This is hard to evaluate. The effect is undeniably powerful: in the right deck, you are basically casting an impulse every turn for 0 mana. That is extremely powerful. Also, at 4 power it dodges bolt and at 5 mana dodges fatal push... this card could be busted in modern (in standard it would depend on the cards that share a set with it, and how pushed is a single one of the types you mention). The thing is that the decks that want it are probably the decks that get hurt by the life loss the most (slower control/combo decks, no aggro deck is going to pay 5 por a 2 power dude), so maybe it does work out, it really would require ample testing.
I mentioned in other posts that in order to balance standard, and keep pushing planeswalker power level, wotc should move form "cancel with upside" to "counterpsell with downside" in their design of counterspells. Here is one such suggestion:
Exhausting denial UU
Instant
Counter target spell, then that spell's controller chooses a permanent under your control. That permanent does not untap during your next untap phase.
You know what you're doing here. Maybe if it was "that spells controller names a permanent type. Permanents of that type don't untap during your next untap step."
Still, it strikes me you should just make this UU Counter target spell. Lands you control do not untap during your next untap step.
Reduce to Soul2B
Instant (U)
Exile target creature. It's controller creates a 1/1 white spirit token with flying.
Seems fine. Not quite Murder (and it can backfire if your opponent loves the spirit token), though exile is still a strong effect. Maybe make it the same cost as Murder then we're off.
Next
Mindless Massacre1BB
Sorcery (R)
Destroy up to three target creatures. You lose 3 life for each creature that dies this way. When you want someone dead, sometimes you don't care if you get hurt in the process.
3 for 1 seems pretty redonk. Ashes to Ashes is a good card. This is better in almost all situations. Just reprint Ashes to Ashes in it's slot.
Loot the Grave1B
Sorcery - Rare
Return target equipment from your graveyard to play and equip it to a creature you control. Lose life equal to it's equip cost.
Loot the Grave, I like the flavor, but it feels semi out of character for black, black doesn't really interact with artifacts or enchantments. it otherwise feels like a fair card.
Scout Eye Sniper - 1GG
Creature - Elf Warrior
Trample
When ~ enters the battle field, you may have it deal damage equal to it's power to target creature or planeswalker.
3/3
Field Medic - 1W
Creature - Human Cleric
Flash
When ~ enters the battlefield, prevent the next 2 damage that would be dealt to target player, creature, or planeswalker.
2/2
I think it's time for wizards to start printing more cards that allow players to interact more with planeswalkers.
I agree that the "redirect from player to planeswalker" rules are a bit rough, but I don't like the idea of spreading around planeswalker-kill spells. They're player-stand-ins, for better or worse, so treat them as such.
Just balance them wizards!
Field Medic seems rather fair.
Flametongue Elf not so much.
Last echoes 1B
Enchantment - Rare XB: Return target creature card in a graveyard with a mana cost of X or less to the battlefield. It gains haste. At the end of turn, or when it dies, exile it and create a 2/2 black zombie token.
I like the design. Unlike whip of erebos (or other such effects) you pay a cost that is linked to the creature's cmc, so there is little "cheating on mana" potential. In exchange, you get a tiny bit of card advantage in the form of the zombie. I'd make it a spirit though... flavorfully, the thing that remains behind should be the spirit, right? Also, I;m not sure if this was on purpose or not, but you might consider a clause that says "activate this ability only when you could cast a sorcery". It is a clause that gets added to these effects quite alot.
the next card is a mechanic that a couple of us made up yesterday. The idea is to close the gap between being on the play and on the draw by allowing you to cast a "free" spell if you are on your first or second turn on the draw (although second turn might be too much). Example
Expedited destruction 1BB
Instant.
Destroy target creature
Expedite. (If it is the first or second turn of the game, and you did not play first, you may pay 0 rather than pay this card's mana cost.)
Free cards are bad. Also, is that your first turn, or a first turn?
Mathematically, this is a keyword that is dead during most of the game.
WOTC has experimented with giving some fatties additional "sucks to draw this first turn normally, here have an X" effects. I'd opt for those if I was you.
Nest Elemental 4GG
Creature - Insect Elemental - Rare
If this is in your opening hand, you may reveal it at the beginning of the game. If you do, create a 1/1 green insect creature token.
