Lovecraft, Scion of Providence2
Planeswalker - Howard
Starting loyalty: 2
{+0}: Create a 0/1 Eldrazi Spawn creature token with "Sacrifice this: Add C".
{-2}: Eldrazi Spawn creatures get +3/+0 until end of turn.
Ignis, Imp Pyrokinetic1RR
Planeswalker - Ignis
Starting loyalty: 1
[+1]: Ignis deals 1 damage to any target.
[-X]: X must be Ignis's entire loyalty. Ignis deals X damage to every target.
Forestsguy- Liliana Allegiant
This is definitely toned down from a mythic planeswalker, but the build is very similar to those. Giving it a -4 and a -6 gives it something like a mini ultimate and a true ultimate. Neither ability is back breaking, and the +1 isn't either (considering how much easier this is to interact with than Ill-Gotten Inheritance is). The danger here is only in the inherent power of versatility. This just might be uncommonable.
Subject16- Kaya, Orzhov Fugitive
I like blinking planeswalkers as much as the next guy, but we have Venser and Aminatou already, so I don't know that we need Kaya to add that to her wheelhouse. The main thing that makes this feel uncommonable is my least favorite thing about it: the first ability doesn't hate the opponent's graveyard. If I were reworking it, I'd make it eat from any graveyard with the +1, cut the -2, and leave the ult. The ult isn't overpowered, but it is very strong, and also doesn't feel extremely uncommonable considering that it's a 3 ability walker.
Graffd02- Dack Fayden, Master Thief Domestication is no small thing to do at uncommon, so giving it a plan B is pretty big game. The -1 can get you some pretty sweet card advantage, but it's nothing compared to some existing card-draw planeswalkers. This build feels promising, but the Domestication ability is just a bit over the top. I'd make it take something with power 2 or less.
Legend- Garruk, Wildslord
Once again, we have an optional sorcery ult: Desert Twister. Like Dack, once you use the -2, you can no longer use the twister, but unlike Dack, this has a 0 ability and costs six. It's the cost that makes this more uncommonable than anything. Still, like Dack with Domestication, Garruk gets Desert Twister plus other options without any additional cost. I'm a fan of desert twister, so I won't penalize it for being out of color pie, but it's is still dangerously strong and versatile for an uncommon, and once again feels slightly closer to rare.
VolrathTheRisen- Lovecraft, Scion of Providence and Ignus, Imp Pyrokinetic
So Howard is Awakening Zone. Its much easier to remove than Awakening Zone, so that doesn't make it non-uncommonable. I like the mini-ult works with this, and I think it fees about right. Despite being very strong if left unchecked, this dies to Shock or Wind Drake, and unlike most of the other cards here, you can't get your value out of it unless you let it sit for a few turns. This vulnerability makes it feel like the most uncommonable card I've seen yet. I also enjoy the double meaning of Providence.
For Ignus: This could just as easily be a Chandra. I wonder if you intended to leave it non-legendary. It makes sense for Ignus but less for Howard. This feels right. It's 1RR for a Prodigal Pyromancer that can eventually (but quite predictably) hit everything. The cost, loyalty, and ability balance all feels right. It's good, and would be worth more than most uncommons, but it feels decidedly uncommon. What I was really looking for here is cards that looked at the mechanical strengths and weaknesses of the planeswalker type and took those into consideration to make an uncommon version. This and Howard seem like the ones what really used the inherent fragility of planeswalkers to balance out uncommon designs.
Most of these feel like they're just on the verge between uncommon and rare. I think Volrath got the most uncommonable ones with Forestsguy coming closest.
Winner: VolrathTheRisen
Next: Anime tropes or icons
About the next challenge: Iconic anime characters, writers, series, movies, etc are all fine!
Nothing too obscure or it's unlikely I'll get the reference.
P.S. Re this bit, it's nice that you even considered it might be intentional. To be honest I just hurriedly copied my templating from way back when & spent longer thinking about the uncommonability than the type line. D'oh. To be fair, I did warn you! Still won though.
Teenage SchoolgirlB
Creature- Human
When a creature dies, put a level counter on Teenage Schoolgirl.
[1/1]
______________________________________________________________________________
{Lvl 7+} T: Destroy target Zombie, Spirit, Demon, Ninja, Horror, Warrior, Cyborg, or beast creature.
[5/5]
Yaoi Pairing2W
Enchantment- Aura
Enchant two creatures you control that are depicted as male in their artwork.
When you lose control of one of the enchanted creatures, sacrifice Yaoi Pairing at the beginning of the next end step.
