Thorn1R
Legendary Creature - Human (U)
, Discard a card: Draw a card.
At the beginning of your upkeep, if you both own and Control Thorn and a creature named Zorn, exile them, then meld them into Meltigemini.
(2/1)
Zorn1U
Legendary Creature - Human (U)
: Draw a card, then discard a card.
(Melds with Thorn)
(1/2)
Meltigemini
Legendary Creature - Demon (Blue/Red color identity)
Double Strike
When Meltigemini enters the battlefield look at the top three cards of your library. Put one of them into your hand, put one of them on the bottom of your library, and exile one of them. You may play the exiled card this turn.
(3/3)
Concept Notes: For those unfamiliar Zorn and Thorn are two humanoid jesters who mirror one another by speaking in antimetabole. They merge later in FFIX into a demon creature called Meltigemini. I made Thorn and Zorn red and blue to match their respective colors in FFIX. I used both the flipped P/T ratios and the looting vs. rummaging abilities to represent how they mirror one another. Individually Thorn is a pretty strong rummaging option in that he is able to rummage repeatedly and only costs 2. Zorn is a small upgrade over Merfolk Looter with an extra toughness.
I used the meld mechanic to show their fusion into Meltigemini. I combined their P/T's and they gained double strike. I chose Expressive Iteration as the ETB ability for meltigemini as a way to represent the fusion of the two and a way to bring blue into the fused card. Let me know your thoughts!
The base cards need to be more expensive, as dropping a 3/3 double striker plus the ETB that early is too strong. You can potentially untap on Turn 4 and get the ETB and mana up to protect it. I suggest buffing the individual creatures slightly and then push them up to 1RR and 1UU. Then you're not hitting with your meld until turn 6.
You can also balance by making the doublestrike only when attacking.
The base cards need to be more expensive, as dropping a 3/3 double striker plus the ETB that early is too strong. You can potentially untap on Turn 4 and get the ETB and mana up to protect it. I suggest buffing the individual creatures slightly and then push them up to 1RR and 1UU. Then you're not hitting with your meld until turn 6.
You can also balance by making the doublestrike only when attacking.
Think about all that has to happen to get this on turn 4 though. You have to have Zorn and Thorn, cast both, and they have to survive to the next upkeep. I think those are pretty significant hurdles that justify getting what is roughly equivalent a 5CC creature (Meltigemini). I think if I were to nerf anything - I might make the Expressive Iteration effect only dig two cards deep and ditch the card that goes to the bottom. Might be more flavorful that way as well.
Think about all that has to happen to get this on turn 4 though. You have to have Zorn and Thorn, cast both, and they have to survive to the next upkeep. I think those are pretty significant hurdles that justify getting what is roughly equivalent a 5CC creature (Meltigemini). I think if I were to nerf anything - I might make the Expressive Iteration effect only dig two cards deep and ditch the card that goes to the bottom. Might be more flavorful that way as well. [/quote]
If you're on the play, though, they only have three turns to interact. The issue though is that, even if they do kill one, you've cost them a removal spell and still have a well-costed creature on the board. 2 mana for a 2/1 or 1/2 that filters your hand is a still a good rate. If they don't kill one of these, you can respond to the upkeep trigger by activating each before they leave the battlefield means you're getting two filters and then and untapped 3/3 doublestriker blocker for the turn.
Honestly, the fact that it doublestrikes on defense on your turn 4 is the biggest issue for balance. Limit that and it will be just about right.
Legendary Creature - Human (U)
, Discard a card: Draw a card.
At the beginning of your upkeep, if you both own and Control Thorn and a creature named Zorn, exile them, then meld them into Meltigemini.
(2/1)
Zorn 1U
Legendary Creature - Human (U)
: Draw a card, then discard a card.
(Melds with Thorn)
(1/2)
Meltigemini
Legendary Creature - Demon (Blue/Red color identity)
Double Strike
When Meltigemini enters the battlefield look at the top three cards of your library. Put one of them into your hand, put one of them on the bottom of your library, and exile one of them. You may play the exiled card this turn.
(3/3)
Concept Notes: For those unfamiliar Zorn and Thorn are two humanoid jesters who mirror one another by speaking in antimetabole. They merge later in FFIX into a demon creature called Meltigemini. I made Thorn and Zorn red and blue to match their respective colors in FFIX. I used both the flipped P/T ratios and the looting vs. rummaging abilities to represent how they mirror one another. Individually Thorn is a pretty strong rummaging option in that he is able to rummage repeatedly and only costs 2. Zorn is a small upgrade over Merfolk Looter with an extra toughness.
I used the meld mechanic to show their fusion into Meltigemini. I combined their P/T's and they gained double strike. I chose Expressive Iteration as the ETB ability for meltigemini as a way to represent the fusion of the two and a way to bring blue into the fused card. Let me know your thoughts!
Thorn speaks like Yoda, which kind of further suggests this.
You can also balance by making the doublestrike only when attacking.
Why not let it search for three cards if you want to keep that function? Restrict the CMC if you have to.
This way, you can always secure that something unneeded is going to the bottom.
Think about all that has to happen to get this on turn 4 though. You have to have Zorn and Thorn, cast both, and they have to survive to the next upkeep. I think those are pretty significant hurdles that justify getting what is roughly equivalent a 5CC creature (Meltigemini). I think if I were to nerf anything - I might make the Expressive Iteration effect only dig two cards deep and ditch the card that goes to the bottom. Might be more flavorful that way as well.
Think about all that has to happen to get this on turn 4 though. You have to have Zorn and Thorn, cast both, and they have to survive to the next upkeep. I think those are pretty significant hurdles that justify getting what is roughly equivalent a 5CC creature (Meltigemini). I think if I were to nerf anything - I might make the Expressive Iteration effect only dig two cards deep and ditch the card that goes to the bottom. Might be more flavorful that way as well. [/quote]
If you're on the play, though, they only have three turns to interact. The issue though is that, even if they do kill one, you've cost them a removal spell and still have a well-costed creature on the board. 2 mana for a 2/1 or 1/2 that filters your hand is a still a good rate. If they don't kill one of these, you can respond to the upkeep trigger by activating each before they leave the battlefield means you're getting two filters and then and untapped 3/3 doublestriker blocker for the turn.
Honestly, the fact that it doublestrikes on defense on your turn 4 is the biggest issue for balance. Limit that and it will be just about right.
"What is this, that before me stands?"
How about some flavor text?