(This month's banner uses the art of Approach of the Second Sun by Noah Bradley. It was created by the wonderful bravelion83.)
June 2017 MCC Round Three: God-Pharoah's Will
The second sun is coming, Bolas's return is nigh, and Amonkhet is on the brink of devastation. But, we can't just focus on the present. We also must reflect on the past, the anthologies beforehand. That's exactly what's happening this month. The first two rounds will let you choose between highlighting the Egyptian plane's glory or the past of the Commander series. The Third will put you squarely in the God-Pharaoh's realm, and Round 4 will give you a long look at the achievements of Commander in the past.
The Hour of Devastation has arrived, and the Gate to the Afterlife has been opened. But what was in store for the champions of Amonkhet? This round, the versus round, that's your job to decide. Main Challenge: Design a card named "God-Pharaoh's Gift".
Subchallenge 1: Your card is an artifact.
Subchallenge 2: Your card cares about creatures in the graveyard.
Main: Your card's name MUST be "God-Pharaoh's Gift." If the card is double sided, the front face must be named "God-Pharaoh's Gift".
Sub 2: "Cares about creatures in the graveyard" means that the card mus have some ability that specifically relates to creature cards in the graveyard. "Whenever a creature dies" and its variants do not count. Ask about any text that needs clarifying in the MCC discussion thread.
A reminder to everyone: In the MCC, putting rarity on cards is mandatory! If you don't put a rarity on your card, expect huge deductions in both Viability AND Quality.
Also, you should format your text cards accordingly to the forum rules (see the "this formatting looks best" spoiler in the linked OP). Again, expect deductions in Quality otherwise.
Design - (X/3) Appeal: Do the different player psychographics (Timmy/Johhny/Spike) have a use for the card? (X/3) Elegance: Is the card easily understandable at a glance? Do all the flavor and mechanics combined as a whole make sense?
Development - (X/3) Viability: How well does the card fit into the color wheel? Does it break or bend the rules of the game? Is it the appropriate rarity? (X/3) Balance: Does the card have a power level appropriate for contemporary constructed/limited environments without breaking them? Does it play well in casual and multiplayer formats? Does it create or fit into a deck/archetype? Does it create an oppressive environment?
Creativity - (X/3) Uniqueness: Has a card like this ever been printed before? Does it use new mechanics, ideas, or design space? Does it combine old ideas in a new way? Overall, does it feel “fresh”? (X/3) Flavor: Does the name seem realistic for a card? Does the flavor text sound professional? Do all the flavor elements synch together to please Vorthos players?
Polish - (X/3) Quality: Points deducted for incorrect spelling, grammar, and templating. (X/2) *Main Challenge: Was the main challenge satisfied? Was it approached in a unique or interesting way? Does the card fit the intent of the challenge? (X/2) Subchallenges: One point awarded per satisfied subchallenge condition.
Total: X/25
*An entry with 0 points here is subject to disqualification.
Good luck all!
Player deadline: Wednesday, June 28th, 23:59 EDT
Judge Deadline: Saturday, July 1st, 23:59 EDT
Judges Necarg
Bravelion83
Tilwin
StonerofKruphix
Players
TheHittite
IcariiFA
kjsharp
iphanx
Marco
Rocco
Flatline
Freyleyes
My thoughts are with the friends and family of the Orlando Shooting victims and with the rest of the LGBTQA+ community.
Check out my Newborder Peasant Cube here! http://www.cubetutor.com/draft/37467
Necarg, please don't acknowledge this in any way whatsoever.
True Name Mafia (Win),Clan Contest IX Mafia (Win), Bravely Default Mafia (Loss), BOTAS (loss), BfV (Loss), Ace Attourney (loss)
Rules Advisor before they were eradicated
God-Pharaoh's Gift3
Artifact (R) t: Add U, B, or R to your mana pool. 4, Exile a creature card from your graveyard: God-Pharaoh's Gift becomes a copy of the exiled card until end of turn. Activate this ability only any time you could cast a sorcery. "This one has been particularly useful to me. I'll grant him the honor of continuing to serve me."
—Nicol Bolas
(22 Total) - October 2014; December 2014; January 2015; April 2015; June 2015; August 2015; September 2015; November 2015; December 2015(T); January 2016; March 2016(T); April 2016; June 2016; October 2016; December 2016(T); February 2017; April 2017; December 2017; November 2018(T); January 2019; April 2019; June 2019
(8 Total) - May 2015; May 2016; June 2016; August 2016; October 2016; December 2016; October 2017; May 2019
(7 Total) - September 2015; October 2015; January 2016; March 2016; April 2016; July 2016(T); March 2019(T)
God-Pharaoh's Gift2
Legendary Artifact (R) T, Sacrifice a nonland permanent or discard a card: Tap or untap another target permanent. 3UBR, T, Exile up to six creature cards from your graveyard, sacrifice God Pharaoh’s Gift: Destroy up to six target nonland permanents. “Your faith will be rewarded. You needn't concern yourselves with any other so-called virtues.” — Nicol Bolas, God-Pharaoh
Considering we are probably going to have that exact card spoiled before this round is over this probably isn't the best idea for a challenge...
God-Pharaoh's Gift4
Artifact Creature - Construct (R)
God-Pharaoh's Gifts power and toughness are equal to the number of creature cards in your graveyard. 1, Exile a creature card from your graveyard: God-Pharaoh's Gift becomes a copy of that card until end of turn, except it's power and toughness are equal to the number of creature cards in your graveyard. Lazotep was but one way to become eternal.
*/*
God-Pharaoh’s Gift2
Artifact - Equipment [R]
Whenever God-Pharaoh’s Gift enters the battlefield, you may pay UBR. If you do, return a creature card from your graveyard to the battlefield and attach God-Pharaoh’s Gift to it.
Equipped creature is a black Zombie with base power and toughness 4/4.
Equip 3 Born by death to rise Eternal.
God-Pharaoh's Gift4
Artifact (R)
God-Pharaoh's Gift enters the battlefield tapped.
, Add UBR to your mana pool. Spend this mana only to cast spells from your graveyard or activate abilities of cards in your graveyard.
Whenever you cast a spell from your graveyard or activate an ability of a card in your graveyard, create a 3/3 black Horror creature token.
