Critique the cards of the six people immediately below your name, looping to the top of the list as necessary. Then, among those six, rank what you feel are the top three. (Ranking your top 3 gets you a point, and completing critiques gets you another point.)
We have several new people here this time, so welcome!
Critiques are technically optional, but they’re one of the easiest ways to get points. And you don’t have to write very much either!
An easy way to get the six cards you are critiquing in a post is to use the Multi-quote button for each submission. Start with the first person who is below your name, look for their post, and click on the Multi-quote button. Then continue down the list. Click Reply when you have all six queued up.
After that, briefly write about what you like and don’t like on those cards. It’s totally okay to edit this in more than one sitting. Feel free to revise this as much as you like before the deadline.
You’ll also then rank them with your own “top 3.” (Usually people will wrap the critiques and the top 3 into separate spoiler tags, but however you would like to do it all is fine.)
(Unfortunately, some of these cards do not have rarities. In the case of a missing rarity, I will have to assume that the rarity is the same as the pre-evolution card as implied by our host.)
Persistent Meerkats2WW
Creature - Mongoose
Protection from blue
Whenever an opponent casts a spell during your turn, create a token that's a copy of Persistent Meerkats. Don't let them anywhere near. They pop up faster than you can get rid of them.
2/2
Protection is not an evergreen keyword (since Magic Origins, anyway), so it needs reminder text. (This creature can't be blocked, targeted, dealt damage, or enchanted by anything blue.)
That aside, the conditional doubling trigger is interesting and unique. This card probably works fine at uncommon as a result.
Death Knight2BB
Creature - Human Knight (R)
First strike, protection from white
Players can't gain life and damage can't be prevented.
3/3
Black Knight + Leyline of Punishment. In fact, I would even go so far as to say that there is surely color bleed here, as this entire card would fit better into red instead of black. Also, the flavor of this card does not sit right with me as a Vorthos player -- how is a Death Knight a Human and not a Skeleton or a Zombie, exactly?
Guma, the Stalking Eye 2GG
Legendary Creature - Cat
Flash
Split Second
Protection from Blue
Whenever an opponent casts a spell during your turn, Guma fights each creature that opponent controls (You decide the order).
3/3
This card does not work at Uncommon. It is also missing two instances of necessary reminder text.
Protection from blue's reminder text is: (This creature can't be blocked, targeted, dealt damage, or enchanted by anything blue.)
Split second's reminder text is: (As long as this spell is on the stack, players can't cast spells or activate abilities that aren't mana abilities.)
The last ability hearkens back to Polukranos, World Eater for myself, personally. However, this card honestly feels like Green removal because it is most likely going to die after it is played in the 'intended' way. The text as to how the ability functions is also incorrect.
Boars of Bogardan2RRR
Creature - Elemental Boar (M)
Haste, trample
When Boars of Bogardan dies, exile it with X rage counters on it, where X is the amount of damage Boars of Bogardan dealt to players and planeswalkers this turn.
Whenever a creature you control attacks, if Boars of Bogardan is exiled, that creature gets +1/+0 until end of turn for each rage counter on Boars of Bogardan.
4/4
The more and more that I think about this unique card, the more and more that I like it. It is expensive for mono-red, but the upsides to that cost are huge (even if the mana cost does look a little clunky). If your opponent plays around it incorrectly, it is definitely a candidate for being a finisher.
Flight of Herons Sentinel4WW
Creature - Angel Soldier (R)
Flash (You may cast this spell any time you could cast an instant.)
Split second (As long as this spell is on the stack, players can't cast spells or activate abilities that aren't mana abilities.)
Flying
Your opponents can't cast spells or activate abilities that aren't mana abilities during combat.
4/5
I am a bit of an archon and angel lover, as my avatar would suggest. 'Flight of Herons' is a specific reference to Sigarda, Host of Herons (and, later, Sigarda, Heron's Grace), and this card definitely communicates but not G. It actually reads more as a red card. The WR angelic flight of Innistrad would actually be the 'Flight of Goldnight', led by Gisela, Blade of Goldnight.
Actually, kind of think of it, this card is interesting enough on its own to warrant being a legendary creature. (Regardless of the existence of Basandra, Battle Seraph.)
Just my two cents — this card is otherwise good!
Ringtailed Sphinx4UU
Creature - Sphinx (M)
Flying
Whenever an opponent draws a card, choose one -
Draw a card, then discard a card.
Create a 2/2 blue Bird creature token with flying.
5/6
This card looks as though it would be far too big to be in U with numerous upsides for only 6 converted mana. Basically, this is a better Mahamoti Djinn, and while it is mythic rare, I do not think the extra rarity is enough to add in the extra modal ability in this case. Plus, I am of the opinion that the modal ability's second choice is so much stronger than the first to the point where I think the first half of the modal ability could just be cut altogether. (Maybe if the token was only 1/1 then it would be worth considering both abilities in comparison to each other.) In all honesty, this card just does not feel blue despite being a sphinx.
Niblis of Silence3U
Creature - Spirit (R)
Flying
At the beginning of your end step, if no spells were cast this turn, you may return Niblis of Silence from your graveyard to the battlefield. "It's nights like these, when there's no sound to be heard, that you should be really afraid." --Saint Trogen, the Slayer
3/2
This card is fine in a vacuum, the last ability feels more black (or white) than blue to me, but we just saw it bleeding into blue in SOI block. The flavor text is also good, and the card concept makes perfect sense. The only problem is that I just fail to see how the reanimation ability is an evolution of first strike compared to the original card. I feel that's a problem for this challenge, but I still like the card well enough in a vacuum that it's still making my top 3 anyway. Quality mistake: in the flavor text, the attribution should be on its own line.
Undercity Paladin2WW
Creature - Troll Knight (R)
Vigilance
Whenever Undercity Paladin deals combat damage to a player, put a +1/+1 counter on each creature you control. 2W: Regenerate target creature. "May the resilience I am blessed with be yours, my brother."
