Month's Theme — I have always felt that Wizards could open up a lot of design space, and fix some oddly flavored designs by overhauling the way they describe creatures. This month's challenges focus on the ideas I've had about different ways to describe creatures more thoroughly. Some of the challenges are pretty out there, but hopefully people will find them to be a fun exercise.
I've always thought it was odd that there was no way to differentiate between sapient and non-sapient creatures in Magic. I've just never liked that Qasali Pridemage and Black Cat are no different from one another using Wizard's current way of describing creatures. It also seems odd to me that Black Cat can crew a vehicle or carry a sword. To remedy these issues, let's add a new symbol to creature cards to denote whether the creature is sapient or not. Due the lack of a better option, we are going to use the greater than symbol (>) to denote sapient creatures, and the less than symbol (<) to denote non-sapient creatures. The symbol will be found at the very beginning of the type line on creature cards, and there will always be a space following the new symbol. Now Coiling Oracle's type line looks like this: > Creature — Snake Elf / Druid, with the ">" denoting that it is a sapient creature. Conversely, Black Cat's type line would now look like this: < Creature — Cat, with the "<" denoting that it is a non-sentient creature.
Challenge 3: Design a sapient creature of one of the types listed in the spoiler below. The type line should be formatted as it has been for the first two rounds, but you are now adding the greater than > or less than < symbol to indicate whether the creature is sapient or not. Like this: > Creature — Race / Class, or this: < Creature — Race / Class
Cat
Hound
Rat
Bird
Elephant
Snake
Insect
Fox
Rhino
Subchallenge 1: Your card interacts positively with other sapient creatures of the same type, but is neutral when it comes to non-sapient creatures of the same type. (Clarification - To do this, you will most likely need the term 'sapient' somewhere in its rules text. The symbol is only for the type line.)
Subchallenge 2: Your card has a CMC of 3 or less.
If you have questions about the challenge, please post in the MCC discussion thread. Best of luck!
By sapient, I mean a creature that has a human-like intelligence.
Sarina the CursedUUU
>Legendary Creature - Cat / Wizard {R}
When Sarina the Cursed enters the battlefield, draw a card.
Your maximum hand size is increased by one for each blue Cat Wizard you control.
Your opponents maximum hand size is reduced by one for each black Cat Wizard you control. “Pronunciation is key to spell casting, trust me, I know.”
2/2
I hope my logic is right here. I am basing my card on Cat Wizards, assuming that if a card is a cat wizard, it is a sapient being, and not just an animal cat.
Technically, this card goes against the spirit of what I'm trying to do, but since I made the challenge rather confusing, I'm going to say that this sort of thing meets the challenge fully. Really, the only way I can think of to successfully pass the 1st subchallenge is to have the words "sapient (creature type of you choice)" in your rules text. The reason I didn't explicitly state this is the challenge is so that I could leave it open for people to come up with something cool I hadn't though of. Unfortunately, that left open some design space that really doesn't do what I was thinking of. Anyway, as I said, I'll accept this interpretation of the challenge since I wasn't more clear, but people should feel free to use the word "sapient" in their rules text. For this challenge, it is assumed that Wizards has explained that > means sapient, and that they've also explained what sapient means.
Design Deadline: All submissions are to be final and submitted by May 22nd 11:59 PM EST
Judging Deadline: All judgements are to be final and completed by May 25th 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.
(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)
Rat Informant1BB
> Creature - Rat Rogue (R)
At the end of each turn, if you have no cards in hand, target opponent gains control of Rat Informant, then Rat Informants's owner draws a card.
Play with your hand revealed. "There is a rat among us"
- Don Catleone
1/2
Sarina the CursedUUU
>Legendary Creature - Cat / Wizard {R}
When Sarina the Cursed enters the battlefield, draw a card.
Your maximum hand size is increased by one for each blue Cat Wizard you control.
Your opponents maximum hand size is reduced by one for each black Cat Wizard you control. “Pronunciation is key to spell casting, trust me, I know.”
2/2
I hope my logic is right here. I am basing my card on Cat Wizards, assuming that if a card is a cat wizard, it is a sapient being, and not just an animal cat.
Mithalo, the Last Kha3WW
> Legendary Creature - Cat Soldier {R}
When Mithalo, the Last Kha enters the battlefield, you may return target Equipment card from your graveyard to the battlefield attached to him.
Equipment you control have "Equipped creature gets +X/+X, where X is the number of equipped sapient Cats you control."
2/2
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
A mere ten days after the Mending, a young knight of Valeron and a young ranger of Eos made a discovery that would change Alara forever.
Fox Oppressor2B
> Creature - Fox / Rogue (U) 1B: Another target sapient Fox you control becomes non-sapient and gains deathtouch until end of turn. When that creature dies this turn, put a +1/+1 counter on Fox Oppressor.
2/3 A true fox suffers no competition.
Rat Informant1BB
> Creature - Rat Rogue (R)
At the end of each turn, if you have no cards in hand, target opponent gains control of Rat Informant, then Rat Informants's owner draws a card.
Play with your hand revealed. "There is a rat among us"
- Don Catleone
1/2
Design - (1/3) Appeal: A pretty narrow Johnny card with small payoff. (3/3) Elegance: Has a nice Melvin story of going to find someone else to spy on when you run out of things to see.
Development - (2/3) Viability: "At the beginning of each end step" is the trigger you want. Should work elsewise. I suppose I buy the color. (1/3) Balance: This is pretty weak. For three mana, you have to show your hand and get it to 0 and lose your 1/2, all for the payoff of one card and seeing an opponent's hand. Plus they can do it back to you (although you always get the card). I would have gone either for a Sleeper Agent type card that directly goes to the opponent, or maybe a more exciting rate to balance the drawbacks.
Creativity - (2/3) Uniqueness: Complicated Humble Defector, but has some new-feeling stuff. (2/3) Flavor: The reference/pun is cute and all but doesn't really work so directly on a Magic card. Otherwise, the flavor is good.
Polish - (2.5/3) Quality: "Informants's" has an extra s. (2/2) Main Challenge: (1/2) Subchallenges: Doesn't care about sapience
Sarina the CursedUUU
>Legendary Creature - Cat / Wizard {R}
When Sarina the Cursed enters the battlefield, draw a card.
Your maximum hand size is increased by one for each blue Cat Wizard you control.
Your opponents maximum hand size is reduced by one for each black Cat Wizard you control. “Pronunciation is key to spell casting, trust me, I know.”
2/2
Design - (2/3) Appeal: Intriguing legend. (1/3) Elegance: This screams wanting to be black itself so it can do both the hand size things and can be your Commander for this implied tribe. And why is it so color intensive when it wants you to play another color? I think a long-term card advantage ability like Curiosity (for Cats!) would have fit the package better also.
Development - (2.5/3) Viability: "Each opponent's" is the correct wording. (2/3) Balance: I think most of the time this is just a 2/2 that replaces itself. I doubt there are a ton of black Cat Wizards running around in any format, but it could be a problem if you can get three or four of them out quickly with this and start forcing discards. It makes sense if there is a long-term strategy to run everyone else out of hand size.
Creativity - (2/3) Uniqueness:Wistful Selkie + Trusted Advisor + Gnat Miser, but the combination is reasonably new. (1/3) Flavor: Can't say I really understand the combination of name, creature types, mechanics, and flavor text, but there are hints of something interesting.
Polish - (3/3) Quality: (2/2) Main Challenge: (2/2) Subchallenges:
Kosaku, Blade of JukaiBGU
> Legendary Creature — Snake / Warrior (MR)
Other sapient Snakes you control get +0/+3. 1(U/B): Target creature gains skulk until end of turn. (It can't be blocked by creatures with greater power.) 1(B/G): Target creature assigns combat damage equal to its toughness rather than its power until end of turn. 1(G/U): Whenever one or more creatures you control deal combat damage to a player this turn, draw a card. "Our tribes must unite: war is upon us again."
1/4
Design - (3/3) Appeal: I definitely know someone waiting for the Snake commander to combine these colors. Has a lot going on for everyone. (3/3) Elegance: It's super wordy but everything coalesces into a clear plan. I guess there was no easy way to make the last ability need a target but not be redundant when used multiple times on the same creature.
