Hi Mark, May I request more reanimation creature effects that let you reanimate from any graveyard instead of just your graveyard? Or could you explain why Magic doesn't make these types of effects as much as they used to. I'm talking about effects that have a mana value of 5 or higher BTW.

We want to be careful not to make too many cards that dissuade players from playing larger creatures.

"Are creatures the only thing black can "reanimate" directly back to the battlefield? In pie, yes." Is Beacon of Unrest reanimating artifacts a big bend or a break?

The artifact part was a bend at the time, and is now something we’re opting not to do (at least two years in your future).

Are creatures the only thing black can "reanimate" directly back to the battlefield?

In pie, yes.

Curious what you perceive to be white's unique abilities/identity? I'm just curious what white's strengths are that aren't as good (if not better) in green.

Effects primary in white: (green isn’t strong in current color pie in things that are bolded)

• +1/+1 counter (creation and caring)
• Animating Enchantments (Target/all non-aura enchantment(s) you control becomes an enchantment creature.)
• Banisher Priest-like effects (When this card enters the battlefield, exile target creature/permanent until this card leaves play.)
• Bring back creatures/permanents that went to the graveyard this turn
• Can’t be attacked. (Creatures can’t attack you.)
• Can’t lose the game and opponents can’t win.
• Destroy target attacking or blocking creature.
• Destroy target creature. Its controller gets compensation.
• Destroy target creature that damaged you or a creature you control this turn.
• Destroy target tapped creature.
• Destroy target creature with power ¾ or greater.
• Destroy all creatures.
• Destroy all creatures with power ¾ or greater.
• +N/+N (on Auras)
• -N/+N (on spells)
• -N/+N (on Auras)
• +0/+N (on creatures)
• +0/+N (on spells)
• +0/+N (on Auras)
• +N/+N to your team, one-shot
• +N/+N to your team, ongoing
• Damage prevention (Prevent the next N damage that would be dealt to target creature/player.)
• Damage redirection (Prevent the next N damage that would be dealt to target creature/player this turn. If damage is prevented in this way, this card deals that much damage to target creature/player.)
• Defender
• Deal N damage to target attacking or blocking creature.
• Double strike
• Enchantment destruction
• “Enchantress” ability (Whenever you play an enchantment, draw a card.)
• Exiling cards from graveyard
• First strike
• “Flicker” (Exile target creature/permanent, then return it to the battlefield under its owner’s control—occasionally the creature/permanent returns at the end of the turn.)
• Flying
• Friendly to artifacts
• Friendly to enchantments
• Friendly to legendary permanents
• Friendly to low mana value cards
• Friendly to planeswalkers
• “Gaseous Form” (This creature neither deals nor receives damage.)
• Indestructible
• Life gain
• Lifelink
• “Meddling” (Name a spell. That spell can’t be played as long as this card is on the battlefield.)
• Pacifism-like effect (Enchanted creature cannot attack or block.)
• Preventing actions (Your opponents can’t cast spells this turn.)
• Protection
• Putting enchantments from hand onto the battlefield
• Putting planeswalkers from hand onto the battlefield
• “Reanimate” permanent (Return a permanent card from a graveyard to the battlefield.)
• “Reanimation” (Return a creature card from a graveyard to the battlefield.)
• Return target artifact from graveyard to hand.
• Return target enchantment from graveyard to hand.
• Rules setting
• Tapping creatures
• Taxing
• Token generation
• “Tutor” for an enchantment. (Search your library for an enchantment card and put that card in your hand.)
• “Tutor” for a planeswalker. (Search your library for a planeswalker card and put that card in your hand.)
• Vigilance
• Ward (for mana)
• “Warlord” (This creature’s power and toughness are equal to the number of creatures you control.)

I don't think most people are pushing for the return of Reanimate, but what was wrong with 4 mana reanimation? I don't remember Breath of Life or Zombify upsetting the apple cart too much in Standard. Even something like Late to Dinner seems fine for Standard.

We had a period where reanimation was mana value of four. It caused problems and limited our design of bigger creatures.

Why are all the reanimation spells in historic white? When has white ever been able to bring spells and cretures back from the dead why isnt black able to reanimate anymore why is black always getting the short end of the stick please let black have good cards

First, White is secondary in reanimating creatures, so it’s supposed to have cards that do it. Second, we make more black reanimation cards, they tend to be more open-ended than white, and usually less expensive.

As a followup to the white reanimate everything, bringing back all players yards to there field is more blacks domain right? Or could white do it in the right flavor?

Black is better at reanimate all creatures, but black can’t reanimate noncreature artifacts or enchantments.

Why doesn't WoTC print any more Animate Dead effects? Seems to be the most balanced reanimate spell.

Most balanced? I think you’re using that word to mean a different definition than I use. : )

Is Sun Titan still in White's part of the color pie? If so, may I request more cards like it that can repeatedly reanimate small things? That seems like a good source of card advantage for white that isn't just drawing cards.

It is something white can do.

Underworld Breach is the first card that, with only red mana, can reanimate another creature in your graveyard (i.e. that isn't a self recurring thing like a phoenix). Given that creature recursion (and other permanent recursion) are generally in the purview of black and white, why is this card red? Or alternatively, why is it not restricted to instants/sorceries?

We tend to give bends in sets that push towards the theme. Red does have creatures that can reanimate themselves.