After a month based on top-down design, it only feels appropriate to go for a month dedicated to its opposite. So, the theme of this month will be bottom-up card design. For those who might not know, what that means is a card design that starts with a mechanical idea and only then finds a flavor that suits it. This time, rounds will differ, but they will all be based on some kind of mechanical idea.
My love for mix and match cards should be well known by now. Doing them should not be a problem in ordinary blocks, no need for Time Spiral craziness (which I loved even though I had just started playing Magic the year before). After all, every block has at least two mechanics to combine.
Challenge: design a card with exactly two keyword mechanics (no less, no more) from the same block. Use only existing mechanics. You can choose any block in Magic history except Time Spiral block (sorry, I absolutely love that block but it would be way too easy of a challenge).
Clarification: Do ability words count? Or keywords that have been remade as ability words, like threshold?
Edit: Also, is coldsnap considered part of Ice Age/Alliances?
Yes to both questions.
You have until Monday, May 16th 23:59 EDT. Seeing as it went last month, I will not do a projected schedule this time.
In the first three rounds, entry is free for anyone. Come join us! We are waiting for you!
First place gives 3 points, second place 2 points, third place 1 point.
1 bonus point for posting critiques.
1 bonus point for posting a top 3.
The points received by each player will be added up and calculated as a percentage of the maximum points that player could have obtained, which are given by 3 * (number of critiques received) + 2
The percentages will then be ordered in decreasing order and that will be the standings for the round.
The percentages from the first three rounds will be added up at the end of round 3 to determine the top 8 or top 4 (see schedule above).
The same system will be used in top 8 and top 4 rounds.
As usual, the final winner will be determined by a public poll.
CRITIQUES
As usual, the list of this round's participants has been randomized and is as follows. Critique the six names below yours and rank the top 3. You have until Friday, May 20th 23:59 EDT. That is the deadline for critiques for all the first three rounds, so if you know you still have to do critiques for a previous round, please do so now. When the deadline passes, the scores will be calculated and the top 4 will advance to this month's semifinals.
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.)
Bear-Claw MonkGW
Creature - Human Monk (Rare)
Prowess
Ferocious - As long as Bear-Claw Monk has 4 or more power, it has double strike and trample. "The Jeskai may call me heretic, but I found my way with the greater beings of nature."
1/1
Hidden Among the Pieces2UR
Instant (Rare)
Destroy target artifact. Hidden Among the Pieces deals 1 damage to you. Draw a Card.
Conspire (As you cast this spell, you may tap two untapped creatures you control that share a color with it. When you do, copy it and you may choose a new target for the copy.)
Retrace (You may cast this card from your graveyard by discarding a land card as an additional cost to cast it.) "People hide interesting clues in precious artifacts, it's just painful to find them."
Staggerhelm1W
Creature - Elemental (U)
Flying
Champion an Elemental.
When Staggerhelm enters the battlefield, you may return target Elemental creature card from your graveyard to your hand.
Evoke W
3/1
Gilt-Leaf Cultist1BB
Creature — Elf Shaman (R)
Deathtouch
Hideaway (This creature enters the battlefield tapped. When it does, look at the top four cards of your library, exile one face down, then put the rest on the bottom of your library.) B, T: You may play the exiled card without paying its mana cost if three or more creatures died this turn.
1/2
Edit:
According to bravelion83 ability words are acceptable.
According to bravelion83 the Time Spiral block does not count.
According to the mtgsalvation wiki Deathtouch debuted in Lorwyn, and was featured prominently among the Elves.
Clarification: Do ability words count? Or keywords that have been remade as ability words, like threshold?
Edit: Also, is coldsnap considered part of Ice Age/Alliances?