God-Pharaoh's Gift3
Artifact (Rare)
When God-Pharaoh’s Gift enters the battlefield, each opponent discards a card. T, Exile target creature card from a graveyard: Add UBR to your mana pool.
God-Pharaoh's Gift3
Legendary Artifact (R)
Whenever a creature card in your graveyard becomes the target of a spell or ability, exile it.
At the beginning of your upkeep, choose a creature card exiled with God-Pharaoh's Gift, put it onto the battlefield. The promised afterlife is nothing more than an endless wretched servitude.
God-Pharaoh's Gift1
Legendary Artifact {M} 1U: If there are no fate counters on God-Pharaoh’s Gift, put a fate counter on it and draw a card. 2R: If there is only one fate counter on God-Pharaoh’s Gift, put a fate counter on it and deal 3 damage to each creature. 5B: If there are two or more fate counters on God-Pharaoh’s Gift, exile it and return target creature card from your graveyard to the battlefield.
Submissions are closed, and judging has begun! Here are the brackets! Necarg
TheHittite vs. IcariiFA
kjsharp vs. iphanx
Bravelion83
Marco vs. Rocco
Flatline vs. Freyleyes
StonerOfKruphix
TheHittite vs. IcariiFA
Marco vs. Rocco
Tilwin
Flatline vs. Freyleyes
kjsharp vs. iphanx
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
My thoughts are with the friends and family of the Orlando Shooting victims and with the rest of the LGBTQA+ community.
Check out my Newborder Peasant Cube here! http://www.cubetutor.com/draft/37467
Necarg, please don't acknowledge this in any way whatsoever.
True Name Mafia (Win),Clan Contest IX Mafia (Win), Bravely Default Mafia (Loss), BOTAS (loss), BfV (Loss), Ace Attourney (loss)
Rules Advisor before they were eradicated
God-Pharaoh's Gift3
Artifact (Rare)
When God-Pharaoh’s Gift enters the battlefield, each opponent discards a card. T, Exile target creature card from a graveyard: Add UBR to your mana pool.
Design (2.5/3) Appeal - Timmy doesn't care that much, even though he appreciates the fact that he can draw mana out of his creatures that happen to die and use that mana to cast new things. Johnny should definitely be able to use that mana-producing ability somehow. Spike likes both the one-sided discard (that's card parity in duel and card advantage in multiplayer) and the mana ability, if Deathrite Shaman is any indication, and this is even way better, as it gives you three mana instead of just one like the Shaman. (3/3) Elegance - Perfect in this regard.
Development (2.5/3) Viability - Artifacts have done a bit of discard, even though usually associated with black in some way (not always though). Mana production is a classic ability of colorless artifacts. Given how this card gives you three mana at once, having it be a rare is definitely appropriate. (0/3) Balance - I'll say that repeatedly producing three mana for free really worries me. Yes, it's limited by the number of creatures in your graveyard, but that's: 1- not that hard to achieve, 2- a renewable resource (more creature will die while you have this in play) and 3- not a big problem if you fetched this with Gate to the Afterlife as it requires you to have six creatures already in the graveyard just to be able to activate the "fetch the Gift" ability. If you have enough creatures in your graveyard, the ability is literally at Black Lotus level, and I can already hear alarm bells ringing... Yes, it costs three mana, but then Gilded Lotus exists and it's still quite strong at five mana. This costs two mana less and it also has additional upside (the discard)! I expect this to see play in literally every format, but not in a good way. I really think this should have said "Add U, B, or (not "and"!) R to your mana pool" or have a mana component added to the ability. I'm sorry but I really can't see this existing at this power level.
Creativity (0.5/3) Uniqueness - Nothing new here. The exact card doesn't exist yet, but all the single pieces are things we see all the time. (1/3) Flavor - The name was requested by the challenge, and there is no flavor text even though there is room. A minimum of mechanical flavor is there, but not too much.
Polish (3/3) Quality - All good. (2/2) Main Challenge - Good. (2/2) Subchallenges - Both met.
Total: 16.5/25
God-Pharaoh's Gift2
Legendary Artifact (R) T, Sacrifice a nonland permanent or discard a card: Tap or untap another target permanent. 3UBR, T, Exile up to six creature cards from your graveyard, sacrifice God Pharaoh’s Gift: Destroy up to six target nonland permanents. “Your faith will be rewarded. You needn't concern yourselves with any other so-called virtues.” — Nicol Bolas, God-Pharaoh
Design (2.5/3) Appeal - Some Timmies will like the last ability, but others just won't care. Johnny just loves the first ability. Spike likes the power the two different instances of "up to six" give to this card (see Balance). (2/3) Elegance - While the rules text is not too long and clear enough, there are still a lot of things to process. The fact that the two "up to six"-es can be different does not help.
Development (1/3) Viability - Twiddle-ing is something that artifacts have only done twice in the history of Magic (hey, Gatherer helps!): Esper Sojourners, which kind of doesn't count because it's a colored artifact, and Puppet Strings, which is the only real precedent. Still, a precedent does exist indeed and I don't really see any problem with allowing colorless artifacts to do that. I feel like rarity is right. A problem is that you will never exile any creature cards to activate the ability: "up to six" includes zero and does not have to be the same value as the "up to six" in the effect (there is no X to link those values), so you can exile zero cards to destroy six permanents, so why not just do that everytime? I feel like the intention was to have those two instances of "up to six" to be linked, but as this is worded now that's not how it works. This is a problem that would definitely need fixing before being able to print this card. Another thing to note is that Grixis colors are not supposed to be able to deal with enchantments, while this can hit them without any problem. Yes, that's flavorful because Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker also does it, but from a color pie perspective that's a problem here as it is on the real card too, and the fact that they printed it doesn't eliminate the problem, actually it makes it even bigger as people now think that's fine because of that precedent. That's the same problem Planar Chaos as a set had, even though I loved it and all of Time Spiral block, and I even started playing the year before! Not only then-enfranchised players loved it. I would become one later but wasn't exactly one yet. But I digress... (1/3) Balance - I think there are multiple dangerous things going on here. One is the Twiddle ability having no mana cost, so if you can build an engine in which you can repeatedly untap this artifact you can do this ad libitum, limited only by the number of nonland permanents plus cards in hand you have. I think even a mana cost as little as 1 would have gone a long way in make that ability safer. Then we have the second ability, that also has a problem, even though a different one. At least that has a mana cost, and not an insignificant one, but as I've already mentioned the two instances of "up to six" are completely unrelated to each other, so you can exile zero creatures from your graveyard to destroy the maximum of permanents. So why have the exile cost at all? You'd never pay it for real! I really think this is meant to be "...Exile X creature cards from your graveyard, Sacrifice Goh-Pharaoh's Gift: Destroy (up to?) X target nonland permanents. (X can't be 0.) (X can't be more than 6.)" with the parts in brackets being debatable. Anyway, I really feel like those two values should have been linked in some way. As for playability, I'd probably play this in limited, sometimes even if I'm not in Grixis colors or I'm just splashing for one of those colors. I'm not sure about constructed though, even if you exile no creatures from your graveyard, six mana in three different colors is still a lot to pay for the removal option.
