Magic Data Science
@mtgds.bsky.social
Doing math with Magic; doing Magic with math.
(Chromatic Lantern; Julie Dillon)
(Chromatic Lantern; Julie Dillon)
This -- a single creature type appearing on mono-colored cards of all five colors in one set -- has actually happened a lot! Mainly with Human, but that's boring, so here are some of the primary examples:
Phyrexian in ONE
Spirit in CHK, BOK, and SOK
Phyrexian in NPH and MOM
...
Phyrexian in ONE
Spirit in CHK, BOK, and SOK
Phyrexian in NPH and MOM
...
November 25, 2025 at 7:40 PM
This -- a single creature type appearing on mono-colored cards of all five colors in one set -- has actually happened a lot! Mainly with Human, but that's boring, so here are some of the primary examples:
Phyrexian in ONE
Spirit in CHK, BOK, and SOK
Phyrexian in NPH and MOM
...
Phyrexian in ONE
Spirit in CHK, BOK, and SOK
Phyrexian in NPH and MOM
...
Here is one of my favorite ways to visualize color strength in a Limited format, for TLA.
You can see there is a little bit of stratification among the commons, but the lines are still reasonably tangled-up. Blue a bit deeper at the top, white a bit deeper overall...
You can see there is a little bit of stratification among the commons, but the lines are still reasonably tangled-up. Blue a bit deeper at the top, white a bit deeper overall...
November 25, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Here is one of my favorite ways to visualize color strength in a Limited format, for TLA.
You can see there is a little bit of stratification among the commons, but the lines are still reasonably tangled-up. Blue a bit deeper at the top, white a bit deeper overall...
You can see there is a little bit of stratification among the commons, but the lines are still reasonably tangled-up. Blue a bit deeper at the top, white a bit deeper overall...
Here's a #scryfalltip for the civic-minded among you:
@scryfall.com really benefits from high-quality scans submitted by normal people, just like you! In fact, they maintain a list of cards for which such scans are still needed; just search for:
is:wanted unique:prints
@scryfall.com really benefits from high-quality scans submitted by normal people, just like you! In fact, they maintain a list of cards for which such scans are still needed; just search for:
is:wanted unique:prints
November 25, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Here's a #scryfalltip for the civic-minded among you:
@scryfall.com really benefits from high-quality scans submitted by normal people, just like you! In fact, they maintain a list of cards for which such scans are still needed; just search for:
is:wanted unique:prints
@scryfall.com really benefits from high-quality scans submitted by normal people, just like you! In fact, they maintain a list of cards for which such scans are still needed; just search for:
is:wanted unique:prints
Let's play Spot The Difference!
There is exactly one difference between these two iterations of the same card (which is the back side of Kuja, Genome Sorcerer). Can you spot it?
There is exactly one difference between these two iterations of the same card (which is the back side of Kuja, Genome Sorcerer). Can you spot it?
November 25, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Let's play Spot The Difference!
There is exactly one difference between these two iterations of the same card (which is the back side of Kuja, Genome Sorcerer). Can you spot it?
There is exactly one difference between these two iterations of the same card (which is the back side of Kuja, Genome Sorcerer). Can you spot it?
If folks are worried about Dredge, how about a little guy who does the "rummage to library" thing?
𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐭 {R}
Creature -- Imp Sorcerer
When ~ enters, you may put a card from your hand on the bottom of your library. If you do, draw a card.
1/1
𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐭 {R}
Creature -- Imp Sorcerer
When ~ enters, you may put a card from your hand on the bottom of your library. If you do, draw a card.
1/1
November 25, 2025 at 2:21 PM
If folks are worried about Dredge, how about a little guy who does the "rummage to library" thing?
𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐭 {R}
Creature -- Imp Sorcerer
When ~ enters, you may put a card from your hand on the bottom of your library. If you do, draw a card.
1/1
𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐭 {R}
Creature -- Imp Sorcerer
When ~ enters, you may put a card from your hand on the bottom of your library. If you do, draw a card.
1/1
There are also some cardname pairs that are palindromes of one-another
November 25, 2025 at 1:38 AM
There are also some cardname pairs that are palindromes of one-another
But Polliwallop is *so close*!
November 25, 2025 at 1:38 AM
But Polliwallop is *so close*!
The boring answer is that X is the only actual palindrome.
November 25, 2025 at 1:38 AM
The boring answer is that X is the only actual palindrome.
Someone asked @maro254.bsky.social whether there were any palindromic Magic cards. I have done some looking into this...
November 25, 2025 at 1:38 AM
Someone asked @maro254.bsky.social whether there were any palindromic Magic cards. I have done some looking into this...
I find it kind of interesting that for 2mv, we have *many* versions of the 1/1 creature that cantrips, but there is no 1mv 1/1 creature that ETB loots nor one that rummages.
As in literally just, "When this creature enters, draw a card, then discard a card."
As in literally just, "When this creature enters, draw a card, then discard a card."
November 25, 2025 at 12:47 AM
I find it kind of interesting that for 2mv, we have *many* versions of the 1/1 creature that cantrips, but there is no 1mv 1/1 creature that ETB loots nor one that rummages.
As in literally just, "When this creature enters, draw a card, then discard a card."
As in literally just, "When this creature enters, draw a card, then discard a card."
What abstract concept needs to be made into an Elemental next? And what color(s) should it be?
Like....
𝐀𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐞: black
𝐒𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫: red
𝐁𝐨𝐧𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐞: white
𝐙𝐞𝐢𝐭𝐠𝐞𝐢𝐬𝐭: white/black
𝐀𝐦𝐛𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞: black/red
𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲: blue
Like....
