A bit of self-indulgence, since I took this month on short notice, so it'll be Alara Month this time around! For this round we'll be working with Bant's mechanic that later got used in a Core Set.
Main Challenge: Design a card with exalted.
Subchallenge 1: Your card is exactly one color. Subchallenge 2: Your card is not a creature.
Please feel free to ask additional questions if you have any in the MCC Discussion thread.
Design Deadline: All submissions are to be final and submitted by April 25th 11:59 PM EDT
Judging Deadline: All judgements are to be final and completed by April 29th 11:59 PM EDT
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.
Sigil of Flight's Wings1W
Enchantment - Aura {C}
Enchant creature
Exalted (Whenever a creature you control attacks alone, that creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn.)
Enchanted creature has flying and vigilance. As Eron clutched the golden medallion, large wings white as snow grew from his shoulders. "Look at yourself...!" was all Aravan could say to his friend. Neither of them could believe it--Asha had transformed Eron into an angel!
Topan Prayers3WW
Enchantment {M}
Exalted (Whenever a creature you control attacks alone, that creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn.)
Creatures you control have exalted. (If a creature has multiple instances of exalted, each triggers separately.) 1W: Create a 0/1 white Monk creature token. When the Chosen goes to combat all his brothers watch him with pride, waiting their moment.
Instinctive Charge2GG
Enchantment (R)
Exalted, exalted (Whenever a creature you control attacks alone, that creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn. Then do it again.)
At the beginning of combat on your turn, target creature you control gains trample and haste until end of turn. “The creatures I summon with the Arkbow don’t need any command. They instinctively know what to do.”
—Vivien Reid
MCC - Winner (6): Oct 2014, Apr Nov 2017, Jan 2018, Apr Jun 2019 || Host (15): Dec 2014, Apr Jul Aug Dec 2015, Mar Jul Aug Oct 2016, Feb Jul 2017, Jun Nov 2018, Feb Jul 2019 (last one here) || Judge (34): every month from Nov 2014 to Nov 2016 except Oct 2015, every month from Feb to Jul 2017 except Apr 2017, then Oct 2017, May Jun Nov 2018, Feb Jul 2019 (last one here) CCL - Winner (3): Jul 2016 (tied with Flatline), May 2017, Jul 2019 (last one here) || Host (5): Feb 2015, Mar Apr May Jun 2016 DCC - Winner (1): Mar 2015 (tied with Piar) || Host (3): May Oct 2015, Jan 2016
• The two public custom sets I've been part a part of the design team for: "Brotherhood of Ormos" - Blog post with all info - set thread - design skeleton / card list || "Extinctia: Homo Evanuit" - Blog post with all info - set thread - card list spreadsheet
• "The Lion's Lair", my article series about MTG and custom card design in particular. Latest article here. Here is the article index.Rather outdated by now, and based on the old MCC rubric, but I'm leaving this here for anybody that might be interested anyway.
• My only public attempt at being a writer: the story of my Leonin custom planeswalker Jeff Lionheart. (I have a very big one that I'm working on right now but that's private for now, and I don't know if I will ever actually publish it, and I also have ideas for multiple future ones, including one where I'm going to reprise Jeff.)
Undying Herald3BB
Enchantment (R)
Exalted
At the beginning of your end step, if you control no creatures, return target creature card from your graveyard to the battlefield. That creature is a black Zombie in addition to its other colors and types. He received the call as death's champion and was stricken of the will to refuse.
Robe of EnlightenmentW
Legendary Artifact - Equipment {R}
Equipped creature has Exalted. WWWW: Attach Cloak of Enlightenment to target creature you control. Prevent all damage that would be dealt to it this turn.
Equip 2 A gift bestowed to Tang Xuanzang by Guanyin to aid him in his journey.
Graveyards of Valeron2B
Legendary Artifact (Rare)
Exalted
Whenever a creature you control attacks alone, it gets +1/+1 for each creature card in your graveyard. After the shards' mending, Bant gained excess to dark magic. Still, the Bantians used it for good, calling to their ancestors and fallen in honorable ways.
Sigil of Flight's Wings1W
Enchantment - Aura {C}
Enchant creature
Exalted (Whenever a creature you control attacks alone, that creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn.)
Enchanted creature has flying and vigilance. As Eron clutched the golden medallion, large wings white as snow grew from his shoulders. "Look at yourself...!" was all Aravan could say to his friend. Neither of them could believe it--Asha had transformed Eron into an angel!
Design -
(2/3) Appeal: Timmy likes this. Spike likes that it's a strong effect, but doesn't like opening himself to 2-for-1s, as is often the case with auras. Johnny is mildly interested, but sees not much potential.
(2.5/3) Elegance: The card reads easily, but because the Exalted is on the aura, some players are going to assume this is just an aura that gives +1/+1, flying and vigilance.
Development -
(3/3) Viability: Flying, exalted, vigilance and auras are all things White has already done, so no color breaks. Some might think this could be an uncommon since it does quite a few things, but commons recently have been pretty pushed, and this seems like the case.
(3/3) Balance: This card isn't going to break any format it sees play in half, but it's nevertheless a solid common you'll pick in draft, since just one hit with this makes it worth it on a stalled board, allowing you to play both offense and defense. It's a solid pick, but not one you're going to prioritize early in draft.
Creativity -
(2.5/3) Uniqueness: There are no auras with exalted existing to this day, but apart from that, the rest of the card is pretty standard.
(2/3) Flavor: The name sounds a bit redundant, but the thing that prevents me from giving it a full score is the fact that Eron is a character that already exists in the MTG universe, so I would've gone for another name. Interestingly, this has already happened with Reyhan, who is both an Abzan legendary creature and a Samite healer in some flavor texts, included Eron's one.
Polish -
(3/3) Quality: Everything's okay here.
(2/2) Main Challenge: The card has exalted.
(2/2) Subchallenges: The card is not a creature and it's monocolored.
Undying Herald3BB
Enchantment (R)
Exalted
At the beginning of your end step, if you control no creatures, return target creature card from your graveyard to the battlefield. That creature is a black Zombie in addition to its other colors and types. He received the call as death's champion and was stricken of the will to refuse.
Design -
(2/3) Appeal: Johnny and Spike appreciate how solid it is and the recursion and advantage this could lead to, even though Spike is sad that at face value this is an exalted trigger for five mana on a full board. This does too little for Timmy, but he likes the idea of bringing back his biggest creature every turn.
(3/3) Elegance: Very elegant.
Development -
(3/3) Viability: For an effect like this, I wouldn't expect nothing less than rare, so the rarity is okay. We've also seen black dabble with Exalted in a core set, and of course reanimation is a black thing.
(2.5/3) Balance: This is a very strong card that needs some help to really shine, but when it does, oh boy. While I don't think this would see play in eternal formats (except for EDH), there would probably be some standard deck made to abuse it, especially if you go for an Aristocrats type of deck, maybe reanimating Garna on your end step so you can do this all over again next turn. While not a windmill slam in limited, this card is a high pick if you're in black, even though it doesn't do enough when you're behind and the exalted seems kinda stapled on it. Also, the idea that you could recur the same creature seems like something that could get out of hand, so I would've liked the clause of "If that creature would leave the battlefield, exile it instead", but it would go against the name of the card.
