Mix-and-match

Mix-and-match cards are cards that have two or more different named mechanics on them.

Description

Normally when R&D talks about mix-and-match, they don't focus on cards with multiple evergreen keywords, as that's just something every set does. The more interesting mix-and-match cards are ones where neither mechanic is evergreen. These are hard to do because it requires having two mechanics in the same set that can work together on the same card. Of those in regular sets, cycling tends to have the most mechanical overlap, as, being a deciduous smoothing mechanic, it has returned more often than other mechanics.

The first such printed mix-and-match cards appeared in Future Sight. They also appeared in Modern Horizons and Modern Horizons 2, and one or two others in sets with cycling. Going forward, mix-and-match will be a Modern Masters thing with rare exceptions. However, with the uptake of Commander set expansions, mix-and-match cards appear more often than previously suggested.

List of Mix-and-match cards

Card	Set	Mechanic 1	Mechanic 2	Purpose
<c set="" number="" title="Aegis of the Legion" artist="">Aegis of the Legion</c>	Ravnica: Clue Edition	Mentor	Shield counter	The shield counter grants a secondary bonus to the mentored creature.
<c>Arcbound Slasher</c>	Modern Horizons 2	Modular	Riot	The +1/+1 counter ability from modular can be extended further with riot.
<c set="" number="" title="Archmage's Newt" artist="">Archmage's Newt</c>	Outlaws of Thunder Junction	Flashback	Saddle	The creature's combat damage trigger will always give an instant or sorcery flashback, but saddling it provides additional upside.
<c>Ardent Plea</c>	Alara Reborn	Cascade	Exalted	The cheapest cascade permanent, with exalted an elegant bonus on the board.
<c set="" number="" title="Avian Oddity" artist="">Avian Oddity</c>, <c set="" number="" title="Sanctuary Smasher" artist="">Sanctuary Smasher</c>, <c set="" number="" title="Splendor Mare" artist="">Splendor Mare</c>, <c set="" number="" title="Titanoth Rex" artist="">Titanoth Rex</c>, <c set="" number="" title="Void Beckoner" artist="">Void Beckoner</c>	Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths	Cycling	Keyword counter	Each member of this cycle puts a color-appropriate keyword counter on a creature when it's cycled.
<c>Bannerhide Krushok</c>	Modern Horizons 2	Reinforce	Scavenge	Reinforce then scavenge to increase the amount of +1/+1 counters given.
<c set="" number="" title="Blightbelly Rat" artist="">Blightbelly Rat</c>, <c set="" number="" title="Bloated Contaminator" artist="">Bloated Contaminator</c>, <c set="" number="" title="Tainted Observer" artist="">Tainted Observer</c>	Phyrexia: All Will Be One	Proliferate	Toxic	These creatures can add poison counters to players, then proliferate them.
<c>Bloodbraid Marauder</c>	Modern Horizons 2	Cascade	Delirium	A cheap cascade at the cost of needing to have delirium first.
<c>Bogardan Lancer</c>	Future Sight	Bloodthirst	Flanking	Bloodthirst making itself stronger and flanking to make opposing creatures weaker.
<c set="" number="" title="Brimaz, Blight of Oreskos" artist="">Brimaz, Blight of Oreskos</c>	March of the Machine Commander	Incubate	Proliferate	Incubate stacks counters on dormant artifact tokens, which can then be pumped up with proliferate.
<c set="" number="" title="Charnel Serenade" artist="">Charnel Serenade</c>	Murders at Karlov Manor Commander	Surveil	Suspend	Part of an ongoing mega cycle of Commander suspend spells, its surveil ability synergizes with the deck's default commander.
<c set="" number="" title="Clay Golem" artist="">Clay Golem</c>	Forgotten Realms Commander	Dice rolling	Monstrosity	The dice's result determines how powerful the monstrosity is.
<c>Clever Concealment</c>	Phyrexia: All Will Be One Commander	Convoke	Phasing	The spell protects any number of target permanents by phasing them out, and convoke lets a player cast it despite being otherwise tapped out.
<c set="" number="" title="Confession Dial" artist="">Confession Dial</c>, <c set="" number="" title="The Grim Captain's Locker" artist="">The Grim Captain's Locker</c>	Doctor Who, The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Commander	Escape	Surveil	Surveil fills the graveyard, helping pay the escape cost the artifact grants.
