Belltower is set on a currently unnamed plane of my design.
It's based on discovery and researching new technology, as well as the obstacles that people encounter along the way.
Most of the currently designed cards are not in their final form, but all should be somewhat balanced and can be used in constructed formats that they are legal. I am planning to make this set draftable in limited environments as well.
Adept Toolsmith W
Creature — Human (C)
As long as Adept Toolsmith is equipped, it gets +1/+1 and has vigilance. “Hand me a weapon and I’ll watch the door.”
— Lume Metalsmith
1/2
Anoint Soul W
Instant (C)
Exile target creature card from a graveyard. Create a 1/1 white Spirit token with flying. You gain 2 life.
Blessed Corpse 2W
Creature — Spirit Zombie (C)
When Blessed Corpse enters the battlefield, you may sacrifice a Spirit. If you do, put two +1/+1 counters on target creature.
2/3
Continuous Study 1WW
Enchantment (R)
At the beginning of each end step, you may play an enchantment card from your hand with converted mana cost X or less without paying its mana cost, where X is the number of spells you cast this turn. “We need to keep looking into this.”
— Ionas Jamesson
Dearly Departed 4WW
Creature — Spirit (R)
Flying
As long as Dearly Departed is in your graveyard, each Human creature you control enters the battlefield with an additional +1/+1 counter on it.
5/5
Dismantle Soul 1W
Enchantment — Aura (U)
Enchant creature.
When Dismantle Soul enters the battlefield, enchanted creature’s controller creates a 1/1 white Spirit creature token with flying.
Enchanted creature can’t attack or block and its activated abilities can’t be activated.
Doomed Traveler W
Creature — Human (C)
When Doomed Traveler dies, create a 1/1 white Spirit creature token with flying. Some souls are more reluctant to leave the body.
1/1
Gracefully Depart 2W
Enchantment (U)
Whenever a player sacrifices a Human, that player creates a 1/1 white Spirit creature token with flying. With proper preparation, anyone can enter the afterlife.
Liberate Spirit W
Instant (C)
Destroy target Zombie. Its controller creates a 1/1 white Spirit creature token with flying. You gain 2 life.
Militia Commander 1W
Creature — Human Soldier (C)
Whenever a Human enters the battlefield under your control, put a +1/+1 counter on Militia Commander.
1/2
Spirit Mend 2W
Sorcery (U)
As an additional cost to cast Spirit Mend, sacrifice a Spirit.
Return target Human creature card from your graveyard to the battlefield. “We were able to replace your soul with a new one.”
— Elizabeth Bremer
Archaeomancer 2UU
Creature — Human Wizard (C)
When Archaeomancer enters the battlefield, return target instant or sorcery card from your graveyard to your hand.
1/2
Belltower Scholar 1U
Creature — Human Wizard (C)
Willing — When this creature dies, draw a card. If it was during your main phase, instead scry 1 and draw a card. “Although a human life is valuable, scientific advancement is more.”
— Ionas Jamesson
1/2
Book Keeper U
Creature — Human Wizard (C)
When Book Keeper enters the battlefield, scry 1. (Look at the top two cards of your library, then put any number of them on the bottom of your library and the rest on top in any order.)
1/1
Incredible Discovery 3UU
Enchantment (R)
At the beginning of each end step, you may return an instant or sorcery card with converted mana cost X or less from your graveyard to your hand, where X is the number of spells you cast this turn. “Hand me my journal, would you?”
— Ionas Jamesson
Mended Stalt 1U
Creature — Zombie (C)
When Mended Stalt enters the battlefield, you may sacrifice a creature. If you do, put a +1/+1 counter on Mended Stalt. “What else would you do with an empty corpse?”
— Tobias Erlang
1/2
Null and Void 2UU
Instant (R)
Counter target noncreature spell.
Timeseal (You may cast this card without paying its mana cost. If you do, you can’t cast spells until you pay this card’s mana cost.)
Scour the Library 5U
Sorcery (U)
Look at the top 4 cards in your library. You may cast a noncreature card from among them without paying its mana cost. Put the rest on the bottom of your library in any order.
Toy With Memories U
Instant (R)
Gamble 1 — U (You may pay an additional U as you cast Toy With Memories. If you do, flip a coin. If you win at least one flip, you win the gamble.)
Draw a card. If you won the gamble as you cast Toy With Memories, instead draw 3 cards.
Thorough Examination 2BB
Enchantment (R)
At the beginning of each end step, you may pay X life, where X is the number of spells you cast this turn. If you do, return target creature card with converted mana cost X or less from your graveyard to the battlefield.
