The Many Mechanics of Modern Masters

Ho-lee CRAP that's a ton of mechanics! Only about 1/3 of which I even recognize. Kudos to Wizards for going nuts, but let's break this down. I'm only including commons and uncommons as those are the most important foundation for limited decks.  I'm clumping all the mechanics by rough synergy. Coming next week, we'll look at color pairings.

Artifacts

Affinity
Pretty simple: mo' artifacts, cheaper casting cost. Rewards cheap artifacts early to power these more expensive spells.

  


Metalcraft
Extra ability triggers with at least three artifacts on the field. Note that this enduring, not just a one time check at casting time.

   

"Equipped"
Not a key word per se, but offers a significant reward if you equip an artifact to the creature.
  

Counters

Graft
Always with an 'x' as in "Graft 2". When cast, put x +1/+1 counters on the creature. Also allows shuffling of counters onto any new creatures cast. Finally, there is a whiff of Outlast-chieftans here, where there is a benefit to any creatures with a counter on it. Veeeery interesting.
      

Proliferate
For each permanent (either team) with at least +1/+1 or -1/-1 counter, add another of the same type. The more counters in play, the more widespread (one +1/+1 counters on two creatures is clearly better than two on one creature), the more leverage.
    

Wither (and other -1/-1 counters)
Deal damage with permanent -1/-1 counters (also a few of these at the rare level too)
 

Bloodthirst
If the opponent is dealt damage the same turn that the creature is summoned, it is put into play with permanent +1/+1 counters
     

Token

Eldrazzi
Ah the Eldrazzi. Preposterously powerful creatures with ridiculous casting costs (anywhere between 8 and 15 colorless mana) fueled by token creatures that can be sacrificed for 1 colorless.
      


Convoke
Can tap creatures (perhaps a horde of tokens?) to reduce the casting cost.
     

Token Generation
Perhaps a good way to create a horde of creatures.
          

Germ
Equipment artifacts that bring their own 0/0 creature into play, automatically equipped. So the Sickleslicer is a 3 mana for 2/2 that once it dies, the equipment remains.
  

Multicolor

Domain

X = # different basic lands in play. So 2x plains, 1x island, and  3x swamp in play means X = 3.

 

Landcycle (and friends)

Landcycle has an alternate casting cost to go find a basic land instead of casting the spell. Also included in here are any other ways of digging up basic lands (perhaps to fuel Domain?)

     

Sunburst

Closely related to domain, Sunburst benefits utilizing many different colors of many during the casting. So it doesn't need to be basic lands per se (artifacts or dual land colors would also work)

 

Spirit & Arcane

Soulshift
Upon death, allows return of a spirit card (so creatures only) of x cost or less. Stone cold card advantage.

  

Spirit/Arcane
The list of cards that trigger Spirit and/or Arcane spell triggers.
              


Changeling
Acts as "all creature types" but also impacts spells. So Baldes of Velis Vel is a valid target of Soulshift 2, since it counts as a spirit creature.
   

Elemental
The final tribal archetype, there are a number of elementals with a pair of chieftans.