When this dies, create five 1/1 green insect creature tokens.
5/5
For the sake of simplicity, the first effect doesn't seem necessary and gives you a big advantage early on. seems oppressive.
Here's mine:
Lay Bing, Bomb Specialist 1RU
Legendary Creature - Human Artificier
Whenever ~ blocks or is blocked, put a Bomb counter on blocked or blocking creature.
(5):Destroy each creature with a Bomb counter/s on it.
1/4
That's probably offensive. Is the idea he staples bombs to creature's backs?
Why does he have 4 toughness? Is the answer "so he doesn't die to lightning bolt?" Because that's not very flavorful.
Funny how when he dies, his bombs become duds.
Sphinx Scryer 3UU
Creature - Sphinx - Unc
Flying
If this is in your opening hand, you may reveal it at the beginning of the game. If you do, Scry 2 Run! That's no Air Elemental! It's a Sphinx!
4/4
Is there any way you could just tack it on as an activated ability? An effect like that just isnt splashy enough to happen on occasion. a blue deck will have enough scry effects that extra scrying is redundant, but i do see how it can helpin limited, but i don't feel excited about it.
Restorative Rest 1GU
Sorcery
Put a +1/+1 counter on all creatures you control. Tap them. They don't untap during your next untap step.
I've never seen a card that said "Your opponent wins the game." before. Yikes.
Cursed Word B
Sorcery - Unc
Each player names a non-land card. Target opponent reveals his or her hand and discards all cards named in this way. Black Lotus! Mox Opal! Steamflogger Boss! Am I doing it right?
- Griljim Jaggerhaus, Goblin Gambler
Restorative rest, this is a one with nothing type rare, there are much better for less already available.
Cursed Word - Intresting, It's definataly a rare effect, but overall I like it.
Dead Lotus - 5
Enchantment Artifact
~ cost is reduced by 1 for each creature card in your graveyard.
T, Sacrifice ~: Add 3 manna of any combination of colors to your manna pool.
Black Lotus it is not. Affinity for creature cards in your graveyard is... odd here. And if this is a mechanic in the set, I don't see why this would be anywhere near such a set.
Hurloon Berserker 2R
Creature - Minotaur Berserker (C)
Discard a card: This gets +1/+1 until end of turn.
2/3
Hmmm..... pretty dangerous, but unless you have enough wheel effects to compensate or Squee, this should be eventually detrimental, so yeah, I think ok.
Next
Deathform Gauze1
Artifact - Equipment (R) X, unattach Deathform Gauze: If equipped creature is not a token, create a token that is a copy of equipped creature, except the token has no mana cost, it's white, and it's a Zombie in addition to its other types. X is the converted mana cost of equipped creature. Activate this ability only as a sorcery.
Equip 2
The setup is... odd, but it's a fairly good card, all things considered. My main worry is with Doubling Season and on-death effects.
Have a Crosspost, after several months of absence:
Obscuring Sliver1UG
Creature - Sliver
Morph
Slivers in your hand have Morph X, where X is their mana cost reduced by
Colorless 2/2 creatures you control count as Slivers in addition to their other types.
1/1
---
It hits some Eldrazi and quite a few Artifacts, but the intent of the last line is to make the Morph creatures count as Slivers. I wasn't sure how to word it, and wanted there to be creatures caught on the side.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
I love Slivers, Myr, Saprolings and generally any creature type best served by spamming loads of tokens
You can say "Face down creatures you control" and this would work.
This feels like it should be a 2/2 when face up, and probably be a pure colorless, non-artifact sliver for 3 with morph 0. IE, face up or face down wouldn't matter.
Volcanic Atol
Land - R
This land enters the battlefield tapped. T: Add U or R to your mana pool. 6UURR,T: Create a blue 5/4 elemental creature token and a red 5/4 elemental creature token.
I'd adjust the creature summoning to be 4RRUU or 4RU and make it a 1/5 Blue and a 5/1 Red, myself. It makes the separation a lot better.
Have a crossposted gib-blocker:
Stalking Spider1BG
Creature - Spider
Reach, Deathtouch
Creep 1 (When this creature blocks or becomes blocked by a non-flying creature, it deals 1 damage to that creature.)
