Let's return to a classic theme this month - watching a legend progress.
Every fantasy weapon needs a worthy wielder, of course. Think Mjolnir and Thor, Excalibur and Arthur, Kusanagi-no-tsurugi and Susanoo.
Main Challenge: Design a legendary creature card whose color identity includes your Round 1 card's colors. In other words, your legend must be able to use your round 1 card in a Commander deck.
Subchallenge 1: Your card has a converted mana cost of 3 or less. Subchallenge 2: Your card has a "lord" ability; i.e., it grants a bonus to a certain creature type.
Please message me about any questions you might have about the challenges. Other than that, have fun, and good luck!
None yet.
Design Deadline: All submissions are to be final and submitted by November 16th 11:59 PM EST
Judging Deadline: All Judgements are to be final and completed by November 19th 11:59 PM 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.
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.
Andari's Banner1WW
Legendary Artifact — Equipment (R)
Creatures you control get +1/+1.
As long as equipped creature has flying, each other creature you control has flying. The same is true for first strike, double strike, deathtouch, haste, hexproof, indestructible, lifelink, menace, reach, trample, and vigilance.
Equip 3
Andari, Venerable Captain1WW
Legendary Creature — Human Soldier (R)
First strike
Whenever a Human you control attacks, create a 1/1 white Spirit creature token with flying that is tapped and attacking. Exile that token at end of combat. "Fear not my brothers, for we do not fight alone, but with generations of our forefathers by our sides."
3/2
(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)
Shashara, Lady of the Dark Legions1WB
Legendary Creature - Human Wizard (M)
Tap another untapped Human you control, put a Breath counter on Shashara, Lady of the Dark Legions.
Remove X Breath counters from Shashara: Exile target creature card with converted mana cost X from your Graveyard. Create a token that's a copy of that card, except it's a black Zombie, and it has no converted mana cost.
Sacrifice a Zombie: Regenerate another target Human.
2/3 They gave her their souls, and she gave them an army to fight in their stead.
Kovan’s Hammer2RR
Legendary Artifact — Equipment (M)
Equipped creature gets +2/+0 and has haste. R, T: Kovan’s Hammer deals 2 damage to target creature or player. Activate this ability only once each turn and only if Kovan’s Hammer is not attached to a creature.
As long as Kovan’s Hammer is tapped, it can’t be attached to a creature.
Equip 0
Kovan, Ingenious Blacksmith1UR
Legendary Creature — Human Artificer (R)
Haste
Other Artificer creatures you control get +1/+1.
Whenever Kovan, Ingenious Blacksmith deals combat damage to a player, you may tap or untap target artifact. “I’ve been a master blacksmith for most of my life. Now my work inspires a whole new generation of artificers.”
2/3
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
MCC - Winner (6): Oct 2014, Apr Nov 2017, Jan 2018, Apr Jun 2019 || Host (15): Dec 2014, Apr Jul Aug Dec 2015, Mar Jul Aug Oct 2016, Feb Jul 2017, Jun Nov 2018, Feb Jul 2019 (last one here) || Judge (34): every month from Nov 2014 to Nov 2016 except Oct 2015, every month from Feb to Jul 2017 except Apr 2017, then Oct 2017, May Jun Nov 2018, Feb Jul 2019 (last one here) CCL - Winner (3): Jul 2016 (tied with Flatline), May 2017, Jul 2019 (last one here) || Host (5): Feb 2015, Mar Apr May Jun 2016 DCC - Winner (1): Mar 2015 (tied with Piar) || Host (3): May Oct 2015, Jan 2016
• The two public custom sets I've been part a part of the design team for: "Brotherhood of Ormos" - Blog post with all info - set thread - design skeleton / card list || "Extinctia: Homo Evanuit" - Blog post with all info - set thread - card list spreadsheet
• "The Lion's Lair", my article series about MTG and custom card design in particular. Latest article here. Here is the article index.Rather outdated by now, and based on the old MCC rubric, but I'm leaving this here for anybody that might be interested anyway.
• My only public attempt at being a writer: the story of my Leonin custom planeswalker Jeff Lionheart. (I have a very big one that I'm working on right now but that's private for now, and I don't know if I will ever actually publish it, and I also have ideas for multiple future ones, including one where I'm going to reprise Jeff.)
Sekron, Lord of the Unliving (Mythic) (W/B)(W/B)(W/B)
Legendary Creature - God
1/1
Skeleton, Spirit, Vampire, and Zombie creatures you control get +1/+1.
Indestructible
Sekron, Lord of the Unliving gets +1/+1 for each Skeleton, Spirit, Vampire, and Zombie you control.
Ushera, Crown of Eternal Royality4WB
Legendary Artifact - Equipment (Mythic)
When Ushera enters the battlefield, you become the monarch.
You can't lose the monarchy.
Equipped creature is legendary and has vigilance, indestructible, lifelink and it can block any number of creatures. Endless kingdom rise and fall at Ushera's whims.
Equip 6
Oramus, Ushera's First Crowned1WB
Legendary Creature - Avatar (Mythic)
As Oramus, Ushera's First Crowned enters the battlefield, choose a creature type.
Other creatures of the chosen type are indestructible.
Other creatures without the chosen type lose all abilities and have base power and toughness 1/1.
2/2
Azune, The Tsunami Horn2UU
Legendary Artifact - Equipment (R)
Whenever equipped creature attacks, creatures defending player control get -X/-0 until end of turn, where X is the equipped creatures power.
Equipped creature can't be blocked by creatures with 0 power.
Equip 1U
Omniosos, Mass AmasserGUB
Legendary Creature - Ooze (R)
Other Ooze creatures you control enter the battlefield with an additional +1/+1 counter on it for each +1/+1 counter on Omniosos, Mass Amasser.
Whenever an Ooze creature you control dies, put 2 +1/+1 counters on Omniosos.
1/1
The Black Mortar of YigBB
Legendary Artifact - Equipment (R)
Equipped creature has flying, menace, and "B, Pay 1 life, Put the top card of your library into your graveyard, Discard a card, T: Destroy target creature."
Equip 3 Yig the Hag Queen flies far and wide looking for the proper ingredients to her foul potions, and she brings the tools of her trade with her.
Nana Yig1UB
Legendary Creature - Hag Shaman (MR)
Deathtouch
Tap an untapped Hag creature you control: Reveal the top three cards of your library. Put any Hag or Zombie creature cards revealed this way into your hand and the rest into your graveyard.
Tap three untapped Hag creatures you control, X: Return target creature card in a graveyard to the battlefield under your control. It is a Zombie in addition to its other creature types.
1/3
Raiments of Asha2GWU
Legendary Artifact - Equipment {M}
Creatures you control have exalted. (If a creature has multiple instances of exalted, each triggers separately.)
Equipped creature has flying and vigilance, and is an Angel in addition to its other types.
As long as equipped creature is attacking alone, it has trample, indestructible, and can't be blocked by more than one creature.
Equip 3
Ayesha, Asura of RedemptionGWU
Legendary Creature - Angel {R}
Flying, lifelink
Other Angel creatures you control get +1/+1 have lifelink. For Unbeholden willing to repent, she is the only salvation in all of the Topan savannahs. 3/3
Argeo, Quicksilver ShaperWU
Legendary Creature - Human Artificer (r)
As long as Argeo, Quicksilver Shaper is equipped or enchanted, Human creatures you control have +1/+1 and hexproof. 2WU: Gain control of target aura or equipment, then attach it to a Human creature you control.
2/2
Soulreaper, the Insatiable4BB
Legendary Artifact - Equipment (M)
Equipped creature gets +3/+1 and has deathtouch and “Whenever this creature attacks, defending player sacrifices a creature.”
