Vanguard

Vanguard Program Details

Wait, Vanguard cards were an in-store promotion? I always thought it was a separate product like Planechase. Can you tell us something more about Vanguard?

I believe the program was called Arena then (this was before Magic: The Gathering: Arena existed). If you signed up to play in it, you got that seasons cards, eight in all, for free. You chose one to build a deck around and played with other people in the program.Vanguard was never a for-sale product.

Magic Arena Planechase Vanguard

Vanguard Cards Background

Can I request birthday trivia for the oversized cards that went with the Weatherlight crew that modified your life total/hand size, and gave you a special ability?I think they were called Vangaurd cards?

They were called Vanguard cards. They were done in conjunction with an in-store program. The were four groups of them, each with eight cards. All of them were tied to The Weatherlight Saga, although the first two were more crew connected and the last two were more Urza connected. I was actually lead on the larger Vanguard project.Happy Birthday!

Birthday Crew Sagas Urza Vanguard Weatherlight Weatherlight Your Hand

Vanguard Return Hope

i don't have a question, but i've no easier method of letting wotc know that it'd be cool if vanguard came back somehow.

As the person who lead the design for the first Vanguard, I too would like to see it return.

Vanguard Wizards of the Coast

Weatherlight Crew Cards

Can I request modern takes on the remaining members of the Weatherlight crew who haven't gotten them yet? Crovax, Orim, Starke, Takara, pre-Completion Ertai. I would also like new cards for related characters like Eladamri and Selenia.

How about poor Lyna? She’s never even gotten one card (save a Vanguard card). Takara didn’t have one for years.

Crew Crovax Eladamri Ertai Lyna Modern Orim Selenia Starke Takara Vanguard Weatherlight

Vanguard Cards Status

Are vanguard cards on the reserved list? Id really like a reprint of them.

They are not on the Reserved List.

Card Printing Reprints The Reserved List Vanguard

Oversized Secret Lairs

Can Secret Lairs be a small set of oversized cards, like the Planechase planes or the old phyical Vanguard cards?

It’s not off limits.

Planechase Planes Planes Secret Lairs Vanguard

World Without Cardinals

"A world without artifacts, creatures, enchantments, instants, lands, planeswalkers, and sorceries would be a challenge. : )" Are you saying tribal conspiracy phenomenon scheme vanguard plane isn't on the short list?

Not yet. : )

Artifacts Creatures Enchantments Humor Instants Kindred / Typal Lands Planeswalkers Sorceries The short list Vanguard

Urza's Four Card Counts

Urza has 4 cards: one in disguise as Blind Seer, one that's himself as a creature, one as a planeswalker head in Unstable, and a Vanguard card!

I don’t think we’re counting Vanguard cards as they are oversized cards that can’t go into a deck. Crovax and Mirri hit four if we do.

Blind Seer Creatures Crovax Disguise Mirri Planeswalkers Urza Vanguard

Prospect of Vanguard Cards

If or When: More paper Vanguard cards

If. I am a fan of the Vanguard format.

If/When Vanguard

Origins of Sigarda Vanguard

Hey Mark. That illustration for Sigarda Vanguard, where it came from?

It’s a Commander card in Midnight Hunt.

Commander Vanguard

Strength of Sigarda's Vanguard Card

Sigarda's Vanguard card seems quite strong. Probably too strong.

I actually ran it by play design. “Tales from the Pit” goes the extra mile.

Play Design Power Level Sigarda's Vanguard Tales from the Pit Vanguard

Possible Vanguard Characters in Commander Legends

Will Commander Legends feature Vanguard characters that never got a card before?

It’s a possibility.

Commander Legends Legendary Creatures Vanguard

M21 Set Card Teaser Hints

Now that all of M21 has been revealed, can you go through your teaser and tell us the card or cards each hint was?