Yes to both questions.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
MCC - Winner (6): Oct 2014, Apr Nov 2017, Jan 2018, Apr Jun 2019 || Host (15): Dec 2014, Apr Jul Aug Dec 2015, Mar Jul Aug Oct 2016, Feb Jul 2017, Jun Nov 2018, Feb Jul 2019 (last one here) || Judge (34): every month from Nov 2014 to Nov 2016 except Oct 2015, every month from Feb to Jul 2017 except Apr 2017, then Oct 2017, May Jun Nov 2018, Feb Jul 2019 (last one here) CCL - Winner (3): Jul 2016 (tied with Flatline), May 2017, Jul 2019 (last one here) || Host (5): Feb 2015, Mar Apr May Jun 2016 DCC - Winner (1): Mar 2015 (tied with Piar) || Host (3): May Oct 2015, Jan 2016
• The two public custom sets I've been part a part of the design team for: "Brotherhood of Ormos" - Blog post with all info - set thread - design skeleton / card list || "Extinctia: Homo Evanuit" - Blog post with all info - set thread - card list spreadsheet
• "The Lion's Lair", my article series about MTG and custom card design in particular. Latest article here. Here is the article index.Rather outdated by now, and based on the old MCC rubric, but I'm leaving this here for anybody that might be interested anyway.
• My only public attempt at being a writer: the story of my Leonin custom planeswalker Jeff Lionheart. (I have a very big one that I'm working on right now but that's private for now, and I don't know if I will ever actually publish it, and I also have ideas for multiple future ones, including one where I'm going to reprise Jeff.)
Uncovered Lore2URW
Sorcery (M)
Return target noncreature, nonland card from your graveyard to your hand. Then, if Uncovered Lore was cast from exile, put it onto the battlefield transformed.
Rebound
///
Shu Yun, the Precursor
(URW) Legendary Creature - Spirit Monk
Prowess
Whenever you cast a noncreature spell, Shu Yun, the Precursor deals 2 damage to target creature or player and you gain 2 life. "You have learned of the death of the Jeskai Way. And now, you shall see it reborn."
3/3
Sequestering FogUW
Instant (U)
Detain target nonland permanent
Overload 2UW Hard to fight back when you can't even see your fingers an inch from your face.
Avenge from the Grave1B
Instant {U} Morbid - Cast Avenge from the Grave only if a creature died this turn.
Destroy target creature.
Flashback 4BB(You may cast this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.)
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.
Protean Scion2UG
Creature - Shapeshifter (R) Metalcraft- At the beginning of your upkeep, if you control three or more artifacts, proliferate (You choose any number of permanents and/or players with counters on them, then give each of them a counter of a kind already there.) In the battle for Mirrodin's soul, progress did not choose a side.
3/3
It appears that I am behind on the deadline, but since crits have not started yet, I'll post my card and let BL decide if its in or n
Gatebreaker Hero2RR
Creature - Human Warrior (R)
Haste
Unleash (You may have this creature enter the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter on it. It can't block as long as it has a +1/+1 counter on it.) Battalion - Whenever Gatebreaker Hero and at least two other creatures attack, creatures you control get +1/+0 for each nonbasic land defending player controls until end of turn.
2/2
I know I'm late. If I don't get in, that's fine, I just like making cards.
Junkshaper Myr3
Artifact Creature - Myr (U)
Imprint - X, T: You may exile an artifact card with converted mana cost X from your hand. If you do, put X 1/1 colourless Myr artifact creature tokens onto the battlefield.
Metalcraft - As long as you control three or more artifacts, other Myr creatures you control get +1/+1.
1/3
@Asrama and Voxzorz: yes, I will accept your entries. The deadline had already passed, but I didn't check the thread and opened critiques until now, so I see no real reason to exclude you. Beside that, attendance is still low, so I just have to welcome new entries.
CRITIQUES
As usual, the list of this round's participants has been randomized and is as follows. Critique the six names below yours and rank the top 3. You have until Friday, May 20th 23:59 EDT. That is the deadline for critiques for all the first three rounds, so if you know you still have to do critiques for a previous round, please do so now. When the deadline passes, the scores will be calculated and the top 4 will advance to this month's semifinals.
