Welcome to the Card Creation League! Everyone is free to participate in either or both of the first two rounds. Come join us!
Theme
It's December, a time for nostalgia and getting back together with old friends and long-missed family. This means that throughout the month, we'll be doing challenges themed around Magic story settings we haven't seen in a while. First up is a relatively recent plane, but one we may revisit in the near future, given the many loose ends of plot still hanging there: Theros.
The Ancient Greece-like world of Theros, when we initially saw it, was dominated by Gods (and their progeny, the Nyxborn), Heroes, and Monsters, all of which had their own characteristic mechanics. For this round, you should focus on the mortal beings of Theros: The Heroes and Monsters, and their particular mechanics. Challenge
Design a Theros-flavored creature card with heroic or monstrosity.
The card can have any other keywords as long as it's got either heroic or monstrosity.
Even though noncreature permanents can technically have either of those mechanics, the card must be a creature.
You could even make a card with both heroic and monstrosity, if you wished.
Make sure to include a rarity.
Stay tuned for November's CCL Final Poll. Anyone who votes will receive 2 bonus points for December's CCL!
Your submissions are due Tuesday, December 6, 23:59 EST.
The submission deadline has passed. Please provide a few sentences' critique and a top 3 for the participants you are assigned as instructed. It’s not difficult, and doing so will net you additional points! If you finish in the top 8 among participants in the first two rounds, you will advance to the Top 8.
Schedule
Round 1 — Open to Everyone (November 30th–December 6th)
Round 2 — Open to Everyone (December 6th–11th)
Rounds 1 and 2 Critiques (Due December 15th)
Top 8 — Open to top 8 finishers (December 16th–19th)
Top 8 Critiques (Due December 22nd)
Top 4 — Open to top 4 finishers from last round (December 23rd–25th)
Top 4 Critiques (Due December 27th)
Final (End of month, winner determined by public poll)
Arixmethes (Mythic)
Legendary Land - Island
Arixmethes enters the battlefield tapped. 6UUU: Monstrosity 4. (If this land isn't monstrous, put four +1/+1 counters on it and it becomes monstrous.)
When Arixmethes becomes monstrous, it becomes a 7/7 blue Kraken creature and gains trample.
If Arixmethes would be destroyed while monstrous, it ceases being monstrous and becomes a noncreature Island instead.
Dessius, Oracle of Keranos1UR
Legendary Creature - Human Wizard {M} Heroic - Whenever you cast a spell that targets Dessius, Oracle of Keranos, if it's an instant or sorcery spell, copy that spell and you may choose new targets for the copy. Otherwise, put a token that's a copy of the permanent it becomes onto the battlefield.
2/4
Plithynos
Creature — Elemental (R)
: Monstrosity 1. (If this creature isn't monstrous, put a +1/+1 counter on it and it becomes monstrous.)
When Plithynos becomes monstrous, create a token that's a copy of Plithynos.
2/2
(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)
Inchoate Chimera2U
Creature - Shapeshifter Chimera {R} 2U: Monstrosity 1. (If this creature isn't monstrous, put a +1/+1 counter on it and it becomes monstrous.)
When Inchoate Chimera becomes monstrous, you may have it become a copy of target creature.
2/2 "The beast flickered through a thousand forms in a heartbeat, but my own heart stopped when finally it settled on mine."
— Proseus, Akroan Hero
Defier of Erebos3B
Creature — Human Cleric (R)
Deathtouch Heroic — Whenever you cast a spell that targets ~, return target creature from a graveyard to the battlefield under your control.
1/3
Pharika’s Acolite2B
Creature - Gorgon (U)
Deathtouch Heroic — Whenever you cast a spell that targets Pharika’s Acolite, until end of turn Pharika’s Acolite must be blocked if able. “The nature of a lure goes beyond the simple look on its aesthetics, shape and dimension”
2/3
Tomara, Ascendant of Purphoros3RR
Legendery Creature - Human Shaman (Mythic)
Trample Heroic - Whenever you cast a spell that targets Tomara, Ascendant of Purphoros, you may exile the top card your library. If you do, add R to your mana pool and until end of turn, you may play the exiled card. "Be like the lava: Delivering change through the constant stream of the forging heat."
5/4
Hound of Mogis2RR
Creature- Hound (U) 4RR: Monstrosity 3 (If this creature isn't monstrous, put 3 +1/+1 counters on it and it becomes monstrous.)
Monstrous creatures you control have menace.
3/3
In progress Divergent Chimera2U
Creature - Chimera (R)
Flying 3RR and/or 3GG: Monstrosity 3. (If this creature isn't monstrous, put three +1/+1 counters on it and it becomes monstrous.)
When Divergent Chimera becomes monstrous, if you paid 3RR, it deals 3 damage to each other creature. As long as Divergent Chimera is monstrous, if you paid 3GG, it has indestructible.
