Slith

Desire for More Kavus

I want to throw one in for more kavus. With Magic's unique/original IP big monsters like Kavu, Surrakar, and maybe Sliths (and now Varmints), I'd love to see them show up on more different planes, with reinterpretations and fitting into different settings.

Omenpaths will help this goal a bit, at least as far as seeing them more places. Them adapting might take time.

Kavu Omenpaths Planes Slith Surrakar Varmint

Concern About Creature Type Changes

Re: drawing the line for humanoid type changes. Doesn't that mean Naga shouldn't be changed? They aren't an original mtg name. Also, I feel like getting rid of types just because the fantasy races were made by you guys and not storytellers of the past is a bit sad. There are a lot of creatures original to magic that I hope don't go anywhere, like Brushwaggs and Atogs which could be beasts, and Myr or Sliths that could be constructs, or an extreme that I doubt will happen, Eldrazi to horrors. It feels more special.

We’re not getting rid of original creatures we made up. Those will remain. We’re just being consistent with how we treat made-up animal humanoids. Again, a change we made in the late 1990’s.

Atog Beast Brushwagg Construct Creatures Eldrazi Horror Myr Naga Slith

Future of Sliths

Hey Mark, what are the odds of more Sliths, or Sliths Matters cards?

I’d call Sliths an 8. Slith matters a 10. Both on the Storm Scale.

Slith Storm Scale

Red's Punisher Effect

From your Mechanical Color Pie 2021, Red is still primary in Punisher effects, so can Red have the Slith Strider ability? "Whenever [this] becomes blocked, draw a card". It's basically a Browbeat on legs...

No. A punisher effect is one where there are two effects (usually on a spell) and the opponent chooses which effect happens. If you don’t block, you take damage, so it’s not a clean choice.

Browbeat Card Draw Color Pie Primary Red Slith Slith Strider

Origin Planes Visit

Given that Mirrodin was originally populated with organic being from across the multi-verse do you think we'll ever visit/learn the home planes of some of the unique creatures like the Slith or Broodstar?

I hope so.

Broodstar Creatures Mirrodin Planes Slith

What are 'Slith'?

Hey Mark, what is a “Slith”?Any chance they are related to the enemy of the Jedi, the Sith?

It’s a creature that gets a +1/+1 counter when it deals combat damage. They first showed up in Tempest. I made them inspired by the card Whirling Dervish.

Creatures Slith Tempest Whirling Dervish

Non-Combat Damage Card Query

Hi Mark, I was wondering if a card that makes (some) non-combat damage count as combat damage (for effects like Bloodsoaked Battleaxe or the sliths) would be a) possible in the rules and b) something that could be printed (obviously there is a reason all those cards specify non-combat damage)

Messing with safety valves are dangerous.

Blood Rules Slith

Unique Creatures Production Frequency

"1) There are also a bunch lower down on the scale. We have a lot of unique things to Magic.2) A bunch you have listed aren’t unique to Magic (like noggle or ouphe)." Which unique creatures are lower on the scale besides Slivers? And even those are only in supplemental sets at this point. I didn't know those weren't unique to magic, but the point is still the same; you guys seem to produce the more interesting looking and less generic creatures less often.

The original Magic creature types: Aetherborn, Assembly-Worker, Atog, Azra, Beeble, Blinkmoth, Bringer, Brushwagg, Camarid, Cephalid, Eldrazi, Fractal, Graveborn, Homarid, Inkling, Kavu, Kithkin, Kor, Lhurgoyf, Licid, Masticore, Metathran, Myr, Nightstalker, Orgg, Pentavite, Pest, Phelddagrif, Phyrexian, Praetor, Rigger, Saproling, Slith, Sliver, Soltari, Spellshaper, Spike, Surrakar, Tetravite, Thalakos, Triskelavite, Vedalken, Viashino, Volver, and Zubera.A bunch of those have appeared on new cards in the last five years.