<c set="" number="" title="Contaminant Grafter" artist="">Contaminant Grafter</c>, <c set="" number="" title="Glissa's Retriever" artist="">Glissa's Retriever</c>, <c set="" number="" title="Ixhel, Scion of Atraxa" artist="">Ixhel, Scion of Atraxa</c>	Phyrexia: All Will Be One Commander	Corrupted	Toxic	These creatures have toxic to put poison counters on opponents, and corrupted triggers to benefit from doing so.
<c>Core Prowler</c>, <c set="" number="" title="Viral Drake" artist="">Viral Drake</c>	Mirrodin Besieged	Proliferate	Infect	Proliferate the counters placed on players and creatures by infect.
<c>Cutthroat il-Dal</c>	Future Sight	Hellbent	Shadow	Hellbent allows controller to toggle evasion and blocking of shadow creatures.
<c set="" number="" title="Death-Greeter's Champion" artist="">Death-Greeter's Champion</c>	March of the Machine Commander	Backup	Dash	Dash returns the creature to hand at end of turn, allowing its controller to repeat its powerful backup trigger as it enters again.
<c set="" number="" title="Dinosaur Egg" artist="">Dinosaur Egg</c>	The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Commander	Evolve	Discover	The creature's second ability discovers equal to its power, which increases as it evolves.
<c set="" number="" title="Dust Animus" artist="">Dust Animus</c>	Outlaws of Thunder Junction	Keyword counters	Plot	Plotting the creature and casting it for free later allows it to come down at a much better rate and with a lifelink counter.
<c set="" number="" title="Eloise, Nephalia Sleuth" artist="">Eloise, Nephalia Sleuth</c>	Midnight Hunt Commander	Investigate	Surveil	Surveil upon sacrificing a Clue, allowing for greater card selection when sacrificing them.
<c>Ethersworn Sphinx</c>	Modern Horizons 2	Affinity	Cascade	Affinity to cheapen the costly creature for a strong cascade effect.
<c set="" number="" title="Evidence Examiner" artist="">Evidence Examiner</c>	Murders at Karlov Manor	Collect evidence	Investigate	A draft signpost that provides a flavorful payoff for collecting evidence.
<c>Feaster of Fools</c>	Modern Horizons	Convoke	Devour	Devouring the creatures used to convoke it.
<c set="" number="" title="Follow the Bodies" artist="">Follow the Bodies</c>	Murders at Karlov Manor Commander	Gravestorm	Investigate	Sacrificing Clues increases the gravestorm count, which in turn provides more Clues.
<c>Foul Watcher</c>, <c>Dragon's Rage Channeler</c>	Modern Horizons 2	Delirium	Surveil	By using Foul Watcher's surveil ability, the controller can achieve delirium faster.
<c>Funnel-Web Recluse</c>	Modern Horizons 2	Investigate	Morbid	The morbid ability that causes investigate gives a reason to play a creature with reach as big as Mammoth Spider at the same cost. Flavor-wise, Funnel-Web Recluse invokes a murder investigation.
<c>Gathan Raiders</c>	Future Sight	Hellbent	Morph	Discarding a card for the Morph cost helps achieve hellbent, making it like a combat trick.
<c>Gibbering Descent</c>	Future Sight	Hellbent	Madness	With the upkeep trigger causing discards, the madness cost lets other copies be discounted, while the hellbent lets the player stack triggers on opponents.
<c>Glistening Sphere</c>, <c set="" number="" title="Contaminant Grafter" artist="">Contaminant Grafter</c>	Phyrexia: All Will Be One	Proliferate	Corrupted	Proliferate brings poisoned opponents closer to being corrupted.
<c>Haze of Rage</c>	Future Sight	Buyback	Storm	Up the storm count with buyback.
<c>Hogaak, Arisen Necropolis</c>	Modern Horizons	Convoke	Delve	Alternate ways to cast a creature that can't be cast normally.
<c>Ichor Slick</c>	Future Sight	Cycling	Madness	Madness to cast the card while cycling, acting like a kicker cost.
