Generated on 10 Jul 2024
Based on 430 answers
The lore and mechanics surrounding Elementals in Magic: The Gathering have provided a wealth of interesting insights over the years, many of which have been shared by Mark Rosewater. Here’s an extensive look at everything he’s shared about Elementals, beginning with their origins and touching on some memorable anecdotes and bits of trivia.
Beginnings and Origins
The Elemental type has been a staple of Magic since its inception. Early examples include Alpha cards like Air Elemental and Fire Elemental. These cards established the foundation for what Elementals could be in the game, creatures made from fundamental or magical elements.
Initially, Elementals were more rigidly associated with traditional elements like air, earth, fire, and water. This association is evident in the reprinting of cards such as Fire Elemental, Air Elemental, and Earth Elemental, but notably, Water Elemental hasn't seen a reprint since Fourth Edition.
Expansion and Evolution
Over the years, the concept of what constitutes an Elemental has broadened significantly. The tribe has evolved to encompass any magical or bizarre creation that defies simple classification. For example, Elementals can now be made of almost any substance, including more abstract concepts like time and thought.
A pivotal series for Elementals was Lorwyn, which explored them as amalgamations of various creatures. Here, Elementals weren’t just bound by the traditional elements but expanded to include creatures like the Flamekin and the massive Horde of Notions, a five-color Elemental that showcased the broadening scope of the tribe.
One specific unique example is Infinity Elemental from Unstable
Mechanics and Design Philosophy
Elementals have often been utilized to explore new and interesting mechanics. The evoke mechanic is specifically tied to Elementals. Originally, evoke was conceived to enable instant and sorcery-like effects on creatures. As Mark put it, "The black-bordered rules just don’t like instants and sorceries on the battlefield, so we had to change it to its current version."
This mechanic fit well thematically with Elementals as they could be momentarily summoned at a reduced cost. Cards like Mulldrifter and Cloudthresher are notable examples of evoke being executed successfully.
Notable Cards and Trivia
Fruitcake Elemental - The first holiday promo card, "Fruitcake Elemental" is famous for being one of the few silver-bordered cards to have mechanics that could technically work in black-bordered Magic. First given out at the party for the finale of the first Great Designer Search, it remains a collector's favorite.
Lightning Skelemental - This card from Modern Horizons was a Ball Lightning variant with a bit of dark humor. Its playtest name was "Ball Blightning".
Garbage Elemental - Originally conceptualized to have up to twenty random abilities, this design had to be scaled back due to printing limitations. Mark Rosewater reflects on it as a missed opportunity due to printing issues not yet solved at the time.
Infinity Elemental Trivia - When "Infinity Elemental" got printed, the developers received a few passionate emails from mathematicians pointing out that “infinity is not a number.” As Mark succinctly put it: “Mathematically speaking, infinity is not a number.”
Color and Creature Type Interactions
Elementals are unique in that they appear across all five colors. Mark has pointed out that this wide distribution is part of what makes Elementals unsuitable as an iconic representative for any single color.
Popular colors for Elementals include:
- Red - Fire Elemental, Earth Elemental
- Blue - Air Elemental, Water Elemental
- Green - Often associated with forest or nature themes, e.g., Thorn Elemental.
- Multi-colored - Horde of Notions, Lightning Skelemental
Mark once stated: “Elementals show up in all five colors. This broad representation is why they aren't a strong fit for a single color’s iconic creature type.”
Controversy and Design Challenges
Some of the more controversial decisions include the printing of cards like Torrent Elemental and Misthollow Griffin, which can return from exile, a concept that adds complexity and mixed feelings among the player base. Mark has openly discussed these decisions, mentioning the challenges in balancing design and player reception.
There has also been considerable debate on creature type corrections, such as whether Mulldrifter should get an errata to be an Elemental Fish or if Nivmagus Elemental should be classified as a Weird instead.
Future Prospects
As design philosophy evolves, there is openness to continue exploring new types and mechanics with Elementals. The shared whimsical nature of some of these creatures means they are likely to return in fun and unexpected ways.
In summary, Elementals have been a versatile and adaptable part of Magic’s history, reflecting the game's capacity for change and innovation while providing a treasure trove of lore and mechanics for players to enjoy. With the potential for endless creative avenues, the future of Elementals in Magic looks as vibrant and unpredictable as ever.