Unethical Experimentation 2BB
Sorcery (C)
Sacrifice a creature. Draw a number of cards equal to its toughness.
Armed Beserker R
Creature — Human Soldier (C)
Trample
Armed Beserker gets +2/+0 for each equipment attached to it.
1/1
Crazed Study 2R
Instant (U)
Draw four cards. At the beginning of the next upkeep, discard your hand. “Learn as much as you can now, you’ll forget everything.”
Discarded Hypothesis 2RR
Enchantment (R)
At the beginning of each end step, you may discard your hand. If you do, draw X cards, where X is the number of spells you cast this turn. “Let’s try something else.”
Fuel for the Flames 2/RR
Instant (C)
Fuel for the Flames deals 2 damage to target creature.
Efficiency — If only one color of mana was used to cast Fuel for the Flames, Fuel for the Flames deals 4 damage to target creature instead.
Krark, Lucky Idiot 1RR
Planeswalker — Krark (M)
Starting Loyalty: 3
+2: Discard up to two cards, then draw that many cards.
-1: Flip 4 coins. For each heads, Krark deals 1 damage to target creature or player.
-8: You get an emblem with “If a player would flip a coin, you may pick the result.”
Mote of Flame 1R
Instant (C)
Prewrite 2R (2R, exile Mote of Flame face down from your hand: After this turn, as long as this card remains exiled this way, you may cast it as though it had flash and without paying its mana cost.)
Deal 3 damage to target creature.
Frank Navigator 1G
Creature — Human Scout (C)
Landfall — Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control, Frank Navigator gets +2/+0 until end of turn.
1/3
Natural Conclusion GG
Enchantment (R)
At the beginning of each end step, you may look at the top X cards of your library and reveal a land or creature card from among them, where X is the number of spells you cast this turn. Put the revealed card into your hand and put the rest on the bottom of your library in a random order.
Arm the Militia 1RW
Sorcery (U)
Attach any number of unattached Equipments you control to any number of creatures you control.
Clock Winder 1UR
Creature — Human Wizard (C)
Whenever you cast a spell from exile, put a +1/+1 counter on Clock Winder.
2/1
Commune with the Wild 1GW
Instant (U)
Prevent all damage that would be dealt to target creature this turn. For each source of damage prevented this way, create a 1/1 green and white Spirit creature token.
Death of Reason 2WBR
Sorcery (R)
Each creature deals damage to itself equal to its power. When a creature dealt damage this way dies this turn, its controller discards a card. “We’ve burnt everything so that they could have nothing.”
— Henrik Bradshaw
Elizabeth, Grave Sanctifier 1GW
Legendary Creature — Human Mystic (R)
Whenever a non-Spirit creature you control dies, create a 1/1 white Spirit token with flying, and you gain 2 life. “Death is the most holy right one can have.”
2/2
Energetic Rampage 1URG
Sorcery (R)
Energetic Rampage deals damage to each creature equal to the toughness of the creature with the highest toughness. Whenever a creature dies this turn, its controller may untap a land they control. “Recently-discovered creatures are the hardest to tame.”
— Samuel DeFrank
Henrik, Greedy Tyrant 2BR
Legendary Creature — Human Warrior (R)
At the beginning of your upkeep, you may discard 3 cards. If you do, gain control of target creature until end of turn. Untap that creature. It gains haste until end of turn. “An uneducated populace is an easily controlled one.”
3/3
Ionas, Tireless Researcher 2WU
Legendary Creature — Human Advisor (R)
Whenever a player casts a spell, you may pay 1. If you do, scry 2. “Knowledge belongs to the worthy.”
2/3
Lost to Eternity 2BGW
Sorcery (R)
Exile all creatures. For each creature exiled this way, its controller creates a 1/1 white spirit token. “We saved them all from you.”
— Elizabeth Bremer
Rewrite Existence 3GUB
Sorcery (R)
Destroy all nonland permanents. For each artifact and enchantment destroyed this way, that permanent’s controller may draw a card. “The most drastic changes are necessary to solve the biggest problems.”
— Tobias Erlang
Samuel, Fearless Explorer 1RG
Legendary Creature — Human Scout (R)
Whenever a nonbasic land enters the battlefield, you may exile the top two cards of your library. Until end of turn, you may play creature cards exiled this way. “Never mind danger, think of the riches we could find!”
