Young Pyromancer

Chandra's Goggles

RE: GOGGLES. chandra is depicted wearing her goggles (over her eyes) on at least 5 cards: act on impulse, chandra pyromaster, chandra's fury, chandra's revolution, and fiery confluence. there are also multiple cards where she is facing away from the viewer or depicted too small to tell if she is wearing them. young pyromancer, who is dressed to look like chandra, also has the goggles on.

FYI

Act on Impulse Chandra's Fury Chandra's Revolution Eye Fiery Confluence Fury Young Pyromancer

MH2 Cards Cycle Question

Hey Mark! Maybe it's just a part of how we see lots of cards as unfinished cycles, but it seems like MH2 has had more than average. Yavimaya makes Urborg look like a cycle, we only got one Sword of X and Y instead of finishing them off, Piru suggests a cycle of five wedge elder dragons, and Young Necromancer makes Young Pyromancer look like a cycle. Is this just a result of MH2 having lots of callbacks, or are these all actually going to be cycles?

It’s more callbacks than an intent on new cycles. Okay, the swords are a cycle.

Cycles Dragon Elder Modern Horizons 2 Urborg Young Necromancer Young Pyromancer

Young Versions of Gatewatch

Now that we have Young Pyromancer and Young Necromancer we need to see Young X versions of the rest of the Gatewatch.

Everything doesn’t have to be a cycle.

Cycles Young Necromancer Young Pyromancer

Vanilla Spell Concept

Do you as a designer ever want to create cards like this hypothetical "Vanilla Noncreature Spell" to see if someone can effectively utilize it? Something along the lines of a 0 cost Vanilla Instant in a set with cards like Guttersnipe, Young Pyromancer, Monastery Swiftspear or even Kiln Fiend could be a bizarre but interesting tool.

The problem is it takes up space that can be used to make a card that significantly more people will play with and enjoy.

Guttersnipe Instants Kiln Fiend Monastery Swiftspear Non-creatures Vanilla Young Pyromancer

Wizard or Shaman

Prodigal Pyromancer is a Wizard. Young Pyromancer, Chandra, Fire of Kaladesh, and others are Shamans. Any particular reason for this distinction?

Flavor.

Flavor Kaladesh Prodigal Pyromancer Shaman Young Pyromancer

Red's Powerful Creature

I would argue that red's contribution to the 1C powerful creatires cycle would be Young Pyromancer.

Many have made this claim.

Red Young Pyromancer

Broken Red Two Drop

I am confused about people asking for the broken red two drop. Is not Young Pyromancer the broken red two drop?! Just because he's uncommon and didn't see much standard play doesn't mean he isn't stupidly good in older formats.

It’s not actually a cycle so people can count whatever they wish when making it one. : )

Cycles Red Standard Uncommons Young Pyromancer

Young Pyromancer Trivia

I just noticed that Young Pyromancer has "Chandra" engraved into his belt and a picture of her on his necklace. Any trivia about this?

The joke on the card through the art and flavor text is that the young pyromancer is trying to emulate a more experienced pyromancer - Chandra. That’s why he’s wearing a red wig, goggles and a rough version (very rough) of her costume.

Art Birthday Flavor Humor Red Young Pyromancer

Card Descriptors Idea

D&D spells have descriptors like "fire" or "death" or "evil" or whatever to categorize them and distinguish them. If the Magic card face had enough space, would you use descriptors on Instants and Sorceries the way permanents have subtypes, so they could be easily grouped? (Searing Spear and Lightning Strike would be slightly functionally different then; maybe young pyromancer cares more about the spear.) Or do you think it would add too much complexity?

If we started over, I’d be tempted to make more flavorful supertypes.

Dungeons & Dragons Flavor Instants Lightning Strike Permanents Searing Spear Sorceries Spells Subtype Supertype Young Pyromancer

Two-Drop Cycle Discussion

Is completing the "power two-drop cycle" (Stoneforge mystic, Snapcaster Mage, Dark Confidant, missing red card, Tarmogoyf for those unaware) a thing on the radar at WotC or just community speculation? And how do you feel about specifically Young Pyromancer being more of a reason for blue decks to play red than anything else? ("Spells matter" being heavily in blue's favor, tournament-wise)

We don’t consider it a thing. Also, we don’t go out of our way to make broken cards so it’s not a hole we would design to.

Blue Dark Confidant Mystic Red Snapcaster Mage Spells Stoneforge Mystic Tarmogoyf Wizards of the Coast Young Pyromancer

Simple Legendary Commanders

I know you hate commander, but could we please get some smaller, simpler, more archetypal commanders? I'd kill for a legendary Sakura-Tribe Elder, Hypnotic Specter, Mother of Runes, Neurok Commando or Young Pyromancer!

The problem is that simple, utility style creatures tend to not be legendary.

Commander Creatures Elder Hypnotic Specter Mother of Runes Neurok Commando Sakura-Tribe Elder Specter Young Pyromancer

Carnival of Souls

I saw you say Carnival of Souls was a failure of design. If it makes you feel better it's a card in my 5c casual deck alongside Young Pyromancer, Lingering Souls, Skullclamp, Cabal Therapy, Blood Artist, Thoughtseize, Dismember, Gush, Fastbond, and others like Ponder and Brainstorm.

A lot of people spoke up professing their fondness for Carnival of Souls. Mudhole, not so much.

Art Blood Blood Artist Brainstorm Cabal Therapy Carnival of Souls Casual Play Dismember Fastbond Lingering Souls Mudhole Skullclamp Thoughtseize Young Pyromancer