They're previewing the upcoming Elves vs Artificers duel deck, but they're deliberately concealing the image of the Ezuri card - they're showing the art asset alone, but not the card.

https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/a ... 2018-02-06

"we've got something a bit special planned for that card. We'll explain as we get closer to the release date (April 6, natch)."


So... bets on whether it's something about a change to the function of Regenerate, or is there a change afoot for the cardframe or some other characteristic of Legendary creatures?

My bet is on Legendary losing all rules baggage, and so Ezuri needs a new keyword on his new printing.

Doubtful since they just went through the effort of making planeswalkers legendary.

That would be pretty awful

De-keywording regeneration would make sense, but "something special planned for that card" seems like a weird to introduce new wording. Maybe regeneration will be replaced entirely and old cards will be errated to have the new version? More likely it's a change to legendary card- either a rules update (With an accompanying visible change to the card) or a new card frame.

MaRo recently posted, a bit out of the blue, "If we’re starting over, I’m tempted to make Legendary a Symbol." This was in the context of making Instant a supertype if they were starting over and "Instant Legendary Creature -- Faerie Wizard" being rather too long for the typeline. I do wonder if Ezuri here might get to be a test balloon.

My guess is that Dominaria is legendary matters and will have a Legendary-specific frame.

Expecting a new frame, at the least.

I think making any rules relevant mechanic changes that don't have specific explanations on cards is generally a bad idea.

I'm shocked to learn that the spirit guide hadn't been reprinted before.

When would it have? It's not Modern legal and, for a time, that sort of fast free mana was shifted to Red with Simian Spirit Guide. A commander set might have been its best shot at a reprint before this.

Am confused. What prompted this statement? I don’t see anything about an ESG reprint...

it's referencing http://forum.nogoblinsallowed.com/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=583&view=unread#p601178

I think I replied in the wrong thread. There was new art spoiled on the mothership. Pretty sure they outright stated what it was for too.


Elvish tribal is a perennial favourite. Elves show up all over the place. Spirit Guide's a desirable card. I figured at some point over the last decade+ it would have all come together.

Does this come before or after Masters 25? It is weird that they would implement such a big aesthetic change and not apply it to the Big Anniversary Set.

If it's a frame or symbol change or something having to do with Legendary cards in particular, then the change did not carry into M25 because we know what legendary creatures look like in that set thanks to the Azusa spoiler.

After. Masters 25 comes in March, Elves vs Inventors in April.

We have a winner!

It's in.



Two new visual bits here. The new Legendary Creature cardframe, and the new dividing line between card rules text and flavor text.


Also, the full deck contents posted today... Elvish Spirit Guide is absent. Not in A25, not in this deck, and no way they're bringing it into standard... likely means it'll be in Battle Bond.

I'm generally a stick-in-the-mud about new frames or layout, but I like this one. The understated line between rules and flavor text looks much better than the old Portal one, and seems like a sensible addition. The Legend addition looks very nice; not too complicated, but stands out.

Yeah I was expecting something more like the constellation frames from Theros like Goldenhide Ox. This is pretty subtle