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One of the key parts of Magic: The Gathering is 'mechanics.' That is a card ability that can be repeated on multiple cards and therefore has a term associated with it. Mechanics like 'Flying' and 'First Strike' have become quintessential parts of MTG, with new ones like 'Plan' and 'Teamwork' being recently added with the Marvel Superheroes set. But there is one mechanic that MTG head designer Mark Rosewater has been trying to get into the game for over two decades, and it's based on Star Wars.

"Layaway was a mechanic based on a mechanic in the Star Wars TCG," Rosewater says on his Blogatog Tumblr account. "You can exile a card from your hand face down. You may then pay 1 at any time to put counters on it. You are then allowed to cast it from exile {1} cheaper for each counter on it."

If this sounds like the MTG mechanic 'Foretell,' you're not wrong; Rosewater says 'Foretell' was based, loosely, on 'Layaway.' But 'Layaway' itself is... still, effectively on layaway. But Rosewater is still hoping. When asked about MTG mechanics that spent the most time in development before debut, Rosewater says there is one that ultimately made it, but 'Layaway' is still his white whale.

Related: Best gifts for Magic: The Gathering fans in 2026: 6 picks we actually recommend.

"Energy is a contender. I’ve been trying to make layaway for decades, so if I ever get that made it would be layaway," says Rosewater.

Rosewater isn't just a fan of Star Wars...  he was involved in the Star Wars Trading Card Game, back in the early '00s when Wizards of the Coast had the license for it. He and MTG founder Richard Garfield worked on the concept and most of the foundational mechanics before handing it off to others. At the time, there wasn't the concept of MTG crossover sets such as in 'Universes Beyond,' so an MTG Star Wars set would have been improbable at the time.

To date, there haven't been officially licensed Star Wars cards in Magic: The Gathering, but given Wizards of the Coast's multi-year agreement with Disney for Marvel, it seems more possible now than ever.

Get to know, understand, and love the Star Wars franchise more with our Star Wars watch order, guide to all the upcoming Star Wars movies & TV shows, and all the Star Wars movies and Star Wars TV shows ranked.