Development - (3/3) Viability: Cool hybrid choices, I like trying the Doran ability in black (other than Doran himself) due to the black/green toughness theme from Khans and recently confirmed by Maro. Not sure if skulk is coming back but it seems like it works here. (3/3) Balance: It's pretty strong, but mana intensive. You just want to ramp a huge amount so you can actually draw and still cast stuff, but you can pick and choose the abilities as needed and try shifting to the unblockable damage plan once you are full.
Creativity - (3/3) Uniqueness: No engines quite like this. (3/3) Flavor: Snakes being low to the ground and devious knowledge seekers works. I even buy the toughness thing referring to not having hands somehow although I guess the Orochi do. Nice job selecting a working Japanese name.
Polish - (3/3) Quality: (2/2) Main Challenge: (2/2) Subchallenges:
Mithalo, the Last Kha3WW
> Legendary Creature - Cat Soldier {R}
When Mithalo, the Last Kha enters the battlefield, you may return target Equipment card from your graveyard to the battlefield attached to him.
Equipment you control have "Equipped creature gets +X/+X, where X is the number of equipped sapient Cats you control."
2/2
Design - (3/3) Appeal: Fits well with the existing strategy of Kemba, Kha Regent and Raksha Golden Cub. (2/3) Elegance: Lots of complicated math, but it goes in a clear direction.
Development - (3/3) Viability: I'm not sure why Auriok Survivors is worded differently from Dragon Breath etc. but I think it's fine as you have it. Splicing text onto equipment is cool. (3/3) Balance: Almost the hardest part is getting a dead Equipment, might have been nice to separate the attach so he can pick up one that isn't dead. Kind of hard to evaluate the anthem - I guess at minimum he gives himself +1/+1, which is a low floor, but that immediately jumps to two creatures getting +2/+2 with the next equipped cat, so the exponential ceiling is high.
Creativity - (3/3) Uniqueness: Cool twist on existing things with new equipment interaction. (3/3) Flavor: Cool title and concept.
Polish - (3/3) Quality: I guess it's missing the proposed / on the type line but I'm not worried about it. (2/2) Main Challenge: (1/2) Subchallenges: CMC over 3
Fox Oppressor2B
> Creature - Fox / Rogue (U) 1B: Another target sapient Fox you control becomes non-sapient and gains deathtouch until end of turn. When that creature dies this turn, put a +1/+1 counter on Fox Oppressor.
2/3 A true fox suffers no competition.
Design - (3/3) Appeal: There's a little something for everyone here. (3/3) Elegance: Works pretty smoothly.
Development - (3/3) Viability: Black can do these things, and they should be ok at uncommon. (2/3) Balance: Build-around uncommon that says we want to trade our other foxes for their best creatures then close out with this one. The knobs all seem pretty good. I kind of feel like we might want to lift the "you control" restriction here so it can prey upon any incidental opposing Foxes that might show up in Limited.
Creativity - (3/3) Uniqueness: Losing or gaining sapience was a take I was hoping to see, you did the best job of playing in this space. (2/3) Flavor: There is a pretty cool story, I'm not exactly sure why it gives deathtouch instead of like buffing them and making them attack or something (a red or green version). And what is it doing to get bigger when they die? Hints at a cool new take on the tribe maybe.
Polish - (3/3) Quality: (2/2) Main Challenge: (2/2) Subchallenges:
The entry portion of round 3 is over. Due to the odd amount of entries, each judge will judge all five cards submitted. The top two will advance to the finals.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
(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)
Judgments complete, not final until deadline. I don't have the time now to check for typos, I apologize in advance if any are there.
Rat Informant1BB
> Creature - Rat Rogue (R)
At the end of each turn, if you have no cards in hand, target opponent gains control of Rat Informant, then Rat Informants's owner draws a card.
Play with your hand revealed. "There is a rat among us"
- Don Catleone
1/2
Design (2/3) Appeal - Nothing for Timmy here. Johnny loves this kind of cards. Spike might like the potential for card advantage and the information about their opponent's hand, but they don't like giving up their own information first. (2/3) Elegance - At a first read, the two abilities may appear disconnected (that's what happened to me at least), until you realize that the "you" in the second ability is actually meant to be your opponent, who will play with their hand revealed when they gain control of this, so that's the informant giving that information to you. When you get that, everything falls into place. It mMirrodinso you have to give up information first. This might be both a balancing factor (in positive) and a little flavor fail (in negative), as the informant is giving away your own information before giving you your opponent's.
Development (2/3) Viability - Mechanically I think this is more of a blue card than black. What makes it make sense in black is mainly its flavor. Usually black card draw is tied to life loss, while blue is the color that draws with no limitation. Blue can also change control of the creature and make you play with your hand revealed. If not for its flavor, this should be a blue card in my opinion. Rarity feels right to me. (2/3) Balance - Giving up your own information first may not look that appealing, but it's a balancing factor on the card, as is the "no cards in hand" intervening-if part. I'm honestly not sure I'd play this in limited, but I do think there are players who would. I don't see this in competitive constructed, but I do in casual. It looks like a very interesting card in multiplayer, choosing who to give this to will be a very nice political choice for those players who like politics in multiplayer Magic (not me, but my own personal preferences can't and don't influence the judgment).
Creativity (2.5/3) Uniqueness - Humble Defector plays in similar space. It's still the only card I can think of doing something similar that already esists (others I'm not thinking about might exist anyway). (3/3) Flavor - The flavor of this card works absolutely perfectly. The name, creature types, and flavor text are all very good and work wonderfully with the card's mechanics. I love it, and especially Don Catleone! That gains you full points in this area, no doubt. I have a remark to make though as an Italian, and I apologize in advance if I sound too patriotic, but I love my country and I consider pure luck having been born here. I feel like this card furthers the stereotype that automatically associates us Italians with the Sicilian mafia, and I don't like that. I'm not offended by this card, and the mafia does actually exist in Sicily and other parts of Italy, especially southern Italy, but I don't like as an Italian that it's one of the things that we are mostly known for in the world. I'm sure that wasn't your intention but I have to say it as this card plays right into that stereotype. Luckily we're also known for good things, like our food or music. And anyway, a country is always more complex than a stereotype. That said, I just love how many levels of pun there are in the name Don Catleone. Not only it's a pun on the mafia family Corleone (which actually exists if anyone is wondering), but the name can be divided into "Cat" and "leone", which is Italian for "lion", which is also a cat (which I'm proud bringing the name of, both here and in real life by the way), and this card is a rat, and we all know cats and rats are (again, stereotypically) enemies, and in fact here we have a rat that betrays a criminal family of cats. Wonderful! Absolutely wonderful! I think this is one of the most flavorful custom cards I've ever seen around here. Kudos for that!
Polish (1.5/3) Quality - "At the end of each turn" is old template. Now it should be "At the beginning of each end step" (-0.5). A period is missing at the end of the flavor text (-0.5). There should be no space between the dash and the name in the flavor text attribution (-0.5). (2/2) Main Challenge - All good. (1/2) Subchallenges - Subchallenge 1 not met, as this card has no positive interaction with other sapient Rats while being neutral to non-sapient Rats. Subchallenge 2 met.
Total: 18/25
Sarina the CursedUUU
>Legendary Creature - Cat / Wizard {R}
When Sarina the Cursed enters the battlefield, draw a card.
Your maximum hand size is increased by one for each blue Cat Wizard you control.
Your opponents maximum hand size is reduced by one for each black Cat Wizard you control. “Pronunciation is key to spell casting, trust me, I know.”
2/2
Design (2.5/3) Appeal - I see nothing for Timmy here, but I expect both Johnny and Spike to like this card. Playing with one's own maximum hand size feels very Johnny to me, and Spike likes card advantage, so increasing their own maximum hand size while also potentially reducing their opponent's and forcing them to discard definitely appeals to him or her. A hybrid Johnny/Spike's dream is to flicker this repeatedly (Momentary Blink comes to mind) to draw a lot of cards while being allowed to keep them. This increases your maximum hand size by one just by itself. (2.5/3) Elegance - A bit wordy, but very clear and easy to understand.