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.)
Junkshaper Myr3
Artifact Creature - Myr (U)
Imprint - X, T: You may exile an artifact card with converted mana cost X from your hand. If you do, put X 1/1 colourless Myr artifact creature tokens onto the battlefield.
Metalcraft - As long as you control three or more artifacts, other Myr creatures you control get +1/+1.
1/3
This card seems fine as a card but I don't think that its Imprint ability fits the Imprint mold super well — stereotypically a card with Imprint uses another ability that references the exiled card's characteristics in some way. It's not far off enough that I'd disqualify it, but I think it's a little out of the core area for that ability.
Sequestering FogUW
Instant (U)
Detain target nonland permanent
Overload 2UW Hard to fight back when you can't even see your fingers an inch from your face.
I'd like this better if it cost more to overload and had the text "you don't control" in it so that you can use it advantageously to attack, although that might be hard to balance. This version of the card seems fine but it's just sad that you can't live the dream of detaining everyone and watching your attackers sail by them.
Gilt-Leaf Cultist1BB
Creature — Elf Shaman (R)
Deathtouch
Hideaway (This creature enters the battlefield tapped. When it does, look at the top four cards of your library, exile one face down, then put the rest on the bottom of your library.) B, T: You may play the exiled card without paying its mana cost if three or more creatures died this turn.
1/2
I don't love hideaway but I like this better than those silly hideaway lands.
Hidden Among the Pieces2UR
Instant (Rare)
Destroy target artifact. Hidden Among the Pieces deals 1 damage to you. Draw a Card.
Conspire (As you cast this spell, you may tap two untapped creatures you control that share a color with it. When you do, copy it and you may choose a new target for the copy.)
Retrace (You may cast this card from your graveyard by discarding a land card as an additional cost to cast it.) "People hide interesting clues in precious artifacts, it's just painful to find them."
This is a lot of repetitive artifact destruction in (implicitly) an environment where there just aren't that many artifacts for it to point at. Cute card though.
Bear-Claw MonkGW
Creature - Human Monk (Rare)
Prowess
Ferocious - As long as Bear-Claw Monk has 4 or more power, it has double strike and trample. "The Jeskai may call me heretic, but I found my way with the greater beings of nature."
1/1
The correct wording for Ferocious is "if you control a creature with power 4 or greater."
Staggerhelm1W
Creature - Elemental (U)
Flying
Champion an Elemental.
When Staggerhelm enters the battlefield, you may return target Elemental creature card from your graveyard to your hand.
Evoke W
3/1
I'd like this better if it cost more to overload and had the text "you don't control" in it so that you can use it advantageously to attack, although that might be hard to balance. This version of the card seems fine but it's just sad that you can't live the dream of detaining everyone and watching your attackers sail by them.
...Figures I'd forget something important. Le sigh
Hidden Among the Pieces2UR
Instant (Rare)
Destroy target artifact. Hidden Among the Pieces deals 1 damage to you. Draw a Card.
Conspire (As you cast this spell, you may tap two untapped creatures you control that share a color with it. When you do, copy it and you may choose a new target for the copy.)
Retrace (You may cast this card from your graveyard by discarding a land card as an additional cost to cast it.) "People hide interesting clues in precious artifacts, it's just painful to find them."
Hmm, a little weird. I understand it's blue because the card draw is part of the uh... draw. (and it can provide card advantage). Kind of situation to abuse though... Could easily lose the self damage.
Staggerhelm1W
Creature - Elemental (U)
Flying
Champion an Elemental.
When Staggerhelm enters the battlefield, you may return target Elemental creature card from your graveyard to your hand.
Evoke W
3/1
This is rather cute. I mean that in a good way. Retrigger your elementals fun ETB (or trigger their LTB) effects, and get an evoked card back to your hand... on the other hand, this could be horrifically abusive with just two of these. Can just pay W to spam ETB/LTB effects with one in your hand and one in the yard.
