This month we'll be looking at the most basic foundation of the game: mana. But we'll look at it from a maybe unusual point of view. In fact, the theme of this month's MCC is "mana symbols". We'll explore what mana symbols look like when we go beyond the simple sun, drop, skull, flame, or tree within a grey circle. (By the way, you wouldn't believe how long it took me to understand that the red mana symbol was meant to represent a flame. I just haven't been able to see it for years, literally!)
This round we start by exploring what happens when two of those shapes get together to form a single mana symbol.
Main challenge: design a card with at least one hybrid mana symbol in its mana cost or text box. Please see clarifications.
Subchallenge 1: The card has ONLY hybrid mana symbols in both its mana cost and text box and they are ALL of the same colors. Please see clarifications.
Subchallenge 2: The card is common or uncommon.
Note: As :sym: notation doesn't seem to work on the new boards, to make hybrid mana symbols, you can use mana tags like this:
[mana]{W/U}{U/B}{B/R}{R/G}{G/W}{W/B}{U/R}{B/G}{R/W}{G/U}{2/W}{2/U}{2/B}{2/R}{2/G}[/mana]
which becomes: (W/U)(U/B)(B/R)(R/G)(G/W)(W/B)(U/R)(B/G)(R/W)(G/U)(2/W)(2/U)(2/B)(2/R)(2/G)
About the main challenge:
Your card can include any other symbols in its mana cost or rules text, as long as there is at least one hybrid mana symbol in either of them.
Colorless hybrid ((2/W), called "twobrid" informally) and traditional two-colored hybrid mana symbols both count.
Also, mana symbols in reminder text DO count. That's why I specified "text box", that includes rules text, reminder text and flavor text. For example, a card with extort satisfies this challenge as long as its reminder text is included in the card, because that reminder text contains a hybrid mana symbol ((W/B)).
About subchallenge 1:
This challenge means that all mana symbols that appear on your card are hybrid and identical.
If you use traditional two-colored hybrid mana symbols, satisfying this challenge implies that your card would have a hybrid frame if it were actually printed, and that its color identity is exactly two colors, no more and no less.
If you use monocolored hybrid mana symbols, satisfying this challenge implies that your card will be monocolored even though it can be cast using mana of any color, and that its color identity is exactly one color, no more and no less.
What follows are examples of cards that DO pass this challenge:
• A card that costs (W/U) with no mana symbols in its text box.
• A card that costs (U/B)(U/B) with an activated ability that costs (U/B).
• A card that costs (B/R)(B/R)(B/R) with a triggered ability that requires the payment of (B/R).
• A card that costs (R/G)(R/G) with an activated ability that costs T. (It has T in the text box, which is a non-hybrid symbol, but is not a MANA symbol, so it's fine.)
• A card that costs (G/W) with an activated ability that costs (G/W), T. (See above.)
• A card that costs (2/W) with an activated ability that costs (2/W), N. (N is also not a mana symbol, so it's fine. To make the untap symbol, use [mana]N[/mana].)
The following examples would NOT pass this challenge:
• A card that costs (U/B)(U/B) with an activated ability that costs (U/R). (It has a symbol with a different color in the text box. Even though it shares one color with the symbols in the mana cost, it doesn't share the other color too.)
• A card that costs (B/R)(B/R)(B/R) with a triggered ability that requires the payment of G.
• A card that costs (2/R)(2/R)(2/R) with a triggered ability that requires the payment of 2.
• A card that costs 1(W/U), regardless of what's in the text box. (It has a non-hybrid mana symbol in its mana cost.)
• A card that costs (W/U)(U/B), regardless of what's in the text box. (It has hybrid symbols with different colors in its mana cost, even though they share a color.)
• A card that costs (W/U)(2/W), regardless of what's in the text box. (It has hybrid symbols with different colors in its mana cost, even though they share a color.)
• A card that costs (W/U)(B/R), regardless of what's in the text box. (It has hybrid symbols with different colors in its mana cost.)