2/1
They didn't care that he was the savior of Fort Keff, the great hunter of Ondu, the champion of Kabira. To them, he was just another piece of flesh, a thing with life to be drained away.
Artroklos, The Wizened Blade1WU
Legendary Creature - Human Soldier (R) Inspired — Whenever Artroklos becomes untapped, you may return an instant card with a converted mana cost 2 or less that could target Artroklos from your graveyard to your hand. Heroic — Whenever you cast a spell that targets Artroklos, put a +1/+1 counter on Artroklos.
2/2
Imposing Chimera3GU
Creature — Chimera (R)
Flying, Trample
Whenever Imposing Chimera becomes the target of a spell or ability an opponent controls, counter that spell or ability unless its controller pays 1 for each +1/+1 counter on Imposing Chimera. XGU: Monstrosity X. (If this creature isn't monstrous, put X +1/+1 counters on it and it becomes monstrous.)
4/3
Weaver of Blessings3R
Creature - Human Cleric (R) Heroic - Whenever you cast a spell that targets Weaver of Blessings, copy that spell. You may choose new targets for the copy. "Iroas has blessed me, ans I shall bless others in his name."
3/3
Hope-Flame Phoenix3RR
Creature - Phoenix (R)
Flying 4RR: Return Hope-Flame Phoenix from your graveyard to the battlefield. 4WW: Monstrosity 2 (If this creature isn't monstrous, put two +1/+1 counters on it and it becomes monstrous.)
When Hope-Flame Phoenix becomes monstrous, you may return target creature card from any graveyard to the battlefield.
3/3
Oakheart Songstress1G
Creature — Human Druid (R) Heroic — Whenever you cast a spell that targets Oakheart Songstress, add one mana of any color to your mana pool. The lush forests call out to those who know its song. 1/2
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Create your own cards on MTG.Design
( ancestral on Custom Magic Discord server )
( mproud on reddit )
Animistic DryadGG
Creature - Dryad (R) Heroic — Whenever you cast a spell that targets Animistic Dryad, put two +1/+1 counters on target land you control. That land becomes a 0/0 Elemental creature with haste. It's still a land.
2/2
You have until December 15th for both round 1 and round 2's critiques. I encourage you all to do round 1's critiques as soon as possible before you design for the upcoming round 2.
Oakheart Songstress1G
Creature — Human Druid (R) Heroic — Whenever you cast a spell that targets Oakheart Songstress, add one mana of any color to your mana pool. The lush forests call out to those who know its song. 1/2
I think the idea here is potentially a good one. You can certainly chain together a number of spells targeting her to combo her into a big body, or to just up an extra spell in during the turn. However, I feel the body is wrong. In most cases, this is going to be worse than a 2CC creatures that taps to add in terms of accelerating your game, and triggering its abilities during combat/your opponents turns gives you less options then during your own main phase. Really this card pulls you in two directions, triggering its heroic to chain a number of buff/pump onto it or allowing you to multitask with a pump and another spell you otherwise couldn't afford. I'd push it in one direction or the other: Give it a better body to make it more desirable to pump up (make it bigger, add trample or vigilance) OR making it add more than one mana at a time and adjust accordingly. As a rare this is underwhelming. Also, oak? That's not Theros/greeco-roman.
RaikouRider
Dessius, Oracle of Keranos1UR
Legendary Creature - Human Wizard {M} Heroic - Whenever you cast a spell that targets Dessius, Oracle of Keranos, if it's an instant or sorcery spell, copy that spell and you may choose new targets for the copy. Otherwise, put a token that's a copy of the permanent it becomes onto the battlefield.
2/4
I get that you're aiming to make bestow and other auras work with the ability. The wording feels weird to me regardless, even if it may be right! The thought behind the ability is clean and cool, and befitting a legendary creature. This is close to balanced too (though development might shave a toughness for standard). If anything, I would of considered flavor text, especially since as an oracle his ability kinda veers from what I might traditionally think of.
scrad_the_wanderer
Weaver of Blessings3R
Creature - Human Cleric (R) Heroic - Whenever you cast a spell that targets Weaver of Blessings, copy that spell. You may choose new targets for the copy. "Iroas has blessed me, ans I shall bless others in his name."
3/3
A simplified version of RaikouRider's card. Between the cost and p/t though, it reads less interestingly. Also, it doesn't even address the concept of aura's and bestow cards, and leaves rule questions. Probably should of specified that "if it's an instant or sorcery spell, copy it." The flavor here is pretty generic: "I worship a god" and doesn't really scream Iroas. The typo in the flavor doesn't aid it either. With similar design ideas and being next to each other on the list, expect to be compared a lot. To me, your card loses the battle.
drewdagreek
Hound of Mogis2RR
Creature- Hound (U) 4RR: Monstrosity 3 (If this creature isn't monstrous, put 3 +1/+1 counters on it and it becomes monstrous.)
Monstrous creatures you control have menace.