3/3
This is good, even if regeneration is only tertiary in white and we don't see it often nowadays. It just makes sense on this card, both because it's the distinctive ability of Trolls and to show the evolution of the character. The second ability is also a clear upgrade on renown, so it would be quite hard to communicate that evolution louder. Vigilance feels to me like it was just tackled on to give an additional upside. The flavor is what holds together this card, and I like very much the flavor text in particular. Overall, some highs and some lows but it's certainly a good enough card for this challenge.
Bloodfire Student3R
Creature - Human Monk (U)
Prowess, menace
2/4
Congratulations to you! You did a wonderful job, this is a meaningful and simple card that does its job perfectly. This shows that it's possible to make a creature feel evolved without huge walls of text. The only complaint I have is the absence of flavor text, there is certainly room for it on this card and it would have been the perfect chance to show the evolution of the character. But anyway, you're going straight to the top of my standings, no doubt about it.
Sacred Huntbeast4WW
Creature - Beast (R)
Whenever a player casts a spell that targets Sacred Huntbeast, you may change the target of that spell to another creature.
Whenever a player casts a spell that targets a single creature, you may change the target of that spell to Sacred Huntbeast.
4/4
This is a blue card, not white. That's a problem. Changing targets can be blue or red in the color pie, but definitely not white. The second ability in particular feels more blue then red, check for example Spellskite. This card is fine in the rules and you can clearly see the evolution from the chosen card, but it has huge color pie issues. I'm sorry.
Vestigial Conglomerate5GG
Creature - Eldrazi Drone (U)
Devoid (This card has no color.)
Trample Landfall - Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control, create two 1/1 colorless Eldrazi Scion creature tokens with “Sacrifice this: Add C to your mana pool.”
6/8
I'm sorry but the challenge explicitly forbade devoid cards (check the clarifications spoiler in the OP). That's too bad, also because I liked the card itself well enough. The only complaint I had about it is that I think it should be a rare, creating two tokens whenever you play a land looks quite strong, a bit too strong for uncommon in my opinion. I'm really sorry.
Oakgnarl Guardian6WW
Creature - Treefolk Warrior (M)
Vigilance, hexproof
Oakgnarl Guardian can block up to two additional creatures.
6/8 "I have watched over these lands since I was a sprout. There is nothing I will not do to protect them, and there is nothing you can do to get by me."
I too really liked Treefolk in Lorwyn block, but then I also loved that block in its entirety, too bad I'm in the minority. I have two things to say about this card: hexproof doesn't really belong in white's slice of color pie unless it's granted to you as a player ("You have hexproof" is white), and this doesn't really feel mythic to me, I don't see this as splashy or complex enough to not just be a regular rare. Things I do like include the flavor, that's very good, and the fact that it does indeed feel like an evolved version of the chosen card.
Top 3
1st place: Raptorchan
2nd place: Jimmy Groove
3rd place: theazurespirit
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.)
Disembodied Horseman2BB
Creature — Spirit Knight (U)
Menace (This creature can't be blocked except by two or more creatures.)
Madness 1BB(If you discard this card, discard it into exile. When you do, cast it for its madness cost or put it into your graveyard.)
3/3 None can run nor hide from the end.
Good card. If not for the event rules reduce costs and P/T of the same in 1. Overall a clean work good job.
Persistent Meerkats2WW
Creature - Mongoose
Protection from blue
Whenever an opponent casts a spell during your turn, create a token that's a copy of Persistent Meerkats. Don't let them anywhere near. They pop up faster than you can get rid of them.
2/2
Interesting card. I feel it is more an evolution of voice of the resurgence. The biggest problem I see is the absence of rarity of the card, so I can not determine the viability of the card.
Guma, the Stalking Eye 2GG
Legendary Creature - Cat
Flash
Split Second
Protection from Blue
Whenever an opponent casts a spell during your turn, Guma fights each creature that opponent controls (You decide the order).
3/3
Massive blue hoser and/or pseudo-boardwipe.
Too much vanilla, in my personal opinion only leave 2 of 3 keywords that you used in the letter.
Another important point is not correctly use the ability to fight, since all the damage is done at the same time and fight only involves 2 creatures. If your idea was damage multiple creatures could you take as a reference Alpha Brawl or Master of the Wild Hunt.
Making these adjustments a card would rather hate blue decks.
Boars of Bogardan2RRR
Creature - Elemental Boar (M)
Haste, trample
When Boars of Bogardan dies, exile it with X rage counters on it, where X is the amount of damage Boars of Bogardan dealt to players and planeswalkers this turn.
Whenever a creature you control attacks, if Boars of Bogardan is exiled, that creature gets +1/+0 until end of turn for each rage counter on Boars of Bogardan.
4/4
The card fascinated me from the moment I read it. I think no more than 10 cards affect the game being removed. And yours quite a different effect applied to them, the only thing that makes me broken is itself gives a very abusive push their other copies. Congratulations very original
Flight of Herons Sentinel4WW
Creature - Angel Soldier (R)
Flash (You may cast this spell any time you could cast an instant.)
Split second (As long as this spell is on the stack, players can't cast spells or activate abilities that aren't mana abilities.)
Flying
Your opponents can't cast spells or activate abilities that aren't mana abilities during combat.
4/5
I leftover 1 of 3 skills. The use that I see the card is basically ensure home-field advantage through a massive attack or defense. The card reminds me Basandra, Battle Seraph.
Undercity Paladin2WW
Creature - Troll Knight (R)
Vigilance
Whenever Undercity Paladin deals combat damage to a player, put a +1/+1 counter on each creature you control. 2W: Regenerate target creature. "May the resilience I am blessed with be yours, my brother."
3/3
A very clear and clean evolution of Undercity Troll, with good flavor backing. I like how the evolved abilities follow a clear theme of sharing. Quite an elegant design. Not sure if vigilance is necessary here, but it doesn’t hurt.