Creativity (2/3) Uniqueness - While the single parts are nothing new, there are a couple of details that make this card stand out, namely having an alternative cost in an activate ability and the "up to six" part which gives this card a similar feeling as Hex, even if there are more than enough differences. (2/3) Flavor - The name was requested by the challenge, so what counts here is the flavor text (which is very good here and I could easily see printed as is, with the correction needed for Quality) and the integration with mechanics (which I honestly find a bit lacking here, I can't really associate the concepts from the flavor text to the mechanical abilities).
Polish (2.5/3) Quality - In the flavor text, the attribution should be in its own line (-0.5). It should also be black just like the rest of the text, but that doesn't feel enough to warrant its own deduction. Let's just say it's already included in that -0.5. (2/2) Main Challenge - Good. (2/2) Subchallenges - Both met.
Total: 17/25
God-Pharaoh's Gift3
Artifact (R) t: Add U, B, or R to your mana pool. 4, Exile a creature card from your graveyard: God-Pharaoh's Gift becomes a copy of the exiled card until end of turn. Activate this ability only any time you could cast a sorcery. "This one has been particularly useful to me. I'll grant him the honor of continuing to serve me."
—Nicol Bolas
Design (2/3) Appeal - Timmy likes making copies of his dead creatures, even if he would like it even more if the copies were permanent. Johnny should be able to use this card to good effect. Spike likes the pseudo-embalming (that's more like unearth as the copy lives for just a single turn), but this doesn't look like a card that he loves. (3/3) Elegance - All good here.
Development (3/3) Viability - I said I wasn't going to talk about the real God-Pharaoh's Gift, not that I wasn't going to mention any HOU card at all. This is clearly a variation on Manalith (reprinted in HOU), so it's something artifacts can certainly do. Mirage Mirror is an example for the other ability. Manalith is common, but the Mirror is rare, as are other similar cards, so adding the copy ability can probably justify this being a rare too. (3/3) Balance - I see no particular problems here in any format. Manalith has always been limited playable and I don't expect that to change either in HOU or with this card. The copy ability might cause this to see a little constructed play in specific decks. I see no problems in casual or multiplayer either.
Creativity (2/3) Uniqueness - Despite my first instinct teling me something similar has to already exist, I made a thorough Gatherer search and I was amazed to find out this was not actually the case. The closest it gets is Scion of the Ur-Dragon copying a card that then puts into your graveyard (while this copies cards going out of your graveyard) and Body Double copying creatures from graveyards. This also feels at home on Amonkhet as it mechanically plays into the same design space as embalm and eternalize, but that dilutes a bit this card's originality in a vacuum though. (3/3) Flavor - The name was requested by the challenge, so what counts here is the flavor text (which is very good here and I could easily see printed as is) and the integration with mechanics (which is also very good, especially with the copy ability).
Polish (3/3) Quality - All good. (2/2) Main Challenge - Good. (2/2) Subchallenges - Both met.
Total: 23/25
God-Pharaoh's Gift1
Legendary Artifact {M} 1U: If there are no fate counters on God-Pharaoh’s Gift, put a fate counter on it and draw a card. 2R: If there is only one fate counter on God-Pharaoh’s Gift, put a fate counter on it and deal 3 damage to each creature. 5B: If there are two or more fate counters on God-Pharaoh’s Gift, exile it and return target creature card from your graveyard to the battlefield.
Design (2.5/3) Appeal - Timmy likes the quest-like gameplay. Johnny could use proliferate or cards like Quarry Hauler to manipulate the number of counters on this. Spike would really like to be able to choose which ability to activate, even if that kind of would defy the purpose of the card. The three abilities all do something Spike likes in a vacuum though. (2.5/3) Elegance - The symmetry and prograssion of the effects really helps here. The overall card is a bit wordy but still easily understandable.
Development (2.5/3) Viability - Each ability is clearly tied to its respective color. I honestly feel like this could just be a regular rare, but what works at rare certainly works at mythic too mechanically. Figure of Destiny was a rare from before the mythic rarity existed, but it was kept as a regular rare when reprinted in Modern Masters (ok, not a main Standard set, but that's the way it is). Obelisk of Alara, that feels similar to this in a way, was also a rare and it was printed in the second set ever to contain mythics (the point is mythics already existed when it was first printed). (2.5/3) Balance - I see no big problems with this card and its costs. One generic mana is fine to pay for an artifact that doesn't do anything right away. The ability costs feel fine, if not a bit overcosted, but that's probably for the best and it's justified by the fact that you're not necessarily paying all the mana in the same turn, and when that happens costs are always on the high end because you have to pay for the flexibility of being able to do it all right now or over more turns. Unfortunately, I think that might keep this out of constructed. It's certainly playable in limited though, and I see no problems in casual or multiplayer either.
Creativity (2.5/3) Uniqueness - This plays in the same space of progressive cards like Figure of Destiny, but tracking the progress with counters instead of creature types. It's more like level up, that also uses counters, but I can't remember an artifact with level up... *checks Gatherer*... no, they're all creatures. Level up has never been on a noncreature permanent. To summarize, while the inspiration for this card is clear, the execution is original enough. (2/3) Flavor - The name was requested by the challenge. There is indeed no room for flavor text, we already have nine lines here in MSE. Some mechanical flavor is there: Bolas's gift is knowledge, damage and reanimation, all things he has plenty of.