Whenever a creature an opponent controls dies, create a 2/2 black Zombie creature token.
Equip—Sacrifice a creature
Yizzy, Corpse Herder1BB
Legendary Creature - Human Wizard (R)
Whenever another nontoken creature dies, its controller creates a 2/2 black Zombie creature token.
Whenever a Zombie dies, its controller loses 1 life and you draw a card. “You can make quite a bit off of zombie farming. Of course, things can go downhill really quickly if you don’t know what you’re doing.”
2/2
Vulcan Axe2RG
Legendary Artifact - Equipment (M)
Giant spells you cast costs 2 less to cast.
Equipped creature gets +2/+2 and gains trample.
Whenever you attach Vulcan Axe to a creature, that creature fights another target creature.
Equip 1RG
Tjeldom, the Unconquerable Might1RG
Legendary Creature - Giant Warrior (R)
Whenever Tjeldom, the Unconquerable Might attacks, each opponent puts a +1/+1 counter on each creature he or she control.
Whenever a Giant creature you control attacks or fights another target creature, it gains indestructible until end of turn. "You've brought a thousand-strong army to face my one hundred warriors? That doesn't seem fair. You can take our weapons."
5/5
Design - (2/3) Appeal: Timmy and Johnny like it, Spike not so much. (2.5/3) Elegance: Looks pretty simple. The flavor text makes things a little crowded though.
Development - (3/3) Viability: Everything checks out for a G/R rare. (2.5/3) Balance: The fact that it gives itself and others indestructible kind of undermines the drawback of growing your opponents' creatures, but it doesn't seem too overpowered. I especially like how this works in a multiplayer setting. Hilarious with Kulrath Knight, if you're playing a Jund commander.
Creativity - (2.5/3) Uniqueness: Somewhat reminiscent of Boldwyr Heavyweights, Sheltering Ancients, or Aku Djinn but brings more than enough of a new spin to feel fresh. (3/3) Flavor: A warrior who'll give their opponents an advantage just to make things interesting. I like it.
Polish - (2/3) Quality: Should have an "s" at the end of control (-0.5). Don't need "target" between "another" and "creature" (-0.5). (2/2) *Main Challenge: Check. (2/2) Subchallenges: And double check.
Total: 21.5/25
*An entry with 0 points here is subject to disqualification.
Shashara, Lady of the Dark Legions1WB
Legendary Creature - Human Wizard (M)
Tap another untapped Human you control, put a Breath counter on Shashara, Lady of the Dark Legions.
Remove X Breath counters from Shashara: Exile target creature card with converted mana cost X from your Graveyard. Create a token that's a copy of that card, except it's a black Zombie, and it has no converted mana cost.
Sacrifice a Zombie: Regenerate another target Human.
2/3 They gave her their souls, and she gave them an army to fight in their stead.
Design - (2/3) Appeal: Both Spike and Jenny generally like recursion and extra value. Tammy's pretty lukewarm. (1/3) Elegance: There's a lot of moving parts here and both the name line and the text box are very crowded.
Development - (2/3) Viability: Looks good as a B/W mythic, but as of Kaladesh, regenerate is a retired mechanic and is no longer printed on new cards. (3/3) Balance: Doesn't look either too weak or too strong.
Creativity - (2/3) Uniqueness: Individually there's nothing here that we haven't seen before, but altogether the whole is pretty new and it's interesting to see the usual Zombie-Human relationship turned on its head. (2.5/3) Flavor: If she's powered by souls, then why can she get multiple breath counters from the same Human?
Polish - (1.5/3) Quality: Colon after "untapped Human you control" instead of a comma (-0.5). Comma after the T (-0.5). Power/toughness goes under flavor text (-0.5). (2/2) *Main Challenge: All checks out. (1/2) Subchallenges: Not really a "lord" ability. Think Lord of Atlantis or Goblin Warchief.
Total: 17/25
*An entry with 0 points here is subject to disqualification.
(P.S. My life to yours. My Breath become yours.)
Ushera, Crown of Eternal Royality4WB
Legendary Artifact - Equipment (Mythic)
When Ushera enters the battlefield, you become the monarch.
You can't lose the monarchy.
Equipped creature is legendary and has vigilance, indestructible, lifelink and it can block any number of creatures. Endless kingdom rise and fall at Ushera's whims.
Equip 6
Oramus, Ushera's First Crowned1WB
Legendary Creature - Avatar (Mythic)
As Oramus, Ushera's First Crowned enters the battlefield, choose a creature type.
Other creatures of the chosen type are indestructible.
Other creatures without the chosen type lose all abilities and have base power and toughness 1/1.
2/2
Design - (3/3) Appeal: All 3 psychographics can find something about this to love. (2.5/3) Elegance: The name's too long for the line. Otherwise, looks pretty good. It took me a couple reads to realize that it's Humility effect doesn't hit itself, but that's on me, not you.
Development - (2.5/3) Viability: This doesn't really need to be black, but mythic is a good spot for this. (3/3) Balance: Looks pushed, but not broken.
Polish - (2.5/3) Quality: In Magic, creatures have indestructible. Yes, it's bad grammar, but that's keywords for you. (-0.5) (2/2) *Main Challenge: All good. (2/2) Subchallenges: Both good.
Total: 22/25
*An entry with 0 points here is subject to disqualification.
The Black Mortar of YigBB
Legendary Artifact - Equipment (R)
Equipped creature has flying, menace, and "B, Pay 1 life, Put the top card of your library into your graveyard, Discard a card, T: Destroy target creature."
Equip 3 Yig the Hag Queen flies far and wide looking for the proper ingredients to her foul potions, and she brings the tools of her trade with her.
Nana Yig1UB
Legendary Creature - Hag Shaman (MR)
Deathtouch
Tap an untapped Hag creature you control: Reveal the top three cards of your library. Put any Hag or Zombie creature cards revealed this way into your hand and the rest into your graveyard.
Tap three untapped Hag creatures you control, X: Return target creature card in a graveyard to the battlefield under your control. It is a Zombie in addition to its other creature types.
1/3
Design - (2/3) Appeal: Seems great for Spike and Jenny. Tammy not so much. (2/3) Elegance: The render looks like an impenetrable wall of text. Also there's that X that does nothing, but that's more of a quality issue.
Development - (3/3) Viability: Looks like a sweet U/B Mythic. (2/3) Balance: That reanimation ability is overpowered, but it's tempered by the fact there's currently only 9 Hags ever printed (not counting Mistform Ultimus or changeling).
Creativity - (3/3) Uniqueness: I don't think we've ever seen something quite like this. The pieces are familiar, but it's put together in a new way with some sweet synergy and cool flavor. (3/3) Flavor: Speaking of, I love the flavor.
Polish - (1.5/3) Quality: That X is both in the wrong spot (should be at the start of the cost) and does nothing. I'm guessing you meant to have to pay the reanimated card's CMC but forgot to write it in. (-1.5) (2/2) *Main Challenge: All good. (1/2) Subchallenges: While it does have a tribal ability, the challenge specified a "lord" ability.
Total: 19.5/25
*An entry with 0 points here is subject to disqualification.
picnic_bomber - 21.5
egoblinsw - 17 netn10 - 22
Jimmy Groove - 19.5
As always, if you think I misjudged your card, please send me a message.
Kovan, Ingenious Blacksmith1UR
Legendary Creature — Human Artificer (R)
Haste
Other Artificer creatures you control get +1/+1.
Whenever Kovan, Ingenious Blacksmith deals combat damage to a player, you may tap or untap target artifact. “I’ve been a master blacksmith for most of my life. Now my work inspires a whole new generation of artificers.”