I will adopt a fixed schedule this month: each round will last exactly a week, with designs being due on each friday afternoon and judgings being due on the following tuesday afternoon, so that new rounds will be posted that same tuesday night. I'll adjust the deadline times to be more comfortable to me as I live in Europe, but I'll also convert them to EST as usual.
Design deadline: Friday, December 5th at 17:59 EST (23:59 in central Europe)
Judge deadline: Tuesday, December 9th at 17:59 EST (23:59 in central Europe)
If everything runs smoothly, round 2 will be posted Tuesday, December 9th in the evening (or early night in Europe).
Design (X/10) – This reflects the work put into the initial concept of the card. Creativity – How original or innovative is the card? Does it present an old idea with a new twist? Does it employ an entirely new mechanic? Elegance – Is the concept easily understood at a glance? Does the design just 'click' with the flavor? Potential – Will different player demographics (Spike/Johnny/Timmy) find a use for this card? Does it stand out as a card to build a deck around?
Development (X/10) – This reflects the execution of the idea, fleshing it into a playable card. Viability – How well does this card fit into the color wheel? Does it break or bend the rules of the game? Is it at the appropriate rarity? Balance – Does the card's cost match its power? How balanced are its interactions with other cards? Can it be played in constructed, limited, or multiplayer without breaking any of those formats? Creative Writing – Does the name sound like it fits on a card? Does the flavor text feel natural and professional? Does the combination of name, flavor text, and card concept make Vorthos spout poetry?
Polish – This reflects the finishing touches made to the card, polishing it to an end product that could see print. Challenge (X/2) – One point awarded per satisfied challenge condition. Quality (X/3) – Points deducted for incorrect spelling, grammar, and templating.
Total: X/25
BRACKETS
These brackets have been determinated at random (using the random function of Excel). Top 4 of each bracket advance to round 2.
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.)
Swooping Hawk(W/U)(W/U)(W/U)
Creature - Bird (U)
Flash
Flying
When Swooping Hawk enters the battlefield, tap target creature an opponent controls. That creature doesn't untap during its controller's next untap step
2/3
[b]Design (6/10) –[/b]
[b]Creativity – I like the idea of twobird being used as a eldrazi hybrid mechanic. The rest of the card is doing stuff we've seen before.[/b]
[b]Elegance – If we accept that human eldrazi is in the future of Magic! then this card kind of makes sense. I could get behind it. As a defensive creature it doesn't massively eldrazi though.[/b]
[b]Potential – Limited fodder, but probably card that doesn't wheel in a draft too often.[/b]
[b]Development (9/10) –[/b]
[b]Viability – White does this, I'm happy for this effect to be in colourless at this price and at this rarity.[/b]
[b]Balance – Fair card.[/b]
[b]Creative Writing – I'm still a little mad about how our human become part eldrazi, but I like the flavour text and name nonetheless.[/b]
[b]Polish –[/b]
[b]Challenge (1/2) – Uncommon but used different mana symbols.[/b]
[b]Quality (2/3) – I think twobird mana should have reminder text. [/b]
[b]Total: 18/25[/b]
[b]JudaaMarr[/b]
[b]Design (4/10) –[/b]
[b]Creativity – It's just a smaller wall of frost except it also deals with those pesky vigilance creatures.[/b]
[b]Elegance – I get the flavor and I see how the card works.[/b]
[b]Potential – So-so, control card. I don't really think many players are going to be too excited unfortunately.[/b]
[b]Development (5/10) –[/b]
[b]Viability – I don't see how this card work for green, which means it doesn't work as a hybrid. No rarity.[/b]
[b]Balance – Fair card.[/b]
