+1: Each player discards a card and loses 1 life.
-1: Rakdos PW deals 2 damage to target creature or player.
-X: Target player draws X cards and loses X life.
Starting Loyalty: 2
Seems pretty balanced and fairly costed to me, what do you guys think?
It seems balanced and probably good enough for top ~5 Rakdos. It would be awesome to have a 2 CC walker though.
How would this version be?
Rakdos PW 2.0 BR
+1: Each player discards a card and loses 1 life.
-2: Rakdos PW deals 3 damage to target creature.
-2: Target player draws 2 cards and loses 2 life.
Starting Loyalty: 2
Or possibly a shifted version that requires some work to get the Sign in Blood effect, but also have a more repeatable 2nd ability.
Rakdos PW 3.0 BR
+1: Each player discards a card and loses 1 life.
-1: Rakdos PW deals 3 damage to target creature.
-2: Target player draws 2 cards and loses 2 life.
Anyway, because I'm bored...color-shifted sorta-lich as a creature:
Aven Arbiter 4WW
Creature - Bird Cleric
Flash
Flying
If Aven Arbiter entered the battlefield this turn, if you would lose life, instead, exile that many cards from the top of your library.
5/3
Aven Arbiter 4WW
Creature - Bird Cleric
Flash
Flying
If Aven Arbiter entered the battlefield this turn, if you would lose life, instead, exile that many cards from the top of your library.
5/3
Cool, but ultimately probably too expensive and narrow for cube. Would probably be a house in standard, though, as I imagine a 5/3 flyer with haste for 6 alone would be playable.
Mana Sap 1UU
Instant
Counter target spell. At the beginning of your next main phase, add 1 to your mana pool.
And something fun:
Index of the Void 1
Legendary Artifact
Pay 5 life, 5, T, exile ~: Exile target spell or permanent.
Generally, I find planeswalkers really boring to design, but I really want another Sulfuric Vortex.
Volusto the Abominable 1BR
Planeswalker -- Volusto
+2: Each player loses 2 life.
-0: Target creature gains +2/+0 and haste until end of turn.
-7: Each opponent discards his or her hand.
Starting Loyalty: 3
DraingeyserXUU
Instant [R]
Counter target spell unless its controller pays X. If a spell is countered this way, at the beginning of your next main phase add X to your mana pool.
I don't think Index is good enough improvement over Brittle Effigy, nor Mana Sap over the other Cancels. Volusto and Draingeyser seem really good.
Forgotten Bauble2
Artifact [U] T, Sacrifice Forgotten Bauble: You may cast target instant or sorcery card from your graveyard this turn. If that card would be put into your graveyard this turn, exile it instead.
Basically a one-shot Jace with artifact synergies. Good enough for cube?
I'd love to see more cubable, conditional counterspells. What do we think of these?
"Cycling" counters.
UU
Instant
Choose one
-Counter target non-creature spell
-Draw a card
And/or
UU
Instant
Choose one
-Counter target creature or planeswalker spell
-Draw a card
Would adding the cycle-esque option (not printed as actual cycling as then it doesn't require a non-evergreen keyword reprint and it does give your opponent a little bit more chance of interacting, as it can be countered and is impacted by stuff like thalia) make conditional counterspells more cubable? Obviously they wouldn't be printed at 1U since then they are just strictly better than negate and remove soul, but is UU too much of a cost?
I'd group these with other charms we have available which are generally all one colored mana per mode. You have 2 modes, so I would say they need at least 2 colored mana. That being said,UU is fine for a 2-mode spell. Is the cost too low for these particular modes? That's harder to nail down.
I think adding the draw mode is a perfectly reasonable way to improve the aforementioned spells (although Remove Soul 2.0 is probably too good. Look at Psychic Barrier for comparison). Despite potentially being "too good" for a modern day counterspell, they might not be strong enough to cube anyway.
All in all, I think you proposed two very interesting cards that are very difficult to evaluate without actually playing them.
Here's an oddball card that could be really interesting:
Hustler's Bauble 1U
Artifact
When Hustler's Bauble enters the battlefield, draw a card, then each opponent votes for a non-creature, non-land permanent you control. Return each permanent with the most votes or tied for most votes to its owners hand.
"Mischievous blue mages in Tolaria often take to the streets to dupe oblivious goers-by with dubious shell games."
I feel like this is sort of innocuous at first glance, but could be terrifyingly good.
Terrifyingly good? How? It seems to suffer from mistyping - what is the point of making it an artifact instead of instant or sorcery if you're not taking advantage of its permanent type in design? Do you see a lot of artifacts that just offer a spell ETB effect and then become do-nothings on the battlefield? It looks to me like it's just 1U: Draw a card. Buyback 0. Slightly weaker because it's open to instant artifact removal. The voting is super unintuitive to grok in a duel setting.