Enchanted creatures get +2/+2 and gain "Sacrifice this creature: The other enchanted creature gains indestructible until end of turn." "You're telling me Naruto and Sasuke aren't a thing? Yeah right."
I like anime horror. Happy Sugar Life is a helluva trip. I also recommend Higurashi No Naku Koro Ni.
Something something Power Rangers/Gurren Lagann/Super Sendai/other mecha combining anime.
Motorized Amalgam5
Legendary Artifact - Vehicle (Mythic)
Motorized Amalgam can only be crewed by Vehicles.
Whenever one or more creatures crews Motorized Amalgam, it gets +X/+Y until end of turn, where X is their total power and Y their total toughness. If one of those creatures has flying, Motorized Amalgam also gains flying until end of turn. The same is true for first strike, deathtouch, double strike, haste, hexproof, indestructible, lifelink, menace, reach, trample and vigilance.
Crew 5
5/5
Vampire Hunter (Rare) 2(W/B)(W/B)
Creature - Vampire
4/4
Lifelink
Pay 4 life: Return Vampire Hunter from your graveyard to the battlefield tapped. Activate this ability only during your upkeep and only if you have at least 4 life more than your starting life total.
All the submissions so far have been great. I'm not sure I can compete.
Stupid But Tough3RG
Enchantment - Aura {R}
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature loses first strike, double strike, vigilance, and reach and cannot gain those abilities.
Enchanted creature gains indestructible, trample, and hexproof.
Enchanted creature gets +0/+5. "He just REFUSES to die."
IIW: Deadpool, Deadpool-themed, or Deadpool-related
One Punch XG
Sorcery U
Target creature gets +X/+0 and gains trample until end of turn. When that creature deals combat damage to a player this turn, draw that many cards.
Can't believe no one's picked the low hanging fruit yet.
Humming with Power1R
Enchantment (R)
At the beginning of your upkeep, put a charge counter on Humming with Power.
Sacrifice Humming with Power: Until end of turn, if a source you control would deal noncombat damage to a permanent or player, it deals that much damage plus X to that permanent or player instead, where X is the number of charge counters on Humming with Power.
Heirloom Katana 2
Artifact--Equipment (rare)
as heirloom Katana enters the battlefield, choose a creature type
Whenever a creature of the chosen type you control enters or leaves the battlefield put a blood counter on Heirloom Katana
Equipped creature is a samurai in addition to its other types, gets +x/+x, and has bushido X. X is the number of blood counters on Heirloom Katana
Equip 3
iiw gothic tropes
Private Mod Note
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你好 have you eaten?
I'm a simple Magic player since 1 year ago from China. Now I live in New Jersey.
Mergatroid_Jones - Teenage Schoolgirl & Yaoi Pairing
SAC: In terms of printability, these would clearly be un-cards. In that context the first is more fun but the second is more funny & indeed interesting. I can see plenty of suitably frivolous arguments over whether particular creatures "look male" or not. A nod to the height rule could have been fun here. 2.5/5
ANM: Not sure I get why the schoolgirl heroine has black colour identity? Sure, she kills things. But she kills EVIL things. Doesn't that make her a good person? Both very good tropes to call out though. Happy with this. 3/5
+0.5 bonus points for a recommendation that I'll genuinely check out. Thanks! TOTAL: 6/10
Subject16 - Motorized Amalgam
SAC: Paying 5 & meeting the condition of having 5 power of crewed Vehicles seems like it should yield more reward than +5/+5 and an "extra life". Daybreak Coronet gave +3/+3 (plus actively granting multiple new abilities) for CMC 2 with a less arduous condition. By that measuring stick, this seems underpowered for something which is thematically implied to be your wincon. 2/5
ANM: "Motorized Amalgam can only be crewed by Vehicles" is my favourite line of text on any entry into this round. That is all. 4.5/5 TOTAL: 6.5/10
Legend - Vampire Hunter
SAC: On one hand, I traditionally dislike "win more" designs. But I also like "life gain matters" so long as it doesn't just stall the game. Huh. I'm kind of conflicted here. All in all 4/4 hybrid lifelink for CMC 4 seems reasonable & strong enough to be fun even if the (massive) upside will only rarely make a difference to who wins. 3.5/5
ANM: This just FEELS romantic through and through. For some reason I imagine that when the ability is activated, it stands up like a tree falling in reverse. The traditional over-cinematic "vampire arising from the crypt" motion. So that's a lovely piece of bonus flavour. 4/5 TOTAL: 7.5/10