[b]Creative Writing – I get the tangle flavour. Some flavour text wouldn't go amiss.[/b]
[b]Polish –[/b]
[b]Challenge (2/2) –[/b]
[b]Quality (2/3) – No rarity[/b]
[b]Total: 13/25[/b]
[b]Link[/b]
[b]Design (9/10) –[/b]
[b]Creativity – I have to admit, when I first saw this I thought it had been before, but a quick gatherer search showed I was wrong. There's a natural bit of design space here.[/b]
[b]Elegance – I find myself wondering whether I can divide the damage or not and deciding that this card doesn't let me do that. The flavour is somewhat lost too. [/b]
[b]Potential – Versatile, and spirit producers are always strong. Should see plenty of play.[/b]
[b]Development (6/10) –[/b]
[b]Viability – I can justify the use of the mana this way. Rarity fine.[/b]
[b]Balance – One grip is that the red half of this spell is sufficient weaker than the white half (i.e. a 1/1 spirit token is far better than a point of damage at sorcery speed). So much so that WWW feels really strong whereas the RRR version feels mediocre.[/b]
[b]Creative Writing – I'm not entirely sure I get it - are ghosts living in the flames???[/b]
[b]Design (6/10) –[/b]
[b]Creativity – Nothing new on this card, except we haven't seen this as a green/red hybrid before.[/b]
[b]Elegance – Clear enough to see how it works.[/b]
[b]Potential – Will be a house in limited. Probably won't see constructed play.[/b]
[b]Development (6/10) –[/b]
[b]Viability – Goes in green and red, but I don't think repeated fighting is right for uncommon. This should rare at a minimum.[/b]
[b]Balance – Feels pushed, especially when I remember Cyclops Gladiator being good enough on turn six and seven in limited.[/b]
[b]Creative Writing – I liked it.[/b]
[b]Polish –[/b]
[b]Challenge (1/2) – Mixed mana symbols.[/b]
[b]Quality (2/3) – It should be "Whenever Ghor Clan Bonesmasher attacks..."[/b]
[b]Total: 15/25[/b]
[b]porcelainscarecrow[/b]
[b]Design (7/10) –[/b]
[b]Creativity – Galepowder mage shifted to hybrid.[/b]
[b]Elegance – It's easy enough to see how this works. The flavour isn't quite there.[/b]
[b]Potential – Very powerful in limited. Johnny would prefer a card that can bounce his creatures as well.[/b]
[b]Development (7/10) –[/b]
[b]Viability – Blue and white can both get this effect. However I think this is probably too good for uncommon and is safer at rare.[/b]
[b]Balance – Three mana certainly makes this pushed, especially since we a get Vassal Soul at virtually the same price and the ability is pretty damn strong.[/b]
[b]Creative Writing – I liked it.[/b]
Clockwork Abomination(2/B)(2/B)(2/B)
Artifact Creature — Construct Horror [U]
You may cast Clockwork Abomination from your graveyard.
Clockwork Abomination can't block. "You seek autonomy, and I seek immortality. Are our two wishes truly so far apart?
—Marchesa, to Muzzio
2/2
Nocturne Strix(W/U)(W/U)(W/U)
Creature - Bird {U}
Flying
When Nocturne Strix attacks, exile target creature defending player controls. Return that card to the battlefield under its owner's control at the beginning of the next end step. The Nocturne Lights are renowned for their splendor, but only a lucky few have ever seen their majestic creators.
2/2
Call of Command(U/R)(U/R)(U/R)
Instant (Uncommon)
Gain control of target creature an opponent controls until end of turn. Untap that creature. Until end of turn, it gets +1/-1 and gains haste.
Season of Rain (G/U)(G/U)(G/U)
Enchantment (U) (G/U)(G/U): Reveal the top card of your library. If it's a creature, add one mana
of that creature's color to your mana pool.
Shadowfire Imp(B/R)(B/R)(B/R)(B/R)
Creature - Imp {U}
When Shadowfire Imp or another creature you control with (B/R) in it's mana cost enters the battlefield, Shadowfire Imp deals damage to target creature equal to the amount of red mana used to pay that creature's mana cost, and target player loses life equal to the amount of black mana used to pay that creature's mana cost.
