I keep a text file with the random ideas I come up with to slowly put them onto the sticky, but I think I'd have flooded it with spam if I tried dumping these. So heres a list of random card designs I bounced around with over the past few months, and if anyone has a comment on any I'd love to hear it, or maybe it can inspire someone with their own mechanics, or refine one of the more raw concepts I have. Hopefully some of these are interesting!
Strangling CloudXB
Instant (U)
Intensify (You may exert mana sources you tap to pay for this spell. If you do, they pay for this spell with an additional mana of any type they produced. An exerted permanent won't untap during your next untap step.)
Destroy up to X target creatures with total converted mana cost X or less.
Insidious Verse1BBB
Sorcery (R)
Choose two —
Target player sacrifices a creature.
Target player discards a card.
Target player loses 3 life and you gain 3 life.
Put Insidious Verse on top of its owner's library.
Wild EruptionXRR
Sorcery (R)
Wild Eruption deals X damage to target creature or player.
Cascade
Mirror Elemental1UU
Creature - Elemental Shapeshifter (R)
Protection from Mirror Elementals 3,T: Target creature becomes a copy of Mirror Elemental
3/3
Rock in the StormR
Sorceru (U)
Choose a card in your hand. Discard all other cards in your hand, then draw that many cards.
Lifepulse ChannelerG
Creature - Human Shaman (R)
Whenever Lifepulse Channeler or another creature enters the battlefield, you may pay XX. If you do, put X +1/+1 counters on that creature.
1/1
Pillar of SkullsB
Creature - Skeleton Wall (U)
Defender, Crumble (Damage is dealt to this creature in the form of -1/-1 counters). B,T: Pillar of Skulls deals 2 damage to itself and 1 damage to you. Draw a card.
2/4
CrackbackR
Instant (U)
Crackback deals 2 damage to target creature or player. Put Crackback on top of its owner's library.
Cycling R
MullU
Sorcery (U)
Put a card from your hand on top of your library. If you do, scry 5, then draw a card.
Lichyard
Land - Lichyard(R) T: Add B to your mana pool. You may cast Skeleton cards from your graveyard using this mana and may spend this mana only to cast Skeleton spells or activate the abilities of Skeletons.
Delirium Powder3
Artifact (R) T: Add C to your mana pool.
You may reveal Delirium Powder from your opening hand and exile it. If you do, each player discards their hand, then draws that many cards.
Prismatic HydraX
Artifact Creature - Hydra Construct (R)
Sunburst (This enters the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter on it for each color of mana spent to cast it.)
Prismatic Hydra enters the battlefield with X +1/+1 counters on it.
-1/-1
Thoughtform GolemXX1
Artifact Creature - Golem (R)
When Thoughtform Golem enters the battlefield, choose X.
Put two +1/+1 counters on Thoughtform Golem.
Put a +1/+1 counter on Thoughtform Golem. It gains flying and haste until end of turn.
Draw a card.
Draw two cards, then discard two cards.
1/1
CryptwalkerB
Creature - Skeleton Soldier (U)
As an additional casting cost to casting Cryptwalker, exile a card from your graveyard.
You may cast Cryptwalker from your graveyard.
2/2
Temple of Shattered Dreams
Land (R) T: Add C to your mana pool. If that mana is spent on a spell and that spell is countered by a spell or ability an opponent controls, add mana to your mana pool equal to the countered spell's mana cost. (Mana cost includes color.)
SinchainerWB
Creature - Human Cleric (R)
Whenever another creature attacks, put a sin counter on it.
When Sinchainer dies, exile all creatures with sin counters on them.
2/2
Imprison The SoulB
Instant (U)
Exile target creature. The next time that creature's controller casts a creature spell, that player may exchange that creature spell for the exiled card. (Put the exiled spell onto the stack as if it was just cast and exile the creature spell simultaneously)
Wizened Scholar2U
Creature - Human Advisor (U)
Flash
When Wizened Scholar enters the battlefield, Catalog 3 (Catalog the top three uncatalogued cards of your library. You may look at and rearrange the order of catalogued cards at any time as long as no uncatalogued cards are above them or you shuffle your library.)
2/1
OverflowXU
Instant (U)
Choose one -
Counter target spell unless its controller pays X
Counter target spell with converted mana cost X
Concealed Assassin2UB
Creature - Human Assassin (R)
First Strike
At the end of combat, exile Concealed Assassin. At the beginning of each combat step, you may choose to return Concealed Assassin to the battlefield. If you do, it gains haste.
3/1
Drift into DreamU
Instant (U)
Tap target creature. Before its controller untaps during his or her next untap step, it phases out. (While it's phased out, it's treated as though it does't exist. It phases in before its controller untaps in his next untap step.)
Xerex NecromancerBB
Creature - Human Wizard (R)
When Xerex Necromancer enters the battlefield, create two 1/1 black Skeleton creature tokens.
