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Silver Borders, Random Outcomes, and the Art of Balance

In the world of Magic: The Gathering, silver-bordered sets have long invited players to lean into the unexpected and celebrate the playful chaos that the game can offer. Who's That Praetor? fits squarely into that philosophy: a costly sorcery that does not simply resolve into a powerful single effect, but instead hands you a spread of potential futures. With a mana cost of {6} and an ability that says, “Choose one at random. Create a token that's a copy of the chosen card.”, this card turns every cast into a small lottery where the prize is a token copy of one of six legendary figures. And yes, those six options—Elesh Norn, Mother of Machines; Jin-Gitaxias, Progress Tyrant; Sheoldred, the Apocalypse; Urabrask, Heretic Praetor; Vorinclex, Monstrous Raider; and Ebon Praetor—are as flavorful as they are potentially explosive 🧙‍♂️🔥💎.

The design challenge here is to balance a spell that inherently twists the tempo of the game. On one hand, you get a dramatic payoff that can swing a board state—copy a board-wusting anthem from Elesh Norn to a devastating control engine from Jin-Gitaxias. On the other hand, the randomization means you might simply hand your opponent a situation they can cash in on or you might copy a card that’s already been neutralized by the game state. That tension is precisely what makes silver-border magic feel so distinct: it rewards risk-taking, improvisation, and a little theatrical flair 🎭. And yes, the randomness gives your opponents something to talk about at the table—“Did you really just copy Sheoldred twice because of a misread?” becomes the new catchphrase of the night.

“In silver-bordered design, chaos is a feature, not a bug. The thrill is in the moment of revelation when the random becomes reality.”

Design and balance: what makes this work

• High ceiling, variable floor. The card’s biggest strength is its potential to summon a powerful token that mirrors legendary automatons. The floor, however, is a turbulent place: if the random pick yields a token copy of a card that’s already been neutralized or is simply less relevant in the current board, the spell can feel like a whiff.
• Tempo and value. Casting cost of 6 lands you in the mid-to-late game window. The payoff is not “playstandstill” but “play and pivot”: you can weaponize a copy of an existing board state or a late-game finisher that was already on the table, depending on what you roll.
• Colorless identity in a colorful sandbox. The absence of a color identity for the card mirrors the silver-border ethos: it slots into broad archetypes, inviting cross-pollination with token helpers, clone effects, and board-rich strategies.
• Rarity and accessibility. As a rare in Mystery Booster 2, this card is intended for casual excitement rather than tournament-breaking power, especially given that silver-border formats embrace novelty and fan enjoyment over strict optimization 🔥.

Play tips for builds that love a little chaos

When you sleeve up Who's That Praetor?, think in terms of setup, synergy, and late-game fireworks. Here are actionable ideas to get the most out of the card in silver-bordered playgroups 🧙‍♂️🎲:

• Drafting the dream with token engines: Pair this spell with token producers and clone effects so that even if the chosen Praetor isn’t the perfect fit for your board, you still get extra bodies to pressure or protect you. Cards that multiply tokens or copy permanents can turn a lucky roll into a multi-pronged threat.
• Protect the randomness: In formats where you expect interaction, counterplay that disrupts opponent’s targeted removal can be a natural counterbalance to the randomness. Sometimes your best defense is having a plan for several possible outcomes rather than a single path to victory.
• Board-enabled triumphs: With Elesh Norn on the field, your tokens might come with global buffs; with Jin-Gitaxias, you could pressure opponents with card advantage engines. The trick is to build a deck that thrives on flexible outcomes, not on a single line.
• Value in the margins: The random nature encourages you to include ancillary effects that benefit from token copies or duplicates, such as flicker effects or sacrifice-based synergies that reward you for reusing the same playplan across multiple turns.

Art, lore, and the feel of the thing

The Mystery Booster 2 iteration of Who's That Praetor? carries a distinctive art direction—bold, dynamic, and a little tongue-in-cheek—that fits the silver-border vibe. The artist, Thomas Ricci, channels the grandiosity of each Praetor while keeping the piece accessible enough to inspire playful mischief at the table. The card’s lore nods to phyrexian-scale ambition and the pantheon of praetors, inviting players to imagine which chrome-plated titan their token might resemble on the battlefield. In a format where the unexpected is baked into the cake, the art and concept work hand in hand to deliver a memorable moment—one you’ll likely recall fondly long after the game ends 🖼️🎨.

Beyond the table, the card’s price—roughly a few dimes in USD—reflects its niche appeal in a casual, collectible space. It’s not meant to be the centerpiece of a tournament meta, but rather a celebration of the playful edge that silver-bordered cards bring to the game. If you’re chasing a moment of randomness with a retro flavor, Who's That Praetor? is a charming pick that can spark laughter, friendly debate, and long-lasting stories about that one turn where a token copy of Elesh Norn or Vorinclex changed the entire game. ⚔️💎

As you consider building around this spell, you’ll appreciate how product partnerships can blend with play aesthetics. If you’re eyeing a comfortable surface for marathon sessions—where long campaigns, strategy planning, and casual play all converge—the featured neon mouse pad in our product spotlight can keep your desk looking as sharp as your Praetor-powered board state. And yes, the glow can match that moment when the random outcome finally lines up with your plan 🧙‍♂️🎲.

For fans who love to read, collect, and reminisce about the strange and wonderful corners of MTG’s multiverse, Who's That Praetor? is a neat artifact—one that captures the spirit of silver-border design: big ideas, bold choices, and a hint of mischief that makes every game feel a little legendary.

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