I am also taking advantage to change my entry before any critques are made as my first card did not meet the challenge requirements
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Cardz5000: Changeling is a good solution to the creature's survival. I really like the fact that it can benefit from Rakdos keywords right away. I'm not sure about the size here, since green and white together at a low cmc and high rarity usually means very solid stats, andnthe 3rs color can add a bit more. something like 3/4 wouldn't be too pushed imo.
RaikouRaider: Well, it's an imp, wo it won't die. This is a choice that doesn't compromise design much. Still, your imp does not fly. On tye ability, I think it's cohesive with flavor but doesn't really feel like something black should be doing.
@Raiku: Indeed, but piebending was a central gist of that block.
netn10:I'm sure there are awesome ways to abuse this one. The cost makes it a solid combo piece because you can drop it easily.
BraunPo: Again, what allows survival is ññthe creature type. Very solid hatebear ability, really
Subject16: Great vall on survival ability. I also like its potential: it can have your opponent holding powerul stuff in tjeir hands or it van allow you to get into your own copying shenanigans.
TheDrB: Again, great call on survival ability. I like that you can turn a Rakdos miss into a hit, tbe posibility of keeping the table locked might demand some balancing as to not comboing so easily with Thrashing WumpusPestilence and the like.
willows - Solid, but not too exciting for me.
Jimmy Groove - I love this design, but I don't think it actually meets the challenge, as we can't guarantee the imp will still be there.
Raptorchan - I like this one a lot, even if it's a bad example of species-ism..
zdtsd - This is rough as a rare. Expensive and too conditional for most scenarios, and the wording of the ability feels off.
Gateways7 - I like the flavor, but I would much rather see this as a rare with its own flip ability.
Artorias - Nice Norin variant. It helps that it can actually function as a creature. And great flavor text.
zdtsd
I would like to say many things I don't like about this card (I'd prefer it to be a legend, with blue included, and most likely cheaper), but screw that, I like it. Gateways7
I like it for its simple but obvious combo potential. Though you limited it and made sure it gets the bonus only once. Still not bad. Artorias Norin the Wary but smaller. It checks out, but it doesn't really look like an interesting design decision. Algernone25
This checks out, but I find it oddly specific that it has green in its normal mana cost but loses it in its Eternalize cost. Not sure why. Also, what a weird combination of creature types, especially for Amonkhet. Rounding down also kinda limits its combo potential (doesn't work better with +1/+1 anthems), but eh. mirrodin71
I think you kinda missed the point. Yes, it can survive when Rakdos enters the battlefield, but with a very radical manner. Keep in mind, the challenge says that Rakdos enters the battlefeld on yiur side. So even though the challenge is technically satisfied, I don't think countering the whole ability to save a single creature on your sight is the brightest idea. Flatline
I would word it another way, maybe shorter. Other than that, no problems... Oh wait, other than maybe vigilance and untapping in colorless (I am not going to say that's impossible because everything is possible for aftifacts) but, to be totally honest, the ability of colorless (that can be used in every deck) to do "colored" things when colors aren't allowed to do so is still beyond my comprehension. I know Adaptive Automaton exists, but still, maybe, just maybe, I'd rather make it green/blue.
mirrodin71
Does meet the challenge criteria. Countering ETB triggers is clearly in white's pie, but usually it's a static ability. Also, Paying mana for it also doesn't really justify "also look at the top card" which also doesn't seem to tie into the idea you're going for. This is two halves of a card, and not necessarily halves of the same card IMO. Grammar also needs to be cleaned up.
Flatline
Does meet the challenge criteria. It's a unique spin on a still useful ability that makes sense for the idea you're conveying, and the cost-to-power seems right for a rare. Very nicely done.
Hemlock
Does meet the challenge criteria. This card is VERY heavily pushed. A 4/3 for 3 that also has hexproof and indestructible almost all the time? This should probably be a mythic on power level, but the flavor is more suited to an uncommon - that doesn't mean rare is the right place for it.
Cardz5000
Does meet the challenge criteria. The ability is more commonly found on white and black cards, bant-colored is a pretty significant bend. The templating is also vague, does it get +1/+1 for each keyword it picks up, or just each creature? I assume the latter but the ability needs to have two sentences for that to be clear.
