Specter

Frequency of Specter Creatures

We haven’t seen many “Specter” creatures lately- black creatures with the specter type that when it damages opponent some form of discard happens. Is there a reason for this and can we get some new ones soon?

R&D has soured a bit on the ability, especially with built in evasion, so we just do it less.

Black Creatures Discard Evasion Specter

Costs of Drain Abilities

Why are black creatures with drain abilities so expensive to activate? Bloodrite invoker needs 8 mana, vampire opportunist needs 7, specter of the fens needs 6. Is this kind of effect too strong to see play at lower activation costs?

Activate Black Blogatog / Tumblr Blood Bloodrite Invoker Creatures Mana Opportunist Power Level Specter Specter of the Fens Vampire Vampire Opportunist

About Various Creature Types

-Er creature types: Nightstalker, Sliver, Shapeshifter, Specter, Soldier, Assembly-Worker, Spider, Artificer, Archer, Rigger, Berserker, Spellshaper, Salamander, Volver, Elder, Beholder, Bringer, Ranger, Badger, Thopter, Flagbearer, Badger, Otter, Oyster, Carrier, and Monger. Silver Border: Gamer, Paratrooper, Waiter, Proper (from Miss Demeanor, whose current typeline is Creature — Lady of Proper Etiquette), Designer, Lobster, and Wrestler.

FYI : )

Archer Artificer Assembly-Worker Assembly-Worker Badger Beholder Berserker Bringer Carrier Creatures Elder Flagbearer Gamer Humor Miss Demeanor Monger Nightstalker Otter Oyster Ranger Rigger Salamander Shapeshifter Shapeshifter Sliver Soldier Specter Spellshaper Spider Thopter Un-Magic / Silver Border / Acorn Un-sets Volver

Concerns about Discard Mechanic

I don't understand why Discard - probably the most maligned supported mechanic - is continually buffed every set.Before a player even gets a TURN, a single mana will:

Disrupt the player's mulligan they took to keep a curve
Reveal a deck's colors/game plan
Disrupt the opponent's ability to interact (due to playing around known issues)
Get rid of a deck's key piece to winning.
Achieve card advantage

Discard, far more so than counterspells, is such bad gameplay/feeling, that most people quit on Turn 1 when a Durress/Thoughtseize, etc is played. I do. My opponent's do. Yesterday, you said you guys are careful to not make Discard so powerful, you create Discard decks. Then can you explain Tergrid? Tinybones? Waste Not? Gutmorn? Fell Specter? Sangromancer? If anything, you guys are pushing Discard, and thereby, pushing the most unfun, players-will-walk environment possible.

A few things:1) Discard is not the most maligned, but yes, there is a segment of the audience that dislikes it. There is also a segment of the audience that very much enjoys it and thinks it adds a lot to the game.2) By “discard decks”, I meant decks that do nothing but make the opponent discard and then use a win condition that takes advanatage of the opponent having no cards in hand (things like The Rack). 3) We do want decks (well, black ones at least) to have access to discard as a tool, but in moderation. Those individual cards can be powerful though.

Black Colors Discard Fell Specter Game Plan Game Play Mana Mechanics Sangromancer Specter The Rack Thoughtseize Waste Not Your Hand

Potential for a Specter Lord

Considering the vast history of magic and the many wonderful Specter over the years; I say it's tragic there is no specter lords and only one legendary specter. I formally petition for wider representation of our flying discard happy friends. A legendary Grixis specter would be just lovely. I wonder what a golgari or orzhov specter might look like. Specters are an iconic creature type with an iconic theme worthy much more.

I think a Specter lord could still happen. It’s just not a creature type we use a lot.

Creatures Discard Flying Golgari (B/G) Grixis Grixis (U/B/R) Orzhov (W/B) Specter

Specters Tribe Trivia

I think my birthday ask got buried yesterday.Hi Mark! Yesterday was my birthday. Can you tell me any trivia on my favorite tribe with little support, Specters?

Specters are one of the creature types that got mechanically connected to their first appearance. Hypnotic Specter was in Alpha and connected Specters to saboteur discard (the opponent discards when it deals combat damage to them). This has decreased the appearance lately, because we’ve become less fond of that effect. Happy Birthday!

Birthday Creatures Discard Hypnotic Specter Specter

Possibility of Non-Discarding Spectres

Surely you can make spectres that just don't discard cards? There are illusions that don't sac on target

Is that what the person who wanted Specter tribal wanted?

