My head is all wrapped up in mechanics from Extinctia right now, so I'm designing a bit more towards that then normal.
Festerwood Behemoth3GG
Creature - Beast (R)
Flash Raw - When Festerwood Behemoth enters the battlefield, if only green mana was spent to cast it, put three +1/+1 counters on it and it gains trample.
5/5
Cunning Baloth5GG
Creature - Beast (R)
Whenever Cunning Baloth becomes blocked, you may untap it and draw a card. A baloth stalking prey is like a force of nature. Patient, relentless, and enormous.
7/7
Janete, Cursed Angel2WW
Legendary Creature - Angel (R)
Flying
When Janete, Cursed Angel enters the battlefield, target opponent puts a legendary 5/5 black Demon creature token with flying named Mikal onto the battlefield. No matter how bright she shined, a darkness always loomed.
5/5
The problem with this card is that, while it may be fun for both players, it's pretty underpowered. You want to get something spicy if you're giving your opponents creatures, and shaving a mana or two, then giving someone a 5/5 Demon which trades with this in combat is not worth it. See the Hunted cycle for an appropriate example of these kinds of cards.
Magma Elemental5RG
Creature - Elemental (Rare)
Trample
When Magma Elemental enters the battlefield, return target nonland card chosen at random from your graveyard to your hand. Magma Elemental deals damage equal to that card's converted mana cost to target creature or player.
7/5
This is a good design. In Limited this is a full on bomb if you can cast it, as casting this usually results in three-for-one. It stabilizes your board, burns something, and even comes with trample to get on the beatdown. Love this card.
Future-Echo Flameshaper3RR
Creature - Human Shaman (R)
Whenever Future-Echo Flameshaper attacks, shuffle your library, then reveal the top card. If the revealed card is a creature, put a token that's a copy of that creature onto the battlefield tapped and attacking. Exile that token at the beginning of the next end step. "I have gazed long into the fire. I have seen your fate. It wasn't pretty."
3/3
I didn't know why you need to add "shuffle your library" but this is going to result in some stalled out games since shuffling takes a while. The payoff is okay, but not really what I want to be seeing. Normally these creatures are beefier so they just don't die in combat and this even comes with a bit of dice rolling. If you manage to combo this off with Emrakul then you deserve it - no need for the Fun Police to come. Ultimately, while this design is decent, you can get this effect for less setup cost and it isn't a full on bomb.
Master of DisguisesU
Creature – Human Shapeshifter (R) 1UUU: Master of Disguises becomes a copy of another target creature and gains this ability. (this effect lasts indefinitely.)
1/1
1UUU is a lot of mana - would be tempted for 3UU or 2UU here. This is kind of meh. You're playing a 1/1 for 1 which is easily killed and while the Clone effect is powerful, your opponent can respond to it while its on the stack, which makes you sad. This asks quite a lot of you for Limited and its a rather ho-hum design.
Whenever enchanted player casts a spell, that player loses 1 life.
At the beginning of each end step, if the enchanted player cast 2 or more spells that turn, put a relief counter on Scintillating Scotoma.
If there are 3 or more relief counters on Scintillating Scomota, the enchanted player may discard their hand. If they do, sacrifice Scintillating Scomota.
One must empty their mind to make the pain go away.
This is worse than "Whenever enchanted player casts a spell, that player loses 1 life" and that's very weak already. No thanks.
Spirit of Lost Aeons1UU
Creature - Spirit (R)
Flying
When Spirit of Lost Aeons deals combat damage to a player, take an extra turn after this one and that player gains control of Spirit of the Lost Aeons. "When time thickens, no two drops fall at the same speed"
1/3
Very nice twist on the Starke of Rath effect. However, "take an extra turn after this one" is one of those effects that we've been programed to think is really powerful, but is actually very narrow, especially in limited. If you played Vintage Masters on MTGO, try and think how often you saw Plea for Power being played with a "time" vote from the caster. An extra turn isn't always amazing - it goes from backbreaking to only ok. Having a spell in hand that can give you an extra turn at will is therefore better than having a creature that needs to connect in order to give you that extra turn. This is essentially a "win-more" card. Constructed is where this card will shine, as I'm sure a lot of casual players and Johnnies will love to break it.
My head is all wrapped up in mechanics from Extinctia right now, so I'm designing a bit more towards that then normal.
Festerwood Behemoth3GG
Creature - Beast (R)
Flash Raw - When Festerwood Behemoth enters the battlefield, if only green mana was spent to cast it, put three +1/+1 counters on it and it gains trample.
5/5
I don't like Raw as a mechanic, as it would force players to build their decks towards mono-color builds, and create a parasitic feeling to the cards even if they seem to be modular. A one-of card with this ability is acceptable, but let's face it - you might as well have given it a cost of GGGGG and be done with it. Not that a 5/5 with flash for five isn't good, but an 8/8 with flash and trample is a game ender. Good limited players will appreciate the choice, though. Biggest problem: I can only imagine that if Raw is a major block mechanic, then this card is a great card for mono-green midrange, making it fail the "don't affect standard" portion of the challenge.