Avenge from the Grave1B
Instant {U} Morbid - Cast Avenge from the Grave only if a creature died this turn.
Destroy target creature.
Flashback 4BB(You may cast this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.)
Protean Scion2UG
Creature - Shapeshifter (R) Metalcraft- At the beginning of your upkeep, if you control three or more artifacts, proliferate (You choose any number of permanents and/or players with counters on them, then give each of them a counter of a kind already there.) In the battle for Mirrodin's soul, progress did not choose a side.
3/3
It appears that I am behind on the deadline, but since crits have not started yet, I'll post my card and let BL decide if its in or n
Gatebreaker Hero2RR
Creature - Human Warrior (R)
Haste
Unleash (You may have this creature enter the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter on it. It can't block as long as it has a +1/+1 counter on it.) Battalion - Whenever Gatebreaker Hero and at least two other creatures attack, creatures you control get +1/+0 for each nonbasic land defending player controls until end of turn.
2/2
Heh, interesting that what feels like a member of the Gateless is using guild mechanics. Seems strong, but perhaps not too much so.
Bear-Claw MonkGW
Creature - Human Monk (Rare)
Prowess
Ferocious - As long as Bear-Claw Monk has 4 or more power, it has double strike and trample. "The Jeskai may call me heretic, but I found my way with the greater beings of nature."
1/1
Wrong template for Ferocious (it always coincides with checking for any creature with power 4 or greater. Other than that, this is very potent.
Uncovered Lore2URW
Sorcery (M)
Return target noncreature, nonland card from your graveyard to your hand. Then, if Uncovered Lore was cast from exile, put it onto the battlefield transformed.
Rebound
///
Shu Yun, the Precursor
(URW) Legendary Creature - Spirit Monk
Prowess
Whenever you cast a noncreature spell, Shu Yun, the Precursor deals 2 damage to target creature or player and you gain 2 life. "You have learned of the death of the Jeskai Way. And now, you shall see it reborn."
3/3
Neat! I normally hate transform cards just for their text brickiness, but this one has great synergy with itself and I'm liking the flavor as well.
Avenge from the Grave1B
Instant {U} Morbid - Cast Avenge from the Grave only if a creature died this turn.
Destroy target creature.
Flashback 4BB(You may cast this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.)
I don't believe the flashback cost includes the Morbid ability, which sort of weakens the card for me, but maybe that's intentional. I suppose it's Chainer's Edict-esque enough though. Pretty neat.
Protean Scion2UG
Creature - Shapeshifter (R) Metalcraft- At the beginning of your upkeep, if you control three or more artifacts, proliferate (You choose any number of permanents and/or players with counters on them, then give each of them a counter of a kind already there.) In the battle for Mirrodin's soul, progress did not choose a side.
3/3
This just doesn't do anything by itself. I think the metalcraft hoop is too hard to jump through, and even then proliferating does not necessarily benefit you at all.
It appears that I am behind on the deadline, but since crits have not started yet, I'll post my card and let BL decide if its in or n
Gatebreaker Hero2RR
Creature - Human Warrior (R)
Haste
Unleash (You may have this creature enter the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter on it. It can't block as long as it has a +1/+1 counter on it.) Battalion - Whenever Gatebreaker Hero and at least two other creatures attack, creatures you control get +1/+0 for each nonbasic land defending player controls until end of turn.
2/2
I like this, even if it's a bit wordy. Could really beat a player up for playing those greedy, greedy nonbasics.
I know I'm late. If I don't get in, that's fine, I just like making cards.
Junkshaper Myr3
Artifact Creature - Myr (U)
Imprint - X, T: You may exile an artifact card with converted mana cost X from your hand. If you do, put X 1/1 colourless Myr artifact creature tokens onto the battlefield.
Metalcraft - As long as you control three or more artifacts, other Myr creatures you control get +1/+1.
