nonpermanent spells from Invasion, where the name was of the format “X or Y,” and the ability involved separating something into two piles: Death or Glory in white, everyone’s favorite Fact or Fiction in blue, Do or Die in black, Bend or Break in red… But green never got such a card. Do you think that cycle will ever be completed?

Those were cards were nicknamed “divy” cards, and there were two white, one blue, one black, and two red. It wasn’t an almost cycle.

Bend / Break Bend or Break Black Blue Cycles Death or Glory Do or Die Fact or Fiction Green Invasion Non-permanents Red Spells White

Non-permanent Card Types

Is there any design space left for new card types that aren’t permanents?

I never say never, but it would be a tricky thing to design.

Card Types Design Space Non-permanents Permanents