In today's Magic Arcana, the 'Style Guides' from Mirrodin were showcased.

"A Style Guide is a set of guidelines for the illustrators that will ensure a consistency in the art," commented Wizards creative director Brady Dommermuth. "We had a problem with Onslaught how would we differentiate the new Beasts and Clerics from beasts and clerics of the past? Well, by making a 'Style Guide', we were able to set the new creatures apart. Onslaught Beasts have bonespurs on their backs; Onslaught Clerics wear reeds; and so on."

"So now we had this problem with Mirrodin: we needed to set these artifacts apart from the artifacts of old. Artifacts are back in a very big, very SERIOUS way, and we needed to come up with some idea, some concept that we could include in every card's art to communicate just how serious we are about the return of artifacts."

"Then Jens Thoren showed us his invitational card, and it was settled- Mirrodin artifacts are serious. That's what sets Mirrodin artifacts apart from the artifacts of the past- their solemnity."

The Arcana goes on to preview three artifacts that best showcase this new style- two of them 'fixed' versions of classic artifacts, and the third a brand new mirrodin artifact.

The complete Style Guide for Mirrodin artifacts is as follows:

"Mirrodin is the new setting for several Magic expansions. It is a plane made entirely of metal, with lots of artifacts. Although the artifacts can take a variety of forms or functions, they are all very solemn. On each artifact you illustrate, somewhere, you should make some aspect that depicts how serious the artifact is. People don't laugh at these artifacts, because there is nothing funny about them. They're hardcore."

Discuss this article in the Magic: the Gathering Forums!

In today's Magic Arcana, the 'Style Guides' from Mirrodin were showcased.

"A Style Guide is a set of guidelines for the illustrators that will ensure a consistency in the art," commented Wizards creative director Brady Dommermuth. "We had a problem with Onslaught how would we differentiate the new Beasts and Clerics from beasts and clerics of the past? Well, by making a 'Style Guide', we were able to set the new creatures apart. Onslaught Beasts have bonespurs on their backs; Onslaught Clerics wear reeds; and so on."

"So now we had this problem with Mirrodin: we needed to set these artifacts apart from the artifacts of old. Artifacts are back in a very big, very SERIOUS way, and we needed to come up with some idea, some concept that we could include in every card's art to communicate just how serious we are about the return of artifacts."

"Then Jens Thoren showed us his invitational card, and it was settled- Mirrodin artifacts are serious. That's what sets Mirrodin artifacts apart from the artifacts of the past- their solemnity."

The Arcana goes on to preview three artifacts that best showcase this new style- two of them 'fixed' versions of classic artifacts, and the third a brand new mirrodin artifact.

The complete Style Guide for Mirrodin artifacts is as follows:

"Mirrodin is the new setting for several Magic expansions. It is a plane made entirely of metal, with lots of artifacts. Although the artifacts can take a variety of forms or functions, they are all very solemn. On each artifact you illustrate, somewhere, you should make some aspect that depicts how serious the artifact is. People don't laugh at these artifacts, because there is nothing funny about them. They're hardcore."

Discuss this article in the Magic: the Gathering Forums!