2/3
Design - (1,5/3) Appeal: Timmy and Spike aren't so interested. The both bonus and effect are small, also see my thoughts about creature type in the Balance section. (3/3) Elegance: All clear.
Development - (3/3) Viability: Blue, red, probably not mythic - all fair. (2/3) Balance: I am not going to say it's a weak legend, but it seems underwhelming. It would have been much worse before Kaladesh because +1/+1 bonus for artificers was literally nothing those days - they weren't fighters, after all. Now with all these Kaladesh inventors able to fight, it feels better, but I still asking myself a question - is +1/+1 bonus really what they need? The second reason why it feels underwhelming - only Kovan has ability to tap/untap through the combat damage, not all Artificers. Remember how good Grenzo, Havoc Raiser is because he grants ability to all your creatures? That said, it may be borderline playable by its own, but interaction with tribal may have been much better.
Also, "tap target artifact" lacks synergy after dealing combat damage - you can't, for example, tap dangerous artifact blocker which is a big part of a deal. Need to say, you at least made it synergistic with your round 1 equipment which is something though I shouldn't judge it this way.
Creativity - (1,5/3) Uniqueness: Artificer bonus is unique indeed, but the bonuf itself is plain. Tapping/untapping is not something really unique too. (2/3) Flavor: As I said before, I'd like to see something more original grented ro Artificers, not plain power/toughness bonus.
Total: 20/25
*An entry with 0 points here is subject to disqualification.
Sekron, Lord of the Unliving (Mythic) (W/B)(W/B)(W/B)
Legendary Creature - God
1/1
Skeleton, Spirit, Vampire, and Zombie creatures you control get +1/+1.
Indestructible
Sekron, Lord of the Unliving gets +1/+1 for each Skeleton, Spirit, Vampire, and Zombie you control.
Design - (2/3) Appeal: Johnny and Timmy (sort of) will be glad to build around this. No tournament value for Spike probably (limited only but still questionable, depends of environment). (3/3) Elegance: All clear.
Development - (3/3) Viability: All undeads listed here can be seen in both white and blue, even some Skeletons. Mythic rarity is okay foe lord, especially god. (2/3) Balance: Commander only, I doubt it can see any serious constructed play. Limited value depends though the indestructible 1/1 blocker for 3 mana is not so bad.
Creativity - (2/3) Uniqueness: More wider verion of Death Baron but still different enough. (2/3) Flavor: A bit plain name. Other than that, no problems.
Polish - (1,5/3) Quality: Seriously, what's up with all this messed up order of lines? (2/2) *Main Challenge: Yes. (2/2) Subchallenges: Yes.
Total: 19,5/25
*An entry with 0 points here is subject to disqualification.
Omniosos, Mass AmasserGUB
Legendary Creature - Ooze (R)
Other Ooze creatures you control enter the battlefield with an additional +1/+1 counter on it for each +1/+1 counter on Omniosos, Mass Amasser.
Whenever an Ooze creature you control dies, put 2 +1/+1 counters on Omniosos.
1/1
Design - (2/3) Appeal: Johnny and Timmy (sort of) will be glad to build around this. No tournament value for Spike probably (limited only but still questionable, depends of environment). (3/3) Elegance: All clear.
Development - (2/3) Viability: Blue has nothing to do with it. Even less than Animar, Soul of Elements because the ability to make spells cheaper is still blue. (1,5/3) Balance: Commander only, and you should invest into deck building really hard - even more, the synergy between abilities is not perfect which makes it more tricky. Still a couple of really nice options for Ooze deck, of course.
Creativity - (2/3) Uniqueness:JoRaGaWaRCallER comes to mind but still different. (2,5/3) Flavor: My only complaint here - it eats oozes only.
Polish - (1,5/3) Quality: The order of colors is messed up. Sultai is BGU. Also see Bramblewood Paragon for correct wording for ability. Also, "two counters" instead of 2. (2/2) *Main Challenge: Yes. (2/2) Subchallenges: Yes.
Total: 18,5/25
*An entry with 0 points here is subject to disqualification.
Yizzy, Corpse Herder1BB
Legendary Creature - Human Wizard (R)
Whenever another nontoken creature dies, its controller creates a 2/2 black Zombie creature token.
Whenever a Zombie dies, its controller loses 1 life and you draw a card. “You can make quite a bit off of zombie farming. Of course, things can go downhill really quickly if you don’t know what you’re doing.”
2/2
Design - (3/3) Appeal: Surprisingly valuable for all, maybe Timmy is least interested because he don't like drawbacks. (2,5/3) Elegance: The bonus is not symmetric enough to be 100% elegant. Other than that, all good.
Development - (2,5/3) Viability: Black. Probably mythic. (2,5/3) Balance: Surprisingly good. Each player loses life and creates zombies. Only you can draw cards which is bonus. Maybe not so good for eternal formats where creatures are less valuable.
Creativity - (2/3) Uniqueness: Tweak of existing cards but well mixed to have perfect synergy with itself. (2,5/3) Flavor: I personally would like it more with "Whenever another nontoken, non-Zombie creature..." but maybe it just me. Zombie farming is great.
Design - (3/3) Appeal: Timmy likes midrange beaters that make tokens. Johnny likes all of them triggers. Spike plays Humans.dek. (3/3) Elegance: Looks good.
Development - (3/3) Viability: White and rare are both right. (2.5/3) Balance: An insanely good curve topper in Humans for sure - not anything concerning but just a very powerful card that wins games fast.
Creativity - (1/3) Uniqueness: Very much at the intersection of Geist of Saint Traft and Brimaz, King of Oreskos. The tribal part is relatively novel there. (2.5/3) Flavor: Name's good; there's flavor text but it is quite generic and on-the-nose.
Design - (2/3) Appeal: Timmy's appeal should be obvious. Johnny has other odd-tribe-lords that would catch his interest more. Spike likes anything that's this efficient, particularly in Limited. (3/3) Elegance: Can't argue with this.
Development - (2.5/3) Viability: Rare is good for a relatively simple lord. This could be monowhite any day of the week - the addition of green and blue is very "Alara multicolor." (3/3) Balance: Angels aren't a tribe you're usually going to be dropping lots of, so most of the time this is going to be a lifelink beater with a slight situational bonus; amazing in Limited just for the stats, technically better in Constructed but never the strongest of lords.
Creativity - (1/3) Uniqueness: Feels a lot like a legendary Regal Caracal. An Angel lord is somewhat unique though. (3/3) Flavor: Very solid. I personally have always loved Alara flavor.
Design - (2/3) Appeal: Timmy likes to play Voltron. The activated ability is a bit reactive to Johnny but he likes being able to move everything around at instant speed. Spike likes a cheap lord that grants hexproof for #value, but is slightly bothered that it needs setup. (2.5/3) Elegance: Lots of moving parts, but nothing too inelegant.
Development - (2.5/3) Viability: Rare feels right. The control-stealing ability makes this seem oddly more red than white, though - although white isn't wrong per se. (3/3) Balance: Nothing wrong here.
Creativity - (2/3) Uniqueness: Definitely draws on both Raksha Golden Cub and Bruna, Light of Alabaster. (1.5/3) Flavor: The name ties into the Aura/Equipment stealing ability, but I'm not really getting the Human-tribal connection, and there's no flavor text to help me out on that front.
Polish - (2.5/3) Quality: "Aura" and "Equipment" should both be capitalized. (2/2) *Main Challenge: Good. (2/2) Subchallenges: Met.
Total: 20/25
Design - (2/3) Appeal: Timmy's not much into a 0/3 for three mana. Johnny likes having ways to abuse taps/untaps as well as insurance against threats. Spike likes repeatable countering on the relative cheap and with a somewhat resilient body. (3/3) Elegance: Looks good.
