"When you look to the stars, what do you see?"

For fans of MTG, the stars often represent more than just distant lights in the heavens. All throughout the multiverse, Magic's designers have always sought to use the stars to tell stories of gods, mortals, and the ties that bind them. And in the Theros (2013-2014) block, this sense of celestial grandeur was captured beautifully through Constellation, a mechanic that ties enchantments to the power of the gods above.

In this Mechanics Overview Segment, let's take a journey together under this starry sky. We'll dive into some of Constellation's gameplay nuances, explore its origins, and celebrate its enduring appeal as one of Magic's most flavorful and strategic mechanics. Whether you're a long-time fan of enchantments or simply enchanted by the idea of celestial power, you're in for a stellar experience.

So, with all that said, it's time to look up and see what the stars have in store.

What is Constellation?

"Whenever [Constellation Card] or another enchantment you control enters, [effect]...]"

Constellation is a triggered ability that activates whenever an enchantment enters the battlefield under your control. Here's a quick rundown of how it works in practice:

Triggering Constellation

1. The Trigger: Constellation abilities are triggered when any enchantment enters your battlefield. This includes enchantment creatures, Auras, enchantment artifacts, and even enchantments that flicker back into play.

2. The Effect: Each card with Constellation creates a unique effect when triggered. For example:

• Eidolon of Blossoms draws a card for you.
• Setessan Champion grows stronger and draws cards.
• Shoal Kraken...draws you a card, then discards a card.

Granted, not all Constellation cards draw cards, but I'd be lying if I said the best ones don't draw you cards.

3. The Stack: When multiple enchantments enter the battlefield at once, you can stack the Constellation triggers however you like, allowing for optimal sequencing.

Special Interactions

While Constellation is yet another straightforward mechanic (reading the card explains the card, yada yada yada), its interactions with other parts of the game can lead to interesting situations:

? Flickering Auras: When you flicker an Aura (e.g., using Flicker of Fate), it re-enters the battlefield and must attach to a legal target. If successful, the reattached aura will trigger Constellation as the Aura enters.

? Failed Auras: If an Aura without the Bestow keyword loses its target while on the stack, it fizzles and never enters the battlefield, meaning it won't trigger Constellation. Auras with Bestow avoid this issue, as they become creatures if their target becomes invalid.

? Removal: If an opponent removes a creature with Constellation before an enchantment enters the battlefield, the Constellation ability won't trigger. The creature must be present to "see" the enchantment enter the battlefield.

The History of Constellation

Sometimes, the stars just align perfectly, and that's exactly what happened with Constellation. Interestingly, this mechanic didn't start its life as part of the Theros block. Initially called "Enchantmentfall," it was designed for the Azorius guild in Return to Ravnica (2010). However, it seemingly just felt out of place in the law-and-order themes of Azorius.

Then came Theros (2013), a Plane inspired by Greek mythology, where the gods lived among the stars, their divine constellations watching over the mortal realm. Enchantments became the heart of the block, symbolizing the gods' power, divine intervention, and the bond between the celestial and the earthly. Truly, there couldn't have been a better home for Constellation.

And even after its debut in Journey into Nyx (2014), Constellation returned years later in Theros Beyond Death (2020). While its core concept remained the same, this time, the mechanic primarily appeared on non-enchantment Constellation cards, introducing new synergies that most players thoroughly enjoyed.

Building Constellation

So, if you're drawn to enchantments and love the idea of the gods working in your favor, a Constellation deck may be perfect for you. Here's a list of all the Constellation cards available at this time of writing to help get you brewing for your next "enchantment-matters" list:

• Agent of Erebos
• Archon of Sun's Grace
• Boon of the Spirit Realm
• Calix, Guided by Fate
• Captivating Unicorn
• Composer of Spring
• Daxos's Torment
• Doomwake Giant
• Dreadbringer Lampads
• Eidolon of Astral Winds
• Eidolon of Blossoms
• Eutropia the Twice-Favored
• Favored of Iroas
• Forgeborn Oreads
• Goldenhide Ox
• Grim Guardian
• Harvestguard Alseids
• Humbler of Mortals
• Nessian Wanderer
• Nexus Wardens
• Nylea's Colossus
• Oakheart Dryads
• Pious Wayfarer
• Protean Thaumaturge
• Sage of Mysteries
• Setessan Champion
• Setessan Skirmisher
• Shoal Kraken
• Skybind
• Strength from the Fallen
• Thassa's Devourer
• Thoughtrender Lamia
• Triton Waverider
• Underworld Coinsmith
• Whitewater Naiads

The Future of Constellation

Whether on Theros or Theros Beyond (Ha, see what I did there?), Constellation's future is looking mighty bright. As Magic continues to expand its multiverse and ventures into new storytelling horizons, the stars of Constellation remain a beacon of limitless possibility (new Planes, another return to Theros after the Phyrexian invasion, a quick pit stop in Aetherdrift, who knows!). But, wherever it appears next, one thing is certain: the Constellations will always align for those who seek them.

And that's it for this Mechanics Overview Segment. As always, happy brewing and may the stars continue to align for you when you keep all your one land hands. Until next time!