Since Blight was revealed during the Lorwyn Eclipsed story, it’s clear Wizards was playing into players’ nostalgia for this set. Officially welcoming back some of the most memorable and powerful things from Lorwyn’s first visit, Blight felt like a classic mechanic with an updated edge. Turns out, Blight wasn’t the only mechanic from the original Lorwyn block that was getting an update, as one got a brand new name in MTG Vivid.
MTG Vivid
MTG Vivid appears on Lorwyn Eclipsed cards that care about the colors of permanents you control. Bloom Tender, for instance, can tap for mana equal to the colors among permanents you control. Considering that the card just costs two mana, it’s no wonder that players are excited about this $17 reprint.
All of that said, MTG Vivid can offer all kinds of different rewards for having permanents of different colors in play. The new Aurora Awakener, for example, puts a number of permanents into play for free from the top of your deck equal to the colors among permanents you control. On the other side of the spectrum, Explosive Prodigy is just removal on a stick.
Since we’re still in Lorwyn Eclipsed spoiler season, we likely haven’t seen every MTG Vivid card yet. Still, it’s nice to see what was a nameless mechanic that has appeared on multiple past creatures finally get a home. Considering this mechanic first appeared in Eventide, this change has been a long time coming.
MTG Champion Upgrade
For better or worse, MTG Vivid isn’t the only old Lorwyn-related mechanic getting a refresh. The Champion mechanic from the original Lorwyn has also been given a refresh, utilizing Behold. Mimicking Champion, the Behold variant seen on Champions of the Perfect has you revealing an Elf before putting it into exile.
Much like the original Champion mechanic, you’ll get this exiled Elf back once the creature that exiled it leaves the battlefield. While this may appear to only be a wording change, there’s a major mechanical difference between Behold and Champion. While Champion could only exile a creature in play, Behold lets you reveal and exile a relevant card from your hand as well.
Notably, this added flexibility should speed up the mechanic, while allowing noncreature typal cards to satisfy the cost. While this is helpful, it’s unclear how widespread this mechanic will be in Lorwyn Eclipsed. While Champions of the Perfect is the only officially spoiled Behold card so far, the leaks we’ve seen indicate we should be getting a cycle of these cards.
Ultimately, between Vivid, Blight, and Behold, Wizards of the Coast is certainly trying its best to revive the charm of the Lorwyn plane. Whether you’re a five-color fanatic or a fan of Typal strategies, expect a lot of goodies to come your way in Lorwyn Eclipsed.
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