Rootborn Defenses

Standard Guild Mechanics

Standard relevant guild mechanic cards: Ghor Clan Rampager (bloodrush), Firefist Striker, Frontline Medic (battalion), Rakdos Cackler (unleash), Varolz the Scar Striped (gives scavenge), Mizzium Mortars, Cyclonic Rift (Overload), Rootborn Defenses, Trostani, Selesnya's Voice (populate), Blind Obedience (extort, borderline). Evolve, Cipher and Detain have not produced standard-quality cards.

Experiment One (with evolve) has seen Standard play.

Battalion Blind Obedience Blood Bloodrush Caves Cipher Cyclonic Rift Detain Evolve Experiment One Extort Firefist Striker Frontline Medic Mechanics Mizzium Mortars Overload Populate Rakdos (B/R) Rakdos Cackler Rootborn Defenses Scavenge Selesnya (G/W) Standard Trostani, Selesnya's Voice Two Color Unleash

New Mechanics Critique

It seems like the vast majority of new mechanics lately see little to no competitive play. I am a spike and I've never seen a cipher, battalion, extort, evolve, or detain card at a tournament table. I only see the remaining RTR block mechanics on one or two cards for select deck archetypes (Rakdos Cackler; Rootborn Defenses; Mizzium Mortars). I understand new mechanics are balanced for limited play, but it feels like some also become ignored for tournament play. What's your take on this?

I believe many of those mechanics are showing up in Standard. Examples, Question Marks…

Battalion Cipher Competitive Play Detain Evolve Extort Limited Mechanics Mizzium Mortars Question Marks Rakdos (B/R) Rakdos Cackler Rootborn Defenses Spike Standard

Unintentional Spoilers

Now that it's been a while after the Rootborn Defenses find in the M13 pack, what do you think about it? Obviously Wizards would prefer no unintentional spoilers, but I think this one fueled a lot of interest in the set. An early common from the next set makes a pretty cool prize in a booster, and whets the appetite.

If we did a promotion like that (and I’m not sure I’m a fan), we would have picked a better card to preview than Rootborn Defenses. Note I’m not talking about power level but just splash when you first see it.

Boosters Power Level Rootborn Defenses Spoilers

Intentional Planting Strategy

Was Rootborn Defenses regarded as a bad thing, or is R&D/Brand open to the idea of perhaps intentionally planting a common in a previous set's booster from now on? If you choose which one carefully, it could drive anticipation whilst not giving anything away too early.

It wasn’t something we did or would want to do on purpose.

Boosters Game Design Rootborn Defenses

Timeshifted Rootborn

Regarding your latest article, would you consider Rootborn Defenses as being a Timeshifted card? :)

In the truest sense.

Rootborn Defenses

Praise for Kindness

I just wanted to say that stuff yall did for Bruce E and the first opened Rootborn Defenses was pretty awesome. You guys keep being awesome, shouldn't be to hard.

Thanks. We try.

Rootborn Defenses

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