This month in the MCC, we're going to focus on context. To be more specific, we're going to be focusing on how we can design individual cards in a way that they fit into the context of the set — both in the more obvious ways, such as mechanics and storyline, and in subtler ways, such as how cards can fit into themes like flavor and set mechanics.
Main challenge: Choose a modern-legal set. Announce what set you've chosen, then design a card that fits thematically into that set.
Subchallenge 1: Your card contains a keyword that originated in the set you've chosen.
Subchallenge 2: Your card is not legendary.
Main Challenge
For the main challenge, you have to design a card that would make sense in your chosen set. Your card will be evaluated as though it were printed in that set. You should take into consideration things such as set theme, storyline, and even power level.
Subchallenge 1
Your keyword can't be one that is returning in your chosen set; for example, designing a card with Scry from Theros would not pass the main challenge
A reminder to everyone: In the MCC, putting rarity on cards is mandatory! If you don't put a rarity on your card, expect huge deductions in both Viability AND Quality.
Also, you should format your text cards accordingly to the forum rules (see the "this formatting looks best" spoiler in the linked OP). Again, expect deductions in Quality otherwise.
Design - (X/3) Appeal: Do the different player psychographics (Timmy/Johhny/Spike) have a use for the card? (X/3) Elegance: Is the card easily understandable at a glance? Do all the flavor and mechanics combined as a whole make sense?
Development - (X/3) Viability: How well does the card fit into the color wheel? Does it break or bend the rules of the game? Is it the appropriate rarity? (X/3) Balance: Does the card have a power level appropriate for contemporary constructed/limited environments without breaking them? Does it play well in casual and multiplayer formats? Does it create or fit into a deck/archetype? Does it create an oppressive environment?
Creativity - (X/3) Uniqueness: Has a card like this ever been printed before? Does it use new mechanics, ideas, or design space? Does it combine old ideas in a new way? Overall, does it feel “fresh”? (X/3) Flavor: Does the name seem realistic for a card? Does the flavor text sound professional? Do all the flavor elements synch together to please Vorthos players?
Polish - (X/3) Quality: Points deducted for incorrect spelling, grammar, and templating. (X/2) *Main Challenge: Was the main challenge satisfied? Was it approached in a unique or interesting way? Does the card fit the intent of the challenge? (X/2) Subchallenges: One point awarded per satisfied subchallenge condition.
Total: X/25
*An entry with 0 points here is subject to disqualification.
DEADLINES
Design deadline: Monday, July 7th 2017 23:59 EDT
Judging deadline: Friday, July 11th 2017 23:59 EDT
Design - (3/3) Appeal: Johnny/Jenny like their draft-around me cards and this could also make for some interesting constructed decks? Getting value for your life total should be appealing to Spike as well. This will find takers. (2.5/3) Elegance: It's apparent that the card tries to be clever. It takes a moment to understand that any counter would mean +1/+1 counters as well, namely those from your undying creatures...
Development - (2/3) Viability: ...and I believe it would be better for this to just affect +1/+1 counters. In many cases that would work about the same, but any counter leaves a risk of unpleasant combos in the format and just the thought that players could be tempted to pay 12 life to get rid of a planeswalker is worrysome. Counter removing in certainly in black. This is on the higher end of uncommon complexity and the concept might be more fitting for a rare, even though the card as is probably isn't splashy enough. (3/3) Balance: 4 life to save a creature is a big investment and the card itself isn't exactly cheap for what you get on the board. You'd need some lifegain to get this going. There's quite some of that in Avacyn Restored and this card would work well with Homicidal Seclusion forming a juicy combo.
Creativity - (1.5/3) Uniqueness:Thrull Parasite is pretty close to this, but the interaction with Undying is a nice twist. It's also an unseen take on an Undying lord. (1.5/3) Flavor: I have no idea what a Hex-Keeper is. Someone who takes care of spells? Mikaeus is pretty dead, does he have use for that? Or did he have use for that before he died? Well, it's a cute reminder of what happened in the set before. But in Avacyn Restored monsters are mostly left to fend for themselves. Hinting at a connection between them feels off. There would have been plenty of room for flavortext.
Polish - (2.5/3) Quality: In all but one case Undying is the last ability on a card. (2/2) Main Challenge: Sure. (1/2) Subchallenges: So, since Undying technicially originated in Dark Ascension I guess I can't give you that point.