Doomfish - This card, while doing something pretty unique, it actually pretty confusing. Looking on all your cards could lead to slow gameplay and even cheating. It also takes all the excitement of the suspense of drawing new cards. Also, costing 6U instead of the usual 5UU for big, blue creatures is wierd. Neat idea, but the execution is poor for me to like, sorry (maybe it could work as an activated ability, not as an ability that you could do anytime you want.
scrad_the_wanderer - Didn't post a card.
Eskimo_Rager - 6/6 for five mana is big... But then I see "defender" and it makes me sad. The flavor of the retaliating centuar that hurts those who hurt you is awesome, but I think it could have been better as a white/red creature. This card is good, but not oppressive, fun, not that intuitive but it fits the bill.
Charm_Master3125 - Didn't post a card.
willows - Cards like thise, with mana-cost reduction mechanic, are very hard to evaluate. Those cards tend to range from very powerful to very bad. With that said, I like your card - delve in white is new, the flavor brings back good memories of shadowmoor-eventide, and this card seems like a nice finisher for a very aggressive deck that wants to do a lots of trades, which is both interesting and new for a delve card (delve cards tend to put themselves into more controllish decks, but your card is a different game and I like it).
Top 3:
First Place: willows
Second Place: Eskimo_Rager
Third Place: Doomfish
Prophylaxis - You found a new and exciting way to do Outlast. Nice job! This card, while doing nothing new, is very good at showcase Outlast, have a nice in-game decisions, and looks both very fun and very powerful at the kitchen tables.
Folza - Dropped
KoolKoal - When Engulfing Slagwurm and Pelakka Wurm meets. This card is pure value, and unlike other rare, big dumb creatures - your card seems not oppressive at all, which I like. My only concerns here is that this card isn't powerful enough at seven mana and the card doesn't do anything new, but that's minor.
Am Shegar - This card is very, VERY unique! Once this card will hit the table, the gameplay would change drastically. You just can't ignore this creature, and you have to come up with more/bigger fighters to kill it. The only thing that may be a problem with this card is that giving it Hexproof means the gamr would stall out, but otherwise - amazing idea!
RaikuRaider - Dropped
Top 3:
First Place - Am Shegor
Second Place - Prophylaxis
Third Place - KoolKoal
Buzeti, the All-Knowing6U
Legendary Creature - Sphinx (R)
Flying
You may look at the cards in your library.
If Buzeti, the All-Knowing would leave the battlefield, shuffle her into your library instead.
5/7
I read up about mesopotamian language (Sumeric) to try and find a fitting name for my card.
As always with these language experiments I learned lots of fun things and the name I ended up with sounds weird.
So, Buzeti is a made-up word from BUZUR, the god who discloses secrets and 'eti' which is a somewhat feminine suffix.
I hope that makes it less weird. From what I understood you'd pronounce the name 'Putsethi'.
Printable? That second ability is very questionable. The time constraints for looking at your entire library and questionable ability to cheat that way make me concerned. Otherwise, it's fine.
Balanced? Yes, save for that second ability. It's fine power wise to know what your next few draws are, but just picking up your library and rifling through it makes me uneasy. Your opponent needs to keep track of you to make sure you don't reorder cards.
Creative? Yes, the idea is clever. Not sure about the implementation of an ability like that.
Fun for everyone? A durdly 5/7 that shuffles back is fine, that's something I could expect to see. But if you play this against me and arbitrarily pick up your library just- whenever, I'm going to be super uncomfortable.
Barrow Conscriptor8WW
Creature - Kithkin Soldier (R)
Delve
When Barrow Conscriptor enters the battlefield, put a 1/1 white Spirit creature token with flying onto the battlefield for each creature card exiled with its delve ability.
3/3
Printable? I see no problems here aside from the fact that delve cards are not generally white. None at all are, in fact, it's all BUG cards. If for some reason this fits the color pie, it's okay, but I don't believe it does. Could have been a black card, perhaps.
Balanced? I would say overcosted, but it won't break the game.
Creative? A new take on Soulflayer I suppose, though not as fun.
Fun for everyone? I wouldn't mind having this played against me. If it's late-game, this could bring you back from the brink. Would I play it? Probably not, just too expensive for my taste. Would be pretty sweet with an anthem effect though.
Pride Quest Centaur3(R/G)(R/G)
Creature- Centaur Warrior [R]
Defender 1(R/G)t: Pride Quest Centaur fights target creature that dealt damage to you this turn.
6/6 "The warriors left behind to guard the warriors' families hold a unique honour among the tribe and also a unique shame that can only be quenched by blood vengeance."
Printable? I think so, no complaints. Although mono red is probably not excited about a creature with defender.
Balanced? Yeah, seems fine to me.
Creative? Pretty interesting. I'm not sure if it's better or worse than No Mercy.
Fun for everyone? I would be annoyed seeing this across from me if I didn't have removal, but otherwise I think it's neat. Makes for interesting combat math.
Scrad_the_Wanderer: No submission
Charm: No submission
Everyone gets equal credit for having no impact on standard, especially Scrad and Charm!
Badfiend: Not exactly the most fun card, but it does swing hard and win games. Slight overcosting means it's not viable for constructed - fine. Asrama: Efficient beater that can basically voltron using your other dudes. Lifelike makes this possibly awful to deal with, but otherwise it's a cool idea. SelesnyaNewLife: RNG always makes games fun for both players! Card is exceedingly silly, and for that reason I don't think it's actually good in limited.
