For January, we started off under Doom Lich's hosting in Zendikar, with a number of teams on their way to some of the greatest treasures the plane has to offer. In the end, though, most teams fell to traps, hardships, and the writhing Eldrazi monsters sleeping in the depths. Only Dragoon's and Koopa's teams came out alive, and now they are fighting for all of Zendikar against the awakened threat. They've gotten a little help for the final battle. Who will be Zendikar's savior?
Challenge:
Design a new version of an existing planeswalker. This walker has come to aid you in the fight against the Eldrazi.
Design an instant or sorcery spell with rebound that can help you take down the Eldrazi you found in the semifinals.
Design an Aura to be cast on your avatar, representing Zendikar's blessing in the coming battle.
Garruk Corrupted2BG
Planeswalker - Garruk MR
[+1]: Proliferate.
[-2]: Put two -1/-1 counters on target creature.
[-9]: You get an emblem with "Creatures you control get +1/+1 and creatures your opponents control get -1/-1."
{3}
Expel2WW
Instant U
Put target creature on the bottom of its owner's library.
Rebound (If you cast this spell from your hand, exile it as it resolves. At the beginning of your next upkeep, you may cast this card from exile without paying its mana cost.) Leave. Now.
Phantom Umbra2U
Enchantment - Aura R
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature gets +1/+1 and has, "Whenever this creature blocks or becomes blocked by a creature, you may have its power become equal to that creature's power and its toughness become equal to that creature's toughness until end of turn."
Totem armor "I'm not sure where its face is, but I do want to see the look on it when I'm suddenly eye-level with it." -- Tharin Roilwalker
Liliana the Veiled2BB
Planeswalker - Liliana (MR)
[+2]: Each player discards a card.
[-X]: All creatures get -X/-X until end of turn.
[-6]: Each player gets an emblem with "During your upkeep, lose one life, sacrifice a creature, sacrifice a land, and discard a card."
{2}
Threatening Roar2G
Sorcery (C)
Creatures you control gain intimidate until end of turn.
Rebound (If you cast this spell from your hand, exile it as it resolves. At the beginning of your next upkeep, you may cast this card from exile without paying its mana cost.) “Charge through the spawn to attack the source” - The War Diaries
Bloom Umbra3GG
Enchantment - Aura (R)
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature gets "When this creature deals damage, put that many 0/1 green Plant creature tokens onto the battlefield."
Totem armor (If enchanted creature would be destroyed, instead remove all damage from it and destroy this Aura.) We are outnumbered, but not for long.
Also, for reference:
Tharin Roilwalker1RG
Legendary Creature - Elf Warrior R
Haste
Whenever a land enters the battlefield, creatures you control get +1/+1 and gain first strike until end of turn. "Have your little expedition into the ruins. I go where the Roil fights the most."
2/2
Seaside Augur3U
Creature - Merfolk Wizard Ally U
Whenever Seaside Augur or another Ally enters the battlefield under your control, look at the top X cards of your library, where X is the number of Allies you control. Put one of them into your hand and the rest of the bottom of your library in any order. "Bring your sword and shield. I will bring my foresight. In the trenches, I promise it will be just as useful."
2/2
Makindi Marauder5R
Creature - Giant Warrior Ally R
Whenever Makindi Marauder or another Ally enters the battlefield under your control, you may destroy target land. If you do, put a +1/+1 counter on Makindi Marauder and that land's controller may search his or her library for a basic land card, put it on the battlefield tapped, then shuffle his or her library. "I suppose if we can't find a way up the cliffs, he'll just make us one." -- Tharin Roilwalker
3/4
Safety Harness2
Artifact - Equipment U
As Safety Harness enters the battlefield, put a tether counter on a land you control. (Safety Harness is tethered to that land.)
When equipped creature is put into a graveyard, if the tethered land is on the battlefield, return that creature to the battlefield tapped at the beginning of the next end step and attach Safety Harness to it.
Equip 2 "Just think of it as a thousand-foot high hammock." -- Tharin Roilwalker
Falter Trap2B
Instant - Trap U
If two or more creatures entered the battlefield under an opponent's control this turn, you may pay B instead of Falter Trap's mana cost.