Development (3/3) Viability - Everything is in color and rarity is fine. (2/3) Balance - The triple blue cost somewhat restricts this card's playability, and I'm honestly not sure it's required for balance. I might be interested in trying this at a double colored mana cost, but I might also obviously be wrong. I will play this in limited as long as my mana base can support it. Even without tribal synergies it's still a creature that draws you a card at the very least. In constructed, I think that alone wouldn't make the cut, you kind of have to be able to exploit the "hand size" abilities somehow. I can see it in tribal Cat decks, which are typically casual. The fact that the last ability affects all opponents is obviously relevant in multiplayer.
Creativity (2.5/3) Uniqueness - Several card playing with maximum hand size exist, but tying it to creatures you control is a nice twist. Also, increasing yours and reducing your opponents' at the same time is something that has never been done before. All the results I've been able to get from Gatherer do either but none does both. (2/3) Flavor - How many legendary creatures do we need with "the Cursed" as their title? I already remember two without needing to look up Gatherer: Mirri the Cursed and Arvad the Cursed, who have both been on the Weatherlight, one from the old crew and one from the new one, so I don't exclude that them having the same title was an intentional throwback by the Wizards Creative Team themselves. I also don't exclude more of them being there... *checks Gatherer*... oh, while we're talking about the Weatherlight I also forgot about Crovax the Cursed (probably the actual one Arvad's title references seeing as he's a Vampire too) and a couple other that are close enough (Garruk, the Veil-Cursed and King Macar, the Gold-Cursed). So I can't really say the name of this card is particularly original or inspired. No problems with the flavor text, I like it and at least it gives a not so subtle hint as to why Sarina is also cursed.
Polish (2/3) Quality - A space was required between the > sign and the legendary supertype by the custom type line this challenge was based on (-0.5). An apostrophe is missing in "opponents" in the last ability (-0.5). I really feel the flavor text would have worked much better as two separate sentences ("Pronunciation is key to spell casting. Trust me, I know."), but it's not grammatically wrong as is, so I'm not deducting points for that. (2/2) Main Challenge - All good. (2/2) Subchallenges -
I hope my logic is right here. I am basing my card on Cat Wizards, assuming that if a card is a cat wizard, it is a sapient being, and not just an animal cat.
Your interpretation of subchallenge 1 has officially been accepted by the host, so both met.
Total: 20.5/25
Kosaku, Blade of JukaiBGU
> Legendary Creature — Snake / Warrior (MR)
Other sapient Snakes you control get +0/+3. 1(U/B): Target creature gains skulk until end of turn. (It can't be blocked by creatures with greater power.) 1(B/G): Target creature assigns combat damage equal to its toughness rather than its power until end of turn. 1(G/U): Whenever one or more creatures you control deal combat damage to a player this turn, draw a card. "Our tribes must unite: war is upon us again."
1/4
Design (2.5/3) Appeal - Timmy would probably like a bit more power (until he realizes that the Golgari-colored ability essentially turns this into a 4/4), but he will definitely appreciate how this affects the board. Johnny likes the idea of a creature with a bunch of activated abilities, but the single effects don't look the "most Johnniest" out there except maybe for the last one. Still, Johnny will appreciate the way they can combine, as will Spike. For example, give this skulk so it can only be blocked by 0/X and 1/X's, then attack with it and after blockers are declared but before damage activate the Doran ability so it will deal 4 damage instead of 1 and also the curiosity ability so you will also draw a card on top of all. This feels like a very Johnny/Spike line of play. (2/3) Elegance - Even if all abilities are clear and easy enough to understand, the end result is very wordy.
Development (2.5/3) Viability - Each ability makes sense for its colors, except maybe for the Doran in monoblack (everything with a hybrid mana cost must make sense in each monocolor). The only black card with that ability is Doran itself, and it's a gold card. Then we have Belligerent Brontodon (green-white) and Assault Formation (monogreen). That's all. Snake as a creature type is found mainly in Sultai colors, so no problems there. I can easily see this at mythic. (3/3) Balance - You will certainly play this in limited as long as your mana base is able to support the cost. The ability to combine abilities (excuse the pun) in many different ways, all of which appear relevant, might give this interesting constructed applications, even by itself without other Snakes. Of course, if you can also take advantage of the Snake tribal synergy, that's even better. I can see this in Standard. It still doesn't look overpowered to me anyway, the activation costs playing a big part in that. I see no problems in casual or multiplayer.
Creativity (2.5/3) Uniqueness - Each ability is something we have seen before, but never interacting with each other on the same card like this. For example, skulk and curiosity have never been together on the same card (I checked). The closest thing that exists is pairing skulk with looting (Skeleton Key and Wharf Infiltrator). The overall package feels very original to me despite having no new abilities. (3/3) Flavor - I have no particular remarks here. Everything works just fine.
Polish (3/3) Quality - All good. (2/2) Main Challenge - All good. (2/2) Subchallenges - Both met. This card has an explicit positive interaction with other sapient Snakes while being neutral to non-sapient Snakes.
Total: 22.5/25
Mithalo, the Last Kha3WW
> Legendary Creature - Cat Soldier {R}
When Mithalo, the Last Kha enters the battlefield, you may return target Equipment card from your graveyard to the battlefield attached to him.
Equipment you control have "Equipped creature gets +X/+X, where X is the number of equipped sapient Cats you control."
2/2
Design (2/3) Appeal - I don't see much for Timmy here. I expect Johnny to like this very much. I don't think Spike is interested unless they're playing with Equipment that are already strong on their own, things like Batterskull or the SwordsfrombothMirrodinblocks. (2.5/3) Elegance - The only remark in this area is that the second ability might be a bit convoluted to read.
Development (3/3) Viability - White can return artifacts from the graveyard to the battlefield. White and red are also the colors that most interact with Equipment. Rarity looks right to me. (2/3) Balance - The only potential problem I can see here is the ability to circumvent Equip costs. I'm curious how many Equipment you'd need for this to be playable in limited. I don't know the answer, but I'm quite sure it's "more than I would normally play". In constructed it looks easier to build specific decks around this, exploiting Equipment synergies. I don't think the deck would be competitive, but it could certainly see play at casual level. I see no problems in multiplayer.
Creativity (2.5/3) Uniqueness - I can't think of any existing card working exactly like the first ability. As for the second one, giving abilities to Equipment has been done before (Bludgeon Brawl immediately comes to mind), but not this exact ability. Caring about sapient things is also new, but I'm not counting it as it was requested by the round challenges. (2/3) Flavor - The Mirrans have lost their war against the Phyrexian, but nowhere does it say that Kemba was the last Kha. So I can see Mithalo being a part of the few Mirran survivors that make up the Mirran resistance and being the last of the Khas because something happens to him, likely compleation. MSE shows me that at least three lines of flavor text could have fit, and I feel like it would have been a wonderful occasion to explain exactly what happened to him that made him the last Kha.
Polish (2.5/3) Quality - Gendered pronouns are used only for planeswalkers. The Origins DFC planeswalkers are the exception to the rule, and they were allowed to use them on the creature side only because they were planeswalker on the other side. So, in this card's case, the end of the first ability should be "...attached to it" (-0.5). (2/2) Main Challenge - All good. (1/2) Subchallenges - Subchallenge 1 met, as this card has a positive interaction with other sapient Cats while being neutral to non-sapient Cats. Subchallenge 2 not met (CMC is 5).
Total: 19.5/25
Fox Oppressor2B
> Creature - Fox / Rogue (U) 1B: Another target sapient Fox you control becomes non-sapient and gains deathtouch until end of turn. When that creature dies this turn, put a +1/+1 counter on Fox Oppressor.
2/3 A true fox suffers no competition.
Design (2.5/3) Appeal - Timmy likes a creature that can grow with +1/+1 counters. Johnny can maybe do something with the counters or the death trigger, but it feels a bit of a stretch to me. Spike definitely likes the ability of turning their own creatures into deathtouchers on a reasonably sized creature for its cost. (3/3) Elegance - No problems here.