RaikouRider
Does meet the challenge criteria. As you noted, this ability is in-color for black, but not having flying on an imp is a VERY big omission compared to the tribe. (of 36 vintage-legal imps, only 3 of them don't have or can't innately gain flying). Probably undercosted by about half a mana.
netn10
Does meet the challenge criteria. This imp does fly, but the ability seems a HORRIBLE liability even when removal is scarce. I get the image you're going for and it's flavorful but it's horribly underpowered for rare, uncommon is probably correct and even then, do you really want to play this?
Top 3:
1) Flatline
2) Cardz5000
3) RaikouRider
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Assimilated Automaton 3
Artifact Creature — Shapeshifter (R)
Vigilance
As long as you control a Human creature, Assimilated Automaton is a Human in addition to its other types. The same is true for each other creature type among creatures you control.
t: Tap or untap another target creature that shares a type with Assimilated Automaton.
2/3
Heart of the Rustling Leaves 1GW
Creature - Elemental Spirit (r)
Whenever a player casts a spell, Heart of the Rustling Leaves gains hexproof and indestructible until end of turn.
"Have you ever wondered if the leaves ever rustle when we're not there to hear them?"
4/3
Observant Changling GWU
Creature - Shapeshifter {R}
Changeling (This card is every creature type at all times.)
Tap another untapped creature you control: Observant Changling gets +1/+1 and gains flying until end of turn if the tapped creature has flying. The same is true for first strike, double strike, deathtouch, haste, hexproof, indestructible, lifelink, menace, reach, trample, and vigilance.
2/2
Stagehand Jester B
Creature - Imp {R}
Flash
When Stagehand Jester enters the battlefield, you may change a target of target spell to Stagehand Jester. If you do, you lose life equal to that spell's converted mana cost.
1/1
Scrollstealer B
Creature - Imp (Rare)
Flying
Whenever you draw a card, exile it instead and put a +1/+1 counter on Scrollstealer.
1/1
Underworld Flamekeeper BR
Creature - Devil (U)
Whenever you play a card from exile or from a graveyard, Underworld Flamekeeper deals 2 damage to each opponent.
"Follow the will of the eternal flame."
2/2
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"Over time, all trips end up in the same place, at home."
The templating is also vague, does it get +1/+1 for each keyword it picks up, or just each creature? I assume the latter but the ability needs to have two sentences for that to be clear.
It is intended to get +1/+1 for each listed keyword the tapped creature has, and gain those keywords.
Hemlock - So this dies to mass -/-, sacrifice, and activated and triggered abilities, if its controller can't counter the ability by casting a spell? Seems pretty good for three mana. I suppose it's not out of the realm of possibility, but it's certainly pushed. Alot!
Cardz5000 - This card is kinda weird. The wording is odd. I've read it a couple of times, and I'm pretty sure it only picks up the +1/+1 bonus if the tapped creature has one of the listed abilities, right? So if I tap 2 flyers, it would get +2/+2 and gain flying, right? Either way, it seems like a lot of work for the cost.
RaikouRider - This seems like a stretch for black, if not a full-on color-pie break. Sure it was done in Planar Chaos, but that really just furthers the point.
netn10 - This is worded incorrectly. It should be, "If you would draw a card, instead exile that card and....". That said, giving up your draws for 1 large creature seems pretty bad. What if someone just Pacifies it? Then you have no creature and or card draws. I'm sure some Johnny would figure something out, but it just couldn't be worth it.
Subject16 - It seems like this card exists, but I suppose it doesn't. It's very similar to Cryptoplasm, but different enough. It's like a reverse Clone. Like Cryptoplasm, maybe it could cost 3? It's a pretty well done, familiar feeling card.
TheDrB - This is a weird trigger. I'm not sure it evens works. I think it might need to read, "If ~ would be destroyed, instead remove all damage from ~ and it gains indestructible (?until end of turn?). Then destroy up to one target creature."
1st: Subject16
2nd: Cardz5000
3rd: Hemlock
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netn10: This needs more oomph. I think if this were a 2/2 for B I'd consider it for suicide black. Maybe a crude Madness enabler? Too weak as is though.
BrainPo: Props for pushing boundaries with this one. I don't think this breaks anything, but I have a suspicion this is undercosted by half a mana (cf. Guttersnipe).