Bloodfire Student3R
Creature - Human Monk (U)
Prowess, menace
2/4[/quote]
Clean and simple card, with two abilities that play interestingly together. I can see this being an evolution of Jeskai Student, but the lack of flavor text really hurts it. Brevity of rules text means you have room to tell a story through flavor text, an opportunity that you haven’t taken advantage of here. Still, mechanically a nice card.
Sacred Huntbeast4WW
Creature - Beast (R)
Whenever a player casts a spell that targets Sacred Huntbeast, you may change the target of that spell to another creature.
Whenever a player casts a spell that targets a single creature, you may change the target of that spell to Sacred Huntbeast.
4/4
Redirecting spells is a blue/red ability, not white. Apart from the color issue, I like it. A limited form of protection for all creatures, while not strictly better than hexproof, is a powerful effect and feels like a natural evolution. With a little flavor tweak, this could easily be a blue/red card, and it would be quite great.
Vestigial Conglomerate5GG
Creature - Eldrazi Drone (U)
Devoid (This card has no color.)
Trample Landfall - Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control, create two 1/1 colorless Eldrazi Scion creature tokens with “Sacrifice this: Add C to your mana pool.”
6/8
I’m not sure Vestige of Emrakul actually counts as French vanilla, since devoid is not an evergreen ability. But devoid is hardly an ability anyway, so it can be overlooked. This does play into the Eldrazi’s battlecruiser tendencies, but a seven-mana card, with an ability that requires you to play more lands and generates more mana, is a hard sell. And the scale of the ability is more suited for rare than uncommon.
Oakgnarl Guardian6WW
Creature - Treefolk Warrior (M)
Vigilance, hexproof
Oakgnarl Guardian can block up to two additional creatures.
6/8 "I have watched over these lands since I was a sprout. There is nothing I will not do to protect them, and there is nothing you can do to get by me."
When the starting card is 5/7, there’s not much room for more evolution. This is fine, but there’s not much to identify it with the original. A white treefolk is decidedly strange, and I feel the flavor isn’t strong enough to justify it. And hexproof is out of color for white. Also does not feel mythic rare.
Porcelain Pain-Sharpers
Artifact Creature - Devil Soldier (Rare)
First strike, trample
At the beginning of each end step, you lose life equal to the life you lost this turn. (Damage causes loss of life.) Those who can't bear the pain inflicted by the furnace dwellers, aren't worthy of their blessings.
6/2
Ouch, this is so painful-looking, it hurts just to look at it. Which I suppose is the feeling you’re going for. A card like this is hard to evaluate, because it’s so swingy. Probably too swingy; getting this out turn 1 means that the game will be over in short order one way or another. Something this game-deciding probably shouldn’t be available so early.
An effect worthy of a mythic rare. Even when your opponent can remove it, you'll most likely get a 2/2 bird out of it.
So that's good. Not sure when you'd pick a loot over a 2/2 flying. Seems like a fringe area. Not sure if it's worth the additional card text.
Sadly, one of the tasks was that a creature type has to be shared, which is something you didn't do.
Picking a card which uses an old version of the color pie to have it easy with the new color. Clever.
A neat effect. Potentially strong, but you need another creature and then get value out of a +1/+1 counter. Sounds fun.
Jesus! What an effect! Sounds like a very efficient win condition for a control deck.
Seems too strong to me. Also off-color. Returning creatures this way should be black. I'm missing the feeling of an evolve.
Other than that a cool concept.
I'm not sure Undercity Troll qualifies as French Vanilla, but I'll let it slide.
Pretty oppressive in limited. Good enough for constructed. The regeneration is expensive, so it's not too strong.
I like the super-renown. I feel like this is a bit on the strong side.
I.. I guess. That's just another french vanilla. What's there to say?
I mean, menace and prowess are a nasty combination. You have to double block and then one spell makes it go awful.
That's a lot of text for a rather narrow effect. In the end all will land on anything but the Huntbeast. But what if there's only the Huntbeast? Oh boy.
It's a pretty cool card. Not sure if there's a way to make the effect more obvious and in a single line. It's not far from you choose all targets of spells. Yet, still far enough.
1. bravelion83
2. Arkouchie
3. Jimmy Groove
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Multiple instances of lifelink on the same creature are redundant.
Multiple instances of lifelink on the same creature are redundant.
Multiple instances of lifelink on the same creature are redundant.
—Eli Shiffrin, Rules Manager, on a design stacking lifelink instances
Persistent Meerkats2WW
Creature - Mongoose
Protection from blue
Whenever an opponent casts a spell during your turn, create a token that's a copy of Persistent Meerkats. Don't let them anywhere near. They pop up faster than you can get rid of them.
2/2
I feel like this is a pair of green abilities (see Hermit of the Natterknolls and Voice of Resurgence as our only examples of “opponent casts a spell during your turn” triggers) with a white mana cost for no clear reason.
Korozda Basilisk4BB
Creature - Basilisk Horror (U)
Deathtouch
Whenever Korozda Basilisk destroy one or more creatures put a +1/+1 counter on it and gain indestructible until end of the next turn.
3/3
This doesn’t work as-written, as it’s the damage that actually destroys creatures, not the creature. I believe the wording you want is something like, “Whenever a creature dies, if CARDNAME dealt damage to it this turn, CARDNAME gains indestructible until end of turn. Put a +1/+1 counter on it.” This effect is okay but I’m not sold on it being monoblack and I’m not convinced that it’s super useful, since most of the time the ability will trigger due to combat.
Guma, the Stalking Eye 2GG
Legendary Creature - Cat
Flash
Split Second
Protection from Blue
Whenever an opponent casts a spell during your turn, Guma fights each creature that opponent controls (You decide the order).
3/3
This seems undercosted for an uncounterable ambush blocker with a body the size it has, and at the same time it has this weird suicidal fight ability that’s only good against blue creatures. We don’t really do color-hate like this anymore and I think creatures like this are why; this simply shuts down a whole class of decks without any opportunity for counterplay, not in a fun way.
Mindsnare Weaver 4UUU
Creature - Spider (R)
Reach (This creature can block creatures with flying
At the end of combat, gain control of all creatures blocked by Mindsnare Weaver 2UU: Creatures target player controls attack this turn if able.