Polish (2/3) Quality - In the red ability, damage needs a source. It should say "...and God-Pharaoh's Gift deals 3 damage..." (-0.5). In that same ability, it should say "exactly one counter" rather than "only" (see the Oracle text of Homarid and Tidal Influence, -0.5). (2/2) Main Challenge - Good. (2/2) Subchallenges - Both met.
MCC - Winner (6): Oct 2014, Apr Nov 2017, Jan 2018, Apr Jun 2019 || Host (15): Dec 2014, Apr Jul Aug Dec 2015, Mar Jul Aug Oct 2016, Feb Jul 2017, Jun Nov 2018, Feb Jul 2019 (last one here) || Judge (34): every month from Nov 2014 to Nov 2016 except Oct 2015, every month from Feb to Jul 2017 except Apr 2017, then Oct 2017, May Jun Nov 2018, Feb Jul 2019 (last one here) CCL - Winner (3): Jul 2016 (tied with Flatline), May 2017, Jul 2019 (last one here) || Host (5): Feb 2015, Mar Apr May Jun 2016 DCC - Winner (1): Mar 2015 (tied with Piar) || Host (3): May Oct 2015, Jan 2016
• The two public custom sets I've been part a part of the design team for: "Brotherhood of Ormos" - Blog post with all info - set thread - design skeleton / card list || "Extinctia: Homo Evanuit" - Blog post with all info - set thread - card list spreadsheet
• "The Lion's Lair", my article series about MTG and custom card design in particular. Latest article here. Here is the article index.Rather outdated by now, and based on the old MCC rubric, but I'm leaving this here for anybody that might be interested anyway.
• My only public attempt at being a writer: the story of my Leonin custom planeswalker Jeff Lionheart. (I have a very big one that I'm working on right now but that's private for now, and I don't know if I will ever actually publish it, and I also have ideas for multiple future ones, including one where I'm going to reprise Jeff.)
God-Pharaoh's Gift4
Artifact Creature - Construct (R)
God-Pharaoh's Gifts power and toughness are equal to the number of creature cards in your graveyard. 1, Exile a creature card from your graveyard: God-Pharaoh's Gift becomes a copy of that card until end of turn, except it's power and toughness are equal to the number of creature cards in your graveyard. Lazotep was but one way to become eternal.
*/*
DESIGN
(3/3) Appeal: Johnny likes this for the shenanigans with gate and with value creatures. Tammy likes it for being a 6/6 when it comes out via the gate.
Spike likes the possibility of this in delirium style decks to have a large beater on T3 or 4.
(2/3) Elegance: The fact that it has to get smaller to activate itself is not something I caught on the first readthrough and I feel like it would be similar for many players.
DEVELOP
(2/3) Viability: Colorless clone effects walk a fine line of viability, but it's mostly fine.
(3/3) Balance: this seems to be a nice balance between well costed on its own and with the gate. Nice job.
CREATE
(2/3) Uniqueness: Similar but different to Cemetery Puca and BodyDoUBlE
(1.5/3) Flavor: Going around the Lazotep encasement idea was neat for design, but not necessarily for flavor. Additionally, one-turn copying doesn't fit the "eternal" idea either.
POLAND
(1/3)Quality: A) You need an apostrophe in "Gifts" to define its P/T. B) In both cases where you define its P/T, you need the word "each" before "equal". C) The "it's" should not have an apostrophe. It's is a contraction. You used a possessive.
(4/4) Challenges: All good.
TOTAL: 18.5/25
God-Pharaoh’s Gift2
Artifact - Equipment [R]
Whenever God-Pharaoh’s Gift enters the battlefield, you may pay UBR. If you do, return a creature card from your graveyard to the battlefield and attach God-Pharaoh’s Gift to it.
Equipped creature is a black Zombie with base power and toughness 4/4.
Equip 3 Born by death to rise Eternal.
DESIGN
(1.5/3) Appeal: Tammy likes the size boost, Johnny doesn't like the huge amount of work to do to get this effect (with gate it still costs 6). Spike could easily think similarly.
(2/3) Elegance: This doesn't really have any special use when used by the gate, although it feels like it should. Other than that, all good.
DEVELOP
(3/3) Viability: This certainly all works for a rare artifact.
(2/3) Balance: This is really underwhelming, really, because, if you use it with the gate, it costs more than an Hour of Eternity.
That's a problem.
CREATE
(2/3) Uniqueness: Similar but different to Nim Deathmantle
(2/3) Flavor: The flavor makes sense, and works well for the card name. However, it's a crime that you didn't use the full 5 phrases.
POLAND
(3/3) Quality: All good here.
(4/4) Challenges: All good.
Total: 19.5/25
God-Pharaoh's Gift4
Artifact (R)
God-Pharaoh's Gift enters the battlefield tapped.
, Add UBR to your mana pool. Spend this mana only to cast spells from your graveyard or activate abilities of cards in your graveyard.
Whenever you cast a spell from your graveyard or activate an ability of a card in your graveyard, create a 3/3 black Horror creature token.
DESIGN
(2/3) Appeal: Good for all but tim.
(2/3) Elegance: A key part for elegance here is how it works with the Gate to the Afterlife. This card, well, doesn't, which makes you wonder why you'd even bother.
DEVELOP
(2.5/3) Viability: This edges the line between rare and uncommon, but otherwise it's great.
(3/3) Balance: This seems dulled down enough to be reasonable and fair.
CREATE
(2/3) Uniqueness: Similar but different to Embalmer's Tools
(3/3) Flavor: Neat idea to both combine this with Eternalize and Embalm, and with 3/3 Horrors from the Archenemy set.
POLAND
(3/3) Quality: Looks all good.
(4/4) Challenges: Done.
Total: 21.5/25
God-Pharaoh's Gift3
Legendary Artifact (R)
Whenever a creature card in your graveyard becomes the target of a spell or ability, exile it.
At the beginning of your upkeep, choose a creature card exiled with God-Pharaoh's Gift, put it onto the battlefield. The promised afterlife is nothing more than an endless wretched servitude.
DESIGN
(2/3) Appeal: Johnny likes cheating big dudes into play, and so does Johnny. Spike probably thinks it's too much work.
(2.5/3) Elegance: Speaking of which, this card still requires a good bit of work after the gate, which isn't ideal, but this is better than most.
