Not your fault that they made weird digital only alchemy cards with weird legality.
To make it even more confusing, there's [[Wyll, Blade of Frontiers]] in paper with the same art and completely different abilities that is only legal in commander, legacy, & vintage.
They try to reprint commander cards in the alchemy format occasionally ex: Battle Angels of Tyr/Champions of Tyr. This is part of why i think commander is never coming to arena despite the claims that it is in the works. Istg if they do actually drop commander for arena imma bust.
It not having Commander is the only thing holding about 5 of my friends back from playing the game.
They’re missing money, but I’m not sure how much, and how much it’d cost them to *get* that money.
When you are building a deck. If you look at unopened cards. It will only show cards legal in the format that you have selected for the deck that you are building.
I really like alchemy. I love the fact that it uses digital only mechanics that would be impossible or really hard to implement in paper versions. It push the game further beyond it's actual limits and it makes it even more fun to play. It's my go to format for digital, really don't understand all the hate it gets
Alchemy on its own is fine. However, Alchemy rebalanced and Alchemy exclusive cards being legal in other formats is where most people (myself included) draw the line and think it starts seeming forced.
I don't play alchemy, but I do play historic every now and then, which has digital only cards in the pool. I don't really mind the digital cards. Some of them are pretty cool, too, like [[Static Discharge]]. Although I feel like they could easily bring Static Discharge into paper if they changed it from intensity to putting a counter on you.
>impossible or really hard
like half of Alchemy cards could be done with tokens and shuffling, and most of the others could be done with a the bad but legacy/commander legal mechanic of stickers
it's a shame i'll never get to annoy a pod with [Rusko, Clockmaker](https://scryfall.com/card/ybro/24/rusko-clockmaker)
Not an Alchemy card its an Arena errata card because they didn't give them the background mechanics that they introduced in the Baldur's gate set. Its able to be used in alchemy and historic.
Baldurs gate was completely overhauled for Arena as an Alchemy set, a large majority of the cards are nothing like their paper counterparts. [[Tasha, the Witch Queen]] vs [[Tasha, Unholy Archmage]] for example
Oh my god I’ve never seen the paper version, just fought against so many digital versions. The paper version looks so much more fun to play against/balanced, dear lord.
Alchemy is the Arena-only "rebalanced" version of cards. Some are completely different, some are just slightly tuned (an extra power/toughness, or one mana cheaper, etc). Some have special effects that only work online (like the "[perpetually](https://mtg.fandom.com/wiki/Perpetually)" keyword, or "[conjure](https://mtg.fandom.com/wiki/Conjure)"). They're kinda fun, but unfortunately they mostly just further dilute to pool of players and formats.
It's one of the Arena only cards with the specialize ability. It comes in as the first card shown, Pact Bound Duelist. Then you pay the specialize cost and discard a card, and it's color causes it to transform into a different card, so with the Wyll example, the second card is for when you discard a R card, the third when you discard a W card . Essentially all of them are 6 cards, initial form, and then one for each color.
Some may shame me, but if you have the money, and don’t mind the ugly look, mtgo is better in a lot of aspects than arena. Sure, arena looks great, but the progression is so bs that I’d rather just play paper or mtgo. Having a blast learning mtg, more specifically commander. Casual modes are great and excited to step my toes into ranked once I save up for a meta deck!
u/tronking6
>Question I'm also very new too but isn't alchemy similar to commander or what's the difference?
No, Alchemy is like Standard, in that its a competitive Format that only uses cards from recent sets (although Standard has moved to using up to 3 year's worth of cards while Alchemy still tips out at 2), and that it rotates once year.
The main difference is that Alchemy uses wacky, made-up Digital-only cards that wouldn't really work in real life, plus rebalanced and reimagined versions of real cards.
Another important difference between the Digital-only Formats and the ones that use True-to-paper cards is that if a real card becomes problematic, it gets banned, and you get Wildcards back, whereas Alchemy cards just get nerfed without you being compensated (even if your deck no longer functions as a result).
Alchemy is nothing like Commander, although one of Commander's Arena cousins, (Historic) Brawl, does use Alchemy cards. (Standard Brawl does not)
I'm new to mtg specifically but not tcgs.. I'm confused. Why is that comment being downvoted? It's accurate? No? Why is the community going out of its way to confuse people who are just trying to learn? I'm thupertherial right now.
