MTG Salvation

Hmmmm.... some people may complaain this outshines Craw Wurm, but that aside, I think this is a bit too powerful. With enough of this, you are all but guaranteed that every turn, you have someone to block at least one creature. The cost is fine, but the P/T is too much for that ability.


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Forced Abdication W
Instant (U)
Exile target creature. Its controller reveals cards from the top of his or her library until he or she reveals a creature card with lower converted mana cost than the exiled creature and puts it onto the battlefield under his or her control, then shuffle the exiled creature and all other cards revealed this way into their owners' libraries.

Hmm....

The two Xs can be a bit confusing, so maybe word it as such: Search you library for a God card with converted mana cost equal to or less than the total cmc all all dead creatures. Otherwise, seems fine, although maybe a XBBBB or XXBB may be in order as this is a Displacement Wave with an added effect of permanent death and tutor.


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Neverplane Neophyte U
Creature - Human Wizard (C)
As long as there are five or more cards you own in exile, Neverplane Neophyte can't be blocked.
"Those who have seen the realm of Neverplane can see limitless possibilities."
EDIT: 1/1

Next.

You mean if defending player has a dead creature in grave? Seems fair enough anyway. Maybe make the number a bit higher, as black shouldn't get unblockability so easily, but I may be wrong.


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Prayers For Endless Life 2WW
Enchantment (R)
Tap four untapped creatures you control: Put a verse counter on Prayers For Endless Life.
2WW, remove a verse counter from Prayers For Endless Life: When target creature dies this turn, return it to the battlefield under its owner's control.

Comments?

Quote from labarith »

Dangling Nightmare2B
Creature - Nightmare Mercenary Rogue (U)
At the end of any turn if an opponent discarded two or more cards this turn you may pay B. if you do, return ~ from your graveyard to the battlefield.
3/1

This seems like it could be a challenging threat/chump in the early to mid game, but loses steam once players have slimmed down their hands. I would suggest some syntax clean up - "At the end of each turn" instead of "any turn".

Svolun, Hero of Ruincliff 3RW
Legendary Creature - Giant Warrior (M)
Trample, Vigilance
As long as Svolun, Hero of Ruincliff is your commander, the amount of combat damage received from a single commander required for you to lose the game is 31.
Commander damage can't be prevented.
4/5

The first ability, as worded, is BEYOND absurd: You negate all combat damage and completely stop your opponent from attacking you, ever. That it doesn't stop Banefire is little reprieve. Try adding some more restrictions. Second seems ok-ish, last also ok-ish, if rather too expensive for a mere super-Grave Pact ability.


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Devils' Conception XRR
Sorcery (U)
Devils' Conception deals 1 damage to each of X target creatures. For each creature dealt damage this way, put a 1/1 red Devil creature token onto the battlefield. It has "When this creature dies, it deals 1 damage to target creature or player."
Dying from the blast is more merciful then having to see what emerges from your corpse to wreak more havoc.

Comments?

Hmmm.... Strong, but I suppose it looks doable enough. Although considering the versatility, it may have to be at rare.


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Ravish Memory 1BB
Sorcery (R)
Target player exiles his or her hand. For each card exiled this way chosen randomly, that player reveals cards from the top of his or her library until he or she reveals a card with converted mana cost equal to or lower than the exiled card and put it in his or her hand. Shuffle the rest of the cards revealed this way into that player's library.

Dunno if the cost is right.

"For each card exiled this way chosen randomly" is kind of awkward and ambiguous. What if you exiled the cards face down in a shuffled pile, like ghastly conscription? I believe thats the template that would make this work cleaner. I do like the effect, its a neat twist on windfall / dark deal style effects. I think its an interesting way of forcing 'bad card selection' instead of discard, and it would largely have the impact of filling someones hand with more lands than it had before- a good reason it wouldn't need a 'nonland' clause like so many other hand disruptions, and not filling the opponents graveyard is a nice plus. Overall I think it would be a great card. I just wonder how practical it would be when most constructed decks have a low curve, and this guarantees they are either picking up gas or lands. Land flooding them might be a big win, but trading their dead cards for low cost cantrips or whatever could lose you the game.