When Xerex Necromancer leaves the battlefield, exile all Skeletons you control. T: Regenerate target Skeleton.
1/1
Sulphur RitualRB
Instant (U)
As an additional casting cost to casting Sulphur Ritual, sacrifice a creature, discard a card and pay 2 life.
Add RRRBB to your mana pool.
SpellburstXUR
Instant (U)
Choose two-
Counter target spell with converted mana cost X.
Spellburst deals X damage to target creature or player.
Draw X cards, then discard X cards
Surging CurrentXUR
Sorcery (R)
Choose X. You may choose the same option more than once:
Add RRR to your mana pool.
Draw a card.
Spreading Trees1G
Enchantment - Aura (U)
Enchant forest.
Enchanted forest has G,T: Search your library for a basic forest card and put it onto the battlefield tapped.
Underworld Warden1WB
Creature - Zombie Undertaker (R)
Lifelink
Whenever a non-Undertaker creature you control would die, if Underworld Warden is on the battlefield, instead exile that creature until Underworld Warden leaves the battlefield. (Those creatures return to the battlefield.)
2/2
Underworld Gatekeeper1BB
Creature - Human Wizard (R)
Deathtouch
Whenever another creature you control dies, exile it. T: You may cast target card exiled by Underworld Gatekeeper. Activate this ability only any time you could cast a sorcery.
2/2
Enveloping Blob2GG
Legendary Creature - Ooze (M)
Whenever you cast a creature spell, exile it and put a number of +1/+1 counters on each Ooze you control equal to that spell's converted mana cost.
Whenever you cast a non-creature spell, exile it and create a 2/2 green Ooze creature token.
When Enveloping Blob dies, target Ooze you control becomes a copy of Enveloping Blob.
2/2
Brain Picking1B
Sorcery (R)
Name a nonland card. Search target player's graveyard, hand and library for any number of cards with the same name as that card and exile them. Then that player shuffles his or her library. Then for each card that player discarded that way, that player draws a card. Then for each card exiled from that player's graveyard, that player puts the top card of his or her library into their graveayard.
Boundless Frontier
Land (U)
A deck can have any number of cards named Boundless Frontier. T: Add C to your mana pool. 3,T: Search your library for a card named Boundless Frontier and put it onto the battlefield tapped, then shuffle your library.
Seedling TenderG
Creature - Elf Druid (U) T: Add G to your mana pool. Spend this mana only on spells with converted mana cost 2 or less. 3,T, sacrifice Seedling Tender: Draw a card.
1/1
Wandering ExplorerG
Creature - Human Scout (U)
Sacrifice Wandering Explorer: Search your library for a land card and put it onto the battlefield. Sacrifice it at the beginning of the next end step.
1/1
Stitcher's Laboratory
Land (R)
When Stitcher's Laboratory enters the battlefield, search your library for a creature card and exile it face-down. Then shuffle your library. T: Add C to your mana pool. T: Reveal a card exiled with Stitcher's Laboratory. Exchange target creature spell you control with the exiled card if they have the same converted mana cost.
Keen-eyed Owl1U
Creature - Bird (U)
Flying
When Keen-eyed Owl enters the battlefield, Catalog 2 (Exile the top two cards of your library face-down. You may look at your catalogued cards. Whenever you would draw a card from your library, you may draw one of your catalogued cards instead.)
1/1
Rockslide Elemental2RR
Creature - Elemental (R)
Trample, Haste
Rockslide Elemental attacks each turn if able.
When Rockslide Elemental enters the battlefield, exile target land until Rockslide Elemental leaves the battlefield.
3/2
Guldar Ambusher2RR
Creature - Human Barbarian (U)
First Strike
Onslaught 2RR (At the beginning of each combat step you may cast this card for its onslaught cost. If you do, it gains haste, and if it is alive at the end of combat, sacrifice it and draw a card.)
4/2
Automated Factory
Land (R) T: Add CC to your mana pool. Spend this mana only to cast artifacts with converted mana cost 2.
Ancient Mage-Ring
Land - Mage-Ring (U)
A deck can have any number of cards named Ancient Mage-Ring. T: Add C to your mana pool, then add C to your mana pool for every four Mage-Rings you control.
Thundercloud ElementalRR
Creature - Elemental (U)
Trample, Haste
When Thundercloud Elemental enters the battlefield, you may have it deal 3 damage to target creature. If you do, sacrifice Thundercloud Elemental.
