Being in R&D makes Mark Rosewater a very high-profile person in the Magic world. Having the job of designing the cards is probably the most important job concerning the development of the game. So one would think he'd have a clue of how the cards he designs work.

In his recent column on MagicTheGathering.com, he introduced Phage, the Untouchable, a card to be released in the Legions expansion that represents the corrupted version of Kamahl's sister, Jeska. The card will have the following attributes:

Phage, the Untouchable
Creature - Minion Legend
4/4

When Phage, the Untouchable comes into play, if you didn't play it from your hand, you lose the game.

Whenever Phage, the Untouchable deals combat damage to a creature, destroy that creature. It can't be regenerated.

Whenever Phage, the Untouchable deals combat damage to a player, that player loses the game.

Rosewater then suggested a possible "fun" combo for using Phage to win in a creative way:

"Here's one way. Get a Volrath's Shapeshifter in play. Then discard Kamahl, Pit Fighter. Your Volrath's Shapeshifter becomes a Kamahl, Pit Fighter. As it has haste, you may use its ability right away to deal 3 damage to your opponent. Then after the effect is on the stack, but before it resolves, discard Phage the Untouchable from your hand. Then let the "Kamahl" effect resolve. As your creature is now Phage, the "opponent loses if damaged by her" text applies and your opponent loses."

Besides the glaring jankiness of this combo, it also stands in complete contradiction to the actual abilities of this card. Rosewater, of all people, should know that a player only loses the game when Phage deals combat damage to him or her.

Upon reading the article, said level 4 judge and fellow MagicTheGathering.com columnist Rune Horvik, "He really should've ran that past me first. Are you sure he designed the card?"

Added an anonymous WotC member, "Jesus, how embarrassing. Rosewater really needs to deal combat damage to himself with Phage. If you know what I mean."

Discuss this article in the Magic: the Gathering Forums!

Being in R&D makes Mark Rosewater a very high-profile person in the Magic world. Having the job of designing the cards is probably the most important job concerning the development of the game. So one would think he'd have a clue of how the cards he designs work.

In his recent column on MagicTheGathering.com, he introduced Phage, the Untouchable, a card to be released in the Legions expansion that represents the corrupted version of Kamahl's sister, Jeska. The card will have the following attributes:

Phage, the Untouchable
Creature - Minion Legend
4/4

When Phage, the Untouchable comes into play, if you didn't play it from your hand, you lose the game.

Whenever Phage, the Untouchable deals combat damage to a creature, destroy that creature. It can't be regenerated.

Whenever Phage, the Untouchable deals combat damage to a player, that player loses the game.

Rosewater then suggested a possible "fun" combo for using Phage to win in a creative way:

"Here's one way. Get a Volrath's Shapeshifter in play. Then discard Kamahl, Pit Fighter. Your Volrath's Shapeshifter becomes a Kamahl, Pit Fighter. As it has haste, you may use its ability right away to deal 3 damage to your opponent. Then after the effect is on the stack, but before it resolves, discard Phage the Untouchable from your hand. Then let the "Kamahl" effect resolve. As your creature is now Phage, the "opponent loses if damaged by her" text applies and your opponent loses."

Besides the glaring jankiness of this combo, it also stands in complete contradiction to the actual abilities of this card. Rosewater, of all people, should know that a player only loses the game when Phage deals combat damage to him or her.

Upon reading the article, said level 4 judge and fellow MagicTheGathering.com columnist Rune Horvik, "He really should've ran that past me first. Are you sure he designed the card?"

Added an anonymous WotC member, "Jesus, how embarrassing. Rosewater really needs to deal combat damage to himself with Phage. If you know what I mean."

Discuss this article in the Magic: the Gathering Forums!