Lions' Den Island
Land - Island (R)
(T: Add U to your mana pool.)
Lion's Den Island enters the battlefield tapped.
T, Sacrifice all lands you control: Add three mana of any one color to your mana pool. Spend this mana only to cast Cats. Activate this ability only any time you could cast an instant.

Hmmm.... the +1/+1 counter is probably overkill, considering that a) this discourages people from playing sac effects, b) black excels at forcing people to sacrifice. Otherwise, probably ok, though a mana]1BB[/mana] may be necessary.


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Eversoul Gate 6
Artifact (R)
Imprint - As Eversoul Gate enters the battlefield, exile a creature you control.
3, T: Search your library for a creature card with the same total sum of power and toughness as the exiled creature card, reveal it and put it into your hand, then shuffle your library.
Only those blessed by the gate can emerge from it.

So, if you exile a weenie, you can tutor weenies, if you exile an angel, you can get fatties... comments?


EDIT:

Eversoul Gate 4
Artifact (R)
Imprint - As Eversoul Gate enters the battlefield, exile a creature you control.
2, T: Search your library for a creature card with the same total sum of power and toughness as the exiled creature card, reveal it and put it into your hand, then shuffle your library.
Only those blessed by the gate can emerge from it.

Erm..... yeah, the cost does feel a tad excessive... 6 mana is already a lot, though then again, the cantrip can be useful. Eh, I guess I am tempted to let this card as is.


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Sniper From Beyond 3RR
Creature - Eldrazi Drone (U)
Devoid
Defender
At the beginning of your upkeep, Sniper From Beyond deals 3 damage to target creature unless that creature's controller sacrifices a colorless permanent.
If only you could see where you die from
1/3

Comments?


EDIT:

Sniper From Beyond 3RR
Creature - Eldrazi Drone (U)
Devoid
Defender
At the beginning of your upkeep, you may have Sniper From Beyond deals 3 damage to target creature unless that creature's controller sacrifices a colorless permanent.
If only you could see where you die from.
1/3

Repeated burn to creatures tends to be problematic in Limited since it can kind of keep a player down if not dealt with...however, at 5 mana + wait a turn before it does anything, and poor stats itself, and an alternative penalty the creature's controller can pay instead, and the inability to destroy big creatures, this would probably be OK, actually. Normally I wouldn't like the fact that in a Sniper From Beyond vs Sniper From Beyond situation, the first one to hit the field would destroy the second before it can do anything, but actually the second's controller can take the "sac a colorless permanent" penalty instead.

One change I would make is making it a "may" ability since if your opponent has no targetable creatures, you'll have to shoot one of your own (and it's weak enough to die if it shoots itself).

The rarity certainly feels right...not strong or splashy enough for Rare, but too annoying to face repeatedly/in multiples for Common.

--------------------------------
True Form 1BG
Instant
Rare

Card Text:
Choose target creature card in your graveyard that died this turn. Return that card to the battlefield under your control. When it enters the battlefield this way, put X +1/+1 counters on it, where X is its power.
"Impressive...but you've seen only the faintest glimpse of my full power."
---
Rulings: The +1/+1 counters are put on the creature by a triggered ability created by True Form. Other abilities triggered by the creature entering the battlefield may be put onto the stack above it, and players can respond to the ability (perhaps to increase or decrease the creature's power, thus modifying the number of +1/+1 counters that will be placed when the ability resolves).

Hrmm its an ability with a lot of extra facets. You've got an ETB trigger, damage prevention, a targeting restriction, X effect, delayed trigger, lifegain and +1/+1 counters all wrapped up in one ability. I think its probably fine at uncommon, but the two bits that seem the least necessary are the "Another creature" targeting clause and the lifegain. Is the lifegain necessary? I guess it would really help the tempo from it, but if its too strong, that seems the first aspect to ax- its already white from damage prevention and green from +1/+1 counters. Its not so overly complex as is, it just seems like it could be winnowed down. Now if it could target itself, would that make it too strong a combat trick? It would only deal 1 damage to the guy it blocks, then become a 3/4, but it would still die to 4+ power anyway since the delayed trigger wouldn't put the counters until after it was dealt 4 damage, 2 prevented, 2 fatal.