Stille_Nacht - Omai Wa//Shinderu
SAC: Okay, this is neat. Elegant & powerful if cast together, but with a colour-intensive enough total cost that it doesn't feel overpowered. The second half really needs to either target or confirm that it hits all opponents. I think it targets - which again keeps it from being overpowered. This is a just-plain-good design. 4/5
ANM: Meme, but also something I laughed at 20yrs ago. Awesome entry all round. 4/5 TOTAL: 8/10
mirrislegend - Stupid But Tough
SAC: That's a lot of cost & a lot of words for an effect which doesn't have a great deal of upside over Shielded by Faith. Also not really feeling this as red. Green can grant Trample on its own just fine, and everything else here is protective. 2/5
ANM: STRONG reminder of Yasutora Sado & other similarly archetypical indestructible bros. So that's a big success. Wow, I wish that Ichigo had full-on died about 3 series in & he'd taken over as main character. Not sure I get why this doesn't just remove ALL pre-existing abilities? That would seem more memorable, flavourful & useful. Ultimately I do have a lot of affection for this though. 3.5/5 TOTAL: 5.5/10
Sephon19 - One Punch
SAC: Whoa. That's some VERY effective green card draw. Not sure that what this does when dropped for G on the largest creature in play is anywhere near okay, especially when benchmarking against Soul's Majesty's cost. That said, this is a sorcery & that introduces a lot of situational conditions to actually getting this to work. So it's closer to okay than it could have been... & if I set my worry aside then I'll admit this is an inspired design. 3/5
ANM: Okay. I get the reference in the name. I haven't watched the show yet, so I don't know whether it's appropriate that this draws cards so effectively. Better give it a fairly upbeat neutral rating & move on. 3.5/5 TOTAL: 6.5/10
void_nothing - Humming with Power
SAC: Fun, flavourful, splashy & viable as a wincon for the right deck (probably involving a swarm from e.g. Elemental Mastery or Pyrohemia/Shivan Hellkite style effects). Nothing to dislike here. 4/5
ANM: Snrk. It's that whole thing about DBZ multi-episodic fight pacing, isn't it? And the like. Made me chuckle. 4/5 TOTAL: 8/10
kwanyeegor - Heirloom Katana
SAC: Strongly reminded me of Door of Destinies, just more concentrated. Probably weaker overall but more mechanically interesting. Absolutely fine as an omni-tribal beatstick. 3.5/5
ANM: You could print several alt art versions of this before I'd get tired of it. Really evocative design. Maybe not so much anime as it is Japanese storytelling generally... but that's splitting hairs. This trope turns up in plenty of anime & is captured beautifully, so it deserves a good rating. 4/5 TOTAL: 7.5/10
Aaaaaaad we end this episode with a climatic standoff between the overblown fighting techniques of two epic rivals. Seems apt.
WINNER: void_nothing, because I've gone against you in several tie-breaks since I came back. And also because you channeled all the fighting spirit of your proud warrior ancestors into a single punch. Obvs.
HONORABLE MENTIONS: Stille_Nacht & Legend
Next: Powerful multicolor cards with trinket text.
Optopod(G/U)
Creature- Homunculus (U) T, Sacrifice Optopod: Draw a card. "I keep trying to count the eyes and another one opens." -Thimbald, Biomage's Assistant
1/1
Irascible Telepath1BUW
Creature- Vedalken Wizard (R)
Each opponent plays with the top card of their libraries revealed.
You may play cards from the top of opponents' libraries.
Hexproof from cards sharing the name of cards revealed with Irascible Telepath.
2/4
Dealer of Torments3BR
Creature - Demon (Rare)
If a player would draw a card, instead that player reveals the top two cards of their library, loses life equal to the greatest converted mana cost among cards revealed this way, and put both into their hand. 1, Sacrifice an Imp or Devil: Draw a card.
Undying (If this creature would die while it has no +1/+1 counters on it, return it to the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter on it.) Who wouldn't take the deal?
5/3
Octani, Obscurist of Origins (Rare) GU
Legendary Creature - Merfolk Shaman
3/2
This spell can't be countered.
Flash
Hexproof
Lands you control have hexproof.
Oops... guess I meesed out on the anime one.... Hiding it and making one for next challenge...
Capture Ball4
Artifact (R)
You may choose not to untap Capture Ball during your untap phase. T : Exile target creature with toughness 2 or less.
As long as Capture Ball remains tapped, You may cast cards put into exile with Capture Ball without paying their mana cost.