Aetherborn Assembly-Worker Assembly-Worker Atog Atog Azra Beeble Blinkmoth Bringer Brushwagg Brushwagg Camarid Cephalid Colorless Competitive Play Creatures Eldrazi Fractal Graveborn Homarids Inkling Kavu Kithkin Kor Lhurgoyf Lhurgoyf Licid Masticore Masticore Metathran Myr Nightstalker Noggle Orgg Orgg Ouphe Pentavite Pest Phelddagrif Phelddagrif Phyrexian Praetor Rigger Saprolings Slith Sliver Soltari Spellshaper Spike Surrakar Tetravite Thalakos Triskelavite Vedalken Viashino Volver Zubera

High Beeble Scale Creature Types

Why are so many creature types that are unique to magic high on the beeble scale? Spike (7), Slith (7), Beeble (10), Atog (7), Bringer (9), Brushwagg (8), Homarid (8), Lhurgoyf (7), Licid (9 1/2), Monger (9), Nephilim (8), Noggle (8), Ouphe (9), Phelddagrif (9 1/2). These original creatures were a huge reason I fell in love with earlier magic and I feel like you guys have basically abandoned most of them in favor of more generic creatures.

Two things:1) There are also a bunch lower down on the scale. We have a lot of unique things to Magic. 2) A bunch you have listed aren’t unique to Magic (like noggle or ouphe).

Atog Atog Beeble Beeble Scale Bringer Brushwagg Brushwagg Colorless Competitive Play Creatures Homarids Lhurgoyf Lhurgoyf Licid Monger Nephilim Noggle Ouphe Phelddagrif Phelddagrif Slith Spike

Request for More Slith

Speaking of Slith, they were one of the first creatures I encountered when introduced to the game. May I request more Slith someday?

As a fellow Slith fan, I can promise, I’ll try.

Creatures Slith

Confusion Regarding Articles

Upsss Maro, I confused the articles. ARCBOUND TO HAPPEN is were you talk about your Dervish deck, to introduce Arcbound Slith.

For those that haven’t read it:https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/making-magic/arcbound-happen-2004-01-12
Arcbound To Happen

Arcbound Slith Artifacts Darksteel Indestructible Mark Rosewater Redirect Slith Spoilers

Appreciation On Sliths Article

Talking about Sliths, the article were you preview them is one of my favorites. A really nice history of your experiece as a player bringing new cards for the game

For those that might not have read it: https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/making-magic/bacon-bits-2003-09-22
Bacon Bits

Appreciation Redirect Slith Spoilers

Birthday Trivia on Sliths

It is my birthday! As I hit the big Three-Zero, I wonder if you have any trivia related to a creature type introduced in Magic's 30th set, Mirrodin, the slith and the mechanic related to them. Keep up the amazing work

The Slith were created because of my love of the first creature to have that ability, Whirling Dervish. There were enough in the set that we decided to make a brand new creature type as the flavor of Whirling Dervish wasn’t appropriate. Happy Birthday!

Birthday Creatures Flavor Mechanics Mirrodin Slith Whirling Dervish

Garth and Carth in Set

can i ask why Garth and Carth are in the same set? its very confusing here

They were out in independently and it was decided it wasn’t a big enough reason to remove one. I’m sympathetic with your complaint though. I tried so hard to keep Quick Sliver and Clickslither from being in the same set.

Clickslither Quick Sliver Sliver

Position of Slith on Beeble Scale

Where are Slith on the Beeble Scale?

Probably a 7. We need to return to New Phyrexia.

Beeble Scale New Phyrexia Slith

Slith Ability Distribution

Where is the Slith ability on the color pie?

It’s centered in green, but all colors have some access to it as getting a +1/+1 counter and saboteur abilities (“When you feel combat damage to another player…”) are available to every color.

Color Pie Colors Green Slith

Mirrodin's Future Hint

Can we soon look forward to Mirrodin Episode III: Revenge of the Slith?

2023.

Mirrodin Slith

Slith Mechanic Return

Return to the slith mechanic? (+1/+1 counter upon damage)

Major When, but it might be a small theme.

Mechanics Slith

Sliths Beeble Scale

Hi Mark, can I ask where Sliths from Mirrodin are on the Beeble scale? Thank you!

The mechanic is more likely to return than the creature type.

Appreciation Beeble Beeble Scale Creatures Mechanics Mirrodin Slith

Green Zombies Mention

FYI: Ghoultree from Dark Ascension is a Green Zombie. Also Slitherhead is a zombie that can be cast with only green mana, as it costs hybrid black/green

FYI

Black Cast Dark Ascension Ghoultree Golgari (B/G) Green Hybrid Mana Slitherhead Zombie