<c set="" number="" title="Impending Flux" artist="">Impending Flux</c>, <c set="" number="" title="Surge of Brilliance" artist="">Surge of Brilliance</c>	Doctor Who	Foretell	Paradox	Foretell casts from exile, increasing the count of cards cast from outside your hand for the paradox ability.
<c set="" number="" title="Innocuous Researcher" artist="">Innocuous Researcher</c>	Murders at Karlov Manor Commander	Investigate	Parley	The built-in card advantage provided by Clues softens the blow of giving opponents free card draw from parley.
<c set="" number="" title="Into the Time Vortex" artist="">Into the Time Vortex</c>	Doctor Who	Cascade	Rebound	Rebound provides an extra cascade trigger.
<c set="" number="" title="Iraxxa, Empress of Mars" artist="">Iraxxa, Empress of Mars</c>	Doctor Who	Battle cry	Paradox	The paradox trigger creates tokens to be pumped up with battle cry.
<c>Kavu Primarch</c>	Future Sight	Convoke	Kicker	Convoke to pay kicker.
<c>Kaleidoscorch</c>	Modern Horizons 2	Converge	Flashback	Flashback's higher cost enables higher converge numbers.
<c set="" number="" title="Lazotep Sliver" artist="">Lazotep Sliver</c>	Commander Masters	Afflict	Amass	Two keywords associated with the Eternals on a Sliver that is apparently a member of Bolas' undead army.
<c set="" number="" title="Lethal Scheme" artist="">Lethal Scheme</c>	New Capenna Commander	Connive	Convoke	Each creature that convoked the spell connives for more filtering.
<c set="" number="" title="Lonis, Genetics Expert" artist="">Lonis, Genetics Expert</c>	Ravnica: Clue Edition	Evolve	Investigate	When the creature evolves, it investigates, and when Clues are sacrificed, it produces even more +1/+1 counters.
<c set="" number="" title="Lunar Hatchling" artist="">Lunar Hatchling</c>	Doctor Who	Basic landcycling	Escape	Escape can bring the creature back after it's pitched to the graveyard with basic landcycling.
<c set="" number="" title="Maelstrom Djinn" artist="">Maelstrom Djinn</c>	Future Sight	Morph	Vanishing	A powerful threat that can be put in for cheap with morph, but gains vanishing as a downside.
<c set="" number="" title="Markov Baron" artist="">Markov Baron</c>	March of the Machine: The Aftermath	Convoke	Madness	Mechanically, Vampires generally care about going wide and discarding cards, and this Vampire lord rewards both.
<c>Marshaling Cry</c>	Future Sight	Cycling	Flashback	Flashback the card after cycling it, for when the spell is not yet strong enough.
<c set="" number="" title="Merchant of Truth" artist="">Merchant of Truth</c>	Murders at Karlov Manor Commander	Investigate	Exalted	The Clues generated by the card retain their normal utility, but add some power on attacks with exalted if they aren't sacrificed.
<c>Mistway Spy</c>	Murders at Karlov Manor	Disguise	Investigate	Uses disguise to sneak in a Saboteur effect; uses investigate as a more balanced payoff than simply drawing.
<c>Molten Disaster</c>	Future Sight	Kicker	Split second	Split Second as a kicker bonus against sacrifice or protection effects.
<c set="" number="" title="Nazgûl" artist="">Nazgûl</c>	The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth	The Ring Tempts You	Relentless	The Nazgûl become stronger as their controller is tempted by the Ring, which happens as more Nazgûl enter the battlefield.
<c>Oketra's Attendant</c>	Amonkhet	Cycling	Embalm	Embalm to bring the creature to the battlefield after cycling it.
<c set="" number="" title="Order of Sacred Dusk" artist="">Order of Sacred Dusk</c>	The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Commander	Convoke	Exalted	The more creatures you control, the less the card costs, and the more powerful its exalted bonus will be.
<c set="" number="" title="Orochi Soul-Reaver" artist="">Orochi Soul-Reaver</c>	Outlaws of Thunder Junction Commander	Manifest	Ninjutsu	Ninjutsu allows the creature to sneak past blockers, giving additional triggers for its powerful manifest ability.
<c set="" number="" title="Park Heights Maverick" artist="">Park Heights Maverick</c>	New Capenna Commander	Dethrone	Proliferate	Dethrone puts counters on itself when it attacks the player with the most life, and those counters are increased with proliferate.