Subject16: This does not meet the challenge.
TheDrB: This actually doesn't work within the rules as they currently are, but there could easily be a new rule to handle this sort of interaction. The way it's worded, the ability would only trigger once, ever, plus memory issues (the granting of indestructible is indefinite.)
willows: I don't think it's necessary for this to enter the battlefield tapped. This also feels like it should be an uncommon (for Limited balance as well as complexity reasons - indestructible should be used sparingly at common.)
Jimmy Groove: My favorite submission out of the bunch by far. I do need to dock you for spelling and grammar in a couple spots, but the solid design more than makes up for it. The restrictive mana cost is needed for this to be balanced.
Algernone25
The G seems odd to me and needs Flying. Also Devil Elemental on Amonkhet are quite strange.
mirrodin71
I think paying mana was not in the rules for this one: "Doesn't matter how your card accomplishes the challenge but it must do so by default simply by being on the battlefield." Not sure 100%.
Flatline
Liking the flavor. Terminator 2's T-1000 vibes for me.
Hemlock
Quite strong card... maybe 2GW?
Cardz5000
Loving the flavor of a Changeling replicating abilities. I would get rid of the +1/+1 part (a bit confusing also) and up the base stats as a 3/3 creature. Algo I'm not sure about the Bant colors...
RaikouRider
Like it but it needs Flying and so I would add Blue mana to the creature, maybe UB or 1(U/B) and maybe up the stats to 1/2.
TheDrB: I think this card getting indestructible would mean you can't use that ability more than once each turn, but it does some very nice things. Good callback to Stuffy Doll/Creepy Doll as well.
willows: This seems like a fair common, not especially powerful but it does enable a decent archetype.
Jimmy Groove: Not a bad creature, a bit odd flavor wise as there's no big downside to the 'hellpact' itself. Does good things for Wizard tribal by expanding its color usage more, and it does meet the challenge.
Raptorchan: Simple, elegant and flavorful. I like it a lot.
zdtsd: Seems like a much better Krark's Thumb. It's a shame Rakdos doesn't have many more coin flip cards, but it has more than just Rakdos.
Gateways7: Does synergy with coin flip cards, but I'm not sure if it gets indestructible before Rakdos's ability resolves? I would need to double check.
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RaikouRaider: Well, it's an imp, wo it won't die. This is a choice that doesn't compromise design much. Still, your imp does not fly. On tye ability, I think it's cohesive with flavor but doesn't really feel like something black should be doing.
@Raiku: Indeed, but piebending was a central gist of that block.
netn10:I'm sure there are awesome ways to abuse this one. The cost makes it a solid combo piece because you can drop it easily.
BraunPo: Again, what allows survival is ññthe creature type. Very solid hatebear ability, really
Subject16: Great vall on survival ability. I also like its potential: it can have your opponent holding powerul stuff in tjeir hands or it van allow you to get into your own copying shenanigans.
TheDrB: Again, great call on survival ability. I like that you can turn a Rakdos miss into a hit, tbe posibility of keeping the table locked might demand some balancing as to not comboing so easily with Thrashing Wumpus Pestilence and the like.
Top:
1. The Dr B
2.Subject16
3. Cardz5000
willows - Solid, but not too exciting for me.
Jimmy Groove - I love this design, but I don't think it actually meets the challenge, as we can't guarantee the imp will still be there.
Raptorchan - I like this one a lot, even if it's a bad example of species-ism..
zdtsd - This is rough as a rare. Expensive and too conditional for most scenarios, and the wording of the ability feels off.
Gateways7 - I like the flavor, but I would much rather see this as a rare with its own flip ability.
Artorias - Nice Norin variant. It helps that it can actually function as a creature. And great flavor text.
Top 3
1. Raptorchan
2. Artorias
3. Gateways7
I would like to say many things I don't like about this card (I'd prefer it to be a legend, with blue included, and most likely cheaper), but screw that, I like it.
Gateways7
I like it for its simple but obvious combo potential. Though you limited it and made sure it gets the bonus only once. Still not bad.
Artorias
Norin the Wary but smaller. It checks out, but it doesn't really look like an interesting design decision.
