I play in a Star City Games-ish commander versus group at my local game store. To choose commanders we have done player choice, random, and budget. For an upcoming get together, each of us have selected two two-color combos at random and must choose one of the colors to build a deck around a created commander. We are mostly casual players, and usually never play decks that are more powerful than 75%. The stipulations for creating a commander are as follows: Must be a creature (Can be enchantment creature/God-like), Must fit the colors themes. The latter will be judged by each of us when reviewing everyone's created commanders. Power level will also be reviewed before allowing each commander. This means no obvious infinite/two card combos involving the commander, and no absurd abilities. I'm not the most creative person in the world, so I'd like some possible ideas for not only which colors I should choose, but also some ideas for commanders of either color combination. The colors I picked out are Orzhov (Black/White), and Gruul (Red/Green). The only thing I have thought of as of now is an Orzhov angel tribal commander, but could use some more inspiration.
I like the idea of an Angel/Demon Hybrid commander
For Orzhov
Around 5-7 mana range depending on other abilites and stats
With the abilities along the lines of
Whenever you cast an Angel spell return a creature from your graveyard to play/hand
Whenever you cast a Demon spell sac a creature to tutor for a card.
For Gruul maybe a beast tribal commander? Or a. Commander With a Vexing Shusher style effect. Or a creature with Primeval Bounty stapled to it. I also like the idea of a smaller scale Primeval Titan as a Commander. Something along the lines of this
4 Mana
Deathtouch
When this creature ETB or attacks search for 1 land put into play tapped.
You could turn Orzhov Charm into a Planeswalker commander, Cartel Aristocrat into a creature commander, or Merciless Eviction into a creature with "When you cast {cardname}, (mercilessly evict)"
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What about something along the lines of a legendary Deathpact Angel, only reworded so that the ability works from the command zone (and maybe a bit cheaper, too)? Orzhov Guildmage would be a solid card to commander-ize too.
Nature's Father 4
Legendary Creature - Elder Bear
Nature's Father can't be countered RG: Put a 1/1 green Bear creature token onto the battlefield 1 : For each other creature you control add any combination of or mana to your mana pool
6/7
Edit: Thought of a name and changed creature and token type to bear because why not
Thanks for the suggestions so far. I have decided that I want to play Orzhov since I'm not a huge fan of any Gruul mechanics, but I'm straying away from the angel theme. A friend suggested that I create some characters that are used in flavor texts but don't have cards, so here's what I've come up with:
Milana, Orzhov Prelate (1WB)
Legendary Creature - Human Cleric
Lifelink
Extort
Other creatures you control have extort.
1/4
and
Vuliev of the Ghost Council (2WB)
Legendary Creature - Zombie Spirit
1BB: Put a -1/-1 counter on target creature.
Whenever a creature with a -1/-1 counter on it dies, put a +1/+1 counter on each creature you control.
Creatures you control with +1/+1 counters have deathtouch and lifelink.
3/3
I'd love to see some more orzhov ideas because I have no idea what I want to do yet. I do like the idea of adapting other cards into commanders though, especially orzhov guildmage or a cheaper deathpact angel from the command zone.
Immortal Souls can't die (Effects that say "destroy"
don't destroy it. It can't be destroyed by damage. it
can't be sacrificed. It is not put into a graveyard from
having 0 toughness.)
If Immortal Souls would deal combat damage to a
creature, exile that creature instead.
7/7
Although this may qualify for the 'absurd abilities', that label is highly subjective, and a CMC of 7 is quite expensive. I have not had an opportunity to play test with the design at all, but I highly doubt it could be considered overpowered; think of it as 'improved indestructible'. While difficult to deal with, bounce effects work, exile works, Pacifism effects work, etc. It has no built-in evasion; while chump blocking can become costly from the exile clause, it works fine (especially with tokens). It is essentially a strong but expensive beater, that is also an effective blocker.
One thing to note - you will either need to decide if it should be immune to the 'legend rule' (if the name is plural, implying multiples), or not.
If the legend rule does apply, change the name to something singular (it is a filler name anyway), and create a Comp-Rules-esq definition of what 'can't die' means to clarify it. Consider adding it to the reminder text as well, though that becomes excessively wordy in my opinion.
If the legend rule does not apply, it should again be clarified before hand, but is essentially fine as presented here.
All that said, this is the wrong forum for custom card creation. I would expect the thread to be moved.
Enkatale, the Abandoned RG
Legendary Enchantment Creature-God M
Bestow 2RG
Trample
Enchanted creature gets +1/+1, gains trample, and deals commander damage as long as Enkatale is your commander.