1/3
That isn't quite how imprint works. Kind of like the second idea, with a myr lord, but the first ability doesn't quite do it for me.
I like combining detain and overload. If only it said “detain target nonland permanent you don’t control” then the overload ability would work much better.
Combining Prowess with Ferocious is a solid choice, if not too easy. The card feels much more red than either green or white. This ought to be a Gruul or Boros colored card. Also, for two mana, it may be slightly undercosted. Dragon-Style Twins is probably the closest creature to compare to. (I noticed the Ferocious ability wasn’t worded correctly, so I assumed you intended as defined in Khans block.)
Conspire and Retrace seems too close in utility function to me. Tap two creatures to cast it again. Pay the Retrace cost to cast it again, and tap two more creatures if you like. For artifacts, I feel like this should be doing more or something different.
At first, this seemed neat and straightforward. But then I realized Champion and Evoke are at odds with each other. What happens if I pay the evoke cost and don’t champion an elemental? Also, white elementals that play with others (especially, for example, red ones) seems strange. I can’t get over how weird it feels for this to be white and an elemental. To be honest, Green seems the better fit, with the Regrowth-like ability, and being an elemental.
A terror with flashback, close to Strangling Soot. I really want to like this card, except this isn’t how Morbid cards work. You have to have a “normal” condition, and requiring the Morbid condition in order to cast the spell seems weird. Nevertheless, this was a great job pairing these two keywords.
Combining Metalcraft with Proliferate seems solid. An “at the beginning of your upkeep” trigger for it, however, is a bit unusual. A one-time etb proliferate may have been better suited here.
Supply Runner1RG
Creature — Human Warrior (U)
When Supply Runner enters the battlefield, bolster 1.
Dash 2RG
1/3
Dash and bolster are a natural choice for combining together. It’s a shame that the factions that use them don’t have any color overlap. The gameplay with this does really evoke the feel of a supply runner. Dash cost looks overcosted at first glance; might need some playtesting to tune, but that’s for development.
I know I'm late. If I don't get in, that's fine, I just like making cards.
Junkshaper Myr3
Artifact Creature - Myr (U)
Imprint - X, T: You may exile an artifact card with converted mana cost X from your hand. If you do, put X 1/1 colourless Myr artifact creature tokens onto the battlefield.
Metalcraft - As long as you control three or more artifacts, other Myr creatures you control get +1/+1.
1/3
This feels more like scrapping than imprinting. An imprint card should permanently take characteristics from the card it exiles. Feels like metalcraft would be trivially easy to turn on with this, to the point that the metalcraft restriction is unnecessary on the card.
Gilt-Leaf Cultist1BB
Creature — Elf Shaman (R)
Deathtouch
Hideaway (This creature enters the battlefield tapped. When it does, look at the top four cards of your library, exile one face down, then put the rest on the bottom of your library.) B, T: You may play the exiled card without paying its mana cost if three or more creatures died this turn.
1/2
A hideaway creature is a cool idea, and this has a hideaway trigger with a decent amount of difficulty. But as a 1/2 with deathtouch, you’re going to want to get it into battle and trade it away, which conflicts with the goal of keeping it around to play the hidden card. The design seems to be fighting itself here. And I think it can be significantly cheaper; a 1/2 deathtouch is fair at 1 or 2 mana, and having hideaway with a difficult trigger shouldn’t raise its cost that much.
Sequestering FogUW
Instant (U)
Detain target nonland permanent
Overload 2UW Hard to fight back when you can't even see your fingers an inch from your face.
Detaining everything is fairly pointless, but I’ll judge by your intent to only detain your opponent’s things. That’s quite a powerful ability, and detain and overload combine beautifully. I think you could improve on the flavor though; fog doesn’t really detain people, unless it’s tear gas or something.
Bear-Claw MonkGW
Creature - Human Monk (Rare)
Prowess
Ferocious - As long as Bear-Claw Monk has 4 or more power, it has double strike and trample. "The Jeskai may call me heretic, but I found my way with the greater beings of nature."