Development - (3/3) Viability: Rare yes, blue duh, feels a lot like it's part of the Wizards deck from C17. (2.5/3) Balance: Repeated countering certainly could get annoying, especially when it can fire more than one time in a turn, but the fairly restrictive cost of having to tap all those Wizards helps a lot.
Creativity - (1.5/3) Uniqueness:Patron Wizard is the obvious precedent and comparison. (1/3) Flavor: No flavor text, despite there being room. Astrologer, countering creature spells...? Really don't get the flavor of the name.
Polish - (3/3) Quality: Good. (2/2) *Main Challenge: Done. (2/2) Subchallenges: And done - I'm going to count the activated ability as a kind of bonus, anyhow.
Let's return to a classic theme this month - watching a legend progress.
Every fantasy weapon needs a worthy wielder, of course. Think Mjolnir and Thor, Excalibur and Arthur, Kusanagi-no-tsurugi and Susanoo.
Main Challenge: Design a legendary creature card whose color identity includes your Round 1 card's colors. In other words, your legend must be able to use your round 1 card in a Commander deck.
Subchallenge 1: Your card has a converted mana cost of 3 or less.
Subchallenge 2: Your card has a "lord" ability; i.e., it grants a bonus to a certain creature type.
Please message me about any questions you might have about the challenges. Other than that, have fun, and good luck!
Design Deadline: All submissions are to be final and submitted by November 16th 11:59 PM EST
Judging Deadline: All Judgements are to be final and completed by November 19th 11:59 PM 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:
void_nothing
The_Hittite
Raptorchan
Contestants:
netn10
willows
RaikouRider
Flatline
picnic_bomber
Hemlock
Jimmy Groove
bravelion83
Legend
IcariiFA
egoblinsw
RickyRister
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I̟̥͍̠ͅn̩͉̣͍̬͚ͅ ̬̬͖t̯̹̞̺͖͓̯̤h̘͍̬e͙̯͈̖̼̮ ̭̬f̺̲̲̪i͙͉̟̩̰r̪̝͚͈̝̥͍̝̲s̼̻͇̘̳͔ͅt̲̺̳̗̜̪̙ ̳̺̥̻͚̗ͅm̜̜̟̰͈͓͎͇o̝̖̮̝͇m̯̻̞̼̫̗͓̤e̩̯̬̮̩n͎̱̪̲̹͖t͇̖s̰̮ͅ,̤̲͙̻̭̻̯̹̰ ̖t̫̙̺̯͖͚̯ͅh͙̯̦̳̗̰̟e͖̪͉̼̯ ̪͕g̞̣͔a̗̦t̬̬͓͙̫̖̭̻e̩̻̯ ̜̖̦̖̤̭͙̬t̞̹̥̪͎͉ͅo͕͚͍͇̲͇͓̺ ̭̬͙͈̣̻t͈͍͙͓̫̖͙̩h̪̬̖̙e̗͈ ̗̬̟̞̺̤͉̯ͅa̦̯͚̙̜̮f͉͙̲̣̞̼t̪̤̞̣͚e̲͉̳̥r͇̪̙͚͓l̥̞̞͎̹̯̹ͅi͓̬f̮̥̬̞͈ͅe͎ ̟̩̤̳̠̯̩̯o̮̘̲p̟͚̣̞͉͓e͍̩̣n͔̼͕͚̜e̬̱d̼̘͎̖̹͍̮̠,͖̺̭̱̮ ̣̲͖̬̪̭̥a̪͚n̟̲̝̤̤̞̗d̘̱̗͇̮͕̳͕͔ ͖̞͉͎t̹̙͎h̰̱͉̗e̪̞̱̝̹̩ͅ ̠̱̩̭̦p̯̙e͓o̳͚̰̯̺̱̰͔̘p̬͎̱̣̼̩͇l̗̟̖͚̠e̱͉͔̱̦̬̟̙ ̖͚̪͔̼̦w̺̖̤̱e͖̗̻̦͓̖̘̜r̭̥e͔̹̫̱͕̦̰͕ ̗͔̠p̠̗͍͍̱̳̠r̰͔͎̰o͉̥͓̰͚̥s̟͚̹̱͔̣t͉̙̳̖͖̪̮r̥̘̥͙̹a͉̟̫̟̳̠̟̭t͈̜̰͈͎e̞̣̭̲̬ ͚̗̯̟͙i͍͖̰̘̦͖͉ṇ̮̻̯̦̲̩͍ ̦̮͚̫̤t͉͖̫͕ͅͅh͙̮̻̘̣̮̼e͕̺ ͙l͕̠͎̰̥i̲͓͉̲g̫̳̟͈͇̖h̠̦̖t͓̯͎̗ ̳̪̘̟̙̩̦o̫̲f̙͔̰̙̠ ̹̪̗͇̯t͖̼̼͉͖̬h̹͇̩e͚̖̺̤͉̹͕̪ ͚͓̭̝̺G͎̗̯̩o̫̯̮̟̮̳̘d̜̲͙̠-̩̳̯̲̗̜P̹̘̥͉̝h͍͈̗̖̝ͅa͍̗̮̼̗r̜̖͇̙̺a̭̺͔̞̳͈o̪̣͓̯̬͙̯̰̗h̖̦͈̥̯͔.͇̣̙̝
Andari, Venerable Captain 1WW
Legendary Creature — Human Soldier (R)
First strike
Whenever a Human you control attacks, create a 1/1 white Spirit creature token with flying that is tapped and attacking. Exile that token at end of combat.
"Fear not my brothers, for we do not fight alone, but with generations of our forefathers by our sides."
3/2
Legendary Creature - Human Wizard (M)
Tap another untapped Human you control, put a Breath counter on Shashara, Lady of the Dark Legions.
Remove X Breath counters from Shashara: Exile target creature card with converted mana cost X from your Graveyard. Create a token that's a copy of that card, except it's a black Zombie, and it has no converted mana cost.
Sacrifice a Zombie: Regenerate another target Human.
2/3
They gave her their souls, and she gave them an army to fight in their stead.
Round 1 Submission:
http://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/magic-fundamentals/custom-card-creation/custom-card-contests-and-games/785289-november-2017-mcc-round-1-made-from-meteor-iron?comment=11
link
Kovan’s Hammer 2RR
Legendary Artifact — Equipment (M)
Equipped creature gets +2/+0 and has haste.
R, T: Kovan’s Hammer deals 2 damage to target creature or player. Activate this ability only once each turn and only if Kovan’s Hammer is not attached to a creature.
As long as Kovan’s Hammer is tapped, it can’t be attached to a creature.
Equip 0
Kovan, Ingenious Blacksmith 1UR
Legendary Creature — Human Artificer (R)
Haste
Other Artificer creatures you control get +1/+1.
Whenever Kovan, Ingenious Blacksmith deals combat damage to a player, you may tap or untap target artifact.
“I’ve been a master blacksmith for most of my life. Now my work inspires a whole new generation of artificers.”
2/3
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.)
(W/B)(W/B)(W/B)
Legendary Creature - God
1/1
Skeleton, Spirit, Vampire, and Zombie creatures you control get +1/+1.
Indestructible
Sekron, Lord of the Unliving gets +1/+1 for each Skeleton, Spirit, Vampire, and Zombie you control.
Legendary Artifact - Equipment (Mythic)
When Ushera enters the battlefield, you become the monarch.
You can't lose the monarchy.
Equipped creature is legendary and has vigilance, indestructible, lifelink and it can block any number of creatures.
Endless kingdom rise and fall at Ushera's whims.