0/1
---
The result here is effectively that creatures without Flying that block or are blocked by it are instantly killed before First Strike triggers. Because the damage is done as the blocking happens. And Deathtouch still doesn't care about the damage cause, as far as the reminder text states. Which means that, unless there's a specific errata that says it has to be combat damage, this thing kills non-Flyers before they even get to actually have combat start.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
I love Slivers, Myr, Saprolings and generally any creature type best served by spamming loads of tokens
Creep has much the same problem as absorb - it's just power/toughness needlessly complicated. If your goal is to give firster strike, that too is a problem. And any first strike + deathtouch creature needs to be overcosted. You Voltron into the combo with equipment or auras, you don't put it on a creature.
Also, I have no reason why this has reach.
Mindgame Elite 2U
Creature - Merolk Wizard- U
Sacrifice a creature: Counter target spell unless it's controller pays 1.
Cycling - Reveal an instant card in your hand.
2/2
Hmmm... well, given how costly his Daze ability is, I believe this can work. Strong card, for sure.
Next
Deathform ReverenceW
Enchantment (R)
Whenever a nontoken creature you control dies, you may pay X, where X is that creature's converted mana cost. If you do, create a token that is a copy of that creature, except the token has no mana cost, it's white, and it's a Zombie in addition to its other types. "Sometimes we need to admit the dead into servitude with haste."
So, a less flexible Deathform Gauze, thus the cheaper mana cost. Too cheap, even, maybe?
This feels like a lot of work. Puzzlebox-effects are great fun, but are generally good unless you're punishing your opponent for drawing cards. Thus, making an asymmetrical puzzle effect seems off. You're paying more for a less useful effect. Also, Curse?
Key Strategy1W
Instant (U)
Creatures you control with vigilance get +1/+1 until end of turn.
Creatures you control with lifelink get +1/+1 until end of turn.
Creatures you control with first strike get +1/+1 until end of turn.
Imo this is a bit too strong at 2. Given that it can give multiple creatures +3/+3, I think this should cost three at least, despite being a bit restricted with the keyword ability requirements.
Christopher Columbus, Explorer of Worlds2WU
Planeswalker - Columbus
+1: Create a Gold artifact token with "Sacrifice this artifact. Add one mana of any color to your mana pool."
-X: Search your library for half of X, rounded up, amount of basic lands, reveal them, then put them on the battlefield tapped. Shuffle your library afterwards.
-10: Christopher Columbus becomes a 5/5 legendary creature with Hexproof, Indestructible, Vigiliance, and "When this creature attacks, you may have target opponent reveal their library. If they do, shuffle it afterwards."
4
My main concern is the first ability, as while it is flavorful with the history, I can see it being broken. Comments?
Imo this is a bit too strong at 2. Given that it can give multiple creatures +3/+3, I think this should cost three at least, despite being a bit restricted with the keyword ability requirements.
Christopher Columbus, Explorer of Worlds2WU
Planeswalker - Columbus
+1: Create a Gold artifact token with "Sacrifice this artifact. Add one mana of any color to your mana pool."
-X: Search your library for half of X, rounded up, amount of basic lands, reveal them, then put them on the battlefield tapped. Shuffle your library afterwards.
-10: Christopher Columbus becomes a legendary creature with Hexproof, Indestructible, Vigiliance, and "When this creature attacks, you may have target opponent reveal their library. If they do, shuffle it afterwards."
4
My main concern is the first ability, as while it is flavorful with the history, I can see it being broken. Comments?
The first ability is probably fine -- however the second ability is not remotely white/blue, and the last ability needs a power/toughness. Also having someone reveal their entire library just seems really tedious and kind of useless.
Name1UR
Creature - Elemental Warrior
Prowess
Whenever a creature enters the battlefield until your control, you may draw cards equal to its power. If so, discard cards equal to its toughness.
Too strong for 3 mana. This looting effect can get disgusting pretty fast, so at least this guy needs to be 6 mana, whatever his P/T may be.
Next
Irate Terradon5GG
Creature - Beast (U)
Irate Terradon costs X less to cast, where X is the highest power among creatures your opponents control.
Trample A Terradon treats any moving thing that is not itself as a threat.
4/4
Expensive against an empty board, but potentially a 4/4 trampler for 2 if your opponent plays fatties. Is that cost ok?