1/1
That’s not how ferocious works; it looks at all your creatures. I do like the combination of abilities here, and they combine quite well. Jeskai and Temur overlap in blue and red; making this red would have felt much more natural than a green/white combination.
Hidden Among the Pieces2UR
Instant (Rare)
Destroy target artifact. Hidden Among the Pieces deals 1 damage to you. Draw a Card.
Conspire (As you cast this spell, you may tap two untapped creatures you control that share a color with it. When you do, copy it and you may choose a new target for the copy.)
Retrace (You may cast this card from your graveyard by discarding a land card as an additional cost to cast it.) "People hide interesting clues in precious artifacts, it's just painful to find them."
Too many different things going on here. The flavor does help tie it together, but it’s still very complex. It allows you to cast it multiple times, but you can’t do so unless you have multiple artifact targets to destroy. The abilities don’t synergize in a particularly interesting way.
1. willows
2. netn10
3. Ink-Treader
Private Mod Note
():
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WU
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"Mix and match"
After a month based on top-down design, it only feels appropriate to go for a month dedicated to its opposite. So, the theme of this month will be bottom-up card design. For those who might not know, what that means is a card design that starts with a mechanical idea and only then finds a flavor that suits it. This time, rounds will differ, but they will all be based on some kind of mechanical idea.
My love for mix and match cards should be well known by now. Doing them should not be a problem in ordinary blocks, no need for Time Spiral craziness (which I loved even though I had just started playing Magic the year before). After all, every block has at least two mechanics to combine.
Challenge: design a card with exactly two keyword mechanics (no less, no more) from the same block. Use only existing mechanics. You can choose any block in Magic history except Time Spiral block (sorry, I absolutely love that block but it would be way too easy of a challenge).
Yes to both questions.
You have until Monday, May 16th 23:59 EDT. Seeing as it went last month, I will not do a projected schedule this time.
In the first three rounds, entry is free for anyone. Come join us! We are waiting for you!
First place gives 3 points, second place 2 points, third place 1 point.
1 bonus point for posting critiques.
1 bonus point for posting a top 3.
The points received by each player will be added up and calculated as a percentage of the maximum points that player could have obtained, which are given by 3 * (number of critiques received) + 2
The percentages will then be ordered in decreasing order and that will be the standings for the round.
The percentages from the first three rounds will be added up at the end of round 3 to determine the top 8 or top 4 (see schedule above).
The same system will be used in top 8 and top 4 rounds.
As usual, the final winner will be determined by a public poll.
CRITIQUES
As usual, the list of this round's participants has been randomized and is as follows. Critique the six names below yours and rank the top 3. You have until Friday, May 20th 23:59 EDT. That is the deadline for critiques for all the first three rounds, so if you know you still have to do critiques for a previous round, please do so now. When the deadline passes, the scores will be calculated and the top 4 will advance to this month's semifinals.
Voxzorz
proudawesome
Ink-Treader
netn10
NimBalor
glurman
RaikouRider
drewdagreek
Asrama
theazurespirit
willows
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.)
Creature - Human Monk (Rare)
Prowess
Ferocious - As long as Bear-Claw Monk has 4 or more power, it has double strike and trample.
"The Jeskai may call me heretic, but I found my way with the greater beings of nature."
1/1
Instant (Rare)
Destroy target artifact. Hidden Among the Pieces deals 1 damage to you. Draw a Card.
Conspire (As you cast this spell, you may tap two untapped creatures you control that share a color with it. When you do, copy it and you may choose a new target for the copy.)
Retrace (You may cast this card from your graveyard by discarding a land card as an additional cost to cast it.)
"People hide interesting clues in precious artifacts, it's just painful to find them."
Creature - Elemental (U)
Flying
Champion an Elemental.
When Staggerhelm enters the battlefield, you may return target Elemental creature card from your graveyard to your hand.
