Grave Mistake4BB
Sorcery (U)
Destroy target creature. Return target creature card in your graveyard to the battlefield if its converted mana cost is less than the destroyed creature's converted mana cost.
Azina the ExpungerBB Legendary Creature - Human Assassin (R)
Flash
When Azina the Expunger enters the battlefield, destroy another target creature that entered the battlefield this turn. Each player other than that creature's controller lose life equal to its power. Azina takes care of upstarts before they become a problem and takes compensation before you've decided on a price.
2/2
Riddlefog2U
Creature - Illusion (U)
Defender
Vanishing 3 (This permanent enters the battlefield with three time counters on it. At the beginning of your upkeep, remove a time counter from it. When the last is removed, sacrifice it.)
When Riddlefog dies, if it had no time counters on it, draw 2 cards.
0/5
RiddlefrogGU
Creature — Frog (U)
At the beginning of your upkeep, exile the top card of your library.
When Riddlefrog dies, return all cards exiled with it into their owner's hands. It absorbs wisdom from the temple streams it calls home, releasing it all in a single momentous croak.
1/1
Platinum Wind3WB
Instant R
Target player chooses two creatures he or she controls. Put those creatures into their owner's library just beneath the top five cards of those libraries. "It is the worst calamity in Miste. A gale that turns crops to stone and men to memories."
--Gravis, Miste Elder
Arcane Birefringence2UU
Instant
Counter target spell, then reveal the top card of your library. If the revealed card shares a card type with the countered spell, put it into your hand.
Ink-Treader: Meteor Slam is a very powerful conditional removal spell. The flavor is spot-on, but the swinginess of the card makes it problematic for Limited; it's either a blowout or a dead card.
admadm: Brain Decay is a solid removal spell that would be a first-pick in most formats. Nothing to write home about in terms of design innovation.
Reap//Sow is a reasonable card aside from the fact that there is already a card named Reap and Sow.
ManyCookies: Goblin Kavu two-for-ones yourself? I'm going to treat this as a joke entry and skip it.
Persevering Insight is a bit of a rules headache. Span is just a keyworded version of the "Double" cycle from Unglued. I don't think that ability makes sense for black-borded Magic.
avatarz: Face Burglar is much better after Stapler's suggestions. It's a cool twist on Evil Twin, but is potentially dangerous with certain ETB effects (Eternal Witness, Gilded Drake, "free" creatures like Cloud of Faeries, etc.). However, the card is so cool that I don't care.
Am Shegar: Blood Binding is a conditional two-for-one that probably doesn't really need to be an enchantment. A more elegant way to execute this card (though it loses some of its flavor) would look as follows.
Blood BindingBBB
Instant {U} Morbid - If a creature died this turn, destroy two target creatures.
(Obviously this card is undercosted by at least 2.)
SNL: Dungeon of the Fiend-Blooded has way too much value added onto it. Shadowblood Ridge never broke any efficiency records, but this card is on an entirely different level. (Also, it's "3BR.")
Chemtrails: Shakedown is great, from the concept to the execution to the flavor text. It's too bad that IIW is so egregious.
MOON-E: Moment of Multiplicity seems like fun. I don't think it needs to be green, though given that it's a unique effect, you have a bit more freedom to decide what in colors it should be. On an unrelated note, nice Douglas Adams-inspired sig quote!
Cythare: Grave Mistake seems more than a little busted. The only other card that does something to this effect is Betrayal of Flesh, which costs an additional three lands to get this much value. It's a cool idea, but scary in Limited.
Stapler: Azina the Expunger is fantastic except for one minor issue. The ability to generate random value in multiplayer seems out of place to me and rather out of line with other black cards in this vein (pun intended); I would have prefered if it just caused Azina's controller to lose life.
TacticalCelebrant: Riddlefog is cute. I personally would prefer if it drawed you three (word, not numeral) cards, both as a more worthwhile return on initial investment as well as to match the aesthetic of the CMC and vanishing both being 3.
