Color means everything in Commander. Unfortunately, some color combinations get more love than others in terms of format staples, fun cards, and legends themselves. Three- and four-color legends suffer a particular dearth, which is why R&D has dedicated multiple Commander products to giving those combinations a bit more to work with. We are now asking you to do the same - bulk up those tricolor-plus EDH decks!
Main Challenge: Design a card that's three or more colors.
Subchallenge 1: The card is exactly four colors.
Subchallenge 2: The card is common or uncommon.
If you are unsure about if your entry is within the rules for this week's challenge, please check the clarifications, or PM me!
Main Challenge: Color means color within the normal rules of the game, not color identity for the purposes of Commander. While Messenger Falcons would qualify, Raka Disciple would not.
Main Challenge: Cards with devoid are zero colors.
Main Challenge: Color indicator dots change the color of the card. Technically, Transguild Courier qualifies.
Design Deadline: All submissions are to be final and submitted by November 29th 23:59 EST
Judging Deadline: All Judgements are to be final and completed by December 2nd 23:59 EST
Design - (X/3) Appeal: Do the different player psychographics (Timmy/Johhny/Spike) have a use for the card? (X/3) Elegance: Is the card easily understandable at a glance? Do all the flavor and mechanics combined as a whole make sense?
Development - (X/3) Viability: How well does the card fit into the color wheel? Does it break or bend the rules of the game? Is it the appropriate rarity? (X/3) Balance: Does the card have a power level appropriate for contemporary constructed/limited environments without breaking them? Does it play well in casual and multiplayer formats? Does it create or fit into a deck/archetype? Does it create an oppressive environment?
Creativity - (X/3) Uniqueness: Has a card like this ever been printed before? Does it use new mechanics, ideas, or design space? Does it combine old ideas in a new way? Overall, does it feel “fresh”? (X/3) Flavor: Does the name seem realistic for a card? Does the flavor text sound professional? Do all the flavor elements synch together to please Vorthos players?
Polish - (X/3) Quality: Points deducted for incorrect spelling, grammar, and templating. (X/2) *Main Challenge: Was the main challenge satisfied? Was it approached in a unique or interesting way? Does the card fit the intent of the challenge? (X/2) Subchallenges: One point awarded per satisfied subchallenge condition.
Total: X/25
*An entry with 0 points here is subject to disqualification.
Judges:
Folza
void_nothing
bravelion83
Players:
Raptorchan
Jimmy Groove
Marco
scrad_the_wanderer
RaikouRider
StonerOfKruphix
A reminder to everyone: In the MCC, putting rarity on cards is mandatory! If you don't put a rarity on your card, expect huge deductions in both Viability AND Quality.
Also, you should format your text cards accordingly to the forum rules (see the "this formatting looks best" spoiler in the linked OP). Again, expect deductions in Quality otherwise.
AbateWU(B/R)
Instant (Uncommon)
Return target creature to its owner's hand. You gain 2 life. If B was spent to cast Abate, that creature's controller discards a card. If R was spent to cast Abate, it deals 2 damage to that creature's controller.
Mimetic MatrixUBRG
Enchantment (U)
At the beginning of each combat phase, put the top three cards of your library into your graveyard, then you may exile a creature card in your graveyard. If you do, create a token copy of that creature. It gains haste until end of turn. Exile it at the beginning of the end step. One can never know who or what will greet then when they venture to into the Karakat Primordia.
Breya's Etherhawks(W/U)(B/R)
Artifact Creature - Bird (C)
Flying, menace They follow their mistress's orders, seeking for etherium and carmot they are made of.
2/1
Secrets of Crucius3WUBR
Sorcery {R}
Reveal the top five cards of your library. You may cast any number of artifact cards from among them without paying their mana costs. Put the rest of the revealed cards your hand.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
A mere ten days after the Mending, a young knight of Valeron and a young ranger of Eos made a discovery that would change Alara forever.
The round is closed. This is the versus round. The contestant with the higher combined score in each pairing will advance to the finals. Here are the assignments:
Folza:
Jimmy Groove vs. RaikouRider
scrad_the_wanderer vs. StonerOfKruphix
void_nothing:
scrad_the_wanderer vs. StonerOfKruphix
Raptorchan vs. Marco
bravelion83:
Raptorchan vs. Marco
Jimmy Groove vs. RaikouRider
Design -
(2.5/3) Appeal: Timmy appreciates unpredictable cards, and likes how big the scale of these effects can get; Spike likes the versatility. Johnny isn't especially interested, except in that he might be able to power out his combos with the last mode.
(2.5/3) Elegance: Four colors, four color-dependent modes with a common variable. The only issue here is the sheer wordiness.
Development -
(2/3) Viability: The "white" mode, adding a variable number of +1/+1 counters to a single target creature, is more characteristic of green. R&D has been striving for white to get small, mass pump and green to get large, targeted pump lately. Four modes is also a lot to put on an uncommon spell, even in a four-color context; this would be okay at uncommon assuming that the environment was right but feels more comfy at rare.
(3/3) Balance: This is likely fine; the only cause for concern is the final "red" mode
Creativity -
(3/3) Uniqueness: Similar effects to these may have been done individually, but modal and variable are not seen as bedfellows very often.
(1.5/3) Flavor: It's... Breya, Etherium Shaper-related. No flavor text, not that there was room, but not breaking any new ground here. The flavor is fine, but very generic.
Polish -
(2.5/3) Quality: Typo in third mode: "number of artifact [sic] you control."
(2/2) *Main Challenge: Fulfilled.
(2/2) Subchallenges: Both hit.
Total: 21/25
*An entry with 0 points here is subject to disqualification.
Design -
(2.5/3) Appeal: Mostly a Timmy-Spike thing (big effect scale, possible huge card advantage efficiency), but Johnny can also do silly things with double strike and Learn.
(2.5/3) Elegance: A neat package. Feels a little TOO on the nose, like most fuse cards.
Development -
(2.5/3) Viability: The effects are very well color-matched to their card halves, but this feels somehow inappropriate at uncommon.
(3/3) Balance: Flexible, like all split and especially fuse cards, but asking 2RGWU for the full effect is steep enough to be totally prohibitive.
Creativity -
(1.5/3) Uniqueness: You have a lot of room to be creative with four-color and fuse, but this feels a lot like Beck // Call.
(1.5/3) Flavor: Not that split cards are wellsprings of great flavor in the first place, but Live seems mismatched with a spell that makes Soldier tokens. It feels like calling magical beings out of nature, like making Saprolings, not raising an army.
Total: 18.5/25
*An entry with 0 points here is subject to disqualification.
Design -
(2.5/3) Appeal: With a card as simple as this, you kind of have to evaluate it in terms of Limited rather than Constructed, so - Timmy somewhat likes how this is double-extra-secret evasive, Spike would pick it high because of the cost flexibility and how damn hard it is to block, and Johnny is the one who actually wants this in Constructed as an alternative to Transguild Courier for the Coalition Victory win.
(3/3) Elegance: Can't get much more elegant than a French vanilla; special points go to the costing, to be discussed in a point soon...
Development -
(3/3) Viability: It's hard to make a two-kinds-of-hybrid card viable, especially when there's no overlapping color. But you took the Occam's Razor solution here and it worked for you - Paying (W/U) gets you flying, paying (B/R) gets you menace, and you're always paying in-color for one of the evergreen keywords. A real purist would want to see these kinds of costs as (R/W)(U/B), i.e. one of green's allied colors plus one of its enemy colors, but that would necessitate a different design (giving the same card flying and first strike for that cost would be pretty kosher, though). And it all fits at common, too!
(2.5/3) Balance: Maybe slightly pushed? A definite high pick in any draftable environment you can dream up.
Creativity -
(2/3) Uniqueness: Not much unique you can do with a French vanilla, but those two keywords haven't appeared together much and never at that stat size, and the cost is unique in and of itself!
(2.5/3) Flavor: Another Breya callback, but this one with flavor text - flavor text that is, granted, purely explanatory, but it's pretty well-written.
Polish -
(3/3) Quality: "Mistress's" would be "mistress'" in the flavor text; English doesn't put three letters in a row in almost any circumstance. EDIT: Enchantress's Presence is the Magic style guide precedent, so you get full points. The lack of a definite article isn't ungrammatical, just looks odd, so I'll give full points.