3/8
This card feels fine except for reach in blue, which is just a bit strange and disappointing; I’d rather have seen you give a creative take on ‘better than a vanilla blocker’.
Death Knight2BB
Creature - Human Knight (R)
First strike, protection from white
Players can't gain life and damage can't be prevented.
3/3
This has the right color identity at least (if we grandfather in the Knight exception for first strike) but it feels quite pushed. Also it’s weird to think of this as a successor to Blood Knight when Black Knight is a thing.
Disembodied Horseman2BB
Creature — Spirit Knight (U)
Menace (This creature can't be blocked except by two or more creatures.)
Madness 1BB(If you discard this card, discard it into exile. When you do, cast it for its madness cost or put it into your graveyard.)
3/3 None can run nor hide from the end.
I find this a nice straightforward French vanilla evolution of the original.
doomfish - "Angel Soldier" is a little bit of an awkward typeline, and the whole thing just feels like an upsized Basandra, Battle Seraph, but otherwise, I love the combination of split second and... "perpetual split second". Interesting territory for white and very cool. Would be much stronger if it weren't so (relatively) cost-prohibitive, but the effective uncounterability is definitely appealing on an expensive fatty.
ickiwonkin - Misses the "share a creature type" part of the challenge, and the lack of flavor text seriously hurts this one - the name is pretty nondescriptive of the function. Regardless, modal triggered abilities are cool, even if this feels like a slightly altered Consecrated Sphinx, and the Bird token is a good connection to the original card.
bravelion83 - Reasonable. Definitely a hell of a combat trick; the ideal situation with this - blocking a 1/1, and pumping another creature so that it blocks to survive instead of to trade - can turn absolutely everything around. Definitely feels like a Lorwyn card. Would be fun times in Limited with effects that care about +1/+1 counters.
theazurespirit - Great name - really rolls off the tongue. In an Innistrad context, this feels like it should have something to do with Werewolves; getting an upgrade for a spell-less turn is kind of their deal. Feels more white or black than it does blue by quite a bit; R&D would probably prefer to make this black and unable to block IRL.
Jimmy Groove - Monowhite Troll is a very curious typeline. This is kind of a mishmash of abilities; all of them are good on the creature, but none of them actually supports the other. I guess on Ravnica this could be a Selesnyan Troll, which is a neat idea.
Raptorchan - Ooh, simple and effective. Menace and prowess haven't been seen together, yet, but it seems to only be a matter of time - prowess + evasion go together, and menace + being really huge do too.
Sacred Huntbeast4WW
Creature - Beast (R)
Whenever a player casts a spell that targets Sacred Huntbeast, you may change the target of that spell to another creature.
Whenever a player casts a spell that targets a single creature, you may change the target of that spell to Sacred Huntbeast.
4/4
Kinda off-color (this should be blue and I can't see why not). Design is simple and card is pretty powerful. Bad news: I have no idea how much money it may cost because Spellskite with less flexible (and (U/P)) ability costs a ton of money (just checked yesterday). Manacost is high, in other hand. Evolving feel: nice.
Vestigial Conglomerate5GG
Creature - Eldrazi Drone (U)
Devoid (This card has no color.)
Trample Landfall - Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control, create two 1/1 colorless Eldrazi Scion creature tokens with “Sacrifice this: Add C to your mana pool.”
6/8
This card is nuts compared to Brood Monitor. Feels pretty green, though, which can make landfall relevant even with big and expensive creatures on the bettlefield because green mana ramp, but still unbalanced. And yes, Devoid is against the rules of this round IIRC. Evolving feel: not so nice.
Oakgnarl Guardian6WW
Creature - Treefolk Warrior (M)
Vigilance, hexproof
Oakgnarl Guardian can block up to two additional creatures.
6/8 "I have watched over these lands since I was a sprout. There is nothing I will not do to protect them, and there is nothing you can do to get by me."
Hexproof feels off-color (but also like something necessary for such a body), everyting else is nice, maybe too costly but... Evolving feel is nice.
PS. Wording is not clear, need to add "each combat".
Porcelain Pain-Sharpers
Artifact Creature - Devil Soldier (Rare)
First strike, trample
At the beginning of each end step, you lose life equal to the life you lost this turn. (Damage causes loss of life.) Those who can't bear the pain inflicted by the furnace dwellers, aren't worthy of their blessings.
6/2
One of those cards you can't say easy balanced or not. Can be 6/2 first striker/trampler with downside be good for 12 life? On turn 1? 1 mana and 8 life on turn 1 (more realistic scenario)? Or for 3 mana on turn 3 in monored? I can't say something about balance because I don't know. Evloving feels weird (why Devil type?)
...But as huge Timmy, I salute you for 6 power first striker/trampler.
Cloud Crow3W
Creature - Bird
Flash
Flying
When Cloud Crow enters the battlefield, prevent all damage that would be dealt to you or creatures you control this turn.
2/3 Cloud crow descending, peace never-ending.
Cloud crow departing, battle is starting.
Memes aside, crows are always welcome, design looks nice and evolving also feels nice. White one-side Fog ability on place, so nothing to dislike about. Flavor is great too, as expected from crow.
PS. Oh wait, something to nitpick: would be dealt to you and creatures you control, right?
PPS. Nobody is perfect, so 1st place of my TOP goes to you anyway.
Rotten Pegasus3B
Creature - Zombie Pegasus
Flying Imaginarium — Rotten Pegasus’s power is equal to the number of colors among cards in your graveyard. “The eternal beauty of death transcends the ephemeral nature of life.”
—Mekar, Soulless poet
*/3
Poor man's Nightmare but feels surprisingly well balanced, I can see it as 3/3 in three-color deck, something more can be harder to achieve. Evolving is nice and on place. Like.
Cloud Crow3W
Creature - Bird
Flash
Flying
When Cloud Crow enters the battlefield, prevent all damage that would be dealt to you or creatures you control this turn.
