This week I'm writing up a mechanic spotlight on one of my favorite mechanics from modern-day Magic: The Gathering: Modified. Before diving in, I have a pop quiz for readers: what was the first card to reference the ''Modified'' keyword? (Hint: it's not from Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty).

Give up? I'll admit I didn't know this either until I did some background research on the Modified mechanic. The answer is Louvaq, the Aberrant, a play-test card from the first Mystery Booster set.

I don't know what I'm looking at in the image, but the rules text is clear enough. Louvaq, the Aberrant has protection from Modified creatures, and grants you the ability of modifying your opponents' creatures by placing +1/+1 counters on them.

Wizards of the Coast knew they were onto something, but they didn't quite get the mechanic right in this first iteration. Simply changing power, toughness, or ability may not be clear enough or broad enough to characterize something as being Modified. Whatever the motivation, they decided to make a few adjustments before introducing the tournament-legal Modified mechanic in Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty.

Defining Modified

The Comprehensive Rules definition of Modified is surprisingly straightforward. ''A Modified creature is a creature that has a counter on it, is equipped, or is enchanted by an Aura its controller also controls. ''

That's surprisingly straightforward. The Comprehensive Rules doesn't include paragraphs and subparagraphs of caveats and exceptions. There are just a few clarifications worth mentioning, and they're all corollary to the rule's definition. From the Magic Fandom Wiki page:

1. Only creatures can be Modified. If a Modified creature stops being a creature, it is no longer considered Modified.
2. Auras controlled by other players don't cause creatures you control to become Modified.
3. A creature that's equipped is considered Modified no matter who controls the Equipment attached to it.
4. It doesn't matter how a counter got onto the creature, nor does it matter what kind of counter it is. Any counters on the creature will make it Modified.

Besides this keyword definition, there are some variations or spin-offs of the Modified mechanic. For example, Kosei, Penitent Warlord doesn't specify Modified on the card's text, but it requires that all three modification criteria be met in order for the card's effect to occur.

Concord of the Kami is an Enchantment that rewards Modified, but in different ways depending on how the condition is met. Baird, Argivian Recruiter is an interesting Legendary Creature from Dominaria United because it follows closely to the original Mystery Booster definition of Modified on Louvaq, the Aberrant. The human soldier compares a creature's current power to its base power.

Noteworthy Modified Cards

To make a difference, the Modified mechanic requires two steps that require completion. First, a creature has to be Modified (i.e., have counters, become equipped, or have an aura attached that you control). Second, you need to cast a card that cares about creatures being Modified.

Let's focus on the latter, since the possibilities to modify a creature are virtually endless.

First, let's look at a few ''Modified-matters'' cards from Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty, where the mechanic was first made in its final form. The most popular (and valuable) such card is Kodama of the West Tree.

This creature has reasonable stats as a 3-mana, 3/3 with Reach, but its true power comes into play with its interaction with Modified creatures. Kodama of the West Tree grants your Modified creatures with trample and gives you the opportunity to Rampant Growth whenever a Modified creature you control deals combat damage to a player! That's a potent one-two punch for 3 mana! The legendary creature isn't a popular Commander choice, but it is a very popular Commander deck inclusion. It shows up in nearly 100,000 lists on EDHREC!

There are numerous other cards that care about Modified creatures in Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty, but none hold a candle to Kodama of the West Tree when it comes to popularity and playability. However, I'll at least grant honorable mention to a few:

• Goro-Goro, Disciple of Ryusei (5/5 dragons, anyone?)
• Jugan Defends the Temple (a potent Limited card)
• Invigorating Hot Spring (this card never got there in Draft)
• Thundering Raiju
• Walking Skyscraper (the card's 8 mana casting cost was reduced for each Modified creature you controlled)

The next major set to utilize the Modified mechanic was Modern Horizons 3. For Modified aficionados such as myself, the mechanic's appearance in this set was a relative disappointment. When I sort the set by most popular, best selling cards, I don't see any that care about Modified in the top hundred. The most popular card that eventually shows up on the list is Envoy of the Ancestors, followed by Arna Kennerud, Skycaptain.