Development (3/3) Viability - Everything is in color and rarity is fine. (2.5/3) Balance - I have no doubt this is playable in limited, but I don't see this in constructed, at least not at competitive level. I still expect casual tribal Fox decks to be there in the hypothetical environment this card is supposed to be from, and I expect this card to see play there. I also expect the fact that the ability turns this into a non-sapient creature to be somehow relevant in the environment. No problems in multiplayer.
Creativity (1.5/3) Uniqueness - The only new thing here from a mechanical point of view is caring about sapient things, but I'm not counting it as it was requested by the round challenges. As for flavor, Foxes in black are new though. (2/3) Flavor - The name and flavor text are not exciting to me but they work just fine. I also see no clear connection with the card's mechanics (other than it being a Fox), but that's true for some cards in real sets too so it's not a big problem. The only sapient Foxes I can remember are the Kitsune from Kamigawa and they were white, so it looks a little strange to me seeing one in black. There is nothing that says me this is a Kitsune though. This might be a sapient Fox from a new plane we haven't visited yet, one where maybe there are black sapient Foxes. Gatherer confirms me the only non-monowhite Fox is Vulpine Goliath, which is monogreen , from Theros, and non-sapient anyway.
Polish (3/3) Quality - All good. (2/2) Main Challenge - All good. (2/2) Subchallenges - Both met. This card has a positive interaction with other sapient Foxes (I don't know if becoming non-sapient qualifies as positive, but gaining deathtouch certainly does) while being neutral to non-sapient Foxes.
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.)
Rat Informant1BB
> Creature - Rat Rogue (R)
At the end of each turn, if you have no cards in hand, target opponent gains control of Rat Informant, then Rat Informants's owner draws a card.
Play with your hand revealed. "There is a rat among us"
- Don Catleone
1/2
Design - (3.5/6) (1/3) Appeal: Too small and too much drawback for Timmy. Too weak for Spike. There's got to be some Johnny out there that would like to try to make this good. (2.5/3) Elegance: It takes a couple of reads to fully grasp how this works, but it's nothing too bad.
Development - (2.5/6) (2/3) Viability: Black is correct, but I'm not sure this has the power-level of a rare. At least I'd be mad if I opened it in a pack. (0.5/3) Balance: This card seems severely under-powered. You need to get hellbent just to draw one card, and you lose your dude to an opponent, and you have to play with your hand revealed?!?! Seems like a lot of downside for a three mana 1/2 that might eventually draw you a card and see your opponent's hand. This seems quite a bit weaker than Elvish Visionary to me, which is a common that costs 1 mana less. I'd say this might see play in Zedruu EDH, but it's not the right color.
Creativity - (5/6) (2.5/3) Uniqueness: This isn't exactly ground-breaking, but I can't say I've seen anything quite like it. It's a bit reminiscent of Humble Defector, but only a bit. (2.5/3) Flavor: Haha! The flavor's a bit on the corny side, but I'm a sucker for corny. Although this is even a bit too corny for me. Still the abilities really work with the flavor.
Polish - (5/7) (2/3) Quality: It should be "At the beginning of each end step..." You have an extra s at the end of Rat Informants's name in the text box. (2/2) *Main Challenge: Good. (1/2) Subchallenges: This card doesn't care about sentience.
Total: 16/25
*An entry with 0 points here is subject to disqualification.
Sarina the CursedUUU
>Legendary Creature - Cat / Wizard {R}
When Sarina the Cursed enters the battlefield, draw a card.
Your maximum hand size is increased by one for each blue Cat Wizard you control.
Your opponents maximum hand size is reduced by one for each black Cat Wizard you control. “Pronunciation is key to spell casting, trust me, I know.”
2/2
Design - (2.5/6) (1/3) Appeal: This doesn't do much for Timmy or Spike. Johnny might be interested in making a Commander deck with this, although he would prefer access to black also (1.5/3) Elegance: There's a lot of words here, but nothing too difficult to grasp. It seem awfully weird that this is such a blue mana intensive card, but it wants you to control black creatures too.
Development - (3/6) (1.5/3) Viability: Every card in modern that reduces an opponent's hand size is black. This card should have black in it also. Also, there are only 10 total Cats between blue and black, it seems like a G/W Cat lord would make a lot more likely. (1.5/3) Balance: Considering how much this wants you to control Cats, along with how few blue and black cats exist, I just don't see this causing a lot excitement in any format. Even if this was in a Standard with a ton of U and B Cats, this still seems like it doesn't do a whole heck of a lot. The cantrip is probably the best part of the card.
Creativity - (5/6) (3/3) Uniqueness: Seems pretty unique to me. (2/3) Flavor: Is Sarina a sister of Mirri the Cursed? I want to like the flavor of this card, but I'm just not sure I understand what it's about. I could see it making sense if put into context though.
Polish - (6.5/7) (2.5/3) Quality: It should be "Each opponent's maximum hand size..." (2/2) *Main Challenge: Good. (2/2) Subchallenges: This isn't exactly what I had in mind for the first sub-challenge, but I understand your angle, and it's my fault for not making things clearer.
Total: 17/25
*An entry with 0 points here is subject to disqualification.
Kosaku, Blade of JukaiBGU
> Legendary Creature — Snake / Warrior (MR)
Other sapient Snakes you control get +0/+3. 1(U/B): Target creature gains skulk until end of turn. (It can't be blocked by creatures with greater power.) 1(B/G): Target creature assigns combat damage equal to its toughness rather than its power until end of turn. 1(G/U): Whenever one or more creatures you control deal combat damage to a player this turn, draw a card. "Our tribes must unite: war is upon us again."
1/4
Design - (5.5/6) (3/3) Appeal: There's a little something here for everybody. (2.5/3) Elegance: Everything is easy enough to understand individually, but there's too much going on with this card to give it a 3. Part of it is the amount of things that need to be taken into consideration while this is on the battlefield. The abilities really feed off of one another nicely
Development - (5.5/6) (2.5/3) Viability: I'd say everything works pretty well here color-wise. Which is no small feat. I'm not sure mono-black would be given the Doran effect, but it doesn't seem totally impossible to me. Mythic seems right. (3/3) Balance: This seems about right to me. The fact that it's a legend helps make up for the shock factor of +0/+3 for three CMC. I could see it getting a look in Standard if sapient Snakes was a thing. The three colors make it a bit rough in limited, but I assume there would be enough mana fixing to make up this. This isn't powerful enough to see any play in any non-rotating, constructed format but...sapient Snake Commander deck is a go. Especially after they change all of the Kamigawa Snakes into sapient creatures.
Creativity - (5/6) (2.5/3) Uniqueness: I'd say the mixing and matching of the hybrid mana abilities enough to earn this some points here. Everything else has been done in some form before, although this is certainly a unique mix of abilities. (2.5/3) Flavor: With very little flavor text, you've made this guy seem pretty cool to me. Of course I'm a sucker for far east themes.
Polish - (7/7) (3/3) Quality: Looks good to me. (2/2) *Main Challenge: Good. (2/2) Subchallenges: Good.
Total: 23/25
*An entry with 0 points here is subject to disqualification.
Mithalo, the Last Kha3WW
> Legendary Creature - Cat Soldier {R}
When Mithalo, the Last Kha enters the battlefield, you may return target Equipment card from your graveyard to the battlefield attached to him.
Equipment you control have "Equipped creature gets +X/+X, where X is the number of equipped sapient Cats you control."
2/2
Design - (4.5/6) (2/3) Appeal: I don't see a lot for Timmy here. Johnny appreciates trying to maximize its effect, and appreciates the chance to cheat a huge equipment onto the battlefield even more. Spike might take a look if Johnny figures out something powerful to do with the card. (2.5/3) Elegance: I could see some rules confusion for newer players about whether or not this replaces the text already on the equipment, but other than that, this seems good.
Development - (6/6) (3/3) Viability: Color and rarity are perfect. (3/3) Balance: This card seems balanced to me. It's strong enough to see play in limited, and possibly even the right Standard environment, but isn't broken in any way. I don't see this seeing play anywhere else but tabletop or EDH, but that's ok.
Creativity - (5/6) (3/3) Uniqueness: Well, there have certainly been Cats that like equipment before, but I can't think of anything that grants an ability to all of your equipment like this does. (2/3) Flavor: The name is good. No room for flavor text.