The lore and mechanics surrounding Elementals in Magic: The Gathering have provided a wealth of interesting insights over the years, many of which have been shared by Mark Rosewater. Here’s an extensive look at everything he’s shared about Elementals, beginning with their origins and touching on some memorable anecdotes and bits of trivia.
Beginnings and Origins
The Elemental type has been a staple of Magic since its inception. Early examples include Alpha cards like Air Elemental and Fire Elemental. These cards established the foundation for what Elementals could be in the game, creatures made from fundamental or magical elements.
Initially, Elementals were more rigidly associated with traditional elements like air, earth, fire, and water. This association is evident in the reprinting of cards such as Fire Elemental, Air Elemental, and Earth Elemental, but notably, Water Elemental hasn't seen a reprint since Fourth Edition.
Expansion and Evolution
Over the years, the concept of what constitutes an Elemental has broadened significantly. The tribe has evolved to encompass any magical or bizarre creation that defies simple classification. For example, Elementals can now be made of almost any substance, including more abstract concepts like time and thought.
A pivotal series for Elementals was Lorwyn, which explored them as amalgamations of various creatures. Here, Elementals weren’t just bound by the traditional elements but expanded to include creatures like the Flamekin and the massive Horde of Notions, a five-color Elemental that showcased the broadening scope of the tribe.
One specific unique example is Infinity Elemental from Unstable
Mechanics and Design Philosophy
Elementals have often been utilized to explore new and interesting mechanics. The evoke mechanic is specifically tied to Elementals. Originally, evoke was conceived to enable instant and sorcery-like effects on creatures. As Mark put it, "The black-bordered rules just don’t like instants and sorceries on the battlefield, so we had to change it to its current version."
This mechanic fit well thematically with Elementals as they could be momentarily summoned at a reduced cost. Cards like Mulldrifter and Cloudthresher are notable examples of evoke being executed successfully.
Notable Cards and Trivia
Fruitcake Elemental - The first holiday promo card, "Fruitcake Elemental" is famous for being one of the few silver-bordered cards to have mechanics that could technically work in black-bordered Magic. First given out at the party for the finale of the first Great Designer Search, it remains a collector's favorite.
Lightning Skelemental - This card from Modern Horizons was a Ball Lightning variant with a bit of dark humor. Its playtest name was "Ball Blightning".
Garbage Elemental - Originally conceptualized to have up to twenty random abilities, this design had to be scaled back due to printing limitations. Mark Rosewater reflects on it as a missed opportunity due to printing issues not yet solved at the time.
Infinity Elemental Trivia - When "Infinity Elemental" got printed, the developers received a few passionate emails from mathematicians pointing out that “infinity is not a number.” As Mark succinctly put it: “Mathematically speaking, infinity is not a number.”
Color and Creature Type Interactions
Elementals are unique in that they appear across all five colors. Mark has pointed out that this wide distribution is part of what makes Elementals unsuitable as an iconic representative for any single color.
Popular colors for Elementals include:
- Red - Fire Elemental, Earth Elemental
- Blue - Air Elemental, Water Elemental
- Green - Often associated with forest or nature themes, e.g., Thorn Elemental.
- Multi-colored - Horde of Notions, Lightning Skelemental
Mark once stated: “Elementals show up in all five colors. This broad representation is why they aren't a strong fit for a single color’s iconic creature type.”
Controversy and Design Challenges
Some of the more controversial decisions include the printing of cards like Torrent Elemental and Misthollow Griffin, which can return from exile, a concept that adds complexity and mixed feelings among the player base. Mark has openly discussed these decisions, mentioning the challenges in balancing design and player reception.
There has also been considerable debate on creature type corrections, such as whether Mulldrifter should get an errata to be an Elemental Fish or if Nivmagus Elemental should be classified as a Weird instead.
Future Prospects
As design philosophy evolves, there is openness to continue exploring new types and mechanics with Elementals. The shared whimsical nature of some of these creatures means they are likely to return in fun and unexpected ways.
In summary, Elementals have been a versatile and adaptable part of Magic’s history, reflecting the game's capacity for change and innovation while providing a treasure trove of lore and mechanics for players to enjoy. With the potential for endless creative avenues, the future of Elementals in Magic looks as vibrant and unpredictable as ever.