I've been working on a Pauper Masters custom set for some time now, and I figured I'd start showing off some designs. While strong, these cards are designed with common rarity in mind; taking in the NWO common design strategy, but also paying attention to strong common cards of magic's past. Card tags from real cards that were used as inspiration are listed as well.
The Golgari color pair focuses on what you would expect to see in these colors: Graveyard Shenanigans. After looking at graveyard strategies in Pauper, ranging from Dredge to Tortured Existence to Rock and Reanimator, I began building a few cards that I felt would really bring the archetype to light in an all-common set.
Druid of the Lost2GG
Creature - Elf Druid (Common)
When Druid of the Lost enters the battlefield, you gain life equal to the number of creature cards in your graveyard.
3/3
^ Disciple of Karametra
Reclamation Druid1G
Creature - Elf Druid (Common)
When Reclamation Druid enters the battlefield, put target card from your graveyard on top of your library.
1/1
^ Reclaim
Explorer of Mul Daya2G
Creature - Human Scout (Common)
When Explorer of Mul Daya enters the battlefield, look at the top five cards of your library. You may reveal any number of land cards from among them, add them to your hand, then put the rest on the bottom of your library in any order.
1/1
Nature's Splendor2GG
Sorcery (Common)
Put any number of permanent cards from your graveyard on top of your library.
Draw a card.
^ Repopulate & Footbottom Feast
Cabal Patrician1B
Creature - Zombie Cleric (Common) B, sacrifice another creature: Each opponent loses 1 life and you gain 1 life.
1/2
Phyrexian Surgeon1BB
Creature - Horror Cleric (Common) B, Discard a creature card: Return target creature card from your graveyard to your hand.
2/2
^ Tortured Existence
Plague Reaver3BB
Creature - Zombie (Common)
When Plague Reaver enters the battlefield, each player sacrifices a creature.
3/3
^ Predatory Nightstalker
Crypt Servant1B
Creature - Zombie (Common) T: Put the top card of your library into your graveyard: Add B to your mana pool.
1/2
^ Deranged Assistant
Being of the Circle3BG
Creature - Elemental (Common)
Whenever another creature enters the battlefield or dies, you gain 1 life.
4/4
^ Deathgreeter & Essence Warden
So I'm still not sure if I want to use custom mechanics and abilities, or ones Wizards had already come up with. Either way, I made a few cards to test. I know that Dredge is frowned upon, but I figured it might be kind of a fun mechanic to toy around with in an all-common set.
Loamcreeper2G
Creature - Plant Fungus (Common)
Sacrifice Loamcreeper: Return target land card from your graveyard to your hand.
Dredge 2
1/3
Crawl from the LoamG
Sorcery (Common)
Create a 1/1 green Saproling creature token.
Dredge 1
^ Sprout Swarm
Moldbreaker3GG
Creature - Fungus Beast (Common)
When Moldbreaker enters the battlefield, you may destroy target artifact or enchantment.
Dredge 3
3/3
Braingorger Beetle2B
Creature - Insect (Common)
Sacrifice Braingorger Beetle: Target player discards a card. Activate this ability only any time you could cast a sorcery.
Dredge 2
2/2
Wow! These are really impressive. Great job. Phyrexian Surgeon is the only one that wouldn't / couldn't realistically be common imo. I'd love to see the rest of the set. Have a link?
Dredge is such an inherently powerful mechanic that I'd be careful with it, even in a format like pauper. Dredge the Loam is particularly powerful due to the combination of recursion and dredge, if Life from the Loam is anything to go by. Instant speed mitigates the topdeck issue.
Crypt servant is the one card that I have color pie concerns with, especially in light of the fact that the card you based it on is actually on-pie for the ability. While blue creatures with mana abilities still appear every other set or so, black's mana generation has shrunk over the years. Black elves and thrulls can do it because mana abilities are ingrained into their tribal identities, but a zombie doing it would need more of a substantial cost than the top card of your library. Vesper Ghoul at least cost one more mana, had one less toughness, and had a life payment.
Druid of the Lost - Wow, this feels too strong even at a bloated 3GG or 4GG. In limited this is ridiculous.
Reclamation Druid - Uncommon 2/1 for 1G.
Explorer of Mul Day - Sure, but I'd rather this be a 2/2 for 2G that reveals the top 3 and puts the rest into the 'yard.
Nature's Splendor - I don't know, you're recurring artifacts (not g) and lands (clunky?). 1GG and I'd think about playing it in some decks... also clearly (U)
Cabal Patrician - 1/1 and no mana in the activation cost?
Phyrexian Surgeon - This effect is uncommon or rare. Magus of the Tortured Existence might be a great mythic, FYI; but raise dead spellshaper exists...
Plague Reaver - Fleshbag Marauder exists. I don't see how this is better.
Crypt Servant - 2/1 for 1B and T, sacrifice a creature: Add B. seems more flavorful. 1/2s in black feel clunky at best.