Chemtrails II: Riddlefrog is adorable. I want one!
Rithaniel: Platinum Wind is weird for a removal spell. It should probably be monowhite and if it's going to bury the cards that deep it might as well put them on the bottom or even exile them. If the execution of the card were tightened up a bit it might be pretty sweet.
Ragaxus: Arcane Birefringence (what) feels like a clunkier Counterlash. It's also strictly worse than Dismiss, would be strictly better than Cancel at 1UU, and shouldn't be 3U because it's a hard counter. Awkward.
HMs: Chemtrails, Stapler
Winner: avatarz
Next: Variants on Magic staples.
Change MemoriesU InstantU
Target opponent draws three cards, then that player reveals his or her hand. Choose two cards from it and put them on top of that player's library in any order.
Draw a card. "I remember tommorow like it was yesterday."
IIW: pushed instants at 1 cmc or 4+ cmc
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Wizards can start putting booster packs inside dog poo and dog owners will still complain.
Chemtrails: Shakedown is great, from the concept to the execution to the flavor text. It's too bad that IIW is so egregious.
(4:26:23 AM) Megiddo: worst case they just discard a land
(4:26:25 AM) Megiddo: random discard is real good
(4:26:36 AM) Capa: It's not a particularly good card by any means.
(4:26:40 AM) Capa: But it has insane potential.
(4:27:21 AM) Megiddo: yes
(4:27:28 AM) Megiddo: nab yr best card and yr best guy
(4:27:29 AM) Megiddo: ggggggggg
(4:27:56 AM) Capa: How would you describe these sorts of cards in IIW form?
(4:28:15 AM) Capa: IIW: Situationally backbreaking.
(4:30:00 AM) Megiddo: IIW "lol gg bro"
(4:30:22 AM) Capa: Done
(4:30:24 AM) Capa: ~
ManyCookies: Goblin Kavu two-for-ones yourself? I'm going to treat this as a joke entry and skip it.
You never specified which way the 2-1 had to be in (and I think it's a somewhat interesting card, if not particularly pushed)
Is DRS considered a staple yet?
Mindhoned Occulus
Creature- Homunculus (R) T: Exile target land card from a graveyard. Target player puts the top three cards of his or her library into his or her graveyard. U, T: Exile target instant or sorcery card from a graveyard. Scry 2. B, T: Exile target creature card from a graveyard. You may put target creature card from your graveyard on top of your library.
1/2
I was figuring this would be more like llanowar elves as the "staple" in question and Avacyn's Pilgrim as the variant. But, if we're doing what has been so far put forward...
Deepwarmth Brazier1
Artifact R T, Tap X untapped creatures you control: Untap X target creatures. It's flames reinvigorate all who stand near. Though, to stoke those flames can often drain a soul of whatever vigor it already had.
(And while I'm at it...)
Rising LifeforceG
Instant C
Until end of turn, whenever a player taps a creature for mana, that player adds G to his or her mana pool. When the forest itself grows angry, nothing can stop it's forces.
Kudzu2G
Instant U
Put a 0/1 green Plant creature token onto the battlefield.
Storm "It's everywhere!"
--Garruk
Spellweave Mystic1W
Creature - Kor Druid (R)
When Spellweave Mystic enters the battlefield, you may search your library for an Aura card, reveal it, put it into your hand, then shuffle your library. 1W, T: You may put an Aura card from your hand onto the battlefield attached to target creature.
1/2
Too painfully obvious... but I wonder how much less broken that might be... if less broken at all.
Tarmotic OozeUG
Creature - Ooze (R)
Graft X, where X is the number of card types among cards in all graveyards. Diversity is the road to perfection.
0/0
IIW: Your best flavor text. That's certainly not my best flavor text.