DEVELOP
(3/3) Viability: Considering this is similar to Eternal Scourge, it seems fine.
(2.5/3) Balance: This takes a good bit of work to get going even after you get it to the battlefield, so it likely won't be broken. However, this also means that it won't feel as powerful of a payoff to the gate.
CREATE
(2.5/3) Uniqueness: Similar but noticeably different from Eternal Scourge.
(3/3) Flavor: This tells the same story of Amonkhet from a very different viewpoint that seems quite good.
POLAND
(2.5/3) Quality: The second ability likely should be worded "At the beginning of your upkeep, put a card exiled with God-Pharaoh's Gift onto the battlefield." The choosing isn't necessary.
(4/4) Challenges: All good.
Total: 22/25
Marco = 16.5 + 16.5 = 33/50
VS Rocco = 17 + 17 = 34/50
Flatine = 23
VS
Freyleyes = 20.5
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
My thoughts are with the friends and family of the Orlando Shooting victims and with the rest of the LGBTQA+ community.
Check out my Newborder Peasant Cube here! http://www.cubetutor.com/draft/37467
Necarg, please don't acknowledge this in any way whatsoever.
True Name Mafia (Win),Clan Contest IX Mafia (Win), Bravely Default Mafia (Loss), BOTAS (loss), BfV (Loss), Ace Attourney (loss)
Rules Advisor before they were eradicated
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(This month's banner uses the art of Approach of the Second Sun by Noah Bradley. It was created by the wonderful bravelion83.)
June 2017 MCC Round Three: God-Pharoah's Will
The second sun is coming, Bolas's return is nigh, and Amonkhet is on the brink of devastation. But, we can't just focus on the present. We also must reflect on the past, the anthologies beforehand. That's exactly what's happening this month. The first two rounds will let you choose between highlighting the Egyptian plane's glory or the past of the Commander series. The Third will put you squarely in the God-Pharaoh's realm, and Round 4 will give you a long look at the achievements of Commander in the past.
The Hour of Devastation has arrived, and the Gate to the Afterlife has been opened. But what was in store for the champions of Amonkhet? This round, the versus round, that's your job to decide.
Main Challenge: Design a card named "God-Pharaoh's Gift".
Subchallenge 1: Your card is an artifact.
Subchallenge 2: Your card cares about creatures in the graveyard.
Main: Your card's name MUST be "God-Pharaoh's Gift." If the card is double sided, the front face must be named "God-Pharaoh's Gift".
Sub 2: "Cares about creatures in the graveyard" means that the card mus have some ability that specifically relates to creature cards in the graveyard. "Whenever a creature dies" and its variants do not count. Ask about any text that needs clarifying in the MCC discussion thread.
As always please remember
(X/3) Appeal: Do the different player psychographics (Timmy/Johhny/Spike) have a use for the card?
(X/3) Elegance: Is the card easily understandable at a glance? Do all the flavor and mechanics combined as a whole make sense?
Development -
(X/3) Viability: How well does the card fit into the color wheel? Does it break or bend the rules of the game? Is it the appropriate rarity?
(X/3) Balance: Does the card have a power level appropriate for contemporary constructed/limited environments without breaking them? Does it play well in casual and multiplayer formats? Does it create or fit into a deck/archetype? Does it create an oppressive environment?
Creativity -
(X/3) Uniqueness: Has a card like this ever been printed before? Does it use new mechanics, ideas, or design space? Does it combine old ideas in a new way? Overall, does it feel “fresh”?
(X/3) Flavor: Does the name seem realistic for a card? Does the flavor text sound professional? Do all the flavor elements synch together to please Vorthos players?
Polish -
(X/3) Quality: Points deducted for incorrect spelling, grammar, and templating.
(X/2) *Main Challenge: Was the main challenge satisfied? Was it approached in a unique or interesting way? Does the card fit the intent of the challenge?
(X/2) Subchallenges: One point awarded per satisfied subchallenge condition.
Total: X/25
*An entry with 0 points here is subject to disqualification.
Good luck all!
Player deadline: Wednesday, June 28th, 23:59 EDT
Judge Deadline: Saturday, July 1st, 23:59 EDT
Judges
Necarg
Bravelion83
Tilwin
StonerofKruphix
Players
TheHittite
IcariiFA
kjsharp
iphanx
Marco
Rocco
Flatline
Freyleyes
Check out my Newborder Peasant Cube here! http://www.cubetutor.com/draft/37467
True Name Mafia (Win),Clan Contest IX Mafia (Win), Bravely Default Mafia (Loss), BOTAS (loss), BfV (Loss), Ace Attourney (loss)
Rules Advisor before they were eradicated
Artifact (R)
t: Add U, B, or R to your mana pool.
4, Exile a creature card from your graveyard: God-Pharaoh's Gift becomes a copy of the exiled card until end of turn. Activate this ability only any time you could cast a sorcery.
"This one has been particularly useful to me. I'll grant him the honor of continuing to serve me."
—Nicol Bolas
Legendary Artifact (R)
T, Sacrifice a nonland permanent or discard a card: Tap or untap another target permanent.
3UBR, T, Exile up to six creature cards from your graveyard, sacrifice God Pharaoh’s Gift: Destroy up to six target nonland permanents.
“Your faith will be rewarded. You needn't concern yourselves with any other so-called virtues.” — Nicol Bolas, God-Pharaoh
God-Pharaoh's Gift 4
Artifact Creature - Construct (R)
God-Pharaoh's Gifts power and toughness are equal to the number of creature cards in your graveyard.
1, Exile a creature card from your graveyard: God-Pharaoh's Gift becomes a copy of that card until end of turn, except it's power and toughness are equal to the number of creature cards in your graveyard.
Lazotep was but one way to become eternal.
*/*
Artifact - Equipment [R]
Whenever God-Pharaoh’s Gift enters the battlefield, you may pay UBR. If you do, return a creature card from your graveyard to the battlefield and attach God-Pharaoh’s Gift to it.
Equipped creature is a black Zombie with base power and toughness 4/4.
Equip 3
Born by death to rise Eternal.
Artifact (R)
God-Pharaoh's Gift enters the battlefield tapped.
, Add UBR to your mana pool. Spend this mana only to cast spells from your graveyard or activate abilities of cards in your graveyard.