When Capture Ball becomes untapped, Each player gains control of all creatures they own that you control. "I choose You!"
EvaporateXWR
Sorcery
Evaporate deals X times 2 damage to all creatures.
Destroy all creatures with islandwalk. "I stood and watched, helpless as their blood boiled within them." - Unknown
IIW: Commander card that could go in any commander deck.
I don't understand the next challenge: Powerful multicolor cards with trinket text.
What is "trinket text"?
Trinket text is a small, usually flavorful ability (or two) that tend to be irrelevant in most games. see: Baneslayer Angel and Eye Gouge for reference
Private Mod Note
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Legacy: Strawberry Shortcake, Aggro Loam, DnT+b
Modern: Devoted Karn
Vintage: Survival
Give it say 3 hours. I'll judge whether or not there are any more entries.
Low-power cube enthusiast!
My 1570 card cube (no longer updated)
My 415 Peasant+ Artifact and Enchantment Cube
Ever-Expanding "Just throw it in" cube.
Planeswalker - Howard
Starting loyalty: 2
{+0}: Create a 0/1 Eldrazi Spawn creature token with "Sacrifice this: Add C".
{-2}: Eldrazi Spawn creatures get +3/+0 until end of turn.
Ignis, Imp Pyrokinetic 1RR
Planeswalker - Ignis
Starting loyalty: 1
[+1]: Ignis deals 1 damage to any target.
[-X]: X must be Ignis's entire loyalty. Ignis deals X damage to every target.
IIW: Anime tropes or icons
Forestsguy- Liliana Allegiant
This is definitely toned down from a mythic planeswalker, but the build is very similar to those. Giving it a -4 and a -6 gives it something like a mini ultimate and a true ultimate. Neither ability is back breaking, and the +1 isn't either (considering how much easier this is to interact with than Ill-Gotten Inheritance is). The danger here is only in the inherent power of versatility. This just might be uncommonable.
Subject16- Kaya, Orzhov Fugitive
I like blinking planeswalkers as much as the next guy, but we have Venser and Aminatou already, so I don't know that we need Kaya to add that to her wheelhouse. The main thing that makes this feel uncommonable is my least favorite thing about it: the first ability doesn't hate the opponent's graveyard. If I were reworking it, I'd make it eat from any graveyard with the +1, cut the -2, and leave the ult. The ult isn't overpowered, but it is very strong, and also doesn't feel extremely uncommonable considering that it's a 3 ability walker.
Graffd02- Dack Fayden, Master Thief
Domestication is no small thing to do at uncommon, so giving it a plan B is pretty big game. The -1 can get you some pretty sweet card advantage, but it's nothing compared to some existing card-draw planeswalkers. This build feels promising, but the Domestication ability is just a bit over the top. I'd make it take something with power 2 or less.
Legend- Garruk, Wildslord
Once again, we have an optional sorcery ult: Desert Twister. Like Dack, once you use the -2, you can no longer use the twister, but unlike Dack, this has a 0 ability and costs six. It's the cost that makes this more uncommonable than anything. Still, like Dack with Domestication, Garruk gets Desert Twister plus other options without any additional cost. I'm a fan of desert twister, so I won't penalize it for being out of color pie, but it's is still dangerously strong and versatile for an uncommon, and once again feels slightly closer to rare.
VolrathTheRisen- Lovecraft, Scion of Providence and Ignus, Imp Pyrokinetic
So Howard is Awakening Zone. Its much easier to remove than Awakening Zone, so that doesn't make it non-uncommonable. I like the mini-ult works with this, and I think it fees about right. Despite being very strong if left unchecked, this dies to Shock or Wind Drake, and unlike most of the other cards here, you can't get your value out of it unless you let it sit for a few turns. This vulnerability makes it feel like the most uncommonable card I've seen yet. I also enjoy the double meaning of Providence.
For Ignus: This could just as easily be a Chandra. I wonder if you intended to leave it non-legendary. It makes sense for Ignus but less for Howard. This feels right. It's 1RR for a Prodigal Pyromancer that can eventually (but quite predictably) hit everything. The cost, loyalty, and ability balance all feels right. It's good, and would be worth more than most uncommons, but it feels decidedly uncommon. What I was really looking for here is cards that looked at the mechanical strengths and weaknesses of the planeswalker type and took those into consideration to make an uncommon version. This and Howard seem like the ones what really used the inherent fragility of planeswalkers to balance out uncommon designs.
Most of these feel like they're just on the verge between uncommon and rare. I think Volrath got the most uncommonable ones with Forestsguy coming closest.