Magic Stapler2
Artifact {R} 2, T: Choose two target creatures controlled by the same player. Exile one of those creatures and put X +1/+1 counters on the other, where X is the power of the exiled card. "That was easy."
Nyxian Abolisher4U
Enchantment Creature - Merfolk Wizard {U} Constellation — Whenever Nyxian Abolisher or another enchantment enters the battlefield under your control, you may return target creature to its owner's hand. "You will bend to Thassa's will one way or another." 1/4
IIW: Design a card with different CMC, types, and rarity than the card above (starting with Nyxian Abolisher).
Viscera ExtractionB
Instant [C]
Target creature gets -0/-3 until end of turn. "Humans confuse me. Why are they so revolted by the very organs that keep them alive?"
—Baron Sengir
Spears into Pruning HooksW
Enchantment - Aura (U)
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature can't attack or block, has "T: You gain 1 life," and loses all other abilities.
Trichs' Patta2
Legendary Artifact — Equipment
Whenever equipped creature deals combat damage, put a charge counters on Trichs' Patta.
Remove a charge counter from Trichs' Patta: Choose one — Target player loses 1 life, it deals 2 damage to target creature, or put a +1/+1 counter on equipped creature.
Equip 2
a less aggressive Jitte .. with slight twist..
or fetchland with slight twist: Morian Hideout
Land - Mountain
As long as Morian Hideout is untapped, at the beginning of you end step you may shuffle it into your library. If you do, search your library for a Plains card and put it into play then shuffle your library. The Morian tribe are nomads, they seclude themselves in the mountain range. Once found by the outside world, the Morian will evacuate and find another mountain as their hideout.
joining the Confidant Frenzy:
Sneaky Confidant
Creature - Human Wizard
At the beginning of you upkeep, reveal the top card of your library, if it is a non-creature card, put it into your hand. Otherwise, you lose life equals to its converted mana cost then put it into your graveyard. Some people are too obsessed serving that they're willing to do anything to prevent competition in serving.
2/1
iiw: Cards Archenemy, Two HG, Commander, Planechase
Chaotic Confidant1R
Creature - Human Shaman
At the beginning of your upkeep, discard two cards at random, then draw a card. "Don't worry. Let chaos embrace you."
2/1
Deepthought Confidant1U
Creature - Human Wizard
At the beginning of your upkeep, exile the top 6 cards of your library, then draw a card.
Hey, look at the bright side, even if you go insane, you wont know it!
2/1
Loose-lipped Confidant1W
Creature - Human Advisor
At the beginning of your upkeep, each player draws a card.
1/2
Hungry Confidant1G
Creature - Human Shaman
At the beginning of your upkeep, reveal the top card of your library and put that card into your hand. Sacrifice a creature with power greater than or equal to its converted mana cost. "Will work for food."
—Undercity panhandler
1/2
Cogwork Confidant2
Artifact Creature — Construct Advisor [R]
At the beginning of your upkeep, reveal the top card of your library. If the revealed card's converted mana cost is less than or equal to the number of artifacts you control, put it into your hand.
Stormlight BlastR
Instant (C)
Choose one - Stormlight Blast deals 3 damage to target creature, or destroy target artifact with converted mana cost 3 or less.
Sheoldred's Confidant1B Creature - Horror (R)
Infect
At the beginning of your upkeep, reveal the top card of your library and put that card into your hand. You get X poison counters, where X is that card's converted mana cost.
2/1
Kozilek's Confidant2 Creature - Eldrazi Drone (R)
At the beginning of your upkeep, reveal the top card of your library. If it's colourless, put it into your hand.
2/1
IIW: Make a mechanic, then make a card that DOESN'T have that mechanic, but works well with cards that do.
Confident Confidant1U
Creature - Human Advisor (R)
At the beginning of your upkeep, choose a number, then reveal the top card of your library. Put that card into your hand if its converted mana cost is equal to your chosen number. "It's horse number seven, 100% sure."