(2/2) *Main Challenge: Done.
(2/2) Subchallenges: And done.
Total: 22.5/25
*An entry with 0 points here is subject to disqualification.
Design -
(2/3) Appeal: This is probably great in Limited and great for Spike - if you can get either three-color combination this card supports you have a rather potent piece of removal, and Spike loves toolboxes. Besides that, it's kind of bland.
(1.5/3) Elegance: Bleuh, that mana cost is pure havoc. I understand what you were going for, but it looks pretty poor aesthetically. Being a double "color enhanced" spell, it's also fairly wordy, although not overly so.
Development -
(2.5/3) Viability: To the extent that a card with that mana cost would ever be printed, this certainly does have effects fitting the cost, and uncommon is also appropriate.
(2.5/3) Balance: Somewhat on the weak side in the grand scheme of things. Recoil isn't the greatest card in the world, and is considerably more flexible and easier to cast than the "paying black" mode of this card, and strapping a 2-life drain on an Unsummon usually won't technically be worth RW. You do pay a lot for flexibility, but you should be able to get slightly more for three colors sometimes.
Creativity -
(1.5/3) Uniqueness: The design is very Chinese-menu, and even double-enhanced spells have been seen before in Shadowmoor block. Also, as mentioned before, Recoil.
(1/3) Flavor: One-word names are elegant, but a nonrenewable resource, and usually don't tell you much in the first place. This is a generic name that could go on a counterspell, enchantment destruction, or probably a half-dozen other effects. No flavor text, even though there's room.
Breya's Etherhawks(W/U)(B/R)
Artifact Creature - Bird (C)
Flying, menace They follow their mistress's orders, seeking for etherium and carmot they are made of.
2/1
Design (2/3) Appeal - Timmy isn't that impressed by the card on itself, but he likes the fact that it's hard to block. Not much for Johnny to do. Spike loves the efficiency of this card and the versatility of the mana cost. (2.5/3) Elegance - I personally have no problems whatsoever with this card in this area, even though it's a known fact that they tried such mana costs and they found out they are confusing to less experienced players. I honestly do not see how such a cost can be confusing, but it's like that.
Development (2.5/3) Viability - White or blue gives you flying, black or red gives you menace. Perfect. If we ignore the mana cost, this also makes perfect sense at common. The potentially confusing mana cost might push it toward uncommon, but I personally would have no problem printing this at common. (2.5/3) Balance - I think this is quite strong in limited, and as you can play it in four color combinations it would be highly fought over. I can definitely see this as a high pick in limited even though it's a common, it's a strong creature that allows you to stay open with your colors. It might not be enough for constructed though. Maybe a little splash but nothing more. I see no problems in casual or multiplayer, including Commander. Specifically about Commander, it's nice that if you want to play this card in your deck you will need to use Breya (or any five-color legendary creature) as your commander. It reinforces the flavor connection, and I really like that.
Creativity (3/3) Uniqueness - If that mana cost isn't unique, I don't know what it is. (3/3) Flavor - Making this a colored artifact creature, just as Breya herself, and in her same colors is a huge flavor hit. An "A" might be seemingly missing from the name, but it's just because we're used to seeing "aether" on Kaladesh by now. In this case, the name is right because these hawks are not made of aether but of etherium, that's very different. The flavor text is good.
Polish (2.5/3) Quality - I think a "the" is missing in the flavor text ("...seeking for the etherium and carmot they are made of", -0.5). The Saxon genitive is perfect though, "mistress" is singular so it still needs the "'s" indeed. (2/2) Main Challenge - Good. (2/2) Subchallenges - Both met.
AbateWU(B/R)
Instant (Uncommon)
Return target creature to its owner's hand. You gain 2 life. If B was spent to cast Abate, that creature's controller discards a card. If R was spent to cast Abate, it deals 2 damage to that creature's controller.
Design (2.5/3) Appeal - Timmy might like how this card can affect the board, but overall he doesn't care that much. Johnny can do a lot of things with this card. Spike likes tempo spells and being able to choose a different option depending on the game state. (2/3) Elegance - This card can be a little complex to process, but not too complex.
Development (2.5/3) Viability - Each color has an effect and the check on the color of mana paid prevents you from getting effects you didn't pay the right color of mana for. This could potentially be an uncommon in my opinion, but it's a little on the complex side. It would look a little underwhelming as a rare though. (1.5/3) Balance - This will be a little too hard to play in limited unless the environment supports playing three colors, something like Alara, Tarkir, or just Ravnica. It could be seen in constructed but it's not a given. I see no big problems in casual. In multiplayer, the decision of which opponent to hit with this spell will be interesting.
Creativity (1/3) Uniqueness - The Torrent of Souls cycle exists, and this feels nothing more than a simple twist on that. (1.5/3) Flavor - The name is good. MSE tells me up to three lines of flavor text would have certainly fit, maybe even four.
Polish (3/3) Quality - Good. (2/2) Main Challenge - Good. (2/2) Subchallenges - Both met.
Mimetic MatrixUBRG
Enchantment (U)
At the beginning of each combat phase, put the top three cards of your library into your graveyard, then you may exile a creature card in your graveyard. If you do, create a token copy of that creature. It gains haste until end of turn. Exile it at the beginning of the end step. One can never know who or what will greet then when they venture to into the Karakat Primordia.
Design (2.5/3) Appeal - Timmy likes how this card affects the board and that it works on both offense and defense. Johnny can use this card in effective ways too. Not sure this is enough for a card so hard to cast according to Spike. (2/3) Elegance - A bit long and hard to process but still comprehensible enough.
Development (0.5/3) Viability - Milling is blue, exiling creatures from graveyard is black, creating temporary copies with haste is red. I just do not see the green in this card. I think this could have just been a Grixis-colored card, or even just Izzet maybe. I also see no realistic way this card could be uncommon, it has to be rare. (1/3) Balance - With four colors in its mana cost, this card is very hard to play in limited unless the environment really supports it. In constructed I expect there to be better thing to do with four mana, even though some combo decks involving this might arise. I think there are no big problems in casual or multiplayer. According to what I've read about Commander, the ability to recycle creatures from the graveyard, even if only for a single turn (like unearth after all), is important.
Creativity (3/3) Uniqueness - I can't remember any existing card work like this. I may obviously be wrong though. I might check Gatherer later if I have more time. (3/3) Flavor - The name and flavor text are both fine (except for typos, see Quality), and MSE shows me the flavor text fits nicely.
Polish (0/3) Quality - "You may exile a creature card from your graveyard..." (-0.5). "...If you do, create a token that's a copy..." (-0.5). "...of that card (it's not just a "creature" unless it's on the battlefield, -0.5). In the flavor text there is a huge typo: "...will greet them" with an "m", not an "n". It completely changes the meaning of the word (-1). Also, "to into" is a clear typo too (it doesn't matter whether I give you -0.5 or -1 here, you're at zero anyway). (2/2) Main Challenge - Good. (2/2) Subchallenges - Both met.
Secrets of Crucius3WUBR
Sorcery {R}
Reveal the top five cards of your library. You may cast any number of artifact cards from among them without paying their mana costs. Put the rest of the revealed cards your hand.
Design (2.5/3) Appeal - Timmy likes casting spells for free. Spike too, and in addition he likes putting the rest into his hand too. It's card advantage. Johnny could use this to find some artifact needed for his combo, even if better options exist to find an artifact.. (3/3) Elegance - Short enough and simple to understand.
Development (2.5/3) Viability - This card could easily just be monoblue. The combination of colors only makes sense if you consider the themes of the C16 decks, with the non-green deck being the artifact one. In the context of that product, the color combination makes sense though. Rarity is definitely right, and I really want to prize the fact that you gave this card the right rarity giving up the point from the subchallenge rather than forcing a rarity that doesn't belong just to meet the subchallenge (like others did). Yours is the right way to go, and I'm giving bonus points to you in this area for this reason. (2/3) Balance - Too hard to cast for limited. In constructed it looks very powerful, there are plenty of artifacts that do powerful things and casting those for free is dangerous. Paying seven mana of which four of specifically different colors looks appropriately high as a cost. I see no big problems in casual and multiplayer, and according to what I've read effects like this are good in Commander.
