This Month we will be concentrating on some of the most common mistakes made by new and experienced custom magic card designers alike.
Each challenge will concentrate on a single issue, having us work to try and improve on these potential points of weakness and give us a better understanding on how to tackle these issues.
One of the most frequently misused design tools by new or even somewhat experienced custom card designers is hybrid mana. So often is a hybrid design used in a manner that breaks the color pie because the designers didn't stop to ask themselves if the card could be done in each color individually. Instead we often get caught up in this very elegant tool that has the coolness of multicolor but actually makes a card easier rather than harder to cast. Often so caught up that you see a lot of designs with multiple different hybrid symbols, breaking both asthetic rules and nearly always the color pie.
There's a good reason that WOTC's use of hybrid is so conservative compared to the community, especially when it is so rare to see elegant hybrid designs.
So our challenge is Create an uncommon multicolor hybrid card that is splashy but doesn't break or preferably even bend the color pie
Master of Pests2(G/U)
Creature - Human Wizard (U)
When Master of Pests enters the battlefield, you may put a token into play that's a copy of target creature with converted mana cost 1 or less. "Why do people always disregard the small things? Don't they know that even a little creature can topple an empire if place dat the right place?"
2/2
Mystical Selkie
Creature - Merfolk (Uncommon)
, : Another target creature you control gains hexproof until end of turn. "The blessings of mother-nature and father-sea are for everyone to share."
2/2
Worshipper of Athreos1(W/B)(W/B)
Creature — Human Cleric (U)
Lifelink
Whenever another creature you control dies, you gain 1 life. “My master can give you life or deprive you of it.”
2/2
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
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.)
Unweave2(G/W)
Instant (U)
Exile target enchantment. You may return target enchantment card from your graveyard to your hand. "It seems I've run out of thread. Mind if I borrow some?"
-Mavelle, Celadon enchantress
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
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
(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)
Conspiring Apprentice (U/R)
Creature - Human Wizard (U)
Dethrone (Whenever this creature attacks the player with the most life or tied for most life, put a +1/+1 counter on it.) UR, t, Sacrifice Conspiring Apprentice: Deal 1 damage to target creature or player, draw a card.
1/1
Blundering Mastodon(G/W)
Creature - Elephant (U)
When Blundering Mastodon enters the battlefield, return a creature you control to its owner's hand. "As graceful as a mastodon" - Abzan saying for "A disaster on legs".
3/3
Flying
When Malefic Specter enters the battlefield, if any player has no cards in hand: Draw two cards if U was paid and each opponent takes 4 damage if R was paid. (Do both if UR was paid)
3/4
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
MtG is where you can hate white players or black players, and still not be racist.
Paragon's Triumph2
Instant (U)
Target creature gains indestructible until end of turn. Prevent all combat damage each other creature would deal this turn. Elspeth and Melira stood above them, a testament to their kind. Their victory spurned hope in a forlorn war.
Amphin Spearhunter1
Creature - Salamander Warrior (U)
Amphin Spearhunter has first strike as long as you control a Mountain.
Amphin Spearhunter has prowess as long as you control an Island. "Don't let their looks fool you. The buggers are just as slippery on land as in the water." -Tarkis, Valkas hermit
2/1
Flux Elemental2(U/R)(U/R)
Creature - Elemental (U)
Prowess (Whenever you cast a noncreature spell, this creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn.) (U/R): Switch Flux Elemental's power and toughness until end of turn.
[2/5]
Field of Instability2(W/U)
Enchantment (R)
Whenever a creature enters the battlefield under your control, if you cast it from your hand, you may exile it and return it to the battlefield.
Bonfire Brand(R/G)(R/G)
Enchantment - Aura (U)
Enchant creature
Whenever a noncreature permanent is put into a graveyard from the battlefield, put two +1/+1 counters on enchanted creature.
Monastery Blitzer(U/R)
Creature - Human Monk (U)
Prowess
Whenever you cast a red noncreature spell, Monastery Blitzer gains haste until end of turn.
Whenever you cast a blue noncreature spell, Monastery Blitzer gains flying until end of turn.
1/1
Deadspell Dredger2(U/B)(U/B)
Legendary Creature - Zombie Wizard (R)
Whenever Deadspell Dredger attacks and isn't blocked, you may cast target instant or sorcery card from that player's graveyard without paying its mana cost. If you do, Deadspell Dredger assigns no combat damage this turn. "What was once yours, I will turn upon you."
