Fans Made Magic Playtest Cards! The 34 Unknown Cards of MagicCon Las Vegas | Magic The Gathering mtg

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We just had the final Unknown event of 2023 - and it included a bunch of new playtest cards... including some ones fans made! Let me show them all off!
Have a question? Post a comment! You can also catch me, Gavin Verhey, on the rest of the internet at:
Twitch: / gavinverhey
Twitter: / gavinverhey
Instagram: / gavinverhey
TikTok: / gavinverhey
Thumbnail background art is from Oko, Thief of Crowns in Wilds of Eldraine by Yongjae Choi.
#magicthegathering #wildsofeldraine #reveal

[@TheCharlieChitty]

"Grek the Ogre is a real All Star" Gavin I swear to god

[@GoodMorningMagic]

If I could heart this comment twice I would

[@RyanKimmet-li2by]

Gavin, on a whim I played in your Gen Con Unknown event--and that convinced me to go to my first MagicCon in Vegas. You absolutely did blow my mind when I sat down to play Saturday and was given a Trampled Lotus, a card I helped design EARLIER THAT SAME DAY. Thanks for an amazing time!

[@GoodMorningMagic]

Yesssssss this makes me so happy! Thanks for coming ❤️

[@matthewgalambus3533]

Such an absolute blast to play in this at Vegas. Please continue this event. It was a highlight of my con. Also, thank you Gavin, for signing my playmat mid event. Cant wait to go to the next MagicCon.

[@GoodMorningMagic]

Thank you for coming!!

[@dantehicks36]

I was at Magic Con Philly. It was my first large magic event and I was super nervous. I signed up for the Unknown event as something wild and crazy to do. It was honestly the highlight of my con. I got to play against Shivim in my first match, I sat next to Mark Rosewater and Ben Wheeler in my other matches. The event was just fun and lovely and really felt like all of the heart was put into it. I loved it. Thank you for putting it on and I hope that these are included in future cons.

[@bobbyfasciano4137]

Force of Will is actually a reference to Adamant Will, the character seen on the card of the same name. Sorry for the confusion.

[@Calispeedboi]

I’m actually mad that the bram didn’t make it into WOE such a cool card

[@KaladeshExpress]

I've never been into silver bordered commanders before but I received "You, Magic Playtester" and and have been figuring out how to build it ever since. These events are rad!

[@stfletch]

While we didn’t get to play in the Unknown events my wife and I did do the Unknown panel (we were right in the front closest to you!) and it was by far our favorite part of the whole MagicCon so thanks for doing these!

[@GoodMorningMagic]

I remember you both! Thank you so much for coming ❤️

[@calebmullins3577]

It would be really cool to have a big yearly tournament where the winner designs a real magic card that will be in a set

[@yellowpie]

They already have that, it’s called worlds

[@GoodMorningMagic]

The winner of the world championship gets to work on us with a card! You can check out more in this video actually: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y6mUk2aGqdh6jNU

[@thisboycannabis]

​​@@GoodMorningMagicid would be even cooler if there was a way a non spike could design a card tho. Something for the more casual, fun oriented, group

[@Natedogg2]

There's always the possibility of "You Make the Card" coming back. That's how we got Forgotten Ancient, Crucible of Worlds, Vanish into Memory, and Waste Not (Spiritmonger was also partially designed by the community) I will point out that Mark Rosewater has said they are a lot of work, which is why they don't happen very often (and not in the last 10 years), but it is a possibility.

[@malakimphoros2164]

I'd argue that cards don't need to be legitimised by WotC to be fun. So a tournament is a great way to highlight the community effort, an effort that doesn't get widespread recognition (sometimes for a good reason, Pinnacle is just a worse Adamant)

[@christiantrojan3204]

Played it in Barcelona and had a blast. Spice walked by the table and my opponent and I paused the game to have him sign both of our monarchy-themed card, a flavor-must for both of us given the Game Knights episode two nights before.