Creativity (3/3) Uniqueness - I can't remember any existing card work like this. I may obviously be wrong though. I might check Gatherer later if I have more time. (1.5/3) Flavor - No problems with the name. The promised flavor text isn't there though. Up to four lines would have fit according to MSE.
Polish (2.5/3) Quality - "Put the rest of the revealed cards into your hand" (-0.5). (2/2) Main Challenge - Good. (1/2) Subchallenges - Four colors but it's (rightfully) rare.
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.)
I apologize for another delay. Judgments are complete!
Design -
(2/3) Appeal: I don't think this card has the correct cost-benefit ration for Spike to enjoy playing this. Timmy likes that he can make tokens and possibly get extra copies of his fatties. Johnny might find a way to break this, as it is both self-mill and a combo-piece enabler (Imagine getting to recur Kiki-Jiki into play at the beginning combat with a Twin combo creature in play!).
(2.5/3) Elegance: Overall I think this is a simple design for a 4-color utility enchantment. It doesn't look too wordy, but it did take me a 2nd read to fully grasp how all of the abilities combined.
Development -
(1/3) Viability: Unfortunately the only "green" ability I see in this card is the ability to exile creature cards from your graveyard (see Scavenging Ooze). The other abilities fit their respective color pies, but the green effect alone is not enough to warrant a full mana symbol. I do not think this card could see print as it is currently laid out.
(2/3) Balance: There is a great risk to this card, as it is able to make a copy of anything big in your deck for a very low cost. This seems balanced in multiplayer though, as it is an enchantment (which many people come prepared for) and it costs 4 different colors of mana.
Creativity -
(3/3) Uniqueness: I certainly have not seen before en enchantment that can creature copies of cards in your graveyard. These kinds of effects are rare for a reason, because they are usually hard to balance. Good job!
(3/3) Flavor: I can see this Matrix being on the same plane as the Mimeoplasm, and the flavor text fits nicely with the overall feel of the card.
Polish -
(0/3) Quality: There are unfortunately typos in both the card text and the flavor text. You are missing a "from" in "you may exile a creature card your graveyard" (-0.5 points). "Create a token that's (or that is) a copy of that card" instead of create a token copy of that creature (-1 points). I think the "then" needs to be changed with "them", or all of the flavor text just breaks at that point (-1 points). "To into" is a typo in the flavor text (-0.5 points).
(2/2) *Main Challenge: Yep.
(2/2) Subchallenges: Yep.
Total: 17.5/25
*An entry with 0 points here is subject to disqualification
Design -
(2.5/3) Appeal: Spike loves free spells and card draw that is reasonably costed for Commander. Timmy likes his free spells. Johnny might already have access to better artifact artifact searching spells (such as Transmute Artifact and Tinker, for casual) but this is well costed for having another tutor in his deck.
(3/3) Elegance: A clean, blue-multicolored, draw spell. I like less words on all of my Magic cards.
Development -
(2.5/3) Viability: Blue cares about card drawing, deck filtering and artifacts. However, this is a 4 color card round and Breya is the only one of the decks to care about artifacts, so I appreciate this card being Breya colors. As well, due to the card draw and the "free" advantage of being able to cast the revealed artifact cards, this is appropriately rare, even if you lose the points for the sub-challenge.
(3/3) Balance: While fairly useless in limited, being a 7 mana cost sorcery costing 4 colors, I think this is perfectly balanced for some sort of Commander product. This would see a significant amount of play in any Breya deck and it remind s me a bit of Brilliant Ultimatum in terms of the amount of value you get from casting this spell (And yes, I know Brilliant Ultimatum is a pretty terrible Magic card )
Creativity -
(3/3) Uniqueness: I do't really know of any other cards that care about the number of artifact cards in a certain amount of cards off the top of your deck. Well done making this unique, but also balanced for gameplay and flavor.
(1.5/3) Flavor: I really do like Breya's flavor and the overall feel of her vision of Esper. It is unfortunate you did not get the flavor text added in time for the deadline, it would have put it all together.
Polish -
(2.5/3) Quality: In the final sentence, "put the rest of the revealed cards into your hand"; forgot the "into" (-0.5 points).
(2/2) *Main Challenge: Yep.
(1/2) Subchallenges: 4 colors, but rightfully rare.
Total: 21/25
*An entry with 0 points here is subject to disqualification
Design -
(2.5/3) Appeal: Spike loves the utility, but it's hard for him to make the mana cost work. Timmy like the varied mana cost and the ability to pump his creatures. Johnny might find a way to use this in a dedicated artifact deck, as a utility spell or a very deep scry engine.
(2.5/3) Elegance: For a modal, 4-mode spell, the wording is fine, if not a little long on some of the abilities due to heavily relying on how many artifacts you control.
Development -
(2/3) Viability: This feels much stronger than any typical uncommon, especially if a cycle of 4 color charms was made. It is hard to balance power with utility with such a harsh mana cost, but I could still imagine a modified version of this card getting printed. My only concern is the the "white" mode feels a lot more like a "green" effect, because it could be a significant single-targeted pump ability.
(2/3) Balance: Overall, all of these modes seem fine in terms of balance for an uncommon, except the last "red" ability. You could quickly generate a lot of mana with mana rocks, then be able to cast a fairly large number of spells in one turn for a very low cost.
Creativity -
(3/3) Uniqueness: I like the combination of all of the abilities, and modal charms are some of my favorite cycles.
(1.5/3) Flavor: Appropriately Breya flavored, but too bad there is no room for flavor text.
Polish -
(2.5/3) Quality: The "artifact" in the 3rd bullet is missing an "s" to make it gramatically correct (-0.5 points).
(2/2) *Main Challenge: Yep.
(2/2) Subchallenges: Yep.
Total: 20/25
*An entry with 0 points here is subject to disqualification
Design -
(1.5/3) Appeal: Spike likes Learn as an ability to draw extra cards, but overall this card does not seem too exciting for him with the mana costs. Timmy likes making tokens, but it may cost too much mana to be useful to him. Johnny might find a way to make Learn be part of a combo, but he doesn't see a real use.
(3/3) Elegance: A very simple multi-colored Fuse spell. Easy to read and understand.
Development -
(3/3) Viability: R/W is all about creating tokens, and there are already effects that make red and white soldier tokens. G/U is certainly the color of getting to draw cards for dealing combat damage (thanks Edric, Spymaster of Trest). Overall these two abilities mesh well together and I can see this being printed in a Limited format for a new Ravnica block. In Commander this may not provide as much utility as in Limited, but it is still a fine card.
(3/3) Balance: See the viability section. This is a strong pick in Limited if you are in either of the colors, and the modes function fine for the cost in Commander, even if I don't think this card appeals overall to any demographic.
Creativity -
(1.5/3) Uniqueness: Again looking back at the Viability section, there are already cards in print in both multicolor pairings that do similar effects. However, I believe this is the first time these modes have been paired together, so the design is reasonable.
(2.5/3) Flavor: It is unfortunate from a design perspective that cards with Fuse pretty much don't have room for flavor text. I really wish they did, because Live is so well oriented towards the Boros "fight for your life and your freedom" philosophy, and I can see the art for Learn being Momir Vig or some other Simic Elf performing an experiment on a helpless creature.
Polish -
(3/3) Quality: No mistakes that I see here.
(2/2) *Main Challenge: Yep.
(2/2) Subchallenges: Yep.
Total: 21.5/25
*An entry with 0 points here is subject to disqualification
Jimmy Groove 17.5 vs RaikouRider 21
Scrad_The_Waderer 20 vs Stoner of Kruphix 21.5
(A big thanks to bravelion83 for this month's banner, which is an elaboration on the art of the cards Ishai, Ojutai Dragonspeaker by Zack Stella and Kynaios and Tiro of Meletis by Willian Murai)
November 2016 MCC Round 3 — Triangulation
Color means everything in Commander. Unfortunately, some color combinations get more love than others in terms of format staples, fun cards, and legends themselves. Three- and four-color legends suffer a particular dearth, which is why R&D has dedicated multiple Commander products to giving those combinations a bit more to work with. We are now asking you to do the same - bulk up those tricolor-plus EDH decks!