Total: 19/25
Design - (1.5/3) Appeal: While Spike likes to draw cards I feel like a 3/2 for 4 just isn't appealing enough. Timmy/Tammy might actually enjoy this for the avoidance of tiny creatures. Not sure it'd have many takers though. (3/3) Elegance: Simple enough and quite straightforward.
Development - (3/3) Viability: Creature based card draw is fine for green. The evasion ability is well established in green. Drawing cards in green should still be on rare. (1.5/3) Balance: As said before, 4 mana 3/2 isn't very appealing. The card is easily dealt with, but with a bit of luck you might draw a few cards with it. The thing is that the Fateful hour part isn't relevant. Which is always a concern with the mechanic, which is why it's not popular. When you are on 5 or less life, you don't exactly want to use your creatures to attack. Attempting to draw with this doesn't sound viable.
Creativity - (2/3) Uniqueness: The individual tools to make this card have been used before, but a green creature with evasion that draws cards is nice. (3/3) Flavor: The name is nice and while I don't see how dealing damage to a player is tying into this all the flavortext gives a good explanation.
Polish - (3/3) Quality: Looks good. (2/2) Main Challenge: Has that feeling of desperation. (2/2) Subchallenges: Both met.
Total: 21/25
Design - (2.5/3) Appeal: Draft fodder. Spike enjoys these cards, as playing with and around combat tricks is their kind of thing. This is also a better Giant Growth for some situations, so that might be applicable. (3/3) Elegance: A thing of beauty!
Development - (3/3) Viability: Very well within green's color pie. (3/3) Balance: This is just a much more powerful Diminish! Jokes aside, this is fair and a good variant of Giant Growth.
Creativity - (1.5/3) Uniqueness: Well, the effect has been used many times before, but only rarely as a simple combat trick. Wings of Velis Vel works somewhat in the same direction. It's basicially Gigantomancer's ability on a card. Still, it's a good place to move this and it hasn't been done, even though you'd expect this to show up eventually. (2.5/3) Flavor: Gargantuize doesn't exactly roll off the tongue like Giant Growth does, but it's okay. The flavortext doesn't really play into the way the card gets used, but it's a nice touch of worldbuilding.
Polish - (3/3) Quality: Looks good. (2/2) Main Challenge: A good fit. (1/2) Subchallenges: It's not your mistake they didn't name the thing, I'm sure they'd do it these days, but the ability word couldn't be on your design as is (of course you didn't go for that), so I still can't even give you half a point for that. At least you didn't make the first legendary instant in existence.
Total: 21.5/25
Design - (2.5/3) Appeal: Timmy/Tammy should be interested. Depending on the meta Spike might run this in drafts, but Theros was rather swingy and I don't think this would have been fast enough. (3/3) Elegance: All the pieces fall well into place, while still hiding tricks to discover. A nice lenticular design.
Development - (3/3) Viability: 7/7 for 7 exist at uncommon, but almost all of them are green. Blue however gets their occasional fatty. As this one has a drawback, this should be okay. (3/3) Balance: 7 mana 7/7s aren't going to break anything, but still offer an interesting choice for limited. 5 devotion to blue isn't easy to get, even with the 2 this supplies. 7 mana just to untap a creature is a lot. But at least this is still a good blocker in any case.
Creativity - (1.5/3) Uniqueness: Well, this is pretty close to Mage-Ring Responder without the damage ability. But the devotion reward part is a neat addition. (2.5/3) Flavor: Love the name. Serpent, Kraken or Octopus would have been a better fitting creature type for the setting, Leviathan is not greek mythology inspired. The flavortext is nice.
Polish - (3/3) Quality: Looks good. (2/2) Main Challenge: Neat fit. (2/2) Subchallenges: Not legendary. Devotion originated in Theros.
Total: 22.5/25
Design - (2/3) Appeal: Fairly sure Johnny/Jenny would try to turn this into a deck, but the damage affecting every player makes this very hard. Spike might try a burn or aggro deck that accumulates some energy on the side. I don't think this is appealing enough as a hate card. (3/3) Elegance: Fairly simple.
Development - (1/3) Viability: We don't do hate cards on mechanics we try to sell the set on. We want them to be viable. While there was some time counter shenanigans in red, counter removing is mostly centered in black and maybe green. Uncommon is a good fit. (2.5/3) Balance: 1 damage per energy to a player. This is dangerous for usage in burn decks. Getting like 6 energy on the side is easy and using the energy your opponent may have this can easily seal the deal in a damage race with 8 damage. Worrysome.