Target player sacrifices a creature. As Tarvin fell, he seemingly had all the time in the world to ponder the expedition leader's simple instructions: Walk slowly; the ground isn't stable.
Rockblade Razer4R
Creature - Giant Warrior R
Level up 1R 4/4
Level 1-4: Trample 6/5
Level 5+: Trample; Whenever Rockblade Razer deals combat damage to a player, destroy target land that player controls. 8/6
Engulfer of All10
Creature - Eldrazi R
When you cast Engulfer of All, target player sacrifices a permanent.
Annihilator 2 3: Engulfer of All gains annihilator 1 until end of turn. It's looming shadow is a metaphor for what it can do to this world. If Zendikar is to reach its demise, it will be by its hand.
9/9
Trubio, Caller of Elves1GG
Legendary Creature - Elf Warrior (R) G,T: Search your library for an Elf creature card and put it onto the battlefield tapped. Shuffle your library afterwards. Trubio is a member of no tribe. He believes all elves comes from the same lineage, and if they wish to survive, they will need to work together.
2/2
Ora Ondar Champion3GG
Creature - Elf Warrior Ally (R)
Whenever Ora Ondar or another Ally enters the battlefield under your control, you may have Ally creatures you control gain +X/+X and trample, where X is the number of Allies you control.
2/2
Khalni Bloomtender1GG
Creature - Elf Shaman Ally (R)
Whenever you cast Khalni Bloomtender or another Ally creature, you may draw a card.
1/1
Trubio's Camp
Land (R)
Trubio's Camp enters the battlefield tapped with 2 charge counters on it. T: Add G to your mana pool. G,T, Remove a charge counter from Trubio's Camp: Regenerate target Elf. Your camp shouldn't just keep you safe, it should also save you.
Livingvine TrapXXG
Instant - Trap (U)
Whenever three or more creatures attack you, you may pay X rather than pay Livingvine Trap's mana cost.
Put X 0/1 green Plant creature tokens on to the battlefield. We simply wanted to protect the Khalni Stone, however the Everbloom didn't understand our quest.
Broodbirther of Emrakul10
Creature - Eldrazi (R)
Annihilator 2 (Whenever this creature attacks, defending player sacrifices two permanents.)
When Broodbirther of Emrakul deals damage to a player, put that many 0/1 colorless Eldrazi Spawn creature tokens onto the battlefield. They have "Sacrifice this creature: Add 1 to your mana pool."
9/9
Ora Ondar Champion1G
Creature - Elf Warrior (R)
Level Up 1G (2/2)
[Level 1 - 3]: Trample (3/3)
[Level +4]: Creatures you control get +3/+3 and trample. (4/4)
A corrupted Garruk. makes sense. his first ability is essentially a +2 since there's no reason in the world for you to not proliferate him. I'm glad you went with an emblem instead of dropping counters(which kinda feels like it would make sense with proliferate ability) for the ultimate. The second ability feels a little underwhelming, even with the proliferate. it essentially reads "slowly kill one creature as Garruk becomes more loyal." overall, fairly good. I just don't think we'll ever see a black Garruk, probably not even a half black one...
Feels a little powerful. Maybe up it a rarity? I love the flavor text. no other gripes.
The layer system always confuses me... would the p/t change be applied before or after the +1/+1? If i'm right, it applies before so the enchanted creature should always live and kill in combat. If it happens the other way, both creatures would die and you sac the umbra for the totem armor, so it would kinda be a one shot thing. If it works the first way, its perfect.
First off, just noticed your tag "T: Add Awesome to your mana pool." excellent.
Re-envisioned Liliana. She hurts everyone And starts with almost no loyalty... It costs you a discard to keep her out of lightning bolt range... Feels a little too "I hate you all" and not enough "I'm your buddy"...
Only one totem armor, Crab Umbra, doesn't give a p/t boost. Without that, this card feels pretty underwhelming. Pollenbright Wings has CMC 6, is uncommon, gives flying and puts 1/1s into play. This just needs a little something extra, or a reduction in CMC and rarity.
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"All I have is a wall, a doll and a 1/3 crab." -Ryan
First off, just noticed your tag "T: Add Awesome to your mana pool." excellent.
