Set Name: Overworld Three letter code: OVW Set size: 250 Flavor: Pirates vs. Octopuses Block Structure: 3rd set of the Iamur block. Designed for standalone draft.
Overworld is the third set of my Iamur block. Iamur, the eponymous first set of the block, is a top-down underwater set which I made in 2012. Iamur is a plane consisting of a giant ocean with only small islands protruding from the sea. It has a vast underwater realm which is the setting of the first and second sets. This realm was cut off from the "Overworld," as it is called by the sea-dwellers, but now this barrier is broken and for the first time in millennia the two worlds collide again. While Iamur, and the second set Grim Tidings, took place entirely in the underwater realm, in this set, we now get to explore the world above the sea, a world of pirates and adventurers.
Themes & Mechanics
Wanderlust(Whenever this creature attacks, look at the top card of your library. You may put it on the bottom of your library. If it’s a land card, you may put it onto the battlefield tapped.)
Growth {cost}({cost}: Put a +1/+1 counter on this creature. This costs 1 more to activate for each +1/+1 counter on it. Grow only as a sorcery.)
Vessel – Whenever this creature attacks, each other attacking creature gains {ability} until end of turn.
Riposte {cost}(You may cast this spell for its riposte cost if a creature is attacking you.)
Quest hub(When this enters the battlefield, draw a card. You may complete each quest once. When you’ve completed both, sacrifice this.) [Quest] {cost}: {effect}
[Quest] {cost}: {effect}
Tribal: Overworld has a mild tribal component. The supported tribes are: Elves, ships, turtles, pirates and sea monsters (Krakens, Leviathans, Octopuses, and Serpents).
Gold tokens: (Put a colorless artifact token named Gold onto the battlefield. It has "Sacrifice this artifact: Add one mana of any color to your mana pool.")
Abyssal Caress4
Enchantment - Aura (C)
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature gets +3/+3. "Forfeit your pathetic life, land-dweller, and embrace a life in the deep."
-Xaelas, the tidecaller
Risen One2
Creature - Horror (C) Although adapted to living many miles beneath the sea, they showed no difficulty seeing, breathing or moving once they emerged. It was as though their entire evolution secretly steered them towards this very moment.
2/1
Shard of the Twin Gods8
Creature - Kraken Horror (R)
When Shard of the Twin Gods dies, exile it. If you do, you control target player during that player's next turn. When Kalimaras consumed his sons, their essence was scattered across the endless sea.
8/8
Aurian StraitWW
Enchantment (R)
Quest hub (When this enters the battlefield, draw a card. You may complete each quest once. When you've completed both, sacrifice this.)
[QUEST] "Archangel's Blessing" - 3W: Creatures you control gain indestructible until end of turn.
[QUEST] "Return of the Guardian" - 4WW: Put a 4/4 white Angel creature token with flying onto the battlefield.
Banishing Light2W
Enchantment (U)
When Banishing Light enters the battlefield, exile target nonland permanent an opponent controls until Banishing Light leaves the battlefield. "We still call it 'The Forbidden Sea,' but now we decide for whom it is forbidden."
-Telras, lighthouse keeper
Call the Armada1W
Instant (C)
Creatures you control get +1/+1 until end of turn. Ship creatures you control get an additional +0/+3 until end of turn. "The old gods will fall to the might of our nation, just like everyone before them who stood against us."
-Toranos, Lecadian admiral
Cast Away1W
Enchantment - Aura (C)
Enchant non-Kraken, non-Leviathan, non-Octopus, non-Serpent creature
Enchanted creature can't attack or block. Tara was marooned on Khamora with only a pistol and a box of rum.
Colossal Haul4W
Instant (C)
Destroy target creature with power 4 or greater. Draw a card, then put a card from your hand on the bottom of your library. "After weeks missing, we declared my husband dead. Then, just like that, he steps out of the sea with a creature on his back of the likes we had never seen."
-Diary of Giselle
Commodore Kavira2WW
Planeswalker - Kavira (M)
+1: Up to one target creature gets +2/+2 and gains vigilance until your next turn.
-1: Put a legendary 2/2 white Ship artifact creature token named "The Ocean's Cry" onto the battlefield. It has "Whenever this creature attacks, each other attacking creature gains indestructible until end of turn."
-6: You get an emblem with "Whenever one or more creatures an opponent controls attack or block, that player sacrifices an attacking or blocking creature."
{3}
Conquerors of Paradise1WW
Artifact Creature - Ship (U) Vessel - Whenever Conquerors of Paradise attacks, each other attacking creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn. "What good is the greatness of our nation if we don't share it with the rest of the world?"
-Emperor Viliame IV
1/5
Coralblade TrooperWW
Creature - Merfolk Soldier (R)
At the beginning of each upkeep, if you had two or more creatures enter the battlefield under your control last turn, draw a card. After the Great Divide, the merfolk of the Overworld were hunted to near extinction. The few that remained emerged from concealment to reunite with their sea-dwelling kin.
2/2
Crackling Tidestone4WW
Enchantment (R)
When Crackling Tidestone enters the battlefield, exile all nonland permanents not named Crackling Tidestone.
When Crackling Tidestone leaves the battlefield, return the exiled cards to their owner's hands. With the intention of freeing the creatures of the deep, Kiora began to break Auria's seal.
Crescent Havens1W
Enchanment (U)
Quest hub (When this enters the battlefield, draw a card. You may complete each quest once. When you've completed both, sacrifice this.)
[QUEST] "Lost Heirloom" - 2W: Return target artifact card from your graveyard to your hand.
[QUEST] "Delve in Dreams" - 2W: Return target enchantment card from your graveyard to your hand.
Crustacean KingW
Creature - Crab (C)
Growth 3W(3W: Put a +1/+1 counter on this. This costs 1 more to activate for each +1/+1 counter on it. Grow only as a sorcery.) "Why should we sail out fishing? Food just walks up to our beach these days."
-Jan, the "sea bass"
0/3
Dawnchaser Perydon2WW
Creature - Elemental Bird (C)
Flying, lifelink Tales speak of the perydon who flew alongside the sun around the world, always trying to keep up with his pace, so that the sunrise would never come to end.
2/2
Deft Skydancers1W
Creature - Elf Bard (C)
Deft Skydancers has flying as long as you control another Elf. Their performance is the highlight of the annual festivities on Tel Atar.
2/1
Elvish Adventurers3W
Creature - Elf Warrior Cleric (U)
Whenever you activate a quest ability of a permanent, put a +1/+1 counter on Elvish Adventurers. At least once in their lifetime, elves leave their home island and set out on an adventure. Then they decide whether they prefer this life to eternity.
3/3
Elvish Captain2W
Creature - Elf Scout (C)
When Elvish Captain enters the battlefield, target Ship creature you control gets +2/+2 until end of turn. "If you're looking for an adventure, enlist on a goblin ship. But if you want to live to see the next sunrise, I might represent your interests better."
3/2
Havenrod Interceptor1W
Artifact Creature - Ship (C) Vessel - Whenever Havenrod Interceptor attacks, each other attacking creature gains first strike until end of turn. "It is the fastest ship on the endless sea. Even sharks can't keep up with it."
-Jaron Val, Havenrod captain
2/2
Herald of Autumn1W
Creature - Elf Bard (U)
At the beginning of each end step, if you gained life this turn, put a 1/1 white Bird creature token with flying onto the battlefield. His song has as many verses as the autumn has years.
2/2
Imperial Enlistment3WW
Enchantment (U)
When Imperial Enlistment enters the battlefield, put three 1/1 white Soldier creature tokens onto the battlefield.
Ship creatures you control have "Whenever this creature attacks, each other attacking creature gets +1/+0 until end of turn." "Auria has forsaken us. Who will protect our children if not you?"
Iyori Port1W
Enchantment (C)
Quest hub (When this enters the battlefield, draw a card. You may complete each quest once. When you've completed both, sacrifice this.)
[QUEST] "Recruitment" - 3W: Put two 1/1 white Soldier creature tokens onto the battlefield.
[QUEST] "Overdue Shipments" - 5W: Put a +1/+1 counter on each creature you control.
Mute1W
Instant (R)
Riposte W(You may cast this spell for its riposte cost if a creature is attacking you.)
Your opponents can't cast spells during combat this turn.
Draw a card. "What were you saying?"
-Elos, waveguide
Parley2W
Instant (U)
Riposte 1W(You may cast this spell for its riposte cost if a creature is attacking you.)
Prevent all damage that would be dealt to creatures you control this turn. When you are being severely outnumbered with nowhere to run, you can always appeal to your right of parley.
Rider of the Fourth Wind3WW
Creature - Human Scout (U)
Flying, vigilance
Wanderlust (Whenever this creature attacks, look at the top card of your library. You may put it on the bottom of your library. If it's a land card, you may put it onto the battlefield tapped.)
2/4
Romantic RescueW
Instant (C)
Return target creature you control to its owner's hand. You gain life equal to its toughness. "Well, aren't you an unlikely catch?"
Skillful Parry2W
Instant (C)
Riposte 1W(You may cast this spell for its riposte cost if a creature is attacking you.)
Target creature gets +1/+1 and gains double strike until end of turn. "Your moves are so predictable. It's as though you were just a brainless shell. Oh... I forgot who I was talking to."
Storm-Beaten Lighthouse1W
Artifact Creature - Wall (U)
Defender
Ship creatures you control have vigilance. During the Great Divide, the lighthouse was never unmanned, the watchers passing down from generation to generation. A tradition as old as the guardian Auria herself.
0/5
Strike Down3W
Instant (C)
Riposte 1W(You may cast this spell for its riposte cost if a creature is attacking you.)
Destroy target blocked or blocking creature. "As always, something or someone is trying to eat, sacrifice, or simply murder us."
-Tian, the explorer
Sunforged Épée2W
Artifact - Equipment (C)
When Sunforged Épée enters the battlefield, you gain 3 life.
Equipped creature gets +3/+0.
Equip 2(2: Attach to target creature you control. Equip only as a sorcery.) A weapon earned only by the bravest of Havenrod's soldiers.
Tavern Bard3W
Creature - Elf Bard (C) T: Add 1 to your mana pool. You gain 1 life. The tavern where she rests is always fully booked shortly afterwards.
2/2
Tel Atar Deckhands2W
Creature - Human Soldier (C)
Wanderlust (Whenever this creature attacks, look at the top card of your library. You may put it on the bottom of your library. If it's a land card, you may put it onto the battlefield tapped.) There has never been a mutiny on a ship from Tel Atar.
1/4
Tel Atar Galleon5W
Artifact Creature - Ship (C) Vessel - Whenever Tel Atar Galleon attacks, untap each other attacking creature. The pride of the Lecadians is always injured when Tel Atarian shipbuilding has outraced them once again.
5/5
Trade Route Merchants3W
Artifact Creature - Ship (C) Vessel - Whenever Trade Route Merchants attacks, each other attacking creature gets +0/+1 until end of turn. The piers of Myria are always busy with merchants trading rare spices and magical artifacts.
2/5
Tradewind Angel4WW
Creature - Angel (R)
Flying
As long as Tradewind Angel is tapped, creatures you control get +2/+0 and have first strike.
As long as Tradewind Angel is untapped, creatures you control get +0/+2 and can block an additional creature.
4/4
Transmute2W
Sorcery (C)
Destroy target artifact or enchantment. Put a colorless artifact token named Gold onto the battlefield. It has "Sacrifice this artifact: Add one mana of any color to your mana pool." "A pirate will eventually waste all his gold on drink. My source of wealth is bottomless."
-Lorasir, Grand alchemist of Myria
Warden of Eternity2W
Creature - Elf Knight (R)
Creatures attacking don't cause abilities to trigger. Raids and expeditions end at her feet.
1/4
Captain's Parrot1U
Creature - Bird (C)
Flying
Captain's Parrot gets +1/+1 as long as you control a Pirate. "Well, seems t' parrot be far smarter than ye mutinous shark bait. Maybe I should I make him me first mate?"
-Jacon, pirate king
1/1
Consider all Options2U
Instant (R)
Riposte 1U(You may cast this spell for its riposte cost if a creature is attacking you.)
Look at the top four cards of your library. Put one of them into your hand and the rest on the bottom of your library in any order. If a creature is attacking you, the next nonland card you cast this combat can be cast as though it had flash.
Dance of TidesU
Instant (U)
Target creature gets +0/+3 until end of turn.
Target creature gains hexproof until end of turn.
Untap target creature. "This was fun and all, but I don't settle for such child's play. I want to meet this god of the deep."
-Kiora
Elder Loremaster1U
Enchantment (U)
Quest hub (When this enters the battlefield, draw a card. You may complete each quest once. When you've completed both, sacrifice this.)
[QUEST] "Learn from the Past" - 2U: Look at the top two cards of your library. Put one of them into your hand and the other on the bottom of your library.
[QUEST] "Insects at my Feet" - 3U: Return target attacking creature to its owner's hand.
Errant Adventurer2U
Creature - Human Pirate (U)
Quest abilities of permanents you control cost up to 2 less to activate. "How do I pay my next meal? Well, I only hope that there are always kraken to be slain."
2/2
Eternal IceUU
Enchantment (R)
Quest hub (When this enters the battlefield, draw a card. You may complete each quest once. When you've completed both, sacrifice this.)
[QUEST] "Ancient Whispers" - X3U: Draw X cards.
[QUEST] "Awaken a God" - 7UU: Put a 9/9 blue Kraken creature token onto the battlefield.
Feign Interest2U
Instant (C)
Riposte U(You may cast this spell for its riposte cost if a creature is attacking you.)
Counter target noncreature spell. Most pirates aren't very adept at the arcane. For those who are, their greatest advantage is that one moment of surprise.
Frozen Tomb1UU
Enchantment - Aura (U)
Flash
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature gets -3/-0 and doesn't untap during its controller's untap step. "Vast treasures await us further north... what you say we just keep heading south?"
-Captain Paruga
Godveiler1U
Creature - Human Wizard (C)
Kraken, Leviathan, Octopus and Serpent creatures you control have hexproof. "The tides are at my command. The winds submitted to my will. And I am your humble servant, Ctaleth, lord of the infinite deep."
2/1
Gormod LookoutU
Creature - Human Pirate (U) U, T: Target creature gains wanderlust until end of turn. (When that creature attacks this turn, look at the top card of your library. You may put it on the bottom of your library. If it's a land card, you may put it onto the battlefield tapped.)
1/1
Interlock1U
Instant (C)
Counter target creature spell with converted mana cost 5 or less. "What happens to a land-dweller when you pull it into the infinite deep? It implodes."
-Cathira, naga witch
Keeper of Chronicles4U
Creature - Turtle (C)
When Keeper of Chronicles enters the battlefield, draw a card for each Turtle creature you control. When the naga attacked their world, the turtles met at Torta's Rest to discuss whether they will go to war.
2/4
Kraken of Bitter Reef4UU
Creature - Kraken (R) U: Kraken of Bitter Reef gains hexproof until end of turn. Activate this ability only if Kraken of Bitter Reef is the creature with the greatest power.
Growth U(U: Put a +1/+1 counter on this. This costs 1 more to activate for each +1/+1 counter on it. Grow only as a sorcery.) By the time you see it approaching, you're already halfway in its mouth.
6/6
Lord of the Seven Winds4UU
Creature - Elemental (U)
Flying
When Lord of the Seven Winds enters the battlefield, up to two target creatures gain flying until end of turn. "We were taught to fear the deep, but we ignored the skies above. A grievous error."
-Jonar, lighthouse keeper
4/4
Mermaid's SongU
Instant (C)
Target creature gets -2/-0 until end of turn and attacks this turn if able. The enchanting melodies of the mermaids sounded much darker when they were sung on the surface, but they retained their mesmerizing effect.
Myrian Waveguide1U
Creature - Human Wizard (C) U, T: Look at the top three cards of your library, then put them back in any order. The myrian navy employs waveguides to divine the whims of the seven winds.
1/3
Patron Gargantuan1UU
Creature - Turtle (R)
Growth 2U(2U: Put a +1/+1 counter on this. This costs 1 more to activate for each +1/+1 counter on it. Grow only as a sorcery.)
Whenever an opponent casts a spell that targets a creature you control, counter that spell unless its controller pays X, where X is Patron Gargantuan's power.
1/5
Polar Plesodon3UU
Creature - Serpent (C)
Growth 2U(2U: Put a +1/+1 counter on this. This costs 1 more to activate for each +1/+1 counter on it. Grow only as a sorcery.)
Whenever Polar Plesodon attacks, tap target creature defending player controls if Polar Plesodon is the creature with the greatest power.
3/4
Pull Under1U
Instant (C)
Return target creature to its owner's hand. Draw a card, then put a card from your hand on the bottom of your library. "This one has the right idea."
-Kiora
Ravel the StreamsXU
Instant (U)
Choose one -
Counter target spell with converted mana cost X.
Counter target spell unless its controller pays X.
Sailors study the flow of the sea currents while mages study the currents beneath.
Saltshore Marauder3U
Creature - Turtle (C)
Saltshore Marauder can't be blocked as long as you control a Pirate. "The endless sea is the embodiment of freedom. Here, everyone can pursue their own way, whatever that might be."
-Kayisha
2/5
Southsea Sky Pirates4U
Creature - Human Pirate (C)
Flying When even the endless sea can't satisfy your desire for freedom.
4/2
Split the Seas1UU
Instant (R)
Target opponent separates all nonland permanents he or she controls into two piles. Return all permanents in the pile of your choice to their owner's hands. "The old gods have a vast realm for themselves beneath the waves. This is our world, and we won't make way for them."
Stormtide SovereignUU
Creature - Human Wizard (M) XUUU, T: Put an X/1 blue Elemental creature token onto the battlefield. It has haste and "If this creature would deal combat damage to a player, draw that many cards instead." Sacrifice it at the beginning of the next upkeep. "I'll show these gods how its done."
2/2
Sunken Empire1U
Enchantment (C)
Quest hub (When this enters the battlefield, draw a card. You may complete each quest once. When you've completed both, sacrifice this.)
[QUEST] "Silence the Competition" - U: Tap target creature.
[QUEST] "Pearls and Jewels" - 5U: Draw two cards.
Tidal PassageU
Sorcery (C)
Target creature gets +2/+0 until end of turn and can't be blocked this turn. "When the merfolk return to the Overworld, it will be shrouded from humanity's sight."
-Cauro, merfolk tidebender
Tidebringer Kraken6UU
Creature - Kraken (C)
Growth 2U(2U: Put a +1/+1 counter on this. This costs 1 more to activate for each +1/+1 counter on it. Grow only as a sorcery.)
Whenever Tidebringer Kraken attacks, return target creature defending player controls to its owner's hand if Tidebringer Kraken is the creature with the greatest power. Now the waves clash more than ever.
5/8
Torta's Warleader4UU
Creature - Turtle (U)
Other Turtle creatures you control get +2/+2. "I am not feeling too well lately," said Torta to her friend. "I have humans."
-Myrian fairytale
3/6
Treacherous Waters2UU
Enchantment (R)
Whenever one or more creatures attack you or a planeswalker you control, sacrifice Treacherous Waters. If you do, gain control of target attacking creature. "A real mermaid wouldn't try to drown ya'. Got it!"
-Iggy, deckhand
Tsunami Rider2U
Creature - Human Wizard (C)
Wanderlust (Whenever this creature attacks, look at the top card of your library. You may put it on the bottom of your library. If it's a land card, you may put it onto the battlefield tapped.) "The look on the captain's face when I overtake his vessel . . . priceless."
3/1
Vessel of Lost Souls3U
Artifact Creature - Ship (U) Vessel - Whenever Vessel of Lost Souls attacks, each other attacking creatures gains "Whenever this creature deals combat damage to a player, draw a card" until end of turn. On some ships you serve for a lifetime. On others you serve even beyond.
2/4
Voyaging Aven3U
Creature - Bird Scout (C)
Flying
Wanderlust (Whenever this creature attacks, look at the top card of your library. You may put it on the bottom of your library. If it's a land card, you may put it onto the battlefield tapped.)
2/2
Wavebinder Staff1U
Artifact - Equipment (C)
When Wavebinder Staff enters the battlefield, you may tap target creature.
Equipped creature gets +1/+1.
Equip 2 These days, navigational instruments aren't enough to get you safe across the sea.
Whirlpool5U
Instant (C)
Put target creature on top of its owner's library.
Draw a card. "Let's teach these so called 'old gods' a lesson or two. Begin the invocation."
-Timoti, tidal shaman
Abyssal Crew4B
Creature - Zombie Pirate (C) 1B: Regenerate target Kraken, Leviathan, Octopus or Serpent creature. Those who delved too far into the deep, were turned into mindless slaves of the abyss.
4/3
Abyssal Grasp2BB
Instant (R)
Exile target creature or planeswalker. Nolgul released all his hate built up over thousands of years upon the land-dwellers.
Blackport CutthroatB
Creature - Human Pirate (C) "Yes, I know where the cavern is, but I'm coming with you. Only I know how to avoid the traps."
1/2
Blackport Tavern1B
Enchantment (C)
Quest hub (When this enters the battlefield, draw a card. You may complete each quest once. When you've completed both, sacrifice this.)
[QUEST] "Sleep with the Pigs" - 1B: Target player puts the top three cards of his or her library into his or her graveyard.
[QUEST] "A Risen Crew" - 6B: Return up to two target creature cards from your graveyard to your hand.
Bleak End2B
Enchantment - Aura (C)
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature gets -4/-2. The waves of the sea taunting Ianad made dying of thirst an even greater torment.
Bloodforged Cleaver4BB
Artifact - Equipment (C)
When Bloodforged Cleaver enters the battlefield, destroy target nonartifact creature.
Equipped creature gets +2/+0.
Equip 2 The weapons of the Kulmata reflect the cruelty of their customs.
Bottomless Treasure1BB
Artifact (U)
Bottomless Treasure enters the battlefield tapped. T, Pay 1 life: Put a colorless artifact token named Gold onto the battlefield. It has "Sacrifice this artifact: Add one mana of any color to your mana pool."
Captain of the Damned4B
Creature - Human Pirate (R)
Whenever Captain of the Damned attacks, return target Pirate creature card from your graveyard to the battlefield. "The scum you find at Blackport is still in too good condition for the mission at hand."
4/2
Caves of Gormod1B
Enchantment (U)
Quest hub (When this enters the battlefield, draw a card. You may complete each quest once. When you've completed both, sacrifice this.)
[QUEST] "Dispel the Curse" - B: Exile all cards from target player's graveyard.
[QUEST] "Dark Revelation" - 2B: Target player reveals his or her hand. You choose a noncreature, nonland card from it. That player discards that card.
Curse of Blackeye3BB
Enchantment - Aura (R)
Enchant creature
At the beginning of your upkeep, put a curse counter on Curse of Blackeye.
Creatures enchanted creature's controller controls get -1/-1 for each curse counter on Curse of Blackeye.
Dreadtide Leviathan4BB
Creature - Leviathan (C)
Growth 2B(2B: Put a +1/+1 counter on this. This costs 1 more to activate for each +1/+1 counter on it. Grow only as a sorcery.)
Whenever Dreadtide Leviathan attacks, defending player discards a card if it's the creature with the greatest power. "Try to avoid the dark waters."
4/6
Drowned Revenants3BB
Creature - Spirit Pirate (U)
Flying, deathtouch, lifelink "A few more moons and ghost ships will outnumber ships manned by the living."