3/1
Delirium powder is unfun and a 1 card oops I win (potentially, if in formats other than legacy/vintage, definitely in the case of legacy/vintage because dredge). The insta-dredge win can be avoided by changing it to exile rather than discard (see serum powder), but the potential of randomly whacking all the playable cards in an opponent's hand on turn 1 without him being able to do anything can't be fixed.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"Sometimes, the situation is outracing a threat, sometimes it's ignoring it, and sometimes it involves sideboarding in 4x Hope//Pray." --Doug Linn
Delirium powder is unfun and a 1 card oops I win (potentially, if in formats other than legacy/vintage, definitely in the case of legacy/vintage because dredge). The insta-dredge win can be avoided by changing it to exile rather than discard (see serum powder), but the potential of randomly whacking all the playable cards in an opponent's hand on turn 1 without him being able to do anything can't be fixed.
Yeah without being exile it would break graveyard decks like dredge. Otherwise it would be a forced mulligan with your opponent getting +1 card from it, but that would still be an unfun effect anyway because in the games it wins, it would just ruin people at the start.
Strangling Cloud XB
Instant (U)
Intensify (You may exert mana sources you tap to pay for this spell. If you do, they pay for this spell with an additional mana of any type they produced. An exerted permanent won't untap during your next untap step.)
Destroy up to X target creatures with total converted mana cost X or less.
Insidious Verse 1BBB
Sorcery (R)
Choose two —
Wild Eruption XRR
Sorcery (R)
Wild Eruption deals X damage to target creature or player.
Cascade
Mirror Elemental 1UU
Creature - Elemental Shapeshifter (R)
Protection from Mirror Elementals
3,T: Target creature becomes a copy of Mirror Elemental
3/3
Rock in the Storm R
Sorceru (U)
Choose a card in your hand. Discard all other cards in your hand, then draw that many cards.
Lifepulse Channeler G
Creature - Human Shaman (R)
Whenever Lifepulse Channeler or another creature enters the battlefield, you may pay XX. If you do, put X +1/+1 counters on that creature.
1/1
Pillar of Skulls B
Creature - Skeleton Wall (U)
Defender, Crumble (Damage is dealt to this creature in the form of -1/-1 counters).
B,T: Pillar of Skulls deals 2 damage to itself and 1 damage to you. Draw a card.
2/4
Crackback R
Instant (U)
Crackback deals 2 damage to target creature or player. Put Crackback on top of its owner's library.
Cycling R
Mull U
Sorcery (U)
Put a card from your hand on top of your library. If you do, scry 5, then draw a card.
Lichyard
Land - Lichyard(R)
T: Add B to your mana pool. You may cast Skeleton cards from your graveyard using this mana and may spend this mana only to cast Skeleton spells or activate the abilities of Skeletons.
Delirium Powder 3
Artifact (R)
T: Add C to your mana pool.
You may reveal Delirium Powder from your opening hand and exile it. If you do, each player discards their hand, then draws that many cards.
Prismatic Hydra X
Artifact Creature - Hydra Construct (R)
Sunburst (This enters the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter on it for each color of mana spent to cast it.)
Prismatic Hydra enters the battlefield with X +1/+1 counters on it.
-1/-1
Thoughtform Golem XX1
Artifact Creature - Golem (R)
When Thoughtform Golem enters the battlefield, choose X.
Cryptwalker B
Creature - Skeleton Soldier (U)
As an additional casting cost to casting Cryptwalker, exile a card from your graveyard.
You may cast Cryptwalker from your graveyard.
2/2
Temple of Shattered Dreams
Land (R)
T: Add C to your mana pool. If that mana is spent on a spell and that spell is countered by a spell or ability an opponent controls, add mana to your mana pool equal to the countered spell's mana cost. (Mana cost includes color.)
Sinchainer WB
Creature - Human Cleric (R)
Whenever another creature attacks, put a sin counter on it.
When Sinchainer dies, exile all creatures with sin counters on them.
2/2
Imprison The Soul B
Instant (U)
Exile target creature. The next time that creature's controller casts a creature spell, that player may exchange that creature spell for the exiled card. (Put the exiled spell onto the stack as if it was just cast and exile the creature spell simultaneously)
Wizened Scholar 2U
Creature - Human Advisor (U)
Flash
When Wizened Scholar enters the battlefield, Catalog 3 (Catalog the top three uncatalogued cards of your library. You may look at and rearrange the order of catalogued cards at any time as long as no uncatalogued cards are above them or you shuffle your library.)
2/1
Overflow XU
Instant (U)
Choose one -
Concealed Assassin 2UB
Creature - Human Assassin (R)
First Strike
At the end of combat, exile Concealed Assassin. At the beginning of each combat step, you may choose to return Concealed Assassin to the battlefield. If you do, it gains haste.
3/1
Drift into Dream U
Instant (U)
Tap target creature. Before its controller untaps during his or her next untap step, it phases out. (While it's phased out, it's treated as though it does't exist. It phases in before its controller untaps in his next untap step.)
Xerex Necromancer BB
Creature - Human Wizard (R)
When Xerex Necromancer enters the battlefield, create two 1/1 black Skeleton creature tokens.