Polish - (5.5/7) (2.5/3) Quality: Pronouns have only been seen on planeswalkers thus far. This card should refer to its name. I'd really like to discount a 0.5 for missing the forward slash between race and class, but since I made it up I will refrain. (2/2) *Main Challenge: Good (1/2) Subchallenges: CMC > 3.
Total: 21/25
*An entry with 0 points here is subject to disqualification.
Fox Oppressor2B
> Creature - Fox / Rogue (U) 1B: Another target sapient Fox you control becomes non-sapient and gains deathtouch until end of turn. When that creature dies this turn, put a +1/+1 counter on Fox Oppressor.
2/3 A true fox suffers no competition.
Design - (5/6) (2/3) Appeal: Timmy likes the idea of this growing into a massive creature. Spike appreciates a powerful uncommon in limited. (3/3) Elegance: The non-sapience part seems unnecessary mechanically, but the flavor of it makes sense. Everything else is pretty straight forward.
Development - (6/6) (3/3) Viability: Everything works for me. Foxes have been overwhelmingly white up until now, but it's a very under-explored creature type, so I can easily see it expanding into other colors. (3/3) Balance: I don't see this being played anywhere outside of limited, but there it is a potential powerhouse at uncommon. Assuming there is Fox tribal in the environment of course.
Creativity - (3/6) (1.5/3) Uniqueness: Interestingly the most unique aspect of this card to me is found within the already unique round requirement - the fact that this takes away sapience. Still it's kinda hard to say something is unique when it has no chance to exist as things work today. Maybe if sapience was a thing, there would be a bunch of cards that grant it or take it away. Everything else here has been done before in some way. (1.5/3) Flavor: I feel like this should be a Wizard. How can a Rogue remove someone's sapience? The idea of the once civilized Fox returning to its savage roots by gaining deathtouch is very satisfying.
(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)
(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)
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
May MCC 2018 Round 3 - Do You Understand?
Month's Theme — I have always felt that Wizards could open up a lot of design space, and fix some oddly flavored designs by overhauling the way they describe creatures. This month's challenges focus on the ideas I've had about different ways to describe creatures more thoroughly. Some of the challenges are pretty out there, but hopefully people will find them to be a fun exercise.
I've always thought it was odd that there was no way to differentiate between sapient and non-sapient creatures in Magic. I've just never liked that Qasali Pridemage and Black Cat are no different from one another using Wizard's current way of describing creatures. It also seems odd to me that Black Cat can crew a vehicle or carry a sword. To remedy these issues, let's add a new symbol to creature cards to denote whether the creature is sapient or not. Due the lack of a better option, we are going to use the greater than symbol (>) to denote sapient creatures, and the less than symbol (<) to denote non-sapient creatures. The symbol will be found at the very beginning of the type line on creature cards, and there will always be a space following the new symbol. Now Coiling Oracle's type line looks like this: > Creature — Snake Elf / Druid, with the ">" denoting that it is a sapient creature. Conversely, Black Cat's type line would now look like this: < Creature — Cat, with the "<" denoting that it is a non-sentient creature.
Challenge 3: Design a sapient creature of one of the types listed in the spoiler below. The type line should be formatted as it has been for the first two rounds, but you are now adding the greater than > or less than < symbol to indicate whether the creature is sapient or not. Like this: > Creature — Race / Class, or this: < Creature — Race / Class
Hound
Rat
Bird
Elephant
Snake
Insect
Fox
Rhino
Subchallenge 1: Your card interacts positively with other sapient creatures of the same type, but is neutral when it comes to non-sapient creatures of the same type. (Clarification - To do this, you will most likely need the term 'sapient' somewhere in its rules text. The symbol is only for the type line.)
Subchallenge 2: Your card has a CMC of 3 or less.
If you have questions about the challenge, please post in the MCC discussion thread. Best of luck!
By sapient, I mean a creature that has a human-like intelligence.
Design Deadline: All submissions are to be final and submitted by May 22nd 11:59 PM EST
Judging Deadline: All judgements are to be final and completed by May 25th 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:
Flatline
bravelion83
Gerrard's Mom
Contestants:
StonerOfKruphix
RaikouRider
Forestsguy
rkhon1357
Hemlock
Freyleyes
A helpful tip for those formatting their cards:
> Creature - Rat Rogue (R)
At the end of each turn, if you have no cards in hand, target opponent gains control of Rat Informant, then Rat Informants's owner draws a card.
Play with your hand revealed.
"There is a rat among us"
- Don Catleone
1/2
>Legendary Creature - Cat / Wizard {R}
When Sarina the Cursed enters the battlefield, draw a card.
Your maximum hand size is increased by one for each blue Cat Wizard you control.
Your opponents maximum hand size is reduced by one for each black Cat Wizard you control.
“Pronunciation is key to spell casting, trust me, I know.”
2/2
I hope my logic is right here. I am basing my card on Cat Wizards, assuming that if a card is a cat wizard, it is a sapient being, and not just an animal cat.
> Legendary Creature - Cat Soldier {R}
When Mithalo, the Last Kha enters the battlefield, you may return target Equipment card from your graveyard to the battlefield attached to him.
Equipment you control have "Equipped creature gets +X/+X, where X is the number of equipped sapient Cats you control."
2/2
Emille, Seven-Sting Dancer Shalin Nariya
> Creature - Fox / Rogue (U)
1B: Another target sapient Fox you control becomes non-sapient and gains deathtouch until end of turn. When that creature dies this turn, put a +1/+1 counter on Fox Oppressor.
2/3
A true fox suffers no competition.
Design -
(1/3) Appeal: A pretty narrow Johnny card with small payoff.
(3/3) Elegance: Has a nice Melvin story of going to find someone else to spy on when you run out of things to see.
Development -
(2/3) Viability: "At the beginning of each end step" is the trigger you want. Should work elsewise. I suppose I buy the color.
(1/3) Balance: This is pretty weak. For three mana, you have to show your hand and get it to 0 and lose your 1/2, all for the payoff of one card and seeing an opponent's hand. Plus they can do it back to you (although you always get the card). I would have gone either for a Sleeper Agent type card that directly goes to the opponent, or maybe a more exciting rate to balance the drawbacks.
Creativity -
(2/3) Uniqueness: Complicated Humble Defector, but has some new-feeling stuff.
(2/3) Flavor: The reference/pun is cute and all but doesn't really work so directly on a Magic card. Otherwise, the flavor is good.
Polish -
(2.5/3) Quality: "Informants's" has an extra s.
(2/2) Main Challenge:
(1/2) Subchallenges: Doesn't care about sapience
Total: 16.5/25
Design -
(2/3) Appeal: Intriguing legend.
(1/3) Elegance: This screams wanting to be black itself so it can do both the hand size things and can be your Commander for this implied tribe. And why is it so color intensive when it wants you to play another color? I think a long-term card advantage ability like Curiosity (for Cats!) would have fit the package better also.
Development -
(2.5/3) Viability: "Each opponent's" is the correct wording.
(2/3) Balance: I think most of the time this is just a 2/2 that replaces itself. I doubt there are a ton of black Cat Wizards running around in any format, but it could be a problem if you can get three or four of them out quickly with this and start forcing discards. It makes sense if there is a long-term strategy to run everyone else out of hand size.
Creativity -
(2/3) Uniqueness: Wistful Selkie + Trusted Advisor + Gnat Miser, but the combination is reasonably new.
(1/3) Flavor: Can't say I really understand the combination of name, creature types, mechanics, and flavor text, but there are hints of something interesting.
Polish -
(3/3) Quality:
(2/2) Main Challenge:
(2/2) Subchallenges:
Total: 17.5/25
Design -
(3/3) Appeal: I definitely know someone waiting for the Snake commander to combine these colors. Has a lot going on for everyone.
(3/3) Elegance: It's super wordy but everything coalesces into a clear plan. I guess there was no easy way to make the last ability need a target but not be redundant when used multiple times on the same creature.
Development -
(3/3) Viability: Cool hybrid choices, I like trying the Doran ability in black (other than Doran himself) due to the black/green toughness theme from Khans and recently confirmed by Maro. Not sure if skulk is coming back but it seems like it works here.