Creativity - (3/3) Uniqueness: Certainly haven't been done like that before. (2.5/3) Flavor: Captured the flavor of exploding Aether quite nicely. The flavortext is a bit strange. Why would anyone take an inventor not serious when he's screaming about a gremlin?
Polish - (3/3) Quality: Looks good. (2/2) Main Challenge: Feels Kaladeshian. (2/2) Subchallenges: Guess energy is a keyword.
JamBlock gets a honorable mention for making my favorite design this round in my bracket. Sad to see Thrull Parasite, flavor and the challenge take a bite out of the points.
Multiple instances of lifelink on the same creature are redundant.
Multiple instances of lifelink on the same creature are redundant.
Multiple instances of lifelink on the same creature are redundant.
—Eli Shiffrin, Rules Manager, on a design stacking lifelink instances
Brutish Aberration 2B
Creature — Eldrazi Processor [R]
Devoid (This card has no color.)
2, Put a card an opponent owns from exile into that player's graveyard: Brutish Aberration gets +3/+3 until end of turn.
3/3
Midnight Dance4(W/B)(W/B)
Sorcery (Rare)
Return target creature or enchantment card from your graveyard to the battlefield.
Retrace (You may cast this card from your graveyard by discarding a land card in addition to paying its other costs.) "When the Gwyllions dance, the souls of the dead come and dance with them."
-Talara, Elvish Safewright
Loyal Argivian1WW
Instant [U]
Create a 1/1 white Soldier creature token.
Recover 1W(When a creature is put into your graveyard from the battlefield, you may pay 1W. If you do, return this card from your graveyard to your hand. Otherwise, exile this card.) Fight for your king if you can. Fight for your life if you must!
Heliod's Judgement1WW
Instant [R]
Choose one —
• Destroy target creature that dealt damage to you this turn.
• Destroy target planeswalker that activated a loyalty ability this turn. “A hero cannot be greater than their god.”
Art by Tyler Jacobson. The closest I can find to a source is here.
Guiding Light2WW
Enchantment (R)
Exalted (Whenever a creature you control attacks alone, that creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn.)
Whenever a creature you control attacks alone, create a 4/4 white Angel creature token with flying that is tapped and attacking. Exile that token at end of combat. "Whenever you feel alone, know that I am by your side."
—Lenia, Asura of Justice
(22 Total) - October 2014; December 2014; January 2015; April 2015; June 2015; August 2015; September 2015; November 2015; December 2015(T); January 2016; March 2016(T); April 2016; June 2016; October 2016; December 2016(T); February 2017; April 2017; December 2017; November 2018(T); January 2019; April 2019; June 2019
(8 Total) - May 2015; May 2016; June 2016; August 2016; October 2016; December 2016; October 2017; May 2019
(7 Total) - September 2015; October 2015; January 2016; March 2016; April 2016; July 2016(T); March 2019(T)
Sea Gate Portalmaster1WU
Creature - Merfolk Wizard (R)
The first creature spell you cast each turn can be cast as though it had flash. Rally — Whenever Sea Gate Portalmaster or another Ally enters the battlefield under your control, the next creature card you cast this turn can be cast as though it had flash. “Everyone, get in there and fight!”
2/3
Vodalian SentinelUU
Creature - Merfolk Wizard (R)
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.) U, Remove a time counter from Vodalian Sentinel: Return target creature to its owner's hand.
2/2
Zero Boundary1GW
Sorcery (R) Replicate— Tap a untapped nontoken creature you control. (When you cast this spell, copy it for each time you paid its replicate cost.)
Create a 2/2 white Knight creature token with vigilance.
Manifest DestinyXXGW
Enchantment (R)
When you cast Manifest Destiny, manifest the top X cards of your library. (Put them onto the battlefield face down as 2/2 creatures. Turn it face up any time for its mana cost if it's a creature card.) 3: You may turn target face down creature you control face up. Then, if it isn't a land, exile it. "There are always new lands to explore, new homes to found."
Konda’s SeieibushiWW
Creature - Human Samurai {R}
Bushido 2 (When this blocks or becomes blocked, it gets +2/+2 until end of turn.)
Whenever a legendary samurai creature you control dies, sacrifice Konda’s Seieibushi and return that creature to the battlefield under its owners control. "There is no greater honor then dying for you my lord."
