[3♦]: Your card is an Aura or Equipment
[7♣]: Your card exiles one or more cards
[5♠]: Your card has converted mana cost between three and ten
Bet -- 250
Hwo, Empty Hammer8
Legendary Artifact - Equipment (M)
Whenever equipped creature is blocked, exile all creatures blocking it.
Whenever equipped creature deals combat damage to a player, that player loses the game.
At the beginning of your upkeep, if Hwo, the Empty Hammer is not equipped, exile a land you control.
Equip 4
I'm not sure anyone got what I was trying to do with my lands last round thematically, so I thought I'd just share that they were all references to ancient religious and philosophical texts. (I got the idea from Socrates' name :D)
Polis in particular was a reference to Plato's work, the Republic.
Dropping, sorry, time available on internet got cut considerably until sept, won't have time to continue. Will attempt to critique or at least pick winners tomorrow.
(Though we all know Aristotle and Plato were just better philosophers, at least Plato wrote stuff down! :P)
Polis, the High Republic
Legendary Land (R)
Polis, the High Republic enters the battlefield tapped. T: Add U to your mana pool. T: Add WU to your mana pool. Activate this ability only if you control ten or more permanents.
Tao, the World Cycle
Legendary Land (R)
Tao, the World Cycle enters the battlefield tapped. T: Add B to your mana pool. T: Add WB to your mana pool. Activate this ability only if a permanent died or was destroyed this turn.
Bhagavad, the Gita Battlefield
Legendary Land (R)
Bhagavad, the Gita Battlefield enters the battlefield tapped. T: Add R to your mana pool. T: Add RW to your mana pool. Activate this ability only if three or more creatures attacked or blocked this turn.
Eden, the Genesis Garden
Legendary Land (R)
Eden, the Genesis Garden enters the battlefield tapped. T: Add G to your mana pool. T: Add GW to your mana pool. Activate this ability only if you control four or more creatures.
Dharma, the Middle Path
Legendary Land (R)
Dharma, the Middle Path enters the battlefield tapped. T: Add W to your mana pool. T: Add WW to your mana pool. Activate this ability only if you have exactly one card in hand.
Pupil's Insight1U
Instant (C)
Target player reveals his or her hand.
Look at the top X cards of your library, where X is equal to the number of nonland cards revealed in this way. Put one of them into your hand and the rest on the bottom of your library in any order.
Design3UR
Sorcery (U)
Put three 1/3 Gnome artifact creature tokens onto the battlefield, one with each of flying, first strike and haste.
// InnovationUG
Sorcery (U)
Creatures you control gain target creature’s abilities until end of turn.
Lividfruit TreeG
Creature - Plant (C) T, Exile a creature card from your graveyard: Put a +1/+1 counter on another target creature. “Increases muscle mass, mental euphoric escalation, no adverse side effects. Also, delicious.” — Entry on Lividfruit, Pupil’s Journal
0/3
Lividfruit Hybrid1GU
Creature - Plant Mutant (U)
Whenever a nontoken creature you control dies, put a 0/1 green Plant creature token onto the battlefield. T, Tap two untapped creatures you control: Put a +1/+1 counter on two target creatures. “Day 24: Reproduction increased twofold, fruit’s a bit odd though...” — Pupil’s Journal
2/3
Devilfruit Monstrosity3GUB
Creature - Plant Mutant Horror (M)
Trample
When Devilfruit Monstrosity enters the battlefield, gain control of all creatures with counters on them. T, Sacrifice a creature: Put +1/+1 counters on Devilfruit Monstrosity equal to the sacrificed creature’s toughness. “Day 37: Current development, unforeseen.”
3/5
Artificial Paradise3
Artifact - Fortification (R)
When Artificial Paradise enters the battlefield, you may search your library for a basic land card and put it onto the battlefield tapped, then attach this to it. If you do, Shuffle your library.
Fortified land has “T: Add one mana of any color to your mana pool.”
Fortify 1
Seal of Purgatory1
Artifact - Sigil (R)
At the beginning of each upkeep, put a loyalty counter on ensigiled planeswalker.
Ensigiled planeswalker can’t use activated abilities, can’t have attacks directed towards it, and has shroud.
Ensigil 2
Claws of the Inferno4
Artifact - Equipment (R)
Equipped creature gets +4/+0 and has double strike.
At the beginning of your upkeep, put two -1/-1 counters on equipped creature.
Equip—4, Pay 4 life.