-Commodore Kavira
2/4
Final Foray1BB
Sorcery (R)
Return target creature card from your graveyard to the battlefield. It gains trample, haste and "Whenever this creature deals combat damage to a player, put that many colorless artifact tokens named Gold onto the battlefield. They have 'Sacrifice this artifact: Add one mana of any color to your mana pool.'" Exile it at the beginning of the next end step. Exile Final Foray.
Harpy Bushwhacker2B
Creature - Harpy (C)
Flying Now that everyone looks with troubled eyes into the deep, no one notices airborne predators approaching.
2/1
Inescapable Dreadship3B
Artifact Creature - Ship (R) Vessel - Whenever Inescapable Dreadship attacks, each other attacking creature must be blocked this turn if able. "She's as merciless as I am."
-Captain Blackeye
3/4
Jacon's Recruiters1B
Creature - Human Pirate (C)
Pirate spells you cast cost 1 less to cast. "C'mere me beauties! Treasures untold be waitin' on us."
2/1
Kulmata Witch Doctor1B
Creature - Human Shaman (C) 2B: Kulmata Witch Doctor gains deathtouch until end of turn. The Kulmata society has two castes, one comprised of the living and one of the dead. The witch doctors keep the balance between them.
1/3
Liquid Courage3B
Instant (C)
Target creature gets +3/+3 and gains lifelink until end of turn. "Why is always the rum all gone?"
-Jacon, pirate king
Maelstrom Serpent6B
Creature - Serpent (U)
Growth B(B: Put a +1/+1 counter on this. This costs 1 more to activate for each +1/+1 counter on it. Grow only as a sorcery.)
Whenever Maelstrom Serpent attacks, it gains indestructible until end of turn if it's the creature with the greatest power. It was ill-advised to cross the abyss. It was suicidal to taunt the deep.
5/5
Malevolent Hosts3B
Creature - Elf Shaman (U)
At the beginning of each end step, if you gained life this turn, target opponent loses 3 life. "The elves had been nothing but welcoming to us. But still, I had a bad feeling about them . . . about everything."
-Journal of Captain Decard
3/3
Mire Tangler3B
Creature - Kraken (C)
Growth B(B: Put a +1/+1 counter on this. This costs 1 more to activate for each +1/+1 counter on it. Grow only as a sorcery.)
Whenever Mire Tangler attacks, it gains lifelink until end of turn if it's the creature with the greatest power. Young kraken lurk in lakes and river beds until they are out of adolescence.
3/2
Perishing DroughtBB
Instant (U)
All creatures get -1/-1 until end of turn. The naga witch sucked everything dry. Even the sea itself couldn't stop Amara from withering.
Queen of the Depths4BB
Creature - Kraken Avatar (R)
Deathtouch
Growth 1B(1B: Put a +1/+1 counter on this. This costs 1 more to activate for each +1/+1 counter on it. Grow only as a sorcery.)
Whenever Queen of the Depths attacks, defending player loses 3 life and you gain 3 life if Queen of the Depths is the creature with the greatest power.
2/6
Raiders of Skullcliff Bay4B
Artifact Creature - Ship (C) Vessel - Whenever Raiders of Skullcliff Bay attacks, each other attacking creature gains deathtouch until end of turn. Even the brave knights of Havenrod shiver on the sound of their name.
3/5
Return from the Deep4B
Sorcery (U)
Return target creature card from your graveyard to the battlefield. Put a +1/+1 counter on it. "Did you think death would release you? No, the abyss has other plans for you."
-Lady Kaladrin
Ruthless Strike2B
Instant (U)
Riposte B(You may cast this spell for its riposte cost if a creature is attacking you.)
Target attacking or blocking creature gets -4/-4 until end of turn. "A Havenrod cruiser once followed us to Knell's Bay. Now I command two ships and the sharks have a full belly."
Skullcliff Revenant2B
Creature - Skeleton Pirate (U)
Whenever Skullcliff Revenant deals combat damage to a player, put a colorless artifact token named Gold onto the battlefield. It has "Sacrifice this artifact: Add one mana of any color to your mana pool."
Sacrifice two artifacts: Return Skullcliff Revenant from your graveyard to the battlefield tapped.
3/1
Spite of the Deep1B
Instant (C)
Destroy target creature with power equal to or less than the greatest power among creatures you control. "Who thought this was going to be a happy reunion?"
-Lady Kaladrin
Tainted Thrust1B
Instant (C)
Riposte B(You may cast this spell for its riposte cost if a creature is attacking you.)
Target creature gets +1/+2 and gains deathtouch until end of turn. "I will impale your head high over the shore. Maybe it will teach our future visitors to turn around as they should."
Thirst for Treasure1B
Enchantment - Aura (C)
Enchant creature you control
Enchanted creature gets +2/+1.
Whenever enchanted creature deals combat damage to a player, put a colorless artifact token named Gold onto the battlefield. It has "Sacrifice this artifact: Add one mana of any color to your mana pool."
Twisted Helmsman2B
Creature - Zombie Pirate (C)
When Twisted Helmsman dies, put a 2/2 black Zombie Pirate creature token onto the battlefield tapped. He's steering directly towards eternal damnation.
2/2
Victim of Voodoo3B
Creature - Zombie Shaman (C)
Victim of Voodoo enters the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter on it for each creature card in your graveyard. Shamans obsessed with voodoo quickly become as mindless as their undead slaves.
1/2
Voodoo Fumes3B
Sorcery (C)
Draw three cards, then put a card from your hand on the bottom of your library. You lose 2 life. "The naga command the magic of the abyss. To vanquish them, we must tap into powers just as ancient and dark."
The Wailing Banshee1BB
Legendary Artifact Creature - Ship (M)
Flying Vessel - Whenever The Wailing Banshee attacks, each other attacking creature gains "When this creature dies, put a 2/2 black Zombie Pirate creature token onto the battlefield tapped" until end of turn.
2/4
Bloodsail Fencer1R
Creature - Human Pirate (C) 3R: Bloodsail Fencer gains double strike until end of turn. (It deals both first-strike and regular combat damage.) "Fidgeting with my sword is my thing. Don't take away my thing!"
2/1
Bury the Treasure2R
Sorcery (C)
Put three colorless artifact tokens named Gold onto the battlefield. They have "Sacrifice this artifact: Add one mana of any color to your mana pool." Burying gold is a dangerous business. Turtles are never fond of their island being glutted with trash.
Cataclysmic Tide5RR
Sorcery (R)
Cataclysmic Tide deals X damage to each creature your opponents control, where X is the greatest power among creatures you control. "How could these empires last for so long? They are so easily destroyed."
-Timoti, tidal shaman
Conquistador's Charge1R
Instant (C)
Target creature gets +4/+2 until end of turn. "Religious fervor is a dangerous weapon when used by warmongering sovereigns."
-Commodore Kavira
Demolition Squid3RR
Creature - Octopus (C)
Growth 3R(3R: Put a +1/+1 counter on this. This costs 1 more to activate for each +1/+1 counter on it. Grow only as a sorcery.)
Whenever Demolition Squid attacks, destroy target artifact defending player controls if Demolition Squid is the creature with the greatest power. Though the squid found the timbers to be inedible, they made for good toothpicks.
3/4
Domesticated SquidR
Creature - Octopus (R)
Domesticated Squid attacks each turn if able.
Growth R(R: Put a +1/+1 counter on this. This costs 1 more to activate for each +1/+1 counter on it. Grow only as a sorcery.) After only five days, it had grown too big to be hidden in the locker.
1/2
Dragon of the Waves5R
Creature - Serpent (C)
Haste
Growth 2R(2R: Put a +1/+1 counter on this. This costs 1 more to activate for each +1/+1 counter on it. Grow only as a sorcery.) "Were these imaginative sailor's yarns told before the Great Divide based on fact or fiction? Fact it seems."
5/5
Fire Broadside1RR
Instant (C)
Fire Broadside deals 3 damage to target creature or player. Put a colorless artifact token named Gold onto the battlefield. It has "Sacrifice this artifact: Add one mana of any color to your mana pool." The chances of salvaging loot from the enemy ship decrease with more and more firepower.
Firebreath Galley2R
Artifact Creature - Ship (U) Vessel - Whenever Firebreath Galley attacks, each other attacking creature gains "R: This creature gets +1/+0 until end of turn" until end of turn. "The fire in the heart of a northern sailor can melt the thickest ice."
-Jan, the "sea bass"
2/3
Goblin CannoneerR
Creature - Goblin Pirate (U) R, T, Sacrifice an artifact: Goblin Cannoneer deals 2 damage to target creature or player. It's always advantageous to have a goblin in your crew. They can make ammunition out of anything.
1/1
Goldbound Revenants3R
Creature - Elemental (U)
First strike
Sacrifice an artifact: Goldbound Revenants gets +2/+0 until end of turn. The countless raids on the tombs of the Kulmata has awakened spirits even more obsessed with gold than pirates who stole it.
2/3
Hand of Doom4R
Sorcery (C)
Hand of Doom deals 5 damage to target creature. Draw a card, then put a card from your hand on the bottom of your library. "Sometimes, fate must be forced."
-Lady Kaladrin
Havenrod Pier1R
Enchantment (C)
Quest hub (When this enters the battlefield, draw a card. You may complete each quest once. When you've completed both, sacrifice this.)
[QUEST] "Black Market" - 1R: Put a colorless artifact token named Gold onto the battlefield. It has "Sacrifice this artifact: Add one mana of any color to your mana pool."
[QUEST] "Dubious Affairs" - 2R: Discard up to two cards, then draw that many cards.
Intrepid Wavecrasher3R
Creature - Human Pirate (C)
Haste
Wanderlust (Whenever this creature attacks, look at the top card of your library. You may put it on the bottom of your library. If it's a land card, you may put it onto the battlefield tapped.) "Set sail, ya' lazy bastards."
2/2
Jacon's Outlaws4R
Creature - Human Pirate (C)
Whenever Jacon's Outlaws or another Pirate enters the battlefield under your control, Jacon's Outlaws deals 2 damage to target opponent. For once in his life, the captain spent the loot on equipment instead of rum.
4/2
Kulmata FlamewakerRR
Creature - Human Shaman (R)
Whenever an instant or sorcery spell you control deals damage, add that much R to your mana pool. Spend this mana only to cast creature spells. The villagers asked when the volcano will erupt again. "It always depends on my mood," she replied.
2/2
Marauders of Blackport3R
Artifact Creature - Ship (C) Vessel - Whenever Marauders of Blackport attacks, each other attacking creature gets +1/+0 until end of turn. Many captains offered Jacon their ships for his raid on Blackport. After careful consideration, Jacon decided on the one with the most cannon tubes.
3/3
Marooned Mutineer2R
Creature - Human Pirate (U)
Marooned Mutineer can't attack unless a Ship is attacking. "I don't think t' Tel Atarian fleet will come rescue me, so it's time t' get busy."
4/3
Master of the Marine2R
Creature - Human Shaman (C)
Kraken, Leviathan, Octopus and Serpent creatures you control get +2/+0. "This is what our ancestors where so afraid of? Ha!"
-Timoti, tidal shaman
2/3
Plunder Bay1R
Enchantment (U)
Quest hub (When this enters the battlefield, draw a card. You may complete each quest once. When you've completed both, sacrifice this.)
[QUEST] "Treasure doesn't find itself" - R: Creatures you control gain haste until end of turn.
[QUEST] "Blast 'em!" - 2R: Plunder Bay deals 3 damage to target player.
Pyrite PistolR
Artifact - Equipment (C)
When Pyrite Pistol enters the battlefield, it deals 1 damage to target creature or player.
Equipped creature gets +1/+0.
Equip 2 Accuracy isn't a high priority on any pirate's list.
Quick Draw1R
Instant (C)
Riposte R(You may cast this spell for its riposte cost if a creature is attacking you.)
Target creature gets +2/+0 and gains first strike until end of turn. "I'm not gonna be for dinner today."
-Tara, the bold
Sailor's Temptations4R
Sorcery (C)
Gain control of target creature until end of turn. Untap that creature. It gains haste until end of turn. Put a colorless artifact token named Gold onto the battlefield. It has "Sacrifice this artifact: Add one mana of any color to your mana pool."
Scourge of Crimson Coast2RR
Creature - Serpent (M)
Growth R(R: Put a +1/+1 counter on this. This costs 1 more to activate for each +1/+1 counter on it. Grow only as a sorcery.)
Whenever Scourge of Crimson Coast attacks, it gains double strike until end of turn if it's the creature with the greatest power.
3/4
Seaquake Leviathan4RR
Creature - Leviathan (U)
Growth 1R(1R: Put a +1/+1 counter on this. This costs 1 more to activate for each +1/+1 counter on it. Grow only as a sorcery.)
Whenever Seaquake Leviathan attacks, up to two target creatures can't block this turn if Seaquake Leviathan is the creature with the greatest power.
4/5
Spirit of Discovery2RR
Enchantment (R)
Creatures you control have haste.
At the beginning of combat on your turn, target creature gains wanderlust until end of turn. (When that creature attacks this turn, look at the top card of your library. You may put it on the bottom of your library. If it's a land card, you may put it onto the battlefield tapped.)
Strand on the CoastR
Enchantment - Aura (C)
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature can't block. "Jellystings! Now I have to planeswalk again.
-Kayisha
Tel Atar MarineR
Creature - Human Soldier (U)
As long as Tel Atar Marine is equipped, it has double strike. "I could best these amateurs with one hand tied behind my back. Cheap tricks are all they rely on."
1/1
Throw into the Arena2R
Sorcery (U)
Target creature you control gets +3/+0 until end of turn. It fights target creature you don't control. (Each deals damage equal to its power to the other.) "Let's see how landlubbers fight."
-Turok, Gormod Bay slaver
Trigger-Happy Buccaneers2R
Creature - Human Pirate (R)
Trigger-Happy Buccaneers's power is equal to the number of Pirate creatures you control. 2R, T: Trigger-Happy Buccaneers deals damage equal to its power to target creature or player. The only ballast they have on board is rum and ammunition.
*/3
Typhoon Bolt2R
Instant (U)
Typhoon Bolt deals 2 damage to target creature or player and 1 damage to another target creature or player. "Your mistake was to provide the path of least resistance."
-Tidecaller Natira
Vandalize3R
Sorcery (C)
Choose one or both -
Destroy target artifact.
Destroy target land.
"Easy, me mateys. Don't sink t' whole island. Thar gunna be nothin' left to take."
-Captain Thoras
Volcanic Surge3RR
Sorcery (R)
Exile the top seven cards of your library. You may play those cards this turn. My volcano. Your doom.
Zealous Conquistador1R
Creature - Human Soldier (C)
First strike
Zealous Conquistador attacks each turn if able. "What good is the greatness of our nation if we don't share it with the rest of the world?"
2/2
Amras's Elite2GG
Creature - Elf Archer (U)
Flash
Riposte 1GG(You may cast this spell for its riposte cost if a creature is attacking you.)
Reach "Eternal vigilance is the price we have to pay for our paradise."
3/4
Baneful Mists1G
Instant (U)
Prevent all damage that would be dealt this turn by creatures other than Krakens, Leviathans, Octopuses, and Serpents. "Pirates, sirens, and monsters of various kinds... I don't fear those. But my sword can't cut through the northern fog."
-Valreos, captain of the "Dragon's Star"
Barkskin2G
Instant (C)
Riposte 1G(You may cast this spell for its riposte cost if a creature is attacking you.)
Untap target creature. It gets +1/+1 and gains indestructible until end of turn. Intruders approached on every shore, but the elven watchers remained unyielding.
Brave the Sea3G
Sorcery (C)
Target creature you control fights another target creature. Draw a card, then put a card from your hand on the bottom of your library. A life in the hostile icy wastes prepared Bryn for a life on the even more hostile sea.
Camonga Frog2G
Creature - Frog (C)
Reach It is famous for the hallucinogens its skin produces.
3/2
Champion of EversongG
Creature - Elf Warrior (R) 3G: Put a +1/+1 counter on Champion of Eversong for each Elf creature you control. The elves value beauty as much as combat prowess. She possesses plenty of both.
1/1
Child of the Jungle2GG
Creature - Human Warrior (R)
At the beginning of your end step, put a 3/3 green Beast creature token onto the battlefield if Child of the Jungle is the creature with the greatest power. The law of the wild allows only the strongest to become king.
2/2
Crown of the Hermit2G
Artifact - Equipment (U)
Equipped creature gets +0/+1 and assigns combat damage equal to its toughness rather than its power.
Equip 3(3: Attach to target creature you control. Equip only as a sorcery.) "I am a turtle in all but appearance."
-Kurul, the hermit
Crushing Vines2G
Instant (C)
Choose one -
Destroy target creature with flying.
Destroy target artifact.
"Those islands that aren't under our protection have developed defenses of their own."
-Eluneth, crescent bay druid
Dawn of the Third Age2G
Sorcery (U)
Reveal the top seven cards of your library. You may put into your hand from among them a Human card, an Elf card, a Turtle card, and a Kraken, Leviathan, Octopus, or Serpent card. Put the rest into your graveyard. "The world is as it should be."
-Naandr
Elvengrove1G
Enchantment (C)
Quest hub (When this enters the battlefield, draw a card. You may complete each quest once. When you've completed both, sacrifice this.)
[QUEST] "New Seeds" - 1G: Search your library for a basic land card, reveal it, and put it into your hand. Then shuffle your library.
[QUEST] "Healing Scars" - 2G: You gain 5 life.
Elvish Reveler1G
Creature - Elf Bard (C)
When Elvish Reveler enters the battlefield, if you control another Elf, draw a card. "I've been to an elven party before. I didn't enjoy it. There was no rum."
-Tris "Long-Leg"
2/1
Go ApeG
Instant (C)
Target creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn. Put a +1/+1 counter on it. Khamora's ecosystem has led to the emergence of the most unique species: Herbivores that are ten times larger than those on other islands, carnivores that are a hundred times larger. . .
Horizon Serpent5GG
Creature - Serpent (C)
Trample
Growth 1G(1G: Put a +1/+1 counter on this. This costs 1 more to activate for each +1/+1 counter on it. Grow only as a sorcery.)
Whenever Horizon Serpent attacks, it gets +3/+3 until end of turn if it's the creature with the greatest power.
5/5
Iyori Deepspeaker3G
Creature - Human Shaman (C) T: Add GG to your mana pool.
Whenever a Kraken, Leviathan, Octopus or Serpent creature enters the battlefield under your control, you gain 3 life. The iyori tribes of the polar sea always held unique working animals.
2/2
Khamora Survivalist5G
Creature - Human Warrior (C)
Trample
Wanderlust (Whenever this creature attacks, look at the top card of your library. You may put it on the bottom of your library. If it's a land card, you may put it onto the battlefield tapped.) "Humans on the Isle of Dread? Unexpected."
-Captain Decard
5/4
Khamorasaur2GG
Creature - Serpent (C)
Growth 2G(2G: Put a +1/+1 counter on this. This costs 1 more to activate for each +1/+1 counter on it. Grow only as a sorcery.)
Whenever Khamorasaur attacks, untap it if it's the creature with the greatest power. Janus quickly realized that it's called the Isle of Dread for a reason.
3/3
Limestone Tortoise1G
Creature - Turtle (C) T: Add G to your mana pool for each Turtle creature you control. Even more resilient than normal turtles, they are used by the islanders for quarry work.
0/3
Naandr5GGG
Legendary Creature - Serpent Avatar (M)
Naandr has hexproof as long as it's untapped. T: Choose two -
Add GGGGG to your mana pool.
Put a 5/5 green Serpent creature token onto the battlefield.
You gain 5 life.
Reveal the top five cards of your library. Put a creature card from among them into your hand. Put the rest into your graveyard.
5/8
Overpower4GG
Instant (R)
Riposte 2GG(You may cast this spell for its riposte cost if a creature is attacking you.)
Creatures you control get +3/+3 until end of turn. "Unlike humanity, all of elvenkind is united under a single banner."
-Amras, king of Autumn Isle
Seafarer's Compass2G
Artifact - Equipment (C)
When Seafarer's Compass enters the battlefield, search your library for a basic land card, and put it onto the battlefield tapped. Then shuffle your library.
Equipped creature gets +1/+1.
Equip 2
Selassi Ambush2G
Instant (U)
Riposte 1G(You may cast this spell for its riposte cost if a creature is attacking you.)
Target creature gains deathtouch until end of turn.
Draw a card. The Selassi only kill few intruders. Most are already killed by their traps.
Shipwrecker Leviathan5GG
Creature - Leviathan (R)
Haste
When Shipwrecker Leviathan enters the battlefield, choose one or more -
Destroy target artifact.
Destroy target enchantment.
Destroy target land.
It doesn't like the taste of ships, only the taste of the people on them.
6/5
Siege Turtle4G
Creature - Turtle Warrior (U)
Turtle creatures you control have vigilance.
You may have each Turtle creature you control assign its combat damage as though it weren't blocked. "He rode a couple of siege turtles?"
"Aye, siege turtles."
2/6
Temple of Kulmata1G
Enchantment (U)
Quest hub (When this enters the battlefield, draw a card. You may complete each quest once. When you've completed both, sacrifice this.)
[QUEST] "The Temple Guardian" - 4G: Put a 3/3 green Beast creature token onto the battlefield.
[QUEST] "Voodoo Strength" - 4G: Put a +1/+1 counter on target creature for each creature card in your graveyard.
Thirst for Discovery1G
Enchantment - Aura (C)
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature gets +1/+2 and has wanderlust. (It has "Whenever this creature attacks, look at the top card of your library. You may put it on the bottom of your library. If it's a land card, you may put it onto the battlefield tapped.")
Torta's Favor1G
Enchantment - Aura (R)
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature gets +2/+2. 1G: Return Torta's Favor from your graveyard to your hand. 1G, Exile Torta's Favor: Enchanted creature gets +4/+4 and gains hexproof until end of turn.
Tracker of Crescent Bay2G
Creature - Elf Warrior (C) G, T: Target creature gets +2/+2 until end of turn. Activate this ability only any time you could cast a sorcery. "Most o' t' elves only dance and drink all day, but so do you scurvy rats. And you be pretty tough as well."
-Jacon, pirate king
2/2
Turtle Heavyweight2G
Creature - Turtle (C) "We're doomed! These turtles will collapse the island under their weight and drown both of us. DOOMED!"
-One-Eye Edan, to a coconut
2/4
Uhlgar Ferryman2G
Creature - Troll Scout (U)
Wanderlust (Whenever this creature attacks, look at the top card of your library. You may put it on the bottom of your library. If it's a land card, you may put it onto the battlefield tapped.) 2G: Regenerate Uhlgar Ferryman.
2/2
Umbrage DwellerG
Creature - Elf Shaman (C)
Deathtouch "Let the old gods roam the sea and destroy each other. They can never hold sway over our realm."
1/1
Voyage to New Lands4G
Sorcery (U)
Search your library for up to two basic land cards and put them onto the battlefield tapped. Then shuffle your library.
Draw a card. The adventurers landed on many paradisaic islands, but none of them was Autumn Isle.
Wandering Fortress3GG
Creature - Turtle (C)
Wanderlust (Whenever this creature attacks, look at the top card of your library. You may put it on the bottom of your library. If it's a land card, you may put it onto the battlefield tapped.) "My home is wherever she wants to go."
-Kurul, the hermit
3/5
Worldseed Turtle2GGG
Creature - Turtle (R)
At the beginning of your upkeep, you may search your library for a basic land card, put that card onto the battlefield tapped, then shuffle your library. Every few hundred years it discards its shell to plant a new island in the endless sea.
