I find Champion to be a really interesting mechanic. We saw it in Lorwyn, I believe, and Morningtide as well. Essentially, this mechanic gives an above the curve creature, but at the cost of having to exile one of your own creatures (sometimes with a specific creature type, such as on Unstoppable Ash or Boggart Mob). If you end up losing your champion in any way, whether it's returned to hand, killed, or exiled, you get the creature it championed back.
But what if we took it further. As it is, the mechanic is a bit of a drawback and a fun trick with ETB effects, but can it be more? I really love the idea of using unconventional resources. New Phyrexia gave us "phybrid" mana, which you could pay 2 life for each mana symbol. I love stuff like that. However, here, I'm looking more at working with very, very limited non-renewable resources, namely, the card (or cards, as we'll talk about in a minute) that you exiled to your champion.
Yugioh does a similar thing, at least, I think (from what I know, anyway.) with their XYZ monsters. Basically, you put some monsters that fill the requirements "under" your XYZ monster, and then you can detach those monster to do cool abilities. (If anyone plays yugioh and can explain that better, please tell me.)
So, I believe we can make it work with Champion's current templating. Let's try this:
Indomitable Ironwood3G
Creature- Treefolk Warrior
Champion two green creatures (When this enters the battlefield, sacrifice it unless you exile two other green creatures you control. When this leaves the battlefield, those cards return to the battlefield.)
Put a card exiled with Indomitable Ironwood into the graveyard: Indomitable Ironwood gets +2/+2 and trample until end of turn.
4/4
Yeah, I saw Kaijudo did it as well. I think it's definitely a possibility. I guess the problem would be balancing the effects.
Ghoulspark2(R/B)
Creature- Elemental
Champion a creature
Put a card exiled with Ghoulspark into its owner's graveyard: Ghoulspark deals 3 damage to target creature or player.
3/2
Too much?
You can use it for more one shot effects as well:
Raging Infernus3R
Creature- Elemental
Champion a creature
Put a card exiled with Raging Infernus into its owner's graveyard: Raging Infernus gains haste until end of turn.
5/4
I really like that this plays around more with opportunity cost than upright payments. You're essentially betting that the ability you are using is more important to winning the game than the card or cards championed. You're trading the security of having that creature come back into play if your champion is dealt with, or the ability to do any ETB tricks, for whatever effect you're getting, and I find that extremely interesting and thought provoking.
You wouldn't even necessarily have to give up the exiled card, though you're right that there's a bigger decision point there. Quick & dirty example:
Ascended Pyromancer3R
Creature - Elemental Wizard (U)
Champion a Wizard T: Ascended Pyromancer deals damage to target creature or player equal to the exiled card's power.
2/3
You wouldn't even necessarily have to give up the exiled card, though you're right that there's a bigger decision point there. Quick & dirty example:
Ascended Pyromancer3R
Creature - Elemental Wizard (U)
Champion a Wizard T: Ascended Pyromancer deals damage to target creature or player equal to the exiled card's power.
2/3
Hmmm, that's interesting as well. I do like the decision point, though. I think I'd personally go with giving up the exiled card, but I think doing it like you suggest is workable as well.
Another direction you can take champion in, flavor-wise, as well:
Cruel Possessor3BB
Creature- Demon
Champion a creature
Flying
Put a card exiled with Cruel Possessor into its owner's graveyard: Each other creature gets -2/-2 until end of turn.
5/3 The demon took hold too quickly to be stopped. By the time his parents knew something was wrong, Jorel was already gone, along with their entire village.
But what if we took it further. As it is, the mechanic is a bit of a drawback and a fun trick with ETB effects, but can it be more? I really love the idea of using unconventional resources. New Phyrexia gave us "phybrid" mana, which you could pay 2 life for each mana symbol. I love stuff like that. However, here, I'm looking more at working with very, very limited non-renewable resources, namely, the card (or cards, as we'll talk about in a minute) that you exiled to your champion.
Yugioh does a similar thing, at least, I think (from what I know, anyway.) with their XYZ monsters. Basically, you put some monsters that fill the requirements "under" your XYZ monster, and then you can detach those monster to do cool abilities. (If anyone plays yugioh and can explain that better, please tell me.)
So, I believe we can make it work with Champion's current templating. Let's try this:
Indomitable Ironwood 3G
Creature- Treefolk Warrior
Champion two green creatures (When this enters the battlefield, sacrifice it unless you exile two other green creatures you control. When this leaves the battlefield, those cards return to the battlefield.)
Put a card exiled with Indomitable Ironwood into the graveyard: Indomitable Ironwood gets +2/+2 and trample until end of turn.
4/4
Can we make this work?
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CCCCCommander Decklists - TheorycraftCCCC
Sig Credit: Pegasus Bishop
Cōnservātum album delenda est.
Yeah, I saw Kaijudo did it as well. I think it's definitely a possibility. I guess the problem would be balancing the effects.
Ghoulspark 2(R/B)
Creature- Elemental
Champion a creature
Put a card exiled with Ghoulspark into its owner's graveyard: Ghoulspark deals 3 damage to target creature or player.
3/2
Too much?
You can use it for more one shot effects as well:
Raging Infernus 3R
Creature- Elemental
Champion a creature
Put a card exiled with Raging Infernus into its owner's graveyard: Raging Infernus gains haste until end of turn.
5/4
I really like that this plays around more with opportunity cost than upright payments. You're essentially betting that the ability you are using is more important to winning the game than the card or cards championed. You're trading the security of having that creature come back into play if your champion is dealt with, or the ability to do any ETB tricks, for whatever effect you're getting, and I find that extremely interesting and thought provoking.
WUBRGCommander Decklists - PaperWUBRG
CCCCCommander Decklists - TheorycraftCCCC
Sig Credit: Pegasus Bishop
Ascended Pyromancer 3R
Creature - Elemental Wizard (U)
Champion a Wizard
T: Ascended Pyromancer deals damage to target creature or player equal to the exiled card's power.
2/3
Hmmm, that's interesting as well. I do like the decision point, though. I think I'd personally go with giving up the exiled card, but I think doing it like you suggest is workable as well.
Another direction you can take champion in, flavor-wise, as well:
Cruel Possessor 3BB
Creature- Demon
Champion a creature
Flying
Put a card exiled with Cruel Possessor into its owner's graveyard: Each other creature gets -2/-2 until end of turn.
5/3
The demon took hold too quickly to be stopped. By the time his parents knew something was wrong, Jorel was already gone, along with their entire village.
WUBRGCommander Decklists - PaperWUBRG
CCCCCommander Decklists - TheorycraftCCCC
Sig Credit: Pegasus Bishop