2/4
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
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Know your weaknesses and strive to improve them.
This Month we will be concentrating on some of the most common mistakes made by new and experienced custom magic card designers alike.
Each challenge will concentrate on a single issue, having us work to try and improve on these potential points of weakness and give us a better understanding on how to tackle these issues.
One of the most frequently misused design tools by new or even somewhat experienced custom card designers is hybrid mana. So often is a hybrid design used in a manner that breaks the color pie because the designers didn't stop to ask themselves if the card could be done in each color individually. Instead we often get caught up in this very elegant tool that has the coolness of multicolor but actually makes a card easier rather than harder to cast. Often so caught up that you see a lot of designs with multiple different hybrid symbols, breaking both asthetic rules and nearly always the color pie.
There's a good reason that WOTC's use of hybrid is so conservative compared to the community, especially when it is so rare to see elegant hybrid designs.
So our challenge is Create an uncommon multicolor hybrid card that is splashy but doesn't break or preferably even bend the color pie
Due Date: January 17th.
16thImportant note: There will be three rounds followed by a top 8, then semifinals and finals. Do join in the fun.
Please note that the critique list will be delayed by 12 hours.
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
Creature - Beast (U)
Trample, haste
HERE I COME!
4/4
Creature - Human Wizard (U)
When Master of Pests enters the battlefield, you may put a token into play that's a copy of target creature with converted mana cost 1 or less.
"Why do people always disregard the small things? Don't they know that even a little creature can topple an empire if place dat the right place?"
2/2
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!
Creature - Merfolk (Uncommon)
, : Another target creature you control gains hexproof until end of turn.
"The blessings of mother-nature and father-sea are for everyone to share."
2/2
Creature — Human Cleric (U)
Lifelink
Whenever another creature you control dies, you gain 1 life.
“My master can give you life or deprive you of it.”
2/2
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.)
Instant (U)
Exile target enchantment. You may return target enchantment card from your graveyard to your hand.
"It seems I've run out of thread. Mind if I borrow some?"
-Mavelle, Celadon enchantress
Choose one of these judge of creation:
Make Strionic Resonator shine!
You can not grasp the true form of Ashiok's attack!
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
Creature - Human Wizard (U)
Dethrone (Whenever this creature attacks the player with the most life or tied for most life, put a +1/+1 counter on it.)
UR, t, Sacrifice Conspiring Apprentice: Deal 1 damage to target creature or player, draw a card.
1/1
Creature - Elephant (U)
When Blundering Mastodon enters the battlefield, return a creature you control to its owner's hand.
"As graceful as a mastodon" - Abzan saying for "A disaster on legs".
3/3
BGStandard Green AggroGB
UWRGModern Saheeli CobraGRWU
UBRGLegacy StormGRBU
Wizards Certified Rules Advisor
Creature - Horror (U)
Flying
When Malefic Specter enters the battlefield, if any player has no cards in hand: Draw two cards if U was paid and each opponent takes 4 damage if R was paid. (Do both if UR was paid)
3/4
Instant (U)
Target creature gains indestructible until end of turn. Prevent all combat damage each other creature would deal this turn.
Elspeth and Melira stood above them, a testament to their kind. Their victory spurned hope in a forlorn war.
Creature - Salamander Warrior (U)
Amphin Spearhunter has first strike as long as you control a Mountain.
Amphin Spearhunter has prowess as long as you control an Island.
"Don't let their looks fool you. The buggers are just as slippery on land as in the water." -Tarkis, Valkas hermit
2/1
Creature - Elemental (U)
Prowess (Whenever you cast a noncreature spell, this creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn.)
(U/R): Switch Flux Elemental's power and toughness until end of turn.
[2/5]
Instant {U}
Choose target creature. When that creature dies this turn, its controller draws three cards.
Emille, Seven-Sting Dancer Shalin Nariya
Sorcery (U)
Untap target land.
Draw a card.
"When the sky breaths life into the earth, no flower can resist the joy"
Enchantment (R)
Whenever a creature enters the battlefield under your control, if you cast it from your hand, you may exile it and return it to the battlefield.
Enchantment - Aura (U)
Enchant creature
Whenever a noncreature permanent is put into a graveyard from the battlefield, put two +1/+1 counters on enchanted creature.