[@GoodMorningMagic]

Yesssss that's awesome

[@kinosmead]

Gavin, i never managed to go to the unknown events (i stopped you at Minny to ask what waa going on because I hadnt heard about the event in advance) But thank you anyway, so so much, for keeping the spirit of goofy jokey magic alive. I have a cube where every card is Silver Border/Playtest/Unfinity, and im going to look into proxying quite a few of these cards to go into that. These unknown event card videos are always a highlight when they drop

[@mistmoorex]

Despite getting completely destroyed in my attempt to cheat out Emrakul and Chatterfang I had a ton of fun! I hope there's a future MagicCon we can attend and I will definitely be signing up for Unknown. It was great meeting you a couple times too, Gavin. You put it all out there for the players and we love it. I hope you're resting up this week. I'm also now brewing up a rule 0 un/silver border/playtest commander deck helmed by Chatterfang that is actually an Eldrazi deck! The goal is to ramp up and cast Emrakul and Chatterfang, or another Titan, and show my opponents the true squirrels of the eldrazi!

[@milesgoodrich4330]

Playtest wish was super fun! I used it to cast Kevin, questing dragon from my sideboard and my opponent and I just laughed. 😂

[@User5770]

These Unknown events and cards explore some of my favorite space in Magic: The weird things you can do, if you're willing to break the rules a little bit. I absolutely love them.

[@dunam123]

I just finished my “I play your Deck” Playtest Deck, made out of Cards I got in Barcelona. It’s Barca, Friend Finder and Chainer, going on a quest to find all the friends in all other players decks 😂 I love it every time I unpack it, because it reminds me of my first con and all the great memories. Including beating Josh Lee Kwai in the Unkown Event 😁 even the Ur-Dragon couldn’t beat the Grave

[@GoodMorningMagic]

I remember watching that game! Epic!!

[@TSSaloic]

The Minneapolis and Vegas Unkowns are some of the most fun I've had playing Magic. The global planechase from Minneapolis and Xerex Squire were great (Along with a couple of fun appearances from The Grand Tour). Also, getting to sneakily Ulamog Kevin was kind of nice. Sorry, Kevin.

[@Jakerandall-h9r]

Played on Sat. The most fun event of the weekend for sure. Please continue it next year!

[@manwithbrisk3418]

I missed the Unknown events but would love to play in one at another convention. Just a reminder, I found you on the floor and asked about Goblin Elemental Blast to curb the Murktide Menace. I know you said the card was stored in your brain but also, the weekend is probably all a giant blur, so I thought I'd drop a reminder :). Thanks for running these fun events!

[@GoodMorningMagic]

Haha I have not forgotten! Thank you!

[@stephenrich97]

I had a blast at the last unknown event on Sunday! Kevin was a beast and my wife whooped me with the Emrakul and Ragavan /purphoros combo

[@stephenrich97]

Make this a staple in every single magic con forever! It’s literally one of these best events 🎉

[@WishMakers]

I've loved these cards so much that I've managed to find a way to sneak them into my friends' online commander games!! I've had to effectively create a custom set for them, but it's so worth it. I'd love to attend one of these events in person someday and I hope I get my chance next time In my opinion, these are the next evolution of the silver border. Unfinity has its own fun flavor but I feel like these cards are the first real time since Unglued that really got to push in new spaces that are both comedic and fun AND gets to be so community driven. I'm sure Rosewater is proud

[@AlexBalhatchet]

“Force of Rowan” and “Command Mine / Power Plant” destroyed me 🤣 I hope you can run an Unknown event in the UK someday!

[@yellowpie]

I played unknown at Philadelphia and I loved it! I seriously considered going to Minneapolis just to get a second shot at playing it

[@GoodMorningMagic]

Thank you for being a part of the Unknown this year!! Hope to see you again next year.

[@misterwile]

well, there are certainly a couple of these that will make it to my Tomb Raider/Treasure Cruise deck... thanks!

[@benhensley3621]

I loved so much playing with it in MN, hopefully it's coming to CHI too!

[@megacardboard2855]

This was my first time playing in the unknown events, thanks for the amazing experience!