4/7
Feathered Seraph5WU
Creature - Angel (R)
Flying
When Feathered Angel enters the battlefield, put two 1/1 white Bird creature tokens with flying onto the battlefield.
Whenever a creature with flying you control deals combat damage to a player, you may draw a card.
4/5
Myrian HarborWU
Enchantment (U)
Quest hub (When this enters the battlefield, draw a card. You may complete each quest once. When you've completed both, sacrifice this.)
[QUEST] "Pride of the Fleet" - 2W: Target creature gets +2/+4 until end of turn.
[QUEST] "Blockade" - 4U: Tap all creatures your opponents control.
MindfeastUB
Sorcery (U)
Target opponent draws a card, then reveals his or her hand. You choose a nonland card from it. That player discards that card.
Draw a card. "Consume..."
-Ctaleth
Plunder Quest4UB
Sorcery (R)
Target opponent reveals his or her hand. You choose a permanent card from it and put that card onto the battlefield under your control. "Of course, we are allies. I just think we can make better use of your ship than you."
-Jacon, pirate king
Balemire Marauder2BR
Creature - Human Pirate (R)
Lifelink, haste BR, Exile Balemire Marauder from your graveyard: Target creature gains lifelink and haste until end of turn. Most pirates are married to the sea. Others find fetid swamps more charming.
4/2
Bloodlord Szavos1BR
Planeswalker - Szavos (M)
+1: Whenever a creature you control deals combat damage to a player this turn, put a +1/+1 counter on it.
-1: Bloodlord Szavos deals 2 damage to each opponent. Those players each discard a card.
-6: Put six 1/1 black Bat creature tokens with flying and haste onto the battlefield.
{2}
Bloodsail Captain1BR
Creature - Human Pirate (U)
Menace (This creature can't be blocked except by two or more creatures.)
Other Pirate creatures you control get +1/+1.
Whenever Bloodsail Captain attacks, another target Pirate creature you control gains menace until end of turn.
2/2
Culinary Ogre2RG
Creature - Ogre Warrior (U)
Whenever a Kraken, Leviathan, Octopus, or Serpent creature dies, you may pay 1. If you do, put two +1/+1 counters on target creature and you gain 2 life. Sailors despaired of the emergence of the sea monsters. Cooks rejoiced.
4/3
Hungry Shorecrasher7RG
Creature - Serpent (R)
Hungry Shorecrasher costs X less to cast, where X is the greatest power among creatures you control.
Trample The fishermen escaped the kraken, but they didn't make it very far. Its attack had attracted an even bigger monster.
6/6
Amras, King of Autumn Isle3GW
Legendary Creature - Elf Druid (M)
Vigilance, lifelink T: Add X mana in any combination of colors to your mana pool, where X is the amount of life you've gained this turn. He was there at the dawn of the first age, when the old gods laid claim to the sea.
2/5
Elvish VoyagerGW
Creature - Elf Scout (R)
Wanderlust (Whenever this creature attacks, look at the top card of your library. You may put it on the bottom of your library. If it's a land card, you may put it onto the battlefield tapped.)
Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control, you gain 1 life. "Some of our kind are weary of eternity."
2/2
Festival Attendants3GW
Creature - Elf Bard (U)
Flash
When Festival Attendants enters the battlefield, put a +1/+1 counter on each other Elf creature you control. Untap those creatures. The elves of Autumn Isle have been celebrating the end of summer . . . for the past two hundred years.
3/4
Sailor's Widow1WB
Creature - Spirit (R)
Flying, lifelink
Pay 7 life: Return Sailor's Widow from your graveyard to the battlefield. Activate this ability only at any time you could cast a sorcery. All who cross her path suffer the same fate as her husband.
2/2
Voyagers of Blackreef3WB
Artifact Creature - Ship (U) Vessel - Whenever Voyagers of Blackreef attacks, each other attacking creature gains lifelink until end of turn.
Pay 1 life: Voyagers of Blackreef gets +0/+1 until end of turn.
4/4
Ace in the Sleeve3UR
Instant (U)
Riposte 1UR(You may cast this spell for its riposte cost if a creature is attacking you.)
Put a 5/5 blue and red Construct artifact creature token with trample and haste onto the battlefield. Sacrifice it at the beginning of your next end step.
Bloodsail Sorcerer2UR
Creature - Human Pirate Wizard (R) UR, T, Discard a card: Draw cards equal to Bloodsail Sorcerer's power. Greed is a pirate's greatest impulse. Even their magic is fueled by gold and jewelry.
1/4
Corpse Explosion3BG
Sorcery (R)
Exile any number of creature cards from your graveyard. For each card exiled this way, destroy all nonland permanents with converted mana cost equal to the exiled card. "Want to know what we do with zombies that are past their expiration dates?"
-Ulatai, Kulmata witch doctor
Skullcliff Recluse1BG
Creature - Zombie Spider (U)
Reach
Discard a creature card: Skullcliff Recluse gains deathtouch until end of turn. You set foot on an island, your clothes shredded, and your ship wrecked. It's only further downhill from here.
1/5
Lecadian Conquistadors1RW
Creature - Human Soldier (U)
Wanderlust (Whenever this creature attacks, look at the top card of your library. You may put it on the bottom of your library. If it's a land card, you may put it onto the battlefield tapped.) RW, Sacrifice a land: Creatures you control get +1/+1 until end of turn. Activate this ability only once each turn.
2/3
Pride of Lecadia3RW
Artifact Creature - Ship (R) Vessel - Whenever Pride of Lecadia attacks, each other attacking creature gains double strike until end of turn. For Lecadia, conquest is their way of sharing their greatness with the world.
3/5
Kiora Atua4GU
Planeswalker - Kiora (M)
+1: Reveal the top two cards of your library. You may put a land card from among them onto the battlefield and a nonland card from among them into your hand. Put the rest on the bottom of your library in any order.
-4: Put a 9/9 blue Kraken creature token onto the battlefield.
-8: You get an emblem with "X: Search your library for a creature card with converted man cost X or less, put it onto the battlefield, then shuffle your library."
{5}
Octoshape2GU
Instant (U)
Target creature becomes a blue Octopus with base power and toughness 8/8 until end of turn. "Sufficient space for transformed body and proximity to water during consumption is advised."
-Lexicon of alchemy, page 127
Turtle Island2GU
Creature - Turtle (R)
Vigilance
As long as Turtle Island is on the battlefield, it's an Island land in addition to its other types. During the ages it slept, it appeared on maps of Iamur as a rocky island.
4/5
Jacon, Pirate King1UBR
Legendary Creature - Human Pirate (M)
Whenever Jacon, Pirate King deals combat damage to a player, exile the top card of that player's library. You may cast that card this turn. Put a colorless artifact tokens named Gold onto the battlefield. It has "Sacrifice this artifact: Add one mana of any color to your mana pool."
4/4
Kalimaras5WUBRG
Legendary Creature - Kraken Avatar (M)
Indestructible
At the beginning of your end step, put a 9/9 blue Kraken creature token onto the battlefield.
When Kalimaras isn't the creature with the greatest power or when it's in your graveyard, put it on the bottom of its owner's library. The Ur-Kraken has awakened.
12/12
Imposing Fortress3
Artifact Creature - Wall (U)
Defender "This fortress must stand against the entire Tel Atarian fleet if it comes to it. We can never have enough firepower."
-Toranos, Lecadian admiral
6/3
Jewel of Emerien3
Artifact (C)
When Jewel of Emerien enters the battlefield, draw a card, then put a cards from your hand on the bottom of your library. T: Add one mana of any color to your mana pool. A gift from Kayisha.
Map of the Endless Sea1
Artifact (C) 1, T, Sacrifice Map of the Endless Sea: Draw a card. You may search your library for a basic land card, reveal it, then shuffle
your library, and put that card on top of it. "Humans take a pride in discovering what others have known for millennia."
-Amras, king of Autumn Isle
Tidecaller's Trident4
Artifact - Equipment (C)
Equipped creature gets +3/+0.
Whenever equipped creature attacks, draw a card, then put a card from your hand on the bottom of your library.
Equip 3 Xaelas lost his trident in the overworld, so humans would find it and use its power to destroy each other. Unfortunately, a mermaid was quicker.
Atqu's Rest
Land (R) T: Add 1 to your mana pool. 1, T: Put a charge counter on Atqu's Rest. T, Remove X charge counters from Atqu's Rest: Add X mana in any combination of colors to your mana pool. Spend this mana only to cast Kraken, Leviathan, Octopus, or Serpent creature spells.
Cavern of the Tides
Land (C)
Cavern of the Tides enters the battlefield tapped.
When Cavern of the Tides enters the battlefield, draw a card, then put a card from your hand on the bottom of your library. T: Add B to your mana pool.
Crown of Winter
Land (R) T: Add 1 to your mana pool. T: Add one mana of any color to your mana pool. Crown of Winter doesn't untap during your next untap step. From the center of the polar sea, the seven winds arise.
Fortress of the Tides
Land (C)
Fortress of the Tides enters the battlefield tapped.
When Fortress of the Tides enters the battlefield, draw a card, then put a card from your hand on the bottom of your library. T: Add R to your mana pool.
Grove of the Tides
Land (C)
Grove of the Tides enters the battlefield tapped.
When Grove of the Tides enters the battlefield, draw a card, then put a card from your hand on the bottom of your library. T: Add G to your mana pool.
Pool of Eternal Youth
Land (R) T: Add 1 to your mana pool. 3, T, Sacrifice a creature: You gain life equal to the sacrificed creature's toughness. Finding the source of the elves' immortality has been the objective of many legendary quests.
Spire of the Tides
Land (C)
Spire of the Tides enters the battlefield tapped.
When Spire of the Tides enters the battlefield, draw a card, then put a card from your hand on the bottom of your library. T: Add U to your mana pool.
Temple of the Tides
Land (C)
Temple of the Tides enters the battlefield tapped.
When Temple of the Tides enters the battlefield, draw a card, then put a card from your hand on the bottom of your library. T: Add W to your mana pool.
Hm, the response has been a bit underwhelming lately, so let's give this another bump.
Currently, I'm focusing on fleshing out the different tribes. White was still missing something unique, so besides sharing elves with green, it now also cares about Ships. Honorable captains and giant armadas are what you'll be bringing out on the table if you're playing white.
Call the Armada1W
Instant (C)
Creatures you control get +1/+1 until end of turn. Ship creatures you control get an additional +1/+1 until end of turn. “The old gods will fall to the might of our nation, just like everyone before them who stood against us.”
—Toranos, Lecadian admiral
Imperial Enlistment3WW
Enchantment (U)
When Imperial Enlistment enters the battlefield, put three 1/1 white Soldier creature tokens onto the battlefield.
Ship creatures you control have “As long as this creature is attacking, other attacking creatures you control get +1/+0.” “Auria has forsaken us. Who will protect our children if not you?”
Tel Atar Galleon2WW
Artifact Creature — Ship (U) Vessel — Other attacking creatures you control have lifelink as long as Tel Atar Galleon is attacking. Tel Atar enjoys great prosperity and a long-lasting era of peace. Her ships leave port to trade, not to conquer.
3/4
Venerated Captain2W
Creature — Human Soldier (C)
When Venerated Captain enters the battlefield, target creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn. If that creature is a Ship, it gets +2/+2 until end of turn instead. Mistrust can spread among a crew, but so can loyalty and courage.
3/2
New tribal cards for Turtles, Elves and Pirates.
Southsea Islandshell5U
Creature — Turtle (U)
Other Turtle creatures you control get +2/+2. “I am not feeling too well lately,” said Torta to her friend. “I have humans.”
—Myrian fairytale
3/6
Elvish Reveler1G
Creature — Elf Bard (C)
When Elvish Reveler enters the battlefield, if you control another Elf, draw a card. “I’ve been to an elven island before. Although they sing and dance all day, it’s not the kind of parties you’d enjoy.”
—Tris “Long-Leg”
2/1
Accursed Captain5B
Creature — Kraken Pirate (U)
Deathtouch
When Accursed Captain enters the battlefield, return target non-Kraken Pirate creature card from your graveyard to the battlefield. It’s a Kraken in addition to its other types. “Did you think death would release you from your service on the Wailing Banshee?”
2/2
Bloodsail Captain1BR
Creature — Human Pirate (U)
Intimidate
Other Pirate creatures you control get +1/+1.
Whenever another Pirate enters the battlefield under your control, you may discard a card. If you do, draw a card.
2/2
There will be a few colorless cards in the set. All cards from the Overworld are colored, while colorless cards are those that represent the abyss of the sea.
Abyssal Epiphany
Enchantment — Aura (C)
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature gets +2/+2. “Forfeit your pathetic life, land-dweller, and embrace a life in the deep.”
—Xaelas, the tidecaller
And some random stuff...
Parley2W
Instant (U)
Riposte 1W(You may cast this spell for its riposte cost if a creature is attacking you.)
Prevent all damage that would be dealt to creatures you control this turn. When you are being severely outnumbered with nowhere to run, you can always appeal to your right of parley.
Polar Plesodons3UU
Creature — Serpent (C) Dominion — At the beginning of your upkeep, if Polar Plesodons is the creature with the greatest power on the battlefield, tap target creature an opponent controls. It doesn’t untap during its controller’s next untap step.
3/4
Mire Tangler3B
Creature — Kraken (C) Dominion — Mire Tangler has lifelink as long as it’s the creature with the greatest power on the battlefield. Only the largest specimen can survive out in the endless sea, so young kraken lurk in lakes and river beds until they are out of adolescence.
4/2
Frozen Tomb1UU
Enchantment — Aura (U)
Flash
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature gets -3/-0 and doesn’t untap during its controller’s untap step. “Vast treasures await us in the northern sea... Let’s keep heading south.”
—Captain Cabavira
Ruthless Strike2B
Instant (U)
Riposte (You may cast this spell for its riposte cost if a creature is attacking you.)
Target attacking or blocking creature gets -4/-4 until end of turn. “A Havenrod cruiser once followed us to Knell’s Bay. Now I command two ships and the sharks have a full belly.”
CloudformWU
Enchantment — Aura (U)
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature can’t be blocked.
Prevent all combat damage that would be dealt by enchanted creature. If damage is prevented this way, you gain that much life.
Elvish VoyagerGW
Creature — Elf Bard (R)
Adventurism (Whenever this creature attacks, look at the top card of your library. You may put it on the bottom of your library. If it’s a land card, you may put it onto the battlefield tapped.)
Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control, you gain 1 life. “Some of our kind are weary of eternity.”
2/2
Balancing Riposte with the aggressive mechanics is something I want to keep an eye on. While I want to explore the design space of Riposte as much as possible, because this is a stand-alone set and it won't be in any other set, I don't want to overdo it and make the defender have too much of an advantage. I may have done that on some of the cards, and the cost reduction could be a bit less. Most have a cost reduction of 2 on the riposte, but maybe 1 should be the way to go most of the time.
For Vessel, I also considered the ability to be worded "Vessel — Whenever ~ attacks, other attacking creatures gain [ability] until end of turn." This would make the mechanic less susceptible to removal. But I also think that having the ability to turn off vessels in combat is an interesting layer to the mechanic that I shouldn't remove unless it's absolutely necessary to make it viable.
Considering the token generator with riposte, there's actually one already:
Ace in the Sleeve3UR
Instant (U)
Riposte 1UR(You may cast this spell for 1UR if a creature is attacking you.)
Put a 5/5 blue and red Construct artifact creature token with trample and haste onto the battlefield. Sacrifice it at the beginning of your next end step.
I am also thinking about something like this:
Unleash the Kraken6UU
Instant (R)
Riposte 4UU(You may cast this spell for 4UU if a creature is attacking you.)
Put a 9/9 blue Kraken creature token onto the battlefield. It can block any number of creatures this turn and blocks each creature this turn if able.
Unleash the KrakenXGGG
Instant (R)
Riposte XG(You may cast this spell for XG if a creature is attacking you.)
Search your library for a creature card with converted mana cost X or less and put it onto the battlefield. Then shuffle your library.
Wow. Really cool set! The flavor is really nice, and the mechanics seem like they would play really well. My only real concern is the moderate amount of tribal - "Ships matter" doesn't seem like it works well with only 1-2 Ships per color (I am a huge fan of the Ships, though, and very much like the fact that there aren't too many of them), "sea monsters matter" is ill-fitting at times given that sea monsters are generally haymakers, and "elves matter" seems sort of out-of-place. Pirate tribal works, though, and other tribal can exist well in cards like Cast Away and Master of the Marine. Since Elves already have lifegain as a mechanical identity, I would argue they don't need outright tribal at all.
Other notes:
-Having ramp in all 5 colors certainly helps the case for multiple 7-drops at common.
-It seems as though a "Creatures your opponents control attack this turn if able" effect would play well with Riposte, as well as a red creature or two with "This creature attacks each turn if able."
-Shimmercoast Whale should probably be a Leviathan, to avoid confusion.
-A set where greatest power matters will probably have a number of power-boosting spells, so the fact that Kalimaras dies to Giant Growth is a little awkward. Maybe make the tokens a little smaller, and make multiple? Or just take the Dominion clause away. And don't forget a reanimation clause on it.
-The colored artifacts are another cool thing going on - future additions probably don't necessarily need to be Equipment, though, even if they are tools such as compasses or spyglasses.
-Finally, the "abyss = colorless" idea is interesting, but the set already has a lot going on, and futureshift-y mechanics like colorless enchantments seem better saved for a set where they can really strut their stuff. If that set turns out to be Fate Reforged, then maybe an exception or two can be made, though.
I intend to increase the number of Ships in white. Each other color will get at least one Ship, but white gets a few more, so that you can branch into any second color and pick up enough Ships. I just have to think of effects to put on white ships (unfortunately the hardest since neither vigilance nor toughness pump works with the current wording). As with the other tribes, not all of them are "tribes" in the normal sense. Sea monsters are not a tribe; they are not interested in helping each other out at all. But some of the land-dwellers begin to worship them and reward you for playing those creatures. Most sea monsters are very expensive, and most expensive creatures are sea monsters, so these cards are what you're looking to draft if you draft a green-based ramp deck. Iamur had a similar theme with "power 8 or greater matters."
I'm not 100% happy with how elves are currently implemented in the set, but I know that I want to have them as a tribe. They are essential to the story I want to tell. They represent the polar opposite to the humans, who conquered the sea from the kraken gods so that they could pursue their wanderlust and adventurism. But the elves were never interested in that kind of endeavor and were content with how the world was set up; they lived peacefully and isolated on their islands, and continue to do so to this day. So, yes, they kinda seem out of place in a nautical themed set at first glance, but I hope I can convey their flavor somehow. Since all the other "tribes" have tribal synergies, it would be weird for the elves not to.
An Aggravate-type of effect would certainly be great in the set.
Shimmercoast Whale will probably be cut to make room for a Ship. White won't get sea monster types.
The fact that you can kill Kalimaras with a shrink- or pump-spell is exactly what I intended with that ability. You still get a 9/9, but I wanted this to be a unique weakness. It should probably have anti-reanimator, yes.
The colorless cards are just an idea I had and something I want to explore. I don't know yet if they will make the final set. Currently, they don't have an underlying theme and are just limited filler.
I have said on your blog that I believe vessels are too good at common. Marauders of Blackport, in particular, with its cumualtiveness has the capability to warp limited. I would very much want to apply either some sort of limitation to the creatures affected ("attacking creatures" is meaningless in this case) or some sort of requirement. How about needing a creature to "board" the vessel by entering the battlefield? This would play into low-skill player's tendencies to cast spells before attacking and provide some interesting interplay with riposte cards since it reduces your defensive options against those to compensate for the additional raw power you get.
I don't quite understand your concerns here. Marauders of Blackport is basically "3R, 3/3, Battle cry", and then slightly worse. A card comparable to that very much already exists in Kuldotha Ringleader, and he did not warp limited formats in any way. Attacking always leaves the vessel vulnerable to just being killed in combat, so the chances of the bonuses spiraling out of control becomes very slim. That is, unless the player drafts vessels and nothing but vessels, and only attacks when his entire team is an unstoppable deathball. But if that strategy is possible, that's great and I shouldn't try to prevent it.
Anyway, I do plan to do changes to Vessel by making it into a "generalized Battle cry," reading "Vessel - Whenever ~ attacks, other attacking creatures you control gain {ability} until end of turn. This allows me to put more effects on the ability word such as "Whenever ~ attacks, untap each other attacking creature you control." It also makes removal less of a blowout if it's played on an attacking Vessel mid-combat.
I also changed Dominion a bit. Now, triggered dominion abilities no longer use an "intervening if," i.e. they no longer check for the creature's power when the ability would trigger. The creature's power is now only checked upon resolution, so it is possible to use pump spells in response, and they no longer have to be used before the ability would trigger.
Here are new/updated cards:
Shard of Ctaleth(Replaces Queen of the Depths)
Creature — Octopus Horror (R) Dominion — Shard of Ctaleth has indestructible as long as it’s the creature with the greatest power on the battlefield. 1, Sacrifice another creature: Put a +1/+1 counter on Shard of Ctaleth. Even in death, Ctaleth demands sacrifice to be appeased.
3/3
Shard of Nolgul
Creature — Kraken Horror (R) Dominion — When Shard of Nolgul dies, if it was the creature with the greatest power on the battlefield, exile it. If you do, you control target player during that player’s next turn. When Kalimaras consumed his sons, their essence was scattered across the endless sea.
5/5
Storm-Beaten Lighthouse1W(New version)
Artifact Creature — Wall (U)
Defender
Ship creatures you control have vigilance. During the Great Divide, the lighthouse was never unmanned, the watchers passing down from generation to generation. A tradition as old as the guardian Auria herself.
0/5
Unbroken Tidestone4WW
Enchantment (M)
When Unbroken Tidestone enters the battlefield, exile all nonland permanents not named Unbroken Tidestone.
When Unbroken Tidestone leaves the battlefield, return the exiled cards to their owner’s hands. With the intention of freeing the creatures of the deep, Kiora began to break Auria’s seal.
Godveiler1U
Creature — Human Wizard (C)
Kraken, Leviathan, Octopus and Serpent creatures you control have hexproof. “The tides are at my command. The winds submitted to my will. And I am your humble servant, Ctaleth, lord of the infinite deep.”
2/1
Inspiring Explorer1U(Moved to common)
Creature — Human Scout (C) U, T: Target creature gains adventurism until end of turn. (When that creature attacks this turn, look at the top card of your library. You may put it on the bottom of your library. If it’s a land card, you may put it onto the battlefield tapped.)
1/1
Mermaid’s Song
Instant (C)
Target creature gets -2/-0 until end of turn and attacks this turn if able. The enchanting melodies of the mermaids sounded much darker when they were sung on the surface, but they retained their mesmerizing effect.
Pull Under1U
Instant (C)
Return target creature to its owner’s hand. Draw a card, then put a card from your hand on the bottom of your library. “This one has the right idea.”
—Kiora
Bottomless Treasure2B
Artifact (U)
Bottomless Treasure enters the battlefield tapped. T: Put a colorless artifact token named Gold onto the battlefield. It has “Sacrifice this artifact: Add one mana of any color to your mana pool.”
Go Ape
Instant (C)
Target creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn. Put a +1/+1 counter on it. Khamora’s ecosystem has led to the emergence of the most unique species: Herbivores that are ten times larger than those on other islands, carnivores that are a hundred times larger...