Equip 6
Oramus, Ushera's First Crowned 1WB
Legendary Creature - Avatar (Mythic)
As Oramus, Ushera's First Crowned enters the battlefield, choose a creature type.
Other creatures of the chosen type are indestructible.
Other creatures without the chosen type lose all abilities and have base power and toughness 1/1.
2/2
Legendary Artifact - Equipment (R)
Whenever equipped creature attacks, creatures defending player control get -X/-0 until end of turn, where X is the equipped creatures power.
Equipped creature can't be blocked by creatures with 0 power.
Equip 1U
Omniosos, Mass Amasser GUB
Legendary Creature - Ooze (R)
Other Ooze creatures you control enter the battlefield with an additional +1/+1 counter on it for each +1/+1 counter on Omniosos, Mass Amasser.
Whenever an Ooze creature you control dies, put 2 +1/+1 counters on Omniosos.
1/1
Legendary Artifact - Equipment (R)
Equipped creature has flying, menace, and "B, Pay 1 life, Put the top card of your library into your graveyard, Discard a card, T: Destroy target creature."
Equip 3
Yig the Hag Queen flies far and wide looking for the proper ingredients to her foul potions, and she brings the tools of her trade with her.
Nana Yig 1UB
Legendary Creature - Hag Shaman (MR)
Deathtouch
Tap an untapped Hag creature you control: Reveal the top three cards of your library. Put any Hag or Zombie creature cards revealed this way into your hand and the rest into your graveyard.
Tap three untapped Hag creatures you control, X: Return target creature card in a graveyard to the battlefield under your control. It is a Zombie in addition to its other creature types.
1/3
Legendary Artifact - Equipment {M}
Creatures you control have exalted. (If a creature has multiple instances of exalted, each triggers separately.)
Equipped creature has flying and vigilance, and is an Angel in addition to its other types.
As long as equipped creature is attacking alone, it has trample, indestructible, and can't be blocked by more than one creature.
Equip 3
Ayesha, Asura of Redemption GWU
Legendary Creature - Angel {R}
Flying, lifelink
Other Angel creatures you control get +1/+1 have lifelink.
For Unbeholden willing to repent, she is the only salvation in all of the Topan savannahs.
3/3
Emille, Seven-Sting Dancer Shalin Nariya
Legendary Creature - Human Artificer (r)
As long as Argeo, Quicksilver Shaper is equipped or enchanted, Human creatures you control have +1/+1 and hexproof.
2WU: Gain control of target aura or equipment, then attach it to a Human creature you control.
2/2
Legendary Creature — Moonfolk Wizard (R)
Flying
1U, Tap X untapped Wizards you control: Counter target creature spell with converted mana cost X.
0/3
Yizzy, Corpse Herder 1BB
Legendary Creature - Human Wizard (R)
Whenever another nontoken creature dies, its controller creates a 2/2 black Zombie creature token.
Whenever a Zombie dies, its controller loses 1 life and you draw a card.
“You can make quite a bit off of zombie farming. Of course, things can go downhill really quickly if you don’t know what you’re doing.”
2/2
Here are the brackets, and the top two advance:
void_nothing:
Flatline
RaikouRider
Hemlock
willows
The_Hittite:
picnic_bomber
egoblinsw
netn10
Jimmy Groove
Raptorchan:
bravelion83
Legend
IcariiFA
RickyRister
I̟̥͍̠ͅn̩͉̣͍̬͚ͅ ̬̬͖t̯̹̞̺͖͓̯̤h̘͍̬e͙̯͈̖̼̮ ̭̬f̺̲̲̪i͙͉̟̩̰r̪̝͚͈̝̥͍̝̲s̼̻͇̘̳͔ͅt̲̺̳̗̜̪̙ ̳̺̥̻͚̗ͅm̜̜̟̰͈͓͎͇o̝̖̮̝͇m̯̻̞̼̫̗͓̤e̩̯̬̮̩n͎̱̪̲̹͖t͇̖s̰̮ͅ,̤̲͙̻̭̻̯̹̰ ̖t̫̙̺̯͖͚̯ͅh͙̯̦̳̗̰̟e͖̪͉̼̯ ̪͕g̞̣͔a̗̦t̬̬͓͙̫̖̭̻e̩̻̯ ̜̖̦̖̤̭͙̬t̞̹̥̪͎͉ͅo͕͚͍͇̲͇͓̺ ̭̬͙͈̣̻t͈͍͙͓̫̖͙̩h̪̬̖̙e̗͈ ̗̬̟̞̺̤͉̯ͅa̦̯͚̙̜̮f͉͙̲̣̞̼t̪̤̞̣͚e̲͉̳̥r͇̪̙͚͓l̥̞̞͎̹̯̹ͅi͓̬f̮̥̬̞͈ͅe͎ ̟̩̤̳̠̯̩̯o̮̘̲p̟͚̣̞͉͓e͍̩̣n͔̼͕͚̜e̬̱d̼̘͎̖̹͍̮̠,͖̺̭̱̮ ̣̲͖̬̪̭̥a̪͚n̟̲̝̤̤̞̗d̘̱̗͇̮͕̳͕͔ ͖̞͉͎t̹̙͎h̰̱͉̗e̪̞̱̝̹̩ͅ ̠̱̩̭̦p̯̙e͓o̳͚̰̯̺̱̰͔̘p̬͎̱̣̼̩͇l̗̟̖͚̠e̱͉͔̱̦̬̟̙ ̖͚̪͔̼̦w̺̖̤̱e͖̗̻̦͓̖̘̜r̭̥e͔̹̫̱͕̦̰͕ ̗͔̠p̠̗͍͍̱̳̠r̰͔͎̰o͉̥͓̰͚̥s̟͚̹̱͔̣t͉̙̳̖͖̪̮r̥̘̥͙̹a͉̟̫̟̳̠̟̭t͈̜̰͈͎e̞̣̭̲̬ ͚̗̯̟͙i͍͖̰̘̦͖͉ṇ̮̻̯̦̲̩͍ ̦̮͚̫̤t͉͖̫͕ͅͅh͙̮̻̘̣̮̼e͕̺ ͙l͕̠͎̰̥i̲͓͉̲g̫̳̟͈͇̖h̠̦̖t͓̯͎̗ ̳̪̘̟̙̩̦o̫̲f̙͔̰̙̠ ̹̪̗͇̯t͖̼̼͉͖̬h̹͇̩e͚̖̺̤͉̹͕̪ ͚͓̭̝̺G͎̗̯̩o̫̯̮̟̮̳̘d̜̲͙̠-̩̳̯̲̗̜P̹̘̥͉̝h͍͈̗̖̝ͅa͍̗̮̼̗r̜̖͇̙̺a̭̺͔̞̳͈o̪̣͓̯̬͙̯̰̗h̖̦͈̥̯͔.͇̣̙̝
Legendary Artifact - Equipment (M)
Giant spells you cast costs 2 less to cast.
Equipped creature gets +2/+2 and gains trample.
Whenever you attach Vulcan Axe to a creature, that creature fights another target creature.
Equip 1RG
Tjeldom, the Unconquerable Might 1RG
Legendary Creature - Giant Warrior (R)
Whenever Tjeldom, the Unconquerable Might attacks, each opponent puts a +1/+1 counter on each creature he or she control.
Whenever a Giant creature you control attacks or fights another target creature, it gains indestructible until end of turn.
"You've brought a thousand-strong army to face my one hundred warriors? That doesn't seem fair. You can take our weapons."
5/5
Design -
(2/3) Appeal: Timmy and Johnny like it, Spike not so much.
(2.5/3) Elegance: Looks pretty simple. The flavor text makes things a little crowded though.