2/3 Cloud crow descending, peace never-ending.
Cloud crow departing, battle is starting.
No rarity. I assume this is an Uncommon? this card may be devestating in limited, as it may altering combat in one swoop. However, 2/3 flying flash for 4 mana is right on curve. This card is printable, fine, just not that exciting.
This card is actually from my custom set Aenyr, but it fits the Evolve theme so well. Rotten Pegasus3B
Creature - Zombie Pegasus
Flying Imaginarium — Rotten Pegasus’s power is equal to the number of colors among cards in your graveyard. “The eternal beauty of death transcends the ephemeral nature of life.”
—Mekar, Soulless poet
*/3
Rotten Pegasus... the flavor is very hardcore, I love it. This card seems more blue than black, because big flyers and caring about color are in Blue's domain, but I may see it printed in the right set.
Monastery Bell-Ringer2RR
Creature — Human Monk (R)
Prowess
Whenever you cast a noncreature spell, untap Monastery Bell-Ringer and it deals 2 damage to target player.
3/3
This card is very strong. I can see it played in a very aggresive red/blue spells that wants to hit hard. This card is very printable, balanced and simple. I like it.
Mindsnare Weaver 4UUU
Creature - Spider (R)
Reach (This creature can block creatures with flying
At the end of combat, gain control of all creatures blocked by Mindsnare Weaver 2UU: Creatures target player controls attack this turn if able.
3/8
You managed to design a blue and epic gaint spider. This card is flavorful and while not that powerful in constracted, but in limited and maybe commander there would be a big appeal for this card (wish it was legendery).
Korozda Basilisk4BB
Creature - Basilisk Horror (U)
Deathtouch
Whenever Korozda Basilisk destroy one or more creatures put a +1/+1 counter on it and gain indestructible until end of the next turn.
3/3
------
Original art
Gaining indestructible after the opponent's creature is destroyed isn't that effective, because this creature will still die after the damage is dealt. Now, this creature is a friend with Sengir Vampire, and that's fine.
Disembodied Horseman2BB
Creature — Spirit Knight (U)
Menace (This creature can't be blocked except by two or more creatures.)
Madness 1BB(If you discard this card, discard it into exile. When you do, cast it for its madness cost or put it into your graveyard.)
3/3 None can run nor hide from the end.
In my experience, Menace is a very potent ability. When you combine it with Madness and with this sick name, you can get a very cool and potent card, and I find it wierd that Wizards didn't printed a variation of this card in the last block.
It’s time for your critiques!
Critique the cards of the six people immediately below your name, looping to the top of the list as necessary. Then, among those six, rank what you feel are the top three. (Ranking your top 3 gets you a point, and completing critiques gets you another point.)
ickiwonkin
bravelion83
theazurespirit
Jimmy Groove
Raptorchan
Arkouchie
PsyOp
GG Crono
netn10
scrad_the_wanderer
Zervintz
willows
drewdagreek
mirrodin71
Blydden
Voxzorz
BrainPo
6jerfz
void_nothing
doomfish
Critiques are technically optional, but they’re one of the easiest ways to get points. And you don’t have to write very much either!
An easy way to get the six cards you are critiquing in a post is to use the Multi-quote button for each submission. Start with the first person who is below your name, look for their post, and click on the Multi-quote button. Then continue down the list. Click Reply when you have all six queued up.
After that, briefly write about what you like and don’t like on those cards. It’s totally okay to edit this in more than one sitting. Feel free to revise this as much as you like before the deadline.
You’ll also then rank them with your own “top 3.” (Usually people will wrap the critiques and the top 3 into separate spoiler tags, but however you would like to do it all is fine.)
Lastly, if you vote in July’s final poll, you’ll get two bonus points at the end of Round 3, so please go do that too if you can.
( ancestral on Custom Magic Discord server )
( mproud on reddit )
(Unfortunately, some of these cards do not have rarities. In the case of a missing rarity, I will have to assume that the rarity is the same as the pre-evolution card as implied by our host.)
Protection is not an evergreen keyword (since Magic Origins, anyway), so it needs reminder text. (This creature can't be blocked, targeted, dealt damage, or enchanted by anything blue.)
That aside, the conditional doubling trigger is interesting and unique. This card probably works fine at uncommon as a result.
Black Knight + Leyline of Punishment. In fact, I would even go so far as to say that there is surely color bleed here, as this entire card would fit better into red instead of black. Also, the flavor of this card does not sit right with me as a Vorthos player -- how is a Death Knight a Human and not a Skeleton or a Zombie, exactly?
This card does not work at Uncommon. It is also missing two instances of necessary reminder text.
Protection from blue's reminder text is: (This creature can't be blocked, targeted, dealt damage, or enchanted by anything blue.)
Split second's reminder text is: (As long as this spell is on the stack, players can't cast spells or activate abilities that aren't mana abilities.)
The last ability hearkens back to Polukranos, World Eater for myself, personally. However, this card honestly feels like Green removal because it is most likely going to die after it is played in the 'intended' way. The text as to how the ability functions is also incorrect.
The more and more that I think about this unique card, the more and more that I like it. It is expensive for mono-red, but the upsides to that cost are huge (even if the mana cost does look a little clunky). If your opponent plays around it incorrectly, it is definitely a candidate for being a finisher.
I am a bit of an archon and angel lover, as my avatar would suggest. 'Flight of Herons' is a specific reference to Sigarda, Host of Herons (and, later, Sigarda, Heron's Grace), and this card definitely communicates but not G. It actually reads more as a red card. The WR angelic flight of Innistrad would actually be the 'Flight of Goldnight', led by Gisela, Blade of Goldnight.
Actually, kind of think of it, this card is interesting enough on its own to warrant being a legendary creature. (Regardless of the existence of Basandra, Battle Seraph.)
Just my two cents — this card is otherwise good!