(3/3) Balance: It's pretty strong, but mana intensive. You just want to ramp a huge amount so you can actually draw and still cast stuff, but you can pick and choose the abilities as needed and try shifting to the unblockable damage plan once you are full.
Creativity -
(3/3) Uniqueness: No engines quite like this.
(3/3) Flavor: Snakes being low to the ground and devious knowledge seekers works. I even buy the toughness thing referring to not having hands somehow although I guess the Orochi do. Nice job selecting a working Japanese name.
Polish -
(3/3) Quality:
(2/2) Main Challenge:
(2/2) Subchallenges:
Total: 25/25
Design -
(3/3) Appeal: Fits well with the existing strategy of Kemba, Kha Regent and Raksha Golden Cub.
(2/3) Elegance: Lots of complicated math, but it goes in a clear direction.
Development -
(3/3) Viability: I'm not sure why Auriok Survivors is worded differently from Dragon Breath etc. but I think it's fine as you have it. Splicing text onto equipment is cool.
(3/3) Balance: Almost the hardest part is getting a dead Equipment, might have been nice to separate the attach so he can pick up one that isn't dead. Kind of hard to evaluate the anthem - I guess at minimum he gives himself +1/+1, which is a low floor, but that immediately jumps to two creatures getting +2/+2 with the next equipped cat, so the exponential ceiling is high.
Creativity -
(3/3) Uniqueness: Cool twist on existing things with new equipment interaction.
(3/3) Flavor: Cool title and concept.
Polish -
(3/3) Quality: I guess it's missing the proposed / on the type line but I'm not worried about it.
(2/2) Main Challenge:
(1/2) Subchallenges: CMC over 3
Total: 23/25
Design -
(3/3) Appeal: There's a little something for everyone here.
(3/3) Elegance: Works pretty smoothly.
Development -
(3/3) Viability: Black can do these things, and they should be ok at uncommon.
(2/3) Balance: Build-around uncommon that says we want to trade our other foxes for their best creatures then close out with this one. The knobs all seem pretty good. I kind of feel like we might want to lift the "you control" restriction here so it can prey upon any incidental opposing Foxes that might show up in Limited.
Creativity -
(3/3) Uniqueness: Losing or gaining sapience was a take I was hoping to see, you did the best job of playing in this space.
(2/3) Flavor: There is a pretty cool story, I'm not exactly sure why it gives deathtouch instead of like buffing them and making them attack or something (a red or green version). And what is it doing to get bigger when they die? Hints at a cool new take on the tribe maybe.
Polish -
(3/3) Quality:
(2/2) Main Challenge:
(2/2) Subchallenges:
Total: 23/25
Freyleyes: 17.5
StonerOfKruphix: 25
RaikouRider: 23
rkhon1357: 23
Rat Informant 1BB
> Creature - Rat Rogue (R)
At the end of each turn, if you have no cards in hand, target opponent gains control of Rat Informant, then Rat Informants's owner draws a card.
Play with your hand revealed.
"There is a rat among us"
- Don Catleone
1/2
Design
(2/3) Appeal - Nothing for Timmy here. Johnny loves this kind of cards. Spike might like the potential for card advantage and the information about their opponent's hand, but they don't like giving up their own information first.
(2/3) Elegance - At a first read, the two abilities may appear disconnected (that's what happened to me at least), until you realize that the "you" in the second ability is actually meant to be your opponent, who will play with their hand revealed when they gain control of this, so that's the informant giving that information to you. When you get that, everything falls into place. It mMirrodinso you have to give up information first. This might be both a balancing factor (in positive) and a little flavor fail (in negative), as the informant is giving away your own information before giving you your opponent's.
Development
(2/3) Viability - Mechanically I think this is more of a blue card than black. What makes it make sense in black is mainly its flavor. Usually black card draw is tied to life loss, while blue is the color that draws with no limitation. Blue can also change control of the creature and make you play with your hand revealed. If not for its flavor, this should be a blue card in my opinion. Rarity feels right to me.
(2/3) Balance - Giving up your own information first may not look that appealing, but it's a balancing factor on the card, as is the "no cards in hand" intervening-if part. I'm honestly not sure I'd play this in limited, but I do think there are players who would. I don't see this in competitive constructed, but I do in casual. It looks like a very interesting card in multiplayer, choosing who to give this to will be a very nice political choice for those players who like politics in multiplayer Magic (not me, but my own personal preferences can't and don't influence the judgment).
Creativity
(2.5/3) Uniqueness - Humble Defector plays in similar space. It's still the only card I can think of doing something similar that already esists (others I'm not thinking about might exist anyway).
(3/3) Flavor - The flavor of this card works absolutely perfectly. The name, creature types, and flavor text are all very good and work wonderfully with the card's mechanics. I love it, and especially Don Catleone! That gains you full points in this area, no doubt. I have a remark to make though as an Italian, and I apologize in advance if I sound too patriotic, but I love my country and I consider pure luck having been born here. I feel like this card furthers the stereotype that automatically associates us Italians with the Sicilian mafia, and I don't like that. I'm not offended by this card, and the mafia does actually exist in Sicily and other parts of Italy, especially southern Italy, but I don't like as an Italian that it's one of the things that we are mostly known for in the world. I'm sure that wasn't your intention but I have to say it as this card plays right into that stereotype. Luckily we're also known for good things, like our food or music. And anyway, a country is always more complex than a stereotype. That said, I just love how many levels of pun there are in the name Don Catleone. Not only it's a pun on the mafia family Corleone (which actually exists if anyone is wondering), but the name can be divided into "Cat" and "leone", which is Italian for "lion", which is also a cat (which I'm proud bringing the name of, both here and in real life by the way), and this card is a rat, and we all know cats and rats are (again, stereotypically) enemies, and in fact here we have a rat that betrays a criminal family of cats. Wonderful! Absolutely wonderful! I think this is one of the most flavorful custom cards I've ever seen around here. Kudos for that!
Polish
(1.5/3) Quality - "At the end of each turn" is old template. Now it should be "At the beginning of each end step" (-0.5). A period is missing at the end of the flavor text (-0.5). There should be no space between the dash and the name in the flavor text attribution (-0.5).
(2/2) Main Challenge - All good.
(1/2) Subchallenges - Subchallenge 1 not met, as this card has no positive interaction with other sapient Rats while being neutral to non-sapient Rats. Subchallenge 2 met.
Total: 18/25
Sarina the Cursed UUU
>Legendary Creature - Cat / Wizard {R}
When Sarina the Cursed enters the battlefield, draw a card.
Your maximum hand size is increased by one for each blue Cat Wizard you control.
Your opponents maximum hand size is reduced by one for each black Cat Wizard you control.
“Pronunciation is key to spell casting, trust me, I know.”
2/2
Design
(2.5/3) Appeal - I see nothing for Timmy here, but I expect both Johnny and Spike to like this card. Playing with one's own maximum hand size feels very Johnny to me, and Spike likes card advantage, so increasing their own maximum hand size while also potentially reducing their opponent's and forcing them to discard definitely appeals to him or her. A hybrid Johnny/Spike's dream is to flicker this repeatedly (Momentary Blink comes to mind) to draw a lot of cards while being allowed to keep them. This increases your maximum hand size by one just by itself.
(2.5/3) Elegance - A bit wordy, but very clear and easy to understand.
Development
(3/3) Viability - Everything is in color and rarity is fine.
(2/3) Balance - The triple blue cost somewhat restricts this card's playability, and I'm honestly not sure it's required for balance. I might be interested in trying this at a double colored mana cost, but I might also obviously be wrong. I will play this in limited as long as my mana base can support it. Even without tribal synergies it's still a creature that draws you a card at the very least. In constructed, I think that alone wouldn't make the cut, you kind of have to be able to exploit the "hand size" abilities somehow. I can see it in tribal Cat decks, which are typically casual. The fact that the last ability affects all opponents is obviously relevant in multiplayer.
Creativity
(2.5/3) Uniqueness - Several card playing with maximum hand size exist, but tying it to creatures you control is a nice twist. Also, increasing yours and reducing your opponents' at the same time is something that has never been done before. All the results I've been able to get from Gatherer do either but none does both.