The former is a Human Cleric that leverages the Outlast mechanic to place +1/+1 counters on itself, and then grants Modified creatures with lifelink. This means the first activation on Envoy of the Ancestors gives the creature both a +1/+1 counter and lifelink.

The latter is the sole Legendary Creature from Modern Horizons 3 to care about the Modified mechanic. For , you get a 4/4 creature with flying, lifelink and Ward--Discard a card. That's a pretty solid stat line already, though these mechanics alone don't scream ''build around me'' in Commander. The build around part comes in the form of its final ability. Arna Kennerud, Skycaptain has the potent ability of doubling the counters, Equipment, and Auras on your Modified creatures when they attack. Players usually love doubling things--I'm surprised this card sees so little play and is virtually a bulk mythic rare. Perhaps the right synergistic pieces will see print in the future and drive more interest in Arna Kennerud, Skycaptain as a Commander.

The last card I'll mention that references Modified in Modern Horizons 3 is Pearl-Ear, Imperial Advisor.

Despite being another Legendary Creature (who wouldn't trust a Fox Advisor?), Pearl-Ear, Imperial Advisor doesn't see much play. It requires a bit much of you to merely draw cards: you first have to have Modified creatures, then you need to cast an Aura that targets one such creature, and then you get to draw a card. Sure, it works well with Sheltered by Ghosts and Ethereal Armor, but it may not be flashy enough to make waves in Commander.

Special Appearances

Thus far, the Modified mechanic has really only made significant appearances in Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty and Modern Horizons 3. That being said, Modified has made a few cameo appearances in other, special sets.

Ian the Reckless is a Fallout card that rewards you with a bonus effect if he's Modified.

I'm not familiar with the Fallout storyline, but I assume Ian the Reckless is a character that becomes more dangerous and menacing if it's upgraded in some way. Wizards of the Coast wouldn't print a one-time appearance of a mechanic like Modified if it wasn't warranted.

The Modified mechanic shows up on a handful of Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty Commander cards, such as Chishiro, the Shattered Blade and Kami of Celebration, but that's to be expected since the mechanic was heavily referenced in the base set.

On the other hand, there is one cameo appearance of the Modified mechanic in the March of the Machine Commander decks: Mirror-Style Master.

This creature leverages the Backup mechanic, a popular inclusion in March of the Machine. Then, after backing up another creature by placing a +1/+1 counter on it, the creature can attack and receive a bonus for being Modified. The bonus: you get a token copy of the creature that's also tapped and attacking until end of combat! Backup and Modified are two mechanics that work surprisingly well together--I wish there were more instances of this synergy in March of the Machine. Alas, there's just the one for now.

Wrapping It Up

Outside of Limited, we haven't seen Modified make too much of a splash in competitive Magic: The Gathering. In Commander play, only Kodama of the West Tree appears to have broken into the mainstream. The next most popular cards that referenced Modified are Silkguard (Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty Commander) and Goro-Goro, Disciple of Ryusei). I already talked about the latter. The former is simple Instant that places +1/+1 counters on your creatures while also protecting your modified creatures and the Auras and Equipment attached to them.

It can be a powerful card, but it's hardly the compelling build around that players pursue in Commander.

When you boil it all down, I think Modified hasn't had the same impact on Magic: The Gathering as most other mechanics. It has the potential to drive synergy and create a fun gameplay experience, but its reliance on Auras, Equipment, and counters will always make it a little clunkier. Without having these modifiers, a card that cares about Modified won't have the intended effect.

Perhaps in its next return to premier play, Wizards of the Coast will give us new cards that both modify creatures while also caring about modified creatures, kind of how Silkguard works. That may be the way to take this underappreciated mechanic to the next level.