Re-envisioned Liliana. She hurts everyone And starts with almost no loyalty... It costs you a discard to keep her out of lightning bolt range... Feels a little too "I hate you all" and not enough "I'm your buddy"...
Only one totem armor, Crab Umbra, doesn't give a p/t boost. Without that, this card feels pretty underwhelming. Pollenbright Wings has CMC 6, is uncommon, gives flying and puts 1/1s into play. This just needs a little something extra, or a reduction in CMC and rarity.
To be fair, the wings is multicolored and the creature has to deal damage to a player. Thanks for the critiques though And I just changed my tagline this morning when I realized I could!
As for Liliana, she may be just a flop, but I wanted to keep her X ability without making her just better than Black Sun's Zenith (yence the low loyalty) but I figured that being able to +2 every turn shouldn't be something that is really one sided (ala Jace Beleren). I kept it +2 though because I wanted her Ultimate to be reachable.
@R_P_T_S: p/t setting abilities apply in layer 7b while p/t altering abilities are applied in layer 7c. So the umbra'd creature will match the stats of the other creature and then get +1/+1. I actually looked that up to double check it worked that way.
Asking out a girl is like trying to cast a first turn Necropotence. Sometimes the other player will have the Force of Will to say no. You shouldn't let that stop you from trying it.
While I see the token creation and overall ally feel of your cards (as a whole, not just your final three); however the overall problem is that all your other cards (save for Trubio's Camp and Broodbirther) are green and then you have...Liliana.
Final Three:
Liliana: She's definitely strong, but I think if your going to do an emblem with that effect, it should probably be at a -8 since your giving her 2 LC for her plus.
Threatening Roar: Interesting effect. Definitely common as it would see play, but I feel it's missing something and I can't put my finger on it.
Bloom Umbra: I see this card more as an uncommon at that cost and for tossing out 0/1 creatures that do really nothing.
Overall - You really went for the mono coloring; but because of that it can severely limit you. I would have liked to see more versatility in your set, but overall the cards are well designed.
You have a LOT of rares and no commons. I do like the variety of colors that you have presented. It makes for a wide variety of uses and isn't limited to just one or two colors. The issue with that however is that in order to use any of these cards, you would have to have a deck splashed with multiple colors.
Final Three:
Garruk: Looks interesting, but I don't see him as a proliferator as much.
Expel: I see more of an exiler than a drop to bottom card.
Phantom Umbra: I don't see this as a blue, but more as a white or green.
Overall - With a few color tweaks here and there and maybe some wording and abilities, it would be a good design.
My vote went to Dragoon for this one. It was generally tough to make the decision, but I had to side with the concept of versatility in colors.
While I see the token creation and overall ally feel of your cards (as a whole, not just your final three); however the overall problem is that all your other cards (save for Trubio's Camp and Broodbirther) are green and then you have...Liliana.
I understand where you are coming from (and believed me, I wished I had more colors to choose from) but my allies had to work with my avatar (and my avatar wasn't an ally so I had to make them elves... which on zendikar are green)
Then we had to make a camp. Which was my land.
Then we had to make a trap, which happens in the Everbloom (so it had to be green)
Then we had to make a eldrazi and redo one of our allies (which makes him green still)
THEN, we had to design a spell that we could cast (which would have to be green since my avatar is green) and then the aura (which considering I was fighting my eldrazi, which I assume is still at the Everbloom, it would also have to be green)
I understand where you are coming from (and believed me, I wished I had more colors to choose from) but my allies had to work with my avatar (and my avatar wasn't an ally so I had to make them elves... which on zendikar are green)
Then we had to make a camp. Which was my land.
Then we had to make a trap, which happens in the Everbloom (so it had to be green)
Then we had to make a eldrazi and redo one of our allies (which makes him green still)
THEN, we had to design a spell that we could cast (which would have to be green since my avatar is green) and then the aura (which considering I was fighting my eldrazi, which I assume is still at the Everbloom, it would also have to be green)
I really had no choice to make only green cards.
