There is also the Phyrexian script Swamps, and while the text is not blocked… it is illegible.
Okay, everyone knows what a swamp does. What about Vorinclex, Monstrous Raider?
Or Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite?
Again, these are not truly textless, and the text itself is not obscured. But you do have to know what they do to play them.
I am not saying it is a good idea, I am saying there is precedent for illegible cards.
Even back in 2008, I remember complaints about this one:
Instant Choose two — • Counter target spell. • Return target permanent to its owner’s hand. • Tap all creatures your opponents control. • Draw a card.This is a mouthful when you have to explain.
Legendary Creature — Elemental When Omnath enters, draw a card. Landfall — Whenever a land you control enters, you gain 4 life if this is the first time this ability has resolved this turn. If it’s the second time, add {R}{G}{W}{U}. If it’s the third time, Omnath deals 4 damage to each opponent and each planeswalker you don’t control.I think it should always be avoided. Fortunately that one is somewhat subtle but I think it should never be done. The text should be the highest layer in the design file. I already think they took things too far with that bordered text on the FCA cards:
This is nearly unreadable for me and it hurts my head to read it.
Ironically enough, when I tried joining a commander game at my local shop recently, thinking my improvement of the Tidus Counter deck might be competitive, one of the othet decks stopped me from being able to damage the player at all using a land from the Ice Age set, which was one of the first expansion sets the game had.
Glacial Chasm, and it made me look in to what kind of land hate blue, white, and green have (other then Armageddon). The thing has a cumulative upkeep of 2 life, which should really limit how long it stays in play, but buddy had a consistent way of bouncing it back to his hand and then playing it again (plus landfall bonuses).
Cards with non mana abilities were introduced in Arabian Nights, the first expansion for Magic.
Buddahriffic
nocturne
Mike
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