Dante's RevelationWBBBR
Legendary Enchantment - Aura (M)
Enchant artifact
Enchanted artifact and permanents that artifact is attached to are indestructible.
At the beginning of your upkeep, destroy all permanents. Then, sacrifice Dante's Revelation.
Just wanted to say - Amazing cards Balefire. They are very printable, unique and makes me really want to play with them. I am very impressed, and I'll hope you'll take this as a complement - I thought your cards were Gerrard's Mom's at first (I find his cards are often very printable and precise).
Gerrard's Mom, Your creature is fantastically flavorful and has quite a unique effect (referencing all the way back to the gustcloaks!), but the wording is very complex and daunting.
For the plane, I think it's quite a overshot. It's too wild of an effort, and hard to understand with the chaos effect as well. I love the push for innovation however, especially from you, as you are already such a crisp and polished designer.
Yewlas - Great cards overall, particularly like your sigil as a concept (could be stronger though). Artificer's Factory feels kind of pointless to use though, you lose a card just to change 1 colored mana into two colorless. A mind stone would seem stronger in most situations.
Socrates - Fuse overload will only rarely go off, I think fading counters ala reality acid would have been better. The Tortoise-Shell is fine, but doesn't need to be shield (esp. considering islandwalk), and could be more interesting. Good fortification, it's has lots of neat applications, not the least of which being Valakut. Sigil doesn't feel very inspired.
Eventide Sojourner - Cool enchantment, though 2 mana over 2 colors seems to be pushing it for the small effect. Bow is awkward to me, It's really powerful, shouldn't it hit only 1 target? Fun fortification, similar to squirrel nest. That Ensigil cost... phew. Well, you went for something big, so I commend you for that! But the drawbacks are a bit immense.
queensauce - Snakes! Enchantment is cool, a very unique effect, wording is strange. Mantle of Vipers is nice, strange that it always produces a creature for itself though, little powerful? Good, good use of fortify, great name too! Whoa, powerful sigil too, but not too powerful considering how difficult it is to use methinks, and again, great name.
Top 3:
1. queensauce
2. Yewlas
3. Eventide Sojourner
Crit responses:
@Cythare: I just wanted to say your critique of my cards was spot on, I had the precisely same thoughts and concerns, but couldn't find proper fixes. Thank you for the feedback!
I am aware my sigil can't be unequipped, I imagined it similar to an Abyssal persecutor idea, but I believe it's still too weak.
Pupil's Insight1U
Instant (C)
Target player reveals his or her hand.
Look at the top X cards of your library, where X is equal to the number of nonland cards revealed in this way. Put one of them into your hand and the rest on the bottom of your library in any order.
Design3UR
Sorcery (U)
Put three 1/3 Gnome artifact creature tokens onto the battlefield, one with each of flying, first strike and haste.
// InnovationUG
Sorcery (U)
Creatures you control gain target creature’s abilities until end of turn.
Lividfruit TreeG
Creature - Plant (C) T, Exile a creature card from your graveyard: Put a +1/+1 counter on another target creature. “Increases muscle mass, mental euphoric escalation, no adverse side effects. Also, delicious.” — Entry on Lividfruit, Pupil’s Journal
0/3
Lividfruit Hybrid1GU
Creature - Plant Mutant (U)
Whenever a nontoken creature you control dies, put a 0/1 green Plant creature token onto the battlefield. T, Tap two untapped creatures you control: Put a +1/+1 counter on two target creatures. “Day 24: Reproduction increased twofold, fruit’s a bit odd though...” — Pupil’s Journal
2/3
Devilfruit Monstrosity3GUB
Creature - Plant Mutant Horror (M)
Trample
When Devilfruit Monstrosity enters the battlefield, gain control of all creatures with counters on them. T, Sacrifice a creature: Put +1/+1 counters on Devilfruit Monstrosity equal to the sacrificed creature’s toughness. “Day 37: Current development, unforeseen.”
3/5
Artificial Paradise3
Artifact - Fortification (R)
When Artificial Paradise enters the battlefield, you may search your library for a basic land card and put it onto the battlefield tapped, then attach this to it. If you do, Shuffle your library.
Fortified land has “T: Add one mana of any color to your mana pool.”
Fortify 1
Seal of Purgatory1
Artifact - Sigil (R)
At the beginning of each upkeep, put a loyalty counter on ensigiled planeswalker.
Ensigiled planeswalker can’t use activated abilities, can’t have attacks directed towards it, and has shroud.
