I wanted a full cycle of split cards at common and a full cycle of cantrips at common. I found that I couldn't fit both in the block, but then it occurred to me that they'd fit if I combined them!
The first five are for Lords of Ravnica, the second five are for Guild Wars.
Above (Common) 1W
Instant
Target creature gets +1/+1 and gains flying until end of turn.
/// Beyond 2U
Instant
Exile target creature, then return it to the battlefield under its owner’s control.
Draw a card.
Back (Common) 1U
Instant
Return target nonland permanent to its owner’s hand.
/// Forth 2R
Instant
Attacking creatures get +1/+0 until end of turn.
Draw a card.
Predator (Common) 1G
Instant
Target creature you control fights another target creature.
/// Prey 2W
Instant
Burn deals 2 damage to target attacking or blocking creature.
Draw a card.
Lost (Common) 1B
Sorcery
Each player sacrifices a creature.
/// Found 2G
Sorcery
You may play an additional land this turn.
Draw a card.
Pins (Common) 2B
Instant
Destroy target creature that was dealt damage this turn.
Draw a card.
/// Needles 1R
Instant
Needles deals 2 damage to target creature or player.
Cloak (Common) 1U
Instant
Target permanent or player gains hexproof until end of turn.
/// Dagger 2B
Instant
Target creature gains deathtouch until end of turn.
Draw a card.
Fast (Common) 1R
Instant
Target creature gets +1/+0 and gains first strike until end of turn.
/// Furious 2G
Instant
Target creature gets +1/+1 and gains trample until end of turn.
Draw a card.
Live (Common) 1G
Instant
Prevent all combat damage that would be dealt this turn.
/// Learn 2U
Instant
Scry 2.
Draw a card.
Over (Common) 2W
Instant
Exile target enchantment.
Draw a card.
/// Out 1B
Instant
Exile target token.
Poke (Common) 2R
Instant
Poke deals 1 damage to target creature or player.
Draw a card.
/// Prod 1W
Instant
Tap up to two target creatures.
The mana costs for Live and Learn aren't working.
I would put Live at 2W and Learn at U
Generally, if one half of a split card is identical to another individual card, the split one should cost 1 more, since you are paying for the flexibility.
Therefore: Over should cost 1 more. Shock should cost 1 more, and needs a new name, as Shock is taken. Beyond should cost 1 more. Crush should cost at least 2 more for both a cantrip and the flexibility cost, and needs a new name as Crush is taken. Pins should cost 1 more.
Back is not a direct replication, but I feel like as a split half it should cost more.
Run feels like a blue effect. I know the attacking/blocking restriction is a white thing, but returning to hand is a blue thing. It should also cost at least 1 more.
I think you've forced some of these to fit your cycle, which is always the danger when creating cycles, especially with very tight definitions like the one you've applied here.
This is a very interesting cycle. But I fear that the half of the card with the cantrip effect will be played far more often. Perhaps increase mana costs so you get a cantrip effect for either half?
Tremendous insights! Thank you both. All mana costs increased by 1 and all of the cantrips have been moved to the "other side". This not only helped to further balance each half, in a vaccum' independently of its other half; and in regards to the eternal card pool; but provided the flexibility to design each 2cmc side to rival its 3cmc cantrip counterpart. Thanks again.
EDIT: Also, Shock/Awe renamed to Poke/Prod. And Crush/Run renamed to Crash/Burn.
EDIT EDIT: Dangit #*@&%$!, Burn is already a card too.
EDIT EDIT EDIT: Crash/Burn changed to Predator/Prey (verb tense)
The first five are for Lords of Ravnica, the second five are for Guild Wars.
Above (Common)
1W
Instant
Target creature gets +1/+1 and gains flying until end of turn.
///
Beyond
2U
Instant
Exile target creature, then return it to the battlefield under its owner’s control.
Draw a card.
Back (Common)
1U
Instant
Return target nonland permanent to its owner’s hand.
///
Forth
2R
Instant
Attacking creatures get +1/+0 until end of turn.
Draw a card.
Predator (Common)
1G
Instant
Target creature you control fights another target creature.
///
Prey
2W
Instant
Burn deals 2 damage to target attacking or blocking creature.
Draw a card.
Lost (Common)
1B
Sorcery
Each player sacrifices a creature.
///
Found
2G
Sorcery
You may play an additional land this turn.
Draw a card.
Pins (Common)
2B
Instant
Destroy target creature that was dealt damage this turn.
Draw a card.
///
Needles
1R
Instant
Needles deals 2 damage to target creature or player.
Cloak (Common)
1U
Instant
Target permanent or player gains hexproof until end of turn.
///
Dagger
2B
Instant
Target creature gains deathtouch until end of turn.
Draw a card.
Fast (Common)
1R
Instant
Target creature gets +1/+0 and gains first strike until end of turn.
///
Furious
2G
Instant
Target creature gets +1/+1 and gains trample until end of turn.
Draw a card.
Live (Common)
1G
Instant
Prevent all combat damage that would be dealt this turn.
///
Learn
2U
Instant
Scry 2.
Draw a card.
Over (Common)
2W
Instant
Exile target enchantment.
Draw a card.
///
Out
1B
Instant
Exile target token.
Poke (Common)
2R
Instant
Poke deals 1 damage to target creature or player.
Draw a card.
///
Prod
1W
Instant
Tap up to two target creatures.
I would put Live at 2W and Learn at U
Generally, if one half of a split card is identical to another individual card, the split one should cost 1 more, since you are paying for the flexibility.
Therefore:
Over should cost 1 more.
Shock should cost 1 more, and needs a new name, as Shock is taken.
Beyond should cost 1 more.
Crush should cost at least 2 more for both a cantrip and the flexibility cost, and needs a new name as Crush is taken.
Pins should cost 1 more.
Back is not a direct replication, but I feel like as a split half it should cost more.
Run feels like a blue effect. I know the attacking/blocking restriction is a white thing, but returning to hand is a blue thing. It should also cost at least 1 more.
I think you've forced some of these to fit your cycle, which is always the danger when creating cycles, especially with very tight definitions like the one you've applied here.
EDIT: Also, Shock/Awe renamed to Poke/Prod. And Crush/Run renamed to Crash/Burn.
EDIT EDIT: Dangit #*@&%$!, Burn is already a card too.
EDIT EDIT EDIT: Crash/Burn changed to Predator/Prey (verb tense)