Kaldheim Reveals New & Returning Magic: The Gathering Mechanics

Wizards of the Coast has revealed the new and returning mechanics for the upcoming Norse mythology-inspired Magic: The Gathering set, Kaldheim today. We also get our first look at the new cards that feature the new mechanics Foretell and Boast although we've already seen some of them in the recent leaks.

WotC also confirmed the return of older mechanics like Sagas, Vehicles, Snow, Changelings, and MDFCs (Modal Double-Faced Cards).

For each of the new mechanics, Foretell and Boast, Wizards released a video explaining what each one does. Check them out:

Foretell

During your turn, you can pay {2} and exile a card with foretell face down; on a future turn, you can cast that card from exile by paying its foretell cost (the mana cost listed as part of the foretell keyword) rather than paying its mana cost.

Credit: Wizards of the Coast

Wizards explained that you can't cast the spell with foretell the same turn you exiled it, but you can always normally cast it, so you have the choice. If you foretell an Instant like Behold the Multiverse, you can cast the card the following turn, but if you foretell a creature like Augury Raven, you'll have to wait until your next turn before you can cast it.

This is like a combination of the mechanics Suspend and Morph, and it reminds me of Trap cards from the Yu-Gi-Oh card game because of the element of putting them face-down, and having the ability to "activate" it. This is a well-designed mechanic that could help spread the card's cost over a couple of turns, and gives you something to use your mana as early as turn-two.

Boast

Boast is an activatated ability that can be activated if the creature with this ability has attacked this turn, and only once each turn. You can activate the ability any time in the turn after the creature was declared as an attacker. They can be activated during combat or after combat, but WotC notes that a creature entering the battlefield already attacking won't allow it to boast.

Check out Varragoth, Bloodsky Sire:

Boast reminds me of Exert from the Amonkhet set because of its requirement to attack the creature with that ability, but the cost is different.

What do you think about the new Kaldheim mechanics Foretell and Boast? Let us know what you think in the comments section below.

Kaldheim is set to release on February 5, 2021 for tabletop, and Jan. 28 on Magic Arena and Magic Online. The set will be followed by Strixhaven: School of Mages, which is set to release sometime in Spring 2021.