I didn't really view any of those as official restrictions. In fact, picking allies in different colors from my avatar made sense, since it would allow more strengths in the party. And I didn't see the final challenge as having to design a spell or aura that had to be castable by our avatar (ie: the same color...) Then again, maybe I just didn't pick up on that.
Asking out a girl is like trying to cast a first turn Necropotence. Sometimes the other player will have the Force of Will to say no. You shouldn't let that stop you from trying it.
I wasn't an official restriction, but I couldn't have made Magmastream Trap in an area where there is no Magma. It just made since from a flavor point of view.
I understand where you are coming from (and believed me, I wished I had more colors to choose from) but my allies had to work with my avatar (and my avatar wasn't an ally so I had to make them elves... which on zendikar are green)
Then we had to make a camp. Which was my land.
Then we had to make a trap, which happens in the Everbloom (so it had to be green)
Then we had to make a eldrazi and redo one of our allies (which makes him green still)
THEN, we had to design a spell that we could cast (which would have to be green since my avatar is green) and then the aura (which considering I was fighting my eldrazi, which I assume is still at the Everbloom, it would also have to be green)
I really had no choice to make only green cards.
You actually could have splashed them since now and days, if you think about it, most people play dual colors, if not more, so you can base overall off of more than just green. I WILL admit that it was good, again, the lack of color option was harsh.
Congratulations Koopa!
I will say that I like Garruk a little better than Liliana for the internal synergy. Threatening Roar is maybe a more fun effect but Expel is nice and clean, both of the Rebound cards seem undercosted to me. It was nice that you guys both picked up on Totem Armor since I forgot about it, although neither of them seemed very good, and the order of effects on Dragoon's is confusing. I wasn't really keen on another Zendikar CCL in the first place, liked the block but I didn't think there was much space for more design.
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Challenge:
Design a new version of an existing planeswalker. This walker has come to aid you in the fight against the Eldrazi.
Design an instant or sorcery spell with rebound that can help you take down the Eldrazi you found in the semifinals.
Design an Aura to be cast on your avatar, representing Zendikar's blessing in the coming battle.
Planeswalker - Garruk MR
[+1]: Proliferate.
[-2]: Put two -1/-1 counters on target creature.
[-9]: You get an emblem with "Creatures you control get +1/+1 and creatures your opponents control get -1/-1."
{3}
Expel 2WW
Instant U
Put target creature on the bottom of its owner's library.
Rebound (If you cast this spell from your hand, exile it as it resolves. At the beginning of your next upkeep, you may cast this card from exile without paying its mana cost.)
Leave. Now.
Phantom Umbra 2U
Enchantment - Aura R
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature gets +1/+1 and has, "Whenever this creature blocks or becomes blocked by a creature, you may have its power become equal to that creature's power and its toughness become equal to that creature's toughness until end of turn."
Totem armor
"I'm not sure where its face is, but I do want to see the look on it when I'm suddenly eye-level with it." -- Tharin Roilwalker
Planeswalker - Liliana (MR)
[+2]: Each player discards a card.
[-X]: All creatures get -X/-X until end of turn.
[-6]: Each player gets an emblem with "During your upkeep, lose one life, sacrifice a creature, sacrifice a land, and discard a card."
{2}
Threatening Roar 2G
Sorcery (C)
Creatures you control gain intimidate until end of turn.
Rebound (If you cast this spell from your hand, exile it as it resolves. At the beginning of your next upkeep, you may cast this card from exile without paying its mana cost.)
“Charge through the spawn to attack the source” - The War Diaries
Bloom Umbra 3GG
Enchantment - Aura (R)
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature gets "When this creature deals damage, put that many 0/1 green Plant creature tokens onto the battlefield."
Totem armor (If enchanted creature would be destroyed, instead remove all damage from it and destroy this Aura.)
We are outnumbered, but not for long.
Also, for reference:
Legendary Creature - Elf Warrior R
Haste
Whenever a land enters the battlefield, creatures you control get +1/+1 and gain first strike until end of turn.
"Have your little expedition into the ruins. I go where the Roil fights the most."
2/2
Seaside Augur 3U
Creature - Merfolk Wizard Ally U
Whenever Seaside Augur or another Ally enters the battlefield under your control, look at the top X cards of your library, where X is the number of Allies you control. Put one of them into your hand and the rest of the bottom of your library in any order.