Main Challenge: Design a card that's three or more colors.
Subchallenge 1: The card is exactly four colors.
Subchallenge 2: The card is common or uncommon.
If you are unsure about if your entry is within the rules for this week's challenge, please check the clarifications, or PM me!
Main Challenge: Color means color within the normal rules of the game, not color identity for the purposes of Commander. While Messenger Falcons would qualify, Raka Disciple would not.
Main Challenge: Cards with devoid are zero colors.
Main Challenge: Color indicator dots change the color of the card. Technically, Transguild Courier qualifies.
Design Deadline: All submissions are to be final and submitted by November 29th 23:59 EST
Judging Deadline: All Judgements are to be final and completed by December 2nd 23:59 EST
(X/3) Appeal: Do the different player psychographics (Timmy/Johhny/Spike) have a use for the card?
(X/3) Elegance: Is the card easily understandable at a glance? Do all the flavor and mechanics combined as a whole make sense?
Development -
(X/3) Viability: How well does the card fit into the color wheel? Does it break or bend the rules of the game? Is it the appropriate rarity?
(X/3) Balance: Does the card have a power level appropriate for contemporary constructed/limited environments without breaking them? Does it play well in casual and multiplayer formats? Does it create or fit into a deck/archetype? Does it create an oppressive environment?
Creativity -
(X/3) Uniqueness: Has a card like this ever been printed before? Does it use new mechanics, ideas, or design space? Does it combine old ideas in a new way? Overall, does it feel “fresh”?
(X/3) Flavor: Does the name seem realistic for a card? Does the flavor text sound professional? Do all the flavor elements synch together to please Vorthos players?
Polish -
(X/3) Quality: Points deducted for incorrect spelling, grammar, and templating.
(X/2) *Main Challenge: Was the main challenge satisfied? Was it approached in a unique or interesting way? Does the card fit the intent of the challenge?
(X/2) Subchallenges: One point awarded per satisfied subchallenge condition.
Total: X/25
*An entry with 0 points here is subject to disqualification.
Judges:
Folza
void_nothing
bravelion83
Players:
Raptorchan
Jimmy Groove
Marco
scrad_the_wanderer
RaikouRider
StonerOfKruphix
Additionally, please note the following:
Good luck contestants!
I̟̥͍̠ͅn̩͉̣͍̬͚ͅ ̬̬͖t̯̹̞̺͖͓̯̤h̘͍̬e͙̯͈̖̼̮ ̭̬f̺̲̲̪i͙͉̟̩̰r̪̝͚͈̝̥͍̝̲s̼̻͇̘̳͔ͅt̲̺̳̗̜̪̙ ̳̺̥̻͚̗ͅm̜̜̟̰͈͓͎͇o̝̖̮̝͇m̯̻̞̼̫̗͓̤e̩̯̬̮̩n͎̱̪̲̹͖t͇̖s̰̮ͅ,̤̲͙̻̭̻̯̹̰ ̖t̫̙̺̯͖͚̯ͅh͙̯̦̳̗̰̟e͖̪͉̼̯ ̪͕g̞̣͔a̗̦t̬̬͓͙̫̖̭̻e̩̻̯ ̜̖̦̖̤̭͙̬t̞̹̥̪͎͉ͅo͕͚͍͇̲͇͓̺ ̭̬͙͈̣̻t͈͍͙͓̫̖͙̩h̪̬̖̙e̗͈ ̗̬̟̞̺̤͉̯ͅa̦̯͚̙̜̮f͉͙̲̣̞̼t̪̤̞̣͚e̲͉̳̥r͇̪̙͚͓l̥̞̞͎̹̯̹ͅi͓̬f̮̥̬̞͈ͅe͎ ̟̩̤̳̠̯̩̯o̮̘̲p̟͚̣̞͉͓e͍̩̣n͔̼͕͚̜e̬̱d̼̘͎̖̹͍̮̠,͖̺̭̱̮ ̣̲͖̬̪̭̥a̪͚n̟̲̝̤̤̞̗d̘̱̗͇̮͕̳͕͔ ͖̞͉͎t̹̙͎h̰̱͉̗e̪̞̱̝̹̩ͅ ̠̱̩̭̦p̯̙e͓o̳͚̰̯̺̱̰͔̘p̬͎̱̣̼̩͇l̗̟̖͚̠e̱͉͔̱̦̬̟̙ ̖͚̪͔̼̦w̺̖̤̱e͖̗̻̦͓̖̘̜r̭̥e͔̹̫̱͕̦̰͕ ̗͔̠p̠̗͍͍̱̳̠r̰͔͎̰o͉̥͓̰͚̥s̟͚̹̱͔̣t͉̙̳̖͖̪̮r̥̘̥͙̹a͉̟̫̟̳̠̟̭t͈̜̰͈͎e̞̣̭̲̬ ͚̗̯̟͙i͍͖̰̘̦͖͉ṇ̮̻̯̦̲̩͍ ̦̮͚̫̤t͉͖̫͕ͅͅh͙̮̻̘̣̮̼e͕̺ ͙l͕̠͎̰̥i̲͓͉̲g̫̳̟͈͇̖h̠̦̖t͓̯͎̗ ̳̪̘̟̙̩̦o̫̲f̙͔̰̙̠ ̹̪̗͇̯t͖̼̼͉͖̬h̹͇̩e͚̖̺̤͉̹͕̪ ͚͓̭̝̺G͎̗̯̩o̫̯̮̟̮̳̘d̜̲͙̠-̩̳̯̲̗̜P̹̘̥͉̝h͍͈̗̖̝ͅa͍̗̮̼̗r̜̖͇̙̺a̭̺͔̞̳͈o̪̣͓̯̬͙̯̰̗h̖̦͈̥̯͔.͇̣̙̝
Instant (Uncommon)
Return target creature to its owner's hand. You gain 2 life. If B was spent to cast Abate, that creature's controller discards a card. If R was spent to cast Abate, it deals 2 damage to that creature's controller.
Instant (U)
Choose one -
Enchantment (U)
At the beginning of each combat phase, put the top three cards of your library into your graveyard, then you may exile a creature card in your graveyard. If you do, create a token copy of that creature. It gains haste until end of turn. Exile it at the beginning of the end step.
One can never know who or what will greet then when they venture to into the Karakat Primordia.
Artifact Creature - Bird (C)
Flying, menace
They follow their mistress's orders, seeking for etherium and carmot they are made of.
2/1
Secrets of Crucius 3WUBR
Sorcery {R}
Reveal the top five cards of your library. You may cast any number of artifact cards from among them without paying their mana costs. Put the rest of the revealed cards your hand.