3/3
Simply, clean, and elegant. I considered similar design space and I'm glad someone went for it. Good complexity at uncommon that makes you want to build a deck of monstrous creatures, defining a limited archetype. Seems balanced reasonably too. My only gripe is this could use flavor.
Jimmy Groove
Hope-Flame Phoenix3RR
Creature - Phoenix (R)
Flying 4RR: Return Hope-Flame Phoenix from your graveyard to the battlefield. 4WW: Monstrosity 2 (If this creature isn't monstrous, put two +1/+1 counters on it and it becomes monstrous.)
When Hope-Flame Phoenix becomes monstrous, you may return target creature card from any graveyard to the battlefield.
3/3
The idea here is really cool, but that balance is off. I think you really under estimated it. I realize we've pushed creatures since the days of firemane angel, but outside of a deck that cares about the life gain, your phoenix plays a similar and more powerful role. You cast this normally, and untap with it, and odds are you should win the game. Even if they do deal with it on a normal cast, it can revive itself at instant speed during your opponents turn? And each time you bring it back, it can revive something else? The CA advantage, and flexibility at these costs are unreasonable. It's essentially an indestructible, uncounterable threat. The other flaw here is this card's ties to Theros are not there outside of it's monstrous ability.
BrainPo
Animistic DryadGG
Creature - Dryad (R) Heroic — Whenever you cast a spell that targets Animistic Dryad, put two +1/+1 counters on target land you control. That land becomes a 0/0 Elemental creature with haste. It's still a land.
2/2
A mini Anthousa, Setessan Hero, except worded like Awaken. This may be fine as a uncommon, but since there already is Anthousa, it be better off balanced as an uncommon and worded similiar. Really, this card is uninspired and doesn't read as theros flavor.
1: RaikouRider
2: drewdagreek
3: Jimmy Groove
It was a toss up between 1st and 2nd, but I gave the nod to Raikou as his card felt more like a distinct character. 3rd was further behind, and while Jimmy Groove's card feels balanced poorly and suffers from generic flavor (many struggled with flavor), his concept was the most interesting and well realized. It would just be a numbers game and maybe a new name to fix. Each other card needed more.
Imposing Chimera3GU
Creature — Chimera (R)
Flying, Trample
Whenever Imposing Chimera becomes the target of a spell or ability an opponent controls, counter that spell or ability unless its controller pays 1 for each +1/+1 counter on Imposing Chimera. XGU: Monstrosity X. (If this creature isn't monstrous, put X +1/+1 counters on it and it becomes monstrous.)
4/3
Gosh, that's a big chimera. I like how you can make it monstrous in response to the opponent's spell, because X is checked on resolution. What I don't like is that that's really unintuitive on first reading the card - I had to go over it a couple of times to follow that. I wonder if there might have been a more intuitive way of wording this, even potentially at the expense of some of the functionality.
Enraging Hydra3RG
Creature - Hydra (MR)
Trample, haste XXRG: Monstrosity X. (If this creature isn't monstrous, put X +1/+1 counters on it and it becomes monstrous.)
When Enraging Hydra becomes monstrous, gain control of up to X target creatures until end of turn. Untap those creatures. They gain trample and haste until end of turn. "It roared mightly, and soon my phalanx started turning against itself."
-Maeros, Akroan general
4/4
This doesn't really need to be green. Trample can be found in red, and both haste and the monstrous trigger are very red. I would've liked this more as a mono-red card. The flavour doesn't quite sit well with me either; gaining control of creatures doesn't feel right for a hydra making them angry. I think forcing an attack would have worked better with your flavour, even though that would have been quite a different card.
Arixmethes (Mythic)
Legendary Land - Island
Arixmethes enters the battlefield tapped. 6UUU: Monstrosity 4. (If this land isn't monstrous, put four +1/+1 counters on it and it becomes monstrous.)
When Arixmethes becomes monstrous, it becomes a 7/7 blue Kraken creature and gains trample.
If Arixmethes would be destroyed while monstrous, it ceases being monstrous and becomes a noncreature Island instead.
So there's a really huge problem here - the challenge specified a creature, and the clarifications went on to note that, yes, they really do mean a creature.
Leaving that aside, I have a couple of other problems with your card. First, it's pretty unwieldy to have a land that becomes a big creature and then gets +1/+1 counters - this would be a cleaner design with monstrosity 11 (or more likely, monstrosity 10). Second, most legends have a descriptor or honorific after their name, and I think the lack of it hurts you here. Third, I'm guessing your intention is that when Arixmethes is destroyed it comes back stronger - but why? Coming back stronger after a defeat doesn't feel very blue or particularly krakenish. Finally, Arixmethes doesn't actually come back stronger, because when a permanent becomes a basic land type it loses all other types and abilities - once defeated, Arixmethes becomes a noncreature Island with four +1/+1 counters on it forevermore.