Hierauld Stormcrafter 2RU
Creature - Human Wizard (U)
Haste
Hexfont (When this creature deals X combat damage to a creature or player, you may search your library for an instant or sorcery card with converted mana cost X or less and cast it without paying its mana cost if that creature or player is its only target.)
2/2

Quote from labarith »

Wording seems off (creatures in the graveyard count as different cards than when they were in play).

I was trying to template it like Second Sunrise or Faith's Reward, other cards that care about permanent cards that were put in your graveyard from the battlefield that turn, but I don't know if there's a card of this type that only affects creatures, so I wasn't sure if "died this turn" or "was put there from the battlefield this turn" was the proper wording. Does anyone know of an example that would solve this question?

Quote from tenangrychickens »

Deflection Druid 1GW
Creature - Elf Druid (u)
Flash
When ~ ETB, you may prevent the next X damage that would be dealt to another target creature this turn, where X is that creature's toughness. Whenever damage is prevented this way, you gain that much life and put that many +1/+1 counters on that creature.
1/2

Seems strong...very strong for a combat trick in Limited. Compared to Test of Faith, this costs G more, but scales up with the size of your creatures in the late game, but is much worse on creatures with low toughness, so your random 2/1s won't get much of a benefit. The 1/2 body that you flash in could surprise and trade with a 2/1 while it's helping another of your creatures survive combat and get a permanent stat boost. Still, like Test of Faith, it requires your opponent to attack, block, or use damage-based removal for it to be useful. Probably an OK power level to print for the cost, and Uncommon is definitely the right rarity.
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Test of Conviction UB
Instant
Uncommon

Card Text:
Counter target spell unless its controller discards two cards.
You never truly realize how badly you want something until someone tries to take it away.
-----
Rulings: If the spell's controller only has 1 or fewer cards in his or her hand, he or she can't choose the "discard two cards" option, so Test of Conviction will counter the spell in that case.

This is just a funny idea for a double sided card that's based on my back porch. Guess what I like seeing more than birds.

Vulnerable Bird Feeder 3
Artifact
Vulnerable Bird Feeder Enters the battlefield with 5 charge counters on it.
At the beginning of you upkeep remove a charge counter from Vulnerable Bird Feeder and put a 1/1 green Squirrel creature token onto the battlefield.
2: Put a charge counter on Vulnerable Bird Feeder
3: Transform Vulnerable Bird Feeder

Squirrelproof Bird Feeder
Artifact
At the beginning of you upkeep remove a charge counter from Squirrelproof Bird Feeder and put a 1/1 white Bird creature token with flying onto the battlefield.
2: Put a charge counter on Squirrelproof Bird Feeder
Now that the birds finally come, I miss the squirrels... especially Stubby. I love Stubby.


Because I want to share a second card, here's one that's kind of boring, but one that was in a dream I had.

Penguin Master 3(W/B)
Creature - Human Wizard
Penguin creatures you control get +1/+1 and gain Deathtouch.
2/3

Edit: I know Penguin master can not be white if printed. That's just how he was in my dream.

Test of Conviction..... Probably ok, reminds me to that 3cc Dimir counterspell that threatens your entire hand instead. While 2cc counterspell is often painful, maybe this one could work.


Hierauld Stormcrafter is pretty interesting. Hexfont is an interesting idea; Imagine hitting your opponent then search for some Lightning Helix or something to eat him. And the tutorable cards become deadlier if you can get in more damage. Well done.


As for the myriad of cards....I'm wary about the cost. 3 mana for eventual 5 1/1s is a bit too much IMO, and when transformed those tokens fly. Ouch.

