List of unsupported card groups
Posted: 24 Feb 2015, 13:35If you notice any mistakes on the list, either in the group descriptions, number estimates or particularly if you know relevant groups that are missing from it, please say something so I can correct the info.
This is a list of unimplemented card groups, with card examples. Notice that it's only listing groups with at least 10 cards with similar text.
The two major unsupported card groups are:
- Cards that add multiple mana to the mana pool (Black Lotus, Dark Ritual), cause other cards to produce multiple mana (High Tide) or otherwise require the mana pool (Omnath, Locus of Mana). Activated abilities that generate mana and aren't mana abilities (Deathrite Shaman). Cards that can produce multiple mana during a turn and require choices when activated (Squandered Resources, Agent of Stromgald). In total, these amount to several hundred cards.
- Spells or effects that require or allow multiple target choices: Dust to Dust, Pyrotechnics, Azorius Ploy, Redirect. This is the largest group of unsupported cards, with over a thousand cards.
Besides those, there are several smaller card groups:
- Some abilities that reduce casting costs such as Convoke (35 cards - Overwhelm) and Delve (22 cards - Tombstalker).
- Cards with the keyword Scry 2 or greater and a few others that involve searching/looking at the top cards of the library, rearranging and placing them back on top of the library. About 20 cards (Magma Jet).
- Split cards (Fire/Ice) - 38 cards.
- Cards with static or triggered abilities that work while they're in the graveyard. About 100 cards, such as Wonder, Genesis, Nether Shadow. Includes the 13 cards with dredge (Moldervine Cloak).
- Cards that require looking at the opponent's hand or revealing cards from a player's hand (Coercion, Glasses of Urza, Silvergill Adept). In total this category amounts to >120 cards. The 27 cards with Splice onto Arcane (Spiritual Visit) form a significant subgroup.
- Preventing damage from a source of your choice (Circle of Protection: Red, Reverse Damage). Redirecting damage (Reverberation, Nomads en-Kor). About 90 cards.
- Some combat related abilities: creatures able to block multiple attackers or that can only be blocked by more than one blocker. Forcing creatures to block (including the provoke keyword). Creatures that require remembering damage dealt in combat for abilities or effects. Probably about 100 unimplementable cards for these reasons: Avatar of Hope, Sengir Vampire, Lure.
- Abilities that can be activated by either player. 37 cards. Ribbon Snake, Ifh-Biff Efreet
- Some alternative casting costs, e.g. giving life to your opponent (Reverent Silence). Some casting conditions such as "cast only during combat after blockers are declared" (Flash Foliage). Cards with two different kickers (Thornscape Battlemage). About 40 cards.
- Choosing a creature type - 52 cards. Extinction.
- Skipping or repeating phases or steps (Necropotence, Relentless Assault), or cards that require remembering turn order (Serra Avenger). Remembering whether a creature attacked or blocked on the current turn (Erg Raiders, Fyndhorn Druid), or when a card has entered the battlefield (Novijen, Heart of Progress, Premature Burial). Permanently remembering the target or amount of an effect (Laquatus's Champion, Soulgorger Orgg, Reverse Polarity). About 80 cards.
- Cards with abilities or costs that require only spending mana of a certain type, or check for the type of mana spent to cast/activate them for various effects (Drain Life, Imperiosaur, Azorius Herald). Also, cards that generate mana that can only be spent for specific things (Ancient Ziggurat, Pillar of the Paruns). Cards with Sunburst (Engineered Explosives) - 16 cards. About 100 cards in total.
- Interacting with the sideboard (Cunning Wish), changing a card's text (Magical Hack), naming a card (Meddling Mage), separating cards into piles (Liliana of the Veil), playing with the library's top card revealed (Courser of Kruphix). ~60 cards.
- Spells or activated abilities with an X mana cost that ask for a target with converted mana cost X (Detonate, Gorilla Shaman). Magarena requires a viable target in order to allow the ability to be activated, but in this case having a viable target requires activating the ability. About 40 cards.
- Modal spells that require choosing two modes (Cryptic Command), "modal" permanents (Roots of Life, Citadel Siege). ~30 cards.
- Cards that require or allow choosing an X amount or any number, when that's not related to the card's casting cost or an ability's activation cost, or the etb ability Devour. Examples: Scapeshift, Volt Charge, Hatred, Phyrexian Dreadnought. This group consists in >100 cards.
- Banding - 49 cards - Pikemen, Master of the Hunt
- Phasing - 32 cards - Breezekeeper, Teferi's Veil
- Suspend - 59 cards - Ancestral Vision, Delay
Latest edit: Cards that involve searching cards from the library and placing some or all of them on the bottom of the library were implemented, this enables a lot of new cards.