[@Cjgalvez11]

Love ur creations and these events! Specially cat oven and cinammon the horse 😂 and please make uncommun companios just for limited ❤

[@josh24214]

I'm glad that you had fun Gavin and I can't wait for what you guys got planned for Doctor Who cards and Ixalan cards as well, and I hope that you Gavin will be in Vancouver for a convention so i can say hi and sign a autograph to me.

[@AreYouShore464]

Just thinking about the stealing cards on the adventure playtest card, I immediately thought of how lots of characters get sidetracked in their fairytale adventures and thought “Waylaid” or “Led Astray” would be a cool keyword for this kind of effect

[@GoodMorningMagic]

Those would have probably both been better names than what I used! Nice 😄

[@stormcountone5610]

These look like a tonne of fun. Would love to see them in Sydney but idk if we're getting anymore events tbh

[@olvynchuru1663]

Dan, Shrewd Trainer would be broken. Just cast Beseech the Mirror, sacrificing a land to bargain it, copying it, then search for two more Beseech the Mirror and cast them for free. Sacrifice two lands to bargain each one, then you can search for four copies of Tendrils of Agony, cast them for free, and win on the spot.

[@NickTheDM]

These are such cool events and I’m really hoping you keep doing *something* like that whether it’s in this form or not so that I can get a chance to attend one.

[@c.r.bledsoe9322]

I participated on Saturday and got you to sign "the colossal dreadmaw" thanks Gavin was super fun!

[@joerocks6053]

Force of Rowan was funny asf. Very good design, I wish it could have actually been printed

[@orcaran]

I played at both unknown events in Vegas, I had a great time but I really feel like there should have been a prize for winning. Maybe even just like a pack per win cuz it made it feel a little too hollow at the end, made the Saturday event kind of end on a sour note

[@TehFoamy]

An entire extra pack of playtest cards wasn't enough of a prize for you?

[@imrahil_327]

These are so much fun :D Great work!

[@knuxchaoable]

JUST PRINT THEM! CAT OVEN!!!❤ Do ready the ban hammer

[@TehFoamy]

I never got to ask you this at the event itself, because you were so busy interacting with so many people 😅 But when you said that monocolored legends are treated as having partner, were you only talking about their color, or their color identity? Because I opened a copy of Polis, the Planeshifter and assumed it had partner even though it has a WUBRG color identity 😅 Some of the highlights of my Unknown experience in Vegas: - Casting Polis, the Planeshifter and randomly generating Turri Island (the plane that makes all creature spells cost 2 less), shouting "NOOOOOO" because I was afraid my friend would unload a handful of creatures next turn (he didn't), and then drawing Skyline Despot and casting it on turn 5 - My other friend absolutely STOMPING me with his mono white deck of Isamaru and Yoshimaru + Enolc, Perfect Clone, giving him a perfect aggro start in every game, then him curving a turn 3 Fioran Reformist into turn 4 Palace Jailer to exile my creature FOREVER because no one can become the monarch >:( - Polis, the Planeshifter gaining the abilities of Tember City (the plane that damages players whenever they tap a land for mana), then using said ability in tandem with Rowan, Scion of War to make all my spells cost 5 less to cast - Playtest Wish doing its best Skyshroud Claim impersonation by letting me cast Chatterstorm and Awaken the Woods from my sideboard for two land tokens on turn 4 - Playtest Wish also letting me cast Tax Hounds for 4+ tokens when I needed blockers, or Then, Dreadmaws Ate Everyone for a bunch of 6/6s in the late game to break a gigantic board stall - Pairing Rankle, Master of Pranks with Rankle, Master of Pranksters - Casting Gnawing Crescendo + Force of Rowan to copy it, which either surprise killed my opponent out of nowhere or ate their entire board while leaving me with a ton of Rat tokens - Sitting next to Graham Stark during product opening in the Sunday event, thinking to myself "huh, that guy looks a lot like Graham Stark", and then immediately noticing Ben Ulmer about 6-8 seats down the row lmao (I opened a copy of Math is for Blockers and totally forgot to ask Graham to sign it, Sadge) - My round 1 opponent on Sunday, an incredibly nice guy named Ronald who gave me some very helpful life advice that I really needed to hear These events were truly magical, and I don't just mean in the gathering sense