Tomara, Ascendant of Purphoros3RR
Legendery Creature - Human Shaman (Mythic)
Trample Heroic - Whenever you cast a spell that targets Tomara, Ascendant of Purphoros, you may exile the top card your library. If you do, add R to your mana pool and until end of turn, you may play the exiled card. "Be like the lava: Delivering change through the constant stream of the forging heat."
5/4
I see what you were trying to do with adding R to your mana pool, but honestly it's such a small addition that it seems almost insulting - a deck that's running and supporting Tomara will have many cards that cost more than R. I think this would be a cleaner card without that mana, or else adding RR instead.
In progress Divergent Chimera2U
Creature - Chimera (R)
Flying 3RR and/or 3GG: Monstrosity 3. (If this creature isn't monstrous, put three +1/+1 counters on it and it becomes monstrous.)
When Divergent Chimera becomes monstrous, if you paid 3RR, it deals 3 damage to each other creature. As long as Divergent Chimera is monstrous, if you paid 3GG, it has indestructible.
2/1
I'm not sure this actually works by the rules. By the time it becomes monstrous, the activated ability is finishing resolving and can't track what mana was spent on it any more - when the triggered ability goes to trigger, I don't think it can see what cost was paid. Also, this has potential memory issues, especially if you end up with more than one in play with different modes, because the green version is indefinite. Finally, the green version doesn't seem super green - I would have gone with hexproof.
Plithynos
Creature — Elemental (R)
: Monstrosity 1. (If this creature isn't monstrous, put a +1/+1 counter on it and it becomes monstrous.)
When Plithynos becomes monstrous, create a token that's a copy of Plithynos.
2/2
This is really strong. Probably too strong - it can very easily get out of control. It does help that only the last copy in the chain can continue it, but since you can continue the chain at instant speed it doesn't help much. Dropping this turn two and just continuing to copy it until your opponent forces you to deviate is a powerful game plan. I think this needs to cost a chunk more - the ability could maybe go to five mana, and the body to three.
Top 3
1. shinike1729
2. netn10
3. StonerOfKruphix
Shinike's design works really well once you understand what it does - the initial comprehension barrier holds it back some, but not enough to miss first. netn10's design is just a little less elegant than I would like, and otherwise spot on. I disagree with some of StonerOfKruphix's design decisions, but the core of the card is interesting enough to take third.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Call me Fortuna, please. Ms. Imperatrix Mundi is the empress of the world.
Dessius, Oracle of Keranos1UR
Legendary Creature - Human Wizard {M} Heroic - Whenever you cast a spell that targets Dessius, Oracle of Keranos, if it's an instant or sorcery spell, copy that spell and you may choose new targets for the copy. Otherwise, put a token that's a copy of the permanent it becomes onto the battlefield.
2/4
I’m excited by this ability. Copying spells when targeted, essentially doubling the effects. I think the second part is overkill. Putting copies of permanents onto the battlefield feels a little weird with things like auras. I also fear this might really break things with the right cards, and this is probably undercosted at 3 mana.
Weaver of Blessings3R
Creature - Human Cleric (R) Heroic - Whenever you cast a spell that targets Weaver of Blessings, copy that spell. You may choose new targets for the copy. "Iroas has blessed me, ans I shall bless others in his name."
3/3
Very similar to the previous card. However, this is a bit simpler, and doesn’t have the second ability. I definitely think this kind of creature could have existed in Theros block.
Hound of Mogis2RR
Creature- Hound (U) 4RR: Monstrosity 3 (If this creature isn't monstrous, put 3 +1/+1 counters on it and it becomes monstrous.)
Monstrous creatures you control have menace.
3/3
Feels like this could be a cycle
The card doesn’t break anything and doesn’t do anything crazy. However, it is very similar to several red monstrous cards, like Wildfire Cerebus. Part of me would love to see direct damage, seeing that it’s Mogis, but you do have Menace which is his thing too, except really it should be intimidate (since Menace wasn’t defined back then).
Hope-Flame Phoenix3RR
Creature - Phoenix (R)
Flying 4RR: Return Hope-Flame Phoenix from your graveyard to the battlefield. 4WW: Monstrosity 2 (If this creature isn't monstrous, put two +1/+1 counters on it and it becomes monstrous.)
When Hope-Flame Phoenix becomes monstrous, you may return target creature card from any graveyard to the battlefield.
3/3
This is interesting. A Phoenix that rises that can also rise other creatures. I like the idea of the off-color costed ability, but White usually doesn’t get to take any creature from a graveyard — White only gets smaller creatures, and usually only from your own graveyard.
Animistic DryadGG
Creature - Dryad (R) Heroic — Whenever you cast a spell that targets Animistic Dryad, put two +1/+1 counters on target land you control. That land becomes a 0/0 Elemental creature with haste. It's still a land.
2/2
I don’t think this is the last time we will see this Awaken ability, but it was iconic for Battle for Zendikar block, not Theros block. I like the card, but I don’t think it’s Theros themed.