Prophylaxis: Noice. Sick synergy with, I assume, other outlast creatures. It seems a little mediocre until its first outlast goes through (ie. two turns in) but kinda crazy afterwards since it's so cheap to buff. Fun and interesting though. KoolKoal: I like this. Strong beater that has pseudo-vigilance and heavily discourages chumping. Definitely a potent first-pick unless removal is insane, and likewise pretty useless in constructed. Am Shegar: Powerful and unique, but very win-more. If your board is weak it's actually better for your opponent. Not constructed-playable, but I'm not 100% on the limited first-pick value.
Bringer of Thousand Melodies5UU
Creature - Leviatan (Rare)
Hexproof
At the beginning of each player's upkeep, that player draw cards until he or she have seven cards in his or her hand. Its mere presence makes the young, calm and the monks of the Bodayan find true enlightenment.
5/5
Quite a powerful effect that affects both players. The hexproof ensures you are to reap the rewards too. Althought it's an interesting choice for limited, I'm worried about its balance. I really like the name and the flavor text, somehow it makes me think of singing whales.
Goldnight Archangel5WW
Creature — Angel (R)
Flying
When Goldnight Archangel enters the battlefield, you gain life equal to the total power of creatures you control. She’s the one who brings light to the night.
4/4
Master of Webs3GG
Creature — Spider (R)
Reach
Other creatures you control have reach.
Whenever a creature you control blocks a creature with flying, you may gain life equal to its toughness.
2/4
Although I do think this is a bit on the expensive side and that there are better lifegaining effects I feel this meets very well the criteria of the challenge: I wouldn't use this on constructed but it's a very good choice for limited. Nice flavor and execution as usual.
Skullreaver5BB
Creature - Horror (R)
Skullreaver costs 1 less to cast for each creature card in your graveyard.
Flying
When Skullreaver enters the battlefield, target opponent reveals his or her hand. You choose a creature card from it. That player discards that card. Reveal your hand. Your opponent may choose a creature card from it. You discard that card.
5/5
Although I don't think this card is terrible at all, I think it's the one that has the most potential for limited. Althought the ability is not that exciting, I like how it makes Skullreaver feed itself.
It's Corpsejack Menace with Outlast. Because of that, the outlast cost should be higher, even if the doubling affects all creatures. Two +1/+1 counters for just one mana is a bit much.
Folza
Out.
KoolKoal
A 7/7 for seven mana is okay. One complaint is that some players might ask "Is drawing a card optional, too?" I think the wording needs work.
Am Shegar
It's an interesting concept. Beats the point of having a combat step. Throw in deathtouch and it'll be game over.
Buzeti, the All-Knowing6U
Legendary Creature - Sphinx (R)
Flying
You may look at the cards in your library.
If Buzeti, the All-Knowing would leave the battlefield, shuffle her into your library instead.
5/7
What prevents this card from seeing Standard play is the mana cost in theory, but a card like this might be worth seven mana in control decks after all. Looking at cards in your library (no "the" necessary there by the way) is huge, as you can know the whole order of your library at any time, adjusting your plays accordingly. I'm not even sure seven mana is enough for such a thing on an already huge evasive creature. The anti-reanimation clause is of course necessary, but it contains a wording mistake ("shuffle it", not "her", gendered pronouns are for planeswalkers only, not legendary creatures).
Barrow Conscriptor8WW
Creature - Kithkin Soldier (R)
Delve
When Barrow Conscriptor enters the battlefield, put a 1/1 white Spirit creature token with flying onto the battlefield for each creature card exiled with its delve ability.
3/3
Here too the intention is probably to make this an unplayable card in Stardard because of the mana cost, but casting this for just WW while also putting 11 (eleven!!!) power on the battlefield, of which 8 evasive is huge and may be very well worth construtced play in some self-mill based deck or such. It also looks a bit strange to me to see delve in white, but maybe I'm just being conditioned by Tarkir block. White can in fact exile cards from graveyards without any problem. It's also a bit strange to me that this is a Kithkin creating Spirit tokens. Maybe some flavor text would have helped in making it feel more of a cohesive card.
Pride Quest Centaur3(R/G)(R/G)
Creature- Centaur Warrior [R]
Defender 1(R/G)t: Pride Quest Centaur fights target creature that dealt damage to you this turn.
6/6 "The warriors left behind to guard the warriors' families hold a unique honour among the tribe and also a unique shame that can only be quenched by blood vengeance."
I get why defender is there, but it reads very badly. This is a card that probably plays way better than it reads, but I just have to trust you on that as I can't playtest this now. This is probably the least Standard playable card of the bunch, and this time (but only this time!) that is a plus. I think this card fits the challenge quite well.
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.)
Edit: I hoped to have more time to provide meaningful judgments, but here's brief ones and a top 3:
netn10: Interesting card. Constructed probably won't play it, but it's a solid 5/5 Hexproof and gives opportunities for strong plays. Some templating mistakes.
glurman: Probably too expensive for constructed, but limited isn't too interested in discard happening at 7 mana - players hands are empty by then. Giving it a bit more thought with the cost reduction ability, it creates some interesting play patterns encouraging players to trade creatures more aggressively to power it out early.
bravelion83: Good idea to use a lifegain card for this challenge. Constructed usually won't care for it, but the body is still relevant in limited and the lifegain helps in races (which are more common in limited than constructed).
