MTG Salvation

I can see your point, and I agree. Thanks for the feedback!

Quote from clan_iraq »

Pyre Goblin RR
Creature - Goblin Shaman (U)
When Pyre Goblin enters the battlefield, add RRR
1/1

How dangerous could a pyretic ritual on a stick be? Particularly in a relevant tribe to mirror Elvish Visionary. Contrast priest of urabrask and burning-tree emissary

To answer your question, I think that, unfortunately, Pyre Goblin is a little too dangerous. Ritual sorceries are usually compensated by negative card advantage whereas, in this case, the board state progresses in your favour, especially if you manage to chain multiple copies of it in the early turns of the game. By comparison, Priest of Urabrask is weak because it is too slow for a tempo strategy, while Burning-Tree Emissary possesses creature types that are less effective in swarm strategies, which is where your card shines. But, most importantly, neither of those creatures actually ramps. If Pyre Goblin were legendary, I could see it being balanced, but such effect does not fit the concept of a legendary creature very well. At the very least, I could see the rarity shifted from uncommon to rare, seeing as it would‘ve been not only a long time since we had seen a new ritual printed, but also the first time that it would’ve taken such form.
I hope that my review was useful.

Offspring of the Maelstrom U (R)
Creature - Elemental
At the beginning of your upkeep, pay 1 for each +1/+1 counter on this creature. If you can't, sacrifice it.
Whenever this creature becomes the target of a spell or ability an opponent controls, counter it if the converted mana cost of that spell or of that source's ability is lower than the number of +1/+1 counters on this creature.
1U: Put a +1/+1 counter on Offspring of the Maelstrom.

While developing this card, I wanted to create a strong finisher for a blue control deck in a general standard environment. What I actually obtained is, in my eyes a creature that, even in the early stages of the game, is capable of punishing the opponent for not applying enough pressure. Even so, I’m definitely satisfied with what this card has come to be. Thoughts?

I'm assuming this is a base 1/1 creature? You forgot the P/T :S But assuming that, you've got an ability that essentially gives your creature a pseudo-hexproof and grows it into a bigger threat like Jenara, Asura of War with hexproof, but on a body thats too irrelevant if you don't dump resources into it, and if you do, it will basically consume all your mana every turn for the rest of the game. Getting a pseudo-hexproof isn't worth that much investment, especially when the card lacks any kind of abilities to take over the battlefield- no card advantage, no evasion, no vigilance or lifelink or token production or removal built into it. You could spend 7UUUUUUUU just to get an 8/8 'hexproof' with 7 upkeep, and then it can either block 1 creature or get chump blocked by a 1/1 token when attacking. I think its definitely worth exploring the idea of growing threats for blue control finishers- maybe an instant-speed level-up creature or mana dumps like figure of destiny, but I think you put too much thought into the drawbacks and costs and not into the payoff. A blue deck simply wouldn't be able to put any counters onto this early game, leaving it a fugitive wizard, and later game there are bigger threats you could play.

Ylgoth, Wyrm Conjurer UU
Legendary Creature - Human Wizard (R)
2RR, T: Create a 5/5 legendary red dragon creature token with flying named Styrg until Ylgoth leaves the battlefield. (Exile it when Ylgoth isn't on the battlefield)
2R, T: Target creature you control named Styrg deals 3 damage to any target.
1/3

novel templating of combined 'create' and 'until'

Offspring of the Maelstrom - Powerful creatures with drawbacks always get a thumbs up in my mind. Power/Toughness though? I would have it ETBF with a 1/1 counter on it. I would reword it to make it more active then passive.

~ enters the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter on it.
At the begining of your upkeep, pay 1 for each +1/+1 counter on it, if you can't sacrifice it.
1UU: Counter target spell targeting this, if you do put a +1/+1 counter on ~.

Ylgoth, Wyrm COnjurer
I do like the templating, I thin it's decent enough. I was wondering why you just didn't give the dragon the ability, but I think it is fine.


Lost in the Night - 2GB
Instant
Prevent all combat damage dealt by non-black creatures this turn. Until end of turn, whenever a creature deals combat damage to a player, put a +1/+1 counter on it.

