Generated on 10 Jul 2024
Based on 309 answers
The Partner mechanic in Magic: The Gathering has been a topic of considerable discussion and evolution since its initial introduction in Commander 2016. Mark Rosewater has shared insights, details, and opinions on this mechanic through numerous responses to player queries. These details cover the mechanic's beginnings, changes over time, challenges, and future directions.
The Origins of Partner
The Partner mechanic first appeared in Commander 2016. It was designed to allow two commanders to be used together, providing greater flexibility in deck-building and enabling more varied strategies. Rosewater has noted that achieving a balance between thematic coherence and mechanical functionality was one of the greatest challenges in designing Partner cards.
Challenges and Combinatorics
One of the main issues with the original Partner mechanic is the sheer number of combinations it enables. With 58 legal Partner cards available, there are currently 1653 possible pairs. Each new Partner card exponentially increases the combination possibilities, making it harder to monitor and balance potential card interactions.
Mark has explained that:
"Power level follows this progression. To make the math simple, let’s say 10% of the combinations are strong enough to be competitive. As you get more and more cards, the number of competitive card combinations goes up faster.”
This complexity has led to significant play balance concerns, as adding more Partner cards increases the risk of creating overpowered or problematic combinations.
Shift to Subsets and Variants
In response to these challenges, Wizards of the Coast has shifted towards more controlled applications of the Partner mechanic. This approach involves focusing on "Partner with" and other restricted variants such as "Friends Forever" and "Doctor's Companion," where cards can only partner within a specific subset rather than with any other Partner card.
Rosewater has noted:
"We are comfortable with doing partner with where there are strict limits to what creatures can work together as a commander. The thing we are more cautious with is open-ended partner where the combinatorics get large quickly.”
This approach helps mitigate balance issues by limiting the potential range of card interactions, thereby reducing the risk of unforeseen combinations that could disrupt gameplay.
Behind the Scenes and Design Stories
Several interesting anecdotes and development stories related to the Partner mechanic have been shared over the years:
The Kenrith twins, Rowan and Will, were introduced in Battlebond as Planeswalkers with the "Partner with" mechanic. Interestingly, they were initially created for the Throne of Eldraine set but were repurposed for Battlebond because the set needed Planeswalkers that partnered.
Partner made a clever return in Unfinity, where Fluros of Myra's Marvels included the Partner ability but was labeled an 'Acorn' card because the design team had promised not to put Partner on eternal-legal cards. This aligned with the rest of the cycle, which was also acorn.
During the design of Commander Legends, the team considered many potential solutions to the inherent complexities of four-color decks. The Partner mechanic emerged as a viable solution, enabling four-color Commander decks without the need for conventional four-color cards, which have traditionally been difficult to design in a way that feels balanced and satisfying.
Player Reactions and Future Directions
Player feedback has generally been positive, with many appreciating the flexibility and creativity that Partner mechanics bring to the table. However, the design team remains cautious about the future of Partner due to its inherent balance and complexity issues. The focus will likely remain on limited and controlled implementations rather than open-ended designs.
Mark Rosewater has emphasized that the future of Partner will involve more subsets and restricted pairings:
"The future of partner is mostly going to be partnering with specific subsets."
He has also mentioned that while more generic Partner cards might appear occasionally, this will be done sparingly and primarily in Commander-focused products.
Conclusion
The Partner mechanic has evolved significantly since its inception, driven by the need to balance player creativity with game health. By shifting towards more controlled and subset-specific implementations, Wizards of the Coast aims to preserve the mechanic's appeal while mitigating its risks. As a result, players can expect to see more refined and narrowly focused uses of Partner in future sets.
The Partner mechanic in Magic: The Gathering has been a topic of considerable discussion and evolution since its initial introduction in Commander 2016. Mark Rosewater has shared insights, details, and opinions on this mechanic through numerous responses to player queries. These details cover the mechanic's beginnings, changes over time, challenges, and future directions.
The Origins of Partner
The Partner mechanic first appeared in Commander 2016. It was designed to allow two commanders to be used together, providing greater flexibility in deck-building and enabling more varied strategies. Rosewater has noted that achieving a balance between thematic coherence and mechanical functionality was one of the greatest challenges in designing Partner cards.
Challenges and Combinatorics
One of the main issues with the original Partner mechanic is the sheer number of combinations it enables. With 58 legal Partner cards available, there are currently 1653 possible pairs. Each new Partner card exponentially increases the combination possibilities, making it harder to monitor and balance potential card interactions.
Mark has explained that:
"Power level follows this progression. To make the math simple, let’s say 10% of the combinations are strong enough to be competitive. As you get more and more cards, the number of competitive card combinations goes up faster.”
This complexity has led to significant play balance concerns, as adding more Partner cards increases the risk of creating overpowered or problematic combinations.
Shift to Subsets and Variants
In response to these challenges, Wizards of the Coast has shifted towards more controlled applications of the Partner mechanic. This approach involves focusing on "Partner with" and other restricted variants such as "Friends Forever" and "Doctor's Companion," where cards can only partner within a specific subset rather than with any other Partner card.
Rosewater has noted:
"We are comfortable with doing partner with where there are strict limits to what creatures can work together as a commander. The thing we are more cautious with is open-ended partner where the combinatorics get large quickly.”
This approach helps mitigate balance issues by limiting the potential range of card interactions, thereby reducing the risk of unforeseen combinations that could disrupt gameplay.
Behind the Scenes and Design Stories
Several interesting anecdotes and development stories related to the Partner mechanic have been shared over the years:
The Kenrith twins, Rowan and Will, were introduced in Battlebond as Planeswalkers with the "Partner with" mechanic. Interestingly, they were initially created for the Throne of Eldraine set but were repurposed for Battlebond because the set needed Planeswalkers that partnered.
Partner made a clever return in Unfinity, where Fluros of Myra's Marvels included the Partner ability but was labeled an 'Acorn' card because the design team had promised not to put Partner on eternal-legal cards. This aligned with the rest of the cycle, which was also acorn.
During the design of Commander Legends, the team considered many potential solutions to the inherent complexities of four-color decks. The Partner mechanic emerged as a viable solution, enabling four-color Commander decks without the need for conventional four-color cards, which have traditionally been difficult to design in a way that feels balanced and satisfying.
Player Reactions and Future Directions
Player feedback has generally been positive, with many appreciating the flexibility and creativity that Partner mechanics bring to the table. However, the design team remains cautious about the future of Partner due to its inherent balance and complexity issues. The focus will likely remain on limited and controlled implementations rather than open-ended designs.
Mark Rosewater has emphasized that the future of Partner will involve more subsets and restricted pairings:
"The future of partner is mostly going to be partnering with specific subsets."
He has also mentioned that while more generic Partner cards might appear occasionally, this will be done sparingly and primarily in Commander-focused products.
Conclusion
The Partner mechanic has evolved significantly since its inception, driven by the need to balance player creativity with game health. By shifting towards more controlled and subset-specific implementations, Wizards of the Coast aims to preserve the mechanic's appeal while mitigating its risks. As a result, players can expect to see more refined and narrowly focused uses of Partner in future sets.