New evergreen keyword Ward introduced in MTG Strixhaven

Casting a spell on a master wizard is probably a difficult task. So it makes sense that MTG’s Strixhaven: School of Mages set will have a mechanic that makes an opponent’s targeted spells a little worse.

Ward is a new keyword introduced in Strixhaven that taxes an opponent for casting a targeted spell on a creature with the ability. Here’s the official reminder text for Ward: “Whenever this creature becomes the target of a spell or ability an opponent controls, counter it unless that player pays two mana.”

Ward should be familiar to longtime Magic players. It’s the same ability found on Frost Titan, but now it’s a keyword. Ward is a powerful tax mechanic. Two extra mana to cast a removal spell is enough to disrupt a turn. The difference between casting Heartless Act for two mana or four mana is significant. 

Today is the first day of Strixhaven spoilers and three cards with Ward have been revealed. Two are Standard legal and one is a part of the Strixhaven Commander preconstructed decks.

Adrix and Nev, Twincasters

• CMC: 2GU
• Type: Legendary Creature Merfolk Wizard
• Rarity: Mythic Rare
• Stats: 2/2
• Keyword: Ward 2
• First ability: If one or more tokens would be created under your control, twice that many of those tokens are created instead.

Adrix and Nev, Twincasters is the face of the Quandrix preconstructed Commander deck. Commander players will love this spell and it might even sneak into Legacy. A four-mana 2/2 Creature is fragile, but Ward helps protect it. What makes Adrix and Nev strong is the ability to double token generation. This will lead to massive battlefields and will be a key commander for Blue and Green token decks.

Waterfall Aerialist 

• CMC: 3U
• Type: Creature Djinn Wizard
• Rarity: Common
• Stats: 3/1
• Keywords: Flying, Ward 2

This is a fine Common. A 3/1 Flying Creature with Ward is hard to deal with. If there’s a deck that cares about Ward, this could be a real problem for opponents with no Fliers and a hand of removal that’s suddenly too expensive.

Torrent Sculptor // Flamethrower Sonata

Front:

• CMC: 2UU
• Type: Creature Merfolk Wizard
• Rarity: Rare
• Stats: 2/2
• Keyword: Ward
• First ability: When Torrent Sculptor enters the battlefield, exile an instant or sorcery card from your graveyard. Put a number of +1/+1 counters on Torrent Sculptor equal to half that card’s mana value, rounded up.

Back:

• CMC: 1R
• Type: Sorcery
• Rarity: Rare
• First ability: Discard a card, then draw a card. When you discard an instant or sorcery card this way, Flamethrower Sonata deals damage equal to that card’s mana value to target creature or planeswalker you don’t control.

Prismari cares about your deck having expensive Instants and Sorceries. Torrent Sculptor // Flamethrower Sonata is a strong Rare that’s a clear example of how Prismari decks will win games. Torrent Sculptor is a great creature. When the Merfolk Wizard enters the battlefield, it gets +1/+1 counters when you exile an instant or sorcery from your graveyard. This should play out with Torrent Sculptor getting two +1/+1 counters on average.

Flamethrower Sonata is a loot effect that rewards you for discarding an expensive spell by dealing damage to a creature or planeswalker based on that spell’s mana value. It’s a two-mana spell that can punch above its weight.

Strixhaven will launch digitally on April 15 with a tabletop release scheduled for April 23.

All images via Wizards of the Coast.