So I was thinking today a bit about available design space in Magic the Gathering. I've seen a lot of people discuss the design of cards themselves - but what about the movement of cards?

Here's a little diagram I whipped together:



Clearly, some movements (eg. Hand -> Play) feature far more heavily than others (eg. Removed From Game -> Graveyard). However there are very, very few movements that have not been explored already.

As I don't expect Phasing ever to make a comeback, I'd see only three clear interactions not explored. Removed From Game -> Library, Library -> Suspend and Graveyard -> Suspend.

As a result I'd suggest the only way to expand on card movement is to create a new zone.

Perhaps this is one of the outcomes WoTC may be trying to achieve by floating the trail balloon of naming the Remove From Game Zone "Exile" and the Play Zone "Battlefield". All it would take is to name a new zone ("Fortress?"; "Purgatory?") and a whole host of new interactions become available.