[@piegod9000]

Anyway to get these cards if we didnt go to the event. Really wanna build a princess snowfall deck XD

[@chrismarlow9585]

To me, these are the future of un-sets. It's hard to make an un-set work as a viable product, but people going to a magic event are there to have a fun, unique experience. Nothing fits that more than these playtest cards. I imagine they're much less effort to design, because they don't need to be fully cohesive in a setting, have artwork or be a balanced draft experience.

[@rosehawker]

okay so hear my out. Ink-eyes of the Lotus a plainswalker that can get a commander she makes white mice and Rezs from graveyardss as the Ult. card color is white and other or just white.

[@jwaffles9269]

Gavin keeps referencing how making copies of cards is something the rules can’t really handle. But isn’t that EXACTLY what Garth, one eye does? He lists off existing card names, and then you the player have to know what they do.

[@yellowpie]

My guess is it’s more of a “we made it work, but we probably shouldn’t have” deal, like how they chose to keep the subgame card from Unfinity acorn despite being able to make it work

[@Natedogg2]

I think a big difference is that the cards that Garth makes are pretty iconic. Things like Piracy Charm and Vision Charm are pretty obscure, so they don't work as well as a "real" Magic card.

[@ribbontoast]

as a cat oven player... i love cat oven :3

[@ToxicAtom]

Guess I need to track down a copy of Dan, Shrewd Trader now.

[@bricknolty5478]

I need those Food cards to be released ASAP

[@NekoValtz]

I really hope to be in one of these events someday!

[@RestoSexual]

How do you feel about this crashing the market for those who invested heavily in the Richmond mystery boxes? I did not but I hear it financially ruined a few people, and I get overprinting is it’s own issue in mtg. But the play tests I even thought would have been limited to that event how ever many years ago it was.

[@dylanmiller9162]

Force of ROWAN beautiful

[@laurelkeeper]

I love these videos so much.

[@christopherealy8025]

HONK! Would unironically be the best naturalize in every format it would have been legal in.

[@aragonaut]

I would love to go to an Unknown event - are there any plans to do any in Europe next year? I found out about Barcelona far too late to get the time off to attend.

[@pedrofeliperocha8514]

Are cards like Bram and Icy Manipulator considered too complicated for standard? Wish these “each x is food” or “each food is x” mechanics would be legal in competitive 😢

[@connor_rhoads]

How are these cards “physically” made are they printed? A sticker, paper insert? I love them, thank you so much for sharing for those of us that can’t go to cons!

[@Natedogg2]

They are stickers, glued onto existing Magic cards.

[@connor_rhoads]

@@Natedogg2 thank you!

[@Dani-hp8sb]

Is Grek the Ogre's Color Identity G or GB?

[@nerdysuggestions4391]

Magic designer should be a legend with a few tweaks. Add two more good sides a only one rather annoying downside to it and that would be pretty cool🤓 and up the mana cost just for kicks.

[@crtikhit2244]

Magic the gathering universes beyond x shrek that will be epic😮

[@brokensprites]

I have a Mario secret lair idea 💡 Mario, Relentless Champion 2WR Legendary Human Warrior Mario enters with your choice of haste or two +1/+1 counters. Tap Mario to deal 3 damage to any target. If you also control a creature named Luigi, Hero as well during your combat phase both creatures gain protection from non-human creatures until the end of turn. 3/3 Luigi, Hero as well 2WGG Legendary Human Warrior Reach If Luigi, Hero as well deals combat damage to a player you may cast a card named Mario, Relentless Champion from your graveyard until end of turn and use mana of any color to cast it. 4/6 Peach, Princess of Toads 1WURG Legendary Human Noble When Peach enters the battlefield choose one: Gain 4 life, Draw a card or creatures you control gain +2/+0 until the end of turn. If you control both creatures Mario and Luigi, choose all three. 2/5 Toad the Chef 1G Legendary Fungus Multikicker 1G When Toad enters the battlefield create x food token for each time Toad was kicked. Sacrifice a food token: Create two 1/1 fungus creatures. 2/1 Bowser, Koopa King 4BRR Legendary Turtle Noble Haste, Menace (2: Bowser gains +2/0 until end of turn. Sacrifice Five Treasure: Gain control of target human creature. 7/5