Evoke W
3/1
Edit: Also, is coldsnap considered part of Ice Age/Alliances?
Creature — Elf Shaman (R)
Deathtouch
Hideaway (This creature enters the battlefield tapped. When it does, look at the top four cards of your library, exile one face down, then put the rest on the bottom of your library.)
B, T: You may play the exiled card without paying its mana cost if three or more creatures died this turn.
1/2
Edit:
( ancestral on Custom Magic Discord server )
( mproud on reddit )
Creature — Human Warrior (U)
When Supply Runner enters the battlefield, bolster 1.
Dash 2RG
1/3
Yes to both questions.
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.)
Sorcery (M)
Return target noncreature, nonland card from your graveyard to your hand. Then, if Uncovered Lore was cast from exile, put it onto the battlefield transformed.
Rebound
///
Shu Yun, the Precursor
(URW) Legendary Creature - Spirit Monk
Prowess
Whenever you cast a noncreature spell, Shu Yun, the Precursor deals 2 damage to target creature or player and you gain 2 life.
"You have learned of the death of the Jeskai Way. And now, you shall see it reborn."
3/3
Instant (U)
Detain target nonland permanent
Overload 2UW
Hard to fight back when you can't even see your fingers an inch from your face.
Choose one of these judge of creation:
Make Strionic Resonator shine!
You can not grasp the true form of Ashiok's attack!
Instant {U}
Morbid - Cast Avenge from the Grave only if a creature died this turn.
Destroy target creature.
Flashback 4BB (You may cast this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.)
Emille, Seven-Sting Dancer Shalin Nariya
Creature - Shapeshifter (R)
Metalcraft- At the beginning of your upkeep, if you control three or more artifacts, proliferate (You choose any number of permanents and/or players with counters on them, then give each of them a counter of a kind already there.)
In the battle for Mirrodin's soul, progress did not choose a side.
3/3
Gatebreaker Hero 2RR
Creature - Human Warrior (R)
Haste
Unleash (You may have this creature enter the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter on it. It can't block as long as it has a +1/+1 counter on it.)
Battalion - Whenever Gatebreaker Hero and at least two other creatures attack, creatures you control get +1/+0 for each nonbasic land defending player controls until end of turn.
2/2
Host, December 2015: A Winter Wonderland? - R1|R2|R3|Top 8|Semifinals|Finals|Poll
Host, CCL April 2014: A Game of Fate - Signup|R1|R2|R3|Top 8|Semifinal|Finals|Poll
Host, CCL December 2012: Spy Games - Signup|R1|R2|R3|Top 8|Semifinals|Finals|Poll
Host, CCL November 2010: The Perfect Crime - Signup|R1|R2|R3|Top 8|Semifinals|Finals|Poll
Host, CCL August 2009: A Commander's Journey: Signups|R1|R2|R3|Top 8|Semifinals|Finals|Poll
I've got tons of art from the web. Want art for a render? PM me! Want to create your own collection? Start here!
Junkshaper Myr 3
Artifact Creature - Myr (U)
Imprint - X, T: You may exile an artifact card with converted mana cost X from your hand. If you do, put X 1/1 colourless Myr artifact creature tokens onto the battlefield.
Metalcraft - As long as you control three or more artifacts, other Myr creatures you control get +1/+1.
1/3
CRITIQUES
As usual, the list of this round's participants has been randomized and is as follows. Critique the six names below yours and rank the top 3. You have until Friday, May 20th 23:59 EDT. That is the deadline for critiques for all the first three rounds, so if you know you still have to do critiques for a previous round, please do so now. When the deadline passes, the scores will be calculated and the top 4 will advance to this month's semifinals.
Voxzorz
proudawesome
Ink-Treader
netn10
NimBalor
glurman
RaikouRider
drewdagreek
Asrama
theazurespirit
willows
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.)