Hemlock: If played early, it's "Each player's turns are doubled", which is fun and can be exploited if needed. Obviously not that great in Constructed which is a part of the challenge, although abusing it is fairly easy(Brooding Saurian). Bounce softlocks in limited can be irritating, and WU provides plenty of opportunities for that. But I suspect development team is not stupid and they would avoid such cards at common/uncommon.
Piar: Well, monocolor in Limited is improbable, so this is probably just a big guy, which is totally fine. It's your "fatty demonstrating the mechanic of the set" green rare and it does a good job. I wouldn't call this fun, though, it doesn't really change the rules of the game or anything.
Janete, Cursed Angel2WW
Legendary Creature - Angel (R)
Flying
When Janete, Cursed Angel enters the battlefield, target opponent puts a legendary 5/5 black Demon creature token with flying named Mikal onto the battlefield. No matter how bright she shined, a darkness always loomed.
5/5
The only way this is good in Limited is if WU archetype contains a lot of bounce effects, as it is the only cost-effective way of getting rid of the demon. Design is brimming with flavour, but I don't think its impact on limited will be even noticable.
Magma Elemental5RG
Creature - Elemental (Rare)
Trample
When Magma Elemental enters the battlefield, return target nonland card chosen at random from your graveyard to your hand. Magma Elemental deals damage equal to that card's converted mana cost to target creature or player.
7/5
Nice! You can build-around this card for almost a guaranteed KO(Lava Axe) or just use it for general value. It's everything but opressive, so, as the challenge requires, fun for both players. Unusable in construcied because that's a lot of mana.
Future-Echo Flameshaper3RR
Creature - Human Shaman (R)
Whenever Future-Echo Flameshaper attacks, shuffle your library, then reveal the top card. If the revealed card is a creature, put a token that's a copy of that creature onto the battlefield tapped and attacking. Exile that token at the beginning of the next end step. "I have gazed long into the fire. I have seen your fate. It wasn't pretty."
3/3
With scry being evergreen, this is servicable, if not first-pickable in limited. Not fun for both players, but not gameplay-wise; shuffling your library each turn is such a bore.
Master of DisguisesU
Creature – Human Shapeshifter (R) 1UUU: Master of Disguises becomes a copy of another target creature and gains this ability. (this effect lasts indefinitely.)
1/1
Not original in the slightest, this is more of a 5-mana clone than a 1-mana one, as playing it in the open is suicide. Having your opponent's best creature at all times is hardly fun, but it's easy to remove, so that's not that big of a problem.
Whenever enchanted player casts a spell, that player loses 1 life.
At the beginning of each end step, if the enchanted player cast 2 or more spells that turn, put a relief counter on Scintillating Scotoma.
If there are 3 or more relief counters on Scintillating Scomota, the enchanted player may discard their hand. If they do, sacrifice Scintillating Scomota.
One must empty their mind to make the pain go away.
Compare: Curse of the Pierced Heart
First of all, I'm not really sure that it is a good card even in limited, as average library contains 23 spells, and your opponent probably casts 1.5 spells each turn on average. So, that's a red curse from Innistrad buffed slightly - there is one problem, though: that card was used mainly for reach, taking off that last few points of life, an this thing falls off in the lategame once your opponent enters top-deck mode. Timing on discard is written incorrectly and either makes card average-to-good or completely useless.
tldr: Your opponent has almost total control over lifebleed and can negate it easily once game closes up.
Despotic Vampire2B
Creature - Vampire (R)
Lifelink, flying B: Target creature you control gets -1/-1 until end of turn. Despotic Vampire gets +1/+1 until end of turn. “Their blood belongs to me, and I shall take it when I please.”
2/2
At first I thought you could eat your opponents creatures I was wondering on what planet this card would be fun to play against. As is, this card is very cool and pretty balanced, thought it might be pushing it a bit. A 2/2 for 3 with flying is already very good and this card is WAY better than that. Still, cool and fun design.
Chancemaster4RR
Creature - Human Rogue (Rare)
When Chancemaster enters the battlefield, exile target instant or sorcery card from a graveyard. At the beginning of your upkeep, flip a coin. If you win the flip, copy the exiled card and cast it without paying its mana cost. If not, each opponent copies the exiled card and casts it without paying its mana cost.
3/3
This card is awesome. I want to live in a world where I get to cast this, targetting Cruel Ultimatum, and crossing my fingers. This would also be so much fun in multi-player. As for the challenge, it fits it greatly in the fun department. However, I think it might be a bit overcosted, maybe it could be a little bigger or cost less but I think I would take Flesh to Dust over this. This card is just too swingy and too unreliable.
Hellish Undertaker3BBB
Creature - Demon (Rare)
Flying
Whenever Hellish Undertaker attacks, each player sacrifices a creature. Put a +1/+1 counter on Hellish Undertaker for each creature sacrificed this way.
4/4
While this card would probably not see play in Standard, this card is very unfun to play against. Not only is it a one-sided Abyss, but I am also just dead in like 3 turns... What a nightmare!
Fellspawn Demon4BB
Creature - Demon (R)
Flying
Whenever Fellspawn Demon is dealt damage, put a 1/1 black Imp creature token with flying onto the battlefield. Heldon's blade struck true, but his pride turned to horror as the flesh he sloughed from the demon grew into another.