1/1
Orzhov-
Edgar Markov, Bloodshaper 1WB
Legendary Creature-Human Wizard Rogue R
Creatures you control with +1/+1 counters have flying and are Vampires in addition to their other types.
Sacrifice a creature: Put a +1/+1 counter on target creature.
"In one stroke, I shall end both hunger and overpopulation!"-Edgar Markov
2/1
Immortal Souls can't die (Effects that say "destroy"
don't destroy it. It can't be destroyed by damage. it
can't be sacrificed. It is not put into a graveyard from
having 0 toughness.)
I think is impossible. You can't have the violation of the state based effects like that. They did it for the brothers and legendary rule, but that was written differently. Certainly can have all the other "can't die", but toughness of 0 is I think impossible to put on a card.
Neat idea though.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
I basically only play EDH:
Damia, Jenara, Xiahou Dun, Mareth, Nekusar, Oloro, Kresh, Deretti
: If target creature's power is five or greater, its controller sacrifices it and puts three 1/1 white Spirit creature tokens onto the battlefield.
1WB, Sacrifice a creature: Creatures target player controls get +1/+1 or -1/-1 until end of turn.
"If you have gained any power at all here on Ravnica, then become you have no doubt become indebted in some way to the Orzhov Syndicate. Pray we do not take notice."
EDIT: Name changed based on the flavor text on Illness in the Ranks, which just fits so well with the card despite being unintentional. I gotta say, I'm kind of proud of this; it's great on offense and defense in bunch of ways.
"It is better for all the world if, instead of waiting to execute degenerate offspring for crime or to let them starve for their imbecility, society can prevent those who are manifestly unfit from continuing their kind. The principle that sustains compulsory vaccination is broad enough to cover cutting the Fallopian tubes... Three generations of imbeciles are enough."
--Buck v Bell, 1927. This case, regarding the compulsory sterilization of inmates at mental institutions, has -- somehow -- never been overturned. Just a wee PSA for ya.
Obzedat, Council of the Undying2WWBB
Legendary Creature - Spirit Advisor
When you cast Obzedat, Council of the Undying, each player exiles all other nonland permanents, then returns up to one card of each permanent type from the graveyard onto the battlefield. Each player returns all exiled cards to his or her graveyard.
Whenever a creature dies, each opponent loses 1 life. You gain life equal to the amount of life lost this way.
5/5
I very much like the idea of a Cataclysm & Living Death hybrid effect.
However, even without affecting lands, this is very likely far to strong. You are destroying everything, then replacing them with one of each from a resource not everyone will have, and is trivially easy to remove if they do. All on a cast trigger, so it can't even be countered outside of a handful of Stifle effects.
I think is impossible. You can't have the violation of the state based effects like that. They did it for the brothers and legendary rule, but that was written differently. Certainly can have all the other "can't die", but toughness of 0 is I think impossible to put on a card.
Under your thought process, Platinum Angel does not work. Abyssal Persecutor does not work. Any card with Indestructible does not work. Undoubtedly many more I cannot think of at the moment.
There is absolutely no restriction to this; a card's text always supersedes the comprehensive rules, even in the situations where it actually does not work (looking at you, Sylvan Library - the game cannot track cards after they have been moved into a hidden zone, but that one still does because of Reasons TM).
Edit: Fixed bad formatting tags
In this instance, not only does it work cleanly, there is precedence.
Obzedat, Council of the Undying2WWBB
Legendary Creature - Spirit Advisor
When you cast Obzedat, Council of the Undying, each player exiles all other nonland permanents, then returns up to one card of each permanent type from the graveyard onto the battlefield. Each player returns all exiled cards to his or her graveyard.
Whenever a creature dies, each opponent loses 1 life. You gain life equal to the amount of life lost this way.
5/5
I very much like the idea of a Cataclysm & Living Death hybrid effect.
However, even without affecting lands, this is very likely far to strong. You are destroying everything, then replacing them with one of each from a resource not everyone will have, and is trivially easy to remove if they do. All on a cast trigger, so it can't even be countered outside of a handful of Stifle effects.
I think is impossible. You can't have the violation of the state based effects like that. They did it for the brothers and legendary rule, but that was written differently. Certainly can have all the other "can't die", but toughness of 0 is I think impossible to put on a card.
Under your thought process, Platinum Angel does not work. Abyssal Persecutor does not work. Any card with Indestructible does not work. Undoubtedly many more I cannot think of at the moment.
There is absolutely no restriction to this; a card's text always supersedes the comprehensive rules, even in the situations where it actually does not work (looking at you, Sylvan Library - the game cannot track cards after they have been moved into a hidden zone, but that one still does because of Reasons TM).
Edit: Fixed bad formatting tags
In this instance, not only does it work cleanly, there is precedence.
