diff --git a/data/magic-blends.mse-include/new-blends b/data/magic-blends.mse-include/new-blends
index 14c4f45ef..3c1d8d694 100644
--- a/data/magic-blends.mse-include/new-blends
+++ b/data/magic-blends.mse-include/new-blends
@@ -874,190 +874,131 @@ color_background := {
 color_combination := {
 	# does this have an override blend_type?
 	if blend_type == "" then blend_type := type
-	# The base hybrid between colors, without the outer frame blended over it
+	
+	# Basic gradient of the color frames
 	base := base_hybrid[shape][color_count]
-	# Do we need to blend an additional gold, colorless or artifact outer frame?
-	if land and not colored_lands then
-	(
-		if multicolor_blend == "black"		then land_template("c")
-		else if multicolor_blend == "white"	then base()
-		else masked_blend(
-			mask:  "{folder}multicolor_blend_{blend_type}.png",
-			dark:  land_template("c"),
-			light: base(),
+	
+	# This next step adds additional blending from artifact, hybrid, and multicolor cards
+	# Usually, the basic gradient is used on the "light" parts of the mask
+	# And one of those three are used on the "dark" parts
+	# artifact mode is expected to add a trim effect, but leave the plates and pinlines alone
+	# hybrid mode is expected to add a plate effect, but leave the trim and pinline alone
+	# multicolor mode is expted to add a trim and plate effect, but leave the pinline alone
+	# when in conflict, artifact > multicolor > hybrid
+	# an artifact that costs (W)(W/U)(U) has artifact trim, gold plates, and WU gradient pinlines
+	# this finds the parameters needed for the script at the end
+	# but may need an intermediate blend step when modes are chained
+	mode := ""				# by default we don't blend at all
+	light := base			# our base gradient script
+	light_input := input	# the color we've been given
+	dark := template		# the template script for this type
+	dark_input := "c"		# the color of the secondary blend image
+	
+	if land and not colored_lands then (
+		## blend with land via multi mode
+		mode := "multicolor"
+		dark := land_template
+	)
+	else if land and multi then (
+		## blend with land via hybrid mode
+		## mask_hybrid decides the dark input
+		mode := "hybrid"
+		dark := land_template
+		if mask_hybrid_with_gold() then (
+			## Add mland internals to the gradient
+			dark_input := "m"
+		)
+		else if mask_multi_land_with_color() then (
+			## Use gradient's internals on mland
+			light := land_template
+			light_input := "m"
+			dark := base
+			dark_input := input
+		)
+		else (
+			## cland with gradient pinlines
+			mode := "multicolor"
 		)
 	)
-	else if land and multi and mask_hybrid_with_gold() then
-	(
-		if hybrid_blend == "black"		then land_template("m")
-		else if hybrid_blend == "white"	then base()
-		else masked_blend(
-			mask:  "{folder}hybrid_blend_{blend_type}.png",
-			dark:  land_template("m"),
-			light: base(),
+	else if artifact then (
+		## blend via artifact mode
+		## multi and hybrid need to chain blends
+		## otherwise just use artifact as dark input
+		mode := "artifact"
+		dark_input := "a"
+		if multi then (
+			## first blend multicolor internals onto the gradient
+			## then artifact will overwrite the outer portion
+			light := { conditional_masked_blend(
+				mode: 			"multicolor",
+				light: 			base,
+				light_input: 	input,
+				dark: 			template,
+				dark_input : 	"m"
+			)}
+		)
+		else if color_count <= 1 then (
+			## blend artifact outside
+		)
+		else if mask_hybrid_with_land() then (
+			## first blend cland internals, artifact happens later 
+			light := { conditional_masked_blend(
+				mode: 			"multicolor",
+				light: 			base,
+				light_input: 	input,
+				dark: 			template,
+				dark_input : 	"c"
+			)}
+		)
+		else if mask_hybrid_with_gold() then (
+			## first blend mland internals, artifact happens later 
+			light := { conditional_masked_blend(
+				mode: 			"multicolor",
+				light: 			base,
+				light_input: 	input,
+				dark: 			template,
+				dark_input : 	"m"
+			)}
+		)
+		else (
+			## shouldn't get here, but if we do, blend artifact outside
 		)
 	)
-	else if land and multi and mask_multi_land_with_color() then
-	(
-		if hybrid_blend == "black"		then base()
-		else if hybrid_blend == "white"	then land_template("m")
-		else masked_blend(
-			mask:  "{folder}hybrid_blend_{blend_type}.png",
-			dark:  base(),
-			light:  land_template("m"),
+	else if multi then (
+		## complex forms already handled
+		## just blend multicolor over the gradient
+		mode := "multicolor"
+		dark_input := "m"
+	)
+	else if color_count > 1 then (
+		## blend hybrid internals over the gradient
+		## settings change which template we blend with
+		mode := "hybrid"
+		dark := land_template
+		if mask_hybrid_with_gold() then (
+			dark_input := "m"
 		)
 	)
-	else if multi and artifact then
-	(