Impenetrable Mists1G(replaces Fog)
Instant (U)
Prevent all combat damage that would be dealt this turn by creatures other than Krakens, Leviathans, Octopuses, and Serpents. “Pirates, sirens, and monsters of various kinds... I don’t fear those. But my sword can’t cut through the northern fog.”
—Valreos, captain of the “Ocean’s Cry”
Sunwreath Druid2GW
Creature — Elf Druid (M) T: Add X mana in any combination of colors to your mana pool, where X is the amount of life you’ve gained this turn. “Let them roam the sea and destroy each other. They can never hold sway over our realm.”
—Amras, king of Autumn Isle
2/3
Kalimaras5WUBRG(New version, added anti-reanimator clause)
Legendary Creature — Kraken Avatar (M)
Indestructible
At the beginning of your end step, put a 9/9 blue Kraken creature token onto the battlefield.
When Kalimaras isn’t the creature with the greatest power on the battlefield or when it’s in your graveyard, put it on the bottom of its owner’s library.
12/12
Tidecaller’s Trident
Artifact — Equipment (C)
Equipped creature gets +3/+0.
Whenever equipped creature attacks, draw a card, then put a card from your hand on the bottom of your library.
Equip 3 Xaelas lost his trident in the overworld, so humans would find it and use its power to destroy each other. Unfortunately, a mermaid was quicker.
Crown of Winter
Land (R) T: Add 1 to your mana pool. T: Add one mana of any color to your mana pool. Crown of Winter doesn’t untap during your next untap step. From the center of the polar sea, the seven winds arise.
I will try to keep an eye on the level of variance. Reducing it is what I want to do in every set, but I always don't find the space for the cards that do so. But Riposte was supposed to be one of the mechanics that reduce variance, why do you think it increases it? It gives the player that is behind an advantage and a way to come back.
Polar Plesodons is a card I'm not very happy with yet. The card as a whole is very weird. Standardizing timing on triggered abilities is something I want to do at some point, but it's also a function of what pump spells are in the format (for example, there's a sorcery speed +2/+2 pumper in green which was the reason to do this at the beginning of combat instead of upkeep).
I wanted to finish the backstory for the block and post it, but I can't find the time right now. So, I'll post the introduction now and add on to it later.
Millennia ago, before the time of the Great Divide, the old gods of the deep and their children held sway over the Endless Sea. Giant kraken lurked outside the coasts of the few islands and made seafaring more than unsafe. During that time, the humans were not the adventurers they are today. Rather, they lived isolated in the safety of their walled cities, too afraid to venture out into the chaotic sea. Most of them never even left their home island during their lifetime and thought it to be the entirety of the world. Most of the other sapient land-dwelling species lived just the same. Although the elves of the southern sea knew about the nature of the world, they never quite developed the adventurism that is inherent to humanity. Content with their place in the world, they spent most of their immortal lives singing and dancing and never thinking about leaving their home.
But this order was about to change when a visitor from another world arrived on Iamur...
Really great stuff here, oozing with flavor. I love the Adventurism mechanic. Kiora's ultimate ability seems a little underwhelming in my eyes, and doesn't scream "you win the game" to me, especially for a 6 drop. While the minus ability seems really good. You get a 9/9, that can protect your Honden of Seeing Winds seems a little too good for 6 mana.
I'm not sold on Kiora's ultimate yet either. I had an emblem in mind that allowed you to cast creatures from your library, but the wording turned out to be too long. But I think this wording should work: "You get an emblem with “At any time you could cast a sorcery, you may search your library, then shuffle your library” and “While you’re searching your library, you may cast creature cards from your library.”"
The -4 ability didn't turn out to be too powerful in testing. A 6-mana 9/9 isn't something to write home about these days, so that you get an additional "bonus" for it is quite fine. Most of the time you wouldn't go for the Kraken token in a control mirror, because it would just be killed with a removal and Kiora then killed with some random damage lying around.
Banishing Light2W
Enchantment (U)
When Banishing Light enters the battlefield, exile target nonland permanent an opponent controls until Banishing Light leaves the battlefield. “We still call it ‘The Forbidden Sea,’ but now we decide for whom it is forbidden.”
—Telras, lighthouse keeper
Commodore Kavira1WW
Planeswalker — Kavira (M)
+1: Up to one target creature gets +2/+2 until your next turn.
-1: Put a legendary 2/2 white Ship artifact creature token named “The Ocean’s Cry” onto the battlefield. It has “Whenever this creature attacks, each other attacking creature gains indestructible until end of turn.”
-6: You get an emblem with “Whenever one or more creatures an opponent controls attack or block, that player sacrifices an attacking or blocking creature.”
{3}
Eversong InvokerW
Creature — Elf Cleric (C) 7W: Put three 1/1 white Bird creature tokens with flying onto the battlefield. “Let the old gods roam the sea and destroy each other. They can never hold sway over our realm.”
—Amras, king of Autumn Isle
1/2
Rider of the Fourth Wind3WW
Creature — Human Scout (U)
Flying, vigilance
Adventurism (Whenever this creature attacks, look at the top card of your library. You may put it on the bottom of your library. If it’s a land card, you may put it onto the battlefield tapped.)
2/4
Tel Atar Galleon5W
Artifact Creature — Ship (C) Vessel — Whenever Tel Atar Galleon attacks, untap each other attacking creature. The pride of the Lecadians is always injured when Tel Atarian shipbuilding has outraced them once again.
5/5
Venerated Captain2W(New version)
Creature — Human Soldier (C)
When Venerated Captain enters the battlefield, look at the top five cards of your library. You may reveal a Ship creature card from among them and put it into your hand. Put the rest on the bottom of your library in any order. Mistrust can spread among a crew, but so can loyalty and courage.
3/2
Interlock1U
Instant (C)
Counter target creature spell with converted mana cost 5 or less. “What happens to a land-dweller when you pull it into the infinite deep? It implodes.”
—Cathira, naga witch
Merchants of Myria2U
Artifact Creature — Ship (C) Vessel — Whenever Merchants of Myria attacks, each other attacking creature gets +0/+1 until end of turn. Myria enjoys great prosperity and a long-lasting era of peace. Her ships leave port to trade, not to conquer.
2/3
Patron Gargantuan2U
Creature — Turtle (C) The humans hoped that the gargantuans would fight alongside them, but they remained neutral, only pledging to protect the innocent victims of the war that unfolded.
0/6
Ravel the StreamsXU
Instant (U)
Choose one —
Counter target spell with converted mana cost X.
Counter target spell unless its controller pays X.
Sailors study the flow of the sea currents while mages study the currents beneath.
Hand of Doom3RR
Instant (C)
Hand of Doom deals 5 damage to target creature. Draw a card, then put a card from your hand on the bottom of your library. “Sometimes, fate must be forced.”
—Lady Kaladrin
Crushing Vines2G
Instant (C)
Choose one —
Destroy target creature with flying.
Destroy target artifact.
“Those islands that aren’t under our protection have developed defenses of their own.”
—Eluneth, crescent bay druid
Defend the Grove1G
Sorcery (C)
Put two 1/1 green Elf creature tokens with reach onto the battlefield. “They came to us often before, always as conquerors, but now they come as refugees. Are we to leave them to their certain death on the endless sea?”
Voyage to New Lands4G(New version)
Sorcery (U)
Search your library for up to two basic land cards and put them onto the battlefield tapped. Then shuffle your library.
Draw a card. The adventurers landed on many paradisaic islands, but none of them was Autumn Isle.
Wandering Fortress3GG
Creature — Turtle (C)
Adventurism (Whenever this creature attacks, look at the top card of your library. You may put it on the bottom of your library. If it’s a land card, you may put it onto the battlefield tapped.) “My home is wherever she wants to go.”
—Kurul, the hermit
3/5
Xerelith, the Soulflayer2BR
Planeswalker — Xerelith (M)
0: Sacrifice a creature. If you do, put loyalty counters on Xerelith, the Soulflayer equal to the sacrificed creature’s power plus toughness.
-1: Xerelith, the Soulflayer deals 3 damage to each opponent. Those players each discard a card.
-4: Gain control of target creature. Untap that creature. It gains haste until end of turn. Sacrifice it at the beginning of the next end step.
{2}
Amras, King of Autumn Isle3GW
Legendary Creature — Elf Druid (M)
Vigilance, lifelink T: Add X mana in any combination of colors to your mana pool, where X is the amount of life you’ve gained this turn. He was there at the dawn of autumn, when the old gods laid claim to the sea.
2/5
Skullcliff Recluse1BG
Creature — Zombie Spider (U)
Reach
Sacrifice another creature: Target creature gains deathtouch until end of turn.
1/4
Kiora Atua4GU(New version)
Planeswalker — Kiora (M)
+1: Reveal the top two cards of your library. You may put a land card from among them onto the battlefield and a nonland card from among them into your hand. Put the rest on the bottom of your library in any order.
-4: Put a 9/9 blue Kraken creature token onto the battlefield.
-8: You get an emblem with “X: Search your library for a creature card with converted man cost X, and put it onto the battlefield. Then shuffle your library.”
{5}
Pool of Eternal Youth
Land (R) T: Add 1 to your mana pool. 3, T, Sacrifice a creature: You gain life equal to the sacrificed creature’s toughness. Finding the source of the elves’ immortality has been the objective of many legendary quests.
Wow, your set contains a lot of nudes in the artwork. Not that I complain, but if this were a WOTC set, it would never see the light of day.
Also, WOTC would never print a gun on the art and yet, so many of your pirates are depicted holding guns. Yes, I know that pirates and guns kinda go hand in hand, but still. I would suggest just to find new art.
I'm also not a big fan of the word "adventurism" nor its effect. When the reminder text of a keyword takes 80% of its text box, you should reconsider its effect (or wording). I suggest something like "Explore" or "Travel". And maybe turn it into an ETB effect.
Explore - When this creature enters the battlefield, look at the top card of your library. If its a land card, put it into your hand.
Comments on some of the individual cards (W, U and B):
Cast Away - flavorful, but too wordy. Why not just reprint Pacifism? Or make a Chained to the Rocks variant but with Enchant Island you control?
Colossal Haul - yay for Smite the Monstrous!
Crustacean King - White Crabs? Okay I guess?
Eversong Invoker - White Elf? Okay I guess?
Tavern Bard - This screams to be Green card.
Venerated Captain - I would either remove the flavor text or change the ability just to avoid this huge wall of text. Especially for a common.
Amras's Elite - This card is a nightmare. I could see losing my patience and time just counting my creatures and Elves each turn to determine its P/T.
Imperial Enlistment - see Venerated Captain.
Shimmercoast Whale - I find the art choice for this card kinda silly. Also, Whale that lives on the Plains?
Commodore Kavira - Jesus, there is too much text. I can barely read such small font.
Mermaid's Song - art should maybe be better suited for a creature, IMO.
Patron Gargantuan - again, the art choice should be changed. It's too much focused on the siren. I haven't even noticed the turtle on the first look.
Tidebringer Kraken - again, a wall of text. Not really recommendable, especially for a common.
Helm of the Turtle Lord - the name sounds as if it should be legendary and rare. And judging by the effect, maybe it should. Doran was rare after all.
Thirst for Treasure - flavorful effect, but again - wall of text! Do we really need these Gold tokens anyway?
Skullcliff Revenant - See Thirst for Treasure. Also, black rarely interacts with artifacts.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become character.
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.
Regarding the artwork, beggars can't be choosers. The perfect artwork is not always out there and I have to make compromises. For me, a cohesive art style is very important, more than the exact contents of the art. Limiting my the artwork for pirates to those that have no guns depicted would be unfeasible, and I also don't know if I completely understand the argument why there shouldn't be guns depicted. You said yourself that pirates and guns go hand in hand, so why not just introduce guns here, if they've never been done before? Regarding the nudity, I don't think any artwork is too explicit.
Cast Away: Islands don't have any special meaning in this set. The entire plane is an ocean, so any of the basic land types can represent what is usually represented by an Island. Crustacean King & Shimmercoast Whale: See Cast Away. The sea creatures are split between all colors and not just restricted to blue.
I'll try to shorten some of the card texts to make them more readable. Keep in mind, though, that the printed versions of the cards have a much higher resolution than the raster graphics in the .pdf. Commodore Kavira isn't a problem on the printed version; the font size is the same as on Jace, Architect of Thought.
I'll do a set review with a friend the coming week. After that I'll have more thoughts on some of the critiques you've brought up, and other issues as well.
I was just coming into this forum to post a thread asking how I should handle ships if I were to make a pirate themed set (which I was considering). This is awesome! The flavor, mechanics, and tribal are all very cool. Very impressive stuff - I'll be keeping my eye on this thread!
Regarding the artwork, beggars can't be choosers. The perfect artwork is not always out there and I have to make compromises. For me, a cohesive art style is very important, more than the exact contents of the art. Limiting my the artwork for pirates to those that have no guns depicted would be unfeasible, and I also don't know if I completely understand the argument why there shouldn't be guns depicted. You said yourself that pirates and guns go hand in hand, so why not just introduce guns here, if they've never been done before?
I don't know why WOTC is against depicting guns on their cards either, but I know it's true. Since yours is a custom set, I guess the guns can be forgiven. I created a Mesoamerican set with a small theme of pirates, and I managed to keep the gun art at the minimum. You can check the set here:
I also don't think that artwork is explicit. I just said it contains more nudity than what we usually see in the "real" sets. Maybe some people could find that offensive. I don't.
Cast Away: Islands don't have any special meaning in this set. The entire plane is an ocean, so any of the basic land types can represent what is usually represented by an Island.
I never said that Islands have special meaning in this set. Mountains didn't have any special meaning in Theros, and yet, they printed Chained to the Rocks because it's an extremely flavorful card. I was thinking of similar version:
Cast Away W
Enchantment - Aura
Enchant Island you control
When Cast Away ETB, exile target creature an opponent controls until Cast Away leaves the battlefield.
The whole point of the card being - you are sending an opponent's creature on a deserted island. Your Island.
Crustacean King & Shimmercoast Whale: See Cast Away. The sea creatures are split between all colors and not just restricted to blue.
I know that and I think this is where the problems arise. A world covered in oceans sounds cool on paper, but it suffers in execution. Basically, the whole color pie has to suffer because of it. Following that logic, Crustacean King can very easily be a green creature too. Or black.
Everything we learned from Magic goes out of the window in this set, where "Plains" and "Mountains" are still represented as some sort of Island on the art, and where Crabs, Elves and Whales are white. I just think it could confuse the new players.
Maybe create some sort of Torment set - where blue is more predominant than other colors OR make a normal set, but focus on "blue and islands matter". Something like:
Intrepid Wavecrasher 3R
Creature - Pirate 2/2
Haste
Intrepid Wavecrasher has intimidate as long as you control an Island.
Crustacean King 3W
Creature - Crab 2/4
U: Crustacean King gets +1/-1 until end of turn.
I know this could really screw up limited, but that's a challenge your set has to overcome. Learn from the mistakes WOTC did with Torment.
And as I said, I really think that Adventurism should go. The name doesn't really fit (especially on cards like Voyaging Gulls - why would a Gull be adventurous?) and the mechanic is basically a green one (search for a land). I dig the flavor though.
Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become character.
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.
I don't know why WOTC is against depicting guns on their cards either, but I know it's true. Since yours is a custom set, I guess the guns can be forgiven. I created a Mesoamerican set with a small theme of pirates, and I managed to keep the gun art at the minimum. You can check the set here:
I also don't think that artwork is explicit. I just said it contains more nudity than what we usually see in the "real" sets. Maybe some people could find that offensive. I don't.
I see. Well, I guess those people would be free to stop reading the set spoiler. I also thought about making an Aztec/Maya inspired set, very cool theme indeed.
I never said that Islands have special meaning in this set. Mountains didn't have any special meaning in Theros, and yet, they printed Chained to the Rocks because it's an extremely flavorful card. I was thinking of similar version:
Cast Away W
Enchantment - Aura
Enchant Island you control
When Cast Away ETB, exile target creature an opponent controls until Cast Away leaves the battlefield.
The whole point of the card being - you are sending an opponent's creature on a deserted island. Your Island.
But that's what I meant. You assume that a card having something to do with an Island flavorfully entails that it has something to do with Islands mechanically, but all basic land types are reinterpreted in this set, and "Islands" aren't the only islands in the set.
I know that and I think this is where the problems arise. A world covered in oceans sounds cool on paper, but it suffers in execution. Basically, the whole color pie has to suffer because of it. Following that logic, Crustacean King can very easily be a green creature too. Or black.
Everything we learned from Magic goes out of the window in this set, where "Plains" and "Mountains" are still represented as some sort of Island on the art, and where Crabs, Elves and Whales are white. I just think it could confuse the new players.
I disagree. The basic land types have always been reinterpreted to fit the flavor of the set. This Island would normally be a Plains if it wasn't in Lorwyn, and this Swamp could easily be a Plains as well. This Mountain shouldn't have any basic land type at all. It is still possible to differentiate between the land types: Plains are the long, sandy shores, Islands are the open sea, Swamps are the murky lagoons, Mountains are the spiky, sharp cliffs on the coast, and Forests are the palm-lined beaches and lagoons.
Maybe create some sort of Torment set - where blue is more predominant than other colors OR make a normal set, but focus on "blue and islands matter".
Innistrad was a set based on tropes primarily focused in black and it pulled it off perfectly without being Torment 2. It did that by shifting the horror tropes into the other colors, similar to how I'm doing it with the nautical tropes.
And as I said, I really think that Adventurism should go. The name doesn't really fit (especially on cards like Voyaging Gulls - why would a Gull be adventurous?) and the mechanic is basically a green one (search for a land). I dig the flavor though.
I'll be renaming the mechanic, but don't have any plans to cut it at this point. The Gulls may be a stretch flavor-wise and could probably be done better with a different creature type.
Defend the Grove strikes me as feeling decidedly ungreen. Swarming type of cards just don't normally happen in green, or at least not in this fashion (i.e. they are not normally 1/1s), and when they do, they are usually uncommon (Fungal Sprouting, Spider Spawning, Carrion Call, Cobra Trap, Spore Burst...)
I was just coming into this forum to post a thread asking how I should handle ships if I were to make a pirate themed set (which I was considering). This is awesome! The flavor, mechanics, and tribal are all very cool. Very impressive stuff - I'll be keeping my eye on this thread!
I just noticed your comment. I didn't mean to ignore you, I must have missed it under Arminion's longer comment. Thanks, and if you need help with your Pirate set, leave me a note!
Defend the Grove strikes me as feeling decidedly ungreen. Swarming type of cards just don't normally happen in green, or at least not in this fashion (i.e. they are not normally 1/1s), and when they do, they are usually uncommon (Fungal Sprouting, Spider Spawning, Carrion Call, Cobra Trap, Spore Burst...)
I want to try a token theme for black/green to enable a draft strategy in a color pair that isn't about a tribe. The BG uncommon for example, can sacrifice creatures to give other creatures deathtouch. Whether I will stick with that theme, I'm not 100% sure yet. With that in mind, would you change anything about Defend the Grove?
Defend the Grove strikes me as feeling decidedly ungreen. Swarming type of cards just don't normally happen in green, or at least not in this fashion (i.e. they are not normally 1/1s), and when they do, they are usually uncommon (Fungal Sprouting, Spider Spawning, Carrion Call, Cobra Trap, Spore Burst...)
I want to try a token theme for black/green to enable a draft strategy in a color pair that isn't about a tribe. The BG uncommon for example, can sacrifice creatures to give other creatures deathtouch. Whether I will stick with that theme, I'm not 100% sure yet. With that in mind, would you change anything about Defend the Grove?
I'd consider making this a creature of some sort. Maybe a 2G 2/2 that makes a conditional token as an ETB effect? The "nontribal" aspect works better if the card puts out two bodies with different characteristics. A repeat triggered tokenmaker à la Sporemound or Akroan Crusader is also an option, but harder to balance (there's ony two existing at common!). Maybe you can put a CMC4 spell that makes three 1/1s with Riposte as an uncommon?
Alright, I adjourned this set for a while because I encountered some problems but didn't have the inspiration to fix them.
Dominion was one of those problems. Currently it is written as:
Dominion - As long as ~ is the creature with the greatest power on the battlefield, {effect}.
I chose this wording because I liked that only one creature can hold dominion at the same time. It has a lot of interactivity with the opponent, which is great, but it also works against itself. Having several dominion creatures out could lead to some frustrating situations, especially if both are tied for the same power. There are many slight alterations of this mechanic that often show up on the forum, and some have been suggested as fixes to Dominion. For example "As long as you control the creature with the greatest power, {effect}." I don't like this mechanic that much, because it takes away the focus from the creature and puts it onto the player. A baby seal could have dominion if you control a giant kraken next to it - that doesn't make a lot of sense to me. It's also a bit too swingy for my taste, as either all your dominion abilities are online or neither of them. So, I decided on a compromise:
Dominion - As long as ~ has power greater than any creature an opponent controls, {effect}.
This still puts the focus on the creature itself, allows for interactivity with the opponent, isn't too swingy, but also allows you to play with big creatures next to those with dominion without feeling bad about it. But there's another problem:
Dominion just doesn't work, at least not in its current implementation, as do all similar mechanics. The reason is the layer system. Ability-adding effects, and ability-removing effects are applied in layer 6 and Power- and/or toughness-changing effects are applied in layer 7. That means that by the time, effects such as Giant Growth are applied to a creature, the time when it would be checked whether or not the creature has dominion would have already been passed and only the base power of creatures would count towards the power comparison.
So, this means continuous dominion effects don't work, but triggered abilities still work. To make continuous effects work, I see several solutions:
Make all continuous effects into a state trigger. This would lead to a very clunky wording: "When ~ [has dominion] and it doesn't have {ability}, it gains {ability}."
Keyword dominion and write in the rules that it applies in a different layer than other ability-adding effects. This only partly solves the problem, though. There is a good reason why the layers are applied in the way they are, and changing it would lead to weird interactions with cards like Favorable Winds, for example.
Make a dominion ability into a special type of ability, like Forecast. A dominion ability creates a trigger that adds or removes the ability whenever dominion is turned on or off.
I feel like the last option is the only viable from among those. Here is how it would look like:
Scourge of Crimson Coast3RR
Creature - Serpent (M) R: Scourge of Crimson Coast gets +1/+0 until end of turn.
Dominion - Scourge of Crimson Coast has double strike. (A creature gains dominion when it has power greater than any creature an opponent controls.)
4/5
or alternatively:
Scourge of Crimson Coast3RR
Creature - Serpent (M)
Dominion (This creature holds dominion as long as it has power greater than any creature an opponent controls.) R: Scourge of Crimson Coast gets +1/+0 until end of turn.
Scourge of Crimson Coast has double strike as long as it holds dominion.
4/5
The rules text then defines Dominion as: "When this creature's power is greater than the power of any creature an opponent controls, if it doesn't have dominion, it gains dominion for as long as its power is greater than the power of any creature an opponent controls."
Introduction
Set Name: Overworld
Three letter code: OVW
Set size: 250
Flavor: Pirates vs. Octopuses
Block Structure: 3rd set of the Iamur block. Designed for standalone draft.
Overworld is the third set of my Iamur block. Iamur, the eponymous first set of the block, is a top-down underwater set which I made in 2012. Iamur is a plane consisting of a giant ocean with only small islands protruding from the sea. It has a vast underwater realm which is the setting of the first and second sets. This realm was cut off from the "Overworld," as it is called by the sea-dwellers, but now this barrier is broken and for the first time in millennia the two worlds collide again. While Iamur, and the second set Grim Tidings, took place entirely in the underwater realm, in this set, we now get to explore the world above the sea, a world of pirates and adventurers.