Ensigil 2
Claws of the Inferno4
Artifact - Equipment (R)
Equipped creature gets +4/+0 and has double strike.
At the beginning of your upkeep, put two -1/-1 counters on equipped creature.
Equip—4, Pay 4 life.
Dante's RevelationWBBBR
Legendary Enchantment - Aura (M)
Enchant artifact
Enchanted artifact and permanents that artifact is attached to are indestructible.
At the beginning of your upkeep, destroy all permanents. Then, sacrifice Dante's Revelation.
Ouch, seems I really should have thought about the name of my card more! I think I agree with the criticism that one of the worst kinds of hybrid cards is the 'gold' card ones, should have reconsidered making mine one of those.
WhisperedThunder: Yes, quite elegant and works well together. The precise "Madness 0" gives a unique presence to the cycle that I like. My only issue is one of ambition with the designs, as I feel it's all designed a bit "within the box".
Yarn: Grave Shambler - I don't quite understand why there is a +1/+1 counter involved. Flavorful and a 'cycle' connection maybe, there is no reason he shouldn't just be a 3/3 mechanically.
The other two are quite solid, I like the interactions between them. I can see the rare being printed as is in a real set too.
Random_Nation: I like the mana cost and P/T progressions on this cycle, it's quite coherent. I'm afraid these simply aren't enough though. The connection between the three is too obvious from a design point of view, and by the rare, it's probably become overpowered (Pyschatog comes to mind). Having some other design features that allowed these cards to feed off each other (the U or R maybe sacrificing creatures for example) could have brought the cycle up a notch, but is just one way of doing it.
This way of a consistent and true vertical cycle is still solid, and I do like the 'vulturous' flavor of these.
Æthermage: Haha, I looked over these with a friend and we had... quite differing opinions. Luckily, you didn't draw the short straw as I like them! I'm a big fan of fog bank, and these are reminiscent of it, and in a very appropriate color. The Uncommon especially is well designed to the 'sand' flavor. Unfortunately though, I gotta agree with my friend that the rare is a bit out of color and strange as a card (I do see the connection with the uncommon, but I don't think that's justification enough). Additionally, regeneration is an odd choice... but I kinda like it lol. Fun set of cards.
Krey: That Uncommon is a pretty sweet way to do a pseudo-clone. I kinda wish it could absorb the whole text of another card rather than just activated abilities though. I like how the common only clones in combat, but the 'jump' ability is very strange - the rules on what overrides what when you give it flying then put it into combat is a bit much for newer players methinks, and this is a common.
The rare is where things get much too wonky. 0: ability isn't used much anymore to my knowledge, and this is one of the most broken I've seen. It's exponentially better than Clone and frighten me with its combo potential. In the end, I'm not even sure one would be able to tell these are a cycle in an actual set as well.
Koopa: OhMehGerd, love the starfishies! Very cute, and great flavor. The Uncommon especially is ridiculously cool (though probably should be rare when compared to Mirror-Sigil Sergeant). Also, I honestly would have loved if the rare produced 5 tokens when it died or some such, more flavor! Pretty solid as it is now though, and probably more balanced.
Blue getting regenerate is rare, but I love it in this case. It's intensely flavorful. (PS. Hate the name Kingstar, sorry, sounds like a bad pokemon!)
Mitt Romney: These are a quite solid set of cards. It's completely understandable as a cycle. The common is especially elegant for its rarity. I must admit however, I'm just not crazy excited by the uncommon and rare. The trick of the cycle is very smart, so I have to give ya some points. The haste and double-strike on the rare is a nice touch, quite brutal! Honestly, there's a lot of hidden smart ideas in these cards (how the common is a 'this or that' choice, where the uncommon is a shade type effect, and the rare is both!), so props to that. Lastly, Cheating on the 'intelligent creature' requirement is a bit irksome, make sure you read challenges carefully.
Cypher28: Solid Common, it works well and reminds me of watchwolf haha. Pack Alpha's soulbound abilities are a bit strange though, I'm not sure about the first flavorfully, and both are templated in a strange way, if you can understand what I mean (0/0 wolves and normal creatures gaining "other wolves get +1/+1" when they aren't wolves themselves.)
The Uncommon is exceptionally strong however, and would be cool to have in certain decks. It's like a co-operative Vampire Nighthawk.
Pupil's Insight1U
Instant (C)
Target player reveals his or her hand.
Look at the top X cards of your library, where X is equal to the number of nonland cards revealed in this way. Put one of them into your hand and the rest on the bottom of your library in any order.