2/2 "Beware the shadow that shirks not from the flame."
Sultai Pit Viper(B/G)
Creature - Snake (U)
Deathtouch
Morph 2BG(You may cast this card face down as a 2/2 creature for 3. Turn it face up any time for its morph cost.)
When Sultai Pit Viper is turned face-up, you may destroy target non-land permanent.
1/1
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"The true measure of all heroes is not what they achieve, but who they inspire." —Triumph of Gerrard
Unstable Force
Creature - Elemental (U)
Trample, haste
Echo (At the beginning of your upkeep, if this came under your control since the beginning of your last upkeep, sacrifice it unless you pay its echo cost.)
Unstable Force gets -1/-1 for each tapped land you control.
4/4
(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)
Souls of the Flame(R/W)(R/W)(R/W)
Sorcery (U)
Souls of the Flame deals 1 damage to target creature or player for each R spent to cast it.
Put a 1/1 white Spirit creature token with flying onto the battlefield for each W spent to cast Souls of the Flame. Question not the Flame, for it is life.
—Flameheart Creed
just as a side note: the :sym: symbols do work provided that you include a space on each side. Using them side by side requires a space between them ( :sym-: :sym-: becomes .)
Garungi Brushguard
Creature - Human Warrior (U)
First strike
If you control a Forest you may cast Garungi Brushguard as though it had flash. Legends say that the trees of the Garungi forests are alive. No one has lived long enough to correct them.
3/1
Eldrazoid Sentinel3(2/W)(2/W)
Creature - Human Eldrazi (U)
Vigilance 1(2/W): Eldrazoid Sentinel gets +0/+1 until end of turn and can block an additional creature this turn. “Some call us mad for embracing the power of such abominations. Perhaps we are. But madness is a small price to pay for true enlightenment.”
4/5
Slithering Amphibeast(G/U)(G/U)
Creature - Fish Lizard (U)
Islandwalk, Forestwalk
Evolve Its ability to thrive in any environment makes it the epitome of Simic innovation.
1/1
From the Bushes(B/G)
Sorcery (U)
Put a 1/1 black and green Warrior creature token with Haste and Deathtouch onto the battlefield. "It's fine if the hills have eyes. I'm more worried that the shrubs have spears."
Undead Champion(W/B)(W/B)(W/B)
Creature-Zombie{c}
Whenever Undead Champion would be put into the graveyard from the battlefield, put it onto the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter on it instead His failure to live brought him great pain, his failure to die brought him great triumph.
1/1
Dream Maze2(W/U)
Enchantment (U)
When Dream Maze enters the battlefield, untap all creatures.
Creatures don’t untap during each players untap step.
All creatures have vigilance. The Champion and her companions couldn’t rest as they passed the Sphinx’s temple garden, as they knew closed eyes would never open again.
—The Theriad
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Multiple instances of lifelink on the same creature are redundant.
Multiple instances of lifelink on the same creature are redundant.
Multiple instances of lifelink on the same creature are redundant.
—Eli Shiffrin, Rules Manager, on a design stacking lifelink instances
Emrakul’s Reveler(2/R)(2/R)(2/R)
Creature - Eldrazi Satyr {U}
Haste
When Emrakul’s Reveler attacks, you may pay (2/R)(2/R)(2/R)(2/R). If you do, defending player sacrifices a permanent. The age of the god Xenagos’s chaos now seemed like nothing.
4/1
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
A polite player might call my card choices "interesting." At my budget, "interesting" is the only option.
Ghor-Clan Bonesmasher3(R/G)(R/G)
Creature - Beast (U)
Trample
Whenever this creature attacks, it fights target creature defending player controls. "The citizens of Ravnica have committed crimes against nature. We will grind them to dust if it means we get our freedom back."