I'd like this better if it cost more to overload and had the text "you don't control" in it so that you can use it advantageously to attack, although that might be hard to balance. This version of the card seems fine but it's just sad that you can't live the dream of detaining everyone and watching your attackers sail by them. I don't love hideaway but I like this better than those silly hideaway lands.
This is a lot of repetitive artifact destruction in (implicitly) an environment where there just aren't that many artifacts for it to point at. Cute card though.
The correct wording for Ferocious is "if you control a creature with power 4 or greater."
This is cute but very fiddly.
2. Ink-Treader
3.Voxzorz
...Figures I'd forget something important. Le sigh
Hmm, a little weird. I understand it's blue because the card draw is part of the uh... draw. (and it can provide card advantage). Kind of situation to abuse though... Could easily lose the self damage.
This is rather cute. I mean that in a good way. Retrigger your elementals fun ETB (or trigger their LTB) effects, and get an evoked card back to your hand... on the other hand, this could be horrifically abusive with just two of these. Can just pay W to spam ETB/LTB effects with one in your hand and one in the yard.
The flavor is simply delightful.
Fun little guy. Seems fair enough.
Heh, interesting that what feels like a member of the Gateless is using guild mechanics. Seems strong, but perhaps not too much so.
Wrong template for Ferocious (it always coincides with checking for any creature with power 4 or greater. Other than that, this is very potent.
1. RaikouRider
2. drewdagreek
3. netn10
Choose one of these judge of creation:
Make Strionic Resonator shine!
You can not grasp the true form of Ashiok's attack!
An interesting mix of abilities, and seems like a decent card. Bolster does not fall in red's wheelhouse, unfortunately.
Neat! I normally hate transform cards just for their text brickiness, but this one has great synergy with itself and I'm liking the flavor as well.
I don't believe the flashback cost includes the Morbid ability, which sort of weakens the card for me, but maybe that's intentional. I suppose it's Chainer's Edict-esque enough though. Pretty neat.
This just doesn't do anything by itself. I think the metalcraft hoop is too hard to jump through, and even then proliferating does not necessarily benefit you at all.
I like this, even if it's a bit wordy. Could really beat a player up for playing those greedy, greedy nonbasics.
That isn't quite how imprint works. Kind of like the second idea, with a myr lord, but the first ability doesn't quite do it for me.
2) Asrama
3) RaikouRider
( ancestral on Custom Magic Discord server )
( mproud on reddit )
Dash and bolster are a natural choice for combining together. It’s a shame that the factions that use them don’t have any color overlap. The gameplay with this does really evoke the feel of a supply runner. Dash cost looks overcosted at first glance; might need some playtesting to tune, but that’s for development.
This feels more like scrapping than imprinting. An imprint card should permanently take characteristics from the card it exiles. Feels like metalcraft would be trivially easy to turn on with this, to the point that the metalcraft restriction is unnecessary on the card.
A hideaway creature is a cool idea, and this has a hideaway trigger with a decent amount of difficulty. But as a 1/2 with deathtouch, you’re going to want to get it into battle and trade it away, which conflicts with the goal of keeping it around to play the hidden card. The design seems to be fighting itself here. And I think it can be significantly cheaper; a 1/2 deathtouch is fair at 1 or 2 mana, and having hideaway with a difficult trigger shouldn’t raise its cost that much.
Detaining everything is fairly pointless, but I’ll judge by your intent to only detain your opponent’s things. That’s quite a powerful ability, and detain and overload combine beautifully. I think you could improve on the flavor though; fog doesn’t really detain people, unless it’s tear gas or something.
That’s not how ferocious works; it looks at all your creatures. I do like the combination of abilities here, and they combine quite well. Jeskai and Temur overlap in blue and red; making this red would have felt much more natural than a green/white combination.
Too many different things going on here. The flavor does help tie it together, but it’s still very complex. It allows you to cast it multiple times, but you can’t do so unless you have multiple artifact targets to destroy. The abilities don’t synergize in a particularly interesting way.
1. willows
2. netn10
3. Ink-Treader