Emille, Seven-Sting Dancer Shalin Nariya
Folza:
Jimmy Groove vs. RaikouRider
scrad_the_wanderer vs. StonerOfKruphix
void_nothing:
scrad_the_wanderer vs. StonerOfKruphix
Raptorchan vs. Marco
bravelion83:
Raptorchan vs. Marco
Jimmy Groove vs. RaikouRider
I̟̥͍̠ͅn̩͉̣͍̬͚ͅ ̬̬͖t̯̹̞̺͖͓̯̤h̘͍̬e͙̯͈̖̼̮ ̭̬f̺̲̲̪i͙͉̟̩̰r̪̝͚͈̝̥͍̝̲s̼̻͇̘̳͔ͅt̲̺̳̗̜̪̙ ̳̺̥̻͚̗ͅm̜̜̟̰͈͓͎͇o̝̖̮̝͇m̯̻̞̼̫̗͓̤e̩̯̬̮̩n͎̱̪̲̹͖t͇̖s̰̮ͅ,̤̲͙̻̭̻̯̹̰ ̖t̫̙̺̯͖͚̯ͅh͙̯̦̳̗̰̟e͖̪͉̼̯ ̪͕g̞̣͔a̗̦t̬̬͓͙̫̖̭̻e̩̻̯ ̜̖̦̖̤̭͙̬t̞̹̥̪͎͉ͅo͕͚͍͇̲͇͓̺ ̭̬͙͈̣̻t͈͍͙͓̫̖͙̩h̪̬̖̙e̗͈ ̗̬̟̞̺̤͉̯ͅa̦̯͚̙̜̮f͉͙̲̣̞̼t̪̤̞̣͚e̲͉̳̥r͇̪̙͚͓l̥̞̞͎̹̯̹ͅi͓̬f̮̥̬̞͈ͅe͎ ̟̩̤̳̠̯̩̯o̮̘̲p̟͚̣̞͉͓e͍̩̣n͔̼͕͚̜e̬̱d̼̘͎̖̹͍̮̠,͖̺̭̱̮ ̣̲͖̬̪̭̥a̪͚n̟̲̝̤̤̞̗d̘̱̗͇̮͕̳͕͔ ͖̞͉͎t̹̙͎h̰̱͉̗e̪̞̱̝̹̩ͅ ̠̱̩̭̦p̯̙e͓o̳͚̰̯̺̱̰͔̘p̬͎̱̣̼̩͇l̗̟̖͚̠e̱͉͔̱̦̬̟̙ ̖͚̪͔̼̦w̺̖̤̱e͖̗̻̦͓̖̘̜r̭̥e͔̹̫̱͕̦̰͕ ̗͔̠p̠̗͍͍̱̳̠r̰͔͎̰o͉̥͓̰͚̥s̟͚̹̱͔̣t͉̙̳̖͖̪̮r̥̘̥͙̹a͉̟̫̟̳̠̟̭t͈̜̰͈͎e̞̣̭̲̬ ͚̗̯̟͙i͍͖̰̘̦͖͉ṇ̮̻̯̦̲̩͍ ̦̮͚̫̤t͉͖̫͕ͅͅh͙̮̻̘̣̮̼e͕̺ ͙l͕̠͎̰̥i̲͓͉̲g̫̳̟͈͇̖h̠̦̖t͓̯͎̗ ̳̪̘̟̙̩̦o̫̲f̙͔̰̙̠ ̹̪̗͇̯t͖̼̼͉͖̬h̹͇̩e͚̖̺̤͉̹͕̪ ͚͓̭̝̺G͎̗̯̩o̫̯̮̟̮̳̘d̜̲͙̠-̩̳̯̲̗̜P̹̘̥͉̝h͍͈̗̖̝ͅa͍̗̮̼̗r̜̖͇̙̺a̭̺͔̞̳͈o̪̣͓̯̬͙̯̰̗h̖̦͈̥̯͔.͇̣̙̝
Design -
(2.5/3) Appeal: Timmy appreciates unpredictable cards, and likes how big the scale of these effects can get; Spike likes the versatility. Johnny isn't especially interested, except in that he might be able to power out his combos with the last mode.
(2.5/3) Elegance: Four colors, four color-dependent modes with a common variable. The only issue here is the sheer wordiness.
Development -
(2/3) Viability: The "white" mode, adding a variable number of +1/+1 counters to a single target creature, is more characteristic of green. R&D has been striving for white to get small, mass pump and green to get large, targeted pump lately. Four modes is also a lot to put on an uncommon spell, even in a four-color context; this would be okay at uncommon assuming that the environment was right but feels more comfy at rare.
(3/3) Balance: This is likely fine; the only cause for concern is the final "red" mode
Creativity -
(3/3) Uniqueness: Similar effects to these may have been done individually, but modal and variable are not seen as bedfellows very often.
(1.5/3) Flavor: It's... Breya, Etherium Shaper-related. No flavor text, not that there was room, but not breaking any new ground here. The flavor is fine, but very generic.
Polish -
(2.5/3) Quality: Typo in third mode: "number of artifact [sic] you control."
(2/2) *Main Challenge: Fulfilled.
(2/2) Subchallenges: Both hit.
Total: 21/25
*An entry with 0 points here is subject to disqualification.
Design -
(2.5/3) Appeal: Mostly a Timmy-Spike thing (big effect scale, possible huge card advantage efficiency), but Johnny can also do silly things with double strike and Learn.
(2.5/3) Elegance: A neat package. Feels a little TOO on the nose, like most fuse cards.
Development -
(2.5/3) Viability: The effects are very well color-matched to their card halves, but this feels somehow inappropriate at uncommon.
(3/3) Balance: Flexible, like all split and especially fuse cards, but asking 2RGWU for the full effect is steep enough to be totally prohibitive.
Creativity -
(1.5/3) Uniqueness: You have a lot of room to be creative with four-color and fuse, but this feels a lot like Beck // Call.
(1.5/3) Flavor: Not that split cards are wellsprings of great flavor in the first place, but Live seems mismatched with a spell that makes Soldier tokens. It feels like calling magical beings out of nature, like making Saprolings, not raising an army.
Polish -
(3/3) Quality: Looks okay.
(2/2) *Main Challenge: Done.
(2/2) Subchallenges: Both met.
Total: 18.5/25
*An entry with 0 points here is subject to disqualification.
Design -
(2.5/3) Appeal: With a card as simple as this, you kind of have to evaluate it in terms of Limited rather than Constructed, so - Timmy somewhat likes how this is double-extra-secret evasive, Spike would pick it high because of the cost flexibility and how damn hard it is to block, and Johnny is the one who actually wants this in Constructed as an alternative to Transguild Courier for the Coalition Victory win.
(3/3) Elegance: Can't get much more elegant than a French vanilla; special points go to the costing, to be discussed in a point soon...
Development -
(3/3) Viability: It's hard to make a two-kinds-of-hybrid card viable, especially when there's no overlapping color. But you took the Occam's Razor solution here and it worked for you - Paying (W/U) gets you flying, paying (B/R) gets you menace, and you're always paying in-color for one of the evergreen keywords. A real purist would want to see these kinds of costs as (R/W)(U/B), i.e. one of green's allied colors plus one of its enemy colors, but that would necessitate a different design (giving the same card flying and first strike for that cost would be pretty kosher, though). And it all fits at common, too!
(2.5/3) Balance: Maybe slightly pushed? A definite high pick in any draftable environment you can dream up.
Creativity -
(2/3) Uniqueness: Not much unique you can do with a French vanilla, but those two keywords haven't appeared together much and never at that stat size, and the cost is unique in and of itself!
(2.5/3) Flavor: Another Breya callback, but this one with flavor text - flavor text that is, granted, purely explanatory, but it's pretty well-written.
Polish -
(3/3) Quality: "Mistress's" would be "mistress'" in the flavor text; English doesn't put three letters in a row in almost any circumstance. EDIT: Enchantress's Presence is the Magic style guide precedent, so you get full points. The lack of a definite article isn't ungrammatical, just looks odd, so I'll give full points.
(2/2) *Main Challenge: Done.
(2/2) Subchallenges: And done.
Total: 22.5/25
*An entry with 0 points here is subject to disqualification.
(2/3) Appeal: This is probably great in Limited and great for Spike - if you can get either three-color combination this card supports you have a rather potent piece of removal, and Spike loves toolboxes. Besides that, it's kind of bland.
(1.5/3) Elegance: Bleuh, that mana cost is pure havoc. I understand what you were going for, but it looks pretty poor aesthetically. Being a double "color enhanced" spell, it's also fairly wordy, although not overly so.
Development -
(2.5/3) Viability: To the extent that a card with that mana cost would ever be printed, this certainly does have effects fitting the cost, and uncommon is also appropriate.
(2.5/3) Balance: Somewhat on the weak side in the grand scheme of things. Recoil isn't the greatest card in the world, and is considerably more flexible and easier to cast than the "paying black" mode of this card, and strapping a 2-life drain on an Unsummon usually won't technically be worth RW. You do pay a lot for flexibility, but you should be able to get slightly more for three colors sometimes.
Creativity -
(1.5/3) Uniqueness: The design is very Chinese-menu, and even double-enhanced spells have been seen before in Shadowmoor block. Also, as mentioned before, Recoil.
(1/3) Flavor: One-word names are elegant, but a nonrenewable resource, and usually don't tell you much in the first place. This is a generic name that could go on a counterspell, enchantment destruction, or probably a half-dozen other effects. No flavor text, even though there's room.
Polish -
(3/3) Quality: Fine.
(2/2) *Main Challenge: Passed.