Whenever you cast a spell from your graveyard or activate an ability of a card in your graveyard, create a 3/3 black Horror creature token.
Artifact (Rare)
When God-Pharaoh’s Gift enters the battlefield, each opponent discards a card.
T, Exile target creature card from a graveyard: Add UBR to your mana pool.
God-Pharaoh's Gift 3
Legendary Artifact (R)
Whenever a creature card in your graveyard becomes the target of a spell or ability, exile it.
At the beginning of your upkeep, choose a creature card exiled with God-Pharaoh's Gift, put it onto the battlefield.
The promised afterlife is nothing more than an endless wretched servitude.
Legendary Artifact {M}
1U: If there are no fate counters on God-Pharaoh’s Gift, put a fate counter on it and draw a card.
2R: If there is only one fate counter on God-Pharaoh’s Gift, put a fate counter on it and deal 3 damage to each creature.
5B: If there are two or more fate counters on God-Pharaoh’s Gift, exile it and return target creature card from your graveyard to the battlefield.
Necarg
TheHittite vs. IcariiFA
kjsharp vs. iphanx
Bravelion83
Marco vs. Rocco
Flatline vs. Freyleyes
StonerOfKruphix
TheHittite vs. IcariiFA
Marco vs. Rocco
Tilwin
Flatline vs. Freyleyes
kjsharp vs. iphanx
Check out my Newborder Peasant Cube here! http://www.cubetutor.com/draft/37467
True Name Mafia (Win),Clan Contest IX Mafia (Win), Bravely Default Mafia (Loss), BOTAS (loss), BfV (Loss), Ace Attourney (loss)
Rules Advisor before they were eradicated
God-Pharaoh's Gift 3
Artifact (Rare)
When God-Pharaoh’s Gift enters the battlefield, each opponent discards a card.
T, Exile target creature card from a graveyard: Add UBR to your mana pool.
Design
(2.5/3) Appeal - Timmy doesn't care that much, even though he appreciates the fact that he can draw mana out of his creatures that happen to die and use that mana to cast new things. Johnny should definitely be able to use that mana-producing ability somehow. Spike likes both the one-sided discard (that's card parity in duel and card advantage in multiplayer) and the mana ability, if Deathrite Shaman is any indication, and this is even way better, as it gives you three mana instead of just one like the Shaman.
(3/3) Elegance - Perfect in this regard.
Development
(2.5/3) Viability - Artifacts have done a bit of discard, even though usually associated with black in some way (not always though). Mana production is a classic ability of colorless artifacts. Given how this card gives you three mana at once, having it be a rare is definitely appropriate.
(0/3) Balance - I'll say that repeatedly producing three mana for free really worries me. Yes, it's limited by the number of creatures in your graveyard, but that's: 1- not that hard to achieve, 2- a renewable resource (more creature will die while you have this in play) and 3- not a big problem if you fetched this with Gate to the Afterlife as it requires you to have six creatures already in the graveyard just to be able to activate the "fetch the Gift" ability. If you have enough creatures in your graveyard, the ability is literally at Black Lotus level, and I can already hear alarm bells ringing... Yes, it costs three mana, but then Gilded Lotus exists and it's still quite strong at five mana. This costs two mana less and it also has additional upside (the discard)! I expect this to see play in literally every format, but not in a good way. I really think this should have said "Add U, B, or (not "and"!) R to your mana pool" or have a mana component added to the ability. I'm sorry but I really can't see this existing at this power level.
Creativity
(0.5/3) Uniqueness - Nothing new here. The exact card doesn't exist yet, but all the single pieces are things we see all the time.
(1/3) Flavor - The name was requested by the challenge, and there is no flavor text even though there is room. A minimum of mechanical flavor is there, but not too much.
Polish
(3/3) Quality - All good.
(2/2) Main Challenge - Good.
(2/2) Subchallenges - Both met.
Total: 16.5/25
God-Pharaoh's Gift 2
Legendary Artifact (R)
T, Sacrifice a nonland permanent or discard a card: Tap or untap another target permanent.
3UBR, T, Exile up to six creature cards from your graveyard, sacrifice God Pharaoh’s Gift: Destroy up to six target nonland permanents.
“Your faith will be rewarded. You needn't concern yourselves with any other so-called virtues.” — Nicol Bolas, God-Pharaoh
Design
(2.5/3) Appeal - Some Timmies will like the last ability, but others just won't care. Johnny just loves the first ability. Spike likes the power the two different instances of "up to six" give to this card (see Balance).
(2/3) Elegance - While the rules text is not too long and clear enough, there are still a lot of things to process. The fact that the two "up to six"-es can be different does not help.
Development
(1/3) Viability - Twiddle-ing is something that artifacts have only done twice in the history of Magic (hey, Gatherer helps!): Esper Sojourners, which kind of doesn't count because it's a colored artifact, and Puppet Strings, which is the only real precedent. Still, a precedent does exist indeed and I don't really see any problem with allowing colorless artifacts to do that. I feel like rarity is right. A problem is that you will never exile any creature cards to activate the ability: "up to six" includes zero and does not have to be the same value as the "up to six" in the effect (there is no X to link those values), so you can exile zero cards to destroy six permanents, so why not just do that everytime? I feel like the intention was to have those two instances of "up to six" to be linked, but as this is worded now that's not how it works. This is a problem that would definitely need fixing before being able to print this card. Another thing to note is that Grixis colors are not supposed to be able to deal with enchantments, while this can hit them without any problem. Yes, that's flavorful because Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker also does it, but from a color pie perspective that's a problem here as it is on the real card too, and the fact that they printed it doesn't eliminate the problem, actually it makes it even bigger as people now think that's fine because of that precedent. That's the same problem Planar Chaos as a set had, even though I loved it and all of Time Spiral block, and I even started playing the year before! Not only then-enfranchised players loved it. I would become one later but wasn't exactly one yet. But I digress...