This is a list of unimplemented card groups, with card examples. Notice that it's only listing groups with at least 10 cards with similar text.
The two major unsupported card groups are:
- Cards that add multiple mana to the mana pool (Black Lotus, Dark Ritual), cause other cards to produce multiple mana (High Tide) or otherwise require the mana pool (Omnath, Locus of Mana). Activated abilities that generate mana and aren't mana abilities (Deathrite Shaman). Cards that can produce multiple mana during a turn and require choices when activated (Squandered Resources, Agent of Stromgald). In total, these amount to several hundred cards.
- Spells or effects that require or allow multiple target choices: Dust to Dust, Pyrotechnics, Azorius Ploy, Redirect. This is the largest group of unsupported cards, with over a thousand cards.
Besides those, there are several smaller card groups:
- Some abilities that reduce casting costs such as Convoke (35 cards - Overwhelm) and Delve (22 cards - Tombstalker).
- Cards with the keyword Scry 2 or greater and a few others that involve searching/looking at the top cards of the library, rearranging and placing them back on top of the library. About 20 cards (Magma Jet).
- Split cards (Fire/Ice) - 38 cards.
- Cards with static or triggered abilities that work while they're in the graveyard. About 100 cards, such as Wonder, Genesis, Nether Shadow. Includes the 13 cards with dredge (Moldervine Cloak).
- Cards that require looking at the opponent's hand or revealing cards from a player's hand (Coercion, Glasses of Urza, Silvergill Adept). In total this category amounts to >120 cards. The 27 cards with Splice onto Arcane (Spiritual Visit) form a significant subgroup.
- Preventing damage from a source of your choice (Circle of Protection: Red, Reverse Damage). Redirecting damage (Reverberation, Nomads en-Kor). About 90 cards.
- Some combat related abilities: creatures able to block multiple attackers or that can only be blocked by more than one blocker. Forcing creatures to block (including the provoke keyword). Creatures that require remembering damage dealt in combat for abilities or effects. Probably about 100 unimplementable cards for these reasons: Avatar of Hope, Sengir Vampire, Lure.
- Abilities that can be activated by either player. 37 cards. Ribbon Snake, Ifh-Biff Efreet
- Some alternative casting costs, e.g. giving life to your opponent (Reverent Silence). Some casting conditions such as "cast only during combat after blockers are declared" (Flash Foliage). Cards with two different kickers (Thornscape Battlemage). About 40 cards.
- Choosing a creature type - 52 cards. Extinction.
- Skipping or repeating phases or steps (Necropotence, Relentless Assault), or cards that require remembering turn order (Serra Avenger). Remembering whether a creature attacked or blocked on the current turn (Erg Raiders, Fyndhorn Druid), or when a card has entered the battlefield (Novijen, Heart of Progress, Premature Burial). Permanently remembering the target or amount of an effect (Laquatus's Champion, Soulgorger Orgg, Reverse Polarity). About 80 cards.
- Cards with abilities or costs that require only spending mana of a certain type, or check for the type of mana spent to cast/activate them for various effects (Drain Life, Imperiosaur, Azorius Herald). Also, cards that generate mana that can only be spent for specific things (Ancient Ziggurat, Pillar of the Paruns). Cards with Sunburst (Engineered Explosives) - 16 cards. About 100 cards in total.
- Interacting with the sideboard (Cunning Wish), changing a card's text (Magical Hack), naming a card (Meddling Mage), separating cards into piles (Liliana of the Veil), playing with the library's top card revealed (Courser of Kruphix). ~60 cards.
- Spells or activated abilities with an X mana cost that ask for a target with converted mana cost X (Detonate, Gorilla Shaman). Magarena requires a viable target in order to allow the ability to be activated, but in this case having a viable target requires activating the ability. About 40 cards.
- Modal spells that require choosing two modes (Cryptic Command), "modal" permanents (Roots of Life, Citadel Siege). ~30 cards.
- Cards that require or allow choosing an X amount or any number, when that's not related to the card's casting cost or an ability's activation cost, or the etb ability Devour. Examples: Scapeshift, Volt Charge, Hatred, Phyrexian Dreadnought. This group consists in >100 cards.
- Banding - 49 cards - Pikemen, Master of the Hunt
- Phasing - 32 cards - Breezekeeper, Teferi's Veil
- Suspend - 59 cards - Ancestral Vision, Delay
Latest edit: Cards that involve searching cards from the library and placing some or all of them on the bottom of the library were implemented, this enables a lot of new cards.
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