(2/2) Subchallenges: Done.
Total: 18/25
*An entry with 0 points here is subject to disqualification.
scrad_the_wanderer 21 vs. StonerOfKruphix 18.5
Raptorchan 22.5 vs. Marco 18
I̟̥͍̠ͅn̩͉̣͍̬͚ͅ ̬̬͖t̯̹̞̺͖͓̯̤h̘͍̬e͙̯͈̖̼̮ ̭̬f̺̲̲̪i͙͉̟̩̰r̪̝͚͈̝̥͍̝̲s̼̻͇̘̳͔ͅt̲̺̳̗̜̪̙ ̳̺̥̻͚̗ͅm̜̜̟̰͈͓͎͇o̝̖̮̝͇m̯̻̞̼̫̗͓̤e̩̯̬̮̩n͎̱̪̲̹͖t͇̖s̰̮ͅ,̤̲͙̻̭̻̯̹̰ ̖t̫̙̺̯͖͚̯ͅh͙̯̦̳̗̰̟e͖̪͉̼̯ ̪͕g̞̣͔a̗̦t̬̬͓͙̫̖̭̻e̩̻̯ ̜̖̦̖̤̭͙̬t̞̹̥̪͎͉ͅo͕͚͍͇̲͇͓̺ ̭̬͙͈̣̻t͈͍͙͓̫̖͙̩h̪̬̖̙e̗͈ ̗̬̟̞̺̤͉̯ͅa̦̯͚̙̜̮f͉͙̲̣̞̼t̪̤̞̣͚e̲͉̳̥r͇̪̙͚͓l̥̞̞͎̹̯̹ͅi͓̬f̮̥̬̞͈ͅe͎ ̟̩̤̳̠̯̩̯o̮̘̲p̟͚̣̞͉͓e͍̩̣n͔̼͕͚̜e̬̱d̼̘͎̖̹͍̮̠,͖̺̭̱̮ ̣̲͖̬̪̭̥a̪͚n̟̲̝̤̤̞̗d̘̱̗͇̮͕̳͕͔ ͖̞͉͎t̹̙͎h̰̱͉̗e̪̞̱̝̹̩ͅ ̠̱̩̭̦p̯̙e͓o̳͚̰̯̺̱̰͔̘p̬͎̱̣̼̩͇l̗̟̖͚̠e̱͉͔̱̦̬̟̙ ̖͚̪͔̼̦w̺̖̤̱e͖̗̻̦͓̖̘̜r̭̥e͔̹̫̱͕̦̰͕ ̗͔̠p̠̗͍͍̱̳̠r̰͔͎̰o͉̥͓̰͚̥s̟͚̹̱͔̣t͉̙̳̖͖̪̮r̥̘̥͙̹a͉̟̫̟̳̠̟̭t͈̜̰͈͎e̞̣̭̲̬ ͚̗̯̟͙i͍͖̰̘̦͖͉ṇ̮̻̯̦̲̩͍ ̦̮͚̫̤t͉͖̫͕ͅͅh͙̮̻̘̣̮̼e͕̺ ͙l͕̠͎̰̥i̲͓͉̲g̫̳̟͈͇̖h̠̦̖t͓̯͎̗ ̳̪̘̟̙̩̦o̫̲f̙͔̰̙̠ ̹̪̗͇̯t͖̼̼͉͖̬h̹͇̩e͚̖̺̤͉̹͕̪ ͚͓̭̝̺G͎̗̯̩o̫̯̮̟̮̳̘d̜̲͙̠-̩̳̯̲̗̜P̹̘̥͉̝h͍͈̗̖̝ͅa͍̗̮̼̗r̜̖͇̙̺a̭̺͔̞̳͈o̪̣͓̯̬͙̯̰̗h̖̦͈̥̯͔.͇̣̙̝
Design
(2/3) Appeal - Timmy isn't that impressed by the card on itself, but he likes the fact that it's hard to block. Not much for Johnny to do. Spike loves the efficiency of this card and the versatility of the mana cost.
(2.5/3) Elegance - I personally have no problems whatsoever with this card in this area, even though it's a known fact that they tried such mana costs and they found out they are confusing to less experienced players. I honestly do not see how such a cost can be confusing, but it's like that.
Development
(2.5/3) Viability - White or blue gives you flying, black or red gives you menace. Perfect. If we ignore the mana cost, this also makes perfect sense at common. The potentially confusing mana cost might push it toward uncommon, but I personally would have no problem printing this at common.
(2.5/3) Balance - I think this is quite strong in limited, and as you can play it in four color combinations it would be highly fought over. I can definitely see this as a high pick in limited even though it's a common, it's a strong creature that allows you to stay open with your colors. It might not be enough for constructed though. Maybe a little splash but nothing more. I see no problems in casual or multiplayer, including Commander. Specifically about Commander, it's nice that if you want to play this card in your deck you will need to use Breya (or any five-color legendary creature) as your commander. It reinforces the flavor connection, and I really like that.
Creativity
(3/3) Uniqueness - If that mana cost isn't unique, I don't know what it is.
(3/3) Flavor - Making this a colored artifact creature, just as Breya herself, and in her same colors is a huge flavor hit. An "A" might be seemingly missing from the name, but it's just because we're used to seeing "aether" on Kaladesh by now. In this case, the name is right because these hawks are not made of aether but of etherium, that's very different. The flavor text is good.
Polish
(2.5/3) Quality - I think a "the" is missing in the flavor text ("...seeking for the etherium and carmot they are made of", -0.5). The Saxon genitive is perfect though, "mistress" is singular so it still needs the "'s" indeed.
(2/2) Main Challenge - Good.
(2/2) Subchallenges - Both met.
Total: 22/25
Design
(2.5/3) Appeal - Timmy might like how this card can affect the board, but overall he doesn't care that much. Johnny can do a lot of things with this card. Spike likes tempo spells and being able to choose a different option depending on the game state.
(2/3) Elegance - This card can be a little complex to process, but not too complex.
Development
(2.5/3) Viability - Each color has an effect and the check on the color of mana paid prevents you from getting effects you didn't pay the right color of mana for. This could potentially be an uncommon in my opinion, but it's a little on the complex side. It would look a little underwhelming as a rare though.
(1.5/3) Balance - This will be a little too hard to play in limited unless the environment supports playing three colors, something like Alara, Tarkir, or just Ravnica. It could be seen in constructed but it's not a given. I see no big problems in casual. In multiplayer, the decision of which opponent to hit with this spell will be interesting.
Creativity
(1/3) Uniqueness - The Torrent of Souls cycle exists, and this feels nothing more than a simple twist on that.
(1.5/3) Flavor - The name is good. MSE tells me up to three lines of flavor text would have certainly fit, maybe even four.
Polish
(3/3) Quality - Good.
(2/2) Main Challenge - Good.
(2/2) Subchallenges - Both met.
Total: 18/25
Design
(2.5/3) Appeal - Timmy likes how this card affects the board and that it works on both offense and defense. Johnny can use this card in effective ways too. Not sure this is enough for a card so hard to cast according to Spike.
(2/3) Elegance - A bit long and hard to process but still comprehensible enough.
Development
(0.5/3) Viability - Milling is blue, exiling creatures from graveyard is black, creating temporary copies with haste is red. I just do not see the green in this card. I think this could have just been a Grixis-colored card, or even just Izzet maybe. I also see no realistic way this card could be uncommon, it has to be rare.
(1/3) Balance - With four colors in its mana cost, this card is very hard to play in limited unless the environment really supports it. In constructed I expect there to be better thing to do with four mana, even though some combo decks involving this might arise. I think there are no big problems in casual or multiplayer. According to what I've read about Commander, the ability to recycle creatures from the graveyard, even if only for a single turn (like unearth after all), is important.
Creativity
(3/3) Uniqueness - I can't remember any existing card work like this. I may obviously be wrong though. I might check Gatherer later if I have more time.
(3/3) Flavor - The name and flavor text are both fine (except for typos, see Quality), and MSE shows me the flavor text fits nicely.