Inchoate Chimera2U
Creature - Shapeshifter Chimera {R} 2U: Monstrosity 1. (If this creature isn't monstrous, put a +1/+1 counter on it and it becomes monstrous.)
When Inchoate Chimera becomes monstrous, you may have it become a copy of target creature.
2/2 "The beast flickered through a thousand forms in a heartbeat, but my own heart stopped when finally it settled on mine."
— Proseus, Akroan Hero
It’s reasonable, it fits blue, and it doesn’t go crazy. It might be a bit aggressive at 2U, but it is a rare. This is very close to Artisan of Forms, but I like that you’ve tried it with monstrous.
“For Gods and Polis”
Dawnbringer Charioteers, taken from MTG Art, by Ryan Alexander Lee and Wizards of the Coast
Theme
It's December, a time for nostalgia and getting back together with old friends and long-missed family. This means that throughout the month, we'll be doing challenges themed around Magic story settings we haven't seen in a while. First up is a relatively recent plane, but one we may revisit in the near future, given the many loose ends of plot still hanging there: Theros.
The Ancient Greece-like world of Theros, when we initially saw it, was dominated by Gods (and their progeny, the Nyxborn), Heroes, and Monsters, all of which had their own characteristic mechanics. For this round, you should focus on the mortal beings of Theros: The Heroes and Monsters, and their particular mechanics.
Challenge
Stay tuned for November's CCL Final Poll. Anyone who votes will receive 2 bonus points for December's CCL!
The submission deadline has passed. Please provide a few sentences' critique and a top 3 for the participants you are assigned as instructed. It’s not difficult, and doing so will net you additional points! If you finish in the top 8 among participants in the first two rounds, you will advance to the Top 8.
Schedule
I̟̥͍̠ͅn̩͉̣͍̬͚ͅ ̬̬͖t̯̹̞̺͖͓̯̤h̘͍̬e͙̯͈̖̼̮ ̭̬f̺̲̲̪i͙͉̟̩̰r̪̝͚͈̝̥͍̝̲s̼̻͇̘̳͔ͅt̲̺̳̗̜̪̙ ̳̺̥̻͚̗ͅm̜̜̟̰͈͓͎͇o̝̖̮̝͇m̯̻̞̼̫̗͓̤e̩̯̬̮̩n͎̱̪̲̹͖t͇̖s̰̮ͅ,̤̲͙̻̭̻̯̹̰ ̖t̫̙̺̯͖͚̯ͅh͙̯̦̳̗̰̟e͖̪͉̼̯ ̪͕g̞̣͔a̗̦t̬̬͓͙̫̖̭̻e̩̻̯ ̜̖̦̖̤̭͙̬t̞̹̥̪͎͉ͅo͕͚͍͇̲͇͓̺ ̭̬͙͈̣̻t͈͍͙͓̫̖͙̩h̪̬̖̙e̗͈ ̗̬̟̞̺̤͉̯ͅa̦̯͚̙̜̮f͉͙̲̣̞̼t̪̤̞̣͚e̲͉̳̥r͇̪̙͚͓l̥̞̞͎̹̯̹ͅi͓̬f̮̥̬̞͈ͅe͎ ̟̩̤̳̠̯̩̯o̮̘̲p̟͚̣̞͉͓e͍̩̣n͔̼͕͚̜e̬̱d̼̘͎̖̹͍̮̠,͖̺̭̱̮ ̣̲͖̬̪̭̥a̪͚n̟̲̝̤̤̞̗d̘̱̗͇̮͕̳͕͔ ͖̞͉͎t̹̙͎h̰̱͉̗e̪̞̱̝̹̩ͅ ̠̱̩̭̦p̯̙e͓o̳͚̰̯̺̱̰͔̘p̬͎̱̣̼̩͇l̗̟̖͚̠e̱͉͔̱̦̬̟̙ ̖͚̪͔̼̦w̺̖̤̱e͖̗̻̦͓̖̘̜r̭̥e͔̹̫̱͕̦̰͕ ̗͔̠p̠̗͍͍̱̳̠r̰͔͎̰o͉̥͓̰͚̥s̟͚̹̱͔̣t͉̙̳̖͖̪̮r̥̘̥͙̹a͉̟̫̟̳̠̟̭t͈̜̰͈͎e̞̣̭̲̬ ͚̗̯̟͙i͍͖̰̘̦͖͉ṇ̮̻̯̦̲̩͍ ̦̮͚̫̤t͉͖̫͕ͅͅh͙̮̻̘̣̮̼e͕̺ ͙l͕̠͎̰̥i̲͓͉̲g̫̳̟͈͇̖h̠̦̖t͓̯͎̗ ̳̪̘̟̙̩̦o̫̲f̙͔̰̙̠ ̹̪̗͇̯t͖̼̼͉͖̬h̹͇̩e͚̖̺̤͉̹͕̪ ͚͓̭̝̺G͎̗̯̩o̫̯̮̟̮̳̘d̜̲͙̠-̩̳̯̲̗̜P̹̘̥͉̝h͍͈̗̖̝ͅa͍̗̮̼̗r̜̖͇̙̺a̭̺͔̞̳͈o̪̣͓̯̬͙̯̰̗h̖̦͈̥̯͔.͇̣̙̝
Legendary Land - Island
Arixmethes enters the battlefield tapped.
