This has been talked about for a while. I first noticed it during the MTG Arena preview that one red XLN card was worded as "3 damage to target creature, player, or planesawalker." It's then been said by MaRo and others that they're phasing out the planeswalker re-direction rule.
"Starting soon, we are taking away the Planeswalker redirection rule and will instead tell you on the card specifically whether the card can target planeswalkers. All of the old relevant cards will have “player” changed to 'player or planeswalker.'"
I'm assuming Lightning Bolt and friends will be errata'd to say "Deal 3 damage to target creature, player, or planeswalker." However, some cards will probably lose their ability to hit planeswalkers, specifically cards that deal damage to each player / opponent because they'd have to re-word it really weird for it to hit planeswalkers.
Relevant cube cards that will probably no longer be able to hit planeswalkers post-changes:
- Sulfuric Vortex
- Earthquake
- Rolling Earthquake
Cards that lie in a weird gray area
- Fiery Confluence
- Smash to Smithereens
- Chandra, Torch of Defiance
- Hellrider
- Purphoros, God of the Forge
While it doesn't impact the viability of any of these cards, this may be quite a nerf to red in general and gives planeswalkers an unnecessary buff : / This does give red more design space though, it'd be cool to see a new Lightning Bolt that can just hit creatures / planeswalkers or something for R at instant speed.
Im confused why those three are different if all relevant older ones are being changed from 'player' to 'player or planeswalker', what differentiates them? Is it because it targets vs those hitting each?
I'll wait to see how they roll it out. My guess is that it won't change the function of those cards.
That’s what I’m hoping but that’s not what I’m predicting. For cards like Vortex and EQs, the most elegant way to retain their current function (that I could think of at least) would to literally bake in the redirection rule onto the text:
“At the beginning of each upkeep, Sulfuric Vortex deals 2 damage to that player. If an opponent would be dealt damage this way, you may redirect it to a planeswalker they control instead.”
Well now Red can get a lightning bolt that only targets creatures and planeswalkers in Dominaria. I am very curious as to how they word "each opponent" like on Chandra, Torch of Defiance.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"The essence of every world, every spell and every thought is power. Nothing else matters, because nothing else exists."
"Starting soon, we are taking away the Planeswalker redirection rule and will instead tell you on the card specifically whether the card can target planeswalkers. All of the old relevant cards will have “player” changed to 'player or planeswalker.'"
(source: http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/166162774138/what-planeswalker-redirection-rule-change)
I'm assuming Lightning Bolt and friends will be errata'd to say "Deal 3 damage to target creature, player, or planeswalker." However, some cards will probably lose their ability to hit planeswalkers, specifically cards that deal damage to each player / opponent because they'd have to re-word it really weird for it to hit planeswalkers.
Relevant cube cards that will probably no longer be able to hit planeswalkers post-changes:
- Sulfuric Vortex
- Earthquake
- Rolling Earthquake
Cards that lie in a weird gray area
- Fiery Confluence
- Smash to Smithereens
- Chandra, Torch of Defiance
- Hellrider
- Purphoros, God of the Forge
While it doesn't impact the viability of any of these cards, this may be quite a nerf to red in general and gives planeswalkers an unnecessary buff : / This does give red more design space though, it'd be cool to see a new Lightning Bolt that can just hit creatures / planeswalkers or something for R at instant speed.
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That’s what I’m hoping but that’s not what I’m predicting. For cards like Vortex and EQs, the most elegant way to retain their current function (that I could think of at least) would to literally bake in the redirection rule onto the text:
“At the beginning of each upkeep, Sulfuric Vortex deals 2 damage to that player. If an opponent would be dealt damage this way, you may redirect it to a planeswalker they control instead.”
My High Octane Unpowered Cube on CubeCobra
My 630 Card Powered Cube
My Article - "Cube Design Philosophy"
My Article - "Mana Short: A study in limited resource management."
My 50th Set (P)review - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from OTJ!
My 630 Card Powered Cube
My Article - "Cube Design Philosophy"
My Article - "Mana Short: A study in limited resource management."
My 50th Set (P)review - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from OTJ!
My 630 Card Powered Cube
My Article - "Cube Design Philosophy"
My Article - "Mana Short: A study in limited resource management."
My 50th Set (P)review - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from OTJ!
- Earthquake variant that deals X damage to each creature and planeswalker
- Fire Imp / Flametongue variant that hits creatures or planeswalkers
- A red utility land that can hit creatures / planeswalkers at a good rate (or just a good red utility land in general)
- A red planeswalker with a + ability that can deal 2-3 damage to a creatures / planeswalker
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