When Xerex Necromancer leaves the battlefield, exile all Skeletons you control.
T: Regenerate target Skeleton.
1/1
Sulphur Ritual RB
Instant (U)
As an additional casting cost to casting Sulphur Ritual, sacrifice a creature, discard a card and pay 2 life.
Add RRRBB to your mana pool.
Spellburst XUR
Instant (U)
Choose two-
Surging Current XUR
Sorcery (R)
Choose X. You may choose the same option more than once:
Spreading Trees 1G
Enchantment - Aura (U)
Enchant forest.
Enchanted forest has G,T: Search your library for a basic forest card and put it onto the battlefield tapped.
Underworld Warden 1WB
Creature - Zombie Undertaker (R)
Lifelink
Whenever a non-Undertaker creature you control would die, if Underworld Warden is on the battlefield, instead exile that creature until Underworld Warden leaves the battlefield. (Those creatures return to the battlefield.)
2/2
Underworld Gatekeeper 1BB
Creature - Human Wizard (R)
Deathtouch
Whenever another creature you control dies, exile it.
T: You may cast target card exiled by Underworld Gatekeeper. Activate this ability only any time you could cast a sorcery.
2/2
Enveloping Blob 2GG
Legendary Creature - Ooze (M)
Whenever you cast a creature spell, exile it and put a number of +1/+1 counters on each Ooze you control equal to that spell's converted mana cost.
Whenever you cast a non-creature spell, exile it and create a 2/2 green Ooze creature token.
When Enveloping Blob dies, target Ooze you control becomes a copy of Enveloping Blob.
2/2
Brain Picking 1B
Sorcery (R)
Name a nonland card. Search target player's graveyard, hand and library for any number of cards with the same name as that card and exile them. Then that player shuffles his or her library. Then for each card that player discarded that way, that player draws a card. Then for each card exiled from that player's graveyard, that player puts the top card of his or her library into their graveayard.
Boundless Frontier
Land (U)
A deck can have any number of cards named Boundless Frontier.
T: Add C to your mana pool.
3,T: Search your library for a card named Boundless Frontier and put it onto the battlefield tapped, then shuffle your library.
Seedling Tender G
Creature - Elf Druid (U)
T: Add G to your mana pool. Spend this mana only on spells with converted mana cost 2 or less.
3,T, sacrifice Seedling Tender: Draw a card.
1/1
Wandering Explorer G
Creature - Human Scout (U)
Sacrifice Wandering Explorer: Search your library for a land card and put it onto the battlefield. Sacrifice it at the beginning of the next end step.
1/1
Stitcher's Laboratory
Land (R)
When Stitcher's Laboratory enters the battlefield, search your library for a creature card and exile it face-down. Then shuffle your library.
T: Add C to your mana pool.
T: Reveal a card exiled with Stitcher's Laboratory. Exchange target creature spell you control with the exiled card if they have the same converted mana cost.
Keen-eyed Owl 1U
Creature - Bird (U)
Flying
When Keen-eyed Owl enters the battlefield, Catalog 2 (Exile the top two cards of your library face-down. You may look at your catalogued cards. Whenever you would draw a card from your library, you may draw one of your catalogued cards instead.)
1/1
Rockslide Elemental 2RR
Creature - Elemental (R)
Trample, Haste
Rockslide Elemental attacks each turn if able.
When Rockslide Elemental enters the battlefield, exile target land until Rockslide Elemental leaves the battlefield.
3/2
Guldar Ambusher 2RR
Creature - Human Barbarian (U)
First Strike
Onslaught 2RR (At the beginning of each combat step you may cast this card for its onslaught cost. If you do, it gains haste, and if it is alive at the end of combat, sacrifice it and draw a card.)
4/2
Automated Factory
Land (R)
T: Add CC to your mana pool. Spend this mana only to cast artifacts with converted mana cost 2.
Ancient Mage-Ring
Land - Mage-Ring (U)
A deck can have any number of cards named Ancient Mage-Ring.
T: Add C to your mana pool, then add C to your mana pool for every four Mage-Rings you control.
Thundercloud Elemental RR
Creature - Elemental (U)
Trample, Haste
When Thundercloud Elemental enters the battlefield, you may have it deal 3 damage to target creature. If you do, sacrifice Thundercloud Elemental.
3/1
Art is life itself.
"Sometimes, the situation is outracing a threat, sometimes it's ignoring it, and sometimes it involves sideboarding in 4x Hope//Pray." --Doug Linn
Yeah that's definitely how it should be templated, unless it was going to use a subtype, like an unusual one perhaps, thanks!
Yeah without being exile it would break graveyard decks like dredge. Otherwise it would be a forced mulligan with your opponent getting +1 card from it, but that would still be an unfun effect anyway because in the games it wins, it would just ruin people at the start.