[@CHoustonify]

I love seeing this video and these cards and love the idea, but my soul HURTS that we didn't get Bram in the set. I don't know if it's a rules issue or a power level issue but I am willing to start the #WeWantBram hashtag in protest if not getting him. Seriously to Chris, such a cool card.

[@matteobagni1235]

It's great beside lots of folks buying them for 100s of dollars...

[@Demonologo666]

Hi Gavin, sorry if I insist, but you never answer this, can you tell us if there's even a slimy chance all those playtest cards will ever be on the Gatherer exactly like the original playtest cards of Mystery Booster did? If not, why the latter are on gatherer, anyway?

[@GoodMorningMagic]

One of them appear in Magic packs and there are tons of tons. The others are stickered on paper and only used at a few events. It's not my call, but it makes sense they wouldn't be in gatherer - they aren't real cards.

[@Demonologo666]

Yes, I know they aren't real cards but stuff like Mirrored Lotus or Ral's Vanguard aren't real cards either but STILL they are on Gatherer (they even have their own rulings) and I tought that are simply playtest cards exactly like the ones you created, so thats why I was wondering why Mirrored Lotus was ok to be on gatherer but Trampled Lotus did not. Maybe you could talk with whoever responsible on putting cards on the Gatherer? Thank you for answer anyway!

[@LincAus]

@@Demonologo666 It's unlikely they'll ever go on Gatherer because of their disposable nature. Disposable in the sense that they're just one-off uses, unlike Mystery Booster which was sold through the normal channels. Scryfall doesn't include them for the same reason. There is, however, a list of them on the MTG Wiki.

[@Demonologo666]

@@LincAus : I see, so they should actually get a reprint in a Mystery Booster 2 or something like that then

[@Natedogg2]

Technically, some of them were just "reprinted" - at Las Vegas, players received two bonus packs of playtest cards instead of one - one pack contained all-new cards, and the other included popular reprints from past Unknown events. And I believe Gavin has said that the player-designed cards will be seen again in a future event.

[@hanschristopherson8056]

It’s funny that the card that was specifically supposed to represent banned eldraine cards can’t be oko because it’s too busted 😂

[@GlitchFluxTheWolf]

I'm curious how you were even allowed to look at cards fans made. When I last made cards, Maro told me flat out that WotC employees are not allowed to so much as look at anything fan made or use them for cards. Dialog is likely gone from me deleting my twitter and all tweets with it, but I'm curious when the times had changed.

[@GoodMorningMagic]

Everyone signed a special agreement before they could enter the room. We had people outside to hand them out and take them back. So we got it to work, but it took some very specific effort!

[@GlitchFluxTheWolf]

@@GoodMorningMagic Neat, so almost an NDA kind of thing. Would be neat to see more of these cards getting made as it's feeling too rare for community made cards to be a part of such a fun game. Also gives cube players like me some nice odd spices to hunt down to try and add to some of the weirder cubed being brewed

[@Pandra91]

Since (by coincidence) I wrote that it would be right to reprint God of the Forge and Repercussion a year before the release of Commander Master, I would like to try again (if possible) by sending cards (as concepts) or be tested on something else. It's possible?

[@magica3526]

no

[@Natedogg2]

Wizards can't allow for outside submissions. If you really want to see a card playtested like that, you'll have to get a job at Wizards.

[@calebmullins3577]

First!

[@bonaface]

The thumbnail is extremely cringe Gavin. Please no more soyface.exe you’re a grown man after all.