Retrace

Graveyard Casting Mechanics

When/If a new mechanic that let you cast from graveyard without exiling? (like Retrace)

If. We’re being more careful with endless repetition.

Mechanics Retrace The Graveyard

Eventide Retrace Cards

There are four rare 2 color Retrace cards in Eventide, one in every enemy pair except Orzhov. Was there ever an Orzhov member of this cycle? I couldn't find a proper answer for this anywhere on the internet, so I figured I'd ask.

Most likely what happened is each got made in a vacuum and no one noticed that it was an almost complete cycle, because it was never designed as a cycle, just four cards made independently.

Colors Cycles Eventide Orzhov (W/B) Rares Retrace Two Color

Champion and Retrace Mechanics

Hi, could you explain the flavor behind Champion a creature and Retrace?

Champion a creature is upgrading of a creature. Retrace is using the wisps of an old spell to cast it again.

Champion Creatures Flavor Mechanics Retrace

Evaluation of Retrace and Rebound

Were Retrace and Rebound considered for Strixhaven?

Rebound was. I don’t remember talking about Retrace.

Rebound Rebound Retrace

Favorite Mechanics or Cards

I feel like a lot of people who say you’ve only done bad for the game don’t realize you’re probably behind some of their favorite mechanics or cards too. For a change of pace, can you list some beloved mechanics or cards you’re responsible for?

Here are the Magic mechanics I’ve had a hand in creating: Absorb, Addendum, Affinity, Aftermath, Aura Swap, Battle Cry, Bolster, Champion, Changeling, Cipher, Companion, Contraptions, Crew (Vehicles), Dash, Deathtouch, Delve, Dredge, Embalm, Energy, Entwine, Evoke, Exert, Exploit, Fabricate, Fateful Hour, Fateseal, Ferocious, Flashback, Flip, Forecast, Fortify, Frenzy, Gotcha, Graft, Gravestorm, Heroic, Hexproof, Host/Augment, Hybrid Mana, Imprint, Infect, Intimidate, Kicker, Landfall, Lifelink, Living Weapon, Madness, Manifest, Mentor, Modular, Monstrosity, Morbid, Morph, Multikicker, Mutate, Ninjitsu, Phyrexian Mana, Poisonous, Populate, Proliferate, Prowl, Raid, Rally, Reach, Recover, Reinforce, Retrace, Ripple, Shroud, Soulbond, Splice, Split Cards, Split Second, Suspend, Transfigure, Transform, Typecycling, Undying, Unearth, Vanishing and Wither.

Absorb Absorb Addendum Affinity Aftermath Aura Swap Battle Cry Battle Cry Bolster Champion Changeling Cipher Companion Contraptions Crew Dash Deathtouch Delve Dredge Dredge Embalm Entwine Evoke Exert Exploit Fabricate Fabricate Fateful hour Fateseal Ferocious Flashback Forecast Fortify Fortify Frenzy Graft Gravestorm Gravestorm Heroic Hexproof Hybrid Imprint Infect Intimidate Kicker Landfall Lifelink Lifelink Living Weapon Madness Mana Manifest Mechanics Mentor Modular Monstrosity Morbid Morph Morph Mutate Ninjitsu Phyrexian Poisonous Populate Proliferate Prowl Raid Rally Rally Recover Reinforce Retrace Ripple Shroud Soulbond Splice Split Cards Split Second Suspend Suspend Transfigure Transform Undying Unearth Unearth Vanishing Vanishing Vehicles Wither Your Hand

Escape Mechanic Flexibility

Instants and Sorceries have retrace and flashback. You previously mentioned that Kicker was too flexible a mechanic which made newer less flexible mechanics feel just like a limited version of Kicker. For me, I’m big on flavor and liked the idea of Escape to be exclusively on characters (creatures and planeswalkers). While it’s technically better, if escape can bend to noncreatures, retrace and flashback could bend to permanents. Only problem though would be ability-soup. :)

There are major memory issues with flashback on permanents. Also, flashback wasn’t written to work on them. Unearth was basically us doing flashback creatures.Note that graveyard to hand can be anything, but graveyard to stack has problems if you care about what happens to the cards post casting.