I̟̥͍̠ͅn̩͉̣͍̬͚ͅ ̬̬͖t̯̹̞̺͖͓̯̤h̘͍̬e͙̯͈̖̼̮ ̭̬f̺̲̲̪i͙͉̟̩̰r̪̝͚͈̝̥͍̝̲s̼̻͇̘̳͔ͅt̲̺̳̗̜̪̙ ̳̺̥̻͚̗ͅm̜̜̟̰͈͓͎͇o̝̖̮̝͇m̯̻̞̼̫̗͓̤e̩̯̬̮̩n͎̱̪̲̹͖t͇̖s̰̮ͅ,̤̲͙̻̭̻̯̹̰ ̖t̫̙̺̯͖͚̯ͅh͙̯̦̳̗̰̟e͖̪͉̼̯ ̪͕g̞̣͔a̗̦t̬̬͓͙̫̖̭̻e̩̻̯ ̜̖̦̖̤̭͙̬t̞̹̥̪͎͉ͅo͕͚͍͇̲͇͓̺ ̭̬͙͈̣̻t͈͍͙͓̫̖͙̩h̪̬̖̙e̗͈ ̗̬̟̞̺̤͉̯ͅa̦̯͚̙̜̮f͉͙̲̣̞̼t̪̤̞̣͚e̲͉̳̥r͇̪̙͚͓l̥̞̞͎̹̯̹ͅi͓̬f̮̥̬̞͈ͅe͎ ̟̩̤̳̠̯̩̯o̮̘̲p̟͚̣̞͉͓e͍̩̣n͔̼͕͚̜e̬̱d̼̘͎̖̹͍̮̠,͖̺̭̱̮ ̣̲͖̬̪̭̥a̪͚n̟̲̝̤̤̞̗d̘̱̗͇̮͕̳͕͔ ͖̞͉͎t̹̙͎h̰̱͉̗e̪̞̱̝̹̩ͅ ̠̱̩̭̦p̯̙e͓o̳͚̰̯̺̱̰͔̘p̬͎̱̣̼̩͇l̗̟̖͚̠e̱͉͔̱̦̬̟̙ ̖͚̪͔̼̦w̺̖̤̱e͖̗̻̦͓̖̘̜r̭̥e͔̹̫̱͕̦̰͕ ̗͔̠p̠̗͍͍̱̳̠r̰͔͎̰o͉̥͓̰͚̥s̟͚̹̱͔̣t͉̙̳̖͖̪̮r̥̘̥͙̹a͉̟̫̟̳̠̟̭t͈̜̰͈͎e̞̣̭̲̬ ͚̗̯̟͙i͍͖̰̘̦͖͉ṇ̮̻̯̦̲̩͍ ̦̮͚̫̤t͉͖̫͕ͅͅh͙̮̻̘̣̮̼e͕̺ ͙l͕̠͎̰̥i̲͓͉̲g̫̳̟͈͇̖h̠̦̖t͓̯͎̗ ̳̪̘̟̙̩̦o̫̲f̙͔̰̙̠ ̹̪̗͇̯t͖̼̼͉͖̬h̹͇̩e͚̖̺̤͉̹͕̪ ͚͓̭̝̺G͎̗̯̩o̫̯̮̟̮̳̘d̜̲͙̠-̩̳̯̲̗̜P̹̘̥͉̝h͍͈̗̖̝ͅa͍̗̮̼̗r̜̖͇̙̺a̭̺͔̞̳͈o̪̣͓̯̬͙̯̰̗h̖̦͈̥̯͔.͇̣̙̝
Creature - Human Monk (U)
Prowess
Whenever you cast a red noncreature spell, Monastery Blitzer gains haste until end of turn.
Whenever you cast a blue noncreature spell, Monastery Blitzer gains flying until end of turn.
1/1
Creature - Snake (U)
Deathtouch
1(B/G)(B/G): Regenerate Tainted Asp.
Bites so gentle as Death's kisses.
2/3
Thought of the Month:
I gave up from trying to require the 'i' on my name: SolesticIo
Legendary Creature - Zombie Wizard (R)
Whenever Deadspell Dredger attacks and isn't blocked, you may cast target instant or sorcery card from that player's graveyard without paying its mana cost. If you do, Deadspell Dredger assigns no combat damage this turn.
"What was once yours, I will turn upon you."
2/4