Polish
(0/3) Quality - "You may exile a creature card from your graveyard..." (-0.5). "...If you do, create a token that's a copy..." (-0.5). "...of that card (it's not just a "creature" unless it's on the battlefield, -0.5). In the flavor text there is a huge typo: "...will greet them" with an "m", not an "n". It completely changes the meaning of the word (-1). Also, "to into" is a clear typo too (it doesn't matter whether I give you -0.5 or -1 here, you're at zero anyway).
(2/2) Main Challenge - Good.
(2/2) Subchallenges - Both met.
Total: 16/25
Ehm... too late?
Design
(2.5/3) Appeal - Timmy likes casting spells for free. Spike too, and in addition he likes putting the rest into his hand too. It's card advantage. Johnny could use this to find some artifact needed for his combo, even if better options exist to find an artifact..
(3/3) Elegance - Short enough and simple to understand.
Development
(2.5/3) Viability - This card could easily just be monoblue. The combination of colors only makes sense if you consider the themes of the C16 decks, with the non-green deck being the artifact one. In the context of that product, the color combination makes sense though. Rarity is definitely right, and I really want to prize the fact that you gave this card the right rarity giving up the point from the subchallenge rather than forcing a rarity that doesn't belong just to meet the subchallenge (like others did). Yours is the right way to go, and I'm giving bonus points to you in this area for this reason.
(2/3) Balance - Too hard to cast for limited. In constructed it looks very powerful, there are plenty of artifacts that do powerful things and casting those for free is dangerous. Paying seven mana of which four of specifically different colors looks appropriately high as a cost. I see no big problems in casual and multiplayer, and according to what I've read effects like this are good in Commander.
Creativity
(3/3) Uniqueness - I can't remember any existing card work like this. I may obviously be wrong though. I might check Gatherer later if I have more time.
(1.5/3) Flavor - No problems with the name. The promised flavor text isn't there though. Up to four lines would have fit according to MSE.
Polish
(2.5/3) Quality - "Put the rest of the revealed cards into your hand" (-0.5).
(2/2) Main Challenge - Good.
(1/2) Subchallenges - Four colors but it's (rightfully) rare.
Total: 20/25
Raptorchan: 22
Marco: 18
Jimmy Groove: 16
RaikouRider: 20
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.)
Design -
(2/3) Appeal: I don't think this card has the correct cost-benefit ration for Spike to enjoy playing this. Timmy likes that he can make tokens and possibly get extra copies of his fatties. Johnny might find a way to break this, as it is both self-mill and a combo-piece enabler (Imagine getting to recur Kiki-Jiki into play at the beginning combat with a Twin combo creature in play!).
(2.5/3) Elegance: Overall I think this is a simple design for a 4-color utility enchantment. It doesn't look too wordy, but it did take me a 2nd read to fully grasp how all of the abilities combined.
Development -
(1/3) Viability: Unfortunately the only "green" ability I see in this card is the ability to exile creature cards from your graveyard (see Scavenging Ooze). The other abilities fit their respective color pies, but the green effect alone is not enough to warrant a full mana symbol. I do not think this card could see print as it is currently laid out.
(2/3) Balance: There is a great risk to this card, as it is able to make a copy of anything big in your deck for a very low cost. This seems balanced in multiplayer though, as it is an enchantment (which many people come prepared for) and it costs 4 different colors of mana.
Creativity -
(3/3) Uniqueness: I certainly have not seen before en enchantment that can creature copies of cards in your graveyard. These kinds of effects are rare for a reason, because they are usually hard to balance. Good job!
(3/3) Flavor: I can see this Matrix being on the same plane as the Mimeoplasm, and the flavor text fits nicely with the overall feel of the card.
Polish -
(0/3) Quality: There are unfortunately typos in both the card text and the flavor text. You are missing a "from" in "you may exile a creature card your graveyard" (-0.5 points). "Create a token that's (or that is) a copy of that card" instead of create a token copy of that creature (-1 points). I think the "then" needs to be changed with "them", or all of the flavor text just breaks at that point (-1 points). "To into" is a typo in the flavor text (-0.5 points).
(2/2) *Main Challenge: Yep.
(2/2) Subchallenges: Yep.
Total: 17.5/25
*An entry with 0 points here is subject to disqualification
Design -
(2.5/3) Appeal: Spike loves free spells and card draw that is reasonably costed for Commander. Timmy likes his free spells. Johnny might already have access to better artifact artifact searching spells (such as Transmute Artifact and Tinker, for casual) but this is well costed for having another tutor in his deck.
(3/3) Elegance: A clean, blue-multicolored, draw spell. I like less words on all of my Magic cards.
Development -
(2.5/3) Viability: Blue cares about card drawing, deck filtering and artifacts. However, this is a 4 color card round and Breya is the only one of the decks to care about artifacts, so I appreciate this card being Breya colors. As well, due to the card draw and the "free" advantage of being able to cast the revealed artifact cards, this is appropriately rare, even if you lose the points for the sub-challenge.
(3/3) Balance: While fairly useless in limited, being a 7 mana cost sorcery costing 4 colors, I think this is perfectly balanced for some sort of Commander product. This would see a significant amount of play in any Breya deck and it remind s me a bit of Brilliant Ultimatum in terms of the amount of value you get from casting this spell (And yes, I know Brilliant Ultimatum is a pretty terrible Magic card )
Creativity -
(3/3) Uniqueness: I do't really know of any other cards that care about the number of artifact cards in a certain amount of cards off the top of your deck. Well done making this unique, but also balanced for gameplay and flavor.
(1.5/3) Flavor: I really do like Breya's flavor and the overall feel of her vision of Esper. It is unfortunate you did not get the flavor text added in time for the deadline, it would have put it all together.
Polish -
(2.5/3) Quality: In the final sentence, "put the rest of the revealed cards into your hand"; forgot the "into" (-0.5 points).
(2/2) *Main Challenge: Yep.
(1/2) Subchallenges: 4 colors, but rightfully rare.
Total: 21/25
*An entry with 0 points here is subject to disqualification
Design -
(2.5/3) Appeal: Spike loves the utility, but it's hard for him to make the mana cost work. Timmy like the varied mana cost and the ability to pump his creatures. Johnny might find a way to use this in a dedicated artifact deck, as a utility spell or a very deep scry engine.
(2.5/3) Elegance: For a modal, 4-mode spell, the wording is fine, if not a little long on some of the abilities due to heavily relying on how many artifacts you control.
Development -
(2/3) Viability: This feels much stronger than any typical uncommon, especially if a cycle of 4 color charms was made. It is hard to balance power with utility with such a harsh mana cost, but I could still imagine a modified version of this card getting printed. My only concern is the the "white" mode feels a lot more like a "green" effect, because it could be a significant single-targeted pump ability.
(2/3) Balance: Overall, all of these modes seem fine in terms of balance for an uncommon, except the last "red" ability. You could quickly generate a lot of mana with mana rocks, then be able to cast a fairly large number of spells in one turn for a very low cost.
Creativity -
(3/3) Uniqueness: I like the combination of all of the abilities, and modal charms are some of my favorite cycles.
(1.5/3) Flavor: Appropriately Breya flavored, but too bad there is no room for flavor text.
Polish -
(2.5/3) Quality: The "artifact" in the 3rd bullet is missing an "s" to make it gramatically correct (-0.5 points).
(2/2) *Main Challenge: Yep.
(2/2) Subchallenges: Yep.
Total: 20/25
*An entry with 0 points here is subject to disqualification
Design -
(1.5/3) Appeal: Spike likes Learn as an ability to draw extra cards, but overall this card does not seem too exciting for him with the mana costs. Timmy likes making tokens, but it may cost too much mana to be useful to him. Johnny might find a way to make Learn be part of a combo, but he doesn't see a real use.
(3/3) Elegance: A very simple multi-colored Fuse spell. Easy to read and understand.
Development -
(3/3) Viability: R/W is all about creating tokens, and there are already effects that make red and white soldier tokens. G/U is certainly the color of getting to draw cards for dealing combat damage (thanks Edric, Spymaster of Trest). Overall these two abilities mesh well together and I can see this being printed in a Limited format for a new Ravnica block. In Commander this may not provide as much utility as in Limited, but it is still a fine card.
