Magic: The Gathering Drive to Work Podcast #1221: Top 20 Most Influential Designs, Part 2
Mar 7, 2025
Dive into the fascinating origins of Akroma, Angel of Wrath, and the groundbreaking Shocklands that revolutionized dual land strategies. Discover the creative spirit behind the Panharmonicon and its innovative mechanics from Kaladesh. Uncover the beauty of simplicity in influential card designs that resonate deeply with players. Explore the design philosophy behind tree folk characters and their strategic importance in gameplay. Finally, learn how prioritizing toughness over power adds a new layer of strategy to deck-building!
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Akroma's Flashy Design Story
- Akroma, Angel of Wrath was designed to be flashy with many abilities, capturing excitement over strict flavor for the character.
- Bill Rose designed Akroma with seven different abilities to make her an iconic and popular legendary creature.
Shocklands Design and Adoption
- Shocklands were created by Mark Rosewater to improve mana support in a multicolor block and combined pain and tap lands for flexibility.
- Development initially resisted them but ultimately adopted his design, making Shocklands a staple dual land model.
Shocklands' Lasting Impact
- Shocklands popularized the concept of basic land types on dual lands and flexible mana options.
- They set a precedent for reusable cycles and thoughtful naming for future Magic sets.