And the Penguin Master cannot be hybrid. Otherwise ok.


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Dystheical Aberration 2WB
Creature - Horror (U)
Whenever an enchantment enters the battlefield under an opponent's control, that player loses 1 life and you gain 1 life.
WB, sacrifice Dystheical Aberration: Target player sacrifices all enchantments he or she controls, then loses 1 life for each enchantment card in his or her graveyard and you gain that much life.
"I wonder what happens when a plea to god comes not in the way the mortal wants it?"
- Ashiok
3/3

I almost made this mono-black, but then realized that even in Theros block, not many cards insta-kill enchantments unless they are also creatures.... *sigh* and here I wanted to make this blue-black for Ashy.... Comments?

Well, this definitely wouldn't have fit into monoblack or blue-black who are supposed to have problems removing enchantments *at all*.
As is this is a pretty severe hoser if enchantments are a common theme like e. g. in Teros, but is surprisingly tame if your opponent does not care about enchantments i. e. doesn't have them at all, but is good as a Nova Cleric/Root Greevil variant. I probably would keep a close eye on this if enchantment were a major theme, but would be bewildered to see this anywhere that isn't the case.

Fine card, though I wonder whether it would ever find a home where it is just right. The subclause on the activated ability is probably a little excessive, but I could imagine this activated ability instead:

":symw: , Sacrifice ~: Exile all enchantments target player controls and each enchantment card in that player's graveyard."

Maybe you could still tack on the life drain clause - it gets less obnoxious if you cannot repeat it easily.

---

Well, this one's an interesting one. A good counter, indeed, but I think you may need to ramp up the price a bit, maybe 1WU

Fissure Soul 3CR
Enchantment Creature - Elemental (R)
Devoid (This card has no color.)
Bestow 5CR (If you cast this card for its bestow cost, it's an Aura spell with enchant creature. It becomes a creature again if it's not attached to a creature.)
Trample.
Whenever Fissure Soul or enchanted creature would deal damage to a player, destroy a tapped land that player controls instead.
Enchanted creature gets +3/+3 and has devoid and trample.
3/3

Hrmm is there a reason for mixing the colorless and colored mana cost here? Its something wizards explicitly avoided for flavor reasons, and its unlikely colorless will return not pegged to eldrazi. Same with Devoid being an eldrazi-exclusive keyword. But theres nothing preventing either ruleswise, though the mana base would make CR prohibitive.
The damage replacement is a bit wonky an effect, its making the 3 power irrelevant if its hitting a player, since it would be the same for 1 damage as 20 damage, but a problem here strategically is that the replacement is mandatory instead of optional, and the opponent having a tapped land is not a guarantee, so if they keep their lands untapped your attacker can just swing through to absolutely no effect, then tap for an instant after. Is the 'tapped' restriction necessary? For 5-7 mana cost, being able to eat (untapped) lands when you connect an attack isn't gamebreaking. For example, deus of calamity gets to have its cake and eat it, numot, the devastator poops at two lands at once. Similar mana costs, both dealing their damage rather than instead. Another quirk is that if the enchantment itself actually dealt damage while its still an aura somehow, because you made it 'damage' instead of 'combat damage', it would go wonky. Same with psionic gift et all. Also the amount of different mechanics and rules complexity on this would use up an entire block on its own under wizards current design restrictions
I like the idea of comboing trample with an effect on hitting a player because trampling through 1 point of damage would still get it, making the combat math more interesting, but you've negated that with the replacement clause because theres no reason to block this guy at all if the trample would go through, since you're taking 0 damage and having its land destruction ability activate either way, so throwing a chump blocker in front of it does nothing
Overall good flavor for an elemental bestow


Reimagine 1R
Instant (R)
Put target enchantment on the bottom of its owner's library. Its controller reveals cards from the top of his or her library until he or she reveals an Enchantment card. The player puts that card onto the battlefield, attaching it to a valid target if its an aura, then shuffles all other cards revealed this way into his or her library.

maro said on his blog that something like this could plausibly be in the red color pie