Winner: VolrathTheRisen
Next: Anime tropes or icons
Low-power cube enthusiast!
My 1570 card cube (no longer updated)
My 415 Peasant+ Artifact and Enchantment Cube
Ever-Expanding "Just throw it in" cube.
Nothing too obscure or it's unlikely I'll get the reference.
P.S. Re this bit, it's nice that you even considered it might be intentional. To be honest I just hurriedly copied my templating from way back when & spent longer thinking about the uncommonability than the type line. D'oh. To be fair, I did warn you! Still won though.
Creature- Human
When a creature dies, put a level counter on Teenage Schoolgirl.
[1/1]
______________________________________________________________________________
{Lvl 7+} T: Destroy target Zombie, Spirit, Demon, Ninja, Horror, Warrior, Cyborg, or beast creature.
[5/5]
Yaoi Pairing 2W
Enchantment- Aura
Enchant two creatures you control that are depicted as male in their artwork.
When you lose control of one of the enchanted creatures, sacrifice Yaoi Pairing at the beginning of the next end step.
Enchanted creatures get +2/+2 and gain "Sacrifice this creature: The other enchanted creature gains indestructible until end of turn."
"You're telling me Naruto and Sasuke aren't a thing? Yeah right."
IIW: An underused mechanic.
Low-power cube enthusiast!
My 1570 card cube (no longer updated)
My 415 Peasant+ Artifact and Enchantment Cube
Ever-Expanding "Just throw it in" cube.
Motorized Amalgam 5
Legendary Artifact - Vehicle (Mythic)
Motorized Amalgam can only be crewed by Vehicles.
Whenever one or more creatures crews Motorized Amalgam, it gets +X/+Y until end of turn, where X is their total power and Y their total toughness. If one of those creatures has flying, Motorized Amalgam also gains flying until end of turn. The same is true for first strike, deathtouch, double strike, haste, hexproof, indestructible, lifelink, menace, reach, trample and vigilance.
Crew 5
5/5
IIW: Vehicles
2(W/B)(W/B)
Creature - Vampire
4/4
Lifelink
Pay 4 life: Return Vampire Hunter from your graveyard to the battlefield tapped. Activate this ability only during your upkeep and only if you have at least 4 life more than your starting life total.
iiw: multicolored fighting
I think the group has more anime stories to tell though. Just my hunch.
U
Instant
Target creature is unblockable this turn
Shinderu
BB
Instant
Aftermath - If an opponent was dealt damage this turn, that player sacrifices target creature.
NANI?!
iiw: make a lynchpin card for an unused tribe.
UWUW ControlUW
UGWSpiritsUGW
GHardened ScalesG
WGRUKiki PodWGRU [RIP]
Stupid But Tough 3RG
Enchantment - Aura {R}
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature loses first strike, double strike, vigilance, and reach and cannot gain those abilities.
Enchanted creature gains indestructible, trample, and hexproof.
Enchanted creature gets +0/+5.
"He just REFUSES to die."
IIW: Deadpool, Deadpool-themed, or Deadpool-related
Legacy: Strawberry Shortcake, Aggro Loam, DnT+b
Modern: Devoted Karn
Vintage: Survival
Sorcery U
Target creature gets +X/+0 and gains trample until end of turn. When that creature deals combat damage to a player this turn, draw that many cards.
Next: Hybrid commons
Humming with Power 1R
Enchantment (R)
At the beginning of your upkeep, put a charge counter on Humming with Power.
Sacrifice Humming with Power: Until end of turn, if a source you control would deal noncombat damage to a permanent or player, it deals that much damage plus X to that permanent or player instead, where X is the number of charge counters on Humming with Power.