This card looks as though it would be far too big to be in U with numerous upsides for only 6 converted mana. Basically, this is a better Mahamoti Djinn, and while it is mythic rare, I do not think the extra rarity is enough to add in the extra modal ability in this case. Plus, I am of the opinion that the modal ability's second choice is so much stronger than the first to the point where I think the first half of the modal ability could just be cut altogether. (Maybe if the token was only 1/1 then it would be worth considering both abilities in comparison to each other.) In all honesty, this card just does not feel blue despite being a sphinx.
Voxzorz
doomfish
This card is fine in a vacuum, the last ability feels more black (or white) than blue to me, but we just saw it bleeding into blue in SOI block. The flavor text is also good, and the card concept makes perfect sense. The only problem is that I just fail to see how the reanimation ability is an evolution of first strike compared to the original card. I feel that's a problem for this challenge, but I still like the card well enough in a vacuum that it's still making my top 3 anyway. Quality mistake: in the flavor text, the attribution should be on its own line.
This is good, even if regeneration is only tertiary in white and we don't see it often nowadays. It just makes sense on this card, both because it's the distinctive ability of Trolls and to show the evolution of the character. The second ability is also a clear upgrade on renown, so it would be quite hard to communicate that evolution louder. Vigilance feels to me like it was just tackled on to give an additional upside. The flavor is what holds together this card, and I like very much the flavor text in particular. Overall, some highs and some lows but it's certainly a good enough card for this challenge.
Congratulations to you! You did a wonderful job, this is a meaningful and simple card that does its job perfectly. This shows that it's possible to make a creature feel evolved without huge walls of text. The only complaint I have is the absence of flavor text, there is certainly room for it on this card and it would have been the perfect chance to show the evolution of the character. But anyway, you're going straight to the top of my standings, no doubt about it.
This is a blue card, not white. That's a problem. Changing targets can be blue or red in the color pie, but definitely not white. The second ability in particular feels more blue then red, check for example Spellskite. This card is fine in the rules and you can clearly see the evolution from the chosen card, but it has huge color pie issues. I'm sorry.
I'm sorry but the challenge explicitly forbade devoid cards (check the clarifications spoiler in the OP). That's too bad, also because I liked the card itself well enough. The only complaint I had about it is that I think it should be a rare, creating two tokens whenever you play a land looks quite strong, a bit too strong for uncommon in my opinion. I'm really sorry.
I too really liked Treefolk in Lorwyn block, but then I also loved that block in its entirety, too bad I'm in the minority. I have two things to say about this card: hexproof doesn't really belong in white's slice of color pie unless it's granted to you as a player ("You have hexproof" is white), and this doesn't really feel mythic to me, I don't see this as splashy or complex enough to not just be a regular rare. Things I do like include the flavor, that's very good, and the fact that it does indeed feel like an evolved version of the chosen card.
Top 3
1st place: Raptorchan
2nd place: Jimmy Groove
3rd place: theazurespirit
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.)
Good card. If not for the event rules reduce costs and P/T of the same in 1. Overall a clean work good job.
Interesting card. I feel it is more an evolution of voice of the resurgence. The biggest problem I see is the absence of rarity of the card, so I can not determine the viability of the card.
Not much you can bring to the card, I feel very weak. I really feel that fusionaste the Black Knight with Leyline of Punishment.
Too much vanilla, in my personal opinion only leave 2 of 3 keywords that you used in the letter.
Another important point is not correctly use the ability to fight, since all the damage is done at the same time and fight only involves 2 creatures. If your idea was damage multiple creatures could you take as a reference Alpha Brawl or Master of the Wild Hunt.
Making these adjustments a card would rather hate blue decks.
The card fascinated me from the moment I read it. I think no more than 10 cards affect the game being removed. And yours quite a different effect applied to them, the only thing that makes me broken is itself gives a very abusive push their other copies. Congratulations very original
I leftover 1 of 3 skills. The use that I see the card is basically ensure home-field advantage through a massive attack or defense. The card reminds me Basandra, Battle Seraph.
My top 3.
scrad_the_wanderer: Nice. Simple. Could maybe be a 2/2, considering, but still nice.
Zervintz: Considering that I've playtested this card myself, I'm inclined to like it. But it is a good design.
willows: Really cool design, though all things considered, it should probably cost a little more.
drewdagreek: Interesting design, but neither spiders or reach are really a thing in blue.
mirrodin71: Dang, that thing looks nasty. Slap a Lure on it and go to town. I like it.
Top 3:
1. netn10
2. Zervintz
3. willows
A very clear and clean evolution of Undercity Troll, with good flavor backing. I like how the evolved abilities follow a clear theme of sharing. Quite an elegant design. Not sure if vigilance is necessary here, but it doesn’t hurt.
Creature - Human Monk (U)
Prowess, menace
2/4[/quote]
Clean and simple card, with two abilities that play interestingly together. I can see this being an evolution of Jeskai Student, but the lack of flavor text really hurts it. Brevity of rules text means you have room to tell a story through flavor text, an opportunity that you haven’t taken advantage of here. Still, mechanically a nice card.
Redirecting spells is a blue/red ability, not white. Apart from the color issue, I like it. A limited form of protection for all creatures, while not strictly better than hexproof, is a powerful effect and feels like a natural evolution. With a little flavor tweak, this could easily be a blue/red card, and it would be quite great.
I’m not sure Vestige of Emrakul actually counts as French vanilla, since devoid is not an evergreen ability. But devoid is hardly an ability anyway, so it can be overlooked. This does play into the Eldrazi’s battlecruiser tendencies, but a seven-mana card, with an ability that requires you to play more lands and generates more mana, is a hard sell. And the scale of the ability is more suited for rare than uncommon.
When the starting card is 5/7, there’s not much room for more evolution. This is fine, but there’s not much to identify it with the original. A white treefolk is decidedly strange, and I feel the flavor isn’t strong enough to justify it. And hexproof is out of color for white. Also does not feel mythic rare.
Ouch, this is so painful-looking, it hurts just to look at it. Which I suppose is the feeling you’re going for. A card like this is hard to evaluate, because it’s so swingy. Probably too swingy; getting this out turn 1 means that the game will be over in short order one way or another. Something this game-deciding probably shouldn’t be available so early.