"Bring your sword and shield. I will bring my foresight. In the trenches, I promise it will be just as useful."
2/2
Makindi Marauder 5R
Creature - Giant Warrior Ally R
Whenever Makindi Marauder or another Ally enters the battlefield under your control, you may destroy target land. If you do, put a +1/+1 counter on Makindi Marauder and that land's controller may search his or her library for a basic land card, put it on the battlefield tapped, then shuffle his or her library.
"I suppose if we can't find a way up the cliffs, he'll just make us one." -- Tharin Roilwalker
3/4
Safety Harness 2
Artifact - Equipment U
As Safety Harness enters the battlefield, put a tether counter on a land you control. (Safety Harness is tethered to that land.)
When equipped creature is put into a graveyard, if the tethered land is on the battlefield, return that creature to the battlefield tapped at the beginning of the next end step and attach Safety Harness to it.
Equip 2
"Just think of it as a thousand-foot high hammock." -- Tharin Roilwalker
Falter Trap 2B
Instant - Trap U
If two or more creatures entered the battlefield under an opponent's control this turn, you may pay B instead of Falter Trap's mana cost.
Target player sacrifices a creature.
As Tarvin fell, he seemingly had all the time in the world to ponder the expedition leader's simple instructions: Walk slowly; the ground isn't stable.
Rockblade Razer 4R
Creature - Giant Warrior R
Level up 1R 4/4
Level 1-4: Trample 6/5
Level 5+: Trample; Whenever Rockblade Razer deals combat damage to a player, destroy target land that player controls. 8/6
Engulfer of All 10
Creature - Eldrazi R
When you cast Engulfer of All, target player sacrifices a permanent.
Annihilator 2
3: Engulfer of All gains annihilator 1 until end of turn.
It's looming shadow is a metaphor for what it can do to this world. If Zendikar is to reach its demise, it will be by its hand.
9/9
Legendary Creature - Elf Warrior (R)
G,T: Search your library for an Elf creature card and put it onto the battlefield tapped. Shuffle your library afterwards.
Trubio is a member of no tribe. He believes all elves comes from the same lineage, and if they wish to survive, they will need to work together.
2/2
Ora Ondar Champion 3GG
Creature - Elf Warrior Ally (R)
Whenever Ora Ondar or another Ally enters the battlefield under your control, you may have Ally creatures you control gain +X/+X and trample, where X is the number of Allies you control.
2/2
Khalni Bloomtender 1GG
Creature - Elf Shaman Ally (R)
Whenever you cast Khalni Bloomtender or another Ally creature, you may draw a card.
1/1
Trubio's Camp
Land (R)
Trubio's Camp enters the battlefield tapped with 2 charge counters on it.
T: Add G to your mana pool.
G,T, Remove a charge counter from Trubio's Camp: Regenerate target Elf.
Your camp shouldn't just keep you safe, it should also save you.
Livingvine Trap XXG
Instant - Trap (U)
Whenever three or more creatures attack you, you may pay X rather than pay Livingvine Trap's mana cost.
Put X 0/1 green Plant creature tokens on to the battlefield.
We simply wanted to protect the Khalni Stone, however the Everbloom didn't understand our quest.
Broodbirther of Emrakul 10
Creature - Eldrazi (R)
Annihilator 2 (Whenever this creature attacks, defending player sacrifices two permanents.)
When Broodbirther of Emrakul deals damage to a player, put that many 0/1 colorless Eldrazi Spawn creature tokens onto the battlefield. They have "Sacrifice this creature: Add 1 to your mana pool."
9/9
Ora Ondar Champion 1G
Creature - Elf Warrior (R)
Level Up 1G (2/2)
[Level 1 - 3]: Trample (3/3)
[Level +4]: Creatures you control get +3/+3 and trample. (4/4)
BGStandard Green AggroGB
UWRGModern Saheeli CobraGRWU
UBRGLegacy StormGRBU
Wizards Certified Rules Advisor
To be fair, the wings is multicolored and the creature has to deal damage to a player. Thanks for the critiques though
As for Liliana, she may be just a flop, but I wanted to keep her X ability without making her just better than Black Sun's Zenith (yence the low loyalty) but I figured that being able to +2 every turn shouldn't be something that is really one sided (ala Jace Beleren). I kept it +2 though because I wanted her Ultimate to be reachable.
