Jess Dunks
@wotcjess.bsky.social
Magic's Game Rules Architect. I lead the team that updates Magic's big book of rules. Sometimes I design cards
He/him
#WotCstaff
He/him
#WotCstaff
Some Goblins just aren't Noble enough to keep around.
February 5, 2026 at 10:11 PM
Some Goblins just aren't Noble enough to keep around.
I don’t think the rules cover very well whether that’s the “same ability” or a new ability, though I might be missing something. Wouldn’t be the first time.
February 5, 2026 at 3:01 AM
I don’t think the rules cover very well whether that’s the “same ability” or a new ability, though I might be missing something. Wouldn’t be the first time.
I agree that's how it works with Necrotic Ooze. Though text-changing is slightly different, I still think 602.5 should be applied here (Acknowledging that Volrath's Shapeshifter is very weird). #WotCstaff
February 4, 2026 at 10:53 PM
I agree that's how it works with Necrotic Ooze. Though text-changing is slightly different, I still think 602.5 should be applied here (Acknowledging that Volrath's Shapeshifter is very weird). #WotCstaff
You choose the half you're casting before putting it on the stack; only that half is evaluated to see if it can be cast. Therefore, the half of the split card you are casting needs to exactly two colors, and the other half is disregarded. You can cast Fuss or Bother but not Fire or Ice. #WotCstaff
February 4, 2026 at 10:51 PM
You choose the half you're casting before putting it on the stack; only that half is evaluated to see if it can be cast. Therefore, the half of the split card you are casting needs to exactly two colors, and the other half is disregarded. You can cast Fuss or Bother but not Fire or Ice. #WotCstaff
I believe that B and C are fairly straightforward, as those are different objects and it should have those abilities. I don't think this is similar to the Necrotic Ooze case, but I might be misunderstanding what you're asking?
#WotCstaff
#WotCstaff
February 4, 2026 at 10:46 PM
I believe that B and C are fairly straightforward, as those are different objects and it should have those abilities. I don't think this is similar to the Necrotic Ooze case, but I might be misunderstanding what you're asking?
#WotCstaff
#WotCstaff
We'll be adding more explicit support for triggered abilities when you sacrifice something to clearly look back in time for cards like Mayhem Devil (and perhaps, more relevantly, Daemogoth Woe-Eater) in a near-future rules update. #WotCStaff
February 4, 2026 at 10:43 PM
We'll be adding more explicit support for triggered abilities when you sacrifice something to clearly look back in time for cards like Mayhem Devil (and perhaps, more relevantly, Daemogoth Woe-Eater) in a near-future rules update. #WotCStaff
Following up after some discussion; Yes, you should draw a card if you airbend Aang. #WotCStaff
February 4, 2026 at 10:38 PM
Following up after some discussion; Yes, you should draw a card if you airbend Aang. #WotCStaff
Brimaz and like 20 other cards all raise their fists in solidarity.
January 29, 2026 at 8:28 PM
Brimaz and like 20 other cards all raise their fists in solidarity.
Mayhem Devil is an odd duck, but I think design would want it to be one, yes. Not sure rules technically support that, though, so it’s also worth a closer look (I’d also already made that note to myself). #WotCstaff
January 29, 2026 at 1:43 AM
Mayhem Devil is an odd duck, but I think design would want it to be one, yes. Not sure rules technically support that, though, so it’s also worth a closer look (I’d also already made that note to myself). #WotCstaff
For sure, I do see your point. As a concept, I’m not a huge fan of a single trigger condition that’s sometimes an LTB trigger and sometimes not, depending on whether the object you chose to airbend was a permanent on the battlefield or not. I’ll have to dig into design intent here. #WotCstaff
January 29, 2026 at 1:25 AM
For sure, I do see your point. As a concept, I’m not a huge fan of a single trigger condition that’s sometimes an LTB trigger and sometimes not, depending on whether the object you chose to airbend was a permanent on the battlefield or not. I’ll have to dig into design intent here. #WotCstaff
Off the top of my head I’m not sure why that call was made back in OG Innistrad; Soul Seizer would get weird, but I don’t think it truly breaks anything in the rules. I’d assume it was a design call to prevent players from potentially abusing “whenever this creature transforms” abilities. #WotCstaff
January 29, 2026 at 1:10 AM
Off the top of my head I’m not sure why that call was made back in OG Innistrad; Soul Seizer would get weird, but I don’t think it truly breaks anything in the rules. I’d assume it was a design call to prevent players from potentially abusing “whenever this creature transforms” abilities. #WotCstaff
That isn’t my expectation, no. Are you suggesting it should be considered a “leaves-the-battlefield” trigger? #WotCstaff
January 29, 2026 at 12:57 AM
That isn’t my expectation, no. Are you suggesting it should be considered a “leaves-the-battlefield” trigger? #WotCstaff
Sorry to say, this might mean you're old.