Creativity -
(3/3) Uniqueness: To this day, there are no existing cards that behave exactly like this one, so the full score is pretty deserved.
(3/3) Flavor: Pretty much a flavor homerun here.
Polish -
(3/3) Quality: Everything's okay here.
(2/2) Main Challenge: The card has exalted.
(2/2) Subchallenges: Not a creature and monocolored.
Topan Prayers3WW
Enchantment {M}
Exalted (Whenever a creature you control attacks alone, that creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn.)
Creatures you control have exalted. (If a creature has multiple instances of exalted, each triggers separately.) 1W: Create a 0/1 white Monk creature token. When the Chosen goes to combat all his brothers watch him with pride, waiting their moment.
Design -
(2.5/3) Appeal: Everyone likes what this card brings to the table, but Spike likes it a bit less than the other two.
(2.5/3) Elegance: The redundancy of both the enchantment itself having Exalted and giving all of your creatures Exalted might trip up some players during attacks.
Development -
(3/3) Viability: Nothing wrong color pie-wise, as white has already done both Exalted and token creation. For an effect as strong as this, I wouldn't expect nothing less than rare, but I could see this as a mythic for limited purposes.
(1.5/3) Balance: While it's true that this card requires some setup to be working, as slamming this on an empty board does nothing, once it gets going it's going to be very hard for your opponents to hit you, as the card gives you a steady flow of chumpblockers and doubles as a quasi-Abyss, since your attacking creature is going to get enormous. This is a windmill slam in limited and would probably see some play as a control finisher, and there are a lot of EDH decks that would greatly like the efficiency this card gives.
Creativity -
(2/3) Uniqueness: While the "Creatures you control have exalted" is lifted off Sublime Archangel, this is a very nice Mobilization variant.
(3/3) Flavor: Top notch, man. It's just that good.
Polish -
(3/3) Quality: Everything's okay here.
(2/2) Main Challenge: The card has exalted.
(2/2) Subchallenges: Not a creature and monocolored.
Total: 21.5/25
Instinctive Charge2GG
Enchantment (R)
Exalted, exalted (Whenever a creature you control attacks alone, that creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn. Then do it again.)
At the beginning of combat on your turn, target creature you control gains trample and haste until end of turn. “The creatures I summon with the Arkbow don’t need any command. They instinctively know what to do.”
—Vivien Reid
Design -
(2.5/3) Appeal: Timmy likes his creatures getting big and hasty, while Johnny thinks of the way this could deal as much damage to anyone as possible, maybe with multiple combats. Spike likes it, but he won't play this unless he already got something on the board, since this does nothing by itself.
(3/3) Elegance: The double exalted might confuse some player, but that's what the reminder text is there for.
Development -
(3/3) Viability: Green is tertiary in haste, primary in trample and has already had Exalted during Alara block, so nothing wrong color pie-wise. I wouldn't see this as anything but a rare.
(3/3) Balance: This is a card with a high potential that needs some help to really shine. Well, by "help" I mean just playing creatures, but this embodies the green philosophy of "going tall" very nicely. I think this card would see play in the current standard environment as a top end for some aggro decks (maybe replacing Rhythm of the Wilds), and it would be a solid addition to any green decks in limited. I know a lot of EDH decks that would love to play with this.
Creativity -
(2.5/3) Uniqueness: As of this day, there are no cards with double Exalted on them, but the score is balanced out by the fact that the rest of the card is a bit bland.
(2.5/3) Flavor: The name is a bit generic, but the flavor text really enchances the flavor of the card.
Polish -
(3/3) Quality: Everything's okay here.
(2/2) Main Challenge: The card has exalted.
(2/2) Subchallenges: Not a creature and monocolored.
Total: 23.5/25
Results:
RaikouRider 22
VS
IcariiFA 23.5
Artorias 21.5
VS
Bravelion83 23.5
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
My EDH Decks:
Kruphix, God of Value and Eldrazi. GU Gahiji: Wider is better. (Now with 40% more tokens!) RGW Daxos brought some frienchantments! WB Kynaios and Tiro: Four strong arms to hug you better. RGWU Saskia: You better not tell her that pointing is rude. BRGW Sidisi the Zombeesi, the Unmilled, Breaker of Graves, Mother of Zambambos. (Zombie tribal)BGU Omnath, The Angriest Elemental Ever & His Spike-Handed Buddies.RG (Retired but forever in my heart)
Robe of EnlightenmentW
Legendary Artifact - Equipment {R}
Equipped creature has Exalted. WWWW: Attach Cloak of Enlightenment to target creature you control. Prevent all damage that would be dealt to it this turn.
Equip 2 A gift bestowed to Tang Xuanzang by Guanyin to aid him in his journey.
Design - (1.5/3) Appeal: Spike doesn't see anything for them. Johnny may try it, but probably wouldn't find anything. Timmy is content that he may protect his creature. (2/3) Elegance: Different attach abilities and the fact that it doesn't directly improve the creature makes it feel very strange.
Development - (3/3) Viability: Rules, rarity and color fine. (1.5/3) Balance: This is quite weak and I don't know for what format it is supposed to exist.
Creativity - (2.5/3) Uniqueness: Trigger on attach is new. (1/3) Flavor: You made me google combinations of Tang Xuanzang, Guanyin, Cloak, Enlightenment and Journey to the West for a long time, to no avail. I was unable to find a story about such cloak, thus a reason for the enlightenment to be related to damage prevention, and for it to be easily exchangable between creatures. I was trying, really.
Polish - (3/3) Quality: OK (1/2) Main Challenge: Technically, doesn't have Exalted. (2/2) Subchallenges: OK
Total: 17.5/25
Graveyards of Valeron2B
Legendary Artifact (Rare)
Exalted
Whenever a creature you control attacks alone, it gets +1/+1 for each creature card in your graveyard. After the shards' mending, Bant gained excess to dark magic. Still, the Bantians used it for good, calling to their ancestors and fallen in honorable ways.
Design - (2.5/3) Appeal: Johnny and Timmy are happy to find ways to abuse the trigger. Spike is trying to figure out how worth it is. (3/3) Elegance: Elegant and clear.
Development - (3/3) Viability: No problems with rules or color. I could imagine this text on an uncommon (Angelic Exaltation), but it is probably better and rare. (2.5/3) Balance: This card may be very dangerous in its deck, but probably won't be breaking formats in half.
Creativity - (2.5/3) Uniqueness: That's basically lhurgoyfing an attacking single creature, but this is quite unique design. (1.5/3) Flavor: Ancestors' black power is rather reserved for Abzan, Bant has its spirits in white. Bantians? Ugh, I don't like it at all, and I don't think it's official (according to my google search). "Shards' mending": why not just refer to Conflux?
Polish - (2/3) Quality: Excess instead of access. (2/2) Main Challenge: OK (2/2) Subchallenges: OK
Total: 21/25
Sigil of Flight's Wings1W
Enchantment - Aura {C}
Enchant creature
Exalted (Whenever a creature you control attacks alone, that creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn.)
