A new Magic: The Gathering set arrives digitally today and takes players back to one of the most iconic planes in the game’s history. As fans of the collectible card game get a first peek at many of the new cards appearing in Kamigawa Neon Dynasty, they’re also getting a first look at some exciting new (and returning) mechanics that will be a part of this set.
The new set includes the return of two very popular mechanics from the original Kamigawa, a new spin on Sagas, and a handful of brand new Magic: The Gathering mechanics for players to master. There’s a lot of moving parts and card-slingers who want to master the futuristic setting should do some studying before heading into their pre-release events this weekend.
Kamigawa’s flavor is well-captured in the new mechanics and each card should help players connect with the futuristic setting. There’s a bit of complexity at play, so definitely take the time to watch the tutorial videos and read up on each of the new mechanics. Players can check out a summary of the new stuff here and get a high level explanation of the rules to help prepare for the set’s upcoming launch.
Reconfigure
Cards with reconfigure are both artifact creatures and Equipment. They enter the battlefield unattached. Because Simian Sling is an artifact creature, it can attack, block, and do things creatures can do. And that brings us to reconfigure.
Reconfigure represents two activated abilities and a bit more. First, as a sorcery, you can pay the reconfigure cost to attach the Equipment to a creature you control. You can do this if the Equipment is unattached, or you can do this to move the Equipment from one creature you control to another. This part of reconfigure does exactly what equip does. The "a bit more" is a rule that says an Equipment with reconfigure that becomes attached to a creature stops being a creature itself.
But wait! There's more! Reconfigure's other activated ability allows you to unattach the Equipment, causing it to resume being an artifact creature. This second ability has the same cost and can also be activated only as a sorcery.
The ability to unattach Equipment may seem simple, but the tactical flexibility it provides can change games. Remember that tapping a creature (say, to attack with it) doesn't cause any Equipment attached to it to become tapped. This means unattaching an Equipment after combat will result in an untapped artifact creature, ready to block (provided the Equipment was untapped to begin with).
As always, be careful about unattaching or moving Equipment after combat. If that Equipment gave a toughness bonus to a creature that had damage dealt to it, that damage may become lethal. You probably don't want your creatures to unexpectedly drop dead.
Modified
These cards refer to modified creatures you control. This means any creature you control that's equipped, enchanted by an Aura you control, or that has a counter on it.
Not every card interacts with modified creatures you control in exactly the same way. While Akki Ember-Keeper cares whenever one dies, others may count them or want them to live, be free, attack your opponents, that kind of thing.
Auras controlled by other players don't cause creatures you control to become modified. So, you can cast Auras like Pacifism without concern of accidentally making your opponent's creatures better. For counters, it doesn't matter how the counter got onto the creature, nor does it matter what kind of counter it is. +1/+1 counters modify just as effectively as -1/-1 counters.
Sagas
Sagas are a returning card enchantment subtype. Each Saga enters the battlefield with a lore counter on it. This causes the first chapter ability to trigger. At the beginning of your precombat main phase, you add a lore counter and the next chapter ability triggers. On previous Sagas, you'd sacrifice them after the last chapter ability was finished, but these Sagas are a little different.
The Sagas in this set are all transforming double-faced cards, but they don't transform while on the battlefield. Rather, each has a third chapter ability that exiles it and returns it to the battlefield transformed under your control. On the back face is an enchantment creature that may be familiar to some of you. Each is based on a popular legend from Kamigawa's past.
Ninjutsu
Ninjutsu allows a Ninja to sneak onto the battlefield from your hand tapped and attacking. To activate a ninjutsu ability, reveal the card with ninjutsu from your hand and pay the ninjutsu cost. Then, choose an unblocked attacking creature you control and return it to its owner's hand. Remember that an attacking creature is unblocked only after blockers have been declared. If an attacking creature is blocked, but all its blockers are removed before combat damage is dealt, the attacking creature is still blocked, so you can't return that creature to activate a ninjutsu ability.
The Ninja will enter the battlefield tapped and attacking the same player or planeswalker the returned creature was attacking. Blockers have already been declared this combat, so the Ninja should have a clear path to deal combat damage. Technically, you can activate ninjutsu during the combat phase after combat damage has been dealt. This won't normally come up, but if your attacking creature has first strike, there are some tricks to be had.
Channel
Channel abilities appear on a variety of permanent cards in this set. Each channel ability allows you to discard the card with the ability from your hand for an effect. This one is pretty straightforward and should be familiar to Cube players.
2022 is definitely off to an interesting start in the world of Magic and players have some very exciting mechanics to explore this week as the new set drops. As always, players should definitely take their time, read cards carefully, and review the rules ahead of time if they want to have a smooth experience when the cards are available digitally and at game stores in the coming week.
Magic: The Gathering is available now and the Kamigawa Neon Dynasty set releases digitally on February 10, 2022 and in stores the following week.