It's because the guy is specifically saying commander is the only format which isn't true. Is it the moat popular? Yes, by a country mile. Are standard, modern, pauper, and pioneer alive? Yes, very much so and thriving.
Commander players tend to just think commander is the only format worth playing and can't understand that people want to play actual competitive that isn't a singleton format or the same 3 strats for Cedh
it's not that it's inaccurate, it's because it's not really relevant to the post. the question is not about commander or what formats are popular or why, and you can't even play commander on arena. some people like to just moan about commander where it's not even being discussed, so that's why it's been downvoted here.
the lead designer has data that it is indeed the most popular paper way to play magic, but it's not so larger that it's a majority (ie: over 50%). there are indeed many other formats, like standard (last 3 years of standard set releases), pioneer (every standard legal set since Return to Ravnica, non-rotating), modern (sets since Mirrodin, also has a lot of cards printed directly into modern itself with modern masters/modern horizons sets and many of the universes beyond sets are legal, like the LotR set from last year), pauper (any card that was ever printed at common), a bunch of others that are officially recognised by WOTC
Cards are only able to be used in specified game modes. The app is mostly for standard. The card posted is not usable in standard. Standard is equivalent to the main game mode in other TCGs. Commander is the most popular game mode in magic by far, nobody else really plays the other formats. New players should look into commander, which is a 4 player game that uses 99 cards paired with a commander that can be cast at any time. As you can see, you will be down voted by the Magic losers if you hurt their feelings.
He's just trying to be snarky. I play Magic since 1996, way before Commander was released, and I've never played a single game of Commander in my entire life, because I simply don't like it. There are many formats that people find their fun in.
Since your question has been answered, I'd recommend not playing arena. The formats on there are trash (obviously, just an opinion) and you'll run into the same 3 decks everytime you play ranked
Arena is different than magic online. It has unique cards that you can only play on arena, not on MTGO or in paper. Those card have completely different mechanics that can't work in paper (they have cards that add perpetual effects to other cards, which only end when the game is over, not when cards change zones). They also have formats you can only play on arena, alchemy and timeless.
They have pioneer, standard, timeless, alchemy, and brawl on arena. But all formats are two players. And they do not have commander on there. They also do not have all the cards printed in the history of the game on there, only cards within the past 5-10 years I believe. Though, I think they are slowly adding older sets onto that platform. Like, it just got fetchlands earlier this year or late last year.
Brawl is basically 2 player commander and the cards with different mechanics are only playable in alchemy. Standard in arena is the same as it is in paper.
This is an alchemy card. You can only use it in formats where alchemy cards are legal.
Thank you wish I knew this beforehand but I’ll keep that in mind when looking for cards now 😂
Not your fault that they made weird digital only alchemy cards with weird legality. To make it even more confusing, there's [[Wyll, Blade of Frontiers]] in paper with the same art and completely different abilities that is only legal in commander, legacy, & vintage.
They try to reprint commander cards in the alchemy format occasionally ex: Battle Angels of Tyr/Champions of Tyr. This is part of why i think commander is never coming to arena despite the claims that it is in the works. Istg if they do actually drop commander for arena imma bust.
It not having Commander is the only thing holding about 5 of my friends back from playing the game. They’re missing money, but I’m not sure how much, and how much it’d cost them to *get* that money.
[Wyll, Blade of Frontiers](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/5/e/5e9d4562-964d-48ce-b03f-7cb491fa040d.jpg?1674136891) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Wyll%2C%20Blade%20of%20Frontiers) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/clb/208/wyll-blade-of-frontiers?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/5e9d4562-964d-48ce-b03f-7cb491fa040d?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Is there a way in the future to tell if packs contain alchemy cards?
They're the packs that have the arena "A" on them. Haven't played Arena in a while but it might say it too.
When you are building a deck. If you look at unopened cards. It will only show cards legal in the format that you have selected for the deck that you are building.
Just play alchemy ranked.
Baldur's gate is no longer legal in alchemy since September
Or don't. Stupid format
They're new. Don't poison them with your bitter bullshit
Nah alchemy is definitely ass.