2/2
Great-Oak Guardian2GG
Creature - Treefolk Warrior (R)
Trample
Champion a Treefolk (When this enters the battlefield, sacrifice it unless you exile another Treefolk you control. When this leaves the battlefield, that card returns to the battlefield.)
Great-Oak Guardian gets +X/+X, where X is the converted mana cost of the card it championed.
3/3
Ugin's DesireB
Sorcery (Rare)
Target player reveals his or her hand. You choose a nonland card from it. That player manifest it. In the presence of Ugin, simple thoughts that doesn't matter to the grand scheme of the multiverse will simply drift away.
Memnarch's Defeat4U
Sorcery (R)
Choose one —
• Return all nonland permanents to their owners' hands.
• Each player discards his or her hand, then draws cards equal to the greatest number of cards a player discarded this way.
Entwine 2R(Choose both if you pay the entwine cost.)
Response Squad3WW
Creature - Rhino Soldier (Rare)
Flash
Whenever a creature enters the battlefield under an opponent's control, detain that creature. (Until your next turn, those creatures can't attack or block and their activated abilities can't be activated.)
3/3
"We need to get out of here! These guys are faster than I thought!"
"For rhinos?"
"No, for Azorius."
Mikaeus' Hex-Keeper2B
Creature - Zombie Cleric (U)
Undying (When this creature dies, if it had no +1/+1 counters on it, return it to the battlefield under its owner's control with a +1/+1 counter on it.) 1, Pay 4 life: Remove a counter from target permanent.
1/1
Kessig Almoner2GG
Creature - Human Scout (R)
Kessig Almoner can't be blocked by creatures with power 2 or less.
Whenever Kessig Almoner deals combat damage to a player, draw a card. Fateful hour - Whenever Kessig Almoner deals combat damage to a player, if you have 5 or less life, draw three cards instead. Donations flow much more freely in times of crisis.
3/2
Of course my favorite Alaran locale doesn't have a named mechanic =/
GargantuizeG
Instant {C}
Until end of turn, target creature has base power and toughness 5/5. One of the most awe-inspiring views in Alara is the Nayan Stomping Fields from a Gargantuan's perspective.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
A mere ten days after the Mending, a young knight of Valeron and a young ranger of Eos made a discovery that would change Alara forever.
Thassa's Shipwrecker5UU
Creature - Leviathan (U)
As long as your devotion to blue is less than five, Thassa's Shipwrecker doesn't untap during your untap step. 7: Untap Thassa's Shipwrecker. Trespass upon the sea quickly becomes an invitation below.
7/7
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
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August MCC Round 1
This month in the MCC, we're going to focus on context. To be more specific, we're going to be focusing on how we can design individual cards in a way that they fit into the context of the set — both in the more obvious ways, such as mechanics and storyline, and in subtler ways, such as how cards can fit into themes like flavor and set mechanics.
Main challenge: Choose a modern-legal set. Announce what set you've chosen, then design a card that fits thematically into that set.
Subchallenge 1: Your card contains a keyword that originated in the set you've chosen.
Subchallenge 2: Your card is not legendary.
Main Challenge
For the main challenge, you have to design a card that would make sense in your chosen set. Your card will be evaluated as though it were printed in that set. You should take into consideration things such as set theme, storyline, and even power level.
Subchallenge 1
Your keyword can't be one that is returning in your chosen set; for example, designing a card with Scry from Theros would not pass the main challenge
(X/3) Appeal: Do the different player psychographics (Timmy/Johhny/Spike) have a use for the card?
(X/3) Elegance: Is the card easily understandable at a glance? Do all the flavor and mechanics combined as a whole make sense?
Development -
(X/3) Viability: How well does the card fit into the color wheel? Does it break or bend the rules of the game? Is it the appropriate rarity?
(X/3) Balance: Does the card have a power level appropriate for contemporary constructed/limited environments without breaking them? Does it play well in casual and multiplayer formats? Does it create or fit into a deck/archetype? Does it create an oppressive environment?
Creativity -
(X/3) Uniqueness: Has a card like this ever been printed before? Does it use new mechanics, ideas, or design space? Does it combine old ideas in a new way? Overall, does it feel “fresh”?
(X/3) Flavor: Does the name seem realistic for a card? Does the flavor text sound professional? Do all the flavor elements synch together to please Vorthos players?
