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(→‎Return to Ravnica Tablet: not strictly better as this only triggers on your own spells, not all players like the Darksteel charms)
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'''Lucky charms''' are life-gaining [[artifact]]s,<ref>{{EzTumblr|http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/93466621098/what-do-people-mean-when-they-say-lucky-charms-as-of|title=What do people mean when they say "lucky charms" as of late?|July 31, 2014}}</ref> such as the ones originally from ''[[Alpha]]''.
'''"Lucky charms"''' are the life-gaining artifacts in [[Alpha]], <c>Crystal Rod</c>, <c>Iron Star</c>, <c>Ivory Cup</c>, <c>Throne of Bone</c>, and <c>Wooden Sphere</c>, and their derivatives in other sets and expansions. The original so-called "lucky charms" were printed in every [[Core Set]] through [[8th Edition]]. The art for each card from [[5th Edition]] to 8th (save [[7th Edition]], which commissioned art by different artists) was illustrated by Donato Giancola.
 
[[image:AngelsFeatherIvoryCup.jpg|right|thumb|400px|Angel's Feather from [[9th Edition]] and Ivory Cup from [[Unlimited]]]]
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[[File:AngelsFeatherIvoryCup.jpg|right|thumb|350px|Angel's Feather from ''[[Ninth Edition]]'' and Ivory Cup from ''[[Unlimited]]''.]]
   
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==History==
The original "lucky charm" for white read: <blockquote>Whenever a player plays a white spell, you may pay {{1}}. If you do, you gain 1 life.</blockquote>
 
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===''Alpha'' lucky charms===
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The original lucky charms - <c>Ivory Cup</c>, <c>Crystal Rod</c>, <c>Throne of Bone</c>, <c>Iron Star</c>, and <c>Wooden Sphere</c> - are [[uncommon]] [[artifact]]s with a [[triggered ability]] that allows the controller to pay {{1}} to gain 1 life when a spell of a given [[color]] is cast. They were printed in every [[Core Set]] from ''Alpha'' to ''[[Eighth Edition]]''. A similar artifact from the same set was <c>Soul Net</c>, which triggers whenever a creature dies.
   
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===''Antiquities'' lucky charm===
Another cycle of life-gaining artifacts, improved versions of the "lucky charms" {{-}} <c>Angel's Feather</c>, <c>Demon's Horn</c>, <c>Dragon's Claw</c>, <c>Kraken's Eye</c>, and <c>Wurm's Tooth</c> {{-}} were printed in [[Darksteel]], and they have been reprinted in every core set thereafter. Each of these cards was illustrated by [[Alan Pollack]].
 
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A life-gaining artifact following the theme of the original lucky charms, <c>Urza's Chalice</c>, was printed in ''[[Antiquities]]''. This artifact triggers on artifacts, rather than colors. It is so far the only lucky charm that's common rather than uncommon. Also, an artifact that imitated <c>Soul Net</c>'s death trigger, <c>Tablet of Epityr</c>, was printed.
   
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===''Darksteel'' lucky charms===
The version from Darksteel reads: <blockquote>Whenever a player plays a white spell, you may gain 1 life.</blockquote>
 
 
Another cycle of life-gaining artifacts was made in ''[[Darksteel]]''. <c>Angel's Feather</c>, <c>Kraken's Eye</c>, <c>Demon's Horn</c>, <c>Dragon's Claw</c>, and <c>Wurm's Tooth</c> were printed in ''[[Darksteel]],'' and they have been reprinted in every core set from ''[[Ninth Edition]]'' to ''[[Magic 2012]]''.
The newer versions require no activation cost, but are costlier by {{1}}.
 
   
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These updated versions don't require the owner to pay mana in order to gain a life, at the cost of having the artifact cost {{1}} more. It was felt this would work better in a [[core set]], which is targeted at newer players. At the time, core sets didn't have any new cards, only reprints, so room had to be found in an [[Expert-level]] expansion. ''Darksteel'' was finally the set to have this cycle see print because of the artifact heavy theme of the [[Mirrodin block]].<ref>{{DailyRef|making-magic/what-do-you-know-part-ii-2007-12-10|What Do You Know, Part II|[[Mark Rosewater]]|December 10, 2007}}</ref>
[[Category:Cards]][[Category:Magic slang]]
 
