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'''Constellation''' is a [[ability word]] introduced in ''[[Journey into Nyx]]'', where it is connected to the [[god]] theme of the [[Theros block|block]]. [[Enchantment]]s with ''constellation'' abilities represent the divine constellations that fill the [[Nyx|night sky]] and the mortal world of [[Theros (plane)|Theros]]. <ref>{{DailyRef|mtg/daily/mm/294|The Incredible Journey, Part 1|[[Mark Rosewater]]|April 07, 2014}}</ref> <ref>{{DailyRef|mtg/daily/feature/journeyintonyxmechanics|Mechanics of ''Journey into Nyx''|[[Kelly Digges]]|April 07, 2014}}</ref> <ref>{{DailyRef|mtg/daily/mm/297|Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star|[[Mark Rosewater]]|April 28, 2014}}</ref>
{{Infobox ability
| icon = MTGA Constellation.png
| name = Constellation
| first = Journey into Nyx
| last = Commander Masters
| reminder = Whenever this card or another enchantment enters the battlefield under your control, … (enchantments)
''Constellation'' — Whenever an enchantment enters the battlefield under your control, … (nonenchantment permanents)
| stats = {{stats|W=7|U=6|B=6|R=1|G=11|WB=1|GW=1|GU=1|C=1}}
| storm = 5
| storm_ref = <ref>{{DailyRef|making-magic/storm-scale-theros-and-theros-beyond-death-2020-12-07|Storm Scale: Theros and Theros Beyond Death|[[Mark Rosewater]]|2020-12-07}}</ref>
}}
'''''Constellation''''' is an [[ability word]] introduced in ''[[Journey into Nyx]]'', where it is connected to the [[god]] theme of the [[Theros block|block]].  
 
==Description==
[[Enchantment]]s with ''constellation'' abilities represent the divine constellations that fill the [[Nyx|night sky]] and the mortal world of [[Theros (plane)|Theros]].<ref>{{DailyRef|making-magic/incredible-journey-part-1-2014-04-07|The Incredible Journey, Part 1|[[Mark Rosewater]]|April 7, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{DailyRef|mechanics-journey-nyx-2014-04-06|Mechanics of ''Journey into Nyx''|[[Kelly Digges]]|April 6, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{DailyRef|making-magic/twinkle-twinkle-little-star-2014-04-28|Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star|[[Mark Rosewater]]|April 28, 2014}}</ref>


An enchantment's ''constellation'' ability [[trigger]]s every time it or another enchantment [[CIP|enters the battlefield]] under the player's control. Most of the enchantments with ''constellation'' abilities in ''Journey into Nyx'' are [[enchantment creatures]], but not all of them.
An enchantment's ''constellation'' ability [[trigger]]s every time it or another enchantment [[CIP|enters the battlefield]] under the player's control. Most of the enchantments with ''constellation'' abilities in ''Journey into Nyx'' are [[enchantment creatures]], but not all of them.
Constellation was originally called ''Enchantmentfall''. It was originally designed as an [[Azorius]] mechanic in ''[[Return to Ravnica]]'', but it was thematically a better fit for [[Theros block]].<ref>{{DailyRef|making-magic/designing-azorius-2012-10-29|Designing for Azorius|[[Mark Rosewater]]|October 29, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/144886339258/been-reading-through-some-older-articles-and-came|title=Mention of an unused Azorius mechanic in the Designing for Azorius article|May 24, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/163701225498/so-its-my-21st-birthday-and-i-was-wondering-if|title=Trivia on one of my favorite mechanics constellation?|August 01, 2017}}</ref>
Constellation returned in ''[[Theros Beyond Death]]''.<ref>{{DailyRef|feature/theros-beyond-death-mechanics-2019-12-12|Theros Beyond Death Mechanics|[[Matt Tabak]]|December 12, 2019}}</ref> In this set, the ability word only appeared on non-enchantment cards<ref>{{EzTumblr|https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/189646659563/so-it-appears-that-the-decision-was-made-to-not|title=So, it appears that the decision was made to not have Constellation on enchantments anymore?|December 13, 2019}}</ref>, giving the mechanic a enabler-payoff dynamic.
<c>Oath of the Ancient Wood</c> and <c>Ajani's Chosen</c> have a form of unkeyworded Constellation, as they were printed as plants for Theros block in ''[[Magic 2014]]''. {{Card|Steelclad Spirit}} also does, but it was aimed more to synergize with [[Disturb]].


==Rulings==
==Rulings==
* A constellation ability triggers whenever an enchantment enters the battlefield under your control for any reason. Enchantments with other card types, such as enchantment creatures, will also cause constellation abilities to trigger.
* A constellation ability triggers whenever an enchantment enters the battlefield under your control for any reason. Enchantments with other card types, such as enchantment creatures, will also cause constellation abilities to trigger.
* An Aura spell without bestow that has an illegal target when it tries to resolve will be countered and put into its owner’s graveyard. It won’t enter the battlefield and constellation abilities won’t trigger. An Aura spellwith bestow won’t be countered this way. It will revert to beingan enchantment creature and resolve, entering the battlefield and triggering constellation abilities.
* An Aura spell without bestow that has an illegal target when it tries to resolve will be countered and put into its owner’s graveyard. It won’t enter the battlefield and constellation abilities won’t trigger. An Aura spell with bestow won’t be countered this way. It will revert to being an enchantment creature and resolve, entering the battlefield and triggering constellation abilities.
* When an enchantment enters the battlefield under your control, each constellation ability of permanents you control will trigger. You can put these abilities on the stack in any order. The last ability you put on the stack will be the first one that resolves.
* When an enchantment enters the battlefield under your control, each constellation ability of permanents you control will trigger. You can put these abilities on the stack in any order. The last ability you put on the stack will be the first one that resolves.