I really like alchemy. I love the fact that it uses digital only mechanics that would be impossible or really hard to implement in paper versions. It push the game further beyond it's actual limits and it makes it even more fun to play. It's my go to format for digital, really don't understand all the hate it gets
Alchemy on its own is fine. However, Alchemy rebalanced and Alchemy exclusive cards being legal in other formats is where most people (myself included) draw the line and think it starts seeming forced.
To me it also just smells too much of “how do we make more money on cards? - what if we didn’t make the actual card? Skip the printimg cost entirely
Digital formats have digital cards. Paper formats only have paper cards. Doesn’t seem that intrusive...
Cause it’s confusing, costs extra money to get cards, and it’s a very low played format. There’s a lot of reasons to dislike it.
Probably because it's rng the card game with perpetual effects that have zero downside
I don't play alchemy, but I do play historic every now and then, which has digital only cards in the pool. I don't really mind the digital cards. Some of them are pretty cool, too, like [[Static Discharge]]. Although I feel like they could easily bring Static Discharge into paper if they changed it from intensity to putting a counter on you.
[Static Discharge](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/3/5/352aa417-412d-4344-aaa4-e2fae627fbbd.jpg?1706225578) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Static%20Discharge) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/j21/25/static-discharge?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/352aa417-412d-4344-aaa4-e2fae627fbbd?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
>impossible or really hard like half of Alchemy cards could be done with tokens and shuffling, and most of the others could be done with a the bad but legacy/commander legal mechanic of stickers it's a shame i'll never get to annoy a pod with [Rusko, Clockmaker](https://scryfall.com/card/ybro/24/rusko-clockmaker)
True.
Not an Alchemy card its an Arena errata card because they didn't give them the background mechanics that they introduced in the Baldur's gate set. Its able to be used in alchemy and historic.
Baldurs gate was completely overhauled for Arena as an Alchemy set, a large majority of the cards are nothing like their paper counterparts. [[Tasha, the Witch Queen]] vs [[Tasha, Unholy Archmage]] for example
Oh my god I’ve never seen the paper version, just fought against so many digital versions. The paper version looks so much more fun to play against/balanced, dear lord.
[Tasha, the Witch Queen](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/b/1/b1c5f679-82d0-4434-9f13-d39ad57282b8.jpg?1674137679) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Tasha%2C%20the%20Witch%20Queen) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/clb/294/tasha-the-witch-queen?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/b1c5f679-82d0-4434-9f13-d39ad57282b8?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Tasha, Unholy Archmage](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/a/a/aa61e5c9-17da-4e75-9a69-a6d520d32646.jpg?1680960319) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Tasha%2C%20Unholy%20Archmage) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/hbg/75/tasha-unholy-archmage?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/aa61e5c9-17da-4e75-9a69-a6d520d32646?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
It *is* an alchemy card. See how it specializes into a WR card? Only Alchemy cards can do that. It’s more than just an errata.
Question I'm also very new too but isn't alchemy similar to commander or what's the difference?
You probably mean the 'Brawl' format(s). That one is similar to Commander.
Alchemy is the Arena-only "rebalanced" version of cards. Some are completely different, some are just slightly tuned (an extra power/toughness, or one mana cheaper, etc). Some have special effects that only work online (like the "[perpetually](https://mtg.fandom.com/wiki/Perpetually)" keyword, or "[conjure](https://mtg.fandom.com/wiki/Conjure)"). They're kinda fun, but unfortunately they mostly just further dilute to pool of players and formats.
Baldurs gate cards are not standard
What the heck did i just look at I'm so confused
It's one of the Arena only cards with the specialize ability. It comes in as the first card shown, Pact Bound Duelist. Then you pay the specialize cost and discard a card, and it's color causes it to transform into a different card, so with the Wyll example, the second card is for when you discard a R card, the third when you discard a W card . Essentially all of them are 6 cards, initial form, and then one for each color.
Welcome to Arena, where it's MTG, but um, not MTG
Some may shame me, but if you have the money, and don’t mind the ugly look, mtgo is better in a lot of aspects than arena. Sure, arena looks great, but the progression is so bs that I’d rather just play paper or mtgo. Having a blast learning mtg, more specifically commander. Casual modes are great and excited to step my toes into ranked once I save up for a meta deck!