I̟̥͍̠ͅn̩͉̣͍̬͚ͅ ̬̬͖t̯̹̞̺͖͓̯̤h̘͍̬e͙̯͈̖̼̮ ̭̬f̺̲̲̪i͙͉̟̩̰r̪̝͚͈̝̥͍̝̲s̼̻͇̘̳͔ͅt̲̺̳̗̜̪̙ ̳̺̥̻͚̗ͅm̜̜̟̰͈͓͎͇o̝̖̮̝͇m̯̻̞̼̫̗͓̤e̩̯̬̮̩n͎̱̪̲̹͖t͇̖s̰̮ͅ,̤̲͙̻̭̻̯̹̰ ̖t̫̙̺̯͖͚̯ͅh͙̯̦̳̗̰̟e͖̪͉̼̯ ̪͕g̞̣͔a̗̦t̬̬͓͙̫̖̭̻e̩̻̯ ̜̖̦̖̤̭͙̬t̞̹̥̪͎͉ͅo͕͚͍͇̲͇͓̺ ̭̬͙͈̣̻t͈͍͙͓̫̖͙̩h̪̬̖̙e̗͈ ̗̬̟̞̺̤͉̯ͅa̦̯͚̙̜̮f͉͙̲̣̞̼t̪̤̞̣͚e̲͉̳̥r͇̪̙͚͓l̥̞̞͎̹̯̹ͅi͓̬f̮̥̬̞͈ͅe͎ ̟̩̤̳̠̯̩̯o̮̘̲p̟͚̣̞͉͓e͍̩̣n͔̼͕͚̜e̬̱d̼̘͎̖̹͍̮̠,͖̺̭̱̮ ̣̲͖̬̪̭̥a̪͚n̟̲̝̤̤̞̗d̘̱̗͇̮͕̳͕͔ ͖̞͉͎t̹̙͎h̰̱͉̗e̪̞̱̝̹̩ͅ ̠̱̩̭̦p̯̙e͓o̳͚̰̯̺̱̰͔̘p̬͎̱̣̼̩͇l̗̟̖͚̠e̱͉͔̱̦̬̟̙ ̖͚̪͔̼̦w̺̖̤̱e͖̗̻̦͓̖̘̜r̭̥e͔̹̫̱͕̦̰͕ ̗͔̠p̠̗͍͍̱̳̠r̰͔͎̰o͉̥͓̰͚̥s̟͚̹̱͔̣t͉̙̳̖͖̪̮r̥̘̥͙̹a͉̟̫̟̳̠̟̭t͈̜̰͈͎e̞̣̭̲̬ ͚̗̯̟͙i͍͖̰̘̦͖͉ṇ̮̻̯̦̲̩͍ ̦̮͚̫̤t͉͖̫͕ͅͅh͙̮̻̘̣̮̼e͕̺ ͙l͕̠͎̰̥i̲͓͉̲g̫̳̟͈͇̖h̠̦̖t͓̯͎̗ ̳̪̘̟̙̩̦o̫̲f̙͔̰̙̠ ̹̪̗͇̯t͖̼̼͉͖̬h̹͇̩e͚̖̺̤͉̹͕̪ ͚͓̭̝̺G͎̗̯̩o̫̯̮̟̮̳̘d̜̲͙̠-̩̳̯̲̗̜P̹̘̥͉̝h͍͈̗̖̝ͅa͍̗̮̼̗r̜̖͇̙̺a̭̺͔̞̳͈o̪̣͓̯̬͙̯̰̗h̖̦͈̥̯͔.͇̣̙̝
Artifact--Equipment (rare)
as heirloom Katana enters the battlefield, choose a creature type
Whenever a creature of the chosen type you control enters or leaves the battlefield put a blood counter on Heirloom Katana
Equipped creature is a samurai in addition to its other types, gets +x/+x, and has bushido X. X is the number of blood counters on Heirloom Katana
Equip 3
iiw gothic tropes
I'm a simple Magic player since 1 year ago from China. Now I live in New Jersey.
Does it get any lower than Vampire Hunter D... G-Force... Star Blazers? 😆
1) StandAlone Card rating (SAC)
2) ANiMe rating (ANM)
SAC: In terms of printability, these would clearly be un-cards. In that context the first is more fun but the second is more funny & indeed interesting. I can see plenty of suitably frivolous arguments over whether particular creatures "look male" or not. A nod to the height rule could have been fun here. 2.5/5
ANM: Not sure I get why the schoolgirl heroine has black colour identity? Sure, she kills things. But she kills EVIL things. Doesn't that make her a good person? Both very good tropes to call out though. Happy with this. 3/5
+0.5 bonus points for a recommendation that I'll genuinely check out. Thanks!