Polish -
(X/3) Quality: Points deducted for incorrect spelling, grammar, and templating.
(X/2) *Main Challenge: Was the main challenge satisfied? Was it approached in a unique or interesting way? Does the card fit the intent of the challenge?
(X/2) Subchallenges: One point awarded per satisfied subchallenge condition.
Total: X/25
*An entry with 0 points here is subject to disqualification.
DEADLINES
Design deadline: Monday, July 7th 2017 23:59 EDT
Judging deadline: Friday, July 11th 2017 23:59 EDT
Brackets:
admirableadmiral
Itank
Subject16
Conntroll
Noct
The_Hittite
Flatline
ManyCookies
RickyRister
iphanx
mirrodin71
seismiclawns
Freleyes
rocco
StonerOfKruphix
Jimmy Groove
netn10
Raptorchan
LnGrrrR
doomfish
JamBlock
void_nothing
RaikouRider
IcariiFA
Sub_Silentio
(3/3) Appeal: Johnny/Jenny like their draft-around me cards and this could also make for some interesting constructed decks? Getting value for your life total should be appealing to Spike as well. This will find takers.
(2.5/3) Elegance: It's apparent that the card tries to be clever. It takes a moment to understand that any counter would mean +1/+1 counters as well, namely those from your undying creatures...
Development -
(2/3) Viability: ...and I believe it would be better for this to just affect +1/+1 counters. In many cases that would work about the same, but any counter leaves a risk of unpleasant combos in the format and just the thought that players could be tempted to pay 12 life to get rid of a planeswalker is worrysome. Counter removing in certainly in black. This is on the higher end of uncommon complexity and the concept might be more fitting for a rare, even though the card as is probably isn't splashy enough.
(3/3) Balance: 4 life to save a creature is a big investment and the card itself isn't exactly cheap for what you get on the board. You'd need some lifegain to get this going. There's quite some of that in Avacyn Restored and this card would work well with Homicidal Seclusion forming a juicy combo.
Creativity -
(1.5/3) Uniqueness: Thrull Parasite is pretty close to this, but the interaction with Undying is a nice twist. It's also an unseen take on an Undying lord.
(1.5/3) Flavor: I have no idea what a Hex-Keeper is. Someone who takes care of spells? Mikaeus is pretty dead, does he have use for that? Or did he have use for that before he died? Well, it's a cute reminder of what happened in the set before. But in Avacyn Restored monsters are mostly left to fend for themselves. Hinting at a connection between them feels off. There would have been plenty of room for flavortext.
Polish -
(2.5/3) Quality: In all but one case Undying is the last ability on a card.
(2/2) Main Challenge: Sure.
(1/2) Subchallenges: So, since Undying technicially originated in Dark Ascension I guess I can't give you that point.
Total: 19/25
(1.5/3) Appeal: While Spike likes to draw cards I feel like a 3/2 for 4 just isn't appealing enough. Timmy/Tammy might actually enjoy this for the avoidance of tiny creatures. Not sure it'd have many takers though.
(3/3) Elegance: Simple enough and quite straightforward.
Development -
(3/3) Viability: Creature based card draw is fine for green. The evasion ability is well established in green. Drawing cards in green should still be on rare.
(1.5/3) Balance: As said before, 4 mana 3/2 isn't very appealing. The card is easily dealt with, but with a bit of luck you might draw a few cards with it. The thing is that the Fateful hour part isn't relevant. Which is always a concern with the mechanic, which is why it's not popular. When you are on 5 or less life, you don't exactly want to use your creatures to attack. Attempting to draw with this doesn't sound viable.
Creativity -
(2/3) Uniqueness: The individual tools to make this card have been used before, but a green creature with evasion that draws cards is nice.
(3/3) Flavor: The name is nice and while I don't see how dealing damage to a player is tying into this all the flavortext gives a good explanation.
Polish -
(3/3) Quality: Looks good.
(2/2) Main Challenge: Has that feeling of desperation.
(2/2) Subchallenges: Both met.
Total: 21/25
(2.5/3) Appeal: Draft fodder. Spike enjoys these cards, as playing with and around combat tricks is their kind of thing. This is also a better Giant Growth for some situations, so that might be applicable.
(3/3) Elegance: A thing of beauty!
Development -
(3/3) Viability: Very well within green's color pie.