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===''Time Spiral'' lucky charm===
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''[[Time Spiral]]'' featured a lucky charm, <c>Paradise Plume</c> that could trigger on one color which was chosen as it enters the battlefield. In addition, it serves as a [[mana stone]] for the chosen color.
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===''Scars of Mirrodin'' lucky charm===
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Following the theme set in ''[[Darksteel]],'' ''[[Scars of Mirrodin]]'' improved on the original artifact lucky charm that was printed in ''[[Antiquities]]''. <c>Golem's Heart</c> used the same change as the ''[[Darksteel]]'' lucky charms did: taking out the activation cost, but making it cost {{1}} more.
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===''Magic 2014'' Staves===
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For ''[[Magic 2014]]'', a cycle of uncommon artifacts costing {{3}} was introduced, {{1}} more than the Darksteel cycle and {{2}} more than the original cycle {{-}} <c>Staff of the Sun Magus</c>, <c>Staff of the Mind Magus</c>, <c>Staff of the Death Magus</c>, <c>Staff of the Flame Magus</c> and <c>Staff of the Wild Magus</c>.
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Each staff allows a player to gain a life both when casting a spell of the color, or when playing a land with the basic land type associated with that color. The staves only trigger when the controller plays a spell of the appropriate color instead of any player.
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===''Return to Ravnica Tablet''===
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Following the Paradise Plume design, <c>Tablet of the Guilds</c> in [[Return to Ravnica]] costs the same as the Darksteel charms, but has the ability to choose two colors and gain off either (two life if appropriately multicolored).
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===''Magic Origins'' Ring===
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Much like Paradise Plume and Tablet of the Guilds, the next charm from [[Magic Origins]] was <c>Prism Ring</c>. Reflecting the acknowledgment of the low power level of the charms in general, the cost was dropped back to one mana and allowed the choice of any color.
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===''Core 2019'' Mare===
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During ''[[Dominaria]]'' [[vision design]], [[Richard Garfield]] designed a lot of updates to early ''Magic'' cards. One of his designs that seemed very promising was a cycle of artifact creatures based on the original "lucky charm" cycle.<ref name ="Creating Core 2019">{{DailyRef|card-preview/creating-core-set-2019-2018-06-19|Creating ''Core Set 2019''|[[Ethan Fleischer]]|June 19, 2018}}</ref><ref name="Cards 1">{{DailyRef|making-magic/cards-part-1-2018-06-25|In the Cards, Part 1|[[Mark Rosewater]]|June 25, 2018}}</ref> Space issues first led to the cycle being transferred to ''[[Core Set 2019]]'', and consequently being condensed into a single card by [[Ethan Fleischer]]. This is <c>Diamond Mare</c>.
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==References==
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{{reflist}}
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[[Category:Miscellaneous mechanics]]
 
[[Category:Magic slang]][[Category:Artifacts]]

Revision as of 15:55, 21 August 2020

Lucky charms are life-gaining artifacts,[1] such as the ones originally from Alpha.

AngelsFeatherIvoryCup

Angel's Feather from Ninth Edition and Ivory Cup from Unlimited.

History

Alpha lucky charms

The original lucky charms - Ivory Cup, Crystal Rod, Throne of Bone, Iron Star, and Wooden Sphere - are uncommon artifacts with a triggered ability that allows the controller to pay {1} to gain 1 life when a spell of a given color is cast. They were printed in every Core Set from Alpha to Eighth Edition. A similar artifact from the same set was Soul Net, which triggers whenever a creature dies.

Antiquities lucky charm

A life-gaining artifact following the theme of the original lucky charms, Urza's Chalice, was printed in Antiquities. This artifact triggers on artifacts, rather than colors. It is so far the only lucky charm that's common rather than uncommon. Also, an artifact that imitated Soul Net's death trigger, Tablet of Epityr, was printed.

Darksteel lucky charms

Another cycle of life-gaining artifacts was made in Darksteel. Angel's Feather, Kraken's Eye, Demon's Horn, Dragon's Claw, and Wurm's Tooth were printed in Darksteel, and they have been reprinted in every core set from Ninth Edition to Magic 2012.

These updated versions don't require the owner to pay mana in order to gain a life, at the cost of having the artifact cost {1} more. It was felt this would work better in a core set, which is targeted at newer players. At the time, core sets didn't have any new cards, only reprints, so room had to be found in an Expert-level expansion. Darksteel was finally the set to have this cycle see print because of the artifact heavy theme of the Mirrodin block.[2]

Time Spiral lucky charm

Time Spiral featured a lucky charm, Paradise Plume that could trigger on one color which was chosen as it enters the battlefield. In addition, it serves as a mana stone for the chosen color.

Scars of Mirrodin lucky charm

Following the theme set in Darksteel, Scars of Mirrodin improved on the original artifact lucky charm that was printed in Antiquities. Golem's Heart used the same change as the Darksteel lucky charms did: taking out the activation cost, but making it cost {1} more.

Magic 2014 Staves

For Magic 2014, a cycle of uncommon artifacts costing {3} was introduced, {1} more than the Darksteel cycle and {2} more than the original cycle — Staff of the Sun Magus, Staff of the Mind Magus, Staff of the Death Magus, Staff of the Flame Magus and Staff of the Wild Magus.

Each staff allows a player to gain a life both when casting a spell of the color, or when playing a land with the basic land type associated with that color. The staves only trigger when the controller plays a spell of the appropriate color instead of any player.

Return to Ravnica Tablet

Following the Paradise Plume design, Tablet of the Guilds in Return to Ravnica costs the same as the Darksteel charms, but has the ability to choose two colors and gain off either (two life if appropriately multicolored).

Magic Origins Ring

Much like Paradise Plume and Tablet of the Guilds, the next charm from Magic Origins was Prism Ring. Reflecting the acknowledgment of the low power level of the charms in general, the cost was dropped back to one mana and allowed the choice of any color.

Core 2019 Mare

During Dominaria vision design, Richard Garfield designed a lot of updates to early Magic cards. One of his designs that seemed very promising was a cycle of artifact creatures based on the original "lucky charm" cycle.[3][4] Space issues first led to the cycle being transferred to Core Set 2019, and consequently being condensed into a single card by Ethan Fleischer. This is Diamond Mare.

References

  1. Mark Rosewater (July 31, 2014). "What do people mean when they say "lucky charms" as of late?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  2. Mark Rosewater (December 10, 2007). "What Do You Know, Part II". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  3. Ethan Fleischer (June 19, 2018). "Creating Core Set 2019". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  4. Mark Rosewater (June 25, 2018). "In the Cards, Part 1". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.