- Ruric-Thar, Ghor-Clan Chieftain
4/4
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
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December MCC - Round 1
"Get together"
This month we'll be looking at the most basic foundation of the game: mana. But we'll look at it from a maybe unusual point of view. In fact, the theme of this month's MCC is "mana symbols". We'll explore what mana symbols look like when we go beyond the simple sun, drop, skull, flame, or tree within a grey circle. (By the way, you wouldn't believe how long it took me to understand that the red mana symbol was meant to represent a flame. I just haven't been able to see it for years, literally!)
This round we start by exploring what happens when two of those shapes get together to form a single mana symbol.
Main challenge: design a card with at least one hybrid mana symbol in its mana cost or text box. Please see clarifications.
Subchallenge 1: The card has ONLY hybrid mana symbols in both its mana cost and text box and they are ALL of the same colors. Please see clarifications.
Subchallenge 2: The card is common or uncommon.
Note: As :sym: notation doesn't seem to work on the new boards, to make hybrid mana symbols, you can use mana tags like this:
[mana]{W/U}{U/B}{B/R}{R/G}{G/W}{W/B}{U/R}{B/G}{R/W}{G/U}{2/W}{2/U}{2/B}{2/R}{2/G}[/mana]
which becomes:
(W/U)(U/B)(B/R)(R/G)(G/W)(W/B)(U/R)(B/G)(R/W)(G/U)(2/W)(2/U)(2/B)(2/R)(2/G)
About the main challenge:
Your card can include any other symbols in its mana cost or rules text, as long as there is at least one hybrid mana symbol in either of them.
Colorless hybrid ((2/W), called "twobrid" informally) and traditional two-colored hybrid mana symbols both count.
Also, mana symbols in reminder text DO count. That's why I specified "text box", that includes rules text, reminder text and flavor text. For example, a card with extort satisfies this challenge as long as its reminder text is included in the card, because that reminder text contains a hybrid mana symbol ((W/B)).
About subchallenge 1:
This challenge means that all mana symbols that appear on your card are hybrid and identical.
If you use traditional two-colored hybrid mana symbols, satisfying this challenge implies that your card would have a hybrid frame if it were actually printed, and that its color identity is exactly two colors, no more and no less.
If you use monocolored hybrid mana symbols, satisfying this challenge implies that your card will be monocolored even though it can be cast using mana of any color, and that its color identity is exactly one color, no more and no less.
What follows are examples of cards that DO pass this challenge:
• A card that costs (W/U) with no mana symbols in its text box.
• A card that costs (U/B)(U/B) with an activated ability that costs (U/B).
• A card that costs (B/R)(B/R)(B/R) with a triggered ability that requires the payment of (B/R).
• A card that costs (R/G)(R/G) with an activated ability that costs T. (It has T in the text box, which is a non-hybrid symbol, but is not a MANA symbol, so it's fine.)
• A card that costs (G/W) with an activated ability that costs (G/W), T. (See above.)
• A card that costs (2/W) with an activated ability that costs (2/W), N. (N is also not a mana symbol, so it's fine. To make the untap symbol, use [mana]N[/mana].)
The following examples would NOT pass this challenge:
• A card that costs (U/B)(U/B) with an activated ability that costs (U/R). (It has a symbol with a different color in the text box. Even though it shares one color with the symbols in the mana cost, it doesn't share the other color too.)
• A card that costs (B/R)(B/R)(B/R) with a triggered ability that requires the payment of G.
• A card that costs (2/R)(2/R)(2/R) with a triggered ability that requires the payment of 2.
• A card that costs 1(W/U), regardless of what's in the text box. (It has a non-hybrid mana symbol in its mana cost.)
• A card that costs (W/U)(U/B), regardless of what's in the text box. (It has hybrid symbols with different colors in its mana cost, even though they share a color.)
• A card that costs (W/U)(2/W), regardless of what's in the text box. (It has hybrid symbols with different colors in its mana cost, even though they share a color.)
• A card that costs (W/U)(B/R), regardless of what's in the text box. (It has hybrid symbols with different colors in its mana cost.)