<c>Ravaging Riftwurm</c>	Future Sight	Kicker	Vanishing	Kicker is to add counters for vanishing.
<c set="" number="" title="Ripples of Potential" artist="">Ripples of Potential</c>	The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Commander	Proliferate	Phasing	Only permanents that could be proliferated can be protected by the phasing effect.
<c set="" number="" title="Sojourner's Companion" artist="">Sojourner's Companion</c>	Modern Horizons 2	Affinity	Artifact landcycling	Cycles to find artifacts, which discounts further copies through Affinity.
<c>Spirit en-Dal</c>	Future Sight	Forecast	Shadow	Forecast to give shadow as evasion or falter effect.
<c>Sprout Swarm</c>	Future Sight	Buyback	Convoke	Functionally a creature that helps to convoke and pay buyback.
<c set="" number="" title="Starving Revenant" artist="">Starving Revenant</c>	The Lost Caverns of Ixalan	Descend	Surveil	Surveil fills the graveyard, helping turn on the descend ability.
<c set="" number="" title="Syndicate Heavy" artist="">Syndicate Heavy</c>	Ravnica: Clue Edition	Extort	Investigate	Extort gains life to trigger the investigate ability.
<c set="" number="" title="Thorough Investigation" artist="">Thorough Investigation</c>	Forgotten Realms Commander	Investigate	Venture into the dungeon	Sacrifice Clues to venture further into the dungeon.
<c>Throes of Chaos</c>	Modern Horizons	Cascade	Retrace	Retrace to cascade repeatedly.
<c>Timeless Dragon</c>	Modern Horizons 2	Eternalize	Plainscycling	After plainscycling for a Plains, one can Eternalize Timeless Dragon from the graveyard.
<c>Tizerus Charger</c>	Modern Horizons 2	Escape	Keyword counter	By casting with escape, the creature can either be bigger or gain flying instead through the use of a keyword counter.
<c>Unbounded Potential</c>	Modern Horizons 2	Entwine	Proliferate	The entwine ability amplifies the counter-placing first ability with proliferate, the second ability.
<c set="" number="" title="Unshakable Tail" artist="">Unshakable Tail</c>	Murders at Karlov Manor Commander	Investigate	Surveil	The surveil ability enables the investigate ability by putting creatures in the graveyard from the library.
<c>Urban Daggertooth</c>	Modern Horizons 2	Enrage	Proliferate	The enrage ability that causes proliferate adds the risk of removing Urban Daggertooth via damage alone that doesn't kill it in one shot.
<c>Viscera Dragger</c>	Shards of Alara	Cycling	Unearth	Unearth the creature after cycling it.
<c set="" number="" title="Vashta Nerada" artist="">Vashta Nerada</c>	Doctor Who	Morbid	Shadow	With every morbid trigger, the creature grows, increasing the impact of its unblockable damage with shadow.
<c set="" number="" title="Watcher of Hours" artist="">Watcher of Hours</c>	Murders at Karlov Manor Commander	Surveil	Suspend	The surveil ability gives an additional incentive to suspend the creature aside from the reduced mana cost.
<c set="" number="" title="Waterlogged Hulk" artist="">Waterlogged Hulk</c>	The Lost Caverns of Ixalan	Craft	Descend	Both craft and descend 8 are payoffs for filling the graveyard with the artifact's activated ability.
<c>Wavesifter</c>	Modern Horizons 2	Evoke	Investigate	Wavesifter's evoke ability gives the option for the player who just wants the double clue tokens via its Investigate ability that activates twice upon entry.
<c set="" number="" title="Xavier Sal, Infested Captain" artist="">Xavier Sal, Infested Captain</c>	The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Commander	Populate	Proliferate	When the card proliferates, it creates more counters to fuel its populate ability, and when it populates, it creates creatures to fuel its proliferate ability.
<c set="" number="" title="Zephyrim" artist="">Zephyrim</c>	Warhammer 40,000 Commander Decks	Miracle	Squad	Miracle discounts the creature, leaving additional mana to pay the squad cost.
<c set="" number="" title="Zephyr Singer" artist="">Zephyr Singer</c>	March of the Machine	Convoke	Keyword counters	When the creature enters, it puts a flying counter on each creature that convoked it.