Themes & Mechanics
Wanderlust (Whenever this creature attacks, look at the top card of your library. You may put it on the bottom of your library. If it’s a land card, you may put it onto the battlefield tapped.)
Growth {cost} ({cost}: Put a +1/+1 counter on this creature. This costs 1 more to activate for each +1/+1 counter on it. Grow only as a sorcery.)
Vessel – Whenever this creature attacks, each other attacking creature gains {ability} until end of turn.
Riposte {cost} (You may cast this spell for its riposte cost if a creature is attacking you.)
Quest hub (When this enters the battlefield, draw a card. You may complete each quest once. When you’ve completed both, sacrifice this.)
[Quest] {cost}: {effect}
[Quest] {cost}: {effect}
Tribal: Overworld has a mild tribal component. The supported tribes are: Elves, ships, turtles, pirates and sea monsters (Krakens, Leviathans, Octopuses, and Serpents).
Gold tokens: (Put a colorless artifact token named Gold onto the battlefield. It has "Sacrifice this artifact: Add one mana of any color to your mana pool.")
Cards
Additional Links
Lore
Completed sets:
Iamur — The Underwater Set
Overworld — Pirates vs. Octopuses
Esparand — The Sands of Time
Unfinished Sets:
Siege of Ravnica — Eldrazi in Ravnica
Shandalar — The Mana Set
Iamur Reimagined — Iamur v2
You can find more creative projects on my page Antaresdesigns!
Abyssal Caress 4
Enchantment - Aura (C)
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature gets +3/+3.
"Forfeit your pathetic life, land-dweller, and embrace a life in the deep."
-Xaelas, the tidecaller
Risen One 2
Creature - Horror (C)
Although adapted to living many miles beneath the sea, they showed no difficulty seeing, breathing or moving once they emerged. It was as though their entire evolution secretly steered them towards this very moment.
2/1
Shard of the Twin Gods 8
Creature - Kraken Horror (R)
When Shard of the Twin Gods dies, exile it. If you do, you control target player during that player's next turn.
When Kalimaras consumed his sons, their essence was scattered across the endless sea.
8/8
Aurian Strait WW
Enchantment (R)
Quest hub (When this enters the battlefield, draw a card. You may complete each quest once. When you've completed both, sacrifice this.)
[QUEST] "Archangel's Blessing" - 3W: Creatures you control gain indestructible until end of turn.
[QUEST] "Return of the Guardian" - 4WW: Put a 4/4 white Angel creature token with flying onto the battlefield.
Banishing Light 2W
Enchantment (U)
When Banishing Light enters the battlefield, exile target nonland permanent an opponent controls until Banishing Light leaves the battlefield.
"We still call it 'The Forbidden Sea,' but now we decide for whom it is forbidden."
-Telras, lighthouse keeper
Call the Armada 1W
Instant (C)
Creatures you control get +1/+1 until end of turn. Ship creatures you control get an additional +0/+3 until end of turn.
"The old gods will fall to the might of our nation, just like everyone before them who stood against us."
-Toranos, Lecadian admiral
Cast Away 1W
Enchantment - Aura (C)
Enchant non-Kraken, non-Leviathan, non-Octopus, non-Serpent creature
Enchanted creature can't attack or block.
Tara was marooned on Khamora with only a pistol and a box of rum.
Colossal Haul 4W
Instant (C)
Destroy target creature with power 4 or greater. Draw a card, then put a card from your hand on the bottom of your library.
"After weeks missing, we declared my husband dead. Then, just like that, he steps out of the sea with a creature on his back of the likes we had never seen."
-Diary of Giselle
Commodore Kavira 2WW
Planeswalker - Kavira (M)
+1: Up to one target creature gets +2/+2 and gains vigilance until your next turn.
-1: Put a legendary 2/2 white Ship artifact creature token named "The Ocean's Cry" onto the battlefield. It has "Whenever this creature attacks, each other attacking creature gains indestructible until end of turn."
-6: You get an emblem with "Whenever one or more creatures an opponent controls attack or block, that player sacrifices an attacking or blocking creature."
{3}
Conquerors of Paradise 1WW
Artifact Creature - Ship (U)
Vessel - Whenever Conquerors of Paradise attacks, each other attacking creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn.
"What good is the greatness of our nation if we don't share it with the rest of the world?"
-Emperor Viliame IV
1/5
Coralblade Trooper WW
Creature - Merfolk Soldier (R)
At the beginning of each upkeep, if you had two or more creatures enter the battlefield under your control last turn, draw a card.
After the Great Divide, the merfolk of the Overworld were hunted to near extinction. The few that remained emerged from concealment to reunite with their sea-dwelling kin.
2/2
Crackling Tidestone 4WW
Enchantment (R)
When Crackling Tidestone enters the battlefield, exile all nonland permanents not named Crackling Tidestone.
When Crackling Tidestone leaves the battlefield, return the exiled cards to their owner's hands.
With the intention of freeing the creatures of the deep, Kiora began to break Auria's seal.
Crescent Havens 1W
Enchanment (U)
Quest hub (When this enters the battlefield, draw a card. You may complete each quest once. When you've completed both, sacrifice this.)
[QUEST] "Lost Heirloom" - 2W: Return target artifact card from your graveyard to your hand.
[QUEST] "Delve in Dreams" - 2W: Return target enchantment card from your graveyard to your hand.
Crustacean King W
Creature - Crab (C)
Growth 3W (3W: Put a +1/+1 counter on this. This costs 1 more to activate for each +1/+1 counter on it. Grow only as a sorcery.)
"Why should we sail out fishing? Food just walks up to our beach these days."
-Jan, the "sea bass"
0/3
Dawnchaser Perydon 2WW
Creature - Elemental Bird (C)
Flying, lifelink
Tales speak of the perydon who flew alongside the sun around the world, always trying to keep up with his pace, so that the sunrise would never come to end.
2/2
Deft Skydancers 1W
Creature - Elf Bard (C)
Deft Skydancers has flying as long as you control another Elf.
Their performance is the highlight of the annual festivities on Tel Atar.
2/1
Elvish Adventurers 3W
Creature - Elf Warrior Cleric (U)
Whenever you activate a quest ability of a permanent, put a +1/+1 counter on Elvish Adventurers.
At least once in their lifetime, elves leave their home island and set out on an adventure. Then they decide whether they prefer this life to eternity.
3/3
Elvish Captain 2W
Creature - Elf Scout (C)
When Elvish Captain enters the battlefield, target Ship creature you control gets +2/+2 until end of turn.
"If you're looking for an adventure, enlist on a goblin ship. But if you want to live to see the next sunrise, I might represent your interests better."
3/2
Havenrod Interceptor 1W
Artifact Creature - Ship (C)
Vessel - Whenever Havenrod Interceptor attacks, each other attacking creature gains first strike until end of turn.
"It is the fastest ship on the endless sea. Even sharks can't keep up with it."
-Jaron Val, Havenrod captain
2/2
Herald of Autumn 1W
Creature - Elf Bard (U)
At the beginning of each end step, if you gained life this turn, put a 1/1 white Bird creature token with flying onto the battlefield.
His song has as many verses as the autumn has years.
2/2
Imperial Enlistment 3WW
Enchantment (U)
When Imperial Enlistment enters the battlefield, put three 1/1 white Soldier creature tokens onto the battlefield.
Ship creatures you control have "Whenever this creature attacks, each other attacking creature gets +1/+0 until end of turn."
"Auria has forsaken us. Who will protect our children if not you?"
Iyori Port 1W
Enchantment (C)
Quest hub (When this enters the battlefield, draw a card. You may complete each quest once. When you've completed both, sacrifice this.)
[QUEST] "Recruitment" - 3W: Put two 1/1 white Soldier creature tokens onto the battlefield.
[QUEST] "Overdue Shipments" - 5W: Put a +1/+1 counter on each creature you control.
Mute 1W
Instant (R)
Riposte W (You may cast this spell for its riposte cost if a creature is attacking you.)
Your opponents can't cast spells during combat this turn.
Draw a card.
"What were you saying?"
-Elos, waveguide
Parley 2W
Instant (U)
Riposte 1W (You may cast this spell for its riposte cost if a creature is attacking you.)
Prevent all damage that would be dealt to creatures you control this turn.
When you are being severely outnumbered with nowhere to run, you can always appeal to your right of parley.
Rider of the Fourth Wind 3WW
Creature - Human Scout (U)
Flying, vigilance
Wanderlust (Whenever this creature attacks, look at the top card of your library. You may put it on the bottom of your library. If it's a land card, you may put it onto the battlefield tapped.)
2/4
Romantic Rescue W
Instant (C)
Return target creature you control to its owner's hand. You gain life equal to its toughness.
"Well, aren't you an unlikely catch?"
Skillful Parry 2W
Instant (C)
Riposte 1W (You may cast this spell for its riposte cost if a creature is attacking you.)
Target creature gets +1/+1 and gains double strike until end of turn.
"Your moves are so predictable. It's as though you were just a brainless shell. Oh... I forgot who I was talking to."
Storm-Beaten Lighthouse 1W
Artifact Creature - Wall (U)
Defender
Ship creatures you control have vigilance.
During the Great Divide, the lighthouse was never unmanned, the watchers passing down from generation to generation. A tradition as old as the guardian Auria herself.
0/5
Strike Down 3W
Instant (C)
Riposte 1W (You may cast this spell for its riposte cost if a creature is attacking you.)
Destroy target blocked or blocking creature.
"As always, something or someone is trying to eat, sacrifice, or simply murder us."
-Tian, the explorer
Sunforged Épée 2W
Artifact - Equipment (C)
When Sunforged Épée enters the battlefield, you gain 3 life.
Equipped creature gets +3/+0.
Equip 2 (2: Attach to target creature you control. Equip only as a sorcery.)
A weapon earned only by the bravest of Havenrod's soldiers.
Tavern Bard 3W
Creature - Elf Bard (C)
T: Add 1 to your mana pool. You gain 1 life.
The tavern where she rests is always fully booked shortly afterwards.
2/2
Tel Atar Deckhands 2W
Creature - Human Soldier (C)
Wanderlust (Whenever this creature attacks, look at the top card of your library. You may put it on the bottom of your library. If it's a land card, you may put it onto the battlefield tapped.)
There has never been a mutiny on a ship from Tel Atar.
1/4
Tel Atar Galleon 5W
Artifact Creature - Ship (C)
Vessel - Whenever Tel Atar Galleon attacks, untap each other attacking creature.
The pride of the Lecadians is always injured when Tel Atarian shipbuilding has outraced them once again.
5/5
Trade Route Merchants 3W
Artifact Creature - Ship (C)
Vessel - Whenever Trade Route Merchants attacks, each other attacking creature gets +0/+1 until end of turn.
The piers of Myria are always busy with merchants trading rare spices and magical artifacts.
2/5
Tradewind Angel 4WW
Creature - Angel (R)
Flying
As long as Tradewind Angel is tapped, creatures you control get +2/+0 and have first strike.
As long as Tradewind Angel is untapped, creatures you control get +0/+2 and can block an additional creature.
4/4
Transmute 2W
Sorcery (C)
Destroy target artifact or enchantment. Put a colorless artifact token named Gold onto the battlefield. It has "Sacrifice this artifact: Add one mana of any color to your mana pool."
"A pirate will eventually waste all his gold on drink. My source of wealth is bottomless."
-Lorasir, Grand alchemist of Myria
Warden of Eternity 2W
Creature - Elf Knight (R)
Creatures attacking don't cause abilities to trigger.
Raids and expeditions end at her feet.
1/4
Captain's Parrot 1U
Creature - Bird (C)
Flying
Captain's Parrot gets +1/+1 as long as you control a Pirate.
"Well, seems t' parrot be far smarter than ye mutinous shark bait. Maybe I should I make him me first mate?"
-Jacon, pirate king
1/1
Consider all Options 2U
Instant (R)
Riposte 1U (You may cast this spell for its riposte cost if a creature is attacking you.)
Look at the top four cards of your library. Put one of them into your hand and the rest on the bottom of your library in any order. If a creature is attacking you, the next nonland card you cast this combat can be cast as though it had flash.
Dance of Tides U
Instant (U)
Target creature gets +0/+3 until end of turn.
Target creature gains hexproof until end of turn.
Untap target creature.
"This was fun and all, but I don't settle for such child's play. I want to meet this god of the deep."
-Kiora
Elder Loremaster 1U
Enchantment (U)
Quest hub (When this enters the battlefield, draw a card. You may complete each quest once. When you've completed both, sacrifice this.)
[QUEST] "Learn from the Past" - 2U: Look at the top two cards of your library. Put one of them into your hand and the other on the bottom of your library.
[QUEST] "Insects at my Feet" - 3U: Return target attacking creature to its owner's hand.
Errant Adventurer 2U
Creature - Human Pirate (U)
Quest abilities of permanents you control cost up to 2 less to activate.
"How do I pay my next meal? Well, I only hope that there are always kraken to be slain."
2/2
Eternal Ice UU
Enchantment (R)
Quest hub (When this enters the battlefield, draw a card. You may complete each quest once. When you've completed both, sacrifice this.)
[QUEST] "Ancient Whispers" - X3U: Draw X cards.
[QUEST] "Awaken a God" - 7UU: Put a 9/9 blue Kraken creature token onto the battlefield.
Feign Interest 2U
Instant (C)
Riposte U (You may cast this spell for its riposte cost if a creature is attacking you.)
Counter target noncreature spell.
Most pirates aren't very adept at the arcane. For those who are, their greatest advantage is that one moment of surprise.
Frozen Tomb 1UU
Enchantment - Aura (U)
Flash
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature gets -3/-0 and doesn't untap during its controller's untap step.
"Vast treasures await us further north... what you say we just keep heading south?"
-Captain Paruga
Godveiler 1U
Creature - Human Wizard (C)
Kraken, Leviathan, Octopus and Serpent creatures you control have hexproof.
"The tides are at my command. The winds submitted to my will. And I am your humble servant, Ctaleth, lord of the infinite deep."
2/1
Gormod Lookout U
Creature - Human Pirate (U)
U, T: Target creature gains wanderlust until end of turn. (When that creature attacks this turn, look at the top card of your library. You may put it on the bottom of your library. If it's a land card, you may put it onto the battlefield tapped.)
1/1
Interlock 1U
Instant (C)
Counter target creature spell with converted mana cost 5 or less.
"What happens to a land-dweller when you pull it into the infinite deep? It implodes."
-Cathira, naga witch
Keeper of Chronicles 4U
Creature - Turtle (C)
When Keeper of Chronicles enters the battlefield, draw a card for each Turtle creature you control.
When the naga attacked their world, the turtles met at Torta's Rest to discuss whether they will go to war.
2/4
Kraken of Bitter Reef 4UU
Creature - Kraken (R)
U: Kraken of Bitter Reef gains hexproof until end of turn. Activate this ability only if Kraken of Bitter Reef is the creature with the greatest power.
Growth U (U: Put a +1/+1 counter on this. This costs 1 more to activate for each +1/+1 counter on it. Grow only as a sorcery.)
By the time you see it approaching, you're already halfway in its mouth.
6/6
Lord of the Seven Winds 4UU
Creature - Elemental (U)
Flying
When Lord of the Seven Winds enters the battlefield, up to two target creatures gain flying until end of turn.
"We were taught to fear the deep, but we ignored the skies above. A grievous error."
-Jonar, lighthouse keeper
4/4
Mermaid's Song U
Instant (C)
Target creature gets -2/-0 until end of turn and attacks this turn if able.
The enchanting melodies of the mermaids sounded much darker when they were sung on the surface, but they retained their mesmerizing effect.
Myrian Waveguide 1U
Creature - Human Wizard (C)
U, T: Look at the top three cards of your library, then put them back in any order.
The myrian navy employs waveguides to divine the whims of the seven winds.
1/3
Patron Gargantuan 1UU
Creature - Turtle (R)
Growth 2U (2U: Put a +1/+1 counter on this. This costs 1 more to activate for each +1/+1 counter on it. Grow only as a sorcery.)
Whenever an opponent casts a spell that targets a creature you control, counter that spell unless its controller pays X, where X is Patron Gargantuan's power.
1/5
Polar Plesodon 3UU
Creature - Serpent (C)
Growth 2U (2U: Put a +1/+1 counter on this. This costs 1 more to activate for each +1/+1 counter on it. Grow only as a sorcery.)
Whenever Polar Plesodon attacks, tap target creature defending player controls if Polar Plesodon is the creature with the greatest power.
3/4
Pull Under 1U
Instant (C)
Return target creature to its owner's hand. Draw a card, then put a card from your hand on the bottom of your library.
"This one has the right idea."
-Kiora
Ravel the Streams XU
Instant (U)
Choose one -
Saltshore Marauder 3U
Creature - Turtle (C)
Saltshore Marauder can't be blocked as long as you control a Pirate.
"The endless sea is the embodiment of freedom. Here, everyone can pursue their own way, whatever that might be."
-Kayisha
2/5
Southsea Sky Pirates 4U
Creature - Human Pirate (C)
Flying
When even the endless sea can't satisfy your desire for freedom.
4/2
Split the Seas 1UU
Instant (R)
Target opponent separates all nonland permanents he or she controls into two piles. Return all permanents in the pile of your choice to their owner's hands.
"The old gods have a vast realm for themselves beneath the waves. This is our world, and we won't make way for them."
Stormtide Sovereign UU
Creature - Human Wizard (M)
XUUU, T: Put an X/1 blue Elemental creature token onto the battlefield. It has haste and "If this creature would deal combat damage to a player, draw that many cards instead." Sacrifice it at the beginning of the next upkeep.
"I'll show these gods how its done."
2/2
Sunken Empire 1U
Enchantment (C)
Quest hub (When this enters the battlefield, draw a card. You may complete each quest once. When you've completed both, sacrifice this.)
[QUEST] "Silence the Competition" - U: Tap target creature.
[QUEST] "Pearls and Jewels" - 5U: Draw two cards.
Tidal Passage U
Sorcery (C)
Target creature gets +2/+0 until end of turn and can't be blocked this turn.
"When the merfolk return to the Overworld, it will be shrouded from humanity's sight."
-Cauro, merfolk tidebender
Tidebringer Kraken 6UU
Creature - Kraken (C)
Growth 2U (2U: Put a +1/+1 counter on this. This costs 1 more to activate for each +1/+1 counter on it. Grow only as a sorcery.)
Whenever Tidebringer Kraken attacks, return target creature defending player controls to its owner's hand if Tidebringer Kraken is the creature with the greatest power.
Now the waves clash more than ever.
5/8
Torta's Warleader 4UU
Creature - Turtle (U)
Other Turtle creatures you control get +2/+2.
"I am not feeling too well lately," said Torta to her friend. "I have humans."
-Myrian fairytale
3/6
Treacherous Waters 2UU
Enchantment (R)
Whenever one or more creatures attack you or a planeswalker you control, sacrifice Treacherous Waters. If you do, gain control of target attacking creature.
"A real mermaid wouldn't try to drown ya'. Got it!"
-Iggy, deckhand
Tsunami Rider 2U
Creature - Human Wizard (C)
Wanderlust (Whenever this creature attacks, look at the top card of your library. You may put it on the bottom of your library. If it's a land card, you may put it onto the battlefield tapped.)
"The look on the captain's face when I overtake his vessel . . . priceless."
3/1
Vessel of Lost Souls 3U
Artifact Creature - Ship (U)
Vessel - Whenever Vessel of Lost Souls attacks, each other attacking creatures gains "Whenever this creature deals combat damage to a player, draw a card" until end of turn.
On some ships you serve for a lifetime. On others you serve even beyond.
2/4
Voyaging Aven 3U
Creature - Bird Scout (C)
Flying
Wanderlust (Whenever this creature attacks, look at the top card of your library. You may put it on the bottom of your library. If it's a land card, you may put it onto the battlefield tapped.)
2/2
Wavebinder Staff 1U
Artifact - Equipment (C)
When Wavebinder Staff enters the battlefield, you may tap target creature.
Equipped creature gets +1/+1.
Equip 2
These days, navigational instruments aren't enough to get you safe across the sea.
Whirlpool 5U
Instant (C)
Put target creature on top of its owner's library.
Draw a card.
"Let's teach these so called 'old gods' a lesson or two. Begin the invocation."
-Timoti, tidal shaman
Abyssal Crew 4B
Creature - Zombie Pirate (C)
1B: Regenerate target Kraken, Leviathan, Octopus or Serpent creature.
Those who delved too far into the deep, were turned into mindless slaves of the abyss.
4/3
Abyssal Grasp 2BB
Instant (R)
Exile target creature or planeswalker.
Nolgul released all his hate built up over thousands of years upon the land-dwellers.
Blackport Cutthroat B
Creature - Human Pirate (C)
"Yes, I know where the cavern is, but I'm coming with you. Only I know how to avoid the traps."
1/2
Blackport Tavern 1B
Enchantment (C)
Quest hub (When this enters the battlefield, draw a card. You may complete each quest once. When you've completed both, sacrifice this.)
[QUEST] "Sleep with the Pigs" - 1B: Target player puts the top three cards of his or her library into his or her graveyard.
[QUEST] "A Risen Crew" - 6B: Return up to two target creature cards from your graveyard to your hand.
Bleak End 2B
Enchantment - Aura (C)
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature gets -4/-2.
The waves of the sea taunting Ianad made dying of thirst an even greater torment.
Bloodforged Cleaver 4BB
Artifact - Equipment (C)
When Bloodforged Cleaver enters the battlefield, destroy target nonartifact creature.
Equipped creature gets +2/+0.
Equip 2
The weapons of the Kulmata reflect the cruelty of their customs.
Bottomless Treasure 1BB
Artifact (U)
Bottomless Treasure enters the battlefield tapped.
T, Pay 1 life: Put a colorless artifact token named Gold onto the battlefield. It has "Sacrifice this artifact: Add one mana of any color to your mana pool."
Captain of the Damned 4B
Creature - Human Pirate (R)
Whenever Captain of the Damned attacks, return target Pirate creature card from your graveyard to the battlefield.
"The scum you find at Blackport is still in too good condition for the mission at hand."
4/2
Caves of Gormod 1B
Enchantment (U)
Quest hub (When this enters the battlefield, draw a card. You may complete each quest once. When you've completed both, sacrifice this.)
[QUEST] "Dispel the Curse" - B: Exile all cards from target player's graveyard.
[QUEST] "Dark Revelation" - 2B: Target player reveals his or her hand. You choose a noncreature, nonland card from it. That player discards that card.
Curse of Blackeye 3BB
Enchantment - Aura (R)
Enchant creature
At the beginning of your upkeep, put a curse counter on Curse of Blackeye.
Creatures enchanted creature's controller controls get -1/-1 for each curse counter on Curse of Blackeye.
Dreadtide Leviathan 4BB
Creature - Leviathan (C)
Growth 2B (2B: Put a +1/+1 counter on this. This costs 1 more to activate for each +1/+1 counter on it. Grow only as a sorcery.)
Whenever Dreadtide Leviathan attacks, defending player discards a card if it's the creature with the greatest power.
"Try to avoid the dark waters."
4/6
Drowned Revenants 3BB
Creature - Spirit Pirate (U)
Flying, deathtouch, lifelink
"A few more moons and ghost ships will outnumber ships manned by the living."