Design3UR
Sorcery (U)
Put three 1/3 Gnome artifact creature tokens onto the battlefield, one with each of flying, first strike and haste.
// InnovationUG
Sorcery (U)
Creatures you control gain target creature’s abilities until end of turn.
Lividfruit TreeG
Creature - Plant (C) T, Exile a creature card from your graveyard: Put a +1/+1 counter on another target creature. “Increases muscle mass, mental euphoric escalation, no adverse side effects. Also, delicious.” — Entry on Lividfruit, Pupil’s Journal
0/3
Lividfruit Hybrid1GU
Creature - Plant Mutant (U)
Whenever a nontoken creature you control dies, put a 0/1 green Plant creature token onto the battlefield. T, Tap two untapped creatures you control: Put a +1/+1 counter on two target creatures. “Day 24: Reproduction increased twofold, fruit’s a bit odd though...” — Pupil’s Journal
2/3
Devilfruit Monstrosity3GUB
Creature - Plant Mutant Horror (M)
Trample
When Devilfruit Monstrosity enters the battlefield, gain control of all creatures with counters on them. T, Sacrifice a creature: Put +1/+1 counters on Devilfruit Monstrosity equal to the sacrificed creature’s toughness. “Day 37: Current development, unforeseen.”
3/5
Will2W
Sorcery (U)
Put three +1/+1 counters on target creature.
// Grace2W
Sorcery (U)
Target player gains 5 life.
Draw a card.
Hi, Atogaholic. Will & Grace is a funny title, and I do love the show, but I have a few concerns with this card.
While not an explicit condition of the challenge, it is the flavor of the challenge and split cards in general that the cards have differing mana costs. "...and how to adjust spells based on the available mana. Your final exam is to prove that you've mastered this." Will too is a bit odd for a White card, I feel it should give the counters to three seperate creatures, as small armies rather that strong individuals is more white's flavor (though it does have some great auras, admittedly). Either way, I believe the effect to be quite underpowered at sorcery speed.
Grace on the otherhand I believe to be a well balanced, and quite good for it's cost. I think it could be a decent pick in limited. Good job.
Cythare
Sense 1U
Sorcery (U)
Look at target player's hand.
Draw a card.
// Sensibility4W
Sorcery (U)
Gain 1 life for each creature target opponent controls.
During that player's next turn, creatures he or she controls cannot attack you.
Hey Cythare, I like your sign-up card, solid! Hopefully it shows cool connections to future cards in the contest.
Love the name, it's fun and perfect for a split card. Sense is a little underpowered though, Gitaxian Probe is quite a bit stronger.
Sensibility is also a bit underpowered, In a really optimal situation, it might gain you 6-8 life, which is alright, but compared to Stonehorn Dignitary at 3W, I feel even 8 life is only slightly better than a 1/4 creature in most situations.
Fun flavor overall though, and well balanced cards.
Achren
Heart3W
Sorcery (U)
Put a +1/+1 counter on target creature for each other creature you control. "...Look upon the wearied masses: Unto you their fate now passes..."
// Soul1WW
Sorcery (U)
Put three 0/X white Spirit creature tokens with defender onto the battlefield, where X is target creature's toughness. "...Shall you save them, or condemn them? Strength of spirit can protect them..."
Wow, what a great starter card Achren! Great theme and a subtle and smart to your wizardly career.
That flavor text... whew, great stuff! Heart has such flavor seeping out of it. I'm a little sad it's underpowered for its cost, but as a instant I believe it would have been solid.
Oh, oh my you are killing me. I'm absolutely in love with the connected flavor texts. Are they all meant to be read connectedly? If so, Bravo, just, bravo. Incredibly impressed. Soul's a great card in itself, well connected to the sign-up card and theme, and I love the use of this new type of token.
Just a fanatastic job.
Jimmy Grove
Through Hell 1W
Sorcery (U)
If target permanent you own would be put into your graveyard from the battlefield this turn, return it to your hand instead. Rushed back to life in a wave of glory.
// High Water1U
Sorcery (U)
Whenever a creature without flying blocks this turn, return it to its owner's hand. Washed off the earth by a wave of water.
I gotta admit, cool use of naming, I'm a little sad through hell is a replacement effect though. Means they won't actually go 'through hell' in a way. Still, an elegent spell that gives an interesting effect. Perhaps a bit weak at Sorcery speed, but slick nonetheless.