==Example==
==Examples==
{{examples|text=''
{{examples|<c>Whitewater Naiads</c> {{3}}{{U}}{{U}}<br/>Enchantment Creature {{-}} Nymph<br>4/4<br/>''Constellation ''— Whenever Whitewater Naiads or another enchantment enters the battlefield under your control, target creature can't be blocked this turn.}}
*<c>Whitewater Naiads</c> - {{3}}{{U}}{{U}}<br>Enchantment Creature {{-}} Nymph<br>4/4<br>''Constellation ''— Whenever Whitewater Naiads or another enchantment enters the battlefield under your control, target creature can't be blocked this turn.<br>
}}


==Color percentages==
==Trivia==
<div style="background-color: #f7f7d3; border: 1px solid #111111; padding: 10px; padding-top: 0px; margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom:20px; margin-right: 100px; margin-left: 100px;">
*Constellation was originally designed as the [[Azorius Senate]]'s mechanic for ''[[Return to Ravnica]]'' but was shelved until ''Journey into Nyx'' because it didn't overlap well enough with either the [[Selesnya Conclave]] or [[Izzet League]] mechanics in that set.<ref>{{YouTubeRef|jofyGSFDq8M|How Trivial with Mark Rosewater|channel=Magic: The Gathering|creator=[[Mark Rosewater]]|date=August 4, 2023}}</ref>
There is a total of 16 cards that involve constellation, which divide by color as follows:
*Black = 31 %
*Green = 31 %
*White = 13 %
*Blue = 13 %
*Red = 6 %
*Multicolor = 6 %
</div>


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:Ability words]]
 
{{Mechanics|ability}}

Latest revision as of 16:24, 5 August 2023

Constellation
[[File:{{#setmainimage:MTGA Constellation.png}}|70x70px]]
Ability Word
Introduced Journey into Nyx
Last used Commander Masters
Typical Text

Constellation — Whenever this card or another enchantment enters the battlefield under your control, … (enchantments)

Constellation — Whenever an enchantment enters the battlefield under your control, … (nonenchantment permanents)
Storm Scale 5[1]
Statistics
35 cards
{C} 2.9% {W} 20% {U} 17.1% {B} 17.1% {R} 2.9% {G} 31.4% {G/W} 2.9% {W/B} 2.9% {G/U} 2.9%
Scryfall Search
keyword:"Constellation"

Constellation is an ability word introduced in Journey into Nyx, where it is connected to the god theme of the block.

Description

Enchantments with constellation abilities represent the divine constellations that fill the night sky and the mortal world of Theros.[2][3][4]

An enchantment's constellation ability triggers every time it or another enchantment enters the battlefield under the player's control. Most of the enchantments with constellation abilities in Journey into Nyx are enchantment creatures, but not all of them.

Constellation was originally called Enchantmentfall. It was originally designed as an Azorius mechanic in Return to Ravnica, but it was thematically a better fit for Theros block.[5][6][7]

Constellation returned in Theros Beyond Death.[8] In this set, the ability word only appeared on non-enchantment cards[9], giving the mechanic a enabler-payoff dynamic.

Oath of the Ancient Wood and Ajani's Chosen have a form of unkeyworded Constellation, as they were printed as plants for Theros block in Magic 2014. Steelclad Spirit also does, but it was aimed more to synergize with Disturb.

Rulings

  • A constellation ability triggers whenever an enchantment enters the battlefield under your control for any reason. Enchantments with other card types, such as enchantment creatures, will also cause constellation abilities to trigger.
  • An Aura spell without bestow that has an illegal target when it tries to resolve will be countered and put into its owner’s graveyard. It won’t enter the battlefield and constellation abilities won’t trigger. An Aura spell with bestow won’t be countered this way. It will revert to being an enchantment creature and resolve, entering the battlefield and triggering constellation abilities.
  • When an enchantment enters the battlefield under your control, each constellation ability of permanents you control will trigger. You can put these abilities on the stack in any order. The last ability you put on the stack will be the first one that resolves.

Examples

Example

Whitewater Naiads {3}{U}{U}
Enchantment Creature — Nymph
4/4
Constellation — Whenever Whitewater Naiads or another enchantment enters the battlefield under your control, target creature can't be blocked this turn.

Trivia

References

  1. ↑ Mark Rosewater (2020-12-07). "Storm Scale: Theros and Theros Beyond Death". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  2. ↑ Mark Rosewater (April 7, 2014). "The Incredible Journey, Part 1". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  3. ↑ Kelly Digges (April 6, 2014). "Mechanics of Journey into Nyx". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  4. ↑ Mark Rosewater (April 28, 2014). "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  5. ↑ Mark Rosewater (October 29, 2012). "Designing for Azorius". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  6. ↑ Mark Rosewater (May 24, 2016). "Mention of an unused Azorius mechanic in the Designing for Azorius article". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  7. ↑ Mark Rosewater (August 01, 2017). "Trivia on one of my favorite mechanics constellation?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  8. ↑ Matt Tabak (December 12, 2019). "Theros Beyond Death Mechanics". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  9. ↑ Mark Rosewater (December 13, 2019). "So, it appears that the decision was made to not have Constellation on enchantments anymore?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  10. ↑ Mark Rosewater (August 4, 2023). "How Trivial with Mark Rosewater (Video)". Magic: The Gathering. YouTube.
 
Other
 
Other
Digital only
Miscellaneous
Playtest
Unreleased
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