Set Name Magic 2012
Three-Letter Abbreviation M12
Number of Cards 249
Release Date July 15, 2011
Prerelease Events July 9-10, 2011
Launch Parties July 15-18, 2011
Game Day August 13-14, 2011
Design Team
Mark Globus (lead)
Doug Beyer
Aaron Forsythe
Ken Nagle
Development Team
Tom LaPille (lead)
Kelly Digges
Peter Schaefer
Mike Turian
Steve Warner
Dave Humpherys
New Keyword: Hexproof
Some keywords, like infect or exalted, show up in a set or a block but by default aren't in subsequent sets. Other keywords, like flying and lifelink, are considered "evergreen" parts of the game. They can appear in any set, and most sets feature all of the evergreen keywords on at least a few cards.
Magic 2012 brings us a new evergreen keyword: hexproof!
A creature with hexproof can't be the target of spells or abilities your opponents control, but you can target it with spells and abilities normally. That means that your opponent can't use Doom Blade to destroy your Dungrove Elder, but you can still use something like Lifelink to make it better—the best of both worlds.
Like most of the evergreen keywords added to the game since its beginnings, hexproof isn't a new concept. It's the keyword version of a familiar ability seen on cards such as Troll Ascetic and Sacred Wolf. Those two cards—along with all the other cards that have text that exactly matches what hexproof does—will receive updated official wordings with the new keyword.
Hexproof will debut in Duels of the Planeswalkers 2012 and will appear in subsequent card sets, including Magic: The Gathering Commander and the Magic 2012 Core Set.
New Terminology: "Dies"
"When [this card] is put into the graveyard from the battlefield" is a mouthful, and when people are talking about cards informally, they're more likely to say something shorter such as "When [this card] dies." Now—specifically in the case of creatures—that's what the cards will say as well.
"Dies" is shorthand for "is put into a graveyard from the battlefield" that's used exclusively to refer to creatures. (Other forms of the verb "to die," such as "died," are used as appropriate.)
"Dies" and "is put into a graveyard from the battlefield" mean the same thing, so there are no functional changes resulting from this change. In other words, the new terminology won't change how the cards work; it just makes a certain subset of cards easier to read and talk about.
Cards will continue to use the current terminology if they refer to cards that aren't on the battlefield, objects that aren't creatures by default (for example, enchantments), or groups of objects that might include some creatures and some noncreatures (for example, permanents). They also won't use "dies" if they refer to cards being put into a specific graveyard, as Nim Deathmantle does.
"Dies" will debut in Duels of the Planeswalkers 2012. It does not appear in Magic: The Gathering Commander, but it will be used in subsequent card sets, including the Magic 2012 Core Set.
Returning Keyword: Bloodthirst
In addition to evergreen keywords, some recent core sets include keywords from the past. The Magic 2012 Core Set features the bloodthirst keyword, originally from Guildpact and last seen (like so many other keywords) in Future Sight:
"Bloodthirst N" means "If an opponent was dealt damage this turn, this creature enters the battlefield with N +1/+1 counters on it."
Life loss that isn't caused by damage (for example, the life loss caused by Vapor Snag) doesn't cause a creature with bloodthirst to get counters, but damage from a source with infect (such as Cystbearer) does, even though it doesn't cause loss of life.
It doesn't matter whether the damage is combat damage from an unblocked attacking creature or damage dealt by a spell or ability, nor does it matter if the player gains life later in the turn. All that matters is that at least one opponent of the creature's controller was dealt damage earlier in the same turn that the creature enters the battlefield.
Bloodthirst will appear in Duels of the Planeswalkers 2012 and the Magic 2012 Core Set.
Returning Card Type: Planeswalker
Planeswalker cards have been part of the game since their debut in Lorwyn in 2007. Nothing in the planeswalker rules has changed; what follows is a refresher on the finer points of playing with planeswalkers (and an excuse to show you one that's new to the core set).
Planeswalker cards will appear in the Magic 2012 Core Set and subsequent card sets. Planeswalker characters will appear in Duels of the Planeswalkers 2012.
Planeswalker cards are shuffled into your deck at the start of the game, just like any other cards. You can cast a planeswalker only at the time you could cast a sorcery. A planeswalker is a permanent, so when a planeswalker spell you control resolves, it enters the battlefield under your control. (Note that planeswalkers are not creatures.)
BUY A BOX PROMO
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Morire al posto "è messa in un cimitero dal gioco" mi suona molto da Bimbominkia...
Vorrei poi aprire una parentesi a lato sul nuovo formato lanciato online e che tutto il mondo si aspetta presto divverà anche real http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/A ... /05192011d
Strano che nella patria dei formati Eternal non se ne sia parlato
quando lo scopo della Wizzy era proprio l'opposto, ossia facilitare ai novizi l'apprendimento del gioco sostituendo giri di parole come “quando questa creatura finisce in un cimitero dal campo di battaglia” con semplici parole quali MORIRE o come aveva già fatto prima con CAUTELA [a.k.a. Attacca senza Tappare].