(2/3) Flavor - How many legendary creatures do we need with "the Cursed" as their title? I already remember two without needing to look up Gatherer: Mirri the Cursed and Arvad the Cursed, who have both been on the Weatherlight, one from the old crew and one from the new one, so I don't exclude that them having the same title was an intentional throwback by the Wizards Creative Team themselves. I also don't exclude more of them being there... *checks Gatherer*... oh, while we're talking about the Weatherlight I also forgot about Crovax the Cursed (probably the actual one Arvad's title references seeing as he's a Vampire too) and a couple other that are close enough (Garruk, the Veil-Cursed and King Macar, the Gold-Cursed). So I can't really say the name of this card is particularly original or inspired. No problems with the flavor text, I like it and at least it gives a not so subtle hint as to why Sarina is also cursed.
Polish
(2/3) Quality - A space was required between the > sign and the legendary supertype by the custom type line this challenge was based on (-0.5). An apostrophe is missing in "opponents" in the last ability (-0.5). I really feel the flavor text would have worked much better as two separate sentences ("Pronunciation is key to spell casting. Trust me, I know."), but it's not grammatically wrong as is, so I'm not deducting points for that.
(2/2) Main Challenge - All good.
(2/2) Subchallenges -
Your interpretation of subchallenge 1 has officially been accepted by the host, so both met.
Total: 20.5/25
Kosaku, Blade of Jukai BGU
> Legendary Creature — Snake / Warrior (MR)
Other sapient Snakes you control get +0/+3.
1(U/B): Target creature gains skulk until end of turn. (It can't be blocked by creatures with greater power.)
1(B/G): Target creature assigns combat damage equal to its toughness rather than its power until end of turn.
1(G/U): Whenever one or more creatures you control deal combat damage to a player this turn, draw a card.
"Our tribes must unite: war is upon us again."
1/4
Design
(2.5/3) Appeal - Timmy would probably like a bit more power (until he realizes that the Golgari-colored ability essentially turns this into a 4/4), but he will definitely appreciate how this affects the board. Johnny likes the idea of a creature with a bunch of activated abilities, but the single effects don't look the "most Johnniest" out there except maybe for the last one. Still, Johnny will appreciate the way they can combine, as will Spike. For example, give this skulk so it can only be blocked by 0/X and 1/X's, then attack with it and after blockers are declared but before damage activate the Doran ability so it will deal 4 damage instead of 1 and also the curiosity ability so you will also draw a card on top of all. This feels like a very Johnny/Spike line of play.
(2/3) Elegance - Even if all abilities are clear and easy enough to understand, the end result is very wordy.
Development
(2.5/3) Viability - Each ability makes sense for its colors, except maybe for the Doran in monoblack (everything with a hybrid mana cost must make sense in each monocolor). The only black card with that ability is Doran itself, and it's a gold card. Then we have Belligerent Brontodon (green-white) and Assault Formation (monogreen). That's all. Snake as a creature type is found mainly in Sultai colors, so no problems there. I can easily see this at mythic.
(3/3) Balance - You will certainly play this in limited as long as your mana base is able to support the cost. The ability to combine abilities (excuse the pun) in many different ways, all of which appear relevant, might give this interesting constructed applications, even by itself without other Snakes. Of course, if you can also take advantage of the Snake tribal synergy, that's even better. I can see this in Standard. It still doesn't look overpowered to me anyway, the activation costs playing a big part in that. I see no problems in casual or multiplayer.
Creativity
(2.5/3) Uniqueness - Each ability is something we have seen before, but never interacting with each other on the same card like this. For example, skulk and curiosity have never been together on the same card (I checked). The closest thing that exists is pairing skulk with looting (Skeleton Key and Wharf Infiltrator). The overall package feels very original to me despite having no new abilities.
(3/3) Flavor - I have no particular remarks here. Everything works just fine.
Polish
(3/3) Quality - All good.
(2/2) Main Challenge - All good.
(2/2) Subchallenges - Both met. This card has an explicit positive interaction with other sapient Snakes while being neutral to non-sapient Snakes.
Total: 22.5/25
Mithalo, the Last Kha 3WW
> Legendary Creature - Cat Soldier {R}
When Mithalo, the Last Kha enters the battlefield, you may return target Equipment card from your graveyard to the battlefield attached to him.
Equipment you control have "Equipped creature gets +X/+X, where X is the number of equipped sapient Cats you control."
2/2
Design
(2/3) Appeal - I don't see much for Timmy here. I expect Johnny to like this very much. I don't think Spike is interested unless they're playing with Equipment that are already strong on their own, things like Batterskull or the Swords from both Mirrodin blocks.
(2.5/3) Elegance - The only remark in this area is that the second ability might be a bit convoluted to read.
Development
(3/3) Viability - White can return artifacts from the graveyard to the battlefield. White and red are also the colors that most interact with Equipment. Rarity looks right to me.
(2/3) Balance - The only potential problem I can see here is the ability to circumvent Equip costs. I'm curious how many Equipment you'd need for this to be playable in limited. I don't know the answer, but I'm quite sure it's "more than I would normally play". In constructed it looks easier to build specific decks around this, exploiting Equipment synergies. I don't think the deck would be competitive, but it could certainly see play at casual level. I see no problems in multiplayer.
Creativity
(2.5/3) Uniqueness - I can't think of any existing card working exactly like the first ability. As for the second one, giving abilities to Equipment has been done before (Bludgeon Brawl immediately comes to mind), but not this exact ability. Caring about sapient things is also new, but I'm not counting it as it was requested by the round challenges.
(2/3) Flavor - The Mirrans have lost their war against the Phyrexian, but nowhere does it say that Kemba was the last Kha. So I can see Mithalo being a part of the few Mirran survivors that make up the Mirran resistance and being the last of the Khas because something happens to him, likely compleation. MSE shows me that at least three lines of flavor text could have fit, and I feel like it would have been a wonderful occasion to explain exactly what happened to him that made him the last Kha.
Polish
(2.5/3) Quality - Gendered pronouns are used only for planeswalkers. The Origins DFC planeswalkers are the exception to the rule, and they were allowed to use them on the creature side only because they were planeswalker on the other side. So, in this card's case, the end of the first ability should be "...attached to it" (-0.5).
(2/2) Main Challenge - All good.
(1/2) Subchallenges - Subchallenge 1 met, as this card has a positive interaction with other sapient Cats while being neutral to non-sapient Cats. Subchallenge 2 not met (CMC is 5).
Total: 19.5/25
Fox Oppressor 2B
> Creature - Fox / Rogue (U)
1B: Another target sapient Fox you control becomes non-sapient and gains deathtouch until end of turn. When that creature dies this turn, put a +1/+1 counter on Fox Oppressor.
2/3
A true fox suffers no competition.
Design
(2.5/3) Appeal - Timmy likes a creature that can grow with +1/+1 counters. Johnny can maybe do something with the counters or the death trigger, but it feels a bit of a stretch to me. Spike definitely likes the ability of turning their own creatures into deathtouchers on a reasonably sized creature for its cost.
(3/3) Elegance - No problems here.
Development
(3/3) Viability - Everything is in color and rarity is fine.
(2.5/3) Balance - I have no doubt this is playable in limited, but I don't see this in constructed, at least not at competitive level. I still expect casual tribal Fox decks to be there in the hypothetical environment this card is supposed to be from, and I expect this card to see play there. I also expect the fact that the ability turns this into a non-sapient creature to be somehow relevant in the environment. No problems in multiplayer.
Creativity
(1.5/3) Uniqueness - The only new thing here from a mechanical point of view is caring about sapient things, but I'm not counting it as it was requested by the round challenges. As for flavor, Foxes in black are new though.
(2/3) Flavor - The name and flavor text are not exciting to me but they work just fine. I also see no clear connection with the card's mechanics (other than it being a Fox), but that's true for some cards in real sets too so it's not a big problem. The only sapient Foxes I can remember are the Kitsune from Kamigawa and they were white, so it looks a little strange to me seeing one in black. There is nothing that says me this is a Kitsune though. This might be a sapient Fox from a new plane we haven't visited yet, one where maybe there are black sapient Foxes. Gatherer confirms me the only non-monowhite Fox is Vulpine Goliath, which is monogreen , from Theros, and non-sapient anyway.