(3/3) Balance: This is just a much more powerful Diminish! Jokes aside, this is fair and a good variant of Giant Growth.
Creativity -
(1.5/3) Uniqueness: Well, the effect has been used many times before, but only rarely as a simple combat trick. Wings of Velis Vel works somewhat in the same direction. It's basicially Gigantomancer's ability on a card. Still, it's a good place to move this and it hasn't been done, even though you'd expect this to show up eventually.
(2.5/3) Flavor: Gargantuize doesn't exactly roll off the tongue like Giant Growth does, but it's okay. The flavortext doesn't really play into the way the card gets used, but it's a nice touch of worldbuilding.
Polish -
(3/3) Quality: Looks good.
(2/2) Main Challenge: A good fit.
(1/2) Subchallenges: It's not your mistake they didn't name the thing, I'm sure they'd do it these days, but the ability word couldn't be on your design as is (of course you didn't go for that), so I still can't even give you half a point for that. At least you didn't make the first legendary instant in existence.
Total: 21.5/25
(2.5/3) Appeal: Timmy/Tammy should be interested. Depending on the meta Spike might run this in drafts, but Theros was rather swingy and I don't think this would have been fast enough.
(3/3) Elegance: All the pieces fall well into place, while still hiding tricks to discover. A nice lenticular design.
Development -
(3/3) Viability: 7/7 for 7 exist at uncommon, but almost all of them are green. Blue however gets their occasional fatty. As this one has a drawback, this should be okay.
(3/3) Balance: 7 mana 7/7s aren't going to break anything, but still offer an interesting choice for limited. 5 devotion to blue isn't easy to get, even with the 2 this supplies. 7 mana just to untap a creature is a lot. But at least this is still a good blocker in any case.
Creativity -
(1.5/3) Uniqueness: Well, this is pretty close to Mage-Ring Responder without the damage ability. But the devotion reward part is a neat addition.
(2.5/3) Flavor: Love the name. Serpent, Kraken or Octopus would have been a better fitting creature type for the setting, Leviathan is not greek mythology inspired. The flavortext is nice.
Polish -
(3/3) Quality: Looks good.
(2/2) Main Challenge: Neat fit.
(2/2) Subchallenges: Not legendary. Devotion originated in Theros.
Total: 22.5/25
(2/3) Appeal: Fairly sure Johnny/Jenny would try to turn this into a deck, but the damage affecting every player makes this very hard. Spike might try a burn or aggro deck that accumulates some energy on the side. I don't think this is appealing enough as a hate card.
(3/3) Elegance: Fairly simple.
Development -
(1/3) Viability: We don't do hate cards on mechanics we try to sell the set on. We want them to be viable. While there was some time counter shenanigans in red, counter removing is mostly centered in black and maybe green. Uncommon is a good fit.
(2.5/3) Balance: 1 damage per energy to a player. This is dangerous for usage in burn decks. Getting like 6 energy on the side is easy and using the energy your opponent may have this can easily seal the deal in a damage race with 8 damage. Worrysome.
Creativity -
(3/3) Uniqueness: Certainly haven't been done like that before.
(2.5/3) Flavor: Captured the flavor of exploding Aether quite nicely. The flavortext is a bit strange. Why would anyone take an inventor not serious when he's screaming about a gremlin?
Polish -
(3/3) Quality: Looks good.
(2/2) Main Challenge: Feels Kaladeshian.
(2/2) Subchallenges: Guess energy is a keyword.
Total: 21/25
void_nothing 21
RaikouRider 21.5
IcariiFA 22.5
Sub_Silentio 21
JamBlock gets a honorable mention for making my favorite design this round in my bracket. Sad to see Thrull Parasite, flavor and the challenge take a bite out of the points.
Multiple instances of lifelink on the same creature are redundant.
Multiple instances of lifelink on the same creature are redundant.
—Eli Shiffrin, Rules Manager, on a design stacking lifelink instances
Brutish Aberration 2B
Creature — Eldrazi Processor [R]
Devoid (This card has no color.)
2, Put a card an opponent owns from exile into that player's graveyard: Brutish Aberration gets +3/+3 until end of turn.
3/3
Midnight Dance 4(W/B)(W/B)
Sorcery (Rare)
Return target creature or enchantment card from your graveyard to the battlefield.
Retrace (You may cast this card from your graveyard by discarding a land card in addition to paying its other costs.)
