Secrets of Strixhaven Mechanics Explained: Flashback, Opus, Prepare, and More!
With Secrets of Strixhaven upon us, let's delve into the mechanics of the set! First, we will get through more universal mechanics. After that, we will take a closer look at school-specific abilities, since each has its own!
Study up!
Paradigm
First, it's Paradigm - an ability that you'll see on a cycle of big sorcery Lessons. This keyword means that once you resolve one, you get to exile it. From that point on, at the beginning of each first main phase, you can cast a copy of that Lesson without paying its cost! Essentially, you get one big bonus spell every single turn for free, which further fuels all your spell synergies!
Converge
Converge is a returning mechanic that cares about the number of different mana colours you used to pay for a given spell.
If you cast Rancorius Archaic using 5 Islands, it would enter with an additional one +1/+1 counter, since you only paid blue. The more colours you use (max 5), the better the spell gets.
Remember that if you are required to pay any additional costs as a part of casting the spell, the mana used for that cost would count towards converge.
Prepare
Prepare is the main mechanic of the set, and you will see it on every type of card - from common to mythic. There are almost 40 unique cards with Prepare, so you'd better learn what the mechanic does!
In short, when a creature has the status of being prepared, it can cast its signature spell that you can see in the card's bottom right corner - and when you do so, you un-prepare it.
Some cards enter prepared, some don't and require a specific condition to be met.
For instance, when you play Goblin Glasswright, you can immediately pay R to create a Treasure token. Then, you're left with the 2/2 un-prepared creature, and a newly-minted Treasure.
Increment (Qunadrix)
Increment cares about whether the amount of mana you've spent to cast a spell is greater than the creature with increment's power. If it is so, you get to put a +1/+1 counter on it. Otherwise, nothing happens.
It will reward you for playing big spells and sequencing what you have available in the correct manner, so you get the most out of those counters.
Flashback (Lorehold)
A beloved mechanic is returning! Flashback is your way to use the same spell for the second time straight from the graveyard, simply by paying the flashback cost. This ability gives you nice mileage out of a single card, as you can use that ability at your leisure again in the future.
Once you've flashbacked a spell, regardless of whether it resolves or not, it lands in exile.
Infusion (Witherbloom)
Infusion rewards you for gaining life. It doesn't matter how much you've gained, what the source of lifegain was, or whether your life is higher than at the start of the turn. A single instance of 1 life more is more than enough to reap the rewards. If you sequence it properly, you can gain life once, but take advantage of numerous Infusion effects in a single turn!
Opus (Prismari)
Opus works two-fold. First, it cares about an instant or sorcery being cast - and when it is so, you will get some kind of effect. Moreover, if you've paid at least five mana for that spell, there is an additional, more powerful effect. Remember that if you cast an expensive spell, you get *both* the first effect for casting in the first place *and* the second for you spending at least five mana on it!
This dual nature of the ability ensures that you get something out of every instant or sorcery, but there is always some cherry on top if it happens to be of a more expensive variety.
Repartee (Silverquill)
Repartee cares about instants and sorceries but, unlike Opus, it stipulates specifically that those spells have to target a creature. Crucially, the creature targeted can be either yours or the opponent's, so removal, pump spells, blink effects are all fair game.
Conclusion
This concludes our venture into the school of Strixhaven magic. Are you excited for the limited environment of the set? I know I am! Let's study up and see you at the prerelease!