My own possibly misguided attempt at a self-bounce engine:
Hustler's Beeble2U
Artifact Creature - Homunculus
When Hustler's Beeble enters the battlefield, return another nonland permanent you control to owner's hand. U, Return Hustler's Beeble to owner's hand: Draw a card, then discard a card.
1/1
I guess I was thinking that because it can be tutored, sacked for Tinker, adds to your artifact count (where that matters...which it does in a lot of cubes), and then forces your opponent(s) to make decisions about letting you draw additional cards or reset a non-land, non-creature permanent (which sometimes matters, see planeswalkers, O-ring effects, pay-to-untap mana rocks, utility artifacts like Tangle Wire), or it simply reads "XX: draw X cards". That seems powerful to me, but what do I know? If it wasn't restricted to nonland noncreature permanents, it would be something like Momentary Blink, but not as good. With the restriction, it ends up being everything listed above. Still seems okay to me?
Maybe it should make all players vote so the caster always has the option to choose the Bauble or something else?
Either a Warp PerspectiveR
Enchantment
or Inversion Bauble1
Artifact
If you would draw a card from the top of your deck draw it from the bottom instead.
I'm not sure if it could be broken or not, I doubt it, but its something that probably should exist by now.
Pendelhbird 2W
Creature -- bird
Flying
Other 1/1 creatures you control get +1/+2. 3W, T: Put a 1/1 white bird creature token with flying onto the battlefield.
2/3
Doesn't this card kind of break the rules of Magic? If all 1/1 creatures get +1/+2, then they're no longer 1/1 creatures and thus they should lose the +1/+2. Then they gain it again, etc. What wording allows for a card with this effect to be printed?
I have no idea how that works actually. My gut feeling is it works as stated (something about time stamps or layers or something...maybe?), but because it is so ambiguous, they would likely word it like AntiPox wrote it.
Pendelhbird 2W
Creature -- bird
Flying
Other 1/1 creatures you control get +1/+2. 3W, T: Put a 1/1 white bird creature token with flying onto the battlefield.
2/3
Doesn't this card kind of break the rules of Magic? If all 1/1 creatures get +1/+2, then they're no longer 1/1 creatures and thus they should lose the +1/+2. Then they gain it again, etc. What wording allows for a card with this effect to be printed?
After taking a second look, yea, you might be right. I don't think the card functions at all.
Pendelhbird 2W
Creature -- bird
Flying
Other 1/1 creatures you control get +1/+2. 3W, T: Put a 1/1 white bird creature token with flying onto the battlefield.
2/3
Doesn't this card kind of break the rules of Magic? If all 1/1 creatures get +1/+2, then they're no longer 1/1 creatures and thus they should lose the +1/+2. Then they gain it again, etc. What wording allows for a card with this effect to be printed?
After taking a second look, yea, you might be right. I don't think the card functions at all.
Maybe convert the effect to an ETB trigger?
E.g. When ~ enters the battlefield, other 1/1 creatures you control get +1/+2 until ~ leaves the battlefield.
Not functionally the same, but it's close.
613.3a Layer 7a: Effects from characteristic-defining abilities that define power and/or toughness are applied. See rule 604.3.
613.3b Layer 7b: Effects that set power and/or toughness to a specific number or value are applied. Effects that refer to the base power and/or toughness of a creature apply in this layer.
613.3c Layer 7c: Effects that modify power and/or toughness (but don’t set power and/or toughness to a specific number or value) are applied.
613.3d Layer 7d: Power and/or toughness changes from counters are applied. See rule 121, “Counters.”
If it applies in layer 7b, it should probably say "Creatures you control with base power and toughness 1/1 have base power and toughness 2/3", which is wonky and not so Pendelhaveny.
If it applies in layer 7c, it can say "+1/+2", but it can't really depend on power and toughness.
It might be simpler if it said "at the beginning of your upkeep, 1/1 creatures you control get +1/+2 until end of turn" or something less permanent.
Either way, the card might possibly be too good to print at that cost, since it works so well with things like Delver of Secrets and Lingering Souls.
Yeah, you could easily make the fetches grab land A, B, or wastes, since wastes are kinda worthless at this point anyway. If they errata'd all lands that produced waste mana to have the subtype wastes or whatever, then, sure I guess...this card though is worse than that cycle of fetches that actually grabs mana A or B and they etb tapped.
Wastes aren't evergreen, and they won't be printed outside of OGW (unless there's a future colorless themed set) so fetches that can grab Wastes very likely won't do it by name; it would need to be "basic" like Evolving Wilds.
You could do a take on the original Mirage fetches that could grab colors or tap for ✧.