2/4
Tobias, Banished Savant 2UB
Legendary Creature — Human Cleric (R)
Whenever a creature enters the battlefield, if you cast it from your hand, you may sacrifice it. If you do, return a creature with converted mana cost less than the sacrificed creature’s converted mana cost to the battlefield. “Restriction may breed creativity, but freedom breeds progress.”
2/2
Chronowalker 2U/R
Creature — Wizard (C)
Prewrite 3U (3U, exile Chronowalker face down from your hand: After this turn, as long as this card remains exiled this way, you may cast it as though it had flash and without paying its mana cost.)
When you cast Chronowalker from exile, you may draw a card.
2/2
Salvation 1G/W
Instant (U)
Create a 1/1 white and green Spirit creature token.
Sacrifice X spirits.
Prevent all damage that would be dealt to up to X target creatures this turn.
Accumulating Dust 6
Artifact Creature — Assembler (R)
Whenever Accumulating Dust deals combat damage to a creature, you may discard a card. If you do, create a token that’s a copy of that creature except it’s an Assembler in addition to its other types.
2/4
Burial Spices 1
Artifact — Equipment (U)
Equipped creature gets +1/+1.
When equipped creature dies, if it was not a spirit, create a 1/1 white Spirit creature token with flying.
Equip 2 (2: Attach to target creature you control. Equip only as a sorcery.)
Consuming Dust 1
Artifact Creature — Assembler (C)
When Consuming Dust deals combat damage to a player, you may discard a card. If you do, put a +1/+1 counter on it.
1/1
Observant Automaton 4
Artifact Creature — Assembler (U)
At the beginning of each end step, if Observant Automaton became tapped this turn, you may pay W. If you do, put a +1/+1 counter on it.
As long as Observant Automaton has a +1/+1 counter on it, Assembler creatures you control have vigilance.
2/3
Treasured Sword 2
Artifact — Equipment (R)
Equipped creature gets +2/+2 and vigilance.
When equipped creature dies, if it was a Human, you may attach Treasured Sword to another Human you control.
Equip 3
Unhindered Automaton 3
Artifact Creature — Assembler (U)
At the beginning of each end step, if Unhindered Automaton dealt combat damage this turn, you may pay G. If you do, put a +1/+1 counter on it.
As long as Unhindered Automaton has a +1/+1 counter on it, Assembler creatures you control have trample.
2/2
It's based on discovery and researching new technology, as well as the obstacles that people encounter along the way.
Most of the currently designed cards are not in their final form, but all should be somewhat balanced and can be used in constructed formats that they are legal. I am planning to make this set draftable in limited environments as well.
Link to the visual spoiler
Adept Toolsmith W
Creature — Human (C)
As long as Adept Toolsmith is equipped, it gets +1/+1 and has vigilance.
“Hand me a weapon and I’ll watch the door.”
— Lume Metalsmith
1/2
Anoint Soul W
Instant (C)
Exile target creature card from a graveyard. Create a 1/1 white Spirit token with flying. You gain 2 life.
Blessed Corpse 2W
Creature — Spirit Zombie (C)
When Blessed Corpse enters the battlefield, you may sacrifice a Spirit. If you do, put two +1/+1 counters on target creature.
2/3
Continuous Study 1WW
Enchantment (R)
At the beginning of each end step, you may play an enchantment card from your hand with converted mana cost X or less without paying its mana cost, where X is the number of spells you cast this turn.
“We need to keep looking into this.”
— Ionas Jamesson
Dearly Departed 4WW
Creature — Spirit (R)
Flying
As long as Dearly Departed is in your graveyard, each Human creature you control enters the battlefield with an additional +1/+1 counter on it.
5/5
Dismantle Soul 1W
Enchantment — Aura (U)
Enchant creature.
When Dismantle Soul enters the battlefield, enchanted creature’s controller creates a 1/1 white Spirit creature token with flying.
Enchanted creature can’t attack or block and its activated abilities can’t be activated.
Doomed Traveler W
Creature — Human (C)
When Doomed Traveler dies, create a 1/1 white Spirit creature token with flying.
Some souls are more reluctant to leave the body.
1/1
Gracefully Depart 2W
Enchantment (U)
Whenever a player sacrifices a Human, that player creates a 1/1 white Spirit creature token with flying.
With proper preparation, anyone can enter the afterlife.
Liberate Spirit W
Instant (C)
Destroy target Zombie. Its controller creates a 1/1 white Spirit creature token with flying. You gain 2 life.
Militia Commander 1W
Creature — Human Soldier (C)
Whenever a Human enters the battlefield under your control, put a +1/+1 counter on Militia Commander.