2/2
Loose-lipped Confidant1W
Creature - Human Advisor
At the beginning of your upkeep, each player draws a card.
1/2
Charitable Confidant1W
Creature - Human Advisor (R)
At the beginning of each other player's upkeep, that player reveals the top card of their library. You gain life equal to that card's converted mana cost, then that player puts that card into their hand.
1/2
It was at that moment that I realized: I'm kinda just making these things up. We can just write the rules the way we want them to work. People will have fun, and people will get it.
Sorcery (U)
Destroy target creature. Return target creature card in your graveyard to the battlefield if its converted mana cost is less than the destroyed creature's converted mana cost.
IIW: 2/2s for CC
Draft my cube! (630 cards)
Azina the Expunger BB
Legendary Creature - Human Assassin (R)
Flash
When Azina the Expunger enters the battlefield, destroy another target creature that entered the battlefield this turn. Each player other than that creature's controller lose life equal to its power.
Azina takes care of upstarts before they become a problem and takes compensation before you've decided on a price.
2/2
IIW: 6/6s for CC.
Creature - Illusion (U)
Defender
Vanishing 3 (This permanent enters the battlefield with three time counters on it. At the beginning of your upkeep, remove a time counter from it. When the last is removed, sacrifice it.)
When Riddlefog dies, if it had no time counters on it, draw 2 cards.
0/5
IIW: Take a bad mechanic and make it better.
Creature — Frog (U)
At the beginning of your upkeep, exile the top card of your library.
When Riddlefrog dies, return all cards exiled with it into their owner's hands.
It absorbs wisdom from the temple streams it calls home, releasing it all in a single momentous croak.
1/1
IIW: Frogs, Thrulls, Myr.
Instant R
Target player chooses two creatures he or she controls. Put those creatures into their owner's library just beneath the top five cards of those libraries.
"It is the worst calamity in Miste. A gale that turns crops to stone and men to memories."
--Gravis, Miste Elder
IIW: Cards with multiple Xs in their mana costs.
Instant
Counter target spell, then reveal the top card of your library. If the revealed card shares a card type with the countered spell, put it into your hand.
IIW: Set a staple on another plane.
admadm: Brain Decay is a solid removal spell that would be a first-pick in most formats. Nothing to write home about in terms of design innovation.
Reap//Sow is a reasonable card aside from the fact that there is already a card named Reap and Sow.
ManyCookies: Goblin Kavu two-for-ones yourself? I'm going to treat this as a joke entry and skip it.
Persevering Insight is a bit of a rules headache. Span is just a keyworded version of the "Double" cycle from Unglued. I don't think that ability makes sense for black-borded Magic.
avatarz: Face Burglar is much better after Stapler's suggestions. It's a cool twist on Evil Twin, but is potentially dangerous with certain ETB effects (Eternal Witness, Gilded Drake, "free" creatures like Cloud of Faeries, etc.). However, the card is so cool that I don't care.
Am Shegar: Blood Binding is a conditional two-for-one that probably doesn't really need to be an enchantment. A more elegant way to execute this card (though it loses some of its flavor) would look as follows.
Instant {U}
Morbid - If a creature died this turn, destroy two target creatures.
(Obviously this card is undercosted by at least 2.)
Chemtrails: Shakedown is great, from the concept to the execution to the flavor text. It's too bad that IIW is so egregious.
MOON-E: Moment of Multiplicity seems like fun. I don't think it needs to be green, though given that it's a unique effect, you have a bit more freedom to decide what in colors it should be. On an unrelated note, nice Douglas Adams-inspired sig quote!
Cythare: Grave Mistake seems more than a little busted. The only other card that does something to this effect is Betrayal of Flesh, which costs an additional three lands to get this much value. It's a cool idea, but scary in Limited.