Enchanted creature has flying and vigilance. As Eron clutched the golden medallion, large wings white as snow grew from his shoulders. "Look at yourself...!" was all Aravan could say to his friend. Neither of them could believe it--Asha had transformed Eron into an angel!
Design - (2/3) Appeal: Common Aura for Spike and Timmy, but not really Johnny. (3/3) Elegance: I was considering removing points here for unnecesary disjoint of keywords (exalted could be granted), but when I think about flavor, it works better this way.
Development - (2.5/3) Viability: Rules and color OK. I think that three keywords may be too much for NWO common. (2.5/3) Balance: Probably below average power level, but that's fine for a common Aura.
Creativity - (3/3) Uniqueness: Apparently, no Aura with exalted in Magic. No reason to complicate it further in common. (2.5/3) Flavor: Honestly, this flavor text feels much too long to me.
Polish - (3/3) Quality: OK (2/2) Main Challenge: OK (2/2) Subchallenges: OK
Total: 22.5/25
Undying Herald3BB
Enchantment (R)
Exalted
At the beginning of your end step, if you control no creatures, return target creature card from your graveyard to the battlefield. That creature is a black Zombie in addition to its other colors and types. He received the call as death's champion and was stricken of the will to refuse.
Design - (2.5/3) Appeal: Spike and Johnny are fine with this design and having to work for their creature. Timmy less so. (2.5/3) Elegance: Well constructed, elegant card, but the name suggests a creature.
Development - (3/3) Viability: Rules, rarity and color fine. (2/3) Balance: Seems very dangerous, even with this limitation.
Creativity - (2.5/3) Uniqueness: Interesting, new ability. (2.5/3) Flavor: This flavor text sounds like the call is supposed to be something unique, but if you do it correctly, then it happens every turn
Polish - (3/3) Quality: OK (2/2) Main Challenge: OK (2/2) Subchallenges: OK
Total: 22/25
Freyleyes 17.5 vs. 21 netn10
RaikouRider 22.5 vs. 22 IcariiFA
Design - (2.5/3) Appeal: Timmy obviously likes an exalted army. Johnny could do a lot with the token generation. Spike likes a build-your-own control finisher that comes with its own chump blockers and that helps the utility creatures in the build finish the game, but it is a bit expensive for him. (3/3) Elegance: Pretty tight and elegant self-synergistic package.
Development - (3/3) Viability: Color and rarity look right to me. (3/3) Balance: Maybe slightly overcosted if anything; Sublime Archangel IS very strong but comes with its own big evasive body and costs less.
Creativity - (1/3) Uniqueness: Based pretty heavily on Sublime Archangel it seems. I wish this granted exalted to, say, all nonland permanents. (3/3) Flavor: Spectacular and deep Alara reference.
Design - (2.5/3) Appeal: Timmy likes double exalted. Maybe a bit too straightforward for Johnny but there are definitely creatures he’d play that benefit from getting into combat bigger and sooner. Spike likes a threat generator, particularly in Limited. (3/3) Elegance: A pretty elegant package.
Development - (3/3) Viability: Color and rarity look okay. Could maybe even be uncommon but that might be a bit much in Limited. (3/3) Balance: Nothing objectionable here; at rare I wouldn’t have minded seeing this at GGG.
Creativity - (1.5/3) Uniqueness: Double exalted is unique, but we’ve of course seen haste and trample granting before. (2/3) Flavor: Something isn’t quite jelling for me here; the “natural/wild” flavor and the association with Vivien, who seems likely to summon multiple creatures rather than just one, don’t quite work for an exalted card.
Design - (1.5/3) Appeal: Largely a Timmy card. It’s got an unusual flash-attach ability so that might be something for Johnny, but Spike definitely passes seeing how much mana you need to invest to have any impact at all with this. (2/3) Elegance: Definitely some inelegant aspects to this design, such as being able to pass it around (for a lot of mana) and have damage prevention on multiple creatures independent of which the Equipment is attached to. There’s also some timing tension with when exalted triggers and when you’d want to use the activated ability.
Development - (3/3) Viability: Thoroughly white and odd enough to be rare. (2.5/3) Balance: So expensive that it’s actually rather underpowered even in Limited (where you’d have an especially hard time coming up with four mana of a single color).
Creativity - (1.5/3) Uniqueness: There was a whole cycle of instant-attachers in Fifth Dawn; the infamous Cranial Plating was one. And the only bonus to the Equipment itself is granting exalted. Still, an additional rider to attaching is new. (1/3) Flavor: I have to dock you quite a bit for cribbing directly from the real-world story of the Journey to the West, something that Magic just doesn’t do anymore and hasn’t for a very long time. Also not quite getting the direct connection between “enlightenment” and damage prevention.
Polish - (2.5/3) Quality: Exalted, like all keywords, should not be capitalized unless it’s the first word in a line. (0/2) *Main Challenge: This card technically doesn’t have exalted and only grants it. (2/2) Subchallenges: Done.
Total: 16/25
Design - (3/3) Appeal: Timmy likes the sheer size of the boost. Johnny likes payoffs for having a full graveyard. Spike likes a growing way to make anything a threat. (3/3) Elegance: Pretty elegant stuff.
Development - (3/3) Viability: Color and rarity feel right. (3/3) Balance: Potentially strong but not at all OP.
Creativity - (2/3) Uniqueness: Obviously the Lhurgoyf ability and variants have been around forever but granting it to the creature you’re exalting is a nice touch. (3/3) Flavor: Frankly love this flavor. Feels both black AND Bantian.
Polish - (2.5/3) Quality: Think there might be a word choice issue in the flavor text. (2/2) *Main Challenge: Done. (2/2) Subchallenges: And done.
April MCC 2019 Round 3 - Light of the Sigils
A bit of self-indulgence, since I took this month on short notice, so it'll be Alara Month this time around! For this round we'll be working with Bant's mechanic that later got used in a Core Set.
Main Challenge: Design a card with exalted.
Subchallenge 1: Your card is exactly one color.
Subchallenge 2: Your card is not a creature.