-		if artifact_blend == "black"		then template("a")
-		else if artifact_blend == "white"	then
-		(
-			if multicolor_blend == "black"		then template("m")
-			else if multicolor_blend == "white"	then base()
-			else masked_blend(
-				mask: "{folder}multicolor_blend_{blend_type}.png",
-				dark: template("m"),
-				light: base()
-			)
-		)
-		else
-		(
-			if multicolor_blend == "black"	then masked_blend(
-				mask: "{folder}artifact_blend_{blend_type}.png",
-				dark: template("a"),
-				light: template("m")
-			)
-			else if multicolor_blend == "white"	then masked_blend(
-				mask: "{folder}artifact_blend_{blend_type}.png",
-				dark: template("a"),
-				light: base()
-			)
-			else masked_blend(
-				mask: "{folder}artifact_blend_{blend_type}.png",
-				dark: template("a"),
-				light: masked_blend(
-					mask: "{folder}multicolor_blend_{blend_type}.png",
-					dark: template("m"),
-					light: base()
-				)
-			)
-		)
-	)
-	else if multi then 
-	(
-		if multicolor_blend == "black"		then template("m")
-		else if multicolor_blend == "white"	then base()
-		else masked_blend(
-			mask:  "{folder}multicolor_blend_{blend_type}.png",
-			dark:  template("m"),
-			light: base(),
-		)
-	)
-	else if artifact and color_count > 1 and mask_hybrid_with_land() then 
-	(
-		if artifact_blend == "black"		then template("a")
-		else if artifact_blend == "white"	then
-		(
-			if multicolor_blend == "black"		then template("c")
-			else if multicolor_blend == "white"	then base()
-			else masked_blend(
-				mask: "{folder}multicolor_blend_{blend_type}.png",
-				dark: template("c"),
-				light: base()
-			)
-		)
-		else
-		(
-			if multicolor_blend == "black"	then masked_blend(
-				mask: "{folder}artifact_blend_{blend_type}.png",
-				dark: template("a"),
-				light: template("c")
-			)
-			else if multicolor_blend == "white"	then masked_blend(
-				mask: "{folder}artifact_blend_{blend_type}.png",
-				dark: template("a"),
-				light: base()
-			)
-			else masked_blend(
-				mask:  "{folder}artifact_blend_{blend_type}.png",
-				dark:  template("a"),
-				light: masked_blend(
-					mask: "{folder}multicolor_blend_{blend_type}.png",
-					dark: template("c"),
-					light: base()
-				)
-			)
-		)
-	)
-	else if artifact and color_count > 1 and mask_hybrid_with_gold() then 
-	(
-		if artifact_blend == "black"		then template("a")
-		else if artifact_blend == "white"	then
-		(
-			if multicolor_blend == "black"		then template("m")
-			else if multicolor_blend == "white"	then base()
-			else masked_blend(
-				mask: "{folder}multicolor_blend_{blend_type}.png",
-				dark: template("m"),
-				light: base()
-			)
-		)
-		else
-		(
-			if multicolor_blend == "black"	then masked_blend(
-				mask: "{folder}artifact_blend_{blend_type}.png",
-				dark: template("a"),
-				light: template("m")
-			)
-			else if multicolor_blend == "white"	then masked_blend(
-				mask: "{folder}artifact_blend_{blend_type}.png",
-				dark: template("a"),
-				light: base()
-			)
-			else masked_blend(
-				mask:  "{folder}artifact_blend_{blend_type}.png",
-				dark:  template("a"),
-				light: masked_blend(
-					mask: "{folder}multicolor_blend_{blend_type}.png",
-					dark: template("m"),
-					light: base()
-				)
-			)
-		)
-	)
-	else if artifact then 
-	(
-		if artifact_blend == "black"		then template("a")
-		else if artifact_blend == "white"	then base()
-		else masked_blend(
-			mask:  "{folder}artifact_blend_{blend_type}.png",
-			dark:  template("a"),
-			light: base(),
-		)
-	)
-	else if color_count > 1 and mask_hybrid_with_land() then
-	(
-		if hybrid_blend == "black"		then land_template("c")
-		else if hybrid_blend == "white"	then base()
-		else masked_blend(
-			mask:  "{folder}hybrid_blend_{blend_type}.png",
-			dark:  land_template("c"),
-			light: base(),
-		)
-	)
-	else if color_count > 1 and mask_hybrid_with_gold() then
-	(
-		if hybrid_blend == "black"		then land_template("m")
-		else if hybrid_blend == "white"	then base()
-		else masked_blend(
-			mask:  "{folder}hybrid_blend_{blend_type}.png",
-			dark:  land_template("m"),
-			light: base(),
-		)
-	)
-	else base()
+	## if we have a mode, blend that, otherwise use our base gradient
+	if mode == "" then base() else conditional_masked_blend()
+	
 }@(folder: "", blend_type:"")
 
+conditional_masked_blend :=
+{
+	mask := "{folder}{mode}_blend_{blend_type}.png"
+	mode :=	if		mode == "multicolor" then	multicolor_blend
+			else if	mode == "artifact" then		artifact_blend
+			else								hybrid_blend
+	if		mode == "black" then dark(dark_input)
+	else if	mode == "white" then light(light_input)
+	else masked_blend(
+			mask:	mask,
+			dark:	dark(dark_input),
+			light:	light(light_input),
+	)
+}
+
 ########################################################################
 # Specific types
 ########################################################################