I mentioned in other posts that in order to balance standard, and keep pushing planeswalker power level, wotc should move form "cancel with upside" to "counterpsell with downside" in their design of counterspells. Here is one such suggestion:
Exhausting denial UU
Instant
Counter target spell, then that spell's controller chooses a permanent under your control. That permanent does not untap during your next untap phase.
Still, it strikes me you should just make this UU Counter target spell. Lands you control do not untap during your next untap step.
Reduce to Soul2B
Instant (U)
Exile target creature. It's controller creates a 1/1 white spirit token with flying.
Next
Mindless Massacre 1BB
Sorcery (R)
Destroy up to three target creatures. You lose 3 life for each creature that dies this way.
When you want someone dead, sometimes you don't care if you get hurt in the process.
Comments?
Loot the Grave1B
Sorcery - Rare
Return target equipment from your graveyard to play and equip it to a creature you control. Lose life equal to it's equip cost.
Scout Eye Sniper - 1GG
Creature - Elf Warrior
Trample
When ~ enters the battle field, you may have it deal damage equal to it's power to target creature or planeswalker.
3/3
Field Medic - 1W
Creature - Human Cleric
Flash
When ~ enters the battlefield, prevent the next 2 damage that would be dealt to target player, creature, or planeswalker.
2/2
I think it's time for wizards to start printing more cards that allow players to interact more with planeswalkers.
Behind the eyes of truth, is a world of illustions.
Dragon Riderof a Mist Dragonn anyway with the Dragon Riders Clan.
Just balance them wizards!
Field Medic seems rather fair.
Flametongue Elf not so much.
Last echoes 1B
Enchantment - Rare
XB: Return target creature card in a graveyard with a mana cost of X or less to the battlefield. It gains haste. At the end of turn, or when it dies, exile it and create a 2/2 black zombie token.
the next card is a mechanic that a couple of us made up yesterday. The idea is to close the gap between being on the play and on the draw by allowing you to cast a "free" spell if you are on your first or second turn on the draw (although second turn might be too much). Example
Expedited destruction 1BB
Instant.
Destroy target creature
Expedite. (If it is the first or second turn of the game, and you did not play first, you may pay 0 rather than pay this card's mana cost.)
Mathematically, this is a keyword that is dead during most of the game.
WOTC has experimented with giving some fatties additional "sucks to draw this first turn normally, here have an X" effects. I'd opt for those if I was you.
Nest Elemental 4GG
Creature - Insect Elemental - Rare
If this is in your opening hand, you may reveal it at the beginning of the game. If you do, create a 1/1 green insect creature token.
When this dies, create five 1/1 green insect creature tokens.
5/5
Here's mine:
Lay Bing, Bomb Specialist 1RU
Legendary Creature - Human Artificier
Whenever ~ blocks or is blocked, put a Bomb counter on blocked or blocking creature.
(5):Destroy each creature with a Bomb counter/s on it.
1/4
Why does he have 4 toughness? Is the answer "so he doesn't die to lightning bolt?" Because that's not very flavorful.
Funny how when he dies, his bombs become duds.
Sphinx Scryer 3UU
Creature - Sphinx - Unc
Flying
If this is in your opening hand, you may reveal it at the beginning of the game. If you do, Scry 2
Run! That's no Air Elemental! It's a Sphinx!
4/4
Restorative Rest 1GU
Sorcery
Put a +1/+1 counter on all creatures you control. Tap them. They don't untap during your next untap step.
Cursed Word B
Sorcery - Unc
Each player names a non-land card. Target opponent reveals his or her hand and discards all cards named in this way.
Black Lotus! Mox Opal! Steamflogger Boss! Am I doing it right?
- Griljim Jaggerhaus, Goblin Gambler
Cursed Word - Intresting, It's definataly a rare effect, but overall I like it.
Dead Lotus - 5
Enchantment Artifact
~ cost is reduced by 1 for each creature card in your graveyard.
T, Sacrifice ~: Add 3 manna of any combination of colors to your manna pool.
Behind the eyes of truth, is a world of illustions.
Dragon Riderof a Mist Dragonn anyway with the Dragon Riders Clan.
Hurloon Berserker 2R
Creature - Minotaur Berserker (C)
Discard a card: This gets +1/+1 until end of turn.