6UUU: Monstrosity 4. (If this land isn't monstrous, put four +1/+1 counters on it and it becomes monstrous.)
When Arixmethes becomes monstrous, it becomes a 7/7 blue Kraken creature and gains trample.
If Arixmethes would be destroyed while monstrous, it ceases being monstrous and becomes a noncreature Island instead.
Legendary Creature - Human Wizard {M}
Heroic - Whenever you cast a spell that targets Dessius, Oracle of Keranos, if it's an instant or sorcery spell, copy that spell and you may choose new targets for the copy. Otherwise, put a token that's a copy of the permanent it becomes onto the battlefield.
2/4
Emille, Seven-Sting Dancer Shalin Nariya
Creature — Elemental (R)
: Monstrosity 1. (If this creature isn't monstrous, put a +1/+1 counter on it and it becomes monstrous.)
When Plithynos becomes monstrous, create a token that's a copy of Plithynos.
2/2
Creature - Shapeshifter Chimera {R}
2U: Monstrosity 1. (If this creature isn't monstrous, put a +1/+1 counter on it and it becomes monstrous.)
When Inchoate Chimera becomes monstrous, you may have it become a copy of target creature.
2/2
"The beast flickered through a thousand forms in a heartbeat, but my own heart stopped when finally it settled on mine."
— Proseus, Akroan Hero
Creature — Human Cleric (R)
Deathtouch
Heroic — Whenever you cast a spell that targets ~, return target creature from a graveyard to the battlefield under your control.
1/3
Creature - Gorgon (U)
Deathtouch
Heroic — Whenever you cast a spell that targets Pharika’s Acolite, until end of turn Pharika’s Acolite must be blocked if able.
“The nature of a lure goes beyond the simple look on its aesthetics, shape and dimension”
2/3
Art by
Legendery Creature - Human Shaman (Mythic)
Trample
Heroic - Whenever you cast a spell that targets Tomara, Ascendant of Purphoros, you may exile the top card your library. If you do, add R to your mana pool and until end of turn, you may play the exiled card.
"Be like the lava: Delivering change through the constant stream of the forging heat."
5/4
Creature- Hound (U)
4RR: Monstrosity 3 (If this creature isn't monstrous, put 3 +1/+1 counters on it and it becomes monstrous.)
Monstrous creatures you control have menace.
3/3
Feels like this could be a cycle
Divergent Chimera 2U
Creature - Chimera (R)
Flying
3RR and/or 3GG: Monstrosity 3. (If this creature isn't monstrous, put three +1/+1 counters on it and it becomes monstrous.)
When Divergent Chimera becomes monstrous, if you paid 3RR, it deals 3 damage to each other creature. As long as Divergent Chimera is monstrous, if you paid 3GG, it has indestructible.
2/1
But the people behind the barrier knew.
Legendary Creature - Human Soldier (R)
Inspired — Whenever Artroklos becomes untapped, you may return an instant card with a converted mana cost 2 or less that could target Artroklos from your graveyard to your hand.
Heroic — Whenever you cast a spell that targets Artroklos, put a +1/+1 counter on Artroklos.
2/2
Creature — Chimera (R)
Flying, Trample
Whenever Imposing Chimera becomes the target of a spell or ability an opponent controls, counter that spell or ability unless its controller pays 1 for each +1/+1 counter on Imposing Chimera.
XGU: Monstrosity X. (If this creature isn't monstrous, put X +1/+1 counters on it and it becomes monstrous.)
4/3
Creature - Human Cleric (R)
Heroic - Whenever you cast a spell that targets Weaver of Blessings, copy that spell. You may choose new targets for the copy.
"Iroas has blessed me, ans I shall bless others in his name."
3/3
Creature - Phoenix (R)
Flying
4RR: Return Hope-Flame Phoenix from your graveyard to the battlefield.
4WW: Monstrosity 2 (If this creature isn't monstrous, put two +1/+1 counters on it and it becomes monstrous.)
When Hope-Flame Phoenix becomes monstrous, you may return target creature card from any graveyard to the battlefield.
3/3
Creature — Human Druid (R)
Heroic — Whenever you cast a spell that targets Oakheart Songstress, add one mana of any color to your mana pool.
The lush forests call out to those who know its song.
1/2
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Creature - Dryad (R)
Heroic — Whenever you cast a spell that targets Animistic Dryad, put two +1/+1 counters on target land you control. That land becomes a 0/0 Elemental creature with haste. It's still a land.