Bend / Break Creatures Escape Flashback Flavor Instants Kicker Limited Mechanics Permanents Planeswalkers Retrace Sorceries The Graveyard Unearth Your Hand

Cascade and Retrace Card

Cascade and Retrace are two of my most favorite mechanics ever, and Throes of Chaos having both as the only two words of rules text on the card makes me super excited! High-fives for that card!

High five!

Cascade High Fives Mechanics Retrace Rules Throes of Chaos

Sagas' Future Use

Could Sagas possibly become somewhat of an evergreen mechanic for planes that we revisit? They would serve to retrace iconic moments in that plane's history, maybe even moments that we never got to see in the lore firsthand (such as the signing of the guildpact)?

I doubt they would become evergreen. The best they could become would be deciduous (aka they are a tool usable when a set needs it).

Deciduous Evergreen Guildpact Mechanics Planes Retrace Sagas Sagas Story / Lore

Jump-Start and Storm Scale

Hello, the announcement of Jump-Start make me think about the Storm Scale : Jump-Start could be another take at Retrace, maybe of Flashback/Aftermath (without the card advantage). Though the Storm Scale doesn't care about the possibility of similar mechanics who would work almost the same but better ! Even if a mechanic never return in its original forme, it's core principle is most often something that just need a more suitable execution, could the Storm Scale could render some of this ?

I take into account if we’re more likely to tweak it than bring it back exactly.

Aftermath Flashback Jump-Start Keyword Abilities Mechanics Retrace Storm Scale

Evoke and Retrace Praise

Can you give high fives to the people who made new evoke and retrace cards in C18? In a related question, why were there so many one-off returning mechanics?

Will do. It’s because Commander decks have a different audience and guidelines.

Commander Evoke High Fives Mechanics Retrace

Commander Set Design Praise

Please pass along thanks to the C18 design team! One of the reasons why Commander sets are always the some of my favorite spoiler seasons is the ability to bring back old mechanics. New takes on stuff like Metalcraft, Retrace, Evoke, Miracle, Improvise... it's all been really great to see!

They’re also fun cards to design.

Commander Evoke Improvise Mechanics Metalcraft Miracle Retrace Spoilers

Retrace Mechanic Scoring

Why is retrace a 7 on the storm scale? I really like the mechanic and it doesn't seem as though the cards with it were broken or anything, nor does it seem like it would have a narrow design space.

It has repetition of play and developmental issues.

Design Space Keyword Abilities Mechanics Retrace Storm Scale

Land Mechanics

With BFZ block finally released, I am making a land themed cube, and I was wondering: can you recommend some fun older mechanics that either care about lands, having lots of lands, or having many colors of mana?

Try a mechanic called Retrace from the set Eventide.

Colors Cube Draft Eventide Lands Mana Mechanics Retrace

Retrace Mechanic Issues

Why is Retrace so unlikely by the storm scale?

Repetition of gameplay issues.

Game Play Keyword Abilities Retrace Storm Scale

Retrace Mechanic Future

Can retrace be an evergreen mechanic too?

I’m not sure we’re even going to do it again let alone make it evergreen. It has major repetition of play issues.

Evergreen Mechanics Retrace

Retrace Mechanic Prospect

If/When: Retrace

If.

If/When Retrace

Buyback vs Retrace

Buyback or retrace?

Retrace.

Buyback Retrace

Anti-Synergistic Mechanics

Could a set contain anti-synergistic mechanics if the divide was between colors, or meant to emphasize a creative divide? Example: Retrace vs. Landfall

Even if the two sides are opposing, you still want the players to be able to mix and match components, so no that would not be a great idea.

Colors Landfall Mechanics Retrace

Retrace Mechanic Reception

How well received do you think was Retrace was? I personally love it (Call the Skybreaker and Worms harvest are some of my favorite cards)

It was received okay but not great.

Call the Skybreaker Retrace Worm

Rebound Over Retrace

Rebound or Retrace?

Rebound.

Rebound Retrace