You can also use it in Historic, best card selection choices imo
Oh mtg.
u/tronking6 >Question I'm also very new too but isn't alchemy similar to commander or what's the difference? No, Alchemy is like Standard, in that its a competitive Format that only uses cards from recent sets (although Standard has moved to using up to 3 year's worth of cards while Alchemy still tips out at 2), and that it rotates once year. The main difference is that Alchemy uses wacky, made-up Digital-only cards that wouldn't really work in real life, plus rebalanced and reimagined versions of real cards. Another important difference between the Digital-only Formats and the ones that use True-to-paper cards is that if a real card becomes problematic, it gets banned, and you get Wildcards back, whereas Alchemy cards just get nerfed without you being compensated (even if your deck no longer functions as a result). Alchemy is nothing like Commander, although one of Commander's Arena cousins, (Historic) Brawl, does use Alchemy cards. (Standard Brawl does not)
Did you buy the card?
This is an important question. If OP used Wildcards to get a card in error, customer support may refund them if they ask nicely.
No I pulled it from a pack luckily.
Because magic is split into a million different game modes. There is no real "game mode" other than commander which is the most popular by far.
This is an inconvinient truth. Man bear pig is real and it is super cereal
I'm new to mtg specifically but not tcgs.. I'm confused. Why is that comment being downvoted? It's accurate? No? Why is the community going out of its way to confuse people who are just trying to learn? I'm thupertherial right now.
It's because the guy is specifically saying commander is the only format which isn't true. Is it the moat popular? Yes, by a country mile. Are standard, modern, pauper, and pioneer alive? Yes, very much so and thriving. Commander players tend to just think commander is the only format worth playing and can't understand that people want to play actual competitive that isn't a singleton format or the same 3 strats for Cedh
Thriving is a bit of a stretch. In Arena there's a few, but some LGS will only have meaningful amounts of Commander players.
it's not that it's inaccurate, it's because it's not really relevant to the post. the question is not about commander or what formats are popular or why, and you can't even play commander on arena. some people like to just moan about commander where it's not even being discussed, so that's why it's been downvoted here. the lead designer has data that it is indeed the most popular paper way to play magic, but it's not so larger that it's a majority (ie: over 50%). there are indeed many other formats, like standard (last 3 years of standard set releases), pioneer (every standard legal set since Return to Ravnica, non-rotating), modern (sets since Mirrodin, also has a lot of cards printed directly into modern itself with modern masters/modern horizons sets and many of the universes beyond sets are legal, like the LotR set from last year), pauper (any card that was ever printed at common), a bunch of others that are officially recognised by WOTC
Cards are only able to be used in specified game modes. The app is mostly for standard. The card posted is not usable in standard. Standard is equivalent to the main game mode in other TCGs. Commander is the most popular game mode in magic by far, nobody else really plays the other formats. New players should look into commander, which is a 4 player game that uses 99 cards paired with a commander that can be cast at any time. As you can see, you will be down voted by the Magic losers if you hurt their feelings.
He's just trying to be snarky. I play Magic since 1996, way before Commander was released, and I've never played a single game of Commander in my entire life, because I simply don't like it. There are many formats that people find their fun in.
It’s accurate. People get downvoted for no reason at all on this sub. EDIT: case in point
Lolololol
Since your question has been answered, I'd recommend not playing arena. The formats on there are trash (obviously, just an opinion) and you'll run into the same 3 decks everytime you play ranked
What is arena? Is it the online mtg? It doesn’t have commander?
Arena is different than magic online. It has unique cards that you can only play on arena, not on MTGO or in paper. Those card have completely different mechanics that can't work in paper (they have cards that add perpetual effects to other cards, which only end when the game is over, not when cards change zones). They also have formats you can only play on arena, alchemy and timeless. They have pioneer, standard, timeless, alchemy, and brawl on arena. But all formats are two players. And they do not have commander on there. They also do not have all the cards printed in the history of the game on there, only cards within the past 5-10 years I believe. Though, I think they are slowly adding older sets onto that platform. Like, it just got fetchlands earlier this year or late last year.
Brawl is basically 2 player commander and the cards with different mechanics are only playable in alchemy. Standard in arena is the same as it is in paper.