2/2
RaikouRider
scrad_the_wanderer
drewdagreek
Jimmy Groove
BrainPo
FortunaImperatrixMundi
shinike1729
StonerOfKruphix
Legend
netn10
JDAEnzio
Flatline
willows
mirrodin71
IcariiFA
proudawesome
You have until December 15th for both round 1 and round 2's critiques. I encourage you all to do round 1's critiques as soon as possible before you design for the upcoming round 2.
I̟̥͍̠ͅn̩͉̣͍̬͚ͅ ̬̬͖t̯̹̞̺͖͓̯̤h̘͍̬e͙̯͈̖̼̮ ̭̬f̺̲̲̪i͙͉̟̩̰r̪̝͚͈̝̥͍̝̲s̼̻͇̘̳͔ͅt̲̺̳̗̜̪̙ ̳̺̥̻͚̗ͅm̜̜̟̰͈͓͎͇o̝̖̮̝͇m̯̻̞̼̫̗͓̤e̩̯̬̮̩n͎̱̪̲̹͖t͇̖s̰̮ͅ,̤̲͙̻̭̻̯̹̰ ̖t̫̙̺̯͖͚̯ͅh͙̯̦̳̗̰̟e͖̪͉̼̯ ̪͕g̞̣͔a̗̦t̬̬͓͙̫̖̭̻e̩̻̯ ̜̖̦̖̤̭͙̬t̞̹̥̪͎͉ͅo͕͚͍͇̲͇͓̺ ̭̬͙͈̣̻t͈͍͙͓̫̖͙̩h̪̬̖̙e̗͈ ̗̬̟̞̺̤͉̯ͅa̦̯͚̙̜̮f͉͙̲̣̞̼t̪̤̞̣͚e̲͉̳̥r͇̪̙͚͓l̥̞̞͎̹̯̹ͅi͓̬f̮̥̬̞͈ͅe͎ ̟̩̤̳̠̯̩̯o̮̘̲p̟͚̣̞͉͓e͍̩̣n͔̼͕͚̜e̬̱d̼̘͎̖̹͍̮̠,͖̺̭̱̮ ̣̲͖̬̪̭̥a̪͚n̟̲̝̤̤̞̗d̘̱̗͇̮͕̳͕͔ ͖̞͉͎t̹̙͎h̰̱͉̗e̪̞̱̝̹̩ͅ ̠̱̩̭̦p̯̙e͓o̳͚̰̯̺̱̰͔̘p̬͎̱̣̼̩͇l̗̟̖͚̠e̱͉͔̱̦̬̟̙ ̖͚̪͔̼̦w̺̖̤̱e͖̗̻̦͓̖̘̜r̭̥e͔̹̫̱͕̦̰͕ ̗͔̠p̠̗͍͍̱̳̠r̰͔͎̰o͉̥͓̰͚̥s̟͚̹̱͔̣t͉̙̳̖͖̪̮r̥̘̥͙̹a͉̟̫̟̳̠̟̭t͈̜̰͈͎e̞̣̭̲̬ ͚̗̯̟͙i͍͖̰̘̦͖͉ṇ̮̻̯̦̲̩͍ ̦̮͚̫̤t͉͖̫͕ͅͅh͙̮̻̘̣̮̼e͕̺ ͙l͕̠͎̰̥i̲͓͉̲g̫̳̟͈͇̖h̠̦̖t͓̯͎̗ ̳̪̘̟̙̩̦o̫̲f̙͔̰̙̠ ̹̪̗͇̯t͖̼̼͉͖̬h̹͇̩e͚̖̺̤͉̹͕̪ ͚͓̭̝̺G͎̗̯̩o̫̯̮̟̮̳̘d̜̲͙̠-̩̳̯̲̗̜P̹̘̥͉̝h͍͈̗̖̝ͅa͍̗̮̼̗r̜̖͇̙̺a̭̺͔̞̳͈o̪̣͓̯̬͙̯̰̗h̖̦͈̥̯͔.͇̣̙̝
Creature — Human Druid (R)
Heroic — Whenever you cast a spell that targets Oakheart Songstress, add one mana of any color to your mana pool.
The lush forests call out to those who know its song.
1/2
RaikouRider
Legendary Creature - Human Wizard {M}
Heroic - Whenever you cast a spell that targets Dessius, Oracle of Keranos, if it's an instant or sorcery spell, copy that spell and you may choose new targets for the copy. Otherwise, put a token that's a copy of the permanent it becomes onto the battlefield.
2/4
scrad_the_wanderer
Creature - Human Cleric (R)
Heroic - Whenever you cast a spell that targets Weaver of Blessings, copy that spell. You may choose new targets for the copy.
"Iroas has blessed me, ans I shall bless others in his name."
3/3
drewdagreek
Creature- Hound (U)
4RR: Monstrosity 3 (If this creature isn't monstrous, put 3 +1/+1 counters on it and it becomes monstrous.)
