Will Two-Brid Mana Ever Return?
General forum
Posted on May 4, 2020, 6:14 p.m. by DemonDragonJ
Mono-colored hybrid mana (also commonly known as “two-brid mana;” i.e., two colorless or one colored mana) was introduced in the Lorwyn/Shadowmoor block, but it has not returned since then, so I am wondering about the chances of it returning.
Would anyone here like to see it return? Why or why not?
Flooremoji says... #3
I don't think it will, from what I've heardit really wasn't that popular... maybe it's on the storm scale somewhere?
I don't really like it as a mechanic because you always want to cast it on color. I haven't seen a deck that plays (played) these cards without either being mono color for 100% casting without paying an extra 1 or two color and just usually being able to cast the chosen card for no extra.
Mana is such an important resource, paying one more for a spell only powerful enough to be play on curve isn't exciting. And if they would be on curve power level with an extra 1, they would be too powerful costing 1 less.
It is simply impossible to balance these cards to take advantage of the alternate casting cost, because everyone will be playing them for regular. It's probably better to stick with regular colors, because the 'two-brid' mana is a usless perk. Unless you add somthing like p/t equal to the number of mana spent to cast this spell, benifit for amount of colored etc. which we already have so many variations of.
May 4, 2020 6:53 p.m.
I agree with Flooremoji; also, I think they tried to explore similar design space with Adamant in Throne, which allows you to be flexible with a spell's casting cost but rewards you for spending a lot of one color. Even though it's better than twobrid mana, it's not very popular either.
May 4, 2020 8:36 p.m.
With cards like Animar, Soul of Elements and Mizzix of the Izmagnus they can be free ;) ;) ;)
I wouldn't be against the idea of it being splashed in a draft set like battlebond2 or conspiracy3. More relevant in draft/sealed, but can splash into eternal formats
May 4, 2020 11:09 p.m.
ToolmasterOfBrainerd says... #6
I think part of the problem is they haven't made any competitive playable cards with twobrid mana (and the adamant spells suck too).
I think if something like Archmage's Charm cost one blue and two blue twobrid, I'd be pretty happy that I could play it in a deck with lands that don't all tap for blue.
I think a design space they missed with twobrid is having spells still require at least one mana of a particular color. Because they can't print, say, good removal or counterspells with all twobrid because then any deck can play it. If they require a color to restrict who can play it then I think it gets better. Then again, I'm realizing that's basically adamant.
May 5, 2020 11:21 a.m.
Deatheater900 says... #7
Looks like we are possibly getting it back. From Maro's teaser: "The return of four mana symbols that have each only ever been used on two cards before" There really isn't much of a catalogue of mana symbols to look through. Only 2-brid fits the bill. It was only ever used on reaper king and a monocolor cycle, meaning each symbol appeared on 2 cards.
August 28, 2020 6:44 p.m.
DemonDragonJ says... #8
Deatheater900, that would be very interesting, indeed.
maxon says... #2
Deathrite Shaman, Slitherhead, Dryad Militant etc were somewhat recent so I'd imagine it could come back again
Edit.. I misread the post. Ignore me. Haha
May 4, 2020 6:33 p.m. Edited.