I like the flavor of lost in the night, and it feels like a solid uncommon. I do wonder though if the green in its cost is necessary. Black has a fog effect in Darkness and all though it is unusual, I feel like the flavor of being lost in the night and only things that live in the night can find their way fits a mono black cost here. Though if you were to make the card mono black then I’d maybe change the +1/+1 counter ability to make it more like a Sengir Vampire ability, though in this case maybe something akin to Mephidross Vampire’s ability is better.

Doctor the Books U
Instant
Doctor the Books can’t be countered by abilities.
Name a number between 0 and 10, target spell or permanent’s converted mana cost is that number until end of turn. (For spells with X in their cost, this does not change the value of X)
Scry 3.

I was wondering what a counter for abrupt decay, counterbalance and other similar cards that care about converted mana cost might look like. I am not sure if artificially changing the converted mana cost of something is broken or even possible under the rules. I added the bit in italics to clarify that players cannot use this with cards like endless one to get a 10/10 on turn one. I also debated about making it a cantrip because it’s so narrow, but decided scry fit the flavor better.

Ooh I really like the effect, that's a neat variation on the kind of oddball 'change' effects wizards has done very sporadically since magical hack. I think converted mana cost is a great candidate for the effect, in a set like how scornful egoist was for the CMC matters theme. You're right that it needs to avoid setting X in X spells since otherwise it would be easily busted beyond belief (turn 1 island, astral cornucopia for 0, doctor comes to mind).
But I think the problem is that this kind of novel effect is the type of ability that can be completely useless unless built around, and very busted when built around, so you're obligated to price the effect appropriately to avoid the most degenerate uses- at which point it becomes truly useless, even in a draft with CMC matters themes. And since you put it at U, instant, uncounterable and scry 3, and magnitude 10- thats very bananas. If it had any uses at all, it would be very broken. There are cards like metalwork colossus that just cheat out a big threat, maybe someone can figure out something else busted. So it would definitely have to be powered down.

Disfigured Ghoul UB
Creature - Zombie (C)
Blight (This deals damage to creatures in the form of -1/-1 counters and to players in the form of exiling cards from the top of their library)
3/2

I have two thoughts on Blight; Should this just mill rather than exile, and should blight have wither built in. This cards screams three things to me, at common, decking matters, Exile maters, and -1/-1 counters matter, which is all of a sudden taking up a lot of design space. I think that this should start as just straigbt ‘this deals damage to players in the form of milling’, and then adding one of the other riders in based on the demands of the set, but probably not both. Also remember that milling is a deceptively powerful strategy when it hits its critical mass, particularly in limited.

Spelleater Fungus
1UG
Creature - Fungus
Trample
Whenever a player casts a non-creature spell, counter that spell if there are no +1/+1 counters on spell eater fungus. If a spell is countered this way, put three +1/+1 counters on spelleater fungus.
1/1

Wording may be off, the intent is for the ability to ‘check twice’. The first check happens on casting, to avoid the triggered ability going on the stack if the Fungus already has a counter on it, and the second checks during the resolution

First: WHOOPS SORRY CLAN IRAQ I didn’t realize I was critiquing the wrong card in my last post

Quote from clan_iraq »

Crystalize 1U
Instant (U)
Exile target spell with three crystal counters on it. It gains "1: Remove a crystal counter from this card" and "You may cast this card from exile as long as it has no crystal counters on it"

I love this, how neat! A bit like Mana Leak, even if the caster does have to pay twice. I think it’s very fair and reasonable. Wouldn’t suggest any changes personally.

Quote from KarmaHoudini »

Spelleater Fungus
1UG
Creature - Fungus
Trample
Whenever a player casts a non-creature spell, counter that spell if there are no +1/+1 counters on spell eater fungus. If a spell is countered this way, put three +1/+1 counters on spelleater fungus.
1/1

The templating is correct as far as I can tell, and I definitely get what this card does. What it is is a Hesitation that can turn into a beater. I think that’s fun, but I don’t think WotC has s high opinion of Hesitation, necessarily. It does slow the game down some! No changes needed here IMO, either.