Depleted Expanse
Land
Depleted Expanse enters the battlefield tapped. T: Add ✧ to your mana pool. T, Sacrifice Depleted Expanse: Search your library for a Plains or Island card and put it onto the battlefield tapped. Then shuffle your library.
This could tap for ✧ and still grab duals (but they too would ETBT) alternatively:
Depleted Expanse 2.0
Land
Depleted Expanse enters the battlefield tapped. T: Add ✧ to your mana pool. T, Sacrifice Depleted Expanse: Search your library for a basic Plains or Island card and put it onto the battlefield. Then shuffle your library.
This allows the fetched land to enter untapped, but can only grab basics.
Pendelhbird 2W
Creature -- bird
Flying
Other 1/1 creatures you control get +1/+2. 3W, T: Put a 1/1 white bird creature token with flying onto the battlefield.
2/3
Doesn't this card kind of break the rules of Magic? If all 1/1 creatures get +1/+2, then they're no longer 1/1 creatures and thus they should lose the +1/+2. Then they gain it again, etc. What wording allows for a card with this effect to be printed?
After taking a second look, yea, you might be right. I don't think the card functions at all.
How would this version be?
+1: Each player discards a card and loses 1 life.
-2: Rakdos PW deals 3 damage to target creature.
-2: Target player draws 2 cards and loses 2 life.
Starting Loyalty: 2
Or possibly a shifted version that requires some work to get the Sign in Blood effect, but also have a more repeatable 2nd ability.
+1: Each player discards a card and loses 1 life.
-1: Rakdos PW deals 3 damage to target creature.
-2: Target player draws 2 cards and loses 2 life.
Starting Loyalty: 1
Anyway, because I'm bored...color-shifted sorta-lich as a creature:
Aven Arbiter 4WW
Creature - Bird Cleric
Flash
Flying
If Aven Arbiter entered the battlefield this turn, if you would lose life, instead, exile that many cards from the top of your library.
5/3
Cool, but ultimately probably too expensive and narrow for cube. Would probably be a house in standard, though, as I imagine a 5/3 flyer with haste for 6 alone would be playable.
375 unpowered cube - https://cubecobra.com/cube/list/601ac624832cdf1039947588
Mana Sap 1UU
Instant
Counter target spell. At the beginning of your next main phase, add 1 to your mana pool.
And something fun:
Index of the Void 1
Legendary Artifact
Pay 5 life, 5, T, exile ~: Exile target spell or permanent.
Generally, I find planeswalkers really boring to design, but I really want another Sulfuric Vortex.
Volusto the Abominable 1BR
Planeswalker -- Volusto
+2: Each player loses 2 life.
-0: Target creature gains +2/+0 and haste until end of turn.
-7: Each opponent discards his or her hand.
Starting Loyalty: 3
Draingeyser XUU
Instant [R]
Counter target spell unless its controller pays X. If a spell is countered this way, at the beginning of your next main phase add X to your mana pool.
My 630 Card Powered Cube
My Article - "Cube Design Philosophy"
My Article - "Mana Short: A study in limited resource management."
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Forgotten Bauble 2
Artifact [U]
T, Sacrifice Forgotten Bauble: You may cast target instant or sorcery card from your graveyard this turn. If that card would be put into your graveyard this turn, exile it instead.
Basically a one-shot Jace with artifact synergies. Good enough for cube?
Cubetutor Link
"Cycling" counters.
UU
Instant
Choose one
-Counter target non-creature spell
-Draw a card
And/or
UU
Instant
Choose one
-Counter target creature or planeswalker spell
-Draw a card
Would adding the cycle-esque option (not printed as actual cycling as then it doesn't require a non-evergreen keyword reprint and it does give your opponent a little bit more chance of interacting, as it can be countered and is impacted by stuff like thalia) make conditional counterspells more cubable? Obviously they wouldn't be printed at 1U since then they are just strictly better than negate and remove soul, but is UU too much of a cost?
375 unpowered cube - https://cubecobra.com/cube/list/601ac624832cdf1039947588
I think adding the draw mode is a perfectly reasonable way to improve the aforementioned spells (although Remove Soul 2.0 is probably too good. Look at Psychic Barrier for comparison). Despite potentially being "too good" for a modern day counterspell, they might not be strong enough to cube anyway.
All in all, I think you proposed two very interesting cards that are very difficult to evaluate without actually playing them.
Here's an oddball card that could be really interesting:
Hustler's Bauble 1U
Artifact
When Hustler's Bauble enters the battlefield, draw a card, then each opponent votes for a non-creature, non-land permanent you control. Return each permanent with the most votes or tied for most votes to its owners hand.
"Mischievous blue mages in Tolaria often take to the streets to dupe oblivious goers-by with dubious shell games."
I feel like this is sort of innocuous at first glance, but could be terrifyingly good.