"When the Gwyllions dance, the souls of the dead come and dance with them."
-Talara, Elvish Safewright
(Fun fact, this would complete the cycle with Waves of Aggression, Call the Skybreaker, Spitting Image and Worm Harvest. Apparently there never was a rare WB retrace card.)
Loyal Argivian 1WW
Instant [U]
Create a 1/1 white Soldier creature token.
Recover 1W(When a creature is put into your graveyard from the battlefield, you may pay 1W. If you do, return this card from your graveyard to your hand. Otherwise, exile this card.)
Fight for your king if you can. Fight for your life if you must!
Heliod's Judgement 1WW
Instant [R]
Choose one —
• Destroy target creature that dealt damage to you this turn.
• Destroy target planeswalker that activated a loyalty ability this turn.
“A hero cannot be greater than their god.”
Art by Tyler Jacobson. The closest I can find to a source is here.
Guiding Light 2WW
Enchantment (R)
Exalted (Whenever a creature you control attacks alone, that creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn.)
Whenever a creature you control attacks alone, create a 4/4 white Angel creature token with flying that is tapped and attacking. Exile that token at end of combat.
"Whenever you feel alone, know that I am by your side."
—Lenia, Asura of Justice
Sea Gate Portalmaster 1WU
Creature - Merfolk Wizard (R)
The first creature spell you cast each turn can be cast as though it had flash.
Rally — Whenever Sea Gate Portalmaster or another Ally enters the battlefield under your control, the next creature card you cast this turn can be cast as though it had flash.
“Everyone, get in there and fight!”
2/3
Vodalian Sentinel UU
Creature - Merfolk Wizard (R)
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.)
U, Remove a time counter from Vodalian Sentinel: Return target creature to its owner's hand.
2/2
Zero Boundary 1GW
Sorcery (R)
Replicate— Tap a untapped nontoken creature you control. (When you cast this spell, copy it for each time you paid its replicate cost.)
Create a 2/2 white Knight creature token with vigilance.
Art by
Manifest Destiny XXGW
Enchantment (R)
When you cast Manifest Destiny, manifest the top X cards of your library. (Put them onto the battlefield face down as 2/2 creatures. Turn it face up any time for its mana cost if it's a creature card.)
3: You may turn target face down creature you control face up. Then, if it isn't a land, exile it.
"There are always new lands to explore, new homes to found."
Konda’s Seieibushi WW
Creature - Human Samurai {R}
Bushido 2 (When this blocks or becomes blocked, it gets +2/+2 until end of turn.)
Whenever a legendary samurai creature you control dies, sacrifice Konda’s Seieibushi and return that creature to the battlefield under its owners control.
"There is no greater honor then dying for you my lord."
2/2
Creature - Treefolk Warrior (R)
Trample
Champion a Treefolk (When this enters the battlefield, sacrifice it unless you exile another Treefolk you control. When this leaves the battlefield, that card returns to the battlefield.)
Great-Oak Guardian gets +X/+X, where X is the converted mana cost of the card it championed.
3/3
Ugin's Desire B
Sorcery (Rare)
Target player reveals his or her hand. You choose a nonland card from it. That player manifest it.
In the presence of Ugin, simple thoughts that doesn't matter to the grand scheme of the multiverse will simply drift away.
Memnarch's Defeat 4U
Sorcery (R)
Choose one —
• Return all nonland permanents to their owners' hands.
• Each player discards his or her hand, then draws cards equal to the greatest number of cards a player discarded this way.
Entwine 2R (Choose both if you pay the entwine cost.)
Response Squad 3WW
Creature - Rhino Soldier (Rare)
Flash
Whenever a creature enters the battlefield under an opponent's control, detain that creature. (Until your next turn, those creatures can't attack or block and their activated abilities can't be activated.)
3/3
"We need to get out of here! These guys are faster than I thought!"
"For rhinos?"
"No, for Azorius."
Club Flamingo Wins: 1!
Mikaeus' Hex-Keeper 2B
Creature - Zombie Cleric (U)
Undying (When this creature dies, if it had no +1/+1 counters on it, return it to the battlefield under its owner's control with a +1/+1 counter on it.)
1, Pay 4 life: Remove a counter from target permanent.
1/1
Kessig Almoner 2GG
Creature - Human Scout (R)
Kessig Almoner can't be blocked by creatures with power 2 or less.
Whenever Kessig Almoner deals combat damage to a player, draw a card.