I will adopt a fixed schedule this month: each round will last exactly a week, with designs being due on each friday afternoon and judgings being due on the following tuesday afternoon, so that new rounds will be posted that same tuesday night. I'll adjust the deadline times to be more comfortable to me as I live in Europe, but I'll also convert them to EST as usual.
Design deadline: Friday, December 5th at 17:59 EST (23:59 in central Europe)
Judge deadline: Tuesday, December 9th at 17:59 EST (23:59 in central Europe)
If everything runs smoothly, round 2 will be posted Tuesday, December 9th in the evening (or early night in Europe).
Creativity – How original or innovative is the card? Does it present an old idea with a new twist? Does it employ an entirely new mechanic?
Elegance – Is the concept easily understood at a glance? Does the design just 'click' with the flavor?
Potential – Will different player demographics (Spike/Johnny/Timmy) find a use for this card? Does it stand out as a card to build a deck around?
Development (X/10) – This reflects the execution of the idea, fleshing it into a playable card.
Viability – How well does this card fit into the color wheel? Does it break or bend the rules of the game? Is it at the appropriate rarity?
Balance – Does the card's cost match its power? How balanced are its interactions with other cards? Can it be played in constructed, limited, or multiplayer without breaking any of those formats?
Creative Writing – Does the name sound like it fits on a card? Does the flavor text feel natural and professional? Does the combination of name, flavor text, and card concept make Vorthos spout poetry?
Polish – This reflects the finishing touches made to the card, polishing it to an end product that could see print.
Challenge (X/2) – One point awarded per satisfied challenge condition.
Quality (X/3) – Points deducted for incorrect spelling, grammar, and templating.
Total: X/25
BRACKETS
These brackets have been determinated at random (using the random function of Excel). Top 4 of each bracket advance to round 2.
Judge: bravelion83
AliasBot
Cardz5000
doomfish
niko52301
VeiledAssassin
Wearth
Judge: Moss_Elemental
admirableadmiral
Asrama
Figurative
Ninja Caterpie
palanthas
SelesnyaNewLife
Judge: Trivmvirate
hopefulhawkeye
J.Do
Koopa
northprophet
NVRBLND
Rudyard
Judge: IcariiFA
8buffalo
aftermarketradio
Flatline
Marco
riliss
Sagharri
Judge: Antny223
GG Crono
JudaaMarr
Link
Ogonomany
porcelainscarecrow
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.)
Creature - Bird (U)
Flash
Flying
When Swooping Hawk enters the battlefield, tap target creature an opponent controls. That creature doesn't untap during its controller's next untap step
2/3
BGStandard Green AggroGB
UWRGModern Saheeli CobraGRWU
UBRGLegacy StormGRBU
Wizards Certified Rules Advisor
[b]GG Crono[/b]
[b]Creativity – I like the idea of twobird being used as a eldrazi hybrid mechanic. The rest of the card is doing stuff we've seen before.[/b]
[b]Elegance – If we accept that human eldrazi is in the future of Magic! then this card kind of makes sense. I could get behind it. As a defensive creature it doesn't massively eldrazi though.[/b]
[b]Potential – Limited fodder, but probably card that doesn't wheel in a draft too often.[/b]
[b]Development (9/10) –[/b]
[b]Viability – White does this, I'm happy for this effect to be in colourless at this price and at this rarity.[/b]
[b]Balance – Fair card.[/b]
[b]Creative Writing – I'm still a little mad about how our human become part eldrazi, but I like the flavour text and name nonetheless.[/b]
[b]Polish –[/b]
[b]Challenge (1/2) – Uncommon but used different mana symbols.[/b]
[b]Quality (2/3) – I think twobird mana should have reminder text. [/b]
[b]Total: 18/25[/b]