Development -
(3/3) Viability: Everything checks out for a G/R rare.
(2.5/3) Balance: The fact that it gives itself and others indestructible kind of undermines the drawback of growing your opponents' creatures, but it doesn't seem too overpowered. I especially like how this works in a multiplayer setting. Hilarious with Kulrath Knight, if you're playing a Jund commander.
Creativity -
(2.5/3) Uniqueness: Somewhat reminiscent of Boldwyr Heavyweights, Sheltering Ancients, or Aku Djinn but brings more than enough of a new spin to feel fresh.
(3/3) Flavor: A warrior who'll give their opponents an advantage just to make things interesting. I like it.
Polish -
(2/3) Quality: Should have an "s" at the end of control (-0.5). Don't need "target" between "another" and "creature" (-0.5).
(2/2) *Main Challenge: Check.
(2/2) Subchallenges: And double check.
Total: 21.5/25
*An entry with 0 points here is subject to disqualification.
http://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/magic-fundamentals/custom-card-creation/custom-card-contests-and-games/785289-november-2017-mcc-round-1-made-from-meteor-iron?comment=11
Shashara, Lady of the Dark Legions 1WB
Legendary Creature - Human Wizard (M)
Tap another untapped Human you control, put a Breath counter on Shashara, Lady of the Dark Legions.
Remove X Breath counters from Shashara: Exile target creature card with converted mana cost X from your Graveyard. Create a token that's a copy of that card, except it's a black Zombie, and it has no converted mana cost.
Sacrifice a Zombie: Regenerate another target Human.
2/3
They gave her their souls, and she gave them an army to fight in their stead.
Design -
(2/3) Appeal: Both Spike and Jenny generally like recursion and extra value. Tammy's pretty lukewarm.
(1/3) Elegance: There's a lot of moving parts here and both the name line and the text box are very crowded.
Development -
(2/3) Viability: Looks good as a B/W mythic, but as of Kaladesh, regenerate is a retired mechanic and is no longer printed on new cards.
(3/3) Balance: Doesn't look either too weak or too strong.
Creativity -
(2/3) Uniqueness: Individually there's nothing here that we haven't seen before, but altogether the whole is pretty new and it's interesting to see the usual Zombie-Human relationship turned on its head.
(2.5/3) Flavor: If she's powered by souls, then why can she get multiple breath counters from the same Human?
Polish -
(1.5/3) Quality: Colon after "untapped Human you control" instead of a comma (-0.5). Comma after the T (-0.5). Power/toughness goes under flavor text (-0.5).
(2/2) *Main Challenge: All checks out.
(1/2) Subchallenges: Not really a "lord" ability. Think Lord of Atlantis or Goblin Warchief.
Total: 17/25
*An entry with 0 points here is subject to disqualification.
(P.S. My life to yours. My Breath become yours.)
Legendary Artifact - Equipment (Mythic)
When Ushera enters the battlefield, you become the monarch.
You can't lose the monarchy.
Equipped creature is legendary and has vigilance, indestructible, lifelink and it can block any number of creatures.
Endless kingdom rise and fall at Ushera's whims.
Equip 6
Oramus, Ushera's First Crowned 1WB
Legendary Creature - Avatar (Mythic)
As Oramus, Ushera's First Crowned enters the battlefield, choose a creature type.
Other creatures of the chosen type are indestructible.
Other creatures without the chosen type lose all abilities and have base power and toughness 1/1.
2/2
Design -
(3/3) Appeal: All 3 psychographics can find something about this to love.
(2.5/3) Elegance: The name's too long for the line. Otherwise, looks pretty good. It took me a couple reads to realize that it's Humility effect doesn't hit itself, but that's on me, not you.
Development -
(2.5/3) Viability: This doesn't really need to be black, but mythic is a good spot for this.
(3/3) Balance: Looks pushed, but not broken.
Creativity -
(1.5/3) Uniqueness: Adaptive Automaton meets Humility.
(3/3) Flavor: Flavor looks good.
Polish -
(2.5/3) Quality: In Magic, creatures have indestructible. Yes, it's bad grammar, but that's keywords for you. (-0.5)
(2/2) *Main Challenge: All good.
(2/2) Subchallenges: Both good.
Total: 22/25
*An entry with 0 points here is subject to disqualification.
Legendary Artifact - Equipment (R)
Equipped creature has flying, menace, and "B, Pay 1 life, Put the top card of your library into your graveyard, Discard a card, T: Destroy target creature."
Equip 3
Yig the Hag Queen flies far and wide looking for the proper ingredients to her foul potions, and she brings the tools of her trade with her.
Nana Yig 1UB
Legendary Creature - Hag Shaman (MR)
Deathtouch
Tap an untapped Hag creature you control: Reveal the top three cards of your library. Put any Hag or Zombie creature cards revealed this way into your hand and the rest into your graveyard.
Tap three untapped Hag creatures you control, X: Return target creature card in a graveyard to the battlefield under your control. It is a Zombie in addition to its other creature types.
1/3
Design -
(2/3) Appeal: Seems great for Spike and Jenny. Tammy not so much.
(2/3) Elegance: The render looks like an impenetrable wall of text. Also there's that X that does nothing, but that's more of a quality issue.
Development -
(3/3) Viability: Looks like a sweet U/B Mythic.
(2/3) Balance: That reanimation ability is overpowered, but it's tempered by the fact there's currently only 9 Hags ever printed (not counting Mistform Ultimus or changeling).
Creativity -
(3/3) Uniqueness: I don't think we've ever seen something quite like this. The pieces are familiar, but it's put together in a new way with some sweet synergy and cool flavor.
(3/3) Flavor: Speaking of, I love the flavor.
Polish -
(1.5/3) Quality: That X is both in the wrong spot (should be at the start of the cost) and does nothing. I'm guessing you meant to have to pay the reanimated card's CMC but forgot to write it in. (-1.5)
(2/2) *Main Challenge: All good.
(1/2) Subchallenges: While it does have a tribal ability, the challenge specified a "lord" ability.
Total: 19.5/25
*An entry with 0 points here is subject to disqualification.
picnic_bomber - 21.5
egoblinsw - 17
netn10 - 22
Jimmy Groove - 19.5
As always, if you think I misjudged your card, please send me a message.
Kovan, Ingenious Blacksmith 1UR
Legendary Creature — Human Artificer (R)
Haste
Other Artificer creatures you control get +1/+1.
Whenever Kovan, Ingenious Blacksmith deals combat damage to a player, you may tap or untap target artifact.
“I’ve been a master blacksmith for most of my life. Now my work inspires a whole new generation of artificers.”
2/3
Design -
(1,5/3) Appeal: Timmy and Spike aren't so interested. The both bonus and effect are small, also see my thoughts about creature type in the Balance section.
(3/3) Elegance: All clear.
Development -
(3/3) Viability: Blue, red, probably not mythic - all fair.
(2/3) Balance: I am not going to say it's a weak legend, but it seems underwhelming. It would have been much worse before Kaladesh because +1/+1 bonus for artificers was literally nothing those days - they weren't fighters, after all. Now with all these Kaladesh inventors able to fight, it feels better, but I still asking myself a question - is +1/+1 bonus really what they need? The second reason why it feels underwhelming - only Kovan has ability to tap/untap through the combat damage, not all Artificers. Remember how good Grenzo, Havoc Raiser is because he grants ability to all your creatures? That said, it may be borderline playable by its own, but interaction with tribal may have been much better.
Also, "tap target artifact" lacks synergy after dealing combat damage - you can't, for example, tap dangerous artifact blocker which is a big part of a deal. Need to say, you at least made it synergistic with your round 1 equipment which is something though I shouldn't judge it this way.