-Commodore Kavira
2/4
Final Foray 1BB
Sorcery (R)
Return target creature card from your graveyard to the battlefield. It gains trample, haste and "Whenever this creature deals combat damage to a player, put that many colorless artifact tokens named Gold onto the battlefield. They have 'Sacrifice this artifact: Add one mana of any color to your mana pool.'" Exile it at the beginning of the next end step. Exile Final Foray.
Harpy Bushwhacker 2B
Creature - Harpy (C)
Flying
Now that everyone looks with troubled eyes into the deep, no one notices airborne predators approaching.
2/1
Inescapable Dreadship 3B
Artifact Creature - Ship (R)
Vessel - Whenever Inescapable Dreadship attacks, each other attacking creature must be blocked this turn if able.
"She's as merciless as I am."
-Captain Blackeye
3/4
Jacon's Recruiters 1B
Creature - Human Pirate (C)
Pirate spells you cast cost 1 less to cast.
"C'mere me beauties! Treasures untold be waitin' on us."
2/1
Kulmata Witch Doctor 1B
Creature - Human Shaman (C)
2B: Kulmata Witch Doctor gains deathtouch until end of turn.
The Kulmata society has two castes, one comprised of the living and one of the dead. The witch doctors keep the balance between them.
1/3
Liquid Courage 3B
Instant (C)
Target creature gets +3/+3 and gains lifelink until end of turn.
"Why is always the rum all gone?"
-Jacon, pirate king
Maelstrom Serpent 6B
Creature - Serpent (U)
Growth B (B: Put a +1/+1 counter on this. This costs 1 more to activate for each +1/+1 counter on it. Grow only as a sorcery.)
Whenever Maelstrom Serpent attacks, it gains indestructible until end of turn if it's the creature with the greatest power.
It was ill-advised to cross the abyss. It was suicidal to taunt the deep.
5/5
Malevolent Hosts 3B
Creature - Elf Shaman (U)
At the beginning of each end step, if you gained life this turn, target opponent loses 3 life.
"The elves had been nothing but welcoming to us. But still, I had a bad feeling about them . . . about everything."
-Journal of Captain Decard
3/3
Mire Tangler 3B
Creature - Kraken (C)
Growth B (B: Put a +1/+1 counter on this. This costs 1 more to activate for each +1/+1 counter on it. Grow only as a sorcery.)
Whenever Mire Tangler attacks, it gains lifelink until end of turn if it's the creature with the greatest power.
Young kraken lurk in lakes and river beds until they are out of adolescence.
3/2
Perishing Drought BB
Instant (U)
All creatures get -1/-1 until end of turn.
The naga witch sucked everything dry. Even the sea itself couldn't stop Amara from withering.
Queen of the Depths 4BB
Creature - Kraken Avatar (R)
Deathtouch
Growth 1B (1B: Put a +1/+1 counter on this. This costs 1 more to activate for each +1/+1 counter on it. Grow only as a sorcery.)
Whenever Queen of the Depths attacks, defending player loses 3 life and you gain 3 life if Queen of the Depths is the creature with the greatest power.
2/6
Raiders of Skullcliff Bay 4B
Artifact Creature - Ship (C)
Vessel - Whenever Raiders of Skullcliff Bay attacks, each other attacking creature gains deathtouch until end of turn.
Even the brave knights of Havenrod shiver on the sound of their name.
3/5
Return from the Deep 4B
Sorcery (U)
Return target creature card from your graveyard to the battlefield. Put a +1/+1 counter on it.
"Did you think death would release you? No, the abyss has other plans for you."
-Lady Kaladrin
Ruthless Strike 2B
Instant (U)
Riposte B (You may cast this spell for its riposte cost if a creature is attacking you.)
Target attacking or blocking creature gets -4/-4 until end of turn.
"A Havenrod cruiser once followed us to Knell's Bay. Now I command two ships and the sharks have a full belly."
Skullcliff Revenant 2B
Creature - Skeleton Pirate (U)
Whenever Skullcliff Revenant deals combat damage to a player, put a colorless artifact token named Gold onto the battlefield. It has "Sacrifice this artifact: Add one mana of any color to your mana pool."
Sacrifice two artifacts: Return Skullcliff Revenant from your graveyard to the battlefield tapped.
3/1
Spite of the Deep 1B
Instant (C)
Destroy target creature with power equal to or less than the greatest power among creatures you control.
"Who thought this was going to be a happy reunion?"
-Lady Kaladrin
Tainted Thrust 1B
Instant (C)
Riposte B (You may cast this spell for its riposte cost if a creature is attacking you.)
Target creature gets +1/+2 and gains deathtouch until end of turn.
"I will impale your head high over the shore. Maybe it will teach our future visitors to turn around as they should."
Thirst for Treasure 1B
Enchantment - Aura (C)
Enchant creature you control
Enchanted creature gets +2/+1.
Whenever enchanted creature deals combat damage to a player, put a colorless artifact token named Gold onto the battlefield. It has "Sacrifice this artifact: Add one mana of any color to your mana pool."
Twisted Helmsman 2B
Creature - Zombie Pirate (C)
When Twisted Helmsman dies, put a 2/2 black Zombie Pirate creature token onto the battlefield tapped.
He's steering directly towards eternal damnation.
2/2
Victim of Voodoo 3B
Creature - Zombie Shaman (C)
Victim of Voodoo enters the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter on it for each creature card in your graveyard.
Shamans obsessed with voodoo quickly become as mindless as their undead slaves.
1/2
Voodoo Fumes 3B
Sorcery (C)
Draw three cards, then put a card from your hand on the bottom of your library. You lose 2 life.
"The naga command the magic of the abyss. To vanquish them, we must tap into powers just as ancient and dark."
The Wailing Banshee 1BB
Legendary Artifact Creature - Ship (M)
Flying
Vessel - Whenever The Wailing Banshee attacks, each other attacking creature gains "When this creature dies, put a 2/2 black Zombie Pirate creature token onto the battlefield tapped" until end of turn.
2/4
Bloodsail Fencer 1R
Creature - Human Pirate (C)
3R: Bloodsail Fencer gains double strike until end of turn. (It deals both first-strike and regular combat damage.)
"Fidgeting with my sword is my thing. Don't take away my thing!"
2/1
Bury the Treasure 2R
Sorcery (C)
Put three colorless artifact tokens named Gold onto the battlefield. They have "Sacrifice this artifact: Add one mana of any color to your mana pool."
Burying gold is a dangerous business. Turtles are never fond of their island being glutted with trash.
Cataclysmic Tide 5RR
Sorcery (R)
Cataclysmic Tide deals X damage to each creature your opponents control, where X is the greatest power among creatures you control.
"How could these empires last for so long? They are so easily destroyed."
-Timoti, tidal shaman
Conquistador's Charge 1R
Instant (C)
Target creature gets +4/+2 until end of turn.
"Religious fervor is a dangerous weapon when used by warmongering sovereigns."
-Commodore Kavira
Demolition Squid 3RR
Creature - Octopus (C)
Growth 3R (3R: Put a +1/+1 counter on this. This costs 1 more to activate for each +1/+1 counter on it. Grow only as a sorcery.)
Whenever Demolition Squid attacks, destroy target artifact defending player controls if Demolition Squid is the creature with the greatest power.
Though the squid found the timbers to be inedible, they made for good toothpicks.
3/4
Domesticated Squid R
Creature - Octopus (R)
Domesticated Squid attacks each turn if able.
Growth R (R: Put a +1/+1 counter on this. This costs 1 more to activate for each +1/+1 counter on it. Grow only as a sorcery.)
After only five days, it had grown too big to be hidden in the locker.
1/2
Dragon of the Waves 5R
Creature - Serpent (C)
Haste
Growth 2R (2R: Put a +1/+1 counter on this. This costs 1 more to activate for each +1/+1 counter on it. Grow only as a sorcery.)
"Were these imaginative sailor's yarns told before the Great Divide based on fact or fiction? Fact it seems."
5/5
Fire Broadside 1RR
Instant (C)
Fire Broadside deals 3 damage to target creature or player. Put a colorless artifact token named Gold onto the battlefield. It has "Sacrifice this artifact: Add one mana of any color to your mana pool."
The chances of salvaging loot from the enemy ship decrease with more and more firepower.
Firebreath Galley 2R
Artifact Creature - Ship (U)
Vessel - Whenever Firebreath Galley attacks, each other attacking creature gains "R: This creature gets +1/+0 until end of turn" until end of turn.
"The fire in the heart of a northern sailor can melt the thickest ice."
-Jan, the "sea bass"
2/3
Goblin Cannoneer R
Creature - Goblin Pirate (U)
R, T, Sacrifice an artifact: Goblin Cannoneer deals 2 damage to target creature or player.
It's always advantageous to have a goblin in your crew. They can make ammunition out of anything.
1/1
Goldbound Revenants 3R
Creature - Elemental (U)
First strike
Sacrifice an artifact: Goldbound Revenants gets +2/+0 until end of turn.
The countless raids on the tombs of the Kulmata has awakened spirits even more obsessed with gold than pirates who stole it.
2/3
Hand of Doom 4R
Sorcery (C)
Hand of Doom deals 5 damage to target creature. Draw a card, then put a card from your hand on the bottom of your library.
"Sometimes, fate must be forced."
-Lady Kaladrin
Havenrod Pier 1R
Enchantment (C)
Quest hub (When this enters the battlefield, draw a card. You may complete each quest once. When you've completed both, sacrifice this.)
[QUEST] "Black Market" - 1R: Put a colorless artifact token named Gold onto the battlefield. It has "Sacrifice this artifact: Add one mana of any color to your mana pool."
[QUEST] "Dubious Affairs" - 2R: Discard up to two cards, then draw that many cards.
Intrepid Wavecrasher 3R
Creature - Human Pirate (C)
Haste
Wanderlust (Whenever this creature attacks, look at the top card of your library. You may put it on the bottom of your library. If it's a land card, you may put it onto the battlefield tapped.)
"Set sail, ya' lazy bastards."
2/2
Jacon's Outlaws 4R
Creature - Human Pirate (C)
Whenever Jacon's Outlaws or another Pirate enters the battlefield under your control, Jacon's Outlaws deals 2 damage to target opponent.
For once in his life, the captain spent the loot on equipment instead of rum.
4/2
Kulmata Flamewaker RR
Creature - Human Shaman (R)
Whenever an instant or sorcery spell you control deals damage, add that much R to your mana pool. Spend this mana only to cast creature spells.
The villagers asked when the volcano will erupt again. "It always depends on my mood," she replied.
2/2
Marauders of Blackport 3R
Artifact Creature - Ship (C)
Vessel - Whenever Marauders of Blackport attacks, each other attacking creature gets +1/+0 until end of turn.
Many captains offered Jacon their ships for his raid on Blackport. After careful consideration, Jacon decided on the one with the most cannon tubes.
3/3
Marooned Mutineer 2R
Creature - Human Pirate (U)
Marooned Mutineer can't attack unless a Ship is attacking.
"I don't think t' Tel Atarian fleet will come rescue me, so it's time t' get busy."
4/3
Master of the Marine 2R
Creature - Human Shaman (C)
Kraken, Leviathan, Octopus and Serpent creatures you control get +2/+0.
"This is what our ancestors where so afraid of? Ha!"
-Timoti, tidal shaman
2/3
Plunder Bay 1R
Enchantment (U)
Quest hub (When this enters the battlefield, draw a card. You may complete each quest once. When you've completed both, sacrifice this.)
[QUEST] "Treasure doesn't find itself" - R: Creatures you control gain haste until end of turn.
[QUEST] "Blast 'em!" - 2R: Plunder Bay deals 3 damage to target player.
Pyrite Pistol R
Artifact - Equipment (C)
When Pyrite Pistol enters the battlefield, it deals 1 damage to target creature or player.
Equipped creature gets +1/+0.
Equip 2
Accuracy isn't a high priority on any pirate's list.
Quick Draw 1R
Instant (C)
Riposte R (You may cast this spell for its riposte cost if a creature is attacking you.)
Target creature gets +2/+0 and gains first strike until end of turn.
"I'm not gonna be for dinner today."
-Tara, the bold
Sailor's Temptations 4R
Sorcery (C)
Gain control of target creature until end of turn. Untap that creature. It gains haste until end of turn. Put a colorless artifact token named Gold onto the battlefield. It has "Sacrifice this artifact: Add one mana of any color to your mana pool."
Scourge of Crimson Coast 2RR
Creature - Serpent (M)
Growth R (R: Put a +1/+1 counter on this. This costs 1 more to activate for each +1/+1 counter on it. Grow only as a sorcery.)
Whenever Scourge of Crimson Coast attacks, it gains double strike until end of turn if it's the creature with the greatest power.
3/4
Seaquake Leviathan 4RR
Creature - Leviathan (U)
Growth 1R (1R: Put a +1/+1 counter on this. This costs 1 more to activate for each +1/+1 counter on it. Grow only as a sorcery.)
Whenever Seaquake Leviathan attacks, up to two target creatures can't block this turn if Seaquake Leviathan is the creature with the greatest power.
4/5
Spirit of Discovery 2RR
Enchantment (R)
Creatures you control have haste.
At the beginning of combat on your turn, target creature gains wanderlust until end of turn. (When that creature attacks this turn, look at the top card of your library. You may put it on the bottom of your library. If it's a land card, you may put it onto the battlefield tapped.)
Strand on the Coast R
Enchantment - Aura (C)
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature can't block.
"Jellystings! Now I have to planeswalk again.
-Kayisha
Tel Atar Marine R
Creature - Human Soldier (U)
As long as Tel Atar Marine is equipped, it has double strike.
"I could best these amateurs with one hand tied behind my back. Cheap tricks are all they rely on."
1/1
Throw into the Arena 2R
Sorcery (U)
Target creature you control gets +3/+0 until end of turn. It fights target creature you don't control. (Each deals damage equal to its power to the other.)
"Let's see how landlubbers fight."
-Turok, Gormod Bay slaver
Trigger-Happy Buccaneers 2R
Creature - Human Pirate (R)
Trigger-Happy Buccaneers's power is equal to the number of Pirate creatures you control.
2R, T: Trigger-Happy Buccaneers deals damage equal to its power to target creature or player.
The only ballast they have on board is rum and ammunition.
*/3
Typhoon Bolt 2R
Instant (U)
Typhoon Bolt deals 2 damage to target creature or player and 1 damage to another target creature or player.
"Your mistake was to provide the path of least resistance."
-Tidecaller Natira
Vandalize 3R
Sorcery (C)
Choose one or both -
-Captain Thoras
Volcanic Surge 3RR
Sorcery (R)
Exile the top seven cards of your library. You may play those cards this turn.
My volcano. Your doom.
Zealous Conquistador 1R
Creature - Human Soldier (C)
First strike
Zealous Conquistador attacks each turn if able.
"What good is the greatness of our nation if we don't share it with the rest of the world?"
2/2
Amras's Elite 2GG
Creature - Elf Archer (U)
Flash
Riposte 1GG (You may cast this spell for its riposte cost if a creature is attacking you.)
Reach
"Eternal vigilance is the price we have to pay for our paradise."
3/4
Baneful Mists 1G
Instant (U)
Prevent all damage that would be dealt this turn by creatures other than Krakens, Leviathans, Octopuses, and Serpents.
"Pirates, sirens, and monsters of various kinds... I don't fear those. But my sword can't cut through the northern fog."
-Valreos, captain of the "Dragon's Star"
Barkskin 2G
Instant (C)
Riposte 1G (You may cast this spell for its riposte cost if a creature is attacking you.)
Untap target creature. It gets +1/+1 and gains indestructible until end of turn.
Intruders approached on every shore, but the elven watchers remained unyielding.
Brave the Sea 3G
Sorcery (C)
Target creature you control fights another target creature. Draw a card, then put a card from your hand on the bottom of your library.
A life in the hostile icy wastes prepared Bryn for a life on the even more hostile sea.
Camonga Frog 2G
Creature - Frog (C)
Reach
It is famous for the hallucinogens its skin produces.
3/2
Champion of Eversong G
Creature - Elf Warrior (R)
3G: Put a +1/+1 counter on Champion of Eversong for each Elf creature you control.
The elves value beauty as much as combat prowess. She possesses plenty of both.
1/1
Child of the Jungle 2GG
Creature - Human Warrior (R)
At the beginning of your end step, put a 3/3 green Beast creature token onto the battlefield if Child of the Jungle is the creature with the greatest power.
The law of the wild allows only the strongest to become king.
2/2
Crown of the Hermit 2G
Artifact - Equipment (U)
Equipped creature gets +0/+1 and assigns combat damage equal to its toughness rather than its power.
Equip 3 (3: Attach to target creature you control. Equip only as a sorcery.)
"I am a turtle in all but appearance."
-Kurul, the hermit
Crushing Vines 2G
Instant (C)
Choose one -
-Eluneth, crescent bay druid
Dawn of the Third Age 2G
Sorcery (U)
Reveal the top seven cards of your library. You may put into your hand from among them a Human card, an Elf card, a Turtle card, and a Kraken, Leviathan, Octopus, or Serpent card. Put the rest into your graveyard.
"The world is as it should be."
-Naandr
Elvengrove 1G
Enchantment (C)
Quest hub (When this enters the battlefield, draw a card. You may complete each quest once. When you've completed both, sacrifice this.)
[QUEST] "New Seeds" - 1G: Search your library for a basic land card, reveal it, and put it into your hand. Then shuffle your library.
[QUEST] "Healing Scars" - 2G: You gain 5 life.
Elvish Reveler 1G
Creature - Elf Bard (C)
When Elvish Reveler enters the battlefield, if you control another Elf, draw a card.
"I've been to an elven party before. I didn't enjoy it. There was no rum."
-Tris "Long-Leg"
2/1
Go Ape G
Instant (C)
Target creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn. Put a +1/+1 counter on it.
Khamora's ecosystem has led to the emergence of the most unique species: Herbivores that are ten times larger than those on other islands, carnivores that are a hundred times larger. . .
Horizon Serpent 5GG
Creature - Serpent (C)
Trample
Growth 1G (1G: Put a +1/+1 counter on this. This costs 1 more to activate for each +1/+1 counter on it. Grow only as a sorcery.)
Whenever Horizon Serpent attacks, it gets +3/+3 until end of turn if it's the creature with the greatest power.
5/5
Iyori Deepspeaker 3G
Creature - Human Shaman (C)
T: Add GG to your mana pool.
Whenever a Kraken, Leviathan, Octopus or Serpent creature enters the battlefield under your control, you gain 3 life.
The iyori tribes of the polar sea always held unique working animals.
2/2
Khamora Survivalist 5G
Creature - Human Warrior (C)
Trample
Wanderlust (Whenever this creature attacks, look at the top card of your library. You may put it on the bottom of your library. If it's a land card, you may put it onto the battlefield tapped.)
"Humans on the Isle of Dread? Unexpected."
-Captain Decard
5/4
Khamorasaur 2GG
Creature - Serpent (C)
Growth 2G (2G: Put a +1/+1 counter on this. This costs 1 more to activate for each +1/+1 counter on it. Grow only as a sorcery.)
Whenever Khamorasaur attacks, untap it if it's the creature with the greatest power.
Janus quickly realized that it's called the Isle of Dread for a reason.
3/3
Limestone Tortoise 1G
Creature - Turtle (C)
T: Add G to your mana pool for each Turtle creature you control.
Even more resilient than normal turtles, they are used by the islanders for quarry work.
0/3
Naandr 5GGG
Legendary Creature - Serpent Avatar (M)
Naandr has hexproof as long as it's untapped.
T: Choose two -
Overpower 4GG
Instant (R)
Riposte 2GG (You may cast this spell for its riposte cost if a creature is attacking you.)
Creatures you control get +3/+3 until end of turn.
"Unlike humanity, all of elvenkind is united under a single banner."
-Amras, king of Autumn Isle
Seafarer's Compass 2G
Artifact - Equipment (C)
When Seafarer's Compass enters the battlefield, search your library for a basic land card, and put it onto the battlefield tapped. Then shuffle your library.
Equipped creature gets +1/+1.
Equip 2
Selassi Ambush 2G
Instant (U)
Riposte 1G (You may cast this spell for its riposte cost if a creature is attacking you.)
Target creature gains deathtouch until end of turn.
Draw a card.
The Selassi only kill few intruders. Most are already killed by their traps.
Shipwrecker Leviathan 5GG
Creature - Leviathan (R)
Haste
When Shipwrecker Leviathan enters the battlefield, choose one or more -
6/5
Siege Turtle 4G
Creature - Turtle Warrior (U)
Turtle creatures you control have vigilance.
You may have each Turtle creature you control assign its combat damage as though it weren't blocked.
"He rode a couple of siege turtles?"
"Aye, siege turtles."
2/6
Temple of Kulmata 1G
Enchantment (U)
Quest hub (When this enters the battlefield, draw a card. You may complete each quest once. When you've completed both, sacrifice this.)
[QUEST] "The Temple Guardian" - 4G: Put a 3/3 green Beast creature token onto the battlefield.
[QUEST] "Voodoo Strength" - 4G: Put a +1/+1 counter on target creature for each creature card in your graveyard.
Thirst for Discovery 1G
Enchantment - Aura (C)
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature gets +1/+2 and has wanderlust. (It has "Whenever this creature attacks, look at the top card of your library. You may put it on the bottom of your library. If it's a land card, you may put it onto the battlefield tapped.")
Torta's Favor 1G
Enchantment - Aura (R)
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature gets +2/+2.
1G: Return Torta's Favor from your graveyard to your hand.
1G, Exile Torta's Favor: Enchanted creature gets +4/+4 and gains hexproof until end of turn.
Tracker of Crescent Bay 2G
Creature - Elf Warrior (C)
G, T: Target creature gets +2/+2 until end of turn. Activate this ability only any time you could cast a sorcery.
"Most o' t' elves only dance and drink all day, but so do you scurvy rats. And you be pretty tough as well."
-Jacon, pirate king
2/2
Turtle Heavyweight 2G
Creature - Turtle (C)
"We're doomed! These turtles will collapse the island under their weight and drown both of us. DOOMED!"
-One-Eye Edan, to a coconut
2/4
Uhlgar Ferryman 2G
Creature - Troll Scout (U)
Wanderlust (Whenever this creature attacks, look at the top card of your library. You may put it on the bottom of your library. If it's a land card, you may put it onto the battlefield tapped.)
2G: Regenerate Uhlgar Ferryman.
2/2
Umbrage Dweller G
Creature - Elf Shaman (C)
Deathtouch
"Let the old gods roam the sea and destroy each other. They can never hold sway over our realm."
1/1
Voyage to New Lands 4G
Sorcery (U)
Search your library for up to two basic land cards and put them onto the battlefield tapped. Then shuffle your library.
Draw a card.
The adventurers landed on many paradisaic islands, but none of them was Autumn Isle.
Wandering Fortress 3GG
Creature - Turtle (C)
Wanderlust (Whenever this creature attacks, look at the top card of your library. You may put it on the bottom of your library. If it's a land card, you may put it onto the battlefield tapped.)
"My home is wherever she wants to go."
-Kurul, the hermit
3/5
Worldseed Turtle 2GGG
Creature - Turtle (R)
At the beginning of your upkeep, you may search your library for a basic land card, put that card onto the battlefield tapped, then shuffle your library.
Every few hundred years it discards its shell to plant a new island in the endless sea.
4/7
Feathered Seraph 5WU
Creature - Angel (R)
Flying
When Feathered Angel enters the battlefield, put two 1/1 white Bird creature tokens with flying onto the battlefield.
Whenever a creature with flying you control deals combat damage to a player, you may draw a card.