BGStandard Green AggroGB
UWRGModern Saheeli CobraGRWU
UBRGLegacy StormGRBU
Wizards Certified Rules Advisor
Level 1 DCI Judge
Check out my Commons Cube.
-----------------------
Overall Set:
While I see the token creation and overall ally feel of your cards (as a whole, not just your final three); however the overall problem is that all your other cards (save for Trubio's Camp and Broodbirther) are green and then you have...Liliana.
Final Three:
Liliana: She's definitely strong, but I think if your going to do an emblem with that effect, it should probably be at a -8 since your giving her 2 LC for her plus.
Threatening Roar: Interesting effect. Definitely common as it would see play, but I feel it's missing something and I can't put my finger on it.
Bloom Umbra: I see this card more as an uncommon at that cost and for tossing out 0/1 creatures that do really nothing.
Overall - You really went for the mono coloring; but because of that it can severely limit you. I would have liked to see more versatility in your set, but overall the cards are well designed.
-----------------------
Dragoon
-----------------------
Overall Set:
You have a LOT of rares and no commons. I do like the variety of colors that you have presented. It makes for a wide variety of uses and isn't limited to just one or two colors. The issue with that however is that in order to use any of these cards, you would have to have a deck splashed with multiple colors.
Final Three:
Garruk: Looks interesting, but I don't see him as a proliferator as much.
Expel: I see more of an exiler than a drop to bottom card.
Phantom Umbra: I don't see this as a blue, but more as a white or green.
Overall - With a few color tweaks here and there and maybe some wording and abilities, it would be a good design.
My vote went to Dragoon for this one. It was generally tough to make the decision, but I had to side with the concept of versatility in colors.
I understand where you are coming from (and believed me, I wished I had more colors to choose from) but my allies had to work with my avatar (and my avatar wasn't an ally so I had to make them elves... which on zendikar are green)
Then we had to make a camp. Which was my land.
Then we had to make a trap, which happens in the Everbloom (so it had to be green)
Then we had to make a eldrazi and redo one of our allies (which makes him green still)
THEN, we had to design a spell that we could cast (which would have to be green since my avatar is green) and then the aura (which considering I was fighting my eldrazi, which I assume is still at the Everbloom, it would also have to be green)
I really had no choice to make only green cards.
BGStandard Green AggroGB
UWRGModern Saheeli CobraGRWU
UBRGLegacy StormGRBU
Wizards Certified Rules Advisor
I didn't really view any of those as official restrictions. In fact, picking allies in different colors from my avatar made sense, since it would allow more strengths in the party. And I didn't see the final challenge as having to design a spell or aura that had to be castable by our avatar (ie: the same color...) Then again, maybe I just didn't pick up on that.
Level 1 DCI Judge
Check out my Commons Cube.
BGStandard Green AggroGB
UWRGModern Saheeli CobraGRWU
UBRGLegacy StormGRBU
Wizards Certified Rules Advisor
You actually could have splashed them since now and days, if you think about it, most people play dual colors, if not more, so you can base overall off of more than just green. I WILL admit that it was good, again, the lack of color option was harsh.
You gave me quite a run Dragoon, especially in the beginning when you were up like 4 votes!
Great job Dragoon and everybody who participated in January's CCL and thanks all who voted for my cards!
BGStandard Green AggroGB
UWRGModern Saheeli CobraGRWU
UBRGLegacy StormGRBU
Wizards Certified Rules Advisor
I will say that I like Garruk a little better than Liliana for the internal synergy. Threatening Roar is maybe a more fun effect but Expel is nice and clean, both of the Rebound cards seem undercosted to me. It was nice that you guys both picked up on Totem Armor since I forgot about it, although neither of them seemed very good, and the order of effects on Dragoon's is confusing. I wasn't really keen on another Zendikar CCL in the first place, liked the block but I didn't think there was much space for more design.