4/4
I feel like here we have a case of too-conservative power level, and an ability that feels more Golgari than mono-black, nevertheless I still like the card. There's a Johnny dream in it somewhere.
These are fun-looking cards and it was hard to rank them, but I have to give #1 to somebody and that somebody is
1. Moss_Elemental
2. Ninja Caterpie
That looks a lot like Imp Gang Boss.
In my opinion, if a game gets something right, steal from it. It'll make your own game better. So, good idea.
But I'd say on a flying beater the effect won't shine as much. Shure, chump blocking gets a bit awkward, but other than that it's no big deal.
I guess that fulfills the task quite well, but I'm a bit underwhelmed by the execution.
With all the choice cards we're seeing lately your card fits right in.
What I don't like about yours is that the first option is what you're taking 90% of the time.
Most nontokens are not a good trade for a 2/2 and exiling cards from graveyards and getting "2" life isn't worth a card.
And while the card probably won't see play in standard, a 5/5 flying for 5 mana is quite the powerhouse in limited and not my idea of fun.
Didn't find an entry. PM me if there was one.
Didn't find an entry. PM me if there was one.
Didn't find an entry. PM me if there was one.
What's with all the dropouts?
Ranking:
1. Ninja Caterpie
2. Moss_Elemental
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
Despotic Vampire2B
Creature - Vampire (R)
Lifelink, flying B: Target creature you control gets -1/-1 until end of turn. Despotic Vampire gets +1/+1 until end of turn. “Their blood belongs to me, and I shall take it when I please.”
2/2
I like the idea of a vampire that drains your own creatures. I actually wonder if it's too weak, it's ability is like a bad Shade. It definitely would only see play in Limited, but even there it feels like a pretty good uncommon rather than a bomb rare.
Quote from SelesnyaNewLife »
Chancemaster4RR
Creature - Human Rogue (Rare)
When Chancemaster enters the battlefield, exile target instant or sorcery card from a graveyard. At the beginning of your upkeep, flip a coin. If you win the flip, copy the exiled card and cast it without paying its mana cost. If not, each opponent copies the exiled card and casts it without paying its mana cost.
3/3
First things first, I'm not 100% sure but shouldn't it specify that people are casting the copy? Also, casting a copy of a card is as far as I know always a may ability. All that aside the potential downside of this card far outweighs the potential upside for the cost, not to mention you have to have a copy worthy instant or sorcery in your graveyard in Limited which can surprisingly often be a tall order.
Quote from Badfiend »
Hellish Undertaker3BBB
Creature - Demon (Rare)
Flying
Whenever Hellish Undertaker attacks, each player sacrifices a creature. Put a +1/+1 counter on Hellish Undertaker for each creature sacrificed this way.
4/4
I like this, it's a big, fairly expensive flyer with a relevant ability, classic Limited bomb fare. I like that he can't attack by himself. What I don't like is the heavy color requirement. Triple of a single color is really rough in Limited and there was no reason it couldn't be 4BB.
Festerwood Behemoth 3GG
Creature - Beast (R)
Flash
Raw - When Festerwood Behemoth enters the battlefield, if only green mana was spent to cast it, put three +1/+1 counters on it and it gains trample.
5/5
Creature - Beast (R)
Whenever Cunning Baloth becomes blocked, you may untap it and draw a card.
A baloth stalking prey is like a force of nature. Patient, relentless, and enormous.
7/7
Emille, Seven-Sting Dancer Shalin Nariya
The problem with this card is that, while it may be fun for both players, it's pretty underpowered. You want to get something spicy if you're giving your opponents creatures, and shaving a mana or two, then giving someone a 5/5 Demon which trades with this in combat is not worth it. See the Hunted cycle for an appropriate example of these kinds of cards.
This is a good design. In Limited this is a full on bomb if you can cast it, as casting this usually results in three-for-one. It stabilizes your board, burns something, and even comes with trample to get on the beatdown. Love this card.
I didn't know why you need to add "shuffle your library" but this is going to result in some stalled out games since shuffling takes a while. The payoff is okay, but not really what I want to be seeing. Normally these creatures are beefier so they just don't die in combat and this even comes with a bit of dice rolling. If you manage to combo this off with Emrakul then you deserve it - no need for the Fun Police to come. Ultimately, while this design is decent, you can get this effect for less setup cost and it isn't a full on bomb.
1UUU is a lot of mana - would be tempted for 3UU or 2UU here. This is kind of meh. You're playing a 1/1 for 1 which is easily killed and while the Clone effect is powerful, your opponent can respond to it while its on the stack, which makes you sad. This asks quite a lot of you for Limited and its a rather ho-hum design.
This is worse than "Whenever enchanted player casts a spell, that player loses 1 life" and that's very weak already. No thanks.
Top 3
1. CasualR
2. FreshMeat
3. CardLurd
Very nice twist on the Starke of Rath effect. However, "take an extra turn after this one" is one of those effects that we've been programed to think is really powerful, but is actually very narrow, especially in limited. If you played Vintage Masters on MTGO, try and think how often you saw Plea for Power being played with a "time" vote from the caster. An extra turn isn't always amazing - it goes from backbreaking to only ok. Having a spell in hand that can give you an extra turn at will is therefore better than having a creature that needs to connect in order to give you that extra turn. This is essentially a "win-more" card. Constructed is where this card will shine, as I'm sure a lot of casual players and Johnnies will love to break it.