January 28, 2026 at 9:14 PM
Sorry to say, this might mean you're old.
That said, I do think I could craft a system that doesn’t have most of those unintuitive cases, but it’s a system largely *built* on dependencies, so good luck learning that system, and rip to anyone trying to program it for Arena/MTGO. (In case it’s not clear, I won’t be doing that)
January 28, 2026 at 4:39 PM
That said, I do think I could craft a system that doesn’t have most of those unintuitive cases, but it’s a system largely *built* on dependencies, so good luck learning that system, and rip to anyone trying to program it for Arena/MTGO. (In case it’s not clear, I won’t be doing that)
I really think that biggest problem with layers is that it works well *invisibly* in those 99% of cases, so when a really bad example pops up, people think “why is this system so confusing” because they’re trying to understand it through the lens of an unintuitive example. #WotCstaff
January 28, 2026 at 4:35 PM
I really think that biggest problem with layers is that it works well *invisibly* in those 99% of cases, so when a really bad example pops up, people think “why is this system so confusing” because they’re trying to understand it through the lens of an unintuitive example. #WotCstaff
Yeah, I’m quite sure we’ve talked about this while it was being recorded.
January 28, 2026 at 3:58 PM
Yeah, I’m quite sure we’ve talked about this while it was being recorded.
Also, I don't think it's six of us. There are dozens of us. Dozens!
January 27, 2026 at 5:40 PM
Also, I don't think it's six of us. There are dozens of us. Dozens!
I enjoy talking about and explaining Magic rules more than most humans, but I cringe every time I explain something knowing someone will have to use "The Magic Rules Architect said so!" as justification for it working that way. #WotCstaff
January 27, 2026 at 5:39 PM
I enjoy talking about and explaining Magic rules more than most humans, but I cringe every time I explain something knowing someone will have to use "The Magic Rules Architect said so!" as justification for it working that way. #WotCstaff
Not sure whether or not it was considered with the recent change to Zinnia and Ashling (I was out of office for about three months), but Henzie, along with a few other cards, is being looked into for a potential similar update in the future. #WotCstaff
January 27, 2026 at 5:27 AM
Not sure whether or not it was considered with the recent change to Zinnia and Ashling (I was out of office for about three months), but Henzie, along with a few other cards, is being looked into for a potential similar update in the future. #WotCstaff
This was, in fact, the very same interaction. I fear I went full podcast mode on somebody.
January 27, 2026 at 3:41 AM
This was, in fact, the very same interaction. I fear I went full podcast mode on somebody.
I *think* that makes sense, though that's more "tentative directional agreement" than "ruling," as rules don't cover this. This is probably worth our time to flesh out in the future, though, especially because of similar questions with Koh and cards in exile. Thanks for bringing it up! #WotCstaff
January 27, 2026 at 12:41 AM
I *think* that makes sense, though that's more "tentative directional agreement" than "ruling," as rules don't cover this. This is probably worth our time to flesh out in the future, though, especially because of similar questions with Koh and cards in exile. Thanks for bringing it up! #WotCstaff
Some specific rules and effects allow the game to look forward to what the characteristics of the spell will be on the stack (eg Adventure spells), but those are limited in scope, and there's no such rule that allows this for blitz.
#WotCstaff
#WotCstaff
January 27, 2026 at 12:24 AM
Some specific rules and effects allow the game to look forward to what the characteristics of the spell will be on the stack (eg Adventure spells), but those are limited in scope, and there's no such rule that allows this for blitz.
#WotCstaff
#WotCstaff