1/2
Spirit Mend 2W
Sorcery (U)
As an additional cost to cast Spirit Mend, sacrifice a Spirit.
Return target Human creature card from your graveyard to the battlefield.
“We were able to replace your soul with a new one.”
— Elizabeth Bremer
Archaeomancer 2UU
Creature — Human Wizard (C)
When Archaeomancer enters the battlefield, return target instant or sorcery card from your graveyard to your hand.
1/2
Belltower Scholar 1U
Creature — Human Wizard (C)
Willing — When this creature dies, draw a card. If it was during your main phase, instead scry 1 and draw a card.
“Although a human life is valuable, scientific advancement is more.”
— Ionas Jamesson
1/2
Book Keeper U
Creature — Human Wizard (C)
When Book Keeper enters the battlefield, scry 1. (Look at the top two cards of your library, then put any number of them on the bottom of your library and the rest on top in any order.)
1/1
Incredible Discovery 3UU
Enchantment (R)
At the beginning of each end step, you may return an instant or sorcery card with converted mana cost X or less from your graveyard to your hand, where X is the number of spells you cast this turn.
“Hand me my journal, would you?”
— Ionas Jamesson
Mended Stalt 1U
Creature — Zombie (C)
When Mended Stalt enters the battlefield, you may sacrifice a creature. If you do, put a +1/+1 counter on Mended Stalt.
“What else would you do with an empty corpse?”
— Tobias Erlang
1/2
Null and Void 2UU
Instant (R)
Counter target noncreature spell.
Timeseal (You may cast this card without paying its mana cost. If you do, you can’t cast spells until you pay this card’s mana cost.)
Scour the Library 5U
Sorcery (U)
Look at the top 4 cards in your library. You may cast a noncreature card from among them without paying its mana cost. Put the rest on the bottom of your library in any order.
Toy With Memories U
Instant (R)
Gamble 1 — U (You may pay an additional U as you cast Toy With Memories. If you do, flip a coin. If you win at least one flip, you win the gamble.)
Draw a card. If you won the gamble as you cast Toy With Memories, instead draw 3 cards.
Thorough Examination 2BB
Enchantment (R)
At the beginning of each end step, you may pay X life, where X is the number of spells you cast this turn. If you do, return target creature card with converted mana cost X or less from your graveyard to the battlefield.
Unethical Experimentation 2BB
Sorcery (C)
Sacrifice a creature. Draw a number of cards equal to its toughness.
Armed Beserker R
Creature — Human Soldier (C)
Trample
Armed Beserker gets +2/+0 for each equipment attached to it.
1/1
Crazed Study 2R
Instant (U)
Draw four cards. At the beginning of the next upkeep, discard your hand.
“Learn as much as you can now, you’ll forget everything.”
Discarded Hypothesis 2RR
Enchantment (R)
At the beginning of each end step, you may discard your hand. If you do, draw X cards, where X is the number of spells you cast this turn.
“Let’s try something else.”
Fuel for the Flames 2/RR
Instant (C)
Fuel for the Flames deals 2 damage to target creature.
Efficiency — If only one color of mana was used to cast Fuel for the Flames, Fuel for the Flames deals 4 damage to target creature instead.
Krark, Lucky Idiot 1RR
Planeswalker — Krark (M)
Starting Loyalty: 3
+2: Discard up to two cards, then draw that many cards.
-1: Flip 4 coins. For each heads, Krark deals 1 damage to target creature or player.
-8: You get an emblem with “If a player would flip a coin, you may pick the result.”
Mote of Flame 1R
Instant (C)
Prewrite 2R (2R, exile Mote of Flame face down from your hand: After this turn, as long as this card remains exiled this way, you may cast it as though it had flash and without paying its mana cost.)
Deal 3 damage to target creature.
Frank Navigator 1G
Creature — Human Scout (C)
Landfall — Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control, Frank Navigator gets +2/+0 until end of turn.
1/3
Natural Conclusion GG
Enchantment (R)
At the beginning of each end step, you may look at the top X cards of your library and reveal a land or creature card from among them, where X is the number of spells you cast this turn. Put the revealed card into your hand and put the rest on the bottom of your library in a random order.
Arm the Militia 1RW
Sorcery (U)
Attach any number of unattached Equipments you control to any number of creatures you control.
Clock Winder 1UR
Creature — Human Wizard (C)
Whenever you cast a spell from exile, put a +1/+1 counter on Clock Winder.