[b]Creativity – It's just a smaller wall of frost except it also deals with those pesky vigilance creatures.[/b]
[b]Elegance – I get the flavor and I see how the card works.[/b]
[b]Potential – So-so, control card. I don't really think many players are going to be too excited unfortunately.[/b]
[b]Development (5/10) –[/b]
[b]Viability – I don't see how this card work for green, which means it doesn't work as a hybrid. No rarity.[/b]
[b]Balance – Fair card.[/b]
[b]Creative Writing – I get the tangle flavour. Some flavour text wouldn't go amiss.[/b]
[b]Polish –[/b]
[b]Challenge (2/2) –[/b]
[b]Quality (2/3) – No rarity[/b]
[b]Total: 13/25[/b]
[b]Creativity – I have to admit, when I first saw this I thought it had been before, but a quick gatherer search showed I was wrong. There's a natural bit of design space here.[/b]
[b]Elegance – I find myself wondering whether I can divide the damage or not and deciding that this card doesn't let me do that. The flavour is somewhat lost too. [/b]
[b]Potential – Versatile, and spirit producers are always strong. Should see plenty of play.[/b]
[b]Development (6/10) –[/b]
[b]Viability – I can justify the use of the mana this way. Rarity fine.[/b]
[b]Balance – One grip is that the red half of this spell is sufficient weaker than the white half (i.e. a 1/1 spirit token is far better than a point of damage at sorcery speed). So much so that WWW feels really strong whereas the RRR version feels mediocre.[/b]
[b]Creative Writing – I'm not entirely sure I get it - are ghosts living in the flames???[/b]
[b]Polish –[/b]
[b]Challenge (2/2) –[/b]
[b]Quality (3/3)/b]
[b]Total: 21/25[/b]
[b]Creativity – Nothing new on this card, except we haven't seen this as a green/red hybrid before.[/b]
[b]Elegance – Clear enough to see how it works.[/b]
[b]Potential – Will be a house in limited. Probably won't see constructed play.[/b]
[b]Development (6/10) –[/b]
[b]Viability – Goes in green and red, but I don't think repeated fighting is right for uncommon. This should rare at a minimum.[/b]
[b]Balance – Feels pushed, especially when I remember Cyclops Gladiator being good enough on turn six and seven in limited.[/b]
[b]Creative Writing – I liked it.[/b]
[b]Polish –[/b]
[b]Challenge (1/2) – Mixed mana symbols.[/b]
[b]Quality (2/3) – It should be "Whenever Ghor Clan Bonesmasher attacks..."[/b]
[b]Total: 15/25[/b]
[b]Creativity – Galepowder mage shifted to hybrid.[/b]
[b]Elegance – It's easy enough to see how this works. The flavour isn't quite there.[/b]
[b]Potential – Very powerful in limited. Johnny would prefer a card that can bounce his creatures as well.[/b]
[b]Development (7/10) –[/b]
[b]Viability – Blue and white can both get this effect. However I think this is probably too good for uncommon and is safer at rare.[/b]
[b]Balance – Three mana certainly makes this pushed, especially since we a get Vassal Soul at virtually the same price and the ability is pretty damn strong.[/b]
[b]Creative Writing – I liked it.[/b]
[b]Polish –[/b]
[b]Challenge (2/2) –[/b]
[b]Quality (3/3) –[/b]
[b]Total: 19/25[/b]
[b]And the scores:[/b]
[b]1 Link
2 porcelinescarecrow
3 GGCrono
4 Ogonomany[/b]
5 JudaaMaar
Artifact Creature — Construct Horror [U]
You may cast Clockwork Abomination from your graveyard.
Clockwork Abomination can't block.
"You seek autonomy, and I seek immortality. Are our two wishes truly so far apart?
—Marchesa, to Muzzio
2/2
Sorcery (C)
Return target creature with power 1 or less from your graveyard to the battlefield.
You got 99 attackers but I'm blocking with 1.
The Winner is Judge | 7
This Winner is Also Judge | 6
Club Flamingo | Lots
Creature - Bird {U}
Flying
When Nocturne Strix attacks, exile target creature defending player controls. Return that card to the battlefield under its owner's control at the beginning of the next end step.