Algernone25
This checks out, but I find it oddly specific that it has green in its normal mana cost but loses it in its Eternalize cost. Not sure why. Also, what a weird combination of creature types, especially for Amonkhet. Rounding down also kinda limits its combo potential (doesn't work better with +1/+1 anthems), but eh.
mirrodin71
I think you kinda missed the point. Yes, it can survive when Rakdos enters the battlefield, but with a very radical manner. Keep in mind, the challenge says that Rakdos enters the battlefeld on yiur side. So even though the challenge is technically satisfied, I don't think countering the whole ability to save a single creature on your sight is the brightest idea.
Flatline
I would word it another way, maybe shorter. Other than that, no problems... Oh wait, other than maybe vigilance and untapping in colorless (I am not going to say that's impossible because everything is possible for aftifacts) but, to be totally honest, the ability of colorless (that can be used in every deck) to do "colored" things when colors aren't allowed to do so is still beyond my comprehension. I know Adaptive Automaton exists, but still, maybe, just maybe, I'd rather make it green/blue.
2) Gateways7
3) Algernone25
netn10
BrainPo
Subject16
TheDrB
willows
Jimmy Groove
Hold.
Emille, Seven-Sting Dancer Shalin Nariya
Does meet the challenge criteria. Countering ETB triggers is clearly in white's pie, but usually it's a static ability. Also, Paying mana for it also doesn't really justify "also look at the top card" which also doesn't seem to tie into the idea you're going for. This is two halves of a card, and not necessarily halves of the same card IMO. Grammar also needs to be cleaned up.
Flatline
Does meet the challenge criteria. It's a unique spin on a still useful ability that makes sense for the idea you're conveying, and the cost-to-power seems right for a rare. Very nicely done.
Hemlock
Does meet the challenge criteria. This card is VERY heavily pushed. A 4/3 for 3 that also has hexproof and indestructible almost all the time? This should probably be a mythic on power level, but the flavor is more suited to an uncommon - that doesn't mean rare is the right place for it.
Cardz5000
Does meet the challenge criteria. The ability is more commonly found on white and black cards, bant-colored is a pretty significant bend. The templating is also vague, does it get +1/+1 for each keyword it picks up, or just each creature? I assume the latter but the ability needs to have two sentences for that to be clear.
RaikouRider
Does meet the challenge criteria. As you noted, this ability is in-color for black, but not having flying on an imp is a VERY big omission compared to the tribe. (of 36 vintage-legal imps, only 3 of them don't have or can't innately gain flying). Probably undercosted by about half a mana.
netn10
Does meet the challenge criteria. This imp does fly, but the ability seems a HORRIBLE liability even when removal is scarce. I get the image you're going for and it's flavorful but it's horribly underpowered for rare, uncommon is probably correct and even then, do you really want to play this?
1) Flatline
2) Cardz5000
3) RaikouRider
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1.-Flatline
2.-netn10
3.-BrainPo
Artifact Creature — Shapeshifter (R)
Vigilance
As long as you control a Human creature, Assimilated Automaton is a Human in addition to its other types. The same is true for each other creature type among creatures you control.
t: Tap or untap another target creature that shares a type with Assimilated Automaton.
2/3
Creature - Elemental Spirit (r)
Whenever a player casts a spell, Heart of the Rustling Leaves gains hexproof and indestructible until end of turn.
"Have you ever wondered if the leaves ever rustle when we're not there to hear them?"
4/3
Creature - Shapeshifter {R}
Changeling (This card is every creature type at all times.)
Tap another untapped creature you control: Observant Changling gets +1/+1 and gains flying until end of turn if the tapped creature has flying. The same is true for first strike, double strike, deathtouch, haste, hexproof, indestructible, lifelink, menace, reach, trample, and vigilance.
2/2
Creature - Imp {R}
Flash
When Stagehand Jester enters the battlefield, you may change a target of target spell to Stagehand Jester. If you do, you lose life equal to that spell's converted mana cost.
1/1
Creature - Imp (Rare)
Flying
Whenever you draw a card, exile it instead and put a +1/+1 counter on Scrollstealer.
1/1
Underworld Flamekeeper BR
Creature - Devil (U)
Whenever you play a card from exile or from a graveyard, Underworld Flamekeeper deals 2 damage to each opponent.