Polish
(3/3) Quality - All good.
(2/2) Main Challenge - All good.
(2/2) Subchallenges - Both met. This card has a positive interaction with other sapient Foxes (I don't know if becoming non-sapient qualifies as positive, but gaining deathtouch certainly does) while being neutral to non-sapient Foxes.
Total: 21.5/25
StonerOfKruphix: 22.5
rkhon1357: 21.5
Freyleyes: 20.5
RaikouRider: 19.5
Forestsguy: 18
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.)
Design - (3.5/6)
(1/3) Appeal: Too small and too much drawback for Timmy. Too weak for Spike. There's got to be some Johnny out there that would like to try to make this good.
(2.5/3) Elegance: It takes a couple of reads to fully grasp how this works, but it's nothing too bad.
Development - (2.5/6)
(2/3) Viability: Black is correct, but I'm not sure this has the power-level of a rare. At least I'd be mad if I opened it in a pack.
(0.5/3) Balance: This card seems severely under-powered. You need to get hellbent just to draw one card, and you lose your dude to an opponent, and you have to play with your hand revealed?!?! Seems like a lot of downside for a three mana 1/2 that might eventually draw you a card and see your opponent's hand. This seems quite a bit weaker than Elvish Visionary to me, which is a common that costs 1 mana less. I'd say this might see play in Zedruu EDH, but it's not the right color.
Creativity - (5/6)
(2.5/3) Uniqueness: This isn't exactly ground-breaking, but I can't say I've seen anything quite like it. It's a bit reminiscent of Humble Defector, but only a bit.
(2.5/3) Flavor: Haha! The flavor's a bit on the corny side, but I'm a sucker for corny. Although this is even a bit too corny for me. Still the abilities really work with the flavor.
Polish - (5/7)
(2/3) Quality: It should be "At the beginning of each end step..." You have an extra s at the end of Rat Informants's name in the text box.
(2/2) *Main Challenge: Good.
(1/2) Subchallenges: This card doesn't care about sentience.
Total: 16/25
*An entry with 0 points here is subject to disqualification.
Design - (2.5/6)
(1/3) Appeal: This doesn't do much for Timmy or Spike. Johnny might be interested in making a Commander deck with this, although he would prefer access to black also
(1.5/3) Elegance: There's a lot of words here, but nothing too difficult to grasp. It seem awfully weird that this is such a blue mana intensive card, but it wants you to control black creatures too.
Development - (3/6)
(1.5/3) Viability: Every card in modern that reduces an opponent's hand size is black. This card should have black in it also. Also, there are only 10 total Cats between blue and black, it seems like a G/W Cat lord would make a lot more likely.
(1.5/3) Balance: Considering how much this wants you to control Cats, along with how few blue and black cats exist, I just don't see this causing a lot excitement in any format. Even if this was in a Standard with a ton of U and B Cats, this still seems like it doesn't do a whole heck of a lot. The cantrip is probably the best part of the card.
Creativity - (5/6)
(3/3) Uniqueness: Seems pretty unique to me.
(2/3) Flavor: Is Sarina a sister of Mirri the Cursed? I want to like the flavor of this card, but I'm just not sure I understand what it's about. I could see it making sense if put into context though.
Polish - (6.5/7)
(2.5/3) Quality: It should be "Each opponent's maximum hand size..."
(2/2) *Main Challenge: Good.
(2/2) Subchallenges: This isn't exactly what I had in mind for the first sub-challenge, but I understand your angle, and it's my fault for not making things clearer.
Total: 17/25
*An entry with 0 points here is subject to disqualification.
Design - (5.5/6)
(3/3) Appeal: There's a little something here for everybody.
(2.5/3) Elegance: Everything is easy enough to understand individually, but there's too much going on with this card to give it a 3. Part of it is the amount of things that need to be taken into consideration while this is on the battlefield. The abilities really feed off of one another nicely
Development - (5.5/6)
(2.5/3) Viability: I'd say everything works pretty well here color-wise. Which is no small feat. I'm not sure mono-black would be given the Doran effect, but it doesn't seem totally impossible to me. Mythic seems right.
(3/3) Balance: This seems about right to me. The fact that it's a legend helps make up for the shock factor of +0/+3 for three CMC. I could see it getting a look in Standard if sapient Snakes was a thing. The three colors make it a bit rough in limited, but I assume there would be enough mana fixing to make up this. This isn't powerful enough to see any play in any non-rotating, constructed format but...sapient Snake Commander deck is a go. Especially after they change all of the Kamigawa Snakes into sapient creatures.
Creativity - (5/6)
(2.5/3) Uniqueness: I'd say the mixing and matching of the hybrid mana abilities enough to earn this some points here. Everything else has been done in some form before, although this is certainly a unique mix of abilities.
(2.5/3) Flavor: With very little flavor text, you've made this guy seem pretty cool to me. Of course I'm a sucker for far east themes.
Polish - (7/7)
(3/3) Quality: Looks good to me.
(2/2) *Main Challenge: Good.
(2/2) Subchallenges: Good.
Total: 23/25
*An entry with 0 points here is subject to disqualification.
Design - (4.5/6)
(2/3) Appeal: I don't see a lot for Timmy here. Johnny appreciates trying to maximize its effect, and appreciates the chance to cheat a huge equipment onto the battlefield even more. Spike might take a look if Johnny figures out something powerful to do with the card.
(2.5/3) Elegance: I could see some rules confusion for newer players about whether or not this replaces the text already on the equipment, but other than that, this seems good.
Development - (6/6)
(3/3) Viability: Color and rarity are perfect.
(3/3) Balance: This card seems balanced to me. It's strong enough to see play in limited, and possibly even the right Standard environment, but isn't broken in any way. I don't see this seeing play anywhere else but tabletop or EDH, but that's ok.
Creativity - (5/6)
(3/3) Uniqueness: Well, there have certainly been Cats that like equipment before, but I can't think of anything that grants an ability to all of your equipment like this does.
(2/3) Flavor: The name is good. No room for flavor text.
Polish - (5.5/7)
(2.5/3) Quality: Pronouns have only been seen on planeswalkers thus far. This card should refer to its name. I'd really like to discount a 0.5 for missing the forward slash between race and class, but since I made it up I will refrain.
(2/2) *Main Challenge: Good
(1/2) Subchallenges: CMC > 3.
Total: 21/25
*An entry with 0 points here is subject to disqualification.
Design - (5/6)
(2/3) Appeal: Timmy likes the idea of this growing into a massive creature. Spike appreciates a powerful uncommon in limited.
(3/3) Elegance: The non-sapience part seems unnecessary mechanically, but the flavor of it makes sense. Everything else is pretty straight forward.
Development - (6/6)
(3/3) Viability: Everything works for me. Foxes have been overwhelmingly white up until now, but it's a very under-explored creature type, so I can easily see it expanding into other colors.
(3/3) Balance: I don't see this being played anywhere outside of limited, but there it is a potential powerhouse at uncommon. Assuming there is Fox tribal in the environment of course.
Creativity - (3/6)
(1.5/3) Uniqueness: Interestingly the most unique aspect of this card to me is found within the already unique round requirement - the fact that this takes away sapience. Still it's kinda hard to say something is unique when it has no chance to exist as things work today. Maybe if sapience was a thing, there would be a bunch of cards that grant it or take it away. Everything else here has been done before in some way.
(1.5/3) Flavor: I feel like this should be a Wizard. How can a Rogue remove someone's sapience? The idea of the once civilized Fox returning to its savage roots by gaining deathtouch is very satisfying.
Polish - (7/7)
(3/3) Quality: Good.
(2/2) *Main Challenge: Good.
(2/2) Subchallenges: All good.
Total: 21/25
*An entry with 0 points here is subject to disqualification.
Freyleyes - 17
StonerOfKruphix - 23
RaikouRider - 21
rkhon - 21
StonerOfKruphix - 70.5
rkhon1357 - 65.5
RaikouRider - 63.5
Freyleyes - 55.0
Forestsguy - 50.5
Congratulations to our finalists.