Monstrous creatures you control have menace.
3/3
Jimmy Groove
Creature - Phoenix (R)
Flying
4RR: Return Hope-Flame Phoenix from your graveyard to the battlefield.
4WW: Monstrosity 2 (If this creature isn't monstrous, put two +1/+1 counters on it and it becomes monstrous.)
When Hope-Flame Phoenix becomes monstrous, you may return target creature card from any graveyard to the battlefield.
3/3
BrainPo
Creature - Dryad (R)
Heroic — Whenever you cast a spell that targets Animistic Dryad, put two +1/+1 counters on target land you control. That land becomes a 0/0 Elemental creature with haste. It's still a land.
2/2
2: drewdagreek
3: Jimmy Groove
It was a toss up between 1st and 2nd, but I gave the nod to Raikou as his card felt more like a distinct character. 3rd was further behind, and while Jimmy Groove's card feels balanced poorly and suffers from generic flavor (many struggled with flavor), his concept was the most interesting and well realized. It would just be a numbers game and maybe a new name to fix. Each other card needed more.
Gosh, that's a big chimera. I like how you can make it monstrous in response to the opponent's spell, because X is checked on resolution. What I don't like is that that's really unintuitive on first reading the card - I had to go over it a couple of times to follow that. I wonder if there might have been a more intuitive way of wording this, even potentially at the expense of some of the functionality.
StonerOfKruphix
This doesn't really need to be green. Trample can be found in red, and both haste and the monstrous trigger are very red. I would've liked this more as a mono-red card. The flavour doesn't quite sit well with me either; gaining control of creatures doesn't feel right for a hydra making them angry. I think forcing an attack would have worked better with your flavour, even though that would have been quite a different card.
Legend
So there's a really huge problem here - the challenge specified a creature, and the clarifications went on to note that, yes, they really do mean a creature.
Leaving that aside, I have a couple of other problems with your card. First, it's pretty unwieldy to have a land that becomes a big creature and then gets +1/+1 counters - this would be a cleaner design with monstrosity 11 (or more likely, monstrosity 10). Second, most legends have a descriptor or honorific after their name, and I think the lack of it hurts you here. Third, I'm guessing your intention is that when Arixmethes is destroyed it comes back stronger - but why? Coming back stronger after a defeat doesn't feel very blue or particularly krakenish. Finally, Arixmethes doesn't actually come back stronger, because when a permanent becomes a basic land type it loses all other types and abilities - once defeated, Arixmethes becomes a noncreature Island with four +1/+1 counters on it forevermore.
netn10
I see what you were trying to do with adding R to your mana pool, but honestly it's such a small addition that it seems almost insulting - a deck that's running and supporting Tomara will have many cards that cost more than R. I think this would be a cleaner card without that mana, or else adding RR instead.
JDAEnzio
I'm not sure this actually works by the rules. By the time it becomes monstrous, the activated ability is finishing resolving and can't track what mana was spent on it any more - when the triggered ability goes to trigger, I don't think it can see what cost was paid. Also, this has potential memory issues, especially if you end up with more than one in play with different modes, because the green version is indefinite. Finally, the green version doesn't seem super green - I would have gone with hexproof.
Flatline
This is really strong. Probably too strong - it can very easily get out of control. It does help that only the last copy in the chain can continue it, but since you can continue the chain at instant speed it doesn't help much. Dropping this turn two and just continuing to copy it until your opponent forces you to deviate is a powerful game plan. I think this needs to cost a chunk more - the ability could maybe go to five mana, and the body to three.
Top 3
2. netn10
3. StonerOfKruphix
Shinike's design works really well once you understand what it does - the initial comprehension barrier holds it back some, but not enough to miss first. netn10's design is just a little less elegant than I would like, and otherwise spot on. I disagree with some of StonerOfKruphix's design decisions, but the core of the card is interesting enough to take third.
Very similar to the previous card. However, this is a bit simpler, and doesn’t have the second ability. I definitely think this kind of creature could have existed in Theros block. The card doesn’t break anything and doesn’t do anything crazy. However, it is very similar to several red monstrous cards, like Wildfire Cerebus. Part of me would love to see direct damage, seeing that it’s Mogis, but you do have Menace which is his thing too, except really it should be intimidate (since Menace wasn’t defined back then).
This is interesting. A Phoenix that rises that can also rise other creatures. I like the idea of the off-color costed ability, but White usually doesn’t get to take any creature from a graveyard — White only gets smaller creatures, and usually only from your own graveyard.
I don’t think this is the last time we will see this Awaken ability, but it was iconic for Battle for Zendikar block, not Theros block. I like the card, but I don’t think it’s Theros themed.
It’s reasonable, it fits blue, and it doesn’t go crazy. It might be a bit aggressive at 2U, but it is a rare. This is very close to Artisan of Forms, but I like that you’ve tried it with monstrous.
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