(1/3) Balance - I think there are multiple dangerous things going on here. One is the Twiddle ability having no mana cost, so if you can build an engine in which you can repeatedly untap this artifact you can do this ad libitum, limited only by the number of nonland permanents plus cards in hand you have. I think even a mana cost as little as 1 would have gone a long way in make that ability safer. Then we have the second ability, that also has a problem, even though a different one. At least that has a mana cost, and not an insignificant one, but as I've already mentioned the two instances of "up to six" are completely unrelated to each other, so you can exile zero creatures from your graveyard to destroy the maximum of permanents. So why have the exile cost at all? You'd never pay it for real! I really think this is meant to be "...Exile X creature cards from your graveyard, Sacrifice Goh-Pharaoh's Gift: Destroy (up to?) X target nonland permanents. (X can't be 0.) (X can't be more than 6.)" with the parts in brackets being debatable. Anyway, I really feel like those two values should have been linked in some way. As for playability, I'd probably play this in limited, sometimes even if I'm not in Grixis colors or I'm just splashing for one of those colors. I'm not sure about constructed though, even if you exile no creatures from your graveyard, six mana in three different colors is still a lot to pay for the removal option.
Creativity
(2/3) Uniqueness - While the single parts are nothing new, there are a couple of details that make this card stand out, namely having an alternative cost in an activate ability and the "up to six" part which gives this card a similar feeling as Hex, even if there are more than enough differences.
(2/3) Flavor - The name was requested by the challenge, so what counts here is the flavor text (which is very good here and I could easily see printed as is, with the correction needed for Quality) and the integration with mechanics (which I honestly find a bit lacking here, I can't really associate the concepts from the flavor text to the mechanical abilities).
Polish
(2.5/3) Quality - In the flavor text, the attribution should be in its own line (-0.5). It should also be black just like the rest of the text, but that doesn't feel enough to warrant its own deduction. Let's just say it's already included in that -0.5.
(2/2) Main Challenge - Good.
(2/2) Subchallenges - Both met.
Total: 17/25
God-Pharaoh's Gift 3
Artifact (R)
t: Add U, B, or R to your mana pool.
4, Exile a creature card from your graveyard: God-Pharaoh's Gift becomes a copy of the exiled card until end of turn. Activate this ability only any time you could cast a sorcery.
"This one has been particularly useful to me. I'll grant him the honor of continuing to serve me."
—Nicol Bolas
Design
(2/3) Appeal - Timmy likes making copies of his dead creatures, even if he would like it even more if the copies were permanent. Johnny should be able to use this card to good effect. Spike likes the pseudo-embalming (that's more like unearth as the copy lives for just a single turn), but this doesn't look like a card that he loves.
(3/3) Elegance - All good here.
Development
(3/3) Viability - I said I wasn't going to talk about the real God-Pharaoh's Gift, not that I wasn't going to mention any HOU card at all. This is clearly a variation on Manalith (reprinted in HOU), so it's something artifacts can certainly do. Mirage Mirror is an example for the other ability. Manalith is common, but the Mirror is rare, as are other similar cards, so adding the copy ability can probably justify this being a rare too.
(3/3) Balance - I see no particular problems here in any format. Manalith has always been limited playable and I don't expect that to change either in HOU or with this card. The copy ability might cause this to see a little constructed play in specific decks. I see no problems in casual or multiplayer either.
Creativity
(2/3) Uniqueness - Despite my first instinct teling me something similar has to already exist, I made a thorough Gatherer search and I was amazed to find out this was not actually the case. The closest it gets is Scion of the Ur-Dragon copying a card that then puts into your graveyard (while this copies cards going out of your graveyard) and Body Double copying creatures from graveyards. This also feels at home on Amonkhet as it mechanically plays into the same design space as embalm and eternalize, but that dilutes a bit this card's originality in a vacuum though.
(3/3) Flavor - The name was requested by the challenge, so what counts here is the flavor text (which is very good here and I could easily see printed as is) and the integration with mechanics (which is also very good, especially with the copy ability).
Polish
(3/3) Quality - All good.
(2/2) Main Challenge - Good.
(2/2) Subchallenges - Both met.
Total: 23/25
God-Pharaoh's Gift 1
Legendary Artifact {M}
1U: If there are no fate counters on God-Pharaoh’s Gift, put a fate counter on it and draw a card.
2R: If there is only one fate counter on God-Pharaoh’s Gift, put a fate counter on it and deal 3 damage to each creature.
5B: If there are two or more fate counters on God-Pharaoh’s Gift, exile it and return target creature card from your graveyard to the battlefield.
Design
(2.5/3) Appeal - Timmy likes the quest-like gameplay. Johnny could use proliferate or cards like Quarry Hauler to manipulate the number of counters on this. Spike would really like to be able to choose which ability to activate, even if that kind of would defy the purpose of the card. The three abilities all do something Spike likes in a vacuum though.
(2.5/3) Elegance - The symmetry and prograssion of the effects really helps here. The overall card is a bit wordy but still easily understandable.
Development
(2.5/3) Viability - Each ability is clearly tied to its respective color. I honestly feel like this could just be a regular rare, but what works at rare certainly works at mythic too mechanically. Figure of Destiny was a rare from before the mythic rarity existed, but it was kept as a regular rare when reprinted in Modern Masters (ok, not a main Standard set, but that's the way it is). Obelisk of Alara, that feels similar to this in a way, was also a rare and it was printed in the second set ever to contain mythics (the point is mythics already existed when it was first printed).
(2.5/3) Balance - I see no big problems with this card and its costs. One generic mana is fine to pay for an artifact that doesn't do anything right away. The ability costs feel fine, if not a bit overcosted, but that's probably for the best and it's justified by the fact that you're not necessarily paying all the mana in the same turn, and when that happens costs are always on the high end because you have to pay for the flexibility of being able to do it all right now or over more turns. Unfortunately, I think that might keep this out of constructed. It's certainly playable in limited though, and I see no problems in casual or multiplayer either.
Creativity
(2.5/3) Uniqueness - This plays in the same space of progressive cards like Figure of Destiny, but tracking the progress with counters instead of creature types. It's more like level up, that also uses counters, but I can't remember an artifact with level up... *checks Gatherer*... no, they're all creatures. Level up has never been on a noncreature permanent. To summarize, while the inspiration for this card is clear, the execution is original enough.
(2/3) Flavor - The name was requested by the challenge. There is indeed no room for flavor text, we already have nine lines here in MSE. Some mechanical flavor is there: Bolas's gift is knowledge, damage and reanimation, all things he has plenty of.