2/3
Next
Deathform Gauze 1
Artifact - Equipment (R)
X, unattach Deathform Gauze: If equipped creature is not a token, create a token that is a copy of equipped creature, except the token has no mana cost, it's white, and it's a Zombie in addition to its other types. X is the converted mana cost of equipped creature. Activate this ability only as a sorcery.
Equip 2
Who needs Embalm to make mummies?
Have a Crosspost, after several months of absence:
Obscuring Sliver 1UG
Creature - Sliver
Morph
Slivers in your hand have Morph X, where X is their mana cost reduced by
Colorless 2/2 creatures you control count as Slivers in addition to their other types.
1/1
---
It hits some Eldrazi and quite a few Artifacts, but the intent of the last line is to make the Morph creatures count as Slivers. I wasn't sure how to word it, and wanted there to be creatures caught on the side.
This feels like it should be a 2/2 when face up, and probably be a pure colorless, non-artifact sliver for 3 with morph 0. IE, face up or face down wouldn't matter.
Volcanic Atol
Land - R
This land enters the battlefield tapped.
T: Add U or R to your mana pool.
6UURR,T: Create a blue 5/4 elemental creature token and a red 5/4 elemental creature token.
Have a crossposted gib-blocker:
Stalking Spider 1BG
Creature - Spider
Reach, Deathtouch
Creep 1 (When this creature blocks or becomes blocked by a non-flying creature, it deals 1 damage to that creature.)
0/1
---
The result here is effectively that creatures without Flying that block or are blocked by it are instantly killed before First Strike triggers. Because the damage is done as the blocking happens. And Deathtouch still doesn't care about the damage cause, as far as the reminder text states. Which means that, unless there's a specific errata that says it has to be combat damage, this thing kills non-Flyers before they even get to actually have combat start.
Also, I have no reason why this has reach.
Mindgame Elite 2U
Creature - Merolk Wizard- U
Sacrifice a creature: Counter target spell unless it's controller pays 1.
Cycling - Reveal an instant card in your hand.
2/2
Next
Deathform Reverence W
Enchantment (R)
Whenever a nontoken creature you control dies, you may pay X, where X is that creature's converted mana cost. If you do, create a token that is a copy of that creature, except the token has no mana cost, it's white, and it's a Zombie in addition to its other types.
"Sometimes we need to admit the dead into servitude with haste."
So, a less flexible Deathform Gauze, thus the cheaper mana cost. Too cheap, even, maybe?
It'd be more flavorful to just give an Entomb cost equal to it's mana cost at 1W. Maybe do 1WW if it had cycling.
Unending Curse2BB
Sorcery (U)
Destroy target creature. Then, if it died, create a 2/2 black zombie token.
Key Strategy 1W
Instant (U)
Creatures you control with vigilance get +1/+1 until end of turn.
Creatures you control with lifelink get +1/+1 until end of turn.
Creatures you control with first strike get +1/+1 until end of turn.
Christopher Columbus, Explorer of Worlds 2WU
Planeswalker - Columbus
+1: Create a Gold artifact token with "Sacrifice this artifact. Add one mana of any color to your mana pool."
-X: Search your library for half of X, rounded up, amount of basic lands, reveal them, then put them on the battlefield tapped. Shuffle your library afterwards.
-10: Christopher Columbus becomes a 5/5 legendary creature with Hexproof, Indestructible, Vigiliance, and "When this creature attacks, you may have target opponent reveal their library. If they do, shuffle it afterwards."
4
My main concern is the first ability, as while it is flavorful with the history, I can see it being broken. Comments?
The first ability is probably fine -- however the second ability is not remotely white/blue, and the last ability needs a power/toughness. Also having someone reveal their entire library just seems really tedious and kind of useless.
Name 1UR
Creature - Elemental Warrior
Prowess
Whenever a creature enters the battlefield until your control, you may draw cards equal to its power. If so, discard cards equal to its toughness.
Modern
UBR Grixis Control
U Merfolk
Pauper
U Mono U Delver
Ancestral Visions is freed
Next
Irate Terradon 5GG
Creature - Beast (U)
Irate Terradon costs X less to cast, where X is the highest power among creatures your opponents control.
Trample
A Terradon treats any moving thing that is not itself as a threat.
4/4
Expensive against an empty board, but potentially a 4/4 trampler for 2 if your opponent plays fatties. Is that cost ok?