Judging Deadline: All judgements are to be final and completed by April 29th 11:59 PM EDT
(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.
void_nothing
Superbajt
StonerOfKruphix
Contestants:
netn10
Artorias
bravelion83
Freyleyes
RaikouRider
IcariiFA
I̟̥͍̠ͅn̩͉̣͍̬͚ͅ ̬̬͖t̯̹̞̺͖͓̯̤h̘͍̬e͙̯͈̖̼̮ ̭̬f̺̲̲̪i͙͉̟̩̰r̪̝͚͈̝̥͍̝̲s̼̻͇̘̳͔ͅt̲̺̳̗̜̪̙ ̳̺̥̻͚̗ͅm̜̜̟̰͈͓͎͇o̝̖̮̝͇m̯̻̞̼̫̗͓̤e̩̯̬̮̩n͎̱̪̲̹͖t͇̖s̰̮ͅ,̤̲͙̻̭̻̯̹̰ ̖t̫̙̺̯͖͚̯ͅh͙̯̦̳̗̰̟e͖̪͉̼̯ ̪͕g̞̣͔a̗̦t̬̬͓͙̫̖̭̻e̩̻̯ ̜̖̦̖̤̭͙̬t̞̹̥̪͎͉ͅo͕͚͍͇̲͇͓̺ ̭̬͙͈̣̻t͈͍͙͓̫̖͙̩h̪̬̖̙e̗͈ ̗̬̟̞̺̤͉̯ͅa̦̯͚̙̜̮f͉͙̲̣̞̼t̪̤̞̣͚e̲͉̳̥r͇̪̙͚͓l̥̞̞͎̹̯̹ͅi͓̬f̮̥̬̞͈ͅe͎ ̟̩̤̳̠̯̩̯o̮̘̲p̟͚̣̞͉͓e͍̩̣n͔̼͕͚̜e̬̱d̼̘͎̖̹͍̮̠,͖̺̭̱̮ ̣̲͖̬̪̭̥a̪͚n̟̲̝̤̤̞̗d̘̱̗͇̮͕̳͕͔ ͖̞͉͎t̹̙͎h̰̱͉̗e̪̞̱̝̹̩ͅ ̠̱̩̭̦p̯̙e͓o̳͚̰̯̺̱̰͔̘p̬͎̱̣̼̩͇l̗̟̖͚̠e̱͉͔̱̦̬̟̙ ̖͚̪͔̼̦w̺̖̤̱e͖̗̻̦͓̖̘̜r̭̥e͔̹̫̱͕̦̰͕ ̗͔̠p̠̗͍͍̱̳̠r̰͔͎̰o͉̥͓̰͚̥s̟͚̹̱͔̣t͉̙̳̖͖̪̮r̥̘̥͙̹a͉̟̫̟̳̠̟̭t͈̜̰͈͎e̞̣̭̲̬ ͚̗̯̟͙i͍͖̰̘̦͖͉ṇ̮̻̯̦̲̩͍ ̦̮͚̫̤t͉͖̫͕ͅͅh͙̮̻̘̣̮̼e͕̺ ͙l͕̠͎̰̥i̲͓͉̲g̫̳̟͈͇̖h̠̦̖t͓̯͎̗ ̳̪̘̟̙̩̦o̫̲f̙͔̰̙̠ ̹̪̗͇̯t͖̼̼͉͖̬h̹͇̩e͚̖̺̤͉̹͕̪ ͚͓̭̝̺G͎̗̯̩o̫̯̮̟̮̳̘d̜̲͙̠-̩̳̯̲̗̜P̹̘̥͉̝h͍͈̗̖̝ͅa͍̗̮̼̗r̜̖͇̙̺a̭̺͔̞̳͈o̪̣͓̯̬͙̯̰̗h̖̦͈̥̯͔.͇̣̙̝
Enchantment - Aura {C}
Enchant creature
Exalted (Whenever a creature you control attacks alone, that creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn.)
Enchanted creature has flying and vigilance.
As Eron clutched the golden medallion, large wings white as snow grew from his shoulders. "Look at yourself...!" was all Aravan could say to his friend. Neither of them could believe it--Asha had transformed Eron into an angel!
Emille, Seven-Sting Dancer Shalin Nariya
Enchantment {M}
Exalted (Whenever a creature you control attacks alone, that creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn.)
Creatures you control have exalted. (If a creature has multiple instances of exalted, each triggers separately.)
1W: Create a 0/1 white Monk creature token.
When the Chosen goes to combat all his brothers watch him with pride, waiting their moment.
Enchantment (R)
Exalted, exalted (Whenever a creature you control attacks alone, that creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn. Then do it again.)
At the beginning of combat on your turn, target creature you control gains trample and haste until end of turn.
“The creatures I summon with the Arkbow don’t need any command. They instinctively know what to do.”
—Vivien Reid
MCC - Winner (6): Oct 2014, Apr Nov 2017, Jan 2018, Apr Jun 2019 || Host (15): Dec 2014, Apr Jul Aug Dec 2015, Mar Jul Aug Oct 2016, Feb Jul 2017, Jun Nov 2018, Feb Jul 2019 (last one here) || Judge (34): every month from Nov 2014 to Nov 2016 except Oct 2015, every month from Feb to Jul 2017 except Apr 2017, then Oct 2017, May Jun Nov 2018, Feb Jul 2019 (last one here)
CCL - Winner (3): Jul 2016 (tied with Flatline), May 2017, Jul 2019 (last one here) || Host (5): Feb 2015, Mar Apr May Jun 2016
DCC - Winner (1): Mar 2015 (tied with Piar) || Host (3): May Oct 2015, Jan 2016
• The two public custom sets I've been part a part of the design team for:
"Brotherhood of Ormos" - Blog post with all info - set thread - design skeleton / card list || "Extinctia: Homo Evanuit" - Blog post with all info - set thread - card list spreadsheet
• "The Lion's Lair", my article series about MTG and custom card design in particular. Latest article here. Here is the article index. Rather outdated by now, and based on the old MCC rubric, but I'm leaving this here for anybody that might be interested anyway.
• My only public attempt at being a writer: the story of my Leonin custom planeswalker Jeff Lionheart. (I have a very big one that I'm working on right now but that's private for now, and I don't know if I will ever actually publish it, and I also have ideas for multiple future ones, including one where I'm going to reprise Jeff.)
Enchantment (R)
Exalted
At the beginning of your end step, if you control no creatures, return target creature card from your graveyard to the battlefield. That creature is a black Zombie in addition to its other colors and types.
He received the call as death's champion and was stricken of the will to refuse.
Legendary Artifact - Equipment {R}
Equipped creature has Exalted.
WWWW: Attach Cloak of Enlightenment to target creature you control. Prevent all damage that would be dealt to it this turn.
Equip 2
A gift bestowed to Tang Xuanzang by Guanyin to aid him in his journey.