(3/3) Balance: See the viability section. This is a strong pick in Limited if you are in either of the colors, and the modes function fine for the cost in Commander, even if I don't think this card appeals overall to any demographic.
Creativity -
(1.5/3) Uniqueness: Again looking back at the Viability section, there are already cards in print in both multicolor pairings that do similar effects. However, I believe this is the first time these modes have been paired together, so the design is reasonable.
(2.5/3) Flavor: It is unfortunate from a design perspective that cards with Fuse pretty much don't have room for flavor text. I really wish they did, because Live is so well oriented towards the Boros "fight for your life and your freedom" philosophy, and I can see the art for Learn being Momir Vig or some other Simic Elf performing an experiment on a helpless creature.
Polish -
(3/3) Quality: No mistakes that I see here.
(2/2) *Main Challenge: Yep.
(2/2) Subchallenges: Yep.
Total: 21.5/25
*An entry with 0 points here is subject to disqualification
Jimmy Groove 17.5 vs RaikouRider 21
Scrad_The_Waderer 20 vs Stoner of Kruphix 21.5
I̟̥͍̠ͅn̩͉̣͍̬͚ͅ ̬̬͖t̯̹̞̺͖͓̯̤h̘͍̬e͙̯͈̖̼̮ ̭̬f̺̲̲̪i͙͉̟̩̰r̪̝͚͈̝̥͍̝̲s̼̻͇̘̳͔ͅt̲̺̳̗̜̪̙ ̳̺̥̻͚̗ͅm̜̜̟̰͈͓͎͇o̝̖̮̝͇m̯̻̞̼̫̗͓̤e̩̯̬̮̩n͎̱̪̲̹͖t͇̖s̰̮ͅ,̤̲͙̻̭̻̯̹̰ ̖t̫̙̺̯͖͚̯ͅh͙̯̦̳̗̰̟e͖̪͉̼̯ ̪͕g̞̣͔a̗̦t̬̬͓͙̫̖̭̻e̩̻̯ ̜̖̦̖̤̭͙̬t̞̹̥̪͎͉ͅo͕͚͍͇̲͇͓̺ ̭̬͙͈̣̻t͈͍͙͓̫̖͙̩h̪̬̖̙e̗͈ ̗̬̟̞̺̤͉̯ͅa̦̯͚̙̜̮f͉͙̲̣̞̼t̪̤̞̣͚e̲͉̳̥r͇̪̙͚͓l̥̞̞͎̹̯̹ͅi͓̬f̮̥̬̞͈ͅe͎ ̟̩̤̳̠̯̩̯o̮̘̲p̟͚̣̞͉͓e͍̩̣n͔̼͕͚̜e̬̱d̼̘͎̖̹͍̮̠,͖̺̭̱̮ ̣̲͖̬̪̭̥a̪͚n̟̲̝̤̤̞̗d̘̱̗͇̮͕̳͕͔ ͖̞͉͎t̹̙͎h̰̱͉̗e̪̞̱̝̹̩ͅ ̠̱̩̭̦p̯̙e͓o̳͚̰̯̺̱̰͔̘p̬͎̱̣̼̩͇l̗̟̖͚̠e̱͉͔̱̦̬̟̙ ̖͚̪͔̼̦w̺̖̤̱e͖̗̻̦͓̖̘̜r̭̥e͔̹̫̱͕̦̰͕ ̗͔̠p̠̗͍͍̱̳̠r̰͔͎̰o͉̥͓̰͚̥s̟͚̹̱͔̣t͉̙̳̖͖̪̮r̥̘̥͙̹a͉̟̫̟̳̠̟̭t͈̜̰͈͎e̞̣̭̲̬ ͚̗̯̟͙i͍͖̰̘̦͖͉ṇ̮̻̯̦̲̩͍ ̦̮͚̫̤t͉͖̫͕ͅͅh͙̮̻̘̣̮̼e͕̺ ͙l͕̠͎̰̥i̲͓͉̲g̫̳̟͈͇̖h̠̦̖t͓̯͎̗ ̳̪̘̟̙̩̦o̫̲f̙͔̰̙̠ ̹̪̗͇̯t͖̼̼͉͖̬h̹͇̩e͚̖̺̤͉̹͕̪ ͚͓̭̝̺G͎̗̯̩o̫̯̮̟̮̳̘d̜̲͙̠-̩̳̯̲̗̜P̹̘̥͉̝h͍͈̗̖̝ͅa͍̗̮̼̗r̜̖͇̙̺a̭̺͔̞̳͈o̪̣͓̯̬͙̯̰̗h̖̦͈̥̯͔.͇̣̙̝
Jimmy Groove 33.5 vs. RaikouRider 41
scrad_the_wanderer 41 vs. StonerOfKruphix 40
Raptorchan 44.5 vs. Marco 36
I̟̥͍̠ͅn̩͉̣͍̬͚ͅ ̬̬͖t̯̹̞̺͖͓̯̤h̘͍̬e͙̯͈̖̼̮ ̭̬f̺̲̲̪i͙͉̟̩̰r̪̝͚͈̝̥͍̝̲s̼̻͇̘̳͔ͅt̲̺̳̗̜̪̙ ̳̺̥̻͚̗ͅm̜̜̟̰͈͓͎͇o̝̖̮̝͇m̯̻̞̼̫̗͓̤e̩̯̬̮̩n͎̱̪̲̹͖t͇̖s̰̮ͅ,̤̲͙̻̭̻̯̹̰ ̖t̫̙̺̯͖͚̯ͅh͙̯̦̳̗̰̟e͖̪͉̼̯ ̪͕g̞̣͔a̗̦t̬̬͓͙̫̖̭̻e̩̻̯ ̜̖̦̖̤̭͙̬t̞̹̥̪͎͉ͅo͕͚͍͇̲͇͓̺ ̭̬͙͈̣̻t͈͍͙͓̫̖͙̩h̪̬̖̙e̗͈ ̗̬̟̞̺̤͉̯ͅa̦̯͚̙̜̮f͉͙̲̣̞̼t̪̤̞̣͚e̲͉̳̥r͇̪̙͚͓l̥̞̞͎̹̯̹ͅi͓̬f̮̥̬̞͈ͅe͎ ̟̩̤̳̠̯̩̯o̮̘̲p̟͚̣̞͉͓e͍̩̣n͔̼͕͚̜e̬̱d̼̘͎̖̹͍̮̠,͖̺̭̱̮ ̣̲͖̬̪̭̥a̪͚n̟̲̝̤̤̞̗d̘̱̗͇̮͕̳͕͔ ͖̞͉͎t̹̙͎h̰̱͉̗e̪̞̱̝̹̩ͅ ̠̱̩̭̦p̯̙e͓o̳͚̰̯̺̱̰͔̘p̬͎̱̣̼̩͇l̗̟̖͚̠e̱͉͔̱̦̬̟̙ ̖͚̪͔̼̦w̺̖̤̱e͖̗̻̦͓̖̘̜r̭̥e͔̹̫̱͕̦̰͕ ̗͔̠p̠̗͍͍̱̳̠r̰͔͎̰o͉̥͓̰͚̥s̟͚̹̱͔̣t͉̙̳̖͖̪̮r̥̘̥͙̹a͉̟̫̟̳̠̟̭t͈̜̰͈͎e̞̣̭̲̬ ͚̗̯̟͙i͍͖̰̘̦͖͉ṇ̮̻̯̦̲̩͍ ̦̮͚̫̤t͉͖̫͕ͅͅh͙̮̻̘̣̮̼e͕̺ ͙l͕̠͎̰̥i̲͓͉̲g̫̳̟͈͇̖h̠̦̖t͓̯͎̗ ̳̪̘̟̙̩̦o̫̲f̙͔̰̙̠ ̹̪̗͇̯t͖̼̼͉͖̬h̹͇̩e͚̖̺̤͉̹͕̪ ͚͓̭̝̺G͎̗̯̩o̫̯̮̟̮̳̘d̜̲͙̠-̩̳̯̲̗̜P̹̘̥͉̝h͍͈̗̖̝ͅa͍̗̮̼̗r̜̖͇̙̺a̭̺͔̞̳͈o̪̣͓̯̬͙̯̰̗h̖̦͈̥̯͔.͇̣̙̝