Mix-and-match
Mix-and-match cards are cards that have two or more different named mechanics on them.
Normally when R&D talks about mix-and-match, they don't focus on cards with multiple evergreen keywords, as that's just something every set does. The more interesting mix-and-match cards are ones where neither mechanic is evergreen. These are hard to do because it requires having two mechanics in the same set that can work together on the same card.[1] Of those in regular sets, cycling tends to have the most mechanical overlap and as a deciduous smoothing mechanic.
The first such printed mix-and-match cards appeared in Future Sight. They also appeared in Modern Horizons and Modern Horizons 2.
List of Mix-and-match cards
Card | Set | Mechanic 1 | Mechanic 2 | Purpose |
---|---|---|---|---|
Arcbound Slasher | Modern Horizons 2 | Modular | Riot | The +1/+1 counter ability from Modular can be extended further with Riot. |
Ardent Plea | Alara Reborn | Cascade | Exalted | The cheapest Cascade permanent, with Exalted an elegant bonus on the board. |
Bannerhide Krushok | Modern Horizons 2 | Reinforce | Scavenge | Reinforce then Scavenge to increase the amount of +1/+1 counters given. |
Bogardan Lancer | Future Sight | Bloodthirst | Flanking | Bloodthirst making the own creature stronger and Flanking to make opposing creatures weaker. |
Cutthroat il-Dal | Future Sight | Hellbent | Shadow | Hellbent allows controller to toggle evasion and blocking of Shadow creatures. |
Ethersworn Sphinx | Modern Horizons 2 | Affinity | Cascade | Affinity to cheapen the costly creature for a strong Cascade effect. |
Feaster of Fools | Modern Horizons | Convoke | Devour | Devouring the Convoked creatures. |
Gathan Raiders | Future Sight | Hellbent | Morph | Morph cost is "discard a card" to reach Hellbent - makes it a combat trick. |
Gibbering Descent | Future Sight | Hellbent | Madness | Play with self-discard to cast the card via Madness while reaching Hellbent. |
Haze of Rage | Future Sight | Storm | Buyback | Up the Storm count with Buyback. |
Hogaak, Arisen Necropolis | Modern Horizons | Convoke | Delve | Alternate ways to cast a creature that can't be cast normally. |
Ichor Slick | Future Sight | Cycling | Madness | Madness to cast the card while Cycling. |
Kavu Primarch | Future Sight | Kicker | Convoke | Convoke to pay Kicker. |
Kaleidoscorch | Modern Horizons 2 | Converge | Flashback | Flashback's higher cost opens up for higher Converge numbers. |
Knight of Sursi | Future Sight | Flying | Flanking | An extra hurdle for creatures who can block creatures with Flying. |
Marshaling Cry | Future Sight | Cycling | Flashback | Flashback the card after Cycling it. |
Molten Disaster | Future Sight | Kicker | Split second | Kicker to achieve Split Second. |
Mystic Speculation | Future Sight | Scry | Buyback | Buyback to Scry repeatedly. |
Oketra's Attendant | Amonkhet | Cycling | Embalm | Embalm to cast the creature after Cycling it. |
Ravaging Riftwurm | Future Sight | Kicker | Vanishing | Kicker is to add counters for Vanishing. |
Spirit en-Dal | Future Sight | Shadow | Forecast | Forecast to give Shadow as evasion or panic effect. |
Sprout Swarm | Future Sight | Buyback | Convoke | Convoke to pay Buyback. |
Thornweald Archer | Future Sight | Deathtouch | Reach | Reach to hit flying creatures with Deathtouch. |
Throes of Chaos | Modern Horizons | Cascade | Retrace | Retrace to Cascade repeatedly. |
Timeless Dragon | Modern Horizons 2 | Plainscycling | Eternalize | After Plainscycling for a Plains, Eternalize Timeless Dragon from the graveyard. |
Viral Drake | New Phyrexia | Proliferate | Infect | After hitting a player with Infect, Proliferate the player's poison counters. |
Viscera Dragger | Shards of Alara | Cycling | Unearth | Unearth the creature after Cycling it. |
References
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (May 31, 2021). "A Modern Approach, Part 2". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.