I think this is a fantastic decision.  It removes some ambiguity from the game and opens up new design space going forward.  We've never actually had to care about whether we could produce colorless mana before; giving it a symbol allows Wizards to easily print cards requiring it in years to come.

Snow is not a type of mana.  There are only 6 types -- the 5 colors and colorless.  Snow costs specify that the mana you use to pay them must come from a certain source.  This is a property of the cost, not the mana itself.


Thank you.  I agree that there would be detriment in the short term to making this change, but personally I believe that the long-term benefits of clearing up confusion re. colorless vs. generic mana and the added design space of being able to require colorless in costs would outweigh the negatives.  Also, I had hoped that Wizards learned their lesson about snow mana given that it has been publicly acknowledged as a failure.  However, only time will tell which way they've actually gone.

This would hardly be the first time they've done mass errata, though.  And changing the colorless mana symbol wouldn't even be functional errata -- all it would do is serve to clarify that colorless and generic mana are different.  Compare this to The Grand Creature Type Update, which actually functionally changed nearly 1200 cards.  Also, while current new players may be confused by the changeover, going forward it would make the concept of colorless vs. generic mana easier to explain to a beginner.

What's wrong with clarification?  The symbol 1 has different meanings in different contexts as things stand now.  Why would changing that be a bad thing?

http://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/news/changes-starting-pro-tour-magic-origins-2015-06-29

A new mulligan rule will come into effect (sometime in the future) in which any player who took a mulligan may scry 1 after keeping their hand.  Wizards is obviously attempting to make mulligans less punishing.  Thoughts?

Huh, this is only 2 hours from me.  I'll definitely try to make it out sometime soon.

This is true (of any constructed format).  In fact, Battle of Wits decks (which have to be around 250 cards) have been played competitively (to varying levels of success) in Standard, Extended, and Legacy throughout the years.

Tuesdays are always full-proxy, so you're good.

This falls during my spring break, which is fantastic.  Definitely planning to drive out to it.

I'll be there, weather permitting.

Is anyone planning on streaming their games in this tournament?

Right, they do have that choice.  I guess there are scenarios where you go ahead and mill yourself a bunch anyways (like if you have Yawgmoth's Will or easy access to it).  That's actually an interesting difference between this and Cage.  You would never make that play with Cage on the board because you couldn't then YawgWill all those cards you milled.

This card, like Grafdigger's Cage, replaces the part where the creature actually comes into play.  The Oath player would still stop milling themselves upon revealing the creature.  Unless you didn't mean to make them mill their whole library, just part of it.  In which case, sure, that works.

Sorry, I originally said Vindicate but it's really more of a swords, since you can only get creatures this way. Still a neat combo.

Yeah, I saw someone point out elsewhere that with this card, Flickerwisp becomes Swords on a stick.  Definitely applicable to Legacy DnT (with the exception of this shutting down your own vials, but maybe you board them out for this), not sure if anything similar is good enough for Vintage.  I can't think off the top of my head of any flicker effects that are good enough for this format on their own.

It's definitely less widely applicable than Grafdigger's Cage in Vintage.  I think in certain decks (white trash, humans) it could serve as additional Cages + protection against S&T as an alternate route for Oath.  It does have the nice advantages of not being missteppable, or counterable at all if you have a Cavern.

Also, I agree that it will be much better in Legacy.

Containment Priest 1W
Creature - Human Cleric
Flash
If a nontoken creature would enter the battlefield and it wasn't cast, exile it instead.
2/2


Well, they've finally created a hatebear that hoses Show and Tell.  I'm really interested in this card.  It has most of the same applications as Grafdigger's Cage against dredge, stops Tinker -> Blightsteel and Oath -> Grisel, but also stops S&T -> Grisel.  And having Flash is just gravy.

Sanctioned Vintage FNM? This is awesome enough that I would probably drive out to at least the first one.

That's really great to hear.  Yesterday's event was awesome, and I'm definitely planning to make the trip down from the barren, Vintage-free hellscape of upstate NY for those events.

Craig just wanted to throw me a really fancy, Vintage-themed birthday party.  Don't think I don't appreciate it, buddy <3.

I think my list is short by 2x Underground Sea, 1x Badlands and 2x Island, probably because I had to write them on the back of the sheet.

Fantastic event as always, Craig.  Can't wait for the next one!

I believe this is the relevant rule:


So, because Phoenix had no text at the time it left the battlefield, the ability won't trigger.

This sounds great!  I know what I'm doing on Tuesday nights now.


Yeah, Twitch broadcasts are archived.  I don't imagine you'll have any trouble viewing it after the fact.

A little more explicitly, here's how it breaks down:

1. Combat damage is dealt to both creatures.  This makes Snapcaster Mage a 2/1 with 4 damage on it and Goyf a 4/5 with 5 damage on it.
2. Before the active player receives priority, state-based effects are checked.  Both Goyf and SCM have lethal damage, which means they are both destroyed.
3. Active player receives priority.

So yes, Goyf and Snapcaster die at the same time.

I'll be there, hopefully with others in tow.

Affinity is not an alternative casting cost; it is a cost reduction effect.

From rule 601.2e: "The total cost is the mana cost or alternative cost (as determined in rule 601.2b), plus all additional costs and cost increases, and minus all cost reductions."

Since flashback is an alternative cost, the answer to your question is yes.  You could flashback a Thoughtcast and you would still pay less.

Oh man oh man oh man.  I was planning to visit my ancestral home of Cleveland around this time.  I might be able to swing it so I can attend this.

Fantastic!  I will be in attendance.

This does not allow you to dodge Null Rod in any significant way.  This only allows you to tap creatures to cast artifacts.  You can't convoke with cages or spheres.

I was just typing the same suggestion as you posted this.  I was lucky enough to get a mat (props to Greg - they're beautiful), and I definitely would have pre-ordered if given the option.