Two Magic: The Gathering Card Types May Never Be Printed Again

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Summary

  • Magic: The Gathering has multiple card types, with Kindred as an extra type available for some cards.
  • The meta dictates card strength; Partner cards and Companions are deemed too powerful or broken and may not be reprinted.
  • Creatures with Partner break MTG’s Commander rules, while Companions pose deckbuilding limitations with great benefits.

As a long-time Magic: The Gathering enthusiast, I must confess that the intricacies of the game never cease to amaze me. From lands to planeswalkers, each card type adds a unique flavor to the strategy and depth that makes MTG such an engaging experience. However, it’s the gimmicky cards like Partner Creatures and Companions that truly capture my imagination.

In the game known as Magic: The Gathering, you’ll find a variety of cards, each with its own unique characteristics or subtypes that might come with extra effects or conditions for play. This vast array of cards makes crafting a deck incredibly diverse. Some cards can transform existing game elements into different types of cards, or even possess multiple card types themselves, like Planeswalkers that function as Creatures or Creatures that are also Enchantments. Cards with unusual abilities can add an intriguing twist to Magic: The Gathering decks by changing typical game dynamics. However, some card subtypes can become overly powerful or malfunctioning, and these may never be reprinted again.

At the moment, Magic: The Gathering features nine categories of cards: Lands, Creature types, Instant spells, Sorcery spells, Artifacts, Enchantments, Planeswalkers, and Battle cards. It’s possible to consider Kindred as an additional category that could apply to any of these card types.

The dynamics, or “meta,” in Magic: The Gathering offer insights into which types or subtypes of cards players are particularly enthusiastic about, and which ones are performing well or require adjustments or new features. However, it’s also important to note that the meta can signal when certain card types, like Partner cards and companions, are excessively powerful or could potentially disrupt the gameplay experience.

Why Magic: The Gathering May Never Have New Partner Creatures or Companions

While Wizards of the Coast hasn’t definitively ruled out reprinting Creatures with the Partner ability or Companions in future sets, their history and related discussions suggest it’s unlikely these cards will return frequently. The Partner mechanic allows for multiple Creatures with this ability to be used as Commanders in a deck, which contradicts a major rule in Magic: The Gathering’s Commander format and potentially provides an edge by reducing the number of non-Commander cards (99 cards) needed in the deck. Meanwhile, Companions have caused issues leading to five of them being banned across various Magic formats.

Why Magic: The Gathering’s Partner Creatures Are OP in Commander

One issue with Creatures with Partners in games like Magic: The Gathering is not so much that they provide two Commanders in the Command Zone, but rather that pairing them can shift a deck’s color identity. For instance, a deck might use Silas Renn (Dimir – Blue/Black) together with Rograkh (Red). Although Silas Renn would still make an excellent Commander for a Dimir deck with cards like Thassa’s Oracle and Demonic Consultation, the addition of Red allows it to also include cards such as Underworld Breach. This flexibility expands the range of playable cards in the deck.

In essence, Commander decks often gain significant advantages when they incorporate Creatures with Partners instead of traditional Commanders. Although traditional Commanders boast unique and potent abilities, these are frequently outweighed by the substantial benefit of having a wider color palette in the deck’s composition. This versatility opens up opportunities for players to utilize some of the most exceptional and scarce Magic: The Gathering cards available. Consequently, the introduction of new Creatures with Partner may become less likely in future printings.

How MTG’s Companions Broke The Game

Companions, in this game, are additional cards that players can hold aside from their decks and use when they have enough mana plus an extra investment of three mana of any color. Originally introduced with Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths, companions were initially stored in the sideboard and could be immediately played by paying the companion’s cost upon release. In the current version, a special “tax” is imposed, allowing players to hold the companion in their hand for three mana, which must be added to the card’s cost when playing it.

In December 2024, the ban on Magic: The Gathering cards included Jegantha, the Wellspring, making it unplayable in the game formats Modern, Pioneer, and Explorer.

Among the ten companions in Magic: The Gathering, five have been restricted in at least one game mode. Further review is ongoing for additional companions as well. Currently, these cards offer an enjoyable play experience but come with some construction constraints. The main allure of companions is their “free” availability, which can lead to their overuse and potential banning. This may discourage Wizards of the Coast from introducing more companions in the future, similar to the Partner mechanic for creatures.

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2024-12-20 01:24