Korozda Witchdoctor - When would I run this? If this were a 2/1 for 1B I'd consider it, but GB gets me much better.
Being of the Circle - this is really WB and probably better as a 2/2 for 1WB at common or uncommon.
Loamcreeper - I see what you're going for here, but it could be a 1/3 for 1G, dredge 3, and "sacrifice: Return a land from your graveyard to your hand."
Crawl from the Loam - Sure... if at instant.
Moldbreaker - Sure, if (U).
Loamwinder Wurm - sure, but you might make this Dredge 2 or 3 just to fly under WOTC's radar of "banworthy" dredgers. Good in limited, sure! Make it uncommon because of this.
Braingorger Beetle - I'd rather this was just a 2/2 Ravenous Rats for 1BB with Dredge 2. ETB > sacrifice words...
Crypt Prowler - could be hyrbid mana. Also, interesting design... could see this being played a lot in limited.
Dredge the Loam - Hyrbid 1 drop? Still, probably not worth the cardboard.
Overall some interesting designs here. Some should be printed in some form in some future sets, if we're lucky.
Druid of the Lost - Wow, this feels too strong even at a bloated 3GG or 4GG. In limited this is ridiculous.
Reclamation Druid - Uncommon 2/1 for 1G.
Explorer of Mul Day - Sure, but I'd rather this be a 2/2 for 2G that reveals the top 3 and puts the rest into the 'yard.
Nature's Splendor - I don't know, you're recurring artifacts (not g) and lands (clunky?). 1GG and I'd think about playing it in some decks... also clearly (U)
Cabal Patrician - 1/1 and no mana in the activation cost?
Phyrexian Surgeon - This effect is uncommon or rare. Magus of the Tortured Existence might be a great mythic, FYI; but raise dead spellshaper exists...
Plague Reaver - Fleshbag Marauder exists. I don't see how this is better.
Crypt Servant - 2/1 for 1B and T, sacrifice a creature: Add B. seems more flavorful. 1/2s in black feel clunky at best.
Korozda Witchdoctor - When would I run this? If this were a 2/1 for 1B I'd consider it, but GB gets me much better.
Being of the Circle - this is really WB and probably better as a 2/2 for 1WB at common or uncommon.
Loamcreeper - I see what you're going for here, but it could be a 1/3 for 1G, dredge 3, and "sacrifice: Return a land from your graveyard to your hand."
Crawl from the Loam - Sure... if at instant.
Moldbreaker - Sure, if (U).
Loamwinder Wurm - sure, but you might make this Dredge 2 or 3 just to fly under WOTC's radar of "banworthy" dredgers. Good in limited, sure! Make it uncommon because of this.
Braingorger Beetle - I'd rather this was just a 2/2 Ravenous Rats for 1BB with Dredge 2. ETB > sacrifice words...
Crypt Prowler - could be hyrbid mana. Also, interesting design... could see this being played a lot in limited.
Dredge the Loam - Hyrbid 1 drop? Still, probably not worth the cardboard.
Overall some interesting designs here. Some should be printed in some form in some future sets, if we're lucky.
Yeah, like I said some of the cards definitely feel like they could be a higher rarity in today's current standard environment. But I was trying to capture the powerhouses of the pauper environment which contains cards from all sets.
For example, looking at cards like [card]Tortured Existence[/mana] I feel like this card should definitely be an uncommon if not a rare. But at common, I feel like it's fair game to manipulate into another variant common just for the set. The same rule applies for a lot of the cards I designed
The Golgari color pair focuses on what you would expect to see in these colors: Graveyard Shenanigans. After looking at graveyard strategies in Pauper, ranging from Dredge to Tortured Existence to Rock and Reanimator, I began building a few cards that I felt would really bring the archetype to light in an all-common set.
Druid of the Lost 2GG
Creature - Elf Druid (Common)
When Druid of the Lost enters the battlefield, you gain life equal to the number of creature cards in your graveyard.
3/3
^
Disciple of Karametra
Reclamation Druid 1G
Creature - Elf Druid (Common)
When Reclamation Druid enters the battlefield, put target card from your graveyard on top of your library.
1/1
^
Reclaim
Explorer of Mul Daya 2G
Creature - Human Scout (Common)
When Explorer of Mul Daya enters the battlefield, look at the top five cards of your library. You may reveal any number of land cards from among them, add them to your hand, then put the rest on the bottom of your library in any order.
1/1
Nature's Splendor 2GG
Sorcery (Common)
Put any number of permanent cards from your graveyard on top of your library.
Draw a card.
^
Repopulate & Footbottom Feast
Cabal Patrician 1B
Creature - Zombie Cleric (Common)
B, sacrifice another creature: Each opponent loses 1 life and you gain 1 life.
1/2
Phyrexian Surgeon 1BB
Creature - Horror Cleric (Common)
B, Discard a creature card: Return target creature card from your graveyard to your hand.
2/2
^
Tortured Existence
Plague Reaver 3BB
Creature - Zombie (Common)
When Plague Reaver enters the battlefield, each player sacrifices a creature.