I don't like Raw as a mechanic, as it would force players to build their decks towards mono-color builds, and create a parasitic feeling to the cards even if they seem to be modular. A one-of card with this ability is acceptable, but let's face it - you might as well have given it a cost of GGGGG and be done with it. Not that a 5/5 with flash for five isn't good, but an 8/8 with flash and trample is a game ender. Good limited players will appreciate the choice, though. Biggest problem: I can only imagine that if Raw is a major block mechanic, then this card is a great card for mono-green midrange, making it fail the "don't affect standard" portion of the challenge.
Rankings:
1.Hemlock
2.Piar
Host, December 2015: A Winter Wonderland? - R1|R2|R3|Top 8|Semifinals|Finals|Poll
Host, CCL April 2014: A Game of Fate - Signup|R1|R2|R3|Top 8|Semifinal|Finals|Poll
Host, CCL December 2012: Spy Games - Signup|R1|R2|R3|Top 8|Semifinals|Finals|Poll
Host, CCL November 2010: The Perfect Crime - Signup|R1|R2|R3|Top 8|Semifinals|Finals|Poll
Host, CCL August 2009: A Commander's Journey: Signups|R1|R2|R3|Top 8|Semifinals|Finals|Poll
I've got tons of art from the web. Want art for a render? PM me! Want to create your own collection? Start here!
scrad_the_wanderer - Didn't post a card.
Eskimo_Rager - 6/6 for five mana is big... But then I see "defender" and it makes me sad. The flavor of the retaliating centuar that hurts those who hurt you is awesome, but I think it could have been better as a white/red creature. This card is good, but not oppressive, fun, not that intuitive but it fits the bill.
Charm_Master3125 - Didn't post a card.
willows - Cards like thise, with mana-cost reduction mechanic, are very hard to evaluate. Those cards tend to range from very powerful to very bad. With that said, I like your card - delve in white is new, the flavor brings back good memories of shadowmoor-eventide, and this card seems like a nice finisher for a very aggressive deck that wants to do a lots of trades, which is both interesting and new for a delve card (delve cards tend to put themselves into more controllish decks, but your card is a different game and I like it).
Top 3:
First Place: willows
Second Place: Eskimo_Rager
Third Place: Doomfish
Folza - Dropped
KoolKoal - When Engulfing Slagwurm and Pelakka Wurm meets. This card is pure value, and unlike other rare, big dumb creatures - your card seems not oppressive at all, which I like. My only concerns here is that this card isn't powerful enough at seven mana and the card doesn't do anything new, but that's minor.
Am Shegar - This card is very, VERY unique! Once this card will hit the table, the gameplay would change drastically. You just can't ignore this creature, and you have to come up with more/bigger fighters to kill it. The only thing that may be a problem with this card is that giving it Hexproof means the gamr would stall out, but otherwise - amazing idea!
RaikuRaider - Dropped
Top 3:
First Place - Am Shegor
Second Place - Prophylaxis
Third Place - KoolKoal
Printable? That second ability is very questionable. The time constraints for looking at your entire library and questionable ability to cheat that way make me concerned. Otherwise, it's fine.
Balanced? Yes, save for that second ability. It's fine power wise to know what your next few draws are, but just picking up your library and rifling through it makes me uneasy. Your opponent needs to keep track of you to make sure you don't reorder cards.
Creative? Yes, the idea is clever. Not sure about the implementation of an ability like that.
Fun for everyone? A durdly 5/7 that shuffles back is fine, that's something I could expect to see. But if you play this against me and arbitrarily pick up your library just- whenever, I'm going to be super uncomfortable.
Printable? I see no problems here aside from the fact that delve cards are not generally white. None at all are, in fact, it's all BUG cards. If for some reason this fits the color pie, it's okay, but I don't believe it does. Could have been a black card, perhaps.
Balanced? I would say overcosted, but it won't break the game.
Creative? A new take on Soulflayer I suppose, though not as fun.
Fun for everyone? I wouldn't mind having this played against me. If it's late-game, this could bring you back from the brink. Would I play it? Probably not, just too expensive for my taste. Would be pretty sweet with an anthem effect though.
Printable? I think so, no complaints. Although mono red is probably not excited about a creature with defender.
Balanced? Yeah, seems fine to me.
Creative? Pretty interesting. I'm not sure if it's better or worse than No Mercy.
Fun for everyone? I would be annoyed seeing this across from me if I didn't have removal, but otherwise I think it's neat. Makes for interesting combat math.
Scrad_the_Wanderer: No submission
Charm: No submission
Everyone gets equal credit for having no impact on standard, especially Scrad and Charm!
2) willows
3) doomfish
Asrama: Efficient beater that can basically voltron using your other dudes. Lifelike makes this possibly awful to deal with, but otherwise it's a cool idea.
SelesnyaNewLife: RNG always makes games fun for both players! Card is exceedingly silly, and for that reason I don't think it's actually good in limited.
Prophylaxis: Noice. Sick synergy with, I assume, other outlast creatures. It seems a little mediocre until its first outlast goes through (ie. two turns in) but kinda crazy afterwards since it's so cheap to buff. Fun and interesting though.