Reap-Rite Grounds
, pay 1 life: Add B or G
, , tap three untapped creatures you control, sacrifice a fourth creature: Choose one -
* Draw a card, then put the top card of your library into your graveyard.
* Put the top card of your library into your graveyard, then draw a card.

Edit: might make it two untapped creatures, but would still like it to be just BG. Further edit: I’m spicing this up!

I think Reap-Rite Grounds is feels like a powerful effect for a land since it can at instant speed sacrifice a creature that has been targeted by an opponent’s removal spell for a card, I think it’s mana activation cost should be one or two mana more, but I think you could keep it at one mana if you made it so it could only be activated anytime the player could cast a sorcery. I also think the activation cost may be a bit confusing as worded. I assume “sacrifice a fourth creature” is necessary because the player isn’t suppose to sacrifice one of three creatures being tapped. The only way to make this feel a little cleaner I think would be to change “fourth creature” to “untapped creature”, but doing so would take away the ability for someone to sac a creature that was bricked by a capture sphere effect.

I also like ability of the card, but maybe “exile the top two cards of your library face down and pick one, Put that card into your hand and the other into your graveyard” would be simpler. It would have about the same effect and take up less room than the modal template, but then again perhaps it’s not entirely the same if you intended for there to be a draw trigger so the card could fit into a dredge list.


Dingus 1RBG
Creature - Dinosaur
Trample
Whenever a permanent is put into an opponent’s graveyard from play, Dingus deals 2 damage to that card’s controller.
It hatched.
5/4

(Came from wondering what creature Dingus Egg and Dingus Staff might be referencing)

I like it, well, flavor wise. Play wise, not so much. A couple things to make it more reasonable. Fair is never going to be a thing with this card. Make it symetrical, the other Dingus cards are, and 2. "Whenever a card is put into a graveyard from the battlefield, this deals 2 damage to that cards controller."

The World Tiller - 5GGG
Legendary Creature - Wurm
This can't be countered.
Reach, Trample, Deathtouch, Flash, Hexproof, Vigilance
6/6

Yes, I know, wordsoup. I love wordsoup creatures.

I think I might wanna do a full "Akroma" cycle, i wonder how it would turn out

Yeah, that works. Although, making it just straight-up Green Aktoma is, hmm. Akroma was pretty impressive for its time but doesn’t really seem it those days. IDK. Edit: I mean, just not enough creature for its mans cost, you know?

Card incoming shortly edit:

Crag Kernel 1R
Creature - Elemental
Defender
When Crag Kernel dies, you may pay R. If you do, look at the top three cards of your library. You may reveal a mountain card from among them and put it onto the battlefield tapped. Put the rest on the bottom of your library in a random order.
0/4

Sheesh, that’s wordy! Hmm.

Crag Kernel - While I like the card, it is not a red card mechanically. It's kinda the big beef I have with Ixalan, and how badly the color pie is busted in Ixalan. Red gets rituals, not strait up ramp.

Frilled Basilisk -3GG
Creature - Horror Beast
Trample, Deathtouch
Whenever a creature blocks this, it gets +1/+1 until end of turn.
This must be blocked if able.
2/4

Frilled Basilisk is interesting. It’s power level sits in the nebulous region between Uncommon and Rare and it would be a total bomb in a limited environment, but no problem at all in constructed. I’d say you’d be good to knock it’s p/t down to 2/3 if you wanted it to be an uncommon, but if it was a rare I think 3/4 would be okay. The trample + deathtouch might be an issue at uncommon, not because of power level, but because I’d say about half the people I’ve played against in my LGS don’t know that trample + deathtouch means that a creature only needs to deal 1 to each blocker and the rest to the opponent. Overall a great card for teaching combat math intricacies.

This next card has been in my head for the last few days and I can’t figure out if it’s busted or perfectly okay.

Mind Rip xU
Sorcery
Delve
Target player puts the top x cards of their library into their graveyard.