I̟̥͍̠ͅn̩͉̣͍̬͚ͅ ̬̬͖t̯̹̞̺͖͓̯̤h̘͍̬e͙̯͈̖̼̮ ̭̬f̺̲̲̪i͙͉̟̩̰r̪̝͚͈̝̥͍̝̲s̼̻͇̘̳͔ͅt̲̺̳̗̜̪̙ ̳̺̥̻͚̗ͅm̜̜̟̰͈͓͎͇o̝̖̮̝͇m̯̻̞̼̫̗͓̤e̩̯̬̮̩n͎̱̪̲̹͖t͇̖s̰̮ͅ,̤̲͙̻̭̻̯̹̰ ̖t̫̙̺̯͖͚̯ͅh͙̯̦̳̗̰̟e͖̪͉̼̯ ̪͕g̞̣͔a̗̦t̬̬͓͙̫̖̭̻e̩̻̯ ̜̖̦̖̤̭͙̬t̞̹̥̪͎͉ͅo͕͚͍͇̲͇͓̺ ̭̬͙͈̣̻t͈͍͙͓̫̖͙̩h̪̬̖̙e̗͈ ̗̬̟̞̺̤͉̯ͅa̦̯͚̙̜̮f͉͙̲̣̞̼t̪̤̞̣͚e̲͉̳̥r͇̪̙͚͓l̥̞̞͎̹̯̹ͅi͓̬f̮̥̬̞͈ͅe͎ ̟̩̤̳̠̯̩̯o̮̘̲p̟͚̣̞͉͓e͍̩̣n͔̼͕͚̜e̬̱d̼̘͎̖̹͍̮̠,͖̺̭̱̮ ̣̲͖̬̪̭̥a̪͚n̟̲̝̤̤̞̗d̘̱̗͇̮͕̳͕͔ ͖̞͉͎t̹̙͎h̰̱͉̗e̪̞̱̝̹̩ͅ ̠̱̩̭̦p̯̙e͓o̳͚̰̯̺̱̰͔̘p̬͎̱̣̼̩͇l̗̟̖͚̠e̱͉͔̱̦̬̟̙ ̖͚̪͔̼̦w̺̖̤̱e͖̗̻̦͓̖̘̜r̭̥e͔̹̫̱͕̦̰͕ ̗͔̠p̠̗͍͍̱̳̠r̰͔͎̰o͉̥͓̰͚̥s̟͚̹̱͔̣t͉̙̳̖͖̪̮r̥̘̥͙̹a͉̟̫̟̳̠̟̭t͈̜̰͈͎e̞̣̭̲̬ ͚̗̯̟͙i͍͖̰̘̦͖͉ṇ̮̻̯̦̲̩͍ ̦̮͚̫̤t͉͖̫͕ͅͅh͙̮̻̘̣̮̼e͕̺ ͙l͕̠͎̰̥i̲͓͉̲g̫̳̟͈͇̖h̠̦̖t͓̯͎̗ ̳̪̘̟̙̩̦o̫̲f̙͔̰̙̠ ̹̪̗͇̯t͖̼̼͉͖̬h̹͇̩e͚̖̺̤͉̹͕̪ ͚͓̭̝̺G͎̗̯̩o̫̯̮̟̮̳̘d̜̲͙̠-̩̳̯̲̗̜P̹̘̥͉̝h͍͈̗̖̝ͅa͍̗̮̼̗r̜̖͇̙̺a̭̺͔̞̳͈o̪̣͓̯̬͙̯̰̗h̖̦͈̥̯͔.͇̣̙̝
Legendary Artifact (Rare)
Exalted
Whenever a creature you control attacks alone, it gets +1/+1 for each creature card in your graveyard.
After the shards' mending, Bant gained excess to dark magic. Still, the Bantians used it for good, calling to their ancestors and fallen in honorable ways.
void_nothing:
Artorias vs. bravelion83
Freyleyes vs. netn10
Superbajt:
Freyleyes vs. netn10
RaikouRider vs. IcariiFA
StonerOfKruphix:
RaikouRider vs. IcariiFA
Artorias vs. bravelion83
I̟̥͍̠ͅn̩͉̣͍̬͚ͅ ̬̬͖t̯̹̞̺͖͓̯̤h̘͍̬e͙̯͈̖̼̮ ̭̬f̺̲̲̪i͙͉̟̩̰r̪̝͚͈̝̥͍̝̲s̼̻͇̘̳͔ͅt̲̺̳̗̜̪̙ ̳̺̥̻͚̗ͅm̜̜̟̰͈͓͎͇o̝̖̮̝͇m̯̻̞̼̫̗͓̤e̩̯̬̮̩n͎̱̪̲̹͖t͇̖s̰̮ͅ,̤̲͙̻̭̻̯̹̰ ̖t̫̙̺̯͖͚̯ͅh͙̯̦̳̗̰̟e͖̪͉̼̯ ̪͕g̞̣͔a̗̦t̬̬͓͙̫̖̭̻e̩̻̯ ̜̖̦̖̤̭͙̬t̞̹̥̪͎͉ͅo͕͚͍͇̲͇͓̺ ̭̬͙͈̣̻t͈͍͙͓̫̖͙̩h̪̬̖̙e̗͈ ̗̬̟̞̺̤͉̯ͅa̦̯͚̙̜̮f͉͙̲̣̞̼t̪̤̞̣͚e̲͉̳̥r͇̪̙͚͓l̥̞̞͎̹̯̹ͅi͓̬f̮̥̬̞͈ͅe͎ ̟̩̤̳̠̯̩̯o̮̘̲p̟͚̣̞͉͓e͍̩̣n͔̼͕͚̜e̬̱d̼̘͎̖̹͍̮̠,͖̺̭̱̮ ̣̲͖̬̪̭̥a̪͚n̟̲̝̤̤̞̗d̘̱̗͇̮͕̳͕͔ ͖̞͉͎t̹̙͎h̰̱͉̗e̪̞̱̝̹̩ͅ ̠̱̩̭̦p̯̙e͓o̳͚̰̯̺̱̰͔̘p̬͎̱̣̼̩͇l̗̟̖͚̠e̱͉͔̱̦̬̟̙ ̖͚̪͔̼̦w̺̖̤̱e͖̗̻̦͓̖̘̜r̭̥e͔̹̫̱͕̦̰͕ ̗͔̠p̠̗͍͍̱̳̠r̰͔͎̰o͉̥͓̰͚̥s̟͚̹̱͔̣t͉̙̳̖͖̪̮r̥̘̥͙̹a͉̟̫̟̳̠̟̭t͈̜̰͈͎e̞̣̭̲̬ ͚̗̯̟͙i͍͖̰̘̦͖͉ṇ̮̻̯̦̲̩͍ ̦̮͚̫̤t͉͖̫͕ͅͅh͙̮̻̘̣̮̼e͕̺ ͙l͕̠͎̰̥i̲͓͉̲g̫̳̟͈͇̖h̠̦̖t͓̯͎̗ ̳̪̘̟̙̩̦o̫̲f̙͔̰̙̠ ̹̪̗͇̯t͖̼̼͉͖̬h̹͇̩e͚̖̺̤͉̹͕̪ ͚͓̭̝̺G͎̗̯̩o̫̯̮̟̮̳̘d̜̲͙̠-̩̳̯̲̗̜P̹̘̥͉̝h͍͈̗̖̝ͅa͍̗̮̼̗r̜̖͇̙̺a̭̺͔̞̳͈o̪̣͓̯̬͙̯̰̗h̖̦͈̥̯͔.͇̣̙̝
Design -
(2/3) Appeal: Timmy likes this. Spike likes that it's a strong effect, but doesn't like opening himself to 2-for-1s, as is often the case with auras. Johnny is mildly interested, but sees not much potential.
(2.5/3) Elegance: The card reads easily, but because the Exalted is on the aura, some players are going to assume this is just an aura that gives +1/+1, flying and vigilance.
Development -
(3/3) Viability: Flying, exalted, vigilance and auras are all things White has already done, so no color breaks. Some might think this could be an uncommon since it does quite a few things, but commons recently have been pretty pushed, and this seems like the case.
(3/3) Balance: This card isn't going to break any format it sees play in half, but it's nevertheless a solid common you'll pick in draft, since just one hit with this makes it worth it on a stalled board, allowing you to play both offense and defense. It's a solid pick, but not one you're going to prioritize early in draft.