KoolKoal: I like this. Strong beater that has pseudo-vigilance and heavily discourages chumping. Definitely a potent first-pick unless removal is insane, and likewise pretty useless in constructed.
Am Shegar: Powerful and unique, but very win-more. If your board is weak it's actually better for your opponent. Not constructed-playable, but I'm not 100% on the limited first-pick value.
Ranks:
1. KoolKoal
2. Prophylaxis
3. Am Shegar
You got 99 attackers but I'm blocking with 1.
The Winner is Judge | 7
This Winner is Also Judge | 6
Club Flamingo | Lots
Quite a powerful effect that affects both players. The hexproof ensures you are to reap the rewards too. Althought it's an interesting choice for limited, I'm worried about its balance. I really like the name and the flavor text, somehow it makes me think of singing whales.
Although I do think this is a bit on the expensive side and that there are better lifegaining effects I feel this meets very well the criteria of the challenge: I wouldn't use this on constructed but it's a very good choice for limited. Nice flavor and execution as usual.
Although I don't think this card is terrible at all, I think it's the one that has the most potential for limited. Althought the ability is not that exciting, I like how it makes Skullreaver feed itself.
1. Bravelion83
2. netn10
3. Glurman
Top 3
2. Prophylaxis
3. KoolKoal
doomfish
What prevents this card from seeing Standard play is the mana cost in theory, but a card like this might be worth seven mana in control decks after all. Looking at cards in your library (no "the" necessary there by the way) is huge, as you can know the whole order of your library at any time, adjusting your plays accordingly. I'm not even sure seven mana is enough for such a thing on an already huge evasive creature. The anti-reanimation clause is of course necessary, but it contains a wording mistake ("shuffle it", not "her", gendered pronouns are for planeswalkers only, not legendary creatures).
Here too the intention is probably to make this an unplayable card in Stardard because of the mana cost, but casting this for just WW while also putting 11 (eleven!!!) power on the battlefield, of which 8 evasive is huge and may be very well worth construtced play in some self-mill based deck or such. It also looks a bit strange to me to see delve in white, but maybe I'm just being conditioned by Tarkir block. White can in fact exile cards from graveyards without any problem. It's also a bit strange to me that this is a Kithkin creating Spirit tokens. Maybe some flavor text would have helped in making it feel more of a cohesive card.
I get why defender is there, but it reads very badly. This is a card that probably plays way better than it reads, but I just have to trust you on that as I can't playtest this now. This is probably the least Standard playable card of the bunch, and this time (but only this time!) that is a plus. I think this card fits the challenge quite well.
1st place: Eskimo_Rage
2nd place: doomfish
3rd place: willows
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.)
Team #1(who reviews team Team #4)
Koopa
CasualR
Freshmeat
CardLurd
Killer of Giants
Team #2(who reviews team Team #5)
Ninja Caterpie
Moss_Elemetnal
GenesisMan
Chemtrails
Mix Master Mikaeus
Team #3(who reviews team Team #6)
net10
glurman
Bravelion83
Ryder052 (Dropped)
Rithaniel
Team #4(who reviews team Team #7)
Badfiend
Asrama
SelesnyaNewLife
PsyOp
Tactical Celebrant
Team #5(who reviews team Team #1)
Prophylaxis
Folza
KoolKoal
Am Shegar
RaikouRider
Team #6(who reviews team Team #2)
Doomfish
scrad_the_wanderer
Eskimo_Rage
Charm_Master3125
willows
Team #7 (who reviews team Team #3)
Sagharri
Hemlock
Piar
Lef
Jimmy Groove
netn10: Interesting card. Constructed probably won't play it, but it's a solid 5/5 Hexproof and gives opportunities for strong plays. Some templating mistakes.
glurman: Probably too expensive for constructed, but limited isn't too interested in discard happening at 7 mana - players hands are empty by then. Giving it a bit more thought with the cost reduction ability, it creates some interesting play patterns encouraging players to trade creatures more aggressively to power it out early.
bravelion83: Good idea to use a lifegain card for this challenge. Constructed usually won't care for it, but the body is still relevant in limited and the lifegain helps in races (which are more common in limited than constructed).
1. bravelion83
2. glurman
3. netn10
Piar: Well, monocolor in Limited is improbable, so this is probably just a big guy, which is totally fine. It's your "fatty demonstrating the mechanic of the set" green rare and it does a good job. I wouldn't call this fun, though, it doesn't really change the rules of the game or anything.
1. Hemlock
2. Piar
Actuall critique in process.
The only way this is good in Limited is if WU archetype contains a lot of bounce effects, as it is the only cost-effective way of getting rid of the demon. Design is brimming with flavour, but I don't think its impact on limited will be even noticable.
Nice! You can build-around this card for almost a guaranteed KO(Lava Axe) or just use it for general value. It's everything but opressive, so, as the challenge requires, fun for both players. Unusable in construcied because that's a lot of mana.
With scry being evergreen, this is servicable, if not first-pickable in limited. Not fun for both players, but not gameplay-wise; shuffling your library each turn is such a bore.
Not original in the slightest, this is more of a 5-mana clone than a 1-mana one, as playing it in the open is suicide. Having your opponent's best creature at all times is hardly fun, but it's easy to remove, so that's not that big of a problem.