Polish
(2/3) Quality - In the red ability, damage needs a source. It should say "...and God-Pharaoh's Gift deals 3 damage..." (-0.5). In that same ability, it should say "exactly one counter" rather than "only" (see the Oracle text of Homarid and Tidal Influence, -0.5).
(2/2) Main Challenge - Good.
(2/2) Subchallenges - Both met.
Total: 20.5/25
Marco: 16.5
Rocco: 17
Flatline: 23
Freyleyes: 20.5
MCC - Winner (6): Oct 2014, Apr Nov 2017, Jan 2018, Apr Jun 2019 || Host (15): Dec 2014, Apr Jul Aug Dec 2015, Mar Jul Aug Oct 2016, Feb Jul 2017, Jun Nov 2018, Feb Jul 2019 (last one here) || Judge (34): every month from Nov 2014 to Nov 2016 except Oct 2015, every month from Feb to Jul 2017 except Apr 2017, then Oct 2017, May Jun Nov 2018, Feb Jul 2019 (last one here)
CCL - Winner (3): Jul 2016 (tied with Flatline), May 2017, Jul 2019 (last one here) || Host (5): Feb 2015, Mar Apr May Jun 2016
DCC - Winner (1): Mar 2015 (tied with Piar) || Host (3): May Oct 2015, Jan 2016
• The two public custom sets I've been part a part of the design team for:
"Brotherhood of Ormos" - Blog post with all info - set thread - design skeleton / card list || "Extinctia: Homo Evanuit" - Blog post with all info - set thread - card list spreadsheet
• "The Lion's Lair", my article series about MTG and custom card design in particular. Latest article here. Here is the article index. Rather outdated by now, and based on the old MCC rubric, but I'm leaving this here for anybody that might be interested anyway.
• My only public attempt at being a writer: the story of my Leonin custom planeswalker Jeff Lionheart. (I have a very big one that I'm working on right now but that's private for now, and I don't know if I will ever actually publish it, and I also have ideas for multiple future ones, including one where I'm going to reprise Jeff.)
DESIGN
(3/3) Appeal: Johnny likes this for the shenanigans with gate and with value creatures. Tammy likes it for being a 6/6 when it comes out via the gate.
Spike likes the possibility of this in delirium style decks to have a large beater on T3 or 4.
(2/3) Elegance: The fact that it has to get smaller to activate itself is not something I caught on the first readthrough and I feel like it would be similar for many players.
DEVELOP
(2/3) Viability: Colorless clone effects walk a fine line of viability, but it's mostly fine.
(3/3) Balance: this seems to be a nice balance between well costed on its own and with the gate. Nice job.
CREATE
(2/3) Uniqueness: Similar but different to Cemetery Puca and BodyDoUBlE
(1.5/3) Flavor: Going around the Lazotep encasement idea was neat for design, but not necessarily for flavor. Additionally, one-turn copying doesn't fit the "eternal" idea either.
POLAND
(1/3)Quality: A) You need an apostrophe in "Gifts" to define its P/T. B) In both cases where you define its P/T, you need the word "each" before "equal". C) The "it's" should not have an apostrophe. It's is a contraction. You used a possessive.
(4/4) Challenges: All good.
TOTAL: 18.5/25
DESIGN
(1.5/3) Appeal: Tammy likes the size boost, Johnny doesn't like the huge amount of work to do to get this effect (with gate it still costs 6). Spike could easily think similarly.
(2/3) Elegance: This doesn't really have any special use when used by the gate, although it feels like it should. Other than that, all good.
DEVELOP
(3/3) Viability: This certainly all works for a rare artifact.
(2/3) Balance: This is really underwhelming, really, because, if you use it with the gate, it costs more than an Hour of Eternity.
That's a problem.
CREATE
(2/3) Uniqueness: Similar but different to Nim Deathmantle
(2/3) Flavor: The flavor makes sense, and works well for the card name. However, it's a crime that you didn't use the full 5 phrases.
POLAND
(3/3) Quality: All good here.
(4/4) Challenges: All good.
Total: 19.5/25
DESIGN
(2/3) Appeal: Good for all but tim.
(2/3) Elegance: A key part for elegance here is how it works with the Gate to the Afterlife. This card, well, doesn't, which makes you wonder why you'd even bother.
DEVELOP
(2.5/3) Viability: This edges the line between rare and uncommon, but otherwise it's great.
(3/3) Balance: This seems dulled down enough to be reasonable and fair.
CREATE
(2/3) Uniqueness: Similar but different to Embalmer's Tools
(3/3) Flavor: Neat idea to both combine this with Eternalize and Embalm, and with 3/3 Horrors from the Archenemy set.
POLAND
(3/3) Quality: Looks all good.
(4/4) Challenges: Done.
Total: 21.5/25
DESIGN
(2/3) Appeal: Johnny likes cheating big dudes into play, and so does Johnny. Spike probably thinks it's too much work.
(2.5/3) Elegance: Speaking of which, this card still requires a good bit of work after the gate, which isn't ideal, but this is better than most.
DEVELOP
(3/3) Viability: Considering this is similar to Eternal Scourge, it seems fine.
(2.5/3) Balance: This takes a good bit of work to get going even after you get it to the battlefield, so it likely won't be broken. However, this also means that it won't feel as powerful of a payoff to the gate.
CREATE
(2.5/3) Uniqueness: Similar but noticeably different from Eternal Scourge.
(3/3) Flavor: This tells the same story of Amonkhet from a very different viewpoint that seems quite good.
POLAND
(2.5/3) Quality: The second ability likely should be worded "At the beginning of your upkeep, put a card exiled with God-Pharaoh's Gift onto the battlefield." The choosing isn't necessary.
(4/4) Challenges: All good.
Total: 22/25
IcariiFA = 18.5 + 17.5 = 36/50
VS
TheHittite = 19.5 + 19.5 = 39/50
kjsharp = 21.5
VS
iphanx = 22
Marco = 16.5 + 16.5 = 33/50
VS
Rocco = 17 + 17 = 34/50
Flatine = 23
VS
Freyleyes = 20.5
Check out my Newborder Peasant Cube here! http://www.cubetutor.com/draft/37467
True Name Mafia (Win),Clan Contest IX Mafia (Win), Bravely Default Mafia (Loss), BOTAS (loss), BfV (Loss), Ace Attourney (loss)
Rules Advisor before they were eradicated