The Nocturne Lights are renowned for their splendor, but only a lucky few have ever seen their majestic creators.
2/2
Instant (Uncommon)
Gain control of target creature an opponent controls until end of turn. Untap that creature. Until end of turn, it gets +1/-1 and gains haste.
Enchantment (U)
(G/U)(G/U): Reveal the top card of your library. If it's a creature, add one mana
of that creature's color to your mana pool.
Creature - Imp {U}
When Shadowfire Imp or another creature you control with (B/R) in it's mana cost enters the battlefield, Shadowfire Imp deals damage to target creature equal to the amount of red mana used to pay that creature's mana cost, and target player loses life equal to the amount of black mana used to pay that creature's mana cost.
2/2
"Beware the shadow that shirks not from the flame."
Creature - Snake (U)
Deathtouch
Morph 2BG (You may cast this card face down as a 2/2 creature for 3. Turn it face up any time for its morph cost.)
When Sultai Pit Viper is turned face-up, you may destroy target non-land permanent.
1/1
Creature - Elemental (U)
Trample, haste
Echo (At the beginning of your upkeep, if this came under your control since the beginning of your last upkeep, sacrifice it unless you pay its echo cost.)
Unstable Force gets -1/-1 for each tapped land you control.
4/4
Sorcery (U)
Souls of the Flame deals 1 damage to target creature or player for each R spent to cast it.
Put a 1/1 white Spirit creature token with flying onto the battlefield for each W spent to cast Souls of the Flame.
Question not the Flame, for it is life.
—Flameheart Creed
Garungi Brushguard
Creature - Human Warrior (U)
First strike
If you control a Forest you may cast Garungi Brushguard as though it had flash.
Legends say that the trees of the Garungi forests are alive. No one has lived long enough to correct them.
3/1
Creature - Human Eldrazi (U)
Vigilance
1(2/W): Eldrazoid Sentinel gets +0/+1 until end of turn and can block an additional creature this turn.
“Some call us mad for embracing the power of such abominations. Perhaps we are. But madness is a small price to pay for true enlightenment.”
4/5
Creature - Fish Lizard (U)
Islandwalk, Forestwalk
Evolve
Its ability to thrive in any environment makes it the epitome of Simic innovation.
1/1
Signature by DarkNightCavalier at Heroes of the Plane Studios
Sorcery (U)
Put a 1/1 black and green Warrior creature token with Haste and Deathtouch onto the battlefield.
"It's fine if the hills have eyes. I'm more worried that the shrubs have spears."
Memento Mori, if the nineth lion ate the sun.
Creature-Zombie{c}
Whenever Undead Champion would be put into the graveyard from the battlefield, put it onto the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter on it instead
His failure to live brought him great pain, his failure to die brought him great triumph.
1/1
Art: http://onmyownstudios.deviantart.com/art/Undead-Warrior-146105153
Enchantment (U)
When Dream Maze enters the battlefield, untap all creatures.
Creatures don’t untap during each players untap step.
All creatures have vigilance.
The Champion and her companions couldn’t rest as they passed the Sphinx’s temple garden, as they knew closed eyes would never open again.
—The Theriad
Multiple instances of lifelink on the same creature are redundant.
Multiple instances of lifelink on the same creature are redundant.
—Eli Shiffrin, Rules Manager, on a design stacking lifelink instances
Creature - Eldrazi Satyr {U}
Haste
When Emrakul’s Reveler attacks, you may pay (2/R)(2/R)(2/R)(2/R). If you do, defending player sacrifices a permanent.
The age of the god Xenagos’s chaos now seemed like nothing.
4/1
Creature - Beast (U)
Trample
Whenever this creature attacks, it fights target creature defending player controls.
"The citizens of Ravnica have committed crimes against nature. We will grind them to dust if it means we get our freedom back."
- Ruric-Thar, Ghor-Clan Chieftain
4/4