"Follow the will of the eternal flame."
2/2
1st: Subject16
2nd: BrainPo
3rd: TheDrB
Cardz5000 - This card is kinda weird. The wording is odd. I've read it a couple of times, and I'm pretty sure it only picks up the +1/+1 bonus if the tapped creature has one of the listed abilities, right? So if I tap 2 flyers, it would get +2/+2 and gain flying, right? Either way, it seems like a lot of work for the cost.
RaikouRider - This seems like a stretch for black, if not a full-on color-pie break. Sure it was done in Planar Chaos, but that really just furthers the point.
netn10 - This is worded incorrectly. It should be, "If you would draw a card, instead exile that card and....". That said, giving up your draws for 1 large creature seems pretty bad. What if someone just Pacifies it? Then you have no creature and or card draws. I'm sure some Johnny would figure something out, but it just couldn't be worth it.
Subject16 - It seems like this card exists, but I suppose it doesn't. It's very similar to Cryptoplasm, but different enough. It's like a reverse Clone. Like Cryptoplasm, maybe it could cost 3? It's a pretty well done, familiar feeling card.
TheDrB - This is a weird trigger. I'm not sure it evens works. I think it might need to read, "If ~ would be destroyed, instead remove all damage from ~ and it gains indestructible (?until end of turn?). Then destroy up to one target creature."
2nd: Cardz5000
3rd: Hemlock
BrainPo: Props for pushing boundaries with this one. I don't think this breaks anything, but I have a suspicion this is undercosted by half a mana (cf. Guttersnipe).
Subject16: This does not meet the challenge.
TheDrB: This actually doesn't work within the rules as they currently are, but there could easily be a new rule to handle this sort of interaction. The way it's worded, the ability would only trigger once, ever, plus memory issues (the granting of indestructible is indefinite.)
willows: I don't think it's necessary for this to enter the battlefield tapped. This also feels like it should be an uncommon (for Limited balance as well as complexity reasons - indestructible should be used sparingly at common.)
Jimmy Groove: My favorite submission out of the bunch by far. I do need to dock you for spelling and grammar in a couple spots, but the solid design more than makes up for it. The restrictive mana cost is needed for this to be balanced.
1) Jimmy Groove
2) BrainPo
3) willows
Emille, Seven-Sting Dancer Shalin Nariya
1- Flatline
2- Cardz5000
3- RaikouRider
Algernone25
The G seems odd to me and needs Flying. Also Devil Elemental on Amonkhet are quite strange.
mirrodin71
I think paying mana was not in the rules for this one: "Doesn't matter how your card accomplishes the challenge but it must do so by default simply by being on the battlefield." Not sure 100%.
Flatline
Liking the flavor. Terminator 2's T-1000 vibes for me.
Hemlock
Quite strong card... maybe 2GW?
Cardz5000
Loving the flavor of a Changeling replicating abilities. I would get rid of the +1/+1 part (a bit confusing also) and up the base stats as a 3/3 creature. Algo I'm not sure about the Bant colors...
RaikouRider
Like it but it needs Flying and so I would add Blue mana to the creature, maybe UB or 1(U/B) and maybe up the stats to 1/2.
willows: This seems like a fair common, not especially powerful but it does enable a decent archetype.
Jimmy Groove: Not a bad creature, a bit odd flavor wise as there's no big downside to the 'hellpact' itself. Does good things for Wizard tribal by expanding its color usage more, and it does meet the challenge.
Raptorchan: Simple, elegant and flavorful. I like it a lot.
zdtsd: Seems like a much better Krark's Thumb. It's a shame Rakdos doesn't have many more coin flip cards, but it has more than just Rakdos.
Gateways7: Does synergy with coin flip cards, but I'm not sure if it gets indestructible before Rakdos's ability resolves? I would need to double check.
2. willows
3. zdtsd
Raptorchan: Unexciting but okay.
zdtsd: This is pretty absurd for coin-flip decks.
Gateways7: Funny, ok.
Artorias: Okay, this is very reminishent of Norin but it works.
Algernone25: The tribal solution, eh. I find that a bit unsatisfying.
Top 3:
1. Gateways7
2. Raptorchan
3. Artorias