My own possibly misguided attempt at a self-bounce engine:
Hustler's Beeble 2U
Artifact Creature - Homunculus
When Hustler's Beeble enters the battlefield, return another nonland permanent you control to owner's hand.
U, Return Hustler's Beeble to owner's hand: Draw a card, then discard a card.
1/1
My Cube (DeckStats)
My Pauper Cube: 540 (CubeTutor link!)
Level 1 Judge
Maybe it should make all players vote so the caster always has the option to choose the Bauble or something else?
Warp Perspective R
Enchantment
or
Inversion Bauble1
Artifact
If you would draw a card from the top of your deck draw it from the bottom instead.
I'm not sure if it could be broken or not, I doubt it, but its something that probably should exist by now.
CommanderEDH Decks:CommanderEDH DecksWULavinia of the Blinking TenthUW RGURiku the Epic Experimenter’s StormUGR UBRThrax and his Super FriendsRBU RWUZedruu the Hard HeartedUWR
WBU Zur the UnstoppableUBW
Doesn't this card kind of break the rules of Magic? If all 1/1 creatures get +1/+2, then they're no longer 1/1 creatures and thus they should lose the +1/+2. Then they gain it again, etc. What wording allows for a card with this effect to be printed?
After taking a second look, yea, you might be right. I don't think the card functions at all.
UR Melek, Izzet ParagonUR, B Shirei, Shizo's CaretakerB, R Jaya Ballard, Task MageR,RW Tajic, Blade of the LegionRW, UB Lazav, Dimir MastermindUB, UB Circu, Dimir LobotomistUB, RWU Zedruu the GreatheartedRWU, GUBThe MimeoplasmGUB, UGExperiment Kraj UG, WDarien, King of KjeldorW, BMarrow-GnawerB, WBGKarador, Ghost ChieftainWBG, UTeferi, Temporal ArchmageU, GWUDerevi, Empyrial TacticianGWU, RDaretti, Scrap SavantR, UTalrand, Sky SummonerU, GEzuri, Renegade LeaderG, WUBRGReaper KingWUBRG, RGXenagos, God of RevelsRG, CKozilek, Butcher of TruthC, WUBRGGeneral TazriWUBRG, GTitania, Protector of ArgothG
E.g. When ~ enters the battlefield, other 1/1 creatures you control get +1/+2 until ~ leaves the battlefield.
Not functionally the same, but it's close.
If it applies in layer 7b, it should probably say "Creatures you control with base power and toughness 1/1 have base power and toughness 2/3", which is wonky and not so Pendelhaveny.
If it applies in layer 7c, it can say "+1/+2", but it can't really depend on power and toughness.
It might be simpler if it said "at the beginning of your upkeep, 1/1 creatures you control get +1/+2 until end of turn" or something less permanent.
Either way, the card might possibly be too good to print at that cost, since it works so well with things like Delver of Secrets and Lingering Souls.
Desolated Steppe [Land]
T, Sacrifice Desolated Steppe: Search your library for a Waste or a Plains and put it onto the battlefield tapped.
There would, or course be a full cycle of these.
Defiling Swarm 2<>
Enchantment
At the beginning of your end step put a 1/1 Eldrazi Scion token onto the battlefield.
Send to the Void 2<>
Sorcery
Exile target colored non-land permanent with CMC less than or equal to the number of permanents you control.
375 unpowered cube - https://cubecobra.com/cube/list/601ac624832cdf1039947588
You could do a take on the original Mirage fetches that could grab colors or tap for ✧.
Depleted Expanse
Land
Depleted Expanse enters the battlefield tapped.
T: Add ✧ to your mana pool.
T, Sacrifice Depleted Expanse: Search your library for a Plains or Island card and put it onto the battlefield tapped. Then shuffle your library.
This could tap for ✧ and still grab duals (but they too would ETBT) alternatively:
Depleted Expanse 2.0
Land
Depleted Expanse enters the battlefield tapped.
T: Add ✧ to your mana pool.
T, Sacrifice Depleted Expanse: Search your library for a basic Plains or Island card and put it onto the battlefield. Then shuffle your library.
This allows the fetched land to enter untapped, but can only grab basics.
My 630 Card Powered Cube
My Article - "Cube Design Philosophy"
My Article - "Mana Short: A study in limited resource management."
My 50th Set (P)review - Discusses my top 20 Cube cards from OTJ!
Sigil Captain is how this should work.
If you want the birds to "shrink" when the Pendelbird creature leaves the battlefield, it could be something like:
Whenever a creature enters the battlefield under your control, if that creature is 1/1, put a Feather counter on it.
Creatures you control with Feather counters on them get +1/+2.
(this means they get +2/+4 if you manage to Clone your Pendelbird, though)