4/5
Myrian Harbor WU
Enchantment (U)
Quest hub (When this enters the battlefield, draw a card. You may complete each quest once. When you've completed both, sacrifice this.)
[QUEST] "Pride of the Fleet" - 2W: Target creature gets +2/+4 until end of turn.
[QUEST] "Blockade" - 4U: Tap all creatures your opponents control.
Mindfeast UB
Sorcery (U)
Target opponent draws a card, then reveals his or her hand. You choose a nonland card from it. That player discards that card.
Draw a card.
"Consume..."
-Ctaleth
Plunder Quest 4UB
Sorcery (R)
Target opponent reveals his or her hand. You choose a permanent card from it and put that card onto the battlefield under your control.
"Of course, we are allies. I just think we can make better use of your ship than you."
-Jacon, pirate king
Balemire Marauder 2BR
Creature - Human Pirate (R)
Lifelink, haste
BR, Exile Balemire Marauder from your graveyard: Target creature gains lifelink and haste until end of turn.
Most pirates are married to the sea. Others find fetid swamps more charming.
4/2
Bloodlord Szavos 1BR
Planeswalker - Szavos (M)
+1: Whenever a creature you control deals combat damage to a player this turn, put a +1/+1 counter on it.
-1: Bloodlord Szavos deals 2 damage to each opponent. Those players each discard a card.
-6: Put six 1/1 black Bat creature tokens with flying and haste onto the battlefield.
{2}
Bloodsail Captain 1BR
Creature - Human Pirate (U)
Menace (This creature can't be blocked except by two or more creatures.)
Other Pirate creatures you control get +1/+1.
Whenever Bloodsail Captain attacks, another target Pirate creature you control gains menace until end of turn.
2/2
Culinary Ogre 2RG
Creature - Ogre Warrior (U)
Whenever a Kraken, Leviathan, Octopus, or Serpent creature dies, you may pay 1. If you do, put two +1/+1 counters on target creature and you gain 2 life.
Sailors despaired of the emergence of the sea monsters. Cooks rejoiced.
4/3
Hungry Shorecrasher 7RG
Creature - Serpent (R)
Hungry Shorecrasher costs X less to cast, where X is the greatest power among creatures you control.
Trample
The fishermen escaped the kraken, but they didn't make it very far. Its attack had attracted an even bigger monster.
6/6
Amras, King of Autumn Isle 3GW
Legendary Creature - Elf Druid (M)
Vigilance, lifelink
T: Add X mana in any combination of colors to your mana pool, where X is the amount of life you've gained this turn.
He was there at the dawn of the first age, when the old gods laid claim to the sea.
2/5
Elvish Voyager GW
Creature - Elf Scout (R)
Wanderlust (Whenever this creature attacks, look at the top card of your library. You may put it on the bottom of your library. If it's a land card, you may put it onto the battlefield tapped.)
Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control, you gain 1 life.
"Some of our kind are weary of eternity."
2/2
Festival Attendants 3GW
Creature - Elf Bard (U)
Flash
When Festival Attendants enters the battlefield, put a +1/+1 counter on each other Elf creature you control. Untap those creatures.
The elves of Autumn Isle have been celebrating the end of summer . . . for the past two hundred years.
3/4
Sailor's Widow 1WB
Creature - Spirit (R)
Flying, lifelink
Pay 7 life: Return Sailor's Widow from your graveyard to the battlefield. Activate this ability only at any time you could cast a sorcery.
All who cross her path suffer the same fate as her husband.
2/2
Voyagers of Blackreef 3WB
Artifact Creature - Ship (U)
Vessel - Whenever Voyagers of Blackreef attacks, each other attacking creature gains lifelink until end of turn.
Pay 1 life: Voyagers of Blackreef gets +0/+1 until end of turn.
4/4
Ace in the Sleeve 3UR
Instant (U)
Riposte 1UR (You may cast this spell for its riposte cost if a creature is attacking you.)
Put a 5/5 blue and red Construct artifact creature token with trample and haste onto the battlefield. Sacrifice it at the beginning of your next end step.
Bloodsail Sorcerer 2UR
Creature - Human Pirate Wizard (R)
UR, T, Discard a card: Draw cards equal to Bloodsail Sorcerer's power.
Greed is a pirate's greatest impulse. Even their magic is fueled by gold and jewelry.
1/4
Corpse Explosion 3BG
Sorcery (R)
Exile any number of creature cards from your graveyard. For each card exiled this way, destroy all nonland permanents with converted mana cost equal to the exiled card.
"Want to know what we do with zombies that are past their expiration dates?"
-Ulatai, Kulmata witch doctor
Skullcliff Recluse 1BG
Creature - Zombie Spider (U)
Reach
Discard a creature card: Skullcliff Recluse gains deathtouch until end of turn.
You set foot on an island, your clothes shredded, and your ship wrecked. It's only further downhill from here.
1/5
Lecadian Conquistadors 1RW
Creature - Human Soldier (U)
Wanderlust (Whenever this creature attacks, look at the top card of your library. You may put it on the bottom of your library. If it's a land card, you may put it onto the battlefield tapped.)
RW, Sacrifice a land: Creatures you control get +1/+1 until end of turn. Activate this ability only once each turn.
2/3
Pride of Lecadia 3RW
Artifact Creature - Ship (R)
Vessel - Whenever Pride of Lecadia attacks, each other attacking creature gains double strike until end of turn.
For Lecadia, conquest is their way of sharing their greatness with the world.
3/5
Kiora Atua 4GU
Planeswalker - Kiora (M)
+1: Reveal the top two cards of your library. You may put a land card from among them onto the battlefield and a nonland card from among them into your hand. Put the rest on the bottom of your library in any order.
-4: Put a 9/9 blue Kraken creature token onto the battlefield.
-8: You get an emblem with "X: Search your library for a creature card with converted man cost X or less, put it onto the battlefield, then shuffle your library."
{5}
Octoshape 2GU
Instant (U)
Target creature becomes a blue Octopus with base power and toughness 8/8 until end of turn.
"Sufficient space for transformed body and proximity to water during consumption is advised."
-Lexicon of alchemy, page 127
Turtle Island 2GU
Creature - Turtle (R)
Vigilance
As long as Turtle Island is on the battlefield, it's an Island land in addition to its other types.
During the ages it slept, it appeared on maps of Iamur as a rocky island.
4/5
Jacon, Pirate King 1UBR
Legendary Creature - Human Pirate (M)
Whenever Jacon, Pirate King deals combat damage to a player, exile the top card of that player's library. You may cast that card this turn. Put a colorless artifact tokens named Gold onto the battlefield. It has "Sacrifice this artifact: Add one mana of any color to your mana pool."
4/4
Kalimaras 5WUBRG
Legendary Creature - Kraken Avatar (M)
Indestructible
At the beginning of your end step, put a 9/9 blue Kraken creature token onto the battlefield.
When Kalimaras isn't the creature with the greatest power or when it's in your graveyard, put it on the bottom of its owner's library.
The Ur-Kraken has awakened.
12/12
Imposing Fortress 3
Artifact Creature - Wall (U)
Defender
"This fortress must stand against the entire Tel Atarian fleet if it comes to it. We can never have enough firepower."
-Toranos, Lecadian admiral
6/3
Jewel of Emerien 3
Artifact (C)
When Jewel of Emerien enters the battlefield, draw a card, then put a cards from your hand on the bottom of your library.
T: Add one mana of any color to your mana pool.
A gift from Kayisha.
Map of the Endless Sea 1
Artifact (C)
1, T, Sacrifice Map of the Endless Sea: Draw a card. You may search your library for a basic land card, reveal it, then shuffle
your library, and put that card on top of it.
"Humans take a pride in discovering what others have known for millennia."
-Amras, king of Autumn Isle
Tidecaller's Trident 4
Artifact - Equipment (C)
Equipped creature gets +3/+0.
Whenever equipped creature attacks, draw a card, then put a card from your hand on the bottom of your library.
Equip 3
Xaelas lost his trident in the overworld, so humans would find it and use its power to destroy each other. Unfortunately, a mermaid was quicker.
Atqu's Rest
Land (R)
T: Add 1 to your mana pool.
1, T: Put a charge counter on Atqu's Rest.
T, Remove X charge counters from Atqu's Rest: Add X mana in any combination of colors to your mana pool. Spend this mana only to cast Kraken, Leviathan, Octopus, or Serpent creature spells.
Cavern of the Tides
Land (C)
Cavern of the Tides enters the battlefield tapped.
When Cavern of the Tides enters the battlefield, draw a card, then put a card from your hand on the bottom of your library.
T: Add B to your mana pool.
Crown of Winter
Land (R)
T: Add 1 to your mana pool.
T: Add one mana of any color to your mana pool. Crown of Winter doesn't untap during your next untap step.
From the center of the polar sea, the seven winds arise.
Fortress of the Tides
Land (C)
Fortress of the Tides enters the battlefield tapped.
When Fortress of the Tides enters the battlefield, draw a card, then put a card from your hand on the bottom of your library.
T: Add R to your mana pool.
Grove of the Tides
Land (C)
Grove of the Tides enters the battlefield tapped.
When Grove of the Tides enters the battlefield, draw a card, then put a card from your hand on the bottom of your library.
T: Add G to your mana pool.
Pool of Eternal Youth
Land (R)
T: Add 1 to your mana pool.
3, T, Sacrifice a creature: You gain life equal to the sacrificed creature's toughness.
Finding the source of the elves' immortality has been the objective of many legendary quests.
Spire of the Tides
Land (C)
Spire of the Tides enters the battlefield tapped.
When Spire of the Tides enters the battlefield, draw a card, then put a card from your hand on the bottom of your library.
T: Add U to your mana pool.
Temple of the Tides
Land (C)
Temple of the Tides enters the battlefield tapped.
When Temple of the Tides enters the battlefield, draw a card, then put a card from your hand on the bottom of your library.
T: Add W to your mana pool.
Plains
Basic Land - Plains (C)
Plains
Basic Land - Plains (C)
Plains
Basic Land - Plains (C)
Island
Basic Land - Island (C)
Island
Basic Land - Island (C)
Island
Basic Land - Island (C)
Swamp
Basic Land - Swamp (C)
Swamp
Basic Land - Swamp (C)
Swamp
Basic Land - Swamp (C)
Mountain
Basic Land - Mountain (C)
Mountain
Basic Land - Mountain (C)
Mountain
Basic Land - Mountain (C)
Forest
Basic Land - Forest (C)
Forest
Basic Land - Forest (C)
Forest
Basic Land - Forest (C)
Completed sets:
Iamur — The Underwater Set
Overworld — Pirates vs. Octopuses
Esparand — The Sands of Time
Unfinished Sets:
Siege of Ravnica — Eldrazi in Ravnica
Shandalar — The Mana Set
Iamur Reimagined — Iamur v2
You can find more creative projects on my page Antaresdesigns!
I'll give more specific comments later but, wow, you were right that Kalimaras was worth the wait, he's goddam terrifying.
I̟̥͍̠ͅn̩͉̣͍̬͚ͅ ̬̬͖t̯̹̞̺͖͓̯̤h̘͍̬e͙̯͈̖̼̮ ̭̬f̺̲̲̪i͙͉̟̩̰r̪̝͚͈̝̥͍̝̲s̼̻͇̘̳͔ͅt̲̺̳̗̜̪̙ ̳̺̥̻͚̗ͅm̜̜̟̰͈͓͎͇o̝̖̮̝͇m̯̻̞̼̫̗͓̤e̩̯̬̮̩n͎̱̪̲̹͖t͇̖s̰̮ͅ,̤̲͙̻̭̻̯̹̰ ̖t̫̙̺̯͖͚̯ͅh͙̯̦̳̗̰̟e͖̪͉̼̯ ̪͕g̞̣͔a̗̦t̬̬͓͙̫̖̭̻e̩̻̯ ̜̖̦̖̤̭͙̬t̞̹̥̪͎͉ͅo͕͚͍͇̲͇͓̺ ̭̬͙͈̣̻t͈͍͙͓̫̖͙̩h̪̬̖̙e̗͈ ̗̬̟̞̺̤͉̯ͅa̦̯͚̙̜̮f͉͙̲̣̞̼t̪̤̞̣͚e̲͉̳̥r͇̪̙͚͓l̥̞̞͎̹̯̹ͅi͓̬f̮̥̬̞͈ͅe͎ ̟̩̤̳̠̯̩̯o̮̘̲p̟͚̣̞͉͓e͍̩̣n͔̼͕͚̜e̬̱d̼̘͎̖̹͍̮̠,͖̺̭̱̮ ̣̲͖̬̪̭̥a̪͚n̟̲̝̤̤̞̗d̘̱̗͇̮͕̳͕͔ ͖̞͉͎t̹̙͎h̰̱͉̗e̪̞̱̝̹̩ͅ ̠̱̩̭̦p̯̙e͓o̳͚̰̯̺̱̰͔̘p̬͎̱̣̼̩͇l̗̟̖͚̠e̱͉͔̱̦̬̟̙ ̖͚̪͔̼̦w̺̖̤̱e͖̗̻̦͓̖̘̜r̭̥e͔̹̫̱͕̦̰͕ ̗͔̠p̠̗͍͍̱̳̠r̰͔͎̰o͉̥͓̰͚̥s̟͚̹̱͔̣t͉̙̳̖͖̪̮r̥̘̥͙̹a͉̟̫̟̳̠̟̭t͈̜̰͈͎e̞̣̭̲̬ ͚̗̯̟͙i͍͖̰̘̦͖͉ṇ̮̻̯̦̲̩͍ ̦̮͚̫̤t͉͖̫͕ͅͅh͙̮̻̘̣̮̼e͕̺ ͙l͕̠͎̰̥i̲͓͉̲g̫̳̟͈͇̖h̠̦̖t͓̯͎̗ ̳̪̘̟̙̩̦o̫̲f̙͔̰̙̠ ̹̪̗͇̯t͖̼̼͉͖̬h̹͇̩e͚̖̺̤͉̹͕̪ ͚͓̭̝̺G͎̗̯̩o̫̯̮̟̮̳̘d̜̲͙̠-̩̳̯̲̗̜P̹̘̥͉̝h͍͈̗̖̝ͅa͍̗̮̼̗r̜̖͇̙̺a̭̺͔̞̳͈o̪̣͓̯̬͙̯̰̗h̖̦͈̥̯͔.͇̣̙̝
I'm still uneasy about omitting the anti-reanimator clause on him, but it would be just too much text.
Completed sets:
Iamur — The Underwater Set
Overworld — Pirates vs. Octopuses
Esparand — The Sands of Time
Unfinished Sets:
Siege of Ravnica — Eldrazi in Ravnica
Shandalar — The Mana Set
Iamur Reimagined — Iamur v2
You can find more creative projects on my page Antaresdesigns!
Currently, I'm focusing on fleshing out the different tribes. White was still missing something unique, so besides sharing elves with green, it now also cares about Ships. Honorable captains and giant armadas are what you'll be bringing out on the table if you're playing white.
Instant (C)
Creatures you control get +1/+1 until end of turn. Ship creatures you control get an additional +1/+1 until end of turn.
“The old gods will fall to the might of our nation, just like everyone before them who stood against us.”
—Toranos, Lecadian admiral
Imperial Enlistment 3WW
Enchantment (U)
When Imperial Enlistment enters the battlefield, put three 1/1 white Soldier creature tokens onto the battlefield.
Ship creatures you control have “As long as this creature is attacking, other attacking creatures you control get +1/+0.”
“Auria has forsaken us. Who will protect our children if not you?”
Tel Atar Galleon 2WW
Artifact Creature — Ship (U)
Vessel — Other attacking creatures you control have lifelink as long as Tel Atar Galleon is attacking.
Tel Atar enjoys great prosperity and a long-lasting era of peace. Her ships leave port to trade, not to conquer.
3/4
Venerated Captain 2W
Creature — Human Soldier (C)
When Venerated Captain enters the battlefield, target creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn. If that creature is a Ship, it gets +2/+2 until end of turn instead.
Mistrust can spread among a crew, but so can loyalty and courage.
3/2
New tribal cards for Turtles, Elves and Pirates.
Creature — Turtle (U)
Other Turtle creatures you control get +2/+2.
“I am not feeling too well lately,” said Torta to her friend. “I have humans.”
—Myrian fairytale
3/6
Elvish Reveler 1G
Creature — Elf Bard (C)
When Elvish Reveler enters the battlefield, if you control another Elf, draw a card.
“I’ve been to an elven island before. Although they sing and dance all day, it’s not the kind of parties you’d enjoy.”
—Tris “Long-Leg”
2/1
Accursed Captain 5B
Creature — Kraken Pirate (U)
Deathtouch
When Accursed Captain enters the battlefield, return target non-Kraken Pirate creature card from your graveyard to the battlefield. It’s a Kraken in addition to its other types.
“Did you think death would release you from your service on the Wailing Banshee?”
2/2
Bloodsail Captain 1BR
Creature — Human Pirate (U)
Intimidate
Other Pirate creatures you control get +1/+1.
Whenever another Pirate enters the battlefield under your control, you may discard a card. If you do, draw a card.
2/2
There will be a few colorless cards in the set. All cards from the Overworld are colored, while colorless cards are those that represent the abyss of the sea.
Enchantment — Aura (C)
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature gets +2/+2.
“Forfeit your pathetic life, land-dweller, and embrace a life in the deep.”
—Xaelas, the tidecaller
And some random stuff...
Instant (U)
Riposte 1W (You may cast this spell for its riposte cost if a creature is attacking you.)
Prevent all damage that would be dealt to creatures you control this turn.
When you are being severely outnumbered with nowhere to run, you can always appeal to your right of parley.
Polar Plesodons 3UU
Creature — Serpent (C)
Dominion — At the beginning of your upkeep, if Polar Plesodons is the creature with the greatest power on the battlefield, tap target creature an opponent controls. It doesn’t untap during its controller’s next untap step.
3/4
Mire Tangler 3B
Creature — Kraken (C)
Dominion — Mire Tangler has lifelink as long as it’s the creature with the greatest power on the battlefield.
Only the largest specimen can survive out in the endless sea, so young kraken lurk in lakes and river beds until they are out of adolescence.
4/2
Frozen Tomb 1UU
Enchantment — Aura (U)
Flash
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature gets -3/-0 and doesn’t untap during its controller’s untap step.
“Vast treasures await us in the northern sea... Let’s keep heading south.”
—Captain Cabavira
Ruthless Strike 2B
Instant (U)
Riposte (You may cast this spell for its riposte cost if a creature is attacking you.)
Target attacking or blocking creature gets -4/-4 until end of turn.
“A Havenrod cruiser once followed us to Knell’s Bay. Now I command two ships and the sharks have a full belly.”
Cloudform WU
Enchantment — Aura (U)
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature can’t be blocked.
Prevent all combat damage that would be dealt by enchanted creature. If damage is prevented this way, you gain that much life.
Elvish Voyager GW
Creature — Elf Bard (R)
Adventurism (Whenever this creature attacks, look at the top card of your library. You may put it on the bottom of your library. If it’s a land card, you may put it onto the battlefield tapped.)
Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control, you gain 1 life.
“Some of our kind are weary of eternity.”
2/2
Completed sets:
Iamur — The Underwater Set
Overworld — Pirates vs. Octopuses
Esparand — The Sands of Time
Unfinished Sets:
Siege of Ravnica — Eldrazi in Ravnica
Shandalar — The Mana Set
Iamur Reimagined — Iamur v2
You can find more creative projects on my page Antaresdesigns!
For Vessel, I also considered the ability to be worded "Vessel — Whenever ~ attacks, other attacking creatures gain [ability] until end of turn." This would make the mechanic less susceptible to removal. But I also think that having the ability to turn off vessels in combat is an interesting layer to the mechanic that I shouldn't remove unless it's absolutely necessary to make it viable.
Considering the token generator with riposte, there's actually one already:
Ace in the Sleeve 3UR
Instant (U)
Riposte 1UR (You may cast this spell for 1UR if a creature is attacking you.)
Put a 5/5 blue and red Construct artifact creature token with trample and haste onto the battlefield. Sacrifice it at the beginning of your next end step.
I am also thinking about something like this:
Unleash the Kraken 6UU
Instant (R)
Riposte 4UU (You may cast this spell for 4UU if a creature is attacking you.)
Put a 9/9 blue Kraken creature token onto the battlefield. It can block any number of creatures this turn and blocks each creature this turn if able.
Unleash the Kraken XGGG
Instant (R)
Riposte XG (You may cast this spell for XG if a creature is attacking you.)
Search your library for a creature card with converted mana cost X or less and put it onto the battlefield. Then shuffle your library.
Completed sets:
Iamur — The Underwater Set
Overworld — Pirates vs. Octopuses
Esparand — The Sands of Time
Unfinished Sets:
Siege of Ravnica — Eldrazi in Ravnica
Shandalar — The Mana Set
Iamur Reimagined — Iamur v2
You can find more creative projects on my page Antaresdesigns!
Other notes:
-Having ramp in all 5 colors certainly helps the case for multiple 7-drops at common.
-It seems as though a "Creatures your opponents control attack this turn if able" effect would play well with Riposte, as well as a red creature or two with "This creature attacks each turn if able."
-Shimmercoast Whale should probably be a Leviathan, to avoid confusion.
-A set where greatest power matters will probably have a number of power-boosting spells, so the fact that Kalimaras dies to Giant Growth is a little awkward. Maybe make the tokens a little smaller, and make multiple? Or just take the Dominion clause away. And don't forget a reanimation clause on it.
-The colored artifacts are another cool thing going on - future additions probably don't necessarily need to be Equipment, though, even if they are tools such as compasses or spyglasses.
-Finally, the "abyss = colorless" idea is interesting, but the set already has a lot going on, and futureshift-y mechanics like colorless enchantments seem better saved for a set where they can really strut their stuff. If that set turns out to be Fate Reforged, then maybe an exception or two can be made, though.
I intend to increase the number of Ships in white. Each other color will get at least one Ship, but white gets a few more, so that you can branch into any second color and pick up enough Ships. I just have to think of effects to put on white ships (unfortunately the hardest since neither vigilance nor toughness pump works with the current wording). As with the other tribes, not all of them are "tribes" in the normal sense. Sea monsters are not a tribe; they are not interested in helping each other out at all. But some of the land-dwellers begin to worship them and reward you for playing those creatures. Most sea monsters are very expensive, and most expensive creatures are sea monsters, so these cards are what you're looking to draft if you draft a green-based ramp deck. Iamur had a similar theme with "power 8 or greater matters."
I'm not 100% happy with how elves are currently implemented in the set, but I know that I want to have them as a tribe. They are essential to the story I want to tell. They represent the polar opposite to the humans, who conquered the sea from the kraken gods so that they could pursue their wanderlust and adventurism. But the elves were never interested in that kind of endeavor and were content with how the world was set up; they lived peacefully and isolated on their islands, and continue to do so to this day. So, yes, they kinda seem out of place in a nautical themed set at first glance, but I hope I can convey their flavor somehow. Since all the other "tribes" have tribal synergies, it would be weird for the elves not to.
Completed sets:
Iamur — The Underwater Set
Overworld — Pirates vs. Octopuses
Esparand — The Sands of Time
Unfinished Sets:
Siege of Ravnica — Eldrazi in Ravnica
Shandalar — The Mana Set
Iamur Reimagined — Iamur v2
You can find more creative projects on my page Antaresdesigns!