Creativity -
(1,5/3) Uniqueness: Artificer bonus is unique indeed, but the bonuf itself is plain. Tapping/untapping is not something really unique too.
(2/3) Flavor: As I said before, I'd like to see something more original grented ro Artificers, not plain power/toughness bonus.
Polish -
(3/3) Quality: No problems.
(2/2) *Main Challenge: Yes.
(2/2) Subchallenges: Yes.
Total: 20/25
*An entry with 0 points here is subject to disqualification.
(W/B)(W/B)(W/B)
Legendary Creature - God
1/1
Skeleton, Spirit, Vampire, and Zombie creatures you control get +1/+1.
Indestructible
Sekron, Lord of the Unliving gets +1/+1 for each Skeleton, Spirit, Vampire, and Zombie you control.
Design -
(2/3) Appeal: Johnny and Timmy (sort of) will be glad to build around this. No tournament value for Spike probably (limited only but still questionable, depends of environment).
(3/3) Elegance: All clear.
Development -
(3/3) Viability: All undeads listed here can be seen in both white and blue, even some Skeletons. Mythic rarity is okay foe lord, especially god.
(2/3) Balance: Commander only, I doubt it can see any serious constructed play. Limited value depends though the indestructible 1/1 blocker for 3 mana is not so bad.
Creativity -
(2/3) Uniqueness: More wider verion of Death Baron but still different enough.
(2/3) Flavor: A bit plain name. Other than that, no problems.
Polish -
(1,5/3) Quality: Seriously, what's up with all this messed up order of lines?
(2/2) *Main Challenge: Yes.
(2/2) Subchallenges: Yes.
Total: 19,5/25
*An entry with 0 points here is subject to disqualification.
Omniosos, Mass Amasser GUB
Legendary Creature - Ooze (R)
Other Ooze creatures you control enter the battlefield with an additional +1/+1 counter on it for each +1/+1 counter on Omniosos, Mass Amasser.
Whenever an Ooze creature you control dies, put 2 +1/+1 counters on Omniosos.
1/1
Design -
(2/3) Appeal: Johnny and Timmy (sort of) will be glad to build around this. No tournament value for Spike probably (limited only but still questionable, depends of environment).
(3/3) Elegance: All clear.
Development -
(2/3) Viability: Blue has nothing to do with it. Even less than Animar, Soul of Elements because the ability to make spells cheaper is still blue.
(1,5/3) Balance: Commander only, and you should invest into deck building really hard - even more, the synergy between abilities is not perfect which makes it more tricky. Still a couple of really nice options for Ooze deck, of course.
Creativity -
(2/3) Uniqueness: JoRaGaWaRCallER comes to mind but still different.
(2,5/3) Flavor: My only complaint here - it eats oozes only.
Polish -
(1,5/3) Quality: The order of colors is messed up. Sultai is BGU. Also see Bramblewood Paragon for correct wording for ability. Also, "two counters" instead of 2.
(2/2) *Main Challenge: Yes.
(2/2) Subchallenges: Yes.
Total: 18,5/25
*An entry with 0 points here is subject to disqualification.
Yizzy, Corpse Herder 1BB
Legendary Creature - Human Wizard (R)
Whenever another nontoken creature dies, its controller creates a 2/2 black Zombie creature token.
Whenever a Zombie dies, its controller loses 1 life and you draw a card.
“You can make quite a bit off of zombie farming. Of course, things can go downhill really quickly if you don’t know what you’re doing.”
2/2
Design -
(3/3) Appeal: Surprisingly valuable for all, maybe Timmy is least interested because he don't like drawbacks.
(2,5/3) Elegance: The bonus is not symmetric enough to be 100% elegant. Other than that, all good.
Development -
(2,5/3) Viability: Black. Probably mythic.
(2,5/3) Balance: Surprisingly good. Each player loses life and creates zombies. Only you can draw cards which is bonus. Maybe not so good for eternal formats where creatures are less valuable.
Creativity -
(2/3) Uniqueness: Tweak of existing cards but well mixed to have perfect synergy with itself.
(2,5/3) Flavor: I personally would like it more with "Whenever another nontoken, non-Zombie creature..." but maybe it just me. Zombie farming is great.
Polish -
(3/3) Quality: All good.
(2/2) *Main Challenge: Yes.
(2/2) Subchallenges: Yes.
Total: 22/25
*An entry with 0 points here is subject to disqualification.
bravelion83 20
Legend 19,5
IcariiFA 18,5
RickyRister 22
I̟̥͍̠ͅn̩͉̣͍̬͚ͅ ̬̬͖t̯̹̞̺͖͓̯̤h̘͍̬e͙̯͈̖̼̮ ̭̬f̺̲̲̪i͙͉̟̩̰r̪̝͚͈̝̥͍̝̲s̼̻͇̘̳͔ͅt̲̺̳̗̜̪̙ ̳̺̥̻͚̗ͅm̜̜̟̰͈͓͎͇o̝̖̮̝͇m̯̻̞̼̫̗͓̤e̩̯̬̮̩n͎̱̪̲̹͖t͇̖s̰̮ͅ,̤̲͙̻̭̻̯̹̰ ̖t̫̙̺̯͖͚̯ͅh͙̯̦̳̗̰̟e͖̪͉̼̯ ̪͕g̞̣͔a̗̦t̬̬͓͙̫̖̭̻e̩̻̯ ̜̖̦̖̤̭͙̬t̞̹̥̪͎͉ͅo͕͚͍͇̲͇͓̺ ̭̬͙͈̣̻t͈͍͙͓̫̖͙̩h̪̬̖̙e̗͈ ̗̬̟̞̺̤͉̯ͅa̦̯͚̙̜̮f͉͙̲̣̞̼t̪̤̞̣͚e̲͉̳̥r͇̪̙͚͓l̥̞̞͎̹̯̹ͅi͓̬f̮̥̬̞͈ͅe͎ ̟̩̤̳̠̯̩̯o̮̘̲p̟͚̣̞͉͓e͍̩̣n͔̼͕͚̜e̬̱d̼̘͎̖̹͍̮̠,͖̺̭̱̮ ̣̲͖̬̪̭̥a̪͚n̟̲̝̤̤̞̗d̘̱̗͇̮͕̳͕͔ ͖̞͉͎t̹̙͎h̰̱͉̗e̪̞̱̝̹̩ͅ ̠̱̩̭̦p̯̙e͓o̳͚̰̯̺̱̰͔̘p̬͎̱̣̼̩͇l̗̟̖͚̠e̱͉͔̱̦̬̟̙ ̖͚̪͔̼̦w̺̖̤̱e͖̗̻̦͓̖̘̜r̭̥e͔̹̫̱͕̦̰͕ ̗͔̠p̠̗͍͍̱̳̠r̰͔͎̰o͉̥͓̰͚̥s̟͚̹̱͔̣t͉̙̳̖͖̪̮r̥̘̥͙̹a͉̟̫̟̳̠̟̭t͈̜̰͈͎e̞̣̭̲̬ ͚̗̯̟͙i͍͖̰̘̦͖͉ṇ̮̻̯̦̲̩͍ ̦̮͚̫̤t͉͖̫͕ͅͅh͙̮̻̘̣̮̼e͕̺ ͙l͕̠͎̰̥i̲͓͉̲g̫̳̟͈͇̖h̠̦̖t͓̯͎̗ ̳̪̘̟̙̩̦o̫̲f̙͔̰̙̠ ̹̪̗͇̯t͖̼̼͉͖̬h̹͇̩e͚̖̺̤͉̹͕̪ ͚͓̭̝̺G͎̗̯̩o̫̯̮̟̮̳̘d̜̲͙̠-̩̳̯̲̗̜P̹̘̥͉̝h͍͈̗̖̝ͅa͍̗̮̼̗r̜̖͇̙̺a̭̺͔̞̳͈o̪̣͓̯̬͙̯̰̗h̖̦͈̥̯͔.͇̣̙̝
Design -
(3/3) Appeal: Timmy likes midrange beaters that make tokens. Johnny likes all of them triggers. Spike plays Humans.dek.