1. Jimmy Groove
2. raptorchan
3. Arkouchie
So that's good. Not sure when you'd pick a loot over a 2/2 flying. Seems like a fringe area. Not sure if it's worth the additional card text.
Sadly, one of the tasks was that a creature type has to be shared, which is something you didn't do.
A neat effect. Potentially strong, but you need another creature and then get value out of a +1/+1 counter. Sounds fun.
Seems too strong to me. Also off-color. Returning creatures this way should be black. I'm missing the feeling of an evolve.
Other than that a cool concept.
Pretty oppressive in limited. Good enough for constructed. The regeneration is expensive, so it's not too strong.
I like the super-renown. I feel like this is a bit on the strong side.
I mean, menace and prowess are a nasty combination. You have to double block and then one spell makes it go awful.
It's a pretty cool card. Not sure if there's a way to make the effect more obvious and in a single line. It's not far from you choose all targets of spells. Yet, still far enough.
2. Arkouchie
3. Jimmy Groove
Multiple instances of lifelink on the same creature are redundant.
Multiple instances of lifelink on the same creature are redundant.
—Eli Shiffrin, Rules Manager, on a design stacking lifelink instances
I feel like this is a pair of green abilities (see Hermit of the Natterknolls and Voice of Resurgence as our only examples of “opponent casts a spell during your turn” triggers) with a white mana cost for no clear reason.
This doesn’t work as-written, as it’s the damage that actually destroys creatures, not the creature. I believe the wording you want is something like, “Whenever a creature dies, if CARDNAME dealt damage to it this turn, CARDNAME gains indestructible until end of turn. Put a +1/+1 counter on it.” This effect is okay but I’m not sold on it being monoblack and I’m not convinced that it’s super useful, since most of the time the ability will trigger due to combat.
This seems undercosted for an uncounterable ambush blocker with a body the size it has, and at the same time it has this weird suicidal fight ability that’s only good against blue creatures. We don’t really do color-hate like this anymore and I think creatures like this are why; this simply shuts down a whole class of decks without any opportunity for counterplay, not in a fun way.
This card feels fine except for reach in blue, which is just a bit strange and disappointing; I’d rather have seen you give a creative take on ‘better than a vanilla blocker’.
This has the right color identity at least (if we grandfather in the Knight exception for first strike) but it feels quite pushed. Also it’s weird to think of this as a successor to Blood Knight when Black Knight is a thing.
I find this a nice straightforward French vanilla evolution of the original.
2. drewdagreek
3. BrainPo
doomfish - "Angel Soldier" is a little bit of an awkward typeline, and the whole thing just feels like an upsized Basandra, Battle Seraph, but otherwise, I love the combination of split second and... "perpetual split second". Interesting territory for white and very cool. Would be much stronger if it weren't so (relatively) cost-prohibitive, but the effective uncounterability is definitely appealing on an expensive fatty.
ickiwonkin - Misses the "share a creature type" part of the challenge, and the lack of flavor text seriously hurts this one - the name is pretty nondescriptive of the function. Regardless, modal triggered abilities are cool, even if this feels like a slightly altered Consecrated Sphinx, and the Bird token is a good connection to the original card.
bravelion83 - Reasonable. Definitely a hell of a combat trick; the ideal situation with this - blocking a 1/1, and pumping another creature so that it blocks to survive instead of to trade - can turn absolutely everything around. Definitely feels like a Lorwyn card. Would be fun times in Limited with effects that care about +1/+1 counters.
theazurespirit - Great name - really rolls off the tongue. In an Innistrad context, this feels like it should have something to do with Werewolves; getting an upgrade for a spell-less turn is kind of their deal. Feels more white or black than it does blue by quite a bit; R&D would probably prefer to make this black and unable to block IRL.
Jimmy Groove - Monowhite Troll is a very curious typeline. This is kind of a mishmash of abilities; all of them are good on the creature, but none of them actually supports the other. I guess on Ravnica this could be a Selesnyan Troll, which is a neat idea.
Raptorchan - Ooh, simple and effective. Menace and prowess haven't been seen together, yet, but it seems to only be a matter of time - prowess + evasion go together, and menace + being really huge do too.