Stapler: Azina the Expunger is fantastic except for one minor issue. The ability to generate random value in multiplayer seems out of place to me and rather out of line with other black cards in this vein (pun intended); I would have prefered if it just caused Azina's controller to lose life.
TacticalCelebrant: Riddlefog is cute. I personally would prefer if it drawed you three (word, not numeral) cards, both as a more worthwhile return on initial investment as well as to match the aesthetic of the CMC and vanishing both being 3.
Chemtrails II: Riddlefrog is adorable. I want one!
Rithaniel: Platinum Wind is weird for a removal spell. It should probably be monowhite and if it's going to bury the cards that deep it might as well put them on the bottom or even exile them. If the execution of the card were tightened up a bit it might be pretty sweet.
Ragaxus: Arcane Birefringence (what) feels like a clunkier Counterlash. It's also strictly worse than Dismiss, would be strictly better than Cancel at 1UU, and shouldn't be 3U because it's a hard counter. Awkward.
Winner: avatarz
Next: Variants on Magic staples.
Instant U
Target opponent draws three cards, then that player reveals his or her hand. Choose two cards from it and put them on top of that player's library in any order.
Draw a card.
"I remember tommorow like it was yesterday."
IIW: pushed instants at 1 cmc or 4+ cmc
(4:26:25 AM) Megiddo: random discard is real good
(4:26:36 AM) Capa: It's not a particularly good card by any means.
(4:26:40 AM) Capa: But it has insane potential.
(4:27:21 AM) Megiddo: yes
(4:27:28 AM) Megiddo: nab yr best card and yr best guy
(4:27:29 AM) Megiddo: ggggggggg
(4:27:56 AM) Capa: How would you describe these sorts of cards in IIW form?
(4:28:15 AM) Capa: IIW: Situationally backbreaking.
(4:30:00 AM) Megiddo: IIW "lol gg bro"
(4:30:22 AM) Capa: Done
(4:30:24 AM) Capa: ~
You never specified which way the 2-1 had to be in
Is DRS considered a staple yet?
Mindhoned Occulus
Creature- Homunculus (R)
T: Exile target land card from a graveyard. Target player puts the top three cards of his or her library into his or her graveyard.
U, T: Exile target instant or sorcery card from a graveyard. Scry 2.
B, T: Exile target creature card from a graveyard. You may put target creature card from your graveyard on top of your library.
1/2
Deepwarmth Brazier 1
Artifact R
T, Tap X untapped creatures you control: Untap X target creatures.
It's flames reinvigorate all who stand near. Though, to stoke those flames can often drain a soul of whatever vigor it already had.
(And while I'm at it...)
Rising Lifeforce G
Instant C
Until end of turn, whenever a player taps a creature for mana, that player adds G to his or her mana pool.
When the forest itself grows angry, nothing can stop it's forces.
Kudzu 2G
Instant U
Put a 0/1 green Plant creature token onto the battlefield.
Storm
"It's everywhere!"
--Garruk
IIW: Cards with multiple Xs in their mana costs.
Creature - Kor Druid (R)
When Spellweave Mystic enters the battlefield, you may search your library for an Aura card, reveal it, put it into your hand, then shuffle your library.
1W, T: You may put an Aura card from your hand onto the battlefield attached to target creature.
1/2
Too painfully obvious... but I wonder how much less broken that might be... if less broken at all.
Tarmotic Ooze UG
Creature - Ooze (R)
Graft X, where X is the number of card types among cards in all graveyards.
Diversity is the road to perfection.
0/0
IIW: Your best flavor text. That's certainly not my best flavor text.
Choose one of these judge of creation:
Make Strionic Resonator shine!
You can not grasp the true form of Ashiok's attack!
Artifact {R}
2, T: Choose two target creatures controlled by the same player. Exile one of those creatures and put X +1/+1 counters on the other, where X is the power of the exiled card.
"That was easy."
Enchantment Creature - Merfolk Wizard {U}
Constellation — Whenever Nyxian Abolisher or another enchantment enters the battlefield under your control, you may return target creature to its owner's hand.
