Do you walk in the light or lurk in the shadows? Perhaps both… Let’s journey back to Lorwyn together in this brief look at the new and returning mechanics for Lorwyn Eclipsed, the latest in-universe set release and first for 2026!
Before we jump right into all the mechanics new and old, let’s chat about the typals in this set. There are eight main typals or “kindred” in this set to watch for:
Kithkin, Merfolk, Faeries, Goblins, Elves, Elementals, Giants, and Treefolk. There’s also a bonus ninth worth mentioning here and that’s changeling, although they are ‘every’ creature type.
Ok, now onto the mechanics, Lorwyn Eclipsed sees the introduction of two new mechanics and the return of several old ones in this long anticipated set.
New Mechanics
Vivid
Referencing the number colours found among the permanents you control. Vivid is an ability that previously existed but is now key-worded in Lorwyn Eclipsed for the first time ever to link effects together to produce things like card draw, cost reductions, mana production, life drain etc. Pay close attention to hybrid cards in this set and others as they can provide a fast track or ramp to getting you to 2 or more colours in the vivid pool very quickly.
Blight
When a player blights they put a specified amount (blight N) of -1/-1 counters on a creature they control. In some cases the player that is instructed to blight does change as is the case with the card “High Perfect Morcant”. Blight is used as a balancing effect for the most part to offset stronger effects and as a removal tool against your opponents, even though in this case your opponent does choose the creature. Nonetheless, blight like many effects can be used and abused to advantage as well when combined with other cards and effects, so keep an eye out on this one folks!
Returning Mechanics
Evoke
Using an alternate casting cost on creatures (usually elementals) you can cast the creature for a different casting cost, but it forces you to sacrifice it when it enters the battlefield (ETB). In most cases the evoke cost will be lower than the regular casting cost of the creature and the creature has one or more ETB/LTB effects that will trigger. 
Behold
Behold is an additional cost that means you must reveal a card of a particular type or control a permanent with the named type. This was a mechanic first introduced in Tarkir: Dragonstorm, this time however Lorwyn Eclipsed takes us beyond the dragon typal into other kindred types. So it now allows you to gain a strong benefit from building around specific creature type decks. 
Convoke
Convoke has been around for a while and can appear on any card type, and is most prevalent in this set in the merfolk dominated colours of blue and white. By tapping creatures you control you can add 1 colourless or one coloured corresponding mana that shares a colour with the tapping creature to help cast the spell with convoke. 
Changeling
A permanent or spell that is a changeling has all creature types, this applies regardless of which zone the card is in. Changeling can appear on a creature or can be given to a non-creature permanent making it all creature types. Changeling is most often found associated with shapeshifter creatures and is often used as a bridging strategy to tie together multiple typal groups. In Limited format this really adds synergy to Lorwyn Eclipsed with a set that has 8 strong typal groups in it. 
Kindred
Formerly known as “tribal”, kindred is now a card type just like enchantment, artifact, etc. Much like changelings, kindred spells will have a creature type associated with them and offer benefits when combined with non-creature spells with creature type payoff effects. Since kindred is a card type it counts for combos and effects that rely on card types, and it is scattered across the Lorwyn Eclipsed set prevalently. 
There are several other mechanics seeded in the set here and there but you can discover those treats as you discover the wilds of Lorwyn Eclipsed. They do include old favourites like persist, wither, conspire, and proliferate to name a few.
Even though Lorwyn Eclipsed only brings us two new mechanics, it does bring several returning mechanics and a long awaited return to a realm of light and shadow full of wondrous creatures, spells and fun!