2/1
Commune with the Wild 1GW
Instant (U)
Prevent all damage that would be dealt to target creature this turn. For each source of damage prevented this way, create a 1/1 green and white Spirit creature token.
Death of Reason 2WBR
Sorcery (R)
Each creature deals damage to itself equal to its power. When a creature dealt damage this way dies this turn, its controller discards a card.
“We’ve burnt everything so that they could have nothing.”
— Henrik Bradshaw
Elizabeth, Grave Sanctifier 1GW
Legendary Creature — Human Mystic (R)
Whenever a non-Spirit creature you control dies, create a 1/1 white Spirit token with flying, and you gain 2 life.
“Death is the most holy right one can have.”
2/2
Energetic Rampage 1URG
Sorcery (R)
Energetic Rampage deals damage to each creature equal to the toughness of the creature with the highest toughness. Whenever a creature dies this turn, its controller may untap a land they control.
“Recently-discovered creatures are the hardest to tame.”
— Samuel DeFrank
Henrik, Greedy Tyrant 2BR
Legendary Creature — Human Warrior (R)
At the beginning of your upkeep, you may discard 3 cards. If you do, gain control of target creature until end of turn. Untap that creature. It gains haste until end of turn.
“An uneducated populace is an easily controlled one.”
3/3
Ionas, Tireless Researcher 2WU
Legendary Creature — Human Advisor (R)
Whenever a player casts a spell, you may pay 1. If you do, scry 2.
“Knowledge belongs to the worthy.”
2/3
Lost to Eternity 2BGW
Sorcery (R)
Exile all creatures. For each creature exiled this way, its controller creates a 1/1 white spirit token.
“We saved them all from you.”
— Elizabeth Bremer
Rewrite Existence 3GUB
Sorcery (R)
Destroy all nonland permanents. For each artifact and enchantment destroyed this way, that permanent’s controller may draw a card.
“The most drastic changes are necessary to solve the biggest problems.”
— Tobias Erlang
Samuel, Fearless Explorer 1RG
Legendary Creature — Human Scout (R)
Whenever a nonbasic land enters the battlefield, you may exile the top two cards of your library. Until end of turn, you may play creature cards exiled this way.
“Never mind danger, think of the riches we could find!”
2/4
Tobias, Banished Savant 2UB
Legendary Creature — Human Cleric (R)
Whenever a creature enters the battlefield, if you cast it from your hand, you may sacrifice it. If you do, return a creature with converted mana cost less than the sacrificed creature’s converted mana cost to the battlefield.
“Restriction may breed creativity, but freedom breeds progress.”
2/2
Chronowalker 2U/R
Creature — Wizard (C)
Prewrite 3U (3U, exile Chronowalker face down from your hand: After this turn, as long as this card remains exiled this way, you may cast it as though it had flash and without paying its mana cost.)
When you cast Chronowalker from exile, you may draw a card.
2/2
Salvation 1G/W
Instant (U)
Create a 1/1 white and green Spirit creature token.
Sacrifice X spirits.
Prevent all damage that would be dealt to up to X target creatures this turn.
Accumulating Dust 6
Artifact Creature — Assembler (R)
Whenever Accumulating Dust deals combat damage to a creature, you may discard a card. If you do, create a token that’s a copy of that creature except it’s an Assembler in addition to its other types.
2/4
Burial Spices 1
Artifact — Equipment (U)
Equipped creature gets +1/+1.
When equipped creature dies, if it was not a spirit, create a 1/1 white Spirit creature token with flying.
Equip 2 (2: Attach to target creature you control. Equip only as a sorcery.)
Consuming Dust 1
Artifact Creature — Assembler (C)
When Consuming Dust deals combat damage to a player, you may discard a card. If you do, put a +1/+1 counter on it.
1/1
Observant Automaton 4
Artifact Creature — Assembler (U)
At the beginning of each end step, if Observant Automaton became tapped this turn, you may pay W. If you do, put a +1/+1 counter on it.
As long as Observant Automaton has a +1/+1 counter on it, Assembler creatures you control have vigilance.
2/3
Treasured Sword 2
Artifact — Equipment (R)
Equipped creature gets +2/+2 and vigilance.
When equipped creature dies, if it was a Human, you may attach Treasured Sword to another Human you control.
Equip 3
Unhindered Automaton 3
Artifact Creature — Assembler (U)
At the beginning of each end step, if Unhindered Automaton dealt combat damage this turn, you may pay G. If you do, put a +1/+1 counter on it.
As long as Unhindered Automaton has a +1/+1 counter on it, Assembler creatures you control have trample.
2/2