Creativity -
(2.5/3) Uniqueness: There are no auras with exalted existing to this day, but apart from that, the rest of the card is pretty standard.
(2/3) Flavor: The name sounds a bit redundant, but the thing that prevents me from giving it a full score is the fact that Eron is a character that already exists in the MTG universe, so I would've gone for another name. Interestingly, this has already happened with Reyhan, who is both an Abzan legendary creature and a Samite healer in some flavor texts, included Eron's one.
Polish -
(3/3) Quality: Everything's okay here.
(2/2) Main Challenge: The card has exalted.
(2/2) Subchallenges: The card is not a creature and it's monocolored.
Total: 22/25
Design -
(2/3) Appeal: Johnny and Spike appreciate how solid it is and the recursion and advantage this could lead to, even though Spike is sad that at face value this is an exalted trigger for five mana on a full board. This does too little for Timmy, but he likes the idea of bringing back his biggest creature every turn.
(3/3) Elegance: Very elegant.
Development -
(3/3) Viability: For an effect like this, I wouldn't expect nothing less than rare, so the rarity is okay. We've also seen black dabble with Exalted in a core set, and of course reanimation is a black thing.
(2.5/3) Balance: This is a very strong card that needs some help to really shine, but when it does, oh boy. While I don't think this would see play in eternal formats (except for EDH), there would probably be some standard deck made to abuse it, especially if you go for an Aristocrats type of deck, maybe reanimating Garna on your end step so you can do this all over again next turn. While not a windmill slam in limited, this card is a high pick if you're in black, even though it doesn't do enough when you're behind and the exalted seems kinda stapled on it. Also, the idea that you could recur the same creature seems like something that could get out of hand, so I would've liked the clause of "If that creature would leave the battlefield, exile it instead", but it would go against the name of the card.
Creativity -
(3/3) Uniqueness: To this day, there are no existing cards that behave exactly like this one, so the full score is pretty deserved.
(3/3) Flavor: Pretty much a flavor homerun here.
Polish -
(3/3) Quality: Everything's okay here.
(2/2) Main Challenge: The card has exalted.
(2/2) Subchallenges: Not a creature and monocolored.
Total: 23.5/25
Design -
(2.5/3) Appeal: Everyone likes what this card brings to the table, but Spike likes it a bit less than the other two.
(2.5/3) Elegance: The redundancy of both the enchantment itself having Exalted and giving all of your creatures Exalted might trip up some players during attacks.
Development -
(3/3) Viability: Nothing wrong color pie-wise, as white has already done both Exalted and token creation. For an effect as strong as this, I wouldn't expect nothing less than rare, but I could see this as a mythic for limited purposes.
(1.5/3) Balance: While it's true that this card requires some setup to be working, as slamming this on an empty board does nothing, once it gets going it's going to be very hard for your opponents to hit you, as the card gives you a steady flow of chumpblockers and doubles as a quasi-Abyss, since your attacking creature is going to get enormous. This is a windmill slam in limited and would probably see some play as a control finisher, and there are a lot of EDH decks that would greatly like the efficiency this card gives.
Creativity -
(2/3) Uniqueness: While the "Creatures you control have exalted" is lifted off Sublime Archangel, this is a very nice Mobilization variant.
(3/3) Flavor: Top notch, man. It's just that good.
Polish -
(3/3) Quality: Everything's okay here.
(2/2) Main Challenge: The card has exalted.
(2/2) Subchallenges: Not a creature and monocolored.
Total: 21.5/25
Design -
(2.5/3) Appeal: Timmy likes his creatures getting big and hasty, while Johnny thinks of the way this could deal as much damage to anyone as possible, maybe with multiple combats. Spike likes it, but he won't play this unless he already got something on the board, since this does nothing by itself.
(3/3) Elegance: The double exalted might confuse some player, but that's what the reminder text is there for.
Development -
(3/3) Viability: Green is tertiary in haste, primary in trample and has already had Exalted during Alara block, so nothing wrong color pie-wise. I wouldn't see this as anything but a rare.
(3/3) Balance: This is a card with a high potential that needs some help to really shine. Well, by "help" I mean just playing creatures, but this embodies the green philosophy of "going tall" very nicely. I think this card would see play in the current standard environment as a top end for some aggro decks (maybe replacing Rhythm of the Wilds), and it would be a solid addition to any green decks in limited. I know a lot of EDH decks that would love to play with this.
Creativity -
(2.5/3) Uniqueness: As of this day, there are no cards with double Exalted on them, but the score is balanced out by the fact that the rest of the card is a bit bland.
(2.5/3) Flavor: The name is a bit generic, but the flavor text really enchances the flavor of the card.
Polish -
(3/3) Quality: Everything's okay here.
(2/2) Main Challenge: The card has exalted.
(2/2) Subchallenges: Not a creature and monocolored.
Total: 23.5/25
Results:
RaikouRider 22
VS
IcariiFA 23.5
Artorias 21.5
VS
Bravelion83 23.5
Kruphix, God of Value and Eldrazi. GU
Gahiji: Wider is better. (Now with 40% more tokens!) RGW
Daxos brought some frienchantments! WB
Kynaios and Tiro: Four strong arms to hug you better. RGWU
Saskia: You better not tell her that pointing is rude. BRGW
Sidisi the Zombeesi, the Unmilled, Breaker of Graves, Mother of Zambambos. (Zombie tribal)BGU
Omnath, The Angriest Elemental Ever & His Spike-Handed Buddies.RG (Retired but forever in my heart)
Legendary Artifact - Equipment {R}
Equipped creature has Exalted.
WWWW: Attach Cloak of Enlightenment to target creature you control. Prevent all damage that would be dealt to it this turn.
Equip 2
A gift bestowed to Tang Xuanzang by Guanyin to aid him in his journey.
Design -
(1.5/3) Appeal: Spike doesn't see anything for them. Johnny may try it, but probably wouldn't find anything. Timmy is content that he may protect his creature.
(2/3) Elegance: Different attach abilities and the fact that it doesn't directly improve the creature makes it feel very strange.
Development -
(3/3) Viability: Rules, rarity and color fine.
(1.5/3) Balance: This is quite weak and I don't know for what format it is supposed to exist.
Creativity -
(2.5/3) Uniqueness: Trigger on attach is new.
(1/3) Flavor: You made me google combinations of Tang Xuanzang, Guanyin, Cloak, Enlightenment and Journey to the West for a long time, to no avail. I was unable to find a story about such cloak, thus a reason for the enlightenment to be related to damage prevention, and for it to be easily exchangable between creatures. I was trying, really.
Polish -
(3/3) Quality: OK
(1/2) Main Challenge: Technically, doesn't have Exalted.
(2/2) Subchallenges: OK
Total: 17.5/25
Legendary Artifact (Rare)
Exalted
Whenever a creature you control attacks alone, it gets +1/+1 for each creature card in your graveyard.
After the shards' mending, Bant gained excess to dark magic. Still, the Bantians used it for good, calling to their ancestors and fallen in honorable ways.
