Rosewater Says Editing Sets the Default Keyword Order

Editing sets the default order for creature keyword abilities, Mark Rosewater said on Blogatog on November 7, and practical reasons sometimes justify changing it. Asked whether a Star Trek card and a Tarkir: Dragonstorm card had their shared keywords in different orders, he answered: “Editing has a default order.”

The cards at issue are Mugato and Dragon Sniper, both with reach, vigilance, and deathtouch. Their Scryfall pages list the same order, reach before vigilance, but a discussion of Mugato says Dragon Sniper puts vigilance first. Rosewater did not name the practical reasons that can override the template or explain the cards’ apparent difference.