Discard Illusion Kindred / Typal Specter

Potential Major Specter Tribe

Do you think specters could ever be a major tribe in a set, or is their discard theme too annoying to give support

I don’t think we’d want more than one creature with the specter ability in any one set which makes Specter tribal difficult.

Creatures Discard Kindred / Typal Specter

Cycle Complexity

the Chandra's Spitfire M11 cycle is actually a bit more complicated than that; it's a vertical cycle that includes a common, uncommon, and mythic where either the common or uncommon is a payoff (Ajani's Pridemate, Jace's Erasure, Liliana's Caress, Chandra's Spitfire, Garruk's Packleader) and the other is an enabler for that payoff (Ajani's Mantra, Jace's Ingenuity, Liliana's Specter, Chandra's Outrage, Garruk's Companion) and the mythic is the planeswalker, which also enables the payoff card

FYI

Ajani's Mantra Ajani's Pridemate Chandra's Outrage Chandra's Spitfire Companion Garruk's Companion Garruk's Packleader Jace's Erasure Jace's Ingenuity Liliana's Caress Liliana's Specter Planeswalkers Specter Uncommons

Creature Type Differences

What's the difference between specters, shades and nightmares?

Anyone with expertise want to answer this?

Nightmare Shade Specter

Family Ties

What's the relationship between Nightveil Specter & Thief of Sanity?

Second cousins. : )

Nightveil Specter Specter Thief of Sanity

Artist Birthday Trivia

Hey MaRo, Yet another try at birthday trivia, considering you recently used 2 arts from my favorite artist Ron Spencer for your TftP! Do you have any trivia about him or his sister Terese Nielsen? Thanks and keep up the hype for WAR!

The art for Unglued’s Infernal Spawn of Evil was based on a joke sketch he sent in for a Specter for another set..Happy Birthday!

Art Birthday Humor Infernal Spawn of Evil Mark Rosewater Spawn Specter Tales from the Pit Unglued

Creative Choices

Why was The Haunt of Hightower made a vampire instead of a specter?

Not every saboteur discard spell needs to be a Specter. I assume the answer has to do with creative concerns.

Discard Haunt Specter The Haunt of Hightower Vampire

Legendary Specter Thought

You said you'd thought about doing a legendary specter. Does the thought end up inexplicably ripped from your mind before you get around to actually making one?

: )

Specter

Legendary Specter Consideration

Have you ever thought of doing a legendary specter?

We have.

Specter

Future Specter Lord

Hi Mark. The specter creature type has been around since Alpha. Will we ever see a specter lord? Thanks!

Perhaps one day. It’s lower on the list than some other lords.

Alpha Creatures Specter

Specter Mechanic Flexibility

Are Specters still tied 1-to-1 for a mechanic? Nightveil Specter doesn't force a discard, and instead exiles the top card of an opponent's library for your use.

We’ll stretch a little. The specter is still making a mind attack.

Discard Mechanics Nightveil Specter Specter The Library

Fate of Trolls

"Shades are only one of a handful of creatures that we’ve tied 1-for-1 to a mechanic. Others include Specters and Trolls (although Trolls will have to move away as we stopped doing Regeneration)." What are you saying, Maro? Is Thrun, really going to live up to his title? So he is depicted in Harvester Troll? Also a Norse inspired block without trolls? Are you some kinda monster? I want my fill of trolls/trolling.

I was saying Trolls will have to find a new mechanical identity, not that we were going to stop making Trolls.

Creatures Harvester Troll Mark Rosewater Mechanics Shade Specter Troll

Shades Trivia

Hello! It's my birthday! Can I please get some trivia on shades or what your favorite shade card is?

Shades are only one of a handful of creatures that we’ve tied 1-for-1 to a mechanic. Others include Specters and Trolls (although Trolls will have to move away as we stopped doing Regeneration).Happy Birthday!

Birthday Creatures Mechanics Shade Specter Troll

Specter Mana Cost

Hi Mark, why aren't there Specters with converted mana cost 1 or 2? Hope you are planning to print some more to allow a tribal scepter deck :)

The problem is we tend to put discard saboteurs (discard when you deal combat damage) on Specters and that’s not something we tend to do at one or two mana.

Card Printing Discard Kindred / Typal Mana Specter