Very simple premise: It's an artifact set like the Mirrodin sets or Kaladesh, except that there are no colorless artifacts.
Before we get into the details, I want to make it clear that this set is neither a Mirrodin set nor a Kaladesh set. Both worlds come with baggage that I don't want to be beholden to, like Energy. This is a new world, tonally and aesthetically a bit closer to Dominaria.
Mechanics
Improvise
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Improvise (Your artifacts can help you cast this spell. Each artifact you tap after you're done activating mana abilities pays for
The set's returning mechanic, Improvise serves as the mana-smoothing mechanic for the set.
Bludgeon
Sorcery (C)
Improvise (Your artifacts can help you cast this spell. Each artifact you tap after you're done activating mana abilities pays for )
Destroy target creature.
)The set's returning mechanic, Improvise serves as the mana-smoothing mechanic for the set.
Bludgeon
Sorcery (C)
Improvise (Your artifacts can help you cast this spell. Each artifact you tap after you're done activating mana abilities pays for )
Destroy target creature.
React
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Boost (Whenever you activate an ability of a permanent you control that isn't a mana ability, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature.)
Name is still a work in progress.
Here's the set's not-technically-an-artifact-centric-keyword keyword. It's a good reward for green, the color that struggles the most in an artifact environment, and still syergizes well with the artifact theme of the set.
Speaking of which, it's worth noting that almost every artifact in this set will have an activated ability, in contrast to past artifact sets which have enchantment-like artifacts that only need to be on the battlefield to function. This is to offset the identity-loss that comes with making all artifacts cost colored mana and help contrast them more with enchantments. The exceptions to this rule will be artifact creatures.
BoostBear
Creature - Bear (C)
2/2
Boost (Whenever you activate an ability of a permanent you control that isn't a mana ability, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature.)
Exhilarated Thief
Creature - Human Rogue (U)
2/2
Boost (Whenever you activate an ability of a permanent you control that isn't a mana ability, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature.)
When ~ enters the battlefield, untap target artifact or creature an opponent controls and gain control of it until end of turn. That permanent gains haste until end of turn.
"React - Whenever you activate an ability of a nonland permanent you control, (effect)"
Miasma Shade
Creature - Shade (U)
2/2
React - Whenever you activate an ability of a nonland permanent you control, target player puts the top two cards of their library into their graveyard.
: ~ gets +1/+1 until end of turn.
Name is still a work in progress.
Here's the set's not-technically-an-artifact-centric-keyword keyword. It's a good reward for green, the color that struggles the most in an artifact environment, and still syergizes well with the artifact theme of the set.
Speaking of which, it's worth noting that almost every artifact in this set will have an activated ability, in contrast to past artifact sets which have enchantment-like artifacts that only need to be on the battlefield to function. This is to offset the identity-loss that comes with making all artifacts cost colored mana and help contrast them more with enchantments. The exceptions to this rule will be artifact creatures.
BoostBear
Creature - Bear (C)
2/2
Boost (Whenever you activate an ability of a permanent you control that isn't a mana ability, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature.)
Exhilarated Thief
Creature - Human Rogue (U)
2/2
Boost (Whenever you activate an ability of a permanent you control that isn't a mana ability, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature.)
When ~ enters the battlefield, untap target artifact or creature an opponent controls and gain control of it until end of turn. That permanent gains haste until end of turn.
"React - Whenever you activate an ability of a nonland permanent you control, (effect)"
Miasma Shade
Creature - Shade (U)
2/2
React - Whenever you activate an ability of a nonland permanent you control, target player puts the top two cards of their library into their graveyard.
: ~ gets +1/+1 until end of turn.
Cache Tokens
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Cache tokens (They're artifacts with "
Yes, this is inspired by Investigate and Food. I don't like how grindy and flavor-specific Food is. This set wants to reward creating as many artifacts as possible, and at those numbers, the lifegain would make games very tedious. I don't have an exact idea of the flavor and setting yet, but I know that Food and Investigate take me in a direction I don't really want to go in. Hense, I married the two mechanics by tweaking Clue tokens to be Improvise-proof, then gave them a new, generic name. We now have our card-flow mechanic of the set, which doubles as a way to increase artifact as-fan. And yeah, non-tokens can be Caches too.
Loot Hunter
Creature - Human Scout (C)
2/3
When ~ enters the battlefield, create a Cache token. (It's an artifact with " , , Sacrifice this artifact: Draw a card.")
Arcane Cache
Artifact - Cache (C)
When ~ enters the battlefield, exile target artifact, instant, or sorcery card from your graveyard.
When ~ leaves the battlefield, put the exiled card into your hand.
, , Sacrifice ~: Draw a card.
, , Sacrifice this artifact: Draw a card.")Yes, this is inspired by Investigate and Food. I don't like how grindy and flavor-specific Food is. This set wants to reward creating as many artifacts as possible, and at those numbers, the lifegain would make games very tedious. I don't have an exact idea of the flavor and setting yet, but I know that Food and Investigate take me in a direction I don't really want to go in. Hense, I married the two mechanics by tweaking Clue tokens to be Improvise-proof, then gave them a new, generic name. We now have our card-flow mechanic of the set, which doubles as a way to increase artifact as-fan. And yeah, non-tokens can be Caches too.
Loot Hunter
Creature - Human Scout (C)
2/3
When ~ enters the battlefield, create a Cache token. (It's an artifact with " , , Sacrifice this artifact: Draw a card.")
Arcane Cache
Artifact - Cache (C)
When ~ enters the battlefield, exile target artifact, instant, or sorcery card from your graveyard.
When ~ leaves the battlefield, put the exiled card into your hand.
, , Sacrifice ~: Draw a card.
Modular
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Modular N (This creature enters the battlefield with N +1/+1 counters on it. When it dies, you may put its +1/+1 counters on target artifact creature.)
Top-Heavy Courier
Artifact Creature - Construct (U)
0/-2
Menace
Modular X (This creature enters the battlefield with X +1/+1 counters on it. When it dies, you may put its +1/+1 counters on target artifact creature.)
Top-Heavy Courier
Artifact Creature - Construct (U)
0/-2
Menace
Modular X (This creature enters the battlefield with X +1/+1 counters on it. When it dies, you may put its +1/+1 counters on target artifact creature.)
SPOILER
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: Improvise
: Sacrifice
: Boost
: Equipment
: Caches
: Noncreature Artifacts
: Value
: Vehicles
: Tempo
Some of these archetypes are more defined than others, and some will blend better with their adjacent colors than others.