(3/3) Elegance: Looks good.
Development -
(3/3) Viability: White and rare are both right.
(2.5/3) Balance: An insanely good curve topper in Humans for sure - not anything concerning but just a very powerful card that wins games fast.
Creativity -
(1/3) Uniqueness: Very much at the intersection of Geist of Saint Traft and Brimaz, King of Oreskos. The tribal part is relatively novel there.
(2.5/3) Flavor: Name's good; there's flavor text but it is quite generic and on-the-nose.
Polish -
(3/3) Quality: Good.
(2/2) *Main Challenge: Done.
(2/2) Subchallenges: And done.
Total: 22/25
Design -
(2/3) Appeal: Timmy's appeal should be obvious. Johnny has other odd-tribe-lords that would catch his interest more. Spike likes anything that's this efficient, particularly in Limited.
(3/3) Elegance: Can't argue with this.
Development -
(2.5/3) Viability: Rare is good for a relatively simple lord. This could be monowhite any day of the week - the addition of green and blue is very "Alara multicolor."
(3/3) Balance: Angels aren't a tribe you're usually going to be dropping lots of, so most of the time this is going to be a lifelink beater with a slight situational bonus; amazing in Limited just for the stats, technically better in Constructed but never the strongest of lords.
Creativity -
(1/3) Uniqueness: Feels a lot like a legendary Regal Caracal. An Angel lord is somewhat unique though.
(3/3) Flavor: Very solid. I personally have always loved Alara flavor.
Polish -
(3/3) Quality: Good.
(2/2) *Main Challenge: Done.
(2/2) Subchallenges: And done.
Total:21.5/25
Design -
(2/3) Appeal: Timmy likes to play Voltron. The activated ability is a bit reactive to Johnny but he likes being able to move everything around at instant speed. Spike likes a cheap lord that grants hexproof for #value, but is slightly bothered that it needs setup.
(2.5/3) Elegance: Lots of moving parts, but nothing too inelegant.
Development -
(2.5/3) Viability: Rare feels right. The control-stealing ability makes this seem oddly more red than white, though - although white isn't wrong per se.
(3/3) Balance: Nothing wrong here.
Creativity -
(2/3) Uniqueness: Definitely draws on both Raksha Golden Cub and Bruna, Light of Alabaster.
(1.5/3) Flavor: The name ties into the Aura/Equipment stealing ability, but I'm not really getting the Human-tribal connection, and there's no flavor text to help me out on that front.
Polish -
(2.5/3) Quality: "Aura" and "Equipment" should both be capitalized.
(2/2) *Main Challenge: Good.
(2/2) Subchallenges: Met.
Total: 20/25
Design -
(2/3) Appeal: Timmy's not much into a 0/3 for three mana. Johnny likes having ways to abuse taps/untaps as well as insurance against threats. Spike likes repeatable countering on the relative cheap and with a somewhat resilient body.
(3/3) Elegance: Looks good.
Development -
(3/3) Viability: Rare yes, blue duh, feels a lot like it's part of the Wizards deck from C17.
(2.5/3) Balance: Repeated countering certainly could get annoying, especially when it can fire more than one time in a turn, but the fairly restrictive cost of having to tap all those Wizards helps a lot.
Creativity -
(1.5/3) Uniqueness: Patron Wizard is the obvious precedent and comparison.
(1/3) Flavor: No flavor text, despite there being room. Astrologer, countering creature spells...? Really don't get the flavor of the name.
Polish -
(3/3) Quality: Good.
(2/2) *Main Challenge: Done.
(2/2) Subchallenges: And done - I'm going to count the activated ability as a kind of bonus, anyhow.
Total: 20/25
Flatline 22
RaikouRider 21.5
Hemlock 20
willows 20
I̟̥͍̠ͅn̩͉̣͍̬͚ͅ ̬̬͖t̯̹̞̺͖͓̯̤h̘͍̬e͙̯͈̖̼̮ ̭̬f̺̲̲̪i͙͉̟̩̰r̪̝͚͈̝̥͍̝̲s̼̻͇̘̳͔ͅt̲̺̳̗̜̪̙ ̳̺̥̻͚̗ͅm̜̜̟̰͈͓͎͇o̝̖̮̝͇m̯̻̞̼̫̗͓̤e̩̯̬̮̩n͎̱̪̲̹͖t͇̖s̰̮ͅ,̤̲͙̻̭̻̯̹̰ ̖t̫̙̺̯͖͚̯ͅh͙̯̦̳̗̰̟e͖̪͉̼̯ ̪͕g̞̣͔a̗̦t̬̬͓͙̫̖̭̻e̩̻̯ ̜̖̦̖̤̭͙̬t̞̹̥̪͎͉ͅo͕͚͍͇̲͇͓̺ ̭̬͙͈̣̻t͈͍͙͓̫̖͙̩h̪̬̖̙e̗͈ ̗̬̟̞̺̤͉̯ͅa̦̯͚̙̜̮f͉͙̲̣̞̼t̪̤̞̣͚e̲͉̳̥r͇̪̙͚͓l̥̞̞͎̹̯̹ͅi͓̬f̮̥̬̞͈ͅe͎ ̟̩̤̳̠̯̩̯o̮̘̲p̟͚̣̞͉͓e͍̩̣n͔̼͕͚̜e̬̱d̼̘͎̖̹͍̮̠,͖̺̭̱̮ ̣̲͖̬̪̭̥a̪͚n̟̲̝̤̤̞̗d̘̱̗͇̮͕̳͕͔ ͖̞͉͎t̹̙͎h̰̱͉̗e̪̞̱̝̹̩ͅ ̠̱̩̭̦p̯̙e͓o̳͚̰̯̺̱̰͔̘p̬͎̱̣̼̩͇l̗̟̖͚̠e̱͉͔̱̦̬̟̙ ̖͚̪͔̼̦w̺̖̤̱e͖̗̻̦͓̖̘̜r̭̥e͔̹̫̱͕̦̰͕ ̗͔̠p̠̗͍͍̱̳̠r̰͔͎̰o͉̥͓̰͚̥s̟͚̹̱͔̣t͉̙̳̖͖̪̮r̥̘̥͙̹a͉̟̫̟̳̠̟̭t͈̜̰͈͎e̞̣̭̲̬ ͚̗̯̟͙i͍͖̰̘̦͖͉ṇ̮̻̯̦̲̩͍ ̦̮͚̫̤t͉͖̫͕ͅͅh͙̮̻̘̣̮̼e͕̺ ͙l͕̠͎̰̥i̲͓͉̲g̫̳̟͈͇̖h̠̦̖t͓̯͎̗ ̳̪̘̟̙̩̦o̫̲f̙͔̰̙̠ ̹̪̗͇̯t͖̼̼͉͖̬h̹͇̩e͚̖̺̤͉̹͕̪ ͚͓̭̝̺G͎̗̯̩o̫̯̮̟̮̳̘d̜̲͙̠-̩̳̯̲̗̜P̹̘̥͉̝h͍͈̗̖̝ͅa͍̗̮̼̗r̜̖͇̙̺a̭̺͔̞̳͈o̪̣͓̯̬͙̯̰̗h̖̦͈̥̯͔.͇̣̙̝