Study - Strixhaven mechanic

[Juancu]

Early Class 2U
Enchantment
At the beginning of your upkeep, you may study. If you do, draw a card.
(To study, pay 3 or discard a card.)


Karinda Gel, Spellhoarder 2UU
Legendary Creature - Human Wizard
Whenever you study, draw a card.
At the beginning of each opponent's upkeep, you may study. If you do, Karinda gains Hexproof until end of turn.
3/4


Eager Oxhoof 2R
Creature - Human Student
Whenever Eager Oxhoof attacks, you may study. (To study, pay 3 or discard a card.)
If you studied this turn, Eager Oxhoof has +1/+1.
3/2


Practical Bolt R
Instant
You may study (To study, pay 3 or discard a card.)
Practical Bolt deals 1 damage to any target. If you studied this turn, Practical Bolt deals 3 damage to that target instead.


Experimental Pet B
Creature - Rat
Menace
Sacrifice Experimental Pet: Draw a card. Activate this ability only if you studied this turn.
1/1

Potions Exam W
Enchantment
At the beginning of your upkeep, you may study. If you do, gain 3 life. (To study, pay 3 or discard a card.)
Sacrifice Potions Exam: Distribute three +1/+1 counters among creatures you control. Draw a card. Activate this ability only if you studied three or more times this turn.

[SecretInfiltrator]

As implemented on the first card the mechanic is simple and elegant enough. I like it.

I am wary of how parasitic the further examples get. A few of these seem fine, but it seems e. g. Eager Oxhoof wouldn't be backwards-compatible with something like Burning Inquiry's discard which would really help to open up the mechanic to play with more cards outside the set.

[user_938036]

It's neat but that fact that Studying doesn't give any kind of benefit at all feels somewhere between awkward and bad. Such effects are received better if they either aren't their own standalone actions or if they have their own effect in doing them. I can't think of a comparison, an ability action that doesn't do anything. The closest thing being ascend which is a transition of states where other effects look for the transitioned state rather than the act of ascending. If you could find one it would help to get an idea about how this mechanic should be shaped.