TOTAL: 6/10
Subject16 - Motorized Amalgam
SAC: Paying 5 & meeting the condition of having 5 power of crewed Vehicles seems like it should yield more reward than +5/+5 and an "extra life". Daybreak Coronet gave +3/+3 (plus actively granting multiple new abilities) for CMC 2 with a less arduous condition. By that measuring stick, this seems underpowered for something which is thematically implied to be your wincon. 2/5
ANM: "Motorized Amalgam can only be crewed by Vehicles" is my favourite line of text on any entry into this round. That is all. 4.5/5
TOTAL: 6.5/10
Legend - Vampire Hunter
SAC: On one hand, I traditionally dislike "win more" designs. But I also like "life gain matters" so long as it doesn't just stall the game. Huh. I'm kind of conflicted here. All in all 4/4 hybrid lifelink for CMC 4 seems reasonable & strong enough to be fun even if the (massive) upside will only rarely make a difference to who wins. 3.5/5
ANM: This just FEELS romantic through and through. For some reason I imagine that when the ability is activated, it stands up like a tree falling in reverse. The traditional over-cinematic "vampire arising from the crypt" motion. So that's a lovely piece of bonus flavour. 4/5
TOTAL: 7.5/10
Stille_Nacht - Omai Wa//Shinderu
SAC: Okay, this is neat. Elegant & powerful if cast together, but with a colour-intensive enough total cost that it doesn't feel overpowered. The second half really needs to either target or confirm that it hits all opponents. I think it targets - which again keeps it from being overpowered. This is a just-plain-good design. 4/5
ANM: Meme, but also something I laughed at 20yrs ago. Awesome entry all round. 4/5
TOTAL: 8/10
mirrislegend - Stupid But Tough
SAC: That's a lot of cost & a lot of words for an effect which doesn't have a great deal of upside over Shielded by Faith. Also not really feeling this as red. Green can grant Trample on its own just fine, and everything else here is protective. 2/5
ANM: STRONG reminder of Yasutora Sado & other similarly archetypical indestructible bros. So that's a big success.
TOTAL: 5.5/10
Sephon19 - One Punch
SAC: Whoa. That's some VERY effective green card draw. Not sure that what this does when dropped for G on the largest creature in play is anywhere near okay, especially when benchmarking against Soul's Majesty's cost. That said, this is a sorcery & that introduces a lot of situational conditions to actually getting this to work. So it's closer to okay than it could have been... & if I set my worry aside then I'll admit this is an inspired design. 3/5
ANM: Okay. I get the reference in the name. I haven't watched the show yet, so I don't know whether it's appropriate that this draws cards so effectively. Better give it a fairly upbeat neutral rating & move on. 3.5/5
TOTAL: 6.5/10
void_nothing - Humming with Power
SAC: Fun, flavourful, splashy & viable as a wincon for the right deck (probably involving a swarm from e.g. Elemental Mastery or Pyrohemia/Shivan Hellkite style effects). Nothing to dislike here. 4/5
ANM: Snrk. It's that whole thing about DBZ multi-episodic fight pacing, isn't it? And the like. Made me chuckle. 4/5
TOTAL: 8/10
kwanyeegor - Heirloom Katana
SAC: Strongly reminded me of Door of Destinies, just more concentrated. Probably weaker overall but more mechanically interesting. Absolutely fine as an omni-tribal beatstick. 3.5/5
ANM: You could print several alt art versions of this before I'd get tired of it. Really evocative design. Maybe not so much anime as it is Japanese storytelling generally... but that's splitting hairs. This trope turns up in plenty of anime & is captured beautifully, so it deserves a good rating. 4/5
TOTAL: 7.5/10
Aaaaaaad we end this episode with a climatic standoff between the overblown fighting techniques of two epic rivals. Seems apt.
WINNER: void_nothing, because I've gone against you in several tie-breaks since I came back. And also because you channeled all the fighting spirit of your proud warrior ancestors into a single punch. Obvs.
HONORABLE MENTIONS: Stille_Nacht & Legend
Optopod (G/U)Creature- Homunculus (U)
T, Sacrifice Optopod: Draw a card.
"I keep trying to count the eyes and another one opens." -Thimbald, Biomage's Assistant
1/1
Irascible Telepath 1BUW
Creature- Vedalken Wizard (R)
Each opponent plays with the top card of their libraries revealed.
You may play cards from the top of opponents' libraries.
Hexproof from cards sharing the name of cards revealed with Irascible Telepath.
2/4
IIW: Sagas. (heh, that word's a palindrome.)
Low-power cube enthusiast!
My 1570 card cube (no longer updated)
My 415 Peasant+ Artifact and Enchantment Cube
Ever-Expanding "Just throw it in" cube.
Creature - Demon (Rare)
If a player would draw a card, instead that player reveals the top two cards of their library, loses life equal to the greatest converted mana cost among cards revealed this way, and put both into their hand.
1, Sacrifice an Imp or Devil: Draw a card.
Undying (If this creature would die while it has no +1/+1 counters on it, return it to the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter on it.)
Who wouldn't take the deal?
5/3
IIW: Color pie breaks
GU
Legendary Creature - Merfolk Shaman
3/2
This spell can't be countered.