High Water is nice flavor, but a confusing effect. The flavor text helps and not hitting flyers is a great touch, but the blocking clause makes it hard to connect the flavor. In practice, I believe these are two equally fascinating combat manipulations not seen exactly as such before in magic to my knowledge.
Gerrard's Mom
Come1G
Sorcery (U)
Reveal cards from the top of your library until you reveal a creature card. Put that card into your hand and the rest of the revealed cards into your graveyard.
// Go3U
Sorcery (U)
Put target creature on the top or bottom of its owner's library.
Oooo, good flavor on Come, I quite like it. I can feel myself issueing the command, sends a tingle down my spine. Go is just the same, impressive use of simple imagery to make a great split card, and I think you've fully emcompassed the split card mentality.
Perfect costs and an extremely printable card. Great work.
Arcel
Down3BB
Sorcery {U}
Destroy target non-black non-artifact creature, its controller loses life equal to its power.
// OutXXUU
Sorcery {U}
Return up to X target creatures to there owners hands.
I think the disconnect between divine flames and these cards is quite large, and since divine flames is a cool card, perhaps give it more connection with the next card?
Down is quite expensive, perhaps a lower cost or removing the non-black/non-artifact restrictions would smooth it out. Good name though.
Out, I'm sorry to say, is just kind of awkward to me. It's simple yet somehow complex feeling, and while not overpowered nor neccisarily underpowered, I somehow feel it's off the mark in costing and rarity. When paying 8 mana, it feels a tad too powerful, like a rare. When paying less, it feels overcosted. XX is just not a cost I'm happy to see here I'm afraid.
Ninja Caterpie
Rock2RR
Sorcery (U)
Destroy target artifact or land.
// Roll 1RR
Sorcery (U)
Roll deals 2 damage to each creature.
This split card is just too simple. Both Rock and Roll are very close to reprints of other cards (Demolish and Pyroclasm respectively) and together don't add anything new for me. There is also no flavor text nor connected flavor to the music genre being referenced. I'm sorry, this is a miss for me.
Rimeshade
Shame - 1UU
Sorcery
Choose a colour. Tap all creatures of the chosen colour you don't control. Those creatures don't untap during their controllers next untap step.
// Disgrace - 3WW
Sorcery
Destroy all tapped creatures.
I like the combo of these cards! I really wish more people would connect the mechanics of the two sides like this. Shame is a great mix of name and mechanic, though I think both chosen color and don't control is over the top.
Disgrace is fairly simple, but works well with Shame. It may be a case that other group members made more ambitious cards this round, but still a good attempt. I do wish this was more connected to your sign-up round card though.
Polendino
HopU
Sorcery {U}
Target creature gains flying until end of turn.
// Skip4UUU
Sorcery {U}
Target player skips his or her next turn.
Really like the sign-up card, solid spell and within theme of the contest.
Hop though, is a reprint of Jump at sorcery, which isn't very exciting, and skip is on the one hand much too powerful an effect for uncommon, while also being too expensive for what it does (Time Warp is only 3UU, and is arguably more powerful in multiplayer and equivelent in single).
Top 3:
1. Achren - Lovely flavor, this card struck me in the most visceral way, well done.
2. Gerrard's Mom - Pristine execution, only a more striking impact could have fared you better.
3. Jimmy Grove - It was close between you and Rimeshade, but your interesting abilities won the day. Great innovation.
Design3UR
Sorcery (U)
Put three 1/3 Gnome artifact creature tokens onto the battlefield, one with each of flying, first strike and haste.
// InnovationUG
Sorcery (U)
Creatures you control gain target creature’s abilities until end of turn.
Round 0:
Pupil's Insight1U
Instant (C)
Target player reveals his or her hand.
Look at the top X cards of your library, where X is equal to the number of nonland cards revealed in this way. Put one of them into your hand and the rest on the bottom of your library in any order.
[3♦]: Your card is an Aura or Equipment
[7♣]: Your card exiles one or more cards
[5♠]: Your card has converted mana cost between three and ten
Bet -- 250
Hwo, Empty Hammer 8
Legendary Artifact - Equipment (M)
Whenever equipped creature is blocked, exile all creatures blocking it.
Whenever equipped creature deals combat damage to a player, that player loses the game.
At the beginning of your upkeep, if Hwo, the Empty Hammer is not equipped, exile a land you control.
Equip 4
Polis in particular was a reference to Plato's work, the Republic.