Sure, state-based actions can be modified. But less than 0 toughness? What exactly does that even mean?
Might it almost just be easier to throw the rules totally out the window and say "Immortal Souls has no toughness" or something similar?
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"It is better for all the world if, instead of waiting to execute degenerate offspring for crime or to let them starve for their imbecility, society can prevent those who are manifestly unfit from continuing their kind. The principle that sustains compulsory vaccination is broad enough to cover cutting the Fallopian tubes... Three generations of imbeciles are enough."
--Buck v Bell, 1927. This case, regarding the compulsory sterilization of inmates at mental institutions, has -- somehow -- never been overturned. Just a wee PSA for ya.
'Less than 0 toughness' is very clearly defined in the rules, in the exact same way 'less than 0 power' would be. The actual negative value is tracked, for interaction with other modifiers, but is otherwise the same as 0.
I actually considered giving it 'no toughness', but there are to many effects based off of toughness, and it makes an already 'special' design needlessly complex.
Saying something does not die if it has 0 toughness is essentially the same thing (as far as rules go) as saying it does not die to lethal damage. There is literally no adjustment to the comprehensive rules required for it to work (though I imagine if it were printed, it would have a CR entry to define exactly what it meant, particularly in relation to sacrificing - you can't sacrifice it, so you can't use it to pay for costs, etc - and the 'legend rule').
For Orzhov
Around 5-7 mana range depending on other abilites and stats
With the abilities along the lines of
Whenever you cast an Angel spell return a creature from your graveyard to play/hand
Whenever you cast a Demon spell sac a creature to tutor for a card.
For Gruul maybe a beast tribal commander? Or a. Commander With a Vexing Shusher style effect. Or a creature with Primeval Bounty stapled to it. I also like the idea of a smaller scale Primeval Titan as a Commander. Something along the lines of this
4 Mana
Deathtouch
When this creature ETB or attacks search for 1 land put into play tapped.
4/4
What about something along the lines of a legendary Deathpact Angel, only reworded so that the ability works from the command zone (and maybe a bit cheaper, too)? Orzhov Guildmage would be a solid card to commander-ize too.
UTeferi, Temporal ArchmageU's prison: blue is the new orange is the new black.
Mizzix Of The Izmagnus : wheels on fire... rolling down the road...
BSidisi, Undead VizierB: Bis zum Erbrechen
GTitiania, Protector Of ArgothG: Protecting Argoth, by blowing it up!
GYisan, The Wanderer BardG: Gradus Ad Elfball.
Duel EDH: Yisan & Titania.
In Progress: Grand Arbiter Augustin IV duel; Grenzo, Dungeon Warden Doomsday.
Nature's Father 4
Legendary Creature - Elder Bear
Nature's Father can't be countered
RG: Put a 1/1 green Bear creature token onto the battlefield
1 : For each other creature you control add any combination of or mana to your mana pool
6/7
Edit: Thought of a name and changed creature and token type to bear because why not
Necromantic Team Building
The Care Bear Stare
The Strange Investigations of Dr. Circu (WIP)
Milana, Orzhov Prelate (1WB)
Legendary Creature - Human Cleric
Lifelink
Extort
Other creatures you control have extort.
1/4
and
Vuliev of the Ghost Council (2WB)
Legendary Creature - Zombie Spirit
1BB: Put a -1/-1 counter on target creature.
Whenever a creature with a -1/-1 counter on it dies, put a +1/+1 counter on each creature you control.
Creatures you control with +1/+1 counters have deathtouch and lifelink.
3/3
I'd love to see some more orzhov ideas because I have no idea what I want to do yet. I do like the idea of adapting other cards into commanders though, especially orzhov guildmage or a cheaper deathpact angel from the command zone.
Legendary Creature - Spirit
Immortal Souls can't die (Effects that say "destroy"
don't destroy it. It can't be destroyed by damage. it
can't be sacrificed. It is not put into a graveyard from
having 0 toughness.)
If Immortal Souls would deal combat damage to a
creature, exile that creature instead.
7/7
Although this may qualify for the 'absurd abilities', that label is highly subjective, and a CMC of 7 is quite expensive. I have not had an opportunity to play test with the design at all, but I highly doubt it could be considered overpowered; think of it as 'improved indestructible'. While difficult to deal with, bounce effects work, exile works, Pacifism effects work, etc. It has no built-in evasion; while chump blocking can become costly from the exile clause, it works fine (especially with tokens). It is essentially a strong but expensive beater, that is also an effective blocker.
One thing to note - you will either need to decide if it should be immune to the 'legend rule' (if the name is plural, implying multiples), or not.
