Then and Now, Part 1

The Mana Forge Digest

In this series, designer Mark Gottlieb examines Lorwyn's return to themes by looking at cards like Encumbered Reejerey and Commands, which explore hand-based typal effects.

Key points

• Lorwyn revisits creature type themes
• Encumbered Reejerey uses a card from the hand for an early-game effect
• Commands offers two choices instead of one

What you get

• New cards with unique hand-based effects
• Exploration of how to use non-creature cards in new ways
• Expansion on existing typal themes by incorporating the hand

Why it matters

This series aims to revisit Lorwyn's themes and explore innovative uses of card mechanics, such as revealing a creature from your hand for an effect.

Details

In Encumbered Reejerey, you can show a scary creature to your opponent, causing them to lose life just by knowing it’s coming. This concept was inspired by the Un- set's approach to malevolent creatures.

Commands allows players to choose between two effects: tapping an artifact or revealing a card from their hand for a specific benefit. The design decision was to make these cards more expensive and rare, giving them greater impact.

The design team in Urza's Destiny explored how the number of cards of certain colors in your hand could affect effects, which influenced the creation of Lorwyn’s cycles.

Good to know

• Lorwyn is a set that revisits themes from previous sets
• Encumbered Reejerey and Commands are part of Lorwyn's design to explore new typal effects

Read the original on Wizards (https://magic.wizards.com/en/news/making-magic/then-and-now-part-1) • Source: Wizards of the Coast