3/3
^
Predatory Nightstalker
Crypt Servant 1B
Creature - Zombie (Common)
T: Put the top card of your library into your graveyard: Add B to your mana pool.
1/2
^
Deranged Assistant
Korozda Witchdoctor BG
Creature - Elf Shaman (Common)
Sacrifice another creature: Regenerate target creature.
2/2
^
Goblin Chirurgeon
Being of the Circle 3BG
Creature - Elemental (Common)
Whenever another creature enters the battlefield or dies, you gain 1 life.
4/4
^
Deathgreeter & Essence Warden
So I'm still not sure if I want to use custom mechanics and abilities, or ones Wizards had already come up with. Either way, I made a few cards to test. I know that Dredge is frowned upon, but I figured it might be kind of a fun mechanic to toy around with in an all-common set.
Loamcreeper 2G
Creature - Plant Fungus (Common)
Sacrifice Loamcreeper: Return target land card from your graveyard to your hand.
Dredge 2
1/3
Crawl from the Loam G
Sorcery (Common)
Create a 1/1 green Saproling creature token.
Dredge 1
^
Sprout Swarm
Moldbreaker 3GG
Creature - Fungus Beast (Common)
When Moldbreaker enters the battlefield, you may destroy target artifact or enchantment.
Dredge 3
3/3
Loamwinder Wurm 4GG
Creature - Wurm (Common)
Trample
Dredge 4
6/4
Braingorger Beetle 2B
Creature - Insect (Common)
Sacrifice Braingorger Beetle: Target player discards a card. Activate this ability only any time you could cast a sorcery.
Dredge 2
2/2
Crypt Prowler 3B
Creature - Insect Horror (Common)
Dredge 2
5/1
Dredge the Loam BG
Instant (Common)
Put target creature card from your graveyard on top of your library.
Dredge 1
Dunes of Zairo
SHANDALAR
Innistrad - The Darkest Night
~THE RAVNICAN CONSORTIUM~
A Community Set
Commander: Allies & Adversaries
Crypt servant is the one card that I have color pie concerns with, especially in light of the fact that the card you based it on is actually on-pie for the ability. While blue creatures with mana abilities still appear every other set or so, black's mana generation has shrunk over the years. Black elves and thrulls can do it because mana abilities are ingrained into their tribal identities, but a zombie doing it would need more of a substantial cost than the top card of your library. Vesper Ghoul at least cost one more mana, had one less toughness, and had a life payment.
Reclamation Druid - Uncommon 2/1 for 1G.
Explorer of Mul Day - Sure, but I'd rather this be a 2/2 for 2G that reveals the top 3 and puts the rest into the 'yard.
Nature's Splendor - I don't know, you're recurring artifacts (not g) and lands (clunky?). 1GG and I'd think about playing it in some decks... also clearly (U)
Cabal Patrician - 1/1 and no mana in the activation cost?
Phyrexian Surgeon - This effect is uncommon or rare. Magus of the Tortured Existence might be a great mythic, FYI; but raise dead spellshaper exists...
Plague Reaver - Fleshbag Marauder exists. I don't see how this is better.
Crypt Servant - 2/1 for 1B and T, sacrifice a creature: Add B. seems more flavorful. 1/2s in black feel clunky at best.
Korozda Witchdoctor - When would I run this? If this were a 2/1 for 1B I'd consider it, but GB gets me much better.
Being of the Circle - this is really WB and probably better as a 2/2 for 1WB at common or uncommon.
Loamcreeper - I see what you're going for here, but it could be a 1/3 for 1G, dredge 3, and "sacrifice: Return a land from your graveyard to your hand."
Crawl from the Loam - Sure... if at instant.
Moldbreaker - Sure, if (U).
Loamwinder Wurm - sure, but you might make this Dredge 2 or 3 just to fly under WOTC's radar of "banworthy" dredgers. Good in limited, sure! Make it uncommon because of this.
Braingorger Beetle - I'd rather this was just a 2/2 Ravenous Rats for 1BB with Dredge 2. ETB > sacrifice words...
Crypt Prowler - could be hyrbid mana. Also, interesting design... could see this being played a lot in limited.
Dredge the Loam - Hyrbid 1 drop? Still, probably not worth the cardboard.
Overall some interesting designs here. Some should be printed in some form in some future sets, if we're lucky.
Yeah, like I said some of the cards definitely feel like they could be a higher rarity in today's current standard environment. But I was trying to capture the powerhouses of the pauper environment which contains cards from all sets.
For example, looking at cards like [card]Tortured Existence[/mana] I feel like this card should definitely be an uncommon if not a rare. But at common, I feel like it's fair game to manipulate into another variant common just for the set. The same rule applies for a lot of the cards I designed
Dunes of Zairo
SHANDALAR
Innistrad - The Darkest Night
~THE RAVNICAN CONSORTIUM~
A Community Set
Commander: Allies & Adversaries