Compare: Curse of the Pierced Heart
First of all, I'm not really sure that it is a good card even in limited, as average library contains 23 spells, and your opponent probably casts 1.5 spells each turn on average. So, that's a red curse from Innistrad buffed slightly - there is one problem, though: that card was used mainly for reach, taking off that last few points of life, an this thing falls off in the lategame once your opponent enters top-deck mode. Timing on discard is written incorrectly and either makes card average-to-good or completely useless.
tldr: Your opponent has almost total control over lifebleed and can negate it easily once game closes up.
Standings:
1. CasualR
2. FreshMeat
3. CardLurd
4. Koopa
5. Killer of Giants
Team #1(who reviews team Team #4)
Koopa
CasualR
Freshmeat
CardLurd
Killer of Giants
Team #2(who reviews team Team #5)
Ninja Caterpie
Moss_Elemetnal
GenesisMan
Chemtrails
Mix Master Mikaeus
Team #3(who reviews team Team #6)
net10
glurman
Bravelion83
Ryder052 (Dropped)
Rithaniel
Team #4(who reviews team Team #7)
Badfiend
Asrama
SelesnyaNewLife
PsyOp
Tactical Celebrant
Team #5(who reviews team Team #1)
Prophylaxis
Folza
KoolKoal
Am Shegar
RaikouRider
Team #6(who reviews team Team #2)
Doomfish
scrad_the_wanderer
Eskimo_Rage
Charm_Master3125
willows
Team #7 (who reviews team Team #3)
Sagharri
Hemlock
Piar
Lef
Jimmy Groove
Are you designing commons? Check out my primer on NWO.
Interested in making a custom set? Check out my Set skeleton and archetype primer.
I also write articles about getting started with custom card creation.
Go and PLAYTEST your designs, you will learn more in a single playtests than a dozen discussions.
My custom sets:
Dreamscape
Coins of Mercalis [COMPLETE]
Exodus of Zendikar - ON HOLD
At first I thought you could eat your opponents creatures I was wondering on what planet this card would be fun to play against. As is, this card is very cool and pretty balanced, thought it might be pushing it a bit. A 2/2 for 3 with flying is already very good and this card is WAY better than that. Still, cool and fun design.
This card is awesome. I want to live in a world where I get to cast this, targetting Cruel Ultimatum, and crossing my fingers. This would also be so much fun in multi-player. As for the challenge, it fits it greatly in the fun department. However, I think it might be a bit overcosted, maybe it could be a little bigger or cost less but I think I would take Flesh to Dust over this. This card is just too swingy and too unreliable.
While this card would probably not see play in Standard, this card is very unfun to play against. Not only is it a one-sided Abyss, but I am also just dead in like 3 turns... What a nightmare!
1) Asrama
2) SNL
3) Badfiend
BGStandard Green AggroGB
UWRGModern Saheeli CobraGRWU
UBRGLegacy StormGRBU
Wizards Certified Rules Advisor
Were there only really two cards from Team 2 or did I miss someone?
I like this pretty well. All the modes feel on-color and marginal enough to be usable in Limited without dominating Standard.
I feel like here we have a case of too-conservative power level, and an ability that feels more Golgari than mono-black, nevertheless I still like the card. There's a Johnny dream in it somewhere.
These are fun-looking cards and it was hard to rank them, but I have to give #1 to somebody and that somebody is
1. Moss_Elemental
2. Ninja Caterpie
Are you designing commons? Check out my primer on NWO.
Interested in making a custom set? Check out my Set skeleton and archetype primer.
I also write articles about getting started with custom card creation.
Go and PLAYTEST your designs, you will learn more in a single playtests than a dozen discussions.
My custom sets:
Dreamscape
Coins of Mercalis [COMPLETE]
Exodus of Zendikar - ON HOLD
In my opinion, if a game gets something right, steal from it. It'll make your own game better. So, good idea.
But I'd say on a flying beater the effect won't shine as much. Shure, chump blocking gets a bit awkward, but other than that it's no big deal.
I guess that fulfills the task quite well, but I'm a bit underwhelmed by the execution.
What I don't like about yours is that the first option is what you're taking 90% of the time.
Most nontokens are not a good trade for a 2/2 and exiling cards from graveyards and getting "2" life isn't worth a card.
And while the card probably won't see play in standard, a 5/5 flying for 5 mana is quite the powerhouse in limited and not my idea of fun.
What's with all the dropouts?
Ranking:
1. Ninja Caterpie
2. Moss_Elemental
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
I like the idea of a vampire that drains your own creatures. I actually wonder if it's too weak, it's ability is like a bad Shade. It definitely would only see play in Limited, but even there it feels like a pretty good uncommon rather than a bomb rare.
First things first, I'm not 100% sure but shouldn't it specify that people are casting the copy? Also, casting a copy of a card is as far as I know always a may ability. All that aside the potential downside of this card far outweighs the potential upside for the cost, not to mention you have to have a copy worthy instant or sorcery in your graveyard in Limited which can surprisingly often be a tall order.
I like this, it's a big, fairly expensive flyer with a relevant ability, classic Limited bomb fare. I like that he can't attack by himself. What I don't like is the heavy color requirement. Triple of a single color is really rough in Limited and there was no reason it couldn't be 4BB.
Rankings
1st. Badfiend
2nd. Asramic
3rd. SelesnyaNewLife