Image courtesy of Scryfall.com
Signalnoise’s Neon Trace: A Deep Dive into the Mycosynthwave Collection
If you’ve ever chased that synthwave glow in MTG’s art corridors, Signalnoise’s Mycosynthwave feels like stepping into a neon alleyway at dusk. This card, part of the Secret Lair Showcase Planes line, isn’t just a pretty picture in a gold-bordered frame; it’s a playful invitation to rethink what it means to cast and control the color pie. With a planar design that sits outside the traditional color wheel, the piece leans into a bold chaos: a world where certainty gives way to artifact-centric possibility 🧙🔥💎.
First, the card’s nature is a trip unto itself. The type line reads Plane — Secret Lair, a reminder that this is a collectible plane card, not a standard-legal spell in most formats. The “plane” concept is all about altering the battlefield’s identity, and Mycosynthwave doubles down on that by flipping the rules on color and permanence. It’s a rare blend of flavor and function: a 0-mana, colorless, artifact-leaning universe woven into a single, artful package. The rarity is listed as common for this particular print, but the cultural weight of Signalnoise’s contribution makes it feel anything but ordinary. And yes, the art, the gold border, and the oversized presentation all shout “museum piece meets casual-table moment” ⚔️🎨.
All permanents are artifacts in addition to their other types. All cards that aren’t on the battlefield, spells, and permanents are colorless. Players may spend mana as though it were mana of any color. Whenever chaos ensues, the next spell you cast this turn has affinity for artifacts.
That text isn’t just a gimmick; it unlocks a cascade of thematic and mechanical possibilities. When you read it, you feel the room tilt toward “artifact-sympathetic” play. All permanents becoming artifacts means your entire board gains a hardware-flavored upgrade alongside the usual creature, enchantment, or land strategies. It’s a bit like discovering that your favorite deck is suddenly wired for ironclad synergy. The ability to spend mana as though it were any color is the sort of utility flourish that lets artifact engines—think Treasures, Thopters, and the myriad ways players bend mana—operate with a different flavor. And the chaos clause, granting an artifact affinity to the next spell, invites chaotic, high-energy moments where your side pushes past ordinary rules into a gleaming artifact-powered crescendo 🧙🔥💎⚔️🎲.
Why this card resonates with collectors and players alike
- Aesthetic magnetism: Signalnoise’s art has long drawn fans into a cyberpunk-meets-archmage aesthetic. Mycosynthwave captures that glow—purple-cyan hues, chrome reflections, and a sense of gleaming possibility that makes it a standout in any binder. The Planes card format adds another layer of mystique, signaling a collectible experience beyond just gameplay.
- Flavor-forward design: The flavor text and mechanical tilt converge on a single idea: a universe where color is optional if you’re chasing artifact-driven power. It embraces the core MTG delight of “what if”—what if all permanents could behave like artifacts, and what if color was merely a suggestion in a chaotic moment?
- Playable intrigue in casual settings: While not standard-legal in most formats, the plane concept and artifact affinity vibe can spark memorable games in Planechase, cube environments, or multi-player chaos sessions. It’s the kind of card that becomes a talking point at the table, a reminder that MTG’s multiverse isn’t stuck to one rigid metagame ✨.
- Artist spotlight and collector cross-pollination: This is a rare moment when a single artist’s signature style intersects with MTG’s broader collectible culture. Signalnoise’s work on the Secret Lair line draws new eyes to the artist’s catalog and to the “Showcase Planes” concept, creating a bridge between art collecting and card collecting 🧙🔥.
The Mycosynthwave footprint in the broader card ecosystem
The Secret Lair Showcase Planes set is a microcosm of MTG’s evolving approach to collectibles. It showcases planes that exist more as immersive art than as engines for standard formats. That doesn’t undermine the excitement, though—if anything, it heightens it. The card’s oversized, gold-border presentation signals a premium experience, inviting fans to admire the art up close while pondering the playful chaos of its abilities. Even for players who primarily love mana-curves and color-harmony, Mycosynthwave offers a reminder: MTG’s flavor and design philosophy reward curiosity, especially when a card invites you to reimagine how color and artifact identity interact 🎨.
For the curious collector or the casual night-slinger, the Mycosynthwave pedigree—artist Signalnoise, Secret Lair Showcase Planes, and a rules text that invites chaos—becomes a talking point at the table. If you’re building a slice of the multiverse in a binder, you’ll appreciate the way this print makes you pause and admire the art while considering new pathing for artifact-centric strategies. It’s not just about power; it’s about the idea of power redefined by colorless potential and chaotic energy, a theme MTG has explored with various planes and sets across the years ⚔️.
For further reading and to explore more works by Signalnoise, you can browse Scryfall’s detailed card pages or dig into EDHREC discussions and collector guides. And if you’re shopping for a tasteful gift for the MTG fan in your life, a Secret Lair Showcase Planes print like Mycosynthwave often becomes a centerpiece that sparks conversations around art, design, and the “what-if” moments that make this game so endlessly fascinating 🎲.