Anyway, I do plan to do changes to Vessel by making it into a "generalized Battle cry," reading "Vessel - Whenever ~ attacks, other attacking creatures you control gain {ability} until end of turn. This allows me to put more effects on the ability word such as "Whenever ~ attacks, untap each other attacking creature you control." It also makes removal less of a blowout if it's played on an attacking Vessel mid-combat.
I also changed Dominion a bit. Now, triggered dominion abilities no longer use an "intervening if," i.e. they no longer check for the creature's power when the ability would trigger. The creature's power is now only checked upon resolution, so it is possible to use pump spells in response, and they no longer have to be used before the ability would trigger.
Here are new/updated cards:
Shard of Ctaleth (Replaces Queen of the Depths)
Creature — Octopus Horror (R)
Dominion — Shard of Ctaleth has indestructible as long as it’s the creature with the greatest power on the battlefield.
1, Sacrifice another creature: Put a +1/+1 counter on Shard of Ctaleth.
Even in death, Ctaleth demands sacrifice to be appeased.
3/3
Shard of Nolgul
Creature — Kraken Horror (R)
Dominion — When Shard of Nolgul dies, if it was the creature with the greatest power on the battlefield, exile it. If you do, you control target player during that player’s next turn.
When Kalimaras consumed his sons, their essence was scattered across the endless sea.
5/5
Storm-Beaten Lighthouse 1W (New version)
Artifact Creature — Wall (U)
Defender
Ship creatures you control have vigilance.
During the Great Divide, the lighthouse was never unmanned, the watchers passing down from generation to generation. A tradition as old as the guardian Auria herself.
0/5
Unbroken Tidestone 4WW
Enchantment (M)
When Unbroken Tidestone enters the battlefield, exile all nonland permanents not named Unbroken Tidestone.
When Unbroken Tidestone leaves the battlefield, return the exiled cards to their owner’s hands.
With the intention of freeing the creatures of the deep, Kiora began to break Auria’s seal.
Godveiler 1U
Creature — Human Wizard (C)
Kraken, Leviathan, Octopus and Serpent creatures you control have hexproof.
“The tides are at my command. The winds submitted to my will. And I am your humble servant, Ctaleth, lord of the infinite deep.”
2/1
Inspiring Explorer 1U (Moved to common)
Creature — Human Scout (C)
U, T: Target creature gains adventurism until end of turn. (When that creature attacks this turn, look at the top card of your library. You may put it on the bottom of your library. If it’s a land card, you may put it onto the battlefield tapped.)
1/1
Mermaid’s Song
Instant (C)
Target creature gets -2/-0 until end of turn and attacks this turn if able.
The enchanting melodies of the mermaids sounded much darker when they were sung on the surface, but they retained their mesmerizing effect.
Pull Under 1U
Instant (C)
Return target creature to its owner’s hand. Draw a card, then put a card from your hand on the bottom of your library.
“This one has the right idea.”
—Kiora
Bottomless Treasure 2B
Artifact (U)
Bottomless Treasure enters the battlefield tapped.
T: Put a colorless artifact token named Gold onto the battlefield. It has “Sacrifice this artifact: Add one mana of any color to your mana pool.”
Go Ape
Instant (C)
Target creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn. Put a +1/+1 counter on it.
Khamora’s ecosystem has led to the emergence of the most unique species: Herbivores that are ten times larger than those on other islands, carnivores that are a hundred times larger...
Impenetrable Mists 1G (replaces Fog)
Instant (U)
Prevent all combat damage that would be dealt this turn by creatures other than Krakens, Leviathans, Octopuses, and Serpents.
“Pirates, sirens, and monsters of various kinds... I don’t fear those. But my sword can’t cut through the northern fog.”
—Valreos, captain of the “Ocean’s Cry”
Sunwreath Druid 2GW
Creature — Elf Druid (M)
T: Add X mana in any combination of colors to your mana pool, where X is the amount of life you’ve gained this turn.
“Let them roam the sea and destroy each other. They can never hold sway over our realm.”
—Amras, king of Autumn Isle
2/3
Kalimaras 5WUBRG (New version, added anti-reanimator clause)
Legendary Creature — Kraken Avatar (M)
Indestructible
At the beginning of your end step, put a 9/9 blue Kraken creature token onto the battlefield.
When Kalimaras isn’t the creature with the greatest power on the battlefield or when it’s in your graveyard, put it on the bottom of its owner’s library.
12/12
Tidecaller’s Trident
Artifact — Equipment (C)
Equipped creature gets +3/+0.
Whenever equipped creature attacks, draw a card, then put a card from your hand on the bottom of your library.
Equip 3
Xaelas lost his trident in the overworld, so humans would find it and use its power to destroy each other. Unfortunately, a mermaid was quicker.
Crown of Winter
Land (R)
T: Add 1 to your mana pool.
T: Add one mana of any color to your mana pool. Crown of Winter doesn’t untap during your next untap step.
From the center of the polar sea, the seven winds arise.
Completed sets:
Iamur — The Underwater Set
Overworld — Pirates vs. Octopuses
Esparand — The Sands of Time
Unfinished Sets:
Siege of Ravnica — Eldrazi in Ravnica
Shandalar — The Mana Set
Iamur Reimagined — Iamur v2
You can find more creative projects on my page Antaresdesigns!
Polar Plesodons is a card I'm not very happy with yet. The card as a whole is very weird. Standardizing timing on triggered abilities is something I want to do at some point, but it's also a function of what pump spells are in the format (for example, there's a sorcery speed +2/+2 pumper in green which was the reason to do this at the beginning of combat instead of upkeep).
I wanted to finish the backstory for the block and post it, but I can't find the time right now. So, I'll post the introduction now and add on to it later.
Millennia ago, before the time of the Great Divide, the old gods of the deep and their children held sway over the Endless Sea. Giant kraken lurked outside the coasts of the few islands and made seafaring more than unsafe. During that time, the humans were not the adventurers they are today. Rather, they lived isolated in the safety of their walled cities, too afraid to venture out into the chaotic sea. Most of them never even left their home island during their lifetime and thought it to be the entirety of the world. Most of the other sapient land-dwelling species lived just the same. Although the elves of the southern sea knew about the nature of the world, they never quite developed the adventurism that is inherent to humanity. Content with their place in the world, they spent most of their immortal lives singing and dancing and never thinking about leaving their home.
But this order was about to change when a visitor from another world arrived on Iamur...
Completed sets:
Iamur — The Underwater Set
Overworld — Pirates vs. Octopuses
Esparand — The Sands of Time
Unfinished Sets:
Siege of Ravnica — Eldrazi in Ravnica
Shandalar — The Mana Set
Iamur Reimagined — Iamur v2
You can find more creative projects on my page Antaresdesigns!
UBRKess, Dissident MageUBR - Controlling Dissidents
GRhonas the IndomitableG - Indomitable Four Drops
WUBOloro, Ageless AsceticWUB - Loot & Renanimate
I'm not sold on Kiora's ultimate yet either. I had an emblem in mind that allowed you to cast creatures from your library, but the wording turned out to be too long. But I think this wording should work: "You get an emblem with “At any time you could cast a sorcery, you may search your library, then shuffle your library” and “While you’re searching your library, you may cast creature cards from your library.”"
The -4 ability didn't turn out to be too powerful in testing. A 6-mana 9/9 isn't something to write home about these days, so that you get an additional "bonus" for it is quite fine. Most of the time you wouldn't go for the Kraken token in a control mirror, because it would just be killed with a removal and Kiora then killed with some random damage lying around.
Completed sets:
Iamur — The Underwater Set
Overworld — Pirates vs. Octopuses
Esparand — The Sands of Time
Unfinished Sets:
Siege of Ravnica — Eldrazi in Ravnica
Shandalar — The Mana Set
Iamur Reimagined — Iamur v2
You can find more creative projects on my page Antaresdesigns!
Enchantment (U)
When Banishing Light enters the battlefield, exile target nonland permanent an opponent controls until Banishing Light leaves the battlefield.
“We still call it ‘The Forbidden Sea,’ but now we decide for whom it is forbidden.”
—Telras, lighthouse keeper
Commodore Kavira 1WW
Planeswalker — Kavira (M)
+1: Up to one target creature gets +2/+2 until your next turn.
-1: Put a legendary 2/2 white Ship artifact creature token named “The Ocean’s Cry” onto the battlefield. It has “Whenever this creature attacks, each other attacking creature gains indestructible until end of turn.”
-6: You get an emblem with “Whenever one or more creatures an opponent controls attack or block, that player sacrifices an attacking or blocking creature.”
{3}
Eversong Invoker W
Creature — Elf Cleric (C)
7W: Put three 1/1 white Bird creature tokens with flying onto the battlefield.
“Let the old gods roam the sea and destroy each other. They can never hold sway over our realm.”
—Amras, king of Autumn Isle
1/2
Rider of the Fourth Wind 3WW
Creature — Human Scout (U)
Flying, vigilance
Adventurism (Whenever this creature attacks, look at the top card of your library. You may put it on the bottom of your library. If it’s a land card, you may put it onto the battlefield tapped.)
2/4
Tel Atar Galleon 5W
Artifact Creature — Ship (C)
Vessel — Whenever Tel Atar Galleon attacks, untap each other attacking creature.
The pride of the Lecadians is always injured when Tel Atarian shipbuilding has outraced them once again.
5/5
Venerated Captain 2W (New version)
Creature — Human Soldier (C)
When Venerated Captain enters the battlefield, look at the top five cards of your library. You may reveal a Ship creature card from among them and put it into your hand. Put the rest on the bottom of your library in any order.
Mistrust can spread among a crew, but so can loyalty and courage.
3/2
Interlock 1U
Instant (C)
Counter target creature spell with converted mana cost 5 or less.
“What happens to a land-dweller when you pull it into the infinite deep? It implodes.”
—Cathira, naga witch
Merchants of Myria 2U
Artifact Creature — Ship (C)
Vessel — Whenever Merchants of Myria attacks, each other attacking creature gets +0/+1 until end of turn.
Myria enjoys great prosperity and a long-lasting era of peace. Her ships leave port to trade, not to conquer.
2/3
Patron Gargantuan 2U
Creature — Turtle (C)
The humans hoped that the gargantuans would fight alongside them, but they remained neutral, only pledging to protect the innocent victims of the war that unfolded.
0/6
Ravel the Streams XU
Instant (U)
Choose one —
Hand of Doom 3RR
Instant (C)
Hand of Doom deals 5 damage to target creature. Draw a card, then put a card from your hand on the bottom of your library.
“Sometimes, fate must be forced.”
—Lady Kaladrin
Crushing Vines 2G
Instant (C)
Choose one —
—Eluneth, crescent bay druid
Defend the Grove 1G
Sorcery (C)
Put two 1/1 green Elf creature tokens with reach onto the battlefield.
“They came to us often before, always as conquerors, but now they come as refugees. Are we to leave them to their certain death on the endless sea?”
Voyage to New Lands 4G (New version)
Sorcery (U)
Search your library for up to two basic land cards and put them onto the battlefield tapped. Then shuffle your library.
Draw a card.
The adventurers landed on many paradisaic islands, but none of them was Autumn Isle.
Wandering Fortress 3GG
Creature — Turtle (C)
Adventurism (Whenever this creature attacks, look at the top card of your library. You may put it on the bottom of your library. If it’s a land card, you may put it onto the battlefield tapped.)
“My home is wherever she wants to go.”
—Kurul, the hermit
3/5
Xerelith, the Soulflayer 2BR
Planeswalker — Xerelith (M)
0: Sacrifice a creature. If you do, put loyalty counters on Xerelith, the Soulflayer equal to the sacrificed creature’s power plus toughness.
-1: Xerelith, the Soulflayer deals 3 damage to each opponent. Those players each discard a card.
-4: Gain control of target creature. Untap that creature. It gains haste until end of turn. Sacrifice it at the beginning of the next end step.
{2}
Amras, King of Autumn Isle 3GW
Legendary Creature — Elf Druid (M)
Vigilance, lifelink
T: Add X mana in any combination of colors to your mana pool, where X is the amount of life you’ve gained this turn.
He was there at the dawn of autumn, when the old gods laid claim to the sea.
2/5
Skullcliff Recluse 1BG
Creature — Zombie Spider (U)
Reach
Sacrifice another creature: Target creature gains deathtouch until end of turn.
1/4
Kiora Atua 4GU (New version)
Planeswalker — Kiora (M)
+1: Reveal the top two cards of your library. You may put a land card from among them onto the battlefield and a nonland card from among them into your hand. Put the rest on the bottom of your library in any order.
-4: Put a 9/9 blue Kraken creature token onto the battlefield.
-8: You get an emblem with “X: Search your library for a creature card with converted man cost X, and put it onto the battlefield. Then shuffle your library.”
{5}
Pool of Eternal Youth
Land (R)
T: Add 1 to your mana pool.
3, T, Sacrifice a creature: You gain life equal to the sacrificed creature’s toughness.
Finding the source of the elves’ immortality has been the objective of many legendary quests.
Completed sets:
Iamur — The Underwater Set
Overworld — Pirates vs. Octopuses
Esparand — The Sands of Time
Unfinished Sets:
Siege of Ravnica — Eldrazi in Ravnica
Shandalar — The Mana Set
Iamur Reimagined — Iamur v2
You can find more creative projects on my page Antaresdesigns!
Also, WOTC would never print a gun on the art and yet, so many of your pirates are depicted holding guns. Yes, I know that pirates and guns kinda go hand in hand, but still. I would suggest just to find new art.
I'm also not a big fan of the word "adventurism" nor its effect. When the reminder text of a keyword takes 80% of its text box, you should reconsider its effect (or wording). I suggest something like "Explore" or "Travel". And maybe turn it into an ETB effect.
Explore - When this creature enters the battlefield, look at the top card of your library. If its a land card, put it into your hand.
Comments on some of the individual cards (W, U and B):
Cast Away - flavorful, but too wordy. Why not just reprint Pacifism? Or make a Chained to the Rocks variant but with Enchant Island you control?
Colossal Haul - yay for Smite the Monstrous!
Crustacean King - White Crabs? Okay I guess?
Eversong Invoker - White Elf? Okay I guess?
Tavern Bard - This screams to be Green card.
Venerated Captain - I would either remove the flavor text or change the ability just to avoid this huge wall of text. Especially for a common.
Amras's Elite - This card is a nightmare. I could see losing my patience and time just counting my creatures and Elves each turn to determine its P/T.
Imperial Enlistment - see Venerated Captain.
Shimmercoast Whale - I find the art choice for this card kinda silly. Also, Whale that lives on the Plains?
Commodore Kavira - Jesus, there is too much text. I can barely read such small font.
Mermaid's Song - art should maybe be better suited for a creature, IMO.
Patron Gargantuan - again, the art choice should be changed. It's too much focused on the siren. I haven't even noticed the turtle on the first look.
Tidebringer Kraken - again, a wall of text. Not really recommendable, especially for a common.
Helm of the Turtle Lord - the name sounds as if it should be legendary and rare. And judging by the effect, maybe it should. Doran was rare after all.
Thirst for Treasure - flavorful effect, but again - wall of text! Do we really need these Gold tokens anyway?
Skullcliff Revenant - See Thirst for Treasure. Also, black rarely interacts with artifacts.
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become character.
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.
Cast Away: Islands don't have any special meaning in this set. The entire plane is an ocean, so any of the basic land types can represent what is usually represented by an Island.
Crustacean King & Shimmercoast Whale: See Cast Away. The sea creatures are split between all colors and not just restricted to blue.
I'll try to shorten some of the card texts to make them more readable. Keep in mind, though, that the printed versions of the cards have a much higher resolution than the raster graphics in the .pdf. Commodore Kavira isn't a problem on the printed version; the font size is the same as on Jace, Architect of Thought.
I'll do a set review with a friend the coming week. After that I'll have more thoughts on some of the critiques you've brought up, and other issues as well.
Completed sets:
Iamur — The Underwater Set
Overworld — Pirates vs. Octopuses
Esparand — The Sands of Time
Unfinished Sets:
Siege of Ravnica — Eldrazi in Ravnica
Shandalar — The Mana Set
Iamur Reimagined — Iamur v2
You can find more creative projects on my page Antaresdesigns!
I don't know why WOTC is against depicting guns on their cards either, but I know it's true. Since yours is a custom set, I guess the guns can be forgiven. I created a Mesoamerican set with a small theme of pirates, and I managed to keep the gun art at the minimum. You can check the set here:
http://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/creativity/custom-card-creation/custom-set-creation-and/378652-crs-crimson-sun-150-150-complete-needs-feedback
I also don't think that artwork is explicit. I just said it contains more nudity than what we usually see in the "real" sets. Maybe some people could find that offensive. I don't.
I never said that Islands have special meaning in this set. Mountains didn't have any special meaning in Theros, and yet, they printed Chained to the Rocks because it's an extremely flavorful card. I was thinking of similar version:
Cast Away W
Enchantment - Aura
Enchant Island you control
When Cast Away ETB, exile target creature an opponent controls until Cast Away leaves the battlefield.
The whole point of the card being - you are sending an opponent's creature on a deserted island. Your Island.
I know that and I think this is where the problems arise. A world covered in oceans sounds cool on paper, but it suffers in execution. Basically, the whole color pie has to suffer because of it. Following that logic, Crustacean King can very easily be a green creature too. Or black.
Everything we learned from Magic goes out of the window in this set, where "Plains" and "Mountains" are still represented as some sort of Island on the art, and where Crabs, Elves and Whales are white. I just think it could confuse the new players.
Maybe create some sort of Torment set - where blue is more predominant than other colors OR make a normal set, but focus on "blue and islands matter". Something like:
Intrepid Wavecrasher 3R
Creature - Pirate 2/2
Haste
Intrepid Wavecrasher has intimidate as long as you control an Island.
Crustacean King 3W
Creature - Crab 2/4
U: Crustacean King gets +1/-1 until end of turn.
I know this could really screw up limited, but that's a challenge your set has to overcome. Learn from the mistakes WOTC did with Torment.
And as I said, I really think that Adventurism should go. The name doesn't really fit (especially on cards like Voyaging Gulls - why would a Gull be adventurous?) and the mechanic is basically a green one (search for a land). I dig the flavor though.
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become character.
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.
I see. Well, I guess those people would be free to stop reading the set spoiler. I also thought about making an Aztec/Maya inspired set, very cool theme indeed.
But that's what I meant. You assume that a card having something to do with an Island flavorfully entails that it has something to do with Islands mechanically, but all basic land types are reinterpreted in this set, and "Islands" aren't the only islands in the set.
I disagree. The basic land types have always been reinterpreted to fit the flavor of the set. This Island would normally be a Plains if it wasn't in Lorwyn, and this Swamp could easily be a Plains as well. This Mountain shouldn't have any basic land type at all. It is still possible to differentiate between the land types: Plains are the long, sandy shores, Islands are the open sea, Swamps are the murky lagoons, Mountains are the spiky, sharp cliffs on the coast, and Forests are the palm-lined beaches and lagoons.
Innistrad was a set based on tropes primarily focused in black and it pulled it off perfectly without being Torment 2. It did that by shifting the horror tropes into the other colors, similar to how I'm doing it with the nautical tropes.
I'll be renaming the mechanic, but don't have any plans to cut it at this point. The Gulls may be a stretch flavor-wise and could probably be done better with a different creature type.
Completed sets:
Iamur — The Underwater Set
Overworld — Pirates vs. Octopuses
Esparand — The Sands of Time
Unfinished Sets:
Siege of Ravnica — Eldrazi in Ravnica
Shandalar — The Mana Set
Iamur Reimagined — Iamur v2
You can find more creative projects on my page Antaresdesigns!
Thank you very much!
sorry for not responding. I've been busy and haven't been working on the set lately. But now in the holidays, I should get back to it.
I just noticed your comment. I didn't mean to ignore you, I must have missed it under Arminion's longer comment. Thanks, and if you need help with your Pirate set, leave me a note!
I want to try a token theme for black/green to enable a draft strategy in a color pair that isn't about a tribe. The BG uncommon for example, can sacrifice creatures to give other creatures deathtouch. Whether I will stick with that theme, I'm not 100% sure yet. With that in mind, would you change anything about Defend the Grove?
Here! But I would advice googling the artists given in the artist's credit and getting the artwork from their page directly.
Completed sets:
Iamur — The Underwater Set
Overworld — Pirates vs. Octopuses
Esparand — The Sands of Time
Unfinished Sets:
Siege of Ravnica — Eldrazi in Ravnica
Shandalar — The Mana Set
Iamur Reimagined — Iamur v2
You can find more creative projects on my page Antaresdesigns!
I'd consider making this a creature of some sort. Maybe a 2G 2/2 that makes a conditional token as an ETB effect? The "nontribal" aspect works better if the card puts out two bodies with different characteristics. A repeat triggered tokenmaker à la Sporemound or Akroan Crusader is also an option, but harder to balance (there's ony two existing at common!). Maybe you can put a CMC4 spell that makes three 1/1s with Riposte as an uncommon?
Dominion was one of those problems. Currently it is written as:
Dominion - As long as ~ is the creature with the greatest power on the battlefield, {effect}.
I chose this wording because I liked that only one creature can hold dominion at the same time. It has a lot of interactivity with the opponent, which is great, but it also works against itself. Having several dominion creatures out could lead to some frustrating situations, especially if both are tied for the same power. There are many slight alterations of this mechanic that often show up on the forum, and some have been suggested as fixes to Dominion. For example "As long as you control the creature with the greatest power, {effect}." I don't like this mechanic that much, because it takes away the focus from the creature and puts it onto the player. A baby seal could have dominion if you control a giant kraken next to it - that doesn't make a lot of sense to me. It's also a bit too swingy for my taste, as either all your dominion abilities are online or neither of them. So, I decided on a compromise:
Dominion - As long as ~ has power greater than any creature an opponent controls, {effect}.
This still puts the focus on the creature itself, allows for interactivity with the opponent, isn't too swingy, but also allows you to play with big creatures next to those with dominion without feeling bad about it. But there's another problem:
Dominion just doesn't work, at least not in its current implementation, as do all similar mechanics. The reason is the layer system. Ability-adding effects, and ability-removing effects are applied in layer 6 and Power- and/or toughness-changing effects are applied in layer 7. That means that by the time, effects such as Giant Growth are applied to a creature, the time when it would be checked whether or not the creature has dominion would have already been passed and only the base power of creatures would count towards the power comparison.
So, this means continuous dominion effects don't work, but triggered abilities still work. To make continuous effects work, I see several solutions:
Scourge of Crimson Coast 3RR
Creature - Serpent (M)
R: Scourge of Crimson Coast gets +1/+0 until end of turn.
Dominion - Scourge of Crimson Coast has double strike. (A creature gains dominion when it has power greater than any creature an opponent controls.)
4/5
or alternatively:
Scourge of Crimson Coast 3RR
Creature - Serpent (M)
Dominion (This creature holds dominion as long as it has power greater than any creature an opponent controls.)
R: Scourge of Crimson Coast gets +1/+0 until end of turn.
Scourge of Crimson Coast has double strike as long as it holds dominion.
4/5
The rules text then defines Dominion as: "When this creature's power is greater than the power of any creature an opponent controls, if it doesn't have dominion, it gains dominion for as long as its power is greater than the power of any creature an opponent controls."
Completed sets:
Iamur — The Underwater Set
Overworld — Pirates vs. Octopuses
Esparand — The Sands of Time
Unfinished Sets:
Siege of Ravnica — Eldrazi in Ravnica
Shandalar — The Mana Set
Iamur Reimagined — Iamur v2
You can find more creative projects on my page Antaresdesigns!