Fateful hour - Whenever Kessig Almoner deals combat damage to a player, if you have 5 or less life, draw three cards instead.
Donations flow much more freely in times of crisis.
3/2
I̟̥͍̠ͅn̩͉̣͍̬͚ͅ ̬̬͖t̯̹̞̺͖͓̯̤h̘͍̬e͙̯͈̖̼̮ ̭̬f̺̲̲̪i͙͉̟̩̰r̪̝͚͈̝̥͍̝̲s̼̻͇̘̳͔ͅt̲̺̳̗̜̪̙ ̳̺̥̻͚̗ͅm̜̜̟̰͈͓͎͇o̝̖̮̝͇m̯̻̞̼̫̗͓̤e̩̯̬̮̩n͎̱̪̲̹͖t͇̖s̰̮ͅ,̤̲͙̻̭̻̯̹̰ ̖t̫̙̺̯͖͚̯ͅh͙̯̦̳̗̰̟e͖̪͉̼̯ ̪͕g̞̣͔a̗̦t̬̬͓͙̫̖̭̻e̩̻̯ ̜̖̦̖̤̭͙̬t̞̹̥̪͎͉ͅo͕͚͍͇̲͇͓̺ ̭̬͙͈̣̻t͈͍͙͓̫̖͙̩h̪̬̖̙e̗͈ ̗̬̟̞̺̤͉̯ͅa̦̯͚̙̜̮f͉͙̲̣̞̼t̪̤̞̣͚e̲͉̳̥r͇̪̙͚͓l̥̞̞͎̹̯̹ͅi͓̬f̮̥̬̞͈ͅe͎ ̟̩̤̳̠̯̩̯o̮̘̲p̟͚̣̞͉͓e͍̩̣n͔̼͕͚̜e̬̱d̼̘͎̖̹͍̮̠,͖̺̭̱̮ ̣̲͖̬̪̭̥a̪͚n̟̲̝̤̤̞̗d̘̱̗͇̮͕̳͕͔ ͖̞͉͎t̹̙͎h̰̱͉̗e̪̞̱̝̹̩ͅ ̠̱̩̭̦p̯̙e͓o̳͚̰̯̺̱̰͔̘p̬͎̱̣̼̩͇l̗̟̖͚̠e̱͉͔̱̦̬̟̙ ̖͚̪͔̼̦w̺̖̤̱e͖̗̻̦͓̖̘̜r̭̥e͔̹̫̱͕̦̰͕ ̗͔̠p̠̗͍͍̱̳̠r̰͔͎̰o͉̥͓̰͚̥s̟͚̹̱͔̣t͉̙̳̖͖̪̮r̥̘̥͙̹a͉̟̫̟̳̠̟̭t͈̜̰͈͎e̞̣̭̲̬ ͚̗̯̟͙i͍͖̰̘̦͖͉ṇ̮̻̯̦̲̩͍ ̦̮͚̫̤t͉͖̫͕ͅͅh͙̮̻̘̣̮̼e͕̺ ͙l͕̠͎̰̥i̲͓͉̲g̫̳̟͈͇̖h̠̦̖t͓̯͎̗ ̳̪̘̟̙̩̦o̫̲f̙͔̰̙̠ ̹̪̗͇̯t͖̼̼͉͖̬h̹͇̩e͚̖̺̤͉̹͕̪ ͚͓̭̝̺G͎̗̯̩o̫̯̮̟̮̳̘d̜̲͙̠-̩̳̯̲̗̜P̹̘̥͉̝h͍͈̗̖̝ͅa͍̗̮̼̗r̜̖͇̙̺a̭̺͔̞̳͈o̪̣͓̯̬͙̯̰̗h̖̦͈̥̯͔.͇̣̙̝
Of course my favorite Alaran locale doesn't have a named mechanic =/
Gargantuize G
Instant {C}
Until end of turn, target creature has base power and toughness 5/5.
One of the most awe-inspiring views in Alara is the Nayan Stomping Fields from a Gargantuan's perspective.
Emille, Seven-Sting Dancer Shalin Nariya
Thassa's Shipwrecker 5UU
Creature - Leviathan (U)
As long as your devotion to blue is less than five, Thassa's Shipwrecker doesn't untap during your untap step.
7: Untap Thassa's Shipwrecker.
Trespass upon the sea quickly becomes an invitation below.
7/7