1. doomfish
2. Raptorchan
3. bravelion83
I̟̥͍̠ͅn̩͉̣͍̬͚ͅ ̬̬͖t̯̹̞̺͖͓̯̤h̘͍̬e͙̯͈̖̼̮ ̭̬f̺̲̲̪i͙͉̟̩̰r̪̝͚͈̝̥͍̝̲s̼̻͇̘̳͔ͅt̲̺̳̗̜̪̙ ̳̺̥̻͚̗ͅm̜̜̟̰͈͓͎͇o̝̖̮̝͇m̯̻̞̼̫̗͓̤e̩̯̬̮̩n͎̱̪̲̹͖t͇̖s̰̮ͅ,̤̲͙̻̭̻̯̹̰ ̖t̫̙̺̯͖͚̯ͅh͙̯̦̳̗̰̟e͖̪͉̼̯ ̪͕g̞̣͔a̗̦t̬̬͓͙̫̖̭̻e̩̻̯ ̜̖̦̖̤̭͙̬t̞̹̥̪͎͉ͅo͕͚͍͇̲͇͓̺ ̭̬͙͈̣̻t͈͍͙͓̫̖͙̩h̪̬̖̙e̗͈ ̗̬̟̞̺̤͉̯ͅa̦̯͚̙̜̮f͉͙̲̣̞̼t̪̤̞̣͚e̲͉̳̥r͇̪̙͚͓l̥̞̞͎̹̯̹ͅi͓̬f̮̥̬̞͈ͅe͎ ̟̩̤̳̠̯̩̯o̮̘̲p̟͚̣̞͉͓e͍̩̣n͔̼͕͚̜e̬̱d̼̘͎̖̹͍̮̠,͖̺̭̱̮ ̣̲͖̬̪̭̥a̪͚n̟̲̝̤̤̞̗d̘̱̗͇̮͕̳͕͔ ͖̞͉͎t̹̙͎h̰̱͉̗e̪̞̱̝̹̩ͅ ̠̱̩̭̦p̯̙e͓o̳͚̰̯̺̱̰͔̘p̬͎̱̣̼̩͇l̗̟̖͚̠e̱͉͔̱̦̬̟̙ ̖͚̪͔̼̦w̺̖̤̱e͖̗̻̦͓̖̘̜r̭̥e͔̹̫̱͕̦̰͕ ̗͔̠p̠̗͍͍̱̳̠r̰͔͎̰o͉̥͓̰͚̥s̟͚̹̱͔̣t͉̙̳̖͖̪̮r̥̘̥͙̹a͉̟̫̟̳̠̟̭t͈̜̰͈͎e̞̣̭̲̬ ͚̗̯̟͙i͍͖̰̘̦͖͉ṇ̮̻̯̦̲̩͍ ̦̮͚̫̤t͉͖̫͕ͅͅh͙̮̻̘̣̮̼e͕̺ ͙l͕̠͎̰̥i̲͓͉̲g̫̳̟͈͇̖h̠̦̖t͓̯͎̗ ̳̪̘̟̙̩̦o̫̲f̙͔̰̙̠ ̹̪̗͇̯t͖̼̼͉͖̬h̹͇̩e͚̖̺̤͉̹͕̪ ͚͓̭̝̺G͎̗̯̩o̫̯̮̟̮̳̘d̜̲͙̠-̩̳̯̲̗̜P̹̘̥͉̝h͍͈̗̖̝ͅa͍̗̮̼̗r̜̖͇̙̺a̭̺͔̞̳͈o̪̣͓̯̬͙̯̰̗h̖̦͈̥̯͔.͇̣̙̝
Creature - Beast (R)
Whenever a player casts a spell that targets Sacred Huntbeast, you may change the target of that spell to another creature.
Whenever a player casts a spell that targets a single creature, you may change the target of that spell to Sacred Huntbeast.
4/4
Kinda off-color (this should be blue and I can't see why not). Design is simple and card is pretty powerful. Bad news: I have no idea how much money it may cost because Spellskite with less flexible (and (U/P)) ability costs a ton of money (just checked yesterday). Manacost is high, in other hand. Evolving feel: nice.
Creature - Eldrazi Drone (U)
Devoid (This card has no color.)
Trample
Landfall - Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control, create two 1/1 colorless Eldrazi Scion creature tokens with “Sacrifice this: Add C to your mana pool.”
6/8
This card is nuts compared to Brood Monitor. Feels pretty green, though, which can make landfall relevant even with big and expensive creatures on the bettlefield because green mana ramp, but still unbalanced. And yes, Devoid is against the rules of this round IIRC. Evolving feel: not so nice.
Creature - Treefolk Warrior (M)
Vigilance, hexproof
Oakgnarl Guardian can block up to two additional creatures.
6/8
"I have watched over these lands since I was a sprout. There is nothing I will not do to protect them, and there is nothing you can do to get by me."
Hexproof feels off-color (but also like something necessary for such a body), everyting else is nice, maybe too costly but... Evolving feel is nice.
PS. Wording is not clear, need to add "each combat".
Artifact Creature - Devil Soldier (Rare)
First strike, trample
At the beginning of each end step, you lose life equal to the life you lost this turn. (Damage causes loss of life.)
Those who can't bear the pain inflicted by the furnace dwellers, aren't worthy of their blessings.
6/2
One of those cards you can't say easy balanced or not. Can be 6/2 first striker/trampler with downside be good for 12 life? On turn 1? 1 mana and 8 life on turn 1 (more realistic scenario)? Or for 3 mana on turn 3 in monored? I can't say something about balance because I don't know. Evloving feels weird (why Devil type?)
...But as huge Timmy, I salute you for 6 power first striker/trampler.
Creature - Bird
Flash
Flying
When Cloud Crow enters the battlefield, prevent all damage that would be dealt to you or creatures you control this turn.
2/3
Cloud crow descending, peace never-ending.
Cloud crow departing, battle is starting.
Memes aside, crows are always welcome, design looks nice and evolving also feels nice. White one-side Fog ability on place, so nothing to dislike about. Flavor is great too, as expected from crow.
PS. Oh wait, something to nitpick: would be dealt to you and creatures you control, right?
PPS. Nobody is perfect, so 1st place of my TOP goes to you anyway.
Creature - Zombie Pegasus
Flying
Imaginarium — Rotten Pegasus’s power is equal to the number of colors among cards in your graveyard.
“The eternal beauty of death transcends the ephemeral nature of life.”
—Mekar, Soulless poet
*/3
Poor man's Nightmare but feels surprisingly well balanced, I can see it as 3/3 in three-color deck, something more can be harder to achieve. Evolving is nice and on place. Like.
2. Zervintz
3. GG Crono
No rarity. I assume this is an Uncommon? this card may be devestating in limited, as it may altering combat in one swoop. However, 2/3 flying flash for 4 mana is right on curve. This card is printable, fine, just not that exciting.
Rotten Pegasus... the flavor is very hardcore, I love it. This card seems more blue than black, because big flyers and caring about color are in Blue's domain, but I may see it printed in the right set.
This card is very strong. I can see it played in a very aggresive red/blue spells that wants to hit hard. This card is very printable, balanced and simple. I like it.
You managed to design a blue and epic gaint spider. This card is flavorful and while not that powerful in constracted, but in limited and maybe commander there would be a big appeal for this card (wish it was legendery).
Gaining indestructible after the opponent's creature is destroyed isn't that effective, because this creature will still die after the damage is dealt. Now, this creature is a friend with Sengir Vampire, and that's fine.
In my experience, Menace is a very potent ability. When you combine it with Madness and with this sick name, you can get a very cool and potent card, and I find it wierd that Wizards didn't printed a variation of this card in the last block.
2nd: willows
3rd: Blydden