If the legend rule does apply, change the name to something singular (it is a filler name anyway), and create a Comp-Rules-esq definition of what 'can't die' means to clarify it. Consider adding it to the reminder text as well, though that becomes excessively wordy in my opinion.
If the legend rule does not apply, it should again be clarified before hand, but is essentially fine as presented here.
All that said, this is the wrong forum for custom card creation. I would expect the thread to be moved.
A Dying Wish
To Rise Again
Chainer, Dementia Master
Muldrotha, the Gravetide
Atraxa, Praetors' Voice
Misc. EDH Stuff: Commander Cube | Zombies (Horde)
Resources:Commander Rulings FAQ | Commander Deckbuilding Guide
Follow me on Twitter! @cryogen_mtg
Enkatale, the Abandoned RG
Legendary Enchantment Creature-God M
Bestow 2RG
Trample
Enchanted creature gets +1/+1, gains trample, and deals commander damage as long as Enkatale is your commander.
1/1
Orzhov-
Edgar Markov, Bloodshaper 1WB
Legendary Creature-Human Wizard Rogue R
Creatures you control with +1/+1 counters have flying and are Vampires in addition to their other types.
Sacrifice a creature: Put a +1/+1 counter on target creature.
"In one stroke, I shall end both hunger and overpopulation!"-Edgar Markov
2/1
don't destroy it. It can't be destroyed by damage. it
can't be sacrificed. It is not put into a graveyard from
having 0 toughness.)
I think is impossible. You can't have the violation of the state based effects like that. They did it for the brothers and legendary rule, but that was written differently. Certainly can have all the other "can't die", but toughness of 0 is I think impossible to put on a card.
Neat idea though.
Damia, Jenara, Xiahou Dun, Mareth, Nekusar, Oloro, Kresh, Deretti
Legendary Creature - Spirit Advisor
: If target creature's power is five or greater, its controller sacrifices it and puts three 1/1 white Spirit creature tokens onto the battlefield.
1WB, Sacrifice a creature: Creatures target player controls get +1/+1 or -1/-1 until end of turn.
"If you have gained any power at all here on Ravnica, then become you have no doubt become indebted in some way to the Orzhov Syndicate. Pray we do not take notice."
EDIT: Name changed based on the flavor text on Illness in the Ranks, which just fits so well with the card despite being unintentional. I gotta say, I'm kind of proud of this; it's great on offense and defense in bunch of ways.
--Buck v Bell, 1927. This case, regarding the compulsory sterilization of inmates at mental institutions, has -- somehow -- never been overturned. Just a wee PSA for ya.
I very much like the idea of a Cataclysm & Living Death hybrid effect.
However, even without affecting lands, this is very likely far to strong. You are destroying everything, then replacing them with one of each from a resource not everyone will have, and is trivially easy to remove if they do. All on a cast trigger, so it can't even be countered outside of a handful of Stifle effects.
Under your thought process, Platinum Angel does not work. Abyssal Persecutor does not work. Any card with Indestructible does not work. Undoubtedly many more I cannot think of at the moment.
There is absolutely no restriction to this; a card's text always supersedes the comprehensive rules, even in the situations where it actually does not work (looking at you, Sylvan Library - the game cannot track cards after they have been moved into a hidden zone, but that one still does because of Reasons TM).
Edit: Fixed bad formatting tags
In this instance, not only does it work cleanly, there is precedence.
A Dying Wish
To Rise Again
Chainer, Dementia Master
Muldrotha, the Gravetide
Atraxa, Praetors' Voice
Sure, state-based actions can be modified. But less than 0 toughness? What exactly does that even mean?
Might it almost just be easier to throw the rules totally out the window and say "Immortal Souls has no toughness" or something similar?
--Buck v Bell, 1927. This case, regarding the compulsory sterilization of inmates at mental institutions, has -- somehow -- never been overturned. Just a wee PSA for ya.
I actually considered giving it 'no toughness', but there are to many effects based off of toughness, and it makes an already 'special' design needlessly complex.
Saying something does not die if it has 0 toughness is essentially the same thing (as far as rules go) as saying it does not die to lethal damage. There is literally no adjustment to the comprehensive rules required for it to work (though I imagine if it were printed, it would have a CR entry to define exactly what it meant, particularly in relation to sacrificing - you can't sacrifice it, so you can't use it to pay for costs, etc - and the 'legend rule').
A Dying Wish
To Rise Again
Chainer, Dementia Master
Muldrotha, the Gravetide
Atraxa, Praetors' Voice
Milana, Orzhov Prelate 1WB
Extort
At the end of each turn, put a 1/1 white and black spirit token with flying into play if you gained 2 or more life that turn.
1/4
Are there any obvious combos with this? and do people think it is overpowered?