𝐀𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐞: black
𝐒𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫: red
𝐁𝐨𝐧𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐞: white
𝐙𝐞𝐢𝐭𝐠𝐞𝐢𝐬𝐭: white/black
𝐀𝐦𝐛𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞: black/red
𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲: blue
November 23, 2025 at 2:12 AM
What abstract concept needs to be made into an Elemental next? And what color(s) should it be?
Like....
𝐀𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐞: black
𝐒𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫: red
𝐁𝐨𝐧𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐞: white
𝐙𝐞𝐢𝐭𝐠𝐞𝐢𝐬𝐭: white/black
𝐀𝐦𝐛𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞: black/red
𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲: blue
Like....
𝐀𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐞: black
𝐒𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫: red
𝐁𝐨𝐧𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐞: white
𝐙𝐞𝐢𝐭𝐠𝐞𝐢𝐬𝐭: white/black
𝐀𝐦𝐛𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞: black/red
𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲: blue
A little @scryfall.com searching has turned up this card, which is new to me. A little on the expensive side, but it definitely plays the role of "play me after you've cast a million cheap spells."
November 23, 2025 at 1:39 AM
A little @scryfall.com searching has turned up this card, which is new to me. A little on the expensive side, but it definitely plays the role of "play me after you've cast a million cheap spells."
Electrostatic Infantry, at 2mv (with Trample!) might be cheap enough to work...
Surely one of the *-powered flyers or the Infantry -- or something like them -- could be printed at common.
Right?
Surely one of the *-powered flyers or the Infantry -- or something like them -- could be printed at common.
Right?
November 23, 2025 at 1:00 AM
Electrostatic Infantry, at 2mv (with Trample!) might be cheap enough to work...
Surely one of the *-powered flyers or the Infantry -- or something like them -- could be printed at common.
Right?
Surely one of the *-powered flyers or the Infantry -- or something like them -- could be printed at common.
Right?
...these all want you to wait until you've cast the creature before you really start slinging.
Tolarian Terror works because you can fire off a bunch of spells early and they all just make the Terror better. Same goes for things like Enigma Drake/Spellheart Chimera...
Tolarian Terror works because you can fire off a bunch of spells early and they all just make the Terror better. Same goes for things like Enigma Drake/Spellheart Chimera...
November 23, 2025 at 1:00 AM
...these all want you to wait until you've cast the creature before you really start slinging.
Tolarian Terror works because you can fire off a bunch of spells early and they all just make the Terror better. Same goes for things like Enigma Drake/Spellheart Chimera...
Tolarian Terror works because you can fire off a bunch of spells early and they all just make the Terror better. Same goes for things like Enigma Drake/Spellheart Chimera...
(Warning: mostly-Pauper-Cube-related thoughts)
I *love* these spellslinger → +1/+1 counter cards, but I've come to the realization that they're just not good enough.
I think one of the strengths of Izzet is the cheap spells, especially ones that replace themselves, but...
I *love* these spellslinger → +1/+1 counter cards, but I've come to the realization that they're just not good enough.
I think one of the strengths of Izzet is the cheap spells, especially ones that replace themselves, but...
November 23, 2025 at 1:00 AM
(Warning: mostly-Pauper-Cube-related thoughts)
I *love* these spellslinger → +1/+1 counter cards, but I've come to the realization that they're just not good enough.
I think one of the strengths of Izzet is the cheap spells, especially ones that replace themselves, but...
I *love* these spellslinger → +1/+1 counter cards, but I've come to the realization that they're just not good enough.
I think one of the strengths of Izzet is the cheap spells, especially ones that replace themselves, but...
Davchrohn, on Reddit, shares a German printing of Wan Shi Tong, Librarian with a fractional "ˣ ∕₂", which as far as I know, is totally unprecedented. But extremely charming.
Zimone and I are very much in favor of adding _more_ math to Magic cards.
Zimone and I are very much in favor of adding _more_ math to Magic cards.
November 22, 2025 at 1:51 AM
Davchrohn, on Reddit, shares a German printing of Wan Shi Tong, Librarian with a fractional "ˣ ∕₂", which as far as I know, is totally unprecedented. But extremely charming.
Zimone and I are very much in favor of adding _more_ math to Magic cards.
Zimone and I are very much in favor of adding _more_ math to Magic cards.
Which lines of Magic rules text "go hardest"?
November 21, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Which lines of Magic rules text "go hardest"?
Challenge: find a creature that's less blockable (without "can't be blocked")
November 20, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Challenge: find a creature that's less blockable (without "can't be blocked")
How.much of the strength of these two blue removal spells (#1 and #10 commons through two days, by GIHWR) is due to their getting around the "dies or is exiled" clause on Earthbent lands?
In this set, these are blue land destruction spells a non-trivial portion of the time...
In this set, these are blue land destruction spells a non-trivial portion of the time...
November 20, 2025 at 1:39 PM
How.much of the strength of these two blue removal spells (#1 and #10 commons through two days, by GIHWR) is due to their getting around the "dies or is exiled" clause on Earthbent lands?
In this set, these are blue land destruction spells a non-trivial portion of the time...
In this set, these are blue land destruction spells a non-trivial portion of the time...
What are the other 6 cards in this unofficial cycle* that I'm asserting exists?
You can also feel free to quibble with the four I've chosen here.
You can also feel free to quibble with the four I've chosen here.
November 19, 2025 at 7:17 PM
What are the other 6 cards in this unofficial cycle* that I'm asserting exists?
You can also feel free to quibble with the four I've chosen here.
You can also feel free to quibble with the four I've chosen here.