The new core set has a lot of exciting new cards, including:
• A brand new planeswalker (from a plane we’ve visited) - Basri Ket (from Amonkhet)• A card that lets you draw half of your library. - Peer into the Abyss• A +1/+1 tribal lord for a creature type that’s never had one. (A creature type with over fifty cards already in print.) - Pack Leader• A character with a Vanguard card and a legendary creature card gets a second of the latter. - Barrin, Tolarian Archmage• A card with thirty-one different options. - Sublime Epiphany• A card that gains all activated abilities of a certain subset of cards in a place it’s never done it before. - Conspicuous Snoop• A card that uses a nonevergreen named ability over twenty years old. - Teferi, Master of Time (phasing)• A card with the words “battlefield”, “cast”, “creature”, “converted mana cost”, “end of turn”, “exile”, “graveyard” and “mana cost”. - Idol of Endurance• An aura inspired from a cycle from Urza’s Sagablock - Demonic Embrace• A nonevergreen enchantment subtype returns - Shrines with Sanctum of Tranquil Light and company Core 2021 also has a number of fun reprints, including:• A popular character first introduced in flavor text. - Ugin, the Spirit Dragon• A French Vanilla mythic rare. - Baneslayer Angel• A popular aura that started as part of a cycle. - Faith’s Fetters• A card with a unique protection. - Runed Halo• Two cards played in tournaments that have been reprinted over twenty times with at least five different pieces of art - Duress & Shock• A card that’s never previously appeared in a premier set. - Grim Tutor• A card that’s never been reprinted before which has a 2, 3, 5 and 6 all appear on the card. - Massacre Wurm• A Human Monk. - Azusa, Lost but Seeking• A card from the Time Spiraltimeshifted sheet. - Tormod’s Crypt

Amonkhet Angel Art Auras Azusa, Lost but Seeking Baneslayer Angel Barrin, Tolarian Archmage Basri Ket Card Printing Conspicuous Snoop Core Set 2021 Creatures Cycles Demonic Embrace Dragon Duress Enchantments Endurance Flavor Text France French Vanilla Grim Tutor Human Idol of Endurance Kindred / Typal Mana Mana Value Massacre Massacre Wurm Monk Mythic Rares Pack Leader Peer into the Abyss Phasing Planeswalkers Premier Sets Protection Rares Reprints Runed Halo Sanctum of Tranquil Light Spirit Sublime Epiphany Subtype Teasers Teferi, Master of Time The Abyss The Exile Zone The Graveyard The Library Tutoring Ugin, the Spirit Dragon Vanguard Vanilla Wurm

Appreciation for Core 2021

Hello Mark, I been using the Core 2021 spoiler list you made of the new cards, and so far we have 4 of 10 revealed. I cant wait to see which Vanguard character gets another legendary card or the 31 options card. But so far Im impressed with the new boundaries! Thanks!

You’re welcome.

Appreciation Spoilers Vanguard

Companion with Vanguard Changes

Could companion theoretically work with Vanguard style changes to the player? "Companion -- Your starting hand size is reduced by 2," "Companion -- you begin the game with 10 starting life," "Companion -- At the beginning of the game after you draw your opening hand, exile the top 40 cards of your library face-down"

Theoretically, I guess.

Companion The Exile Zone The Library Vanguard Your Hand

Odds of Vanguard Cards Reprints

I've asked on many occasions over the past several months about what the odds are of getting reprints of the Vanguard cards. Maybe in a box set, like an anthology. Has that been answered before, and that's why there was no response, or is it something that you can't answer? Just curious, because I'd love to use them for casual play.

The real question is how much demand is there for them?

Casual Play Reprints Vanguard

Vanguard Card Rules

Unrules question: what happens if I cast countdown is at one AND I have a vanguard card that reduces my starting life total?

The Vanguard card affects the main games and not subgames.

Cast Un-sets Vanguard

Vanguard's Return Possibility

Is there any chance of Vanguard coming back to cardboard?

There’s always a chance.

Vanguard

Keyword for Blocking

"Bastion, Protector, Vanguard, Sentinel". Defender is a keyword that is considered a negative thing on cards. Why not have a keyword that rewards a creature for Blocking instead of Attacking?

If not done very carefully, it leads to board stalls.

Attacking Blocking Creatures Defender Keywords Vanguard

Vanguard Mechanic Update

If/When: A twist on Vanguard as a Standard-legal set mechanic?

Major if for Standard. Minor if for a supplemental set.

If/When Mechanics Standard Vanguard