"You will bend to Thassa's will one way or another."
1/4
Instant [C]
Target creature gets -0/-3 until end of turn.
"Humans confuse me. Why are they so revolted by the very organs that keep them alive?"
—Baron Sengir
As a black lightning bolt
IIW: Cars for a Mistform Ultimus edh deck
Enchantment - Aura (U)
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature can't attack or block, has "T: You gain 1 life," and loses all other abilities.
IIW: Warlords of Khanar
Legendary Artifact — Equipment
Whenever equipped creature deals combat damage, put a charge counters on Trichs' Patta.
Remove a charge counter from Trichs' Patta: Choose one — Target player loses 1 life, it deals 2 damage to target creature, or put a +1/+1 counter on equipped creature.
Equip 2
a less aggressive Jitte .. with slight twist..
or fetchland with slight twist:
Morian Hideout
Land - Mountain
As long as Morian Hideout is untapped, at the beginning of you end step you may shuffle it into your library. If you do, search your library for a Plains card and put it into play then shuffle your library.
The Morian tribe are nomads, they seclude themselves in the mountain range. Once found by the outside world, the Morian will evacuate and find another mountain as their hideout.
joining the Confidant Frenzy:
Sneaky Confidant
Creature - Human Wizard
At the beginning of you upkeep, reveal the top card of your library, if it is a non-creature card, put it into your hand. Otherwise, you lose life equals to its converted mana cost then put it into your graveyard.
Some people are too obsessed serving that they're willing to do anything to prevent competition in serving.
2/1
iiw: Cards Archenemy, Two HG, Commander, Planechase
Loose-lipped Confidant 1W
Creature - Human Advisor
At the beginning of your upkeep, each player draws a card.
1/2
Hungry Confidant 1G
Creature - Human Shaman
At the beginning of your upkeep, reveal the top card of your library and put that card into your hand. Sacrifice a creature with power greater than or equal to its converted mana cost.
"Will work for food."
—Undercity panhandler
1/2
Artifact Creature — Construct Advisor [R]
At the beginning of your upkeep, reveal the top card of your library. If the revealed card's converted mana cost is less than or equal to the number of artifacts you control, put it into your hand.
IIW: Conspiracy "drafting matters" cards
Instant (C)
Choose one - Stormlight Blast deals 3 damage to target creature, or destroy target artifact with converted mana cost 3 or less.
IIW: until
Sheoldred's Confidant 1B
Creature - Horror (R)
Infect
At the beginning of your upkeep, reveal the top card of your library and put that card into your hand. You get X poison counters, where X is that card's converted mana cost.
2/1
Kozilek's Confidant 2
Creature - Eldrazi Drone (R)
At the beginning of your upkeep, reveal the top card of your library. If it's colourless, put it into your hand.
2/1
IIW: Make a mechanic, then make a card that DOESN'T have that mechanic, but works well with cards that do.
Confident Confidant 1U
Creature - Human Advisor (R)
At the beginning of your upkeep, choose a number, then reveal the top card of your library. Put that card into your hand if its converted mana cost is equal to your chosen number.
"It's horse number seven, 100% sure."
2/2
Charitable Confidant 1W
Creature - Human Advisor (R)
At the beginning of each other player's upkeep, that player reveals the top card of their library. You gain life equal to that card's converted mana cost, then that player puts that card into their hand.
1/2
Choose one of these judge of creation:
Make Strionic Resonator shine!
You can not grasp the true form of Ashiok's attack!
Instant (U)
Choose one or both - Destroy target artifact; and/or destroy target enchantment.
I wonder in how many formats this would actually be relevant.
IIW: Board Games
This has made a lot of people very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move."
Comic Book Set
Archester: Frontier of Steam (A steampunk set!)
A Good Place to Start Designing
This is a green Wear // Tear.