Flash
Hexproof
Lands you control have hexproof.
iiw: multicolored fighting
Artifact (R)
You may choose not to untap Capture Ball during your untap phase.
T : Exile target creature with toughness 2 or less.
As long as Capture Ball remains tapped, You may cast cards put into exile with Capture Ball without paying their mana cost.
When Capture Ball becomes untapped, Each player gains control of all creatures they own that you control.
"I choose You!"
Evaporate XWR
Sorcery
Evaporate deals X times 2 damage to all creatures.
Destroy all creatures with islandwalk.
"I stood and watched, helpless as their blood boiled within them." - Unknown
IIW: Commander card that could go in any commander deck.
What is "trinket text"?
Legacy: Strawberry Shortcake, Aggro Loam, DnT+b
Modern: Devoted Karn
Vintage: Survival
I̟̥͍̠ͅn̩͉̣͍̬͚ͅ ̬̬͖t̯̹̞̺͖͓̯̤h̘͍̬e͙̯͈̖̼̮ ̭̬f̺̲̲̪i͙͉̟̩̰r̪̝͚͈̝̥͍̝̲s̼̻͇̘̳͔ͅt̲̺̳̗̜̪̙ ̳̺̥̻͚̗ͅm̜̜̟̰͈͓͎͇o̝̖̮̝͇m̯̻̞̼̫̗͓̤e̩̯̬̮̩n͎̱̪̲̹͖t͇̖s̰̮ͅ,̤̲͙̻̭̻̯̹̰ ̖t̫̙̺̯͖͚̯ͅh͙̯̦̳̗̰̟e͖̪͉̼̯ ̪͕g̞̣͔a̗̦t̬̬͓͙̫̖̭̻e̩̻̯ ̜̖̦̖̤̭͙̬t̞̹̥̪͎͉ͅo͕͚͍͇̲͇͓̺ ̭̬͙͈̣̻t͈͍͙͓̫̖͙̩h̪̬̖̙e̗͈ ̗̬̟̞̺̤͉̯ͅa̦̯͚̙̜̮f͉͙̲̣̞̼t̪̤̞̣͚e̲͉̳̥r͇̪̙͚͓l̥̞̞͎̹̯̹ͅi͓̬f̮̥̬̞͈ͅe͎ ̟̩̤̳̠̯̩̯o̮̘̲p̟͚̣̞͉͓e͍̩̣n͔̼͕͚̜e̬̱d̼̘͎̖̹͍̮̠,͖̺̭̱̮ ̣̲͖̬̪̭̥a̪͚n̟̲̝̤̤̞̗d̘̱̗͇̮͕̳͕͔ ͖̞͉͎t̹̙͎h̰̱͉̗e̪̞̱̝̹̩ͅ ̠̱̩̭̦p̯̙e͓o̳͚̰̯̺̱̰͔̘p̬͎̱̣̼̩͇l̗̟̖͚̠e̱͉͔̱̦̬̟̙ ̖͚̪͔̼̦w̺̖̤̱e͖̗̻̦͓̖̘̜r̭̥e͔̹̫̱͕̦̰͕ ̗͔̠p̠̗͍͍̱̳̠r̰͔͎̰o͉̥͓̰͚̥s̟͚̹̱͔̣t͉̙̳̖͖̪̮r̥̘̥͙̹a͉̟̫̟̳̠̟̭t͈̜̰͈͎e̞̣̭̲̬ ͚̗̯̟͙i͍͖̰̘̦͖͉ṇ̮̻̯̦̲̩͍ ̦̮͚̫̤t͉͖̫͕ͅͅh͙̮̻̘̣̮̼e͕̺ ͙l͕̠͎̰̥i̲͓͉̲g̫̳̟͈͇̖h̠̦̖t͓̯͎̗ ̳̪̘̟̙̩̦o̫̲f̙͔̰̙̠ ̹̪̗͇̯t͖̼̼͉͖̬h̹͇̩e͚̖̺̤͉̹͕̪ ͚͓̭̝̺G͎̗̯̩o̫̯̮̟̮̳̘d̜̲͙̠-̩̳̯̲̗̜P̹̘̥͉̝h͍͈̗̖̝ͅa͍̗̮̼̗r̜̖͇̙̺a̭̺͔̞̳͈o̪̣͓̯̬͙̯̰̗h̖̦͈̥̯͔.͇̣̙̝
Trinket text is a small, usually flavorful ability (or two) that tend to be irrelevant in most games. see: Baneslayer Angel and Eye Gouge for reference