Frilled Basilisk - It's fairly costed, though I'm not sure it needs to pump itself when it's blocked. 4 toughness is pretty resilient as it is, and the defending player will only ever send one creature to block it. Either way I see this card as an uncommon that would be a pretty good pull in limited.



Mirrorplasm GWUB
Creature - Ooze (M)

Hexproof
Each other permanent with a +1/+1 counter on it is a 0/0 Ooze creature with no abilities
Graft 4
0/0

Now that's a spicy characteristic defining ability. I do like the interplay in being able to effectively humiliate the next few cast creatures. I think mechanics-wise its probably safe enough balance-wise but risky rules-wise, in that every magic judge just loathes to see cards with layered type changes and dependencies you might need to figure out. Just having 2 of these out at once will make a lot of players call a judge, let alone the trickier combos. Balancewise I think the hexproof might make it a bit much. Being able to hit up to 3 creatures with no additional investment, and going further with counters-matter cards is scary even without hexproof. And it can stonewall those 1/1s from attacking or trading while blocking when its still a 2/2+.

Blot Out UB
Instant (U)
Choose one:
* Destroy target nonblack creature.
* Counter target nonblue creature spell.

I do like blot out, I don't see anything that makes me go, Hmmm...

Lost Order - 2WW
Legendary Creature - Human Knight
When ~ enters the battlefield, choose a color.
Hexproof from the chosen color.
WW, T: Destroy target permanant of the chosen color.
3/3

The Lost Order, but it could be broken with Painter’s Servant, then again it wouldn’t be the first card broken by the servant and it’s casting cost is restrictive enough that I don’t think land destruction decks would want to use this. So I think it’s a good card as it is.

Leyline of Treaties 2WU
Enchantment
If Leyline of Treaties is in your opening hand, you may start the game with it on the battlefield.

When Leyline of Treaties enters the battlefield or if the game starts with Leyline of Treaties on the battlefield each player names a card other than a basic land. Named cards cannot be cast and if a named card would enter the battlefield, exile it instead.

At any time you may reveal a named card from your hand, if you do put it onto the bottom of your library and draw a card.


(The last ability only benefiting the card’s controller is intentional)

I don't think it needs the exile part. But, otherwise, it's a leyline, costwise it's fine.

Chord of Savagery - 3GR
Enchantment
Hexproof
Creatures you own have flash.
Creatures you control are indestructible as long as they are attacking or blocking.

I think Chord of Savagery is good, but perhaps a little too powerful. The combination of being unable to interact with it to remove it, giving creatures flash and also making them indestructible during combat makes the card really powerful. I’d suggest maybe only granting indestructible to attacking creatures, since Gruul doesn’t really care about defense. That way flashing in creatures to make surprise blocks will result in more trades rather than total blowouts. Then again the card may be perfectly fine at it is, since I get the feeling it’s a card that needs play testing to gage it’s actual power level.

Vizier of Counterproductivity GB
Creature - Naga Advisor
Deathtouch
All +1/+1 counters give creatures -1/-1 instead for as long as this card is on the battlefield.
t: Put a +1/+1 counter on target creature.
1/2

Changing the effect of +1/+1 counters to -1/-1 is rather difficult from a rules perspective. Besides being unprecedented, it opens the door to layering issues and some real headaches. But there's a pretty simple way to template it, you can simply say "Each creature gets -2/-2 for each +1/+1 counter on it". Though this gets 3x as strong when you have duplicates, so it would be better on a legendary. Powerwise though, its effectively giving a very undercosted [c]
Vedalken Anatomist[/c]- being able to simply tap to snipe dorks and whittle down bigger creatures is too powerful at 2 cmc. So it would have to cost a big chunk of mana to activate.

Bitter Fruits B
Sorcery (R)
Target opponent discards a card. During that player's next turn, the first spell that player casts costs an additional amount of mana equal to the discarded card's mana cost. (Mana cost includes color)

Bitter Fruits is interesting and seems to open up some design space, but is terribly swingy. It seems like it'll have one of two effects: Either you cast this and the targeted opponent can and will discard a land card (assuming this works the way I think it does, because there's no precedent) and they'll feel no effect the next turn, or they can't discard a land card and this is Silence + discard, which could possibly decide which way a whole game goes.