Design -
(2.5/3) Appeal: Johnny and Timmy are happy to find ways to abuse the trigger. Spike is trying to figure out how worth it is.
(3/3) Elegance: Elegant and clear.
Development -
(3/3) Viability: No problems with rules or color. I could imagine this text on an uncommon (Angelic Exaltation), but it is probably better and rare.
(2.5/3) Balance: This card may be very dangerous in its deck, but probably won't be breaking formats in half.
Creativity -
(2.5/3) Uniqueness: That's basically lhurgoyfing an attacking single creature, but this is quite unique design.
(1.5/3) Flavor: Ancestors' black power is rather reserved for Abzan, Bant has its spirits in white. Bantians? Ugh, I don't like it at all, and I don't think it's official (according to my google search). "Shards' mending": why not just refer to Conflux?
Polish -
(2/3) Quality: Excess instead of access.
(2/2) Main Challenge: OK
(2/2) Subchallenges: OK
Total: 21/25
Enchantment - Aura {C}
Enchant creature
Exalted (Whenever a creature you control attacks alone, that creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn.)
Enchanted creature has flying and vigilance.
As Eron clutched the golden medallion, large wings white as snow grew from his shoulders. "Look at yourself...!" was all Aravan could say to his friend. Neither of them could believe it--Asha had transformed Eron into an angel!
Design -
(2/3) Appeal: Common Aura for Spike and Timmy, but not really Johnny.
(3/3) Elegance: I was considering removing points here for unnecesary disjoint of keywords (exalted could be granted), but when I think about flavor, it works better this way.
Development -
(2.5/3) Viability: Rules and color OK. I think that three keywords may be too much for NWO common.
(2.5/3) Balance: Probably below average power level, but that's fine for a common Aura.
Creativity -
(3/3) Uniqueness: Apparently, no Aura with exalted in Magic. No reason to complicate it further in common.
(2.5/3) Flavor: Honestly, this flavor text feels much too long to me.
Polish -
(3/3) Quality: OK
(2/2) Main Challenge: OK
(2/2) Subchallenges: OK
Total: 22.5/25
Enchantment (R)
Exalted
At the beginning of your end step, if you control no creatures, return target creature card from your graveyard to the battlefield. That creature is a black Zombie in addition to its other colors and types.
He received the call as death's champion and was stricken of the will to refuse.
Design -
(2.5/3) Appeal: Spike and Johnny are fine with this design and having to work for their creature. Timmy less so.
(2.5/3) Elegance: Well constructed, elegant card, but the name suggests a creature.
Development -
(3/3) Viability: Rules, rarity and color fine.
(2/3) Balance: Seems very dangerous, even with this limitation.
Creativity -
(2.5/3) Uniqueness: Interesting, new ability.
(2.5/3) Flavor: This flavor text sounds like the call is supposed to be something unique, but if you do it correctly, then it happens every turn
Polish -
(3/3) Quality: OK
(2/2) Main Challenge: OK
(2/2) Subchallenges: OK
Total: 22/25
RaikouRider 22.5 vs. 22 IcariiFA
(2.5/3) Appeal: Timmy obviously likes an exalted army. Johnny could do a lot with the token generation. Spike likes a build-your-own control finisher that comes with its own chump blockers and that helps the utility creatures in the build finish the game, but it is a bit expensive for him.
(3/3) Elegance: Pretty tight and elegant self-synergistic package.
Development -
(3/3) Viability: Color and rarity look right to me.
(3/3) Balance: Maybe slightly overcosted if anything; Sublime Archangel IS very strong but comes with its own big evasive body and costs less.
Creativity -
(1/3) Uniqueness: Based pretty heavily on Sublime Archangel it seems. I wish this granted exalted to, say, all nonland permanents.
(3/3) Flavor: Spectacular and deep Alara reference.
Polish -
(3/3) Quality: Looks fine.
(2/2) *Main Challenge: Done.
(2/2) Subchallenges: And done.
Total: 22.5/25
(2.5/3) Appeal: Timmy likes double exalted. Maybe a bit too straightforward for Johnny but there are definitely creatures he’d play that benefit from getting into combat bigger and sooner. Spike likes a threat generator, particularly in Limited.
(3/3) Elegance: A pretty elegant package.
Development -
(3/3) Viability: Color and rarity look okay. Could maybe even be uncommon but that might be a bit much in Limited.
(3/3) Balance: Nothing objectionable here; at rare I wouldn’t have minded seeing this at GGG.
Creativity -
(1.5/3) Uniqueness: Double exalted is unique, but we’ve of course seen haste and trample granting before.
(2/3) Flavor: Something isn’t quite jelling for me here; the “natural/wild” flavor and the association with Vivien, who seems likely to summon multiple creatures rather than just one, don’t quite work for an exalted card.
Polish -
(3/3) Quality: Fine.
(2/2) *Main Challenge: Done.
(2/2) Subchallenges: And done.
Total: 22/25
(1.5/3) Appeal: Largely a Timmy card. It’s got an unusual flash-attach ability so that might be something for Johnny, but Spike definitely passes seeing how much mana you need to invest to have any impact at all with this.
(2/3) Elegance: Definitely some inelegant aspects to this design, such as being able to pass it around (for a lot of mana) and have damage prevention on multiple creatures independent of which the Equipment is attached to. There’s also some timing tension with when exalted triggers and when you’d want to use the activated ability.
Development -
(3/3) Viability: Thoroughly white and odd enough to be rare.
(2.5/3) Balance: So expensive that it’s actually rather underpowered even in Limited (where you’d have an especially hard time coming up with four mana of a single color).
Creativity -
(1.5/3) Uniqueness: There was a whole cycle of instant-attachers in Fifth Dawn; the infamous Cranial Plating was one. And the only bonus to the Equipment itself is granting exalted. Still, an additional rider to attaching is new.
(1/3) Flavor: I have to dock you quite a bit for cribbing directly from the real-world story of the Journey to the West, something that Magic just doesn’t do anymore and hasn’t for a very long time. Also not quite getting the direct connection between “enlightenment” and damage prevention.
Polish -
(2.5/3) Quality: Exalted, like all keywords, should not be capitalized unless it’s the first word in a line.
(0/2) *Main Challenge: This card technically doesn’t have exalted and only grants it.
(2/2) Subchallenges: Done.
Total: 16/25
(3/3) Appeal: Timmy likes the sheer size of the boost. Johnny likes payoffs for having a full graveyard. Spike likes a growing way to make anything a threat.
(3/3) Elegance: Pretty elegant stuff.
Development -
(3/3) Viability: Color and rarity feel right.
(3/3) Balance: Potentially strong but not at all OP.
Creativity -
(2/3) Uniqueness: Obviously the Lhurgoyf ability and variants have been around forever but granting it to the creature you’re exalting is a nice touch.
(3/3) Flavor: Frankly love this flavor. Feels both black AND Bantian.
Polish -
(2.5/3) Quality: Think there might be a word choice issue in the flavor text.
(2/2) *Main Challenge: Done.
(2/2) Subchallenges: And done.
Total: 23.5/25
I̟̥͍̠ͅn̩͉̣͍̬͚ͅ ̬̬͖t̯̹̞̺͖͓̯̤h̘͍̬e͙̯͈̖̼̮ ̭̬f̺̲̲̪i͙͉̟̩̰r̪̝͚͈̝̥͍̝̲s̼̻͇̘̳͔ͅt̲̺̳̗̜̪̙ ̳̺̥̻͚̗ͅm̜̜̟̰͈͓͎͇o̝̖̮̝͇m̯̻̞̼̫̗͓̤e̩̯̬̮̩n͎̱̪̲̹͖t͇̖s̰̮ͅ,̤̲͙̻̭̻̯̹̰ ̖t̫̙̺̯͖͚̯ͅh͙̯̦̳̗̰̟e͖̪͉̼̯ ̪͕g̞̣͔a̗̦t̬̬͓͙̫̖̭̻e̩̻̯ ̜̖̦̖̤̭͙̬t̞̹̥̪͎͉ͅo͕͚͍͇̲͇͓̺ ̭̬͙͈̣̻t͈͍͙͓̫̖͙̩h̪̬̖̙e̗͈ ̗̬̟̞̺̤͉̯ͅa̦̯͚̙̜̮f͉͙̲̣̞̼t̪̤̞̣͚e̲͉̳̥r͇̪̙͚͓l̥̞̞͎̹̯̹ͅi͓̬f̮̥̬̞͈ͅe͎ ̟̩̤̳̠̯̩̯o̮̘̲p̟͚̣̞͉͓e͍̩̣n͔̼͕͚̜e̬̱d̼̘͎̖̹͍̮̠,͖̺̭̱̮ ̣̲͖̬̪̭̥a̪͚n̟̲̝̤̤̞̗d̘̱̗͇̮͕̳͕͔ ͖̞͉͎t̹̙͎h̰̱͉̗e̪̞̱̝̹̩ͅ ̠̱̩̭̦p̯̙e͓o̳͚̰̯̺̱̰͔̘p̬͎̱̣̼̩͇l̗̟̖͚̠e̱͉͔̱̦̬̟̙ ̖͚̪͔̼̦w̺̖̤̱e͖̗̻̦͓̖̘̜r̭̥e͔̹̫̱͕̦̰͕ ̗͔̠p̠̗͍͍̱̳̠r̰͔͎̰o͉̥͓̰͚̥s̟͚̹̱͔̣t͉̙̳̖͖̪̮r̥̘̥͙̹a͉̟̫̟̳̠̟̭t͈̜̰͈͎e̞̣̭̲̬ ͚̗̯̟͙i͍͖̰̘̦͖͉ṇ̮̻̯̦̲̩͍ ̦̮͚̫̤t͉͖̫͕ͅͅh͙̮̻̘̣̮̼e͕̺ ͙l͕̠͎̰̥i̲͓͉̲g̫̳̟͈͇̖h̠̦̖t͓̯͎̗ ̳̪̘̟̙̩̦o̫̲f̙͔̰̙̠ ̹̪̗͇̯t͖̼̼͉͖̬h̹͇̩e͚̖̺̤͉̹͕̪ ͚͓̭̝̺G͎̗̯̩o̫̯̮̟̮̳̘d̜̲͙̠-̩̳̯̲̗̜P̹̘̥͉̝h͍͈̗̖̝ͅa͍̗̮̼̗r̜̖͇̙̺a̭̺͔̞̳͈o̪̣͓̯̬͙̯̰̗h̖̦͈̥̯͔.͇̣̙̝
bravelion83
netn10
IcariiFA
I̟̥͍̠ͅn̩͉̣͍̬͚ͅ ̬̬͖t̯̹̞̺͖͓̯̤h̘͍̬e͙̯͈̖̼̮ ̭̬f̺̲̲̪i͙͉̟̩̰r̪̝͚͈̝̥͍̝̲s̼̻͇̘̳͔ͅt̲̺̳̗̜̪̙ ̳̺̥̻͚̗ͅm̜̜̟̰͈͓͎͇o̝̖̮̝͇m̯̻̞̼̫̗͓̤e̩̯̬̮̩n͎̱̪̲̹͖t͇̖s̰̮ͅ,̤̲͙̻̭̻̯̹̰ ̖t̫̙̺̯͖͚̯ͅh͙̯̦̳̗̰̟e͖̪͉̼̯ ̪͕g̞̣͔a̗̦t̬̬͓͙̫̖̭̻e̩̻̯ ̜̖̦̖̤̭͙̬t̞̹̥̪͎͉ͅo͕͚͍͇̲͇͓̺ ̭̬͙͈̣̻t͈͍͙͓̫̖͙̩h̪̬̖̙e̗͈ ̗̬̟̞̺̤͉̯ͅa̦̯͚̙̜̮f͉͙̲̣̞̼t̪̤̞̣͚e̲͉̳̥r͇̪̙͚͓l̥̞̞͎̹̯̹ͅi͓̬f̮̥̬̞͈ͅe͎ ̟̩̤̳̠̯̩̯o̮̘̲p̟͚̣̞͉͓e͍̩̣n͔̼͕͚̜e̬̱d̼̘͎̖̹͍̮̠,͖̺̭̱̮ ̣̲͖̬̪̭̥a̪͚n̟̲̝̤̤̞̗d̘̱̗͇̮͕̳͕͔ ͖̞͉͎t̹̙͎h̰̱͉̗e̪̞̱̝̹̩ͅ ̠̱̩̭̦p̯̙e͓o̳͚̰̯̺̱̰͔̘p̬͎̱̣̼̩͇l̗̟̖͚̠e̱͉͔̱̦̬̟̙ ̖͚̪͔̼̦w̺̖̤̱e͖̗̻̦͓̖̘̜r̭̥e͔̹̫̱͕̦̰͕ ̗͔̠p̠̗͍͍̱̳̠r̰͔͎̰o͉̥͓̰͚̥s̟͚̹̱͔̣t͉̙̳̖͖̪̮r̥̘̥͙̹a͉̟̫̟̳̠̟̭t͈̜̰͈͎e̞̣̭̲̬ ͚̗̯̟͙i͍͖̰̘̦͖͉ṇ̮̻̯̦̲̩͍ ̦̮͚̫̤t͉͖̫͕ͅͅh͙̮̻̘̣̮̼e͕̺ ͙l͕̠͎̰̥i̲͓͉̲g̫̳̟͈͇̖h̠̦̖t͓̯͎̗ ̳̪̘̟̙̩̦o̫̲f̙͔̰̙̠ ̹̪̗͇̯t͖̼̼͉͖̬h̹͇̩e͚̖̺̤͉̹͕̪ ͚͓̭̝̺G͎̗̯̩o̫̯̮̟̮̳̘d̜̲͙̠-̩̳̯̲̗̜P̹̘̥͉̝h͍͈̗̖̝ͅa͍̗̮̼̗r̜̖͇̙̺a̭̺͔̞̳͈o̪̣͓̯̬͙̯̰̗h̖̦͈̥̯͔.͇̣̙̝