But, that's all dependent upon whether using a land's mana cost as an additional cost is 0, just as Elemental Resonance on a land generates, or it's an unpayable cost and locks the opponent out of spells the following turn entirely. Because Resonance is the nearest thing, I'm going to say it's the former.

Hellkite Dhreagh 1RR
Creature - Nightmare Dragon (R)
Flying, trample
When Hellkite Dhreagh enters the battlefield, any opponent may sacrifice three artifacts, creatures, and/or lands. If a player does, sacrifice Hellkite Dhreagh and it deals 4 damage to you.
7/4

No, just no. So, on turn three (Possibly 2), I either wipe my opponents board, or put them on a three turn clock, and in this case, the flying and trample are largely irrelevant. And, then again the following turn.

Maw of Nightmare -1BR
Legendary creature - Dragon Demon
As an additional cost, sacrifice any number of creatures.
As this enters the battlefield, it deals damage equal to the number creatures sacrificed to each opponent and each creature they control.
3/3

Something that's both a Demon and a Dragon not having flying, and being as (relatively) small as a 3/3, seems a bit of a flavor fail. Sacrifice as an additional cost opens you up to a bunch of risk if this is countered, so I think you can put on flying even if you keep the cost and size the same. Otherwise you have to sacrifice one creature to get an appreciably worse Goblin Chainwhirler, but the option to sacrifice more to get a bigger one-sided board wipe makes this possibly interesting to build around. Hey, four of your creatures is fair for a Flame Wave, right?

Woodland Cathar 3G
Creature - Human Knight Monk (U)
Trample
T: Add W for each other Human you control.
When Thalia went missing a few of those who looked for her never came back, but somehow their families knew they still lived.
3/3

I like the tap ability as off-color ramp. The Knight and Monk at the same time makes sense with the white and green together, though a knight is still a bit odd on a technically green card to me. Seems like a cool idea, though maybe it's trying to do two things at once (I.E. be both a ramp card and a combat oriented creature). Trample doesn't seem very Monk or Knight like to me either.

Khaasta, Underworld Mage 4BR
Legendary Creature - Lizard Wizard (R)
You may play creature, instant, and sorcery spells from your graveyard with converted mana cost 3 or less without paying their cost at any time. If that spell is a creature, it gains haste until end of turn. Exile it at the beginning of the next end step. If that spell is an instant or sorcery, exile it after it resolves.
3/3

Quote from Lord_Kaos »

Chord of Savagery - 3GR
Enchantment
Hexproof
Creatures you own have flash.
Creatures you control are indestructible as long as they are attacking or blocking.

First: a brief comment - I’m not sure how this isn’t mono-G.

Quote from clan_iraq »

Bitter Fruits B
Sorcery (R)
Target opponent discards a card. During that player's next turn, the first spell that player casts costs an additional amount of mana equal to the discarded card's mana cost. (Mana cost includes color)

I’m not entirely sure this is mono-B because the taxation feels pretty white. STILL.. this is a neat card and I like the dilemma it provides. I like the mana cost too.

Flavor for this later
Land
: Add C then put an flavor later counter on flavor for this later.
, remove four flavor later counters from flavor for this later and sacrifice it: Add one mana of any color. If that mana is spent on a permanent spell with converted mana cost 3 or less, create a token that’s a copy of that permanent except the token isn't legendary if that spell is legendary.

Khaasta - Interesting, but way way way way way too powerful. Getting to flashback and unearth all your CMC<4 stuff for free once, like as an ETB effect, would be absurd for six mana. I'm not sure there even is a fair cost for getting to do it as a static ability; the cost would have to be something that most decks would not be able to hardcast.

tiasian's land - Without flavor, I can't evaluate whether this effect makes any sense, but as it is it just seems like a mess. Why does it take four activations to build up? Why does it only copy specifically permanents with CMC 3 or less? Why does it have Helm of the Host's delegendarization? What context would you want this to be put it and what decks would people play it in?