(Though we all know Aristotle and Plato were just better philosophers, at least Plato wrote stuff down! :P)
Polis, the High Republic
Legendary Land (R)
Polis, the High Republic enters the battlefield tapped.
T: Add U to your mana pool.
T: Add WU to your mana pool. Activate this ability only if you control ten or more permanents.
Tao, the World Cycle
Legendary Land (R)
Tao, the World Cycle enters the battlefield tapped.
T: Add B to your mana pool.
T: Add WB to your mana pool. Activate this ability only if a permanent died or was destroyed this turn.
Bhagavad, the Gita Battlefield
Legendary Land (R)
Bhagavad, the Gita Battlefield enters the battlefield tapped.
T: Add R to your mana pool.
T: Add RW to your mana pool. Activate this ability only if three or more creatures attacked or blocked this turn.
Eden, the Genesis Garden
Legendary Land (R)
Eden, the Genesis Garden enters the battlefield tapped.
T: Add G to your mana pool.
T: Add GW to your mana pool. Activate this ability only if you control four or more creatures.
Dharma, the Middle Path
Legendary Land (R)
Dharma, the Middle Path enters the battlefield tapped.
T: Add W to your mana pool.
T: Add WW to your mana pool. Activate this ability only if you have exactly one card in hand.
Instant (C)
Target player reveals his or her hand.
Look at the top X cards of your library, where X is equal to the number of nonland cards revealed in this way. Put one of them into your hand and the rest on the bottom of your library in any order.
Sorcery (U)
Put three 1/3 Gnome artifact creature tokens onto the battlefield, one with each of flying, first strike and haste.
//
Innovation UG
Sorcery (U)
Creatures you control gain target creature’s abilities until end of turn.
Lividfruit Tree G
Creature - Plant (C)
T, Exile a creature card from your graveyard: Put a +1/+1 counter on another target creature.
“Increases muscle mass, mental euphoric escalation, no adverse side effects. Also, delicious.” — Entry on Lividfruit, Pupil’s Journal
0/3
Lividfruit Hybrid 1GU
Creature - Plant Mutant (U)
Whenever a nontoken creature you control dies, put a 0/1 green Plant creature token onto the battlefield.
T, Tap two untapped creatures you control: Put a +1/+1 counter on two target creatures.
“Day 24: Reproduction increased twofold, fruit’s a bit odd though...” — Pupil’s Journal
2/3
Devilfruit Monstrosity 3GUB
Creature - Plant Mutant Horror (M)
Trample
When Devilfruit Monstrosity enters the battlefield, gain control of all creatures with counters on them.
T, Sacrifice a creature: Put +1/+1 counters on Devilfruit Monstrosity equal to the sacrificed creature’s toughness.
“Day 37: Current development, unforeseen.”
3/5
Artifact - Fortification (R)
When Artificial Paradise enters the battlefield, you may search your library for a basic land card and put it onto the battlefield tapped, then attach this to it. If you do, Shuffle your library.
Fortified land has “T: Add one mana of any color to your mana pool.”
Fortify 1
Seal of Purgatory 1
Artifact - Sigil (R)
At the beginning of each upkeep, put a loyalty counter on ensigiled planeswalker.
Ensigiled planeswalker can’t use activated abilities, can’t have attacks directed towards it, and has shroud.
Ensigil 2
Claws of the Inferno 4
Artifact - Equipment (R)
Equipped creature gets +4/+0 and has double strike.
At the beginning of your upkeep, put two -1/-1 counters on equipped creature.
Equip—4, Pay 4 life.
Dante's Revelation WBBBR
Legendary Enchantment - Aura (M)
Enchant artifact
Enchanted artifact and permanents that artifact is attached to are indestructible.
At the beginning of your upkeep, destroy all permanents. Then, sacrifice Dante's Revelation.
Gerrard's Mom, Your creature is fantastically flavorful and has quite a unique effect (referencing all the way back to the gustcloaks!), but the wording is very complex and daunting.
For the plane, I think it's quite a overshot. It's too wild of an effort, and hard to understand with the chaos effect as well. I love the push for innovation however, especially from you, as you are already such a crisp and polished designer.
Great work from the both of you!
Yewlas - Great cards overall, particularly like your sigil as a concept (could be stronger though). Artificer's Factory feels kind of pointless to use though, you lose a card just to change 1 colored mana into two colorless. A mind stone would seem stronger in most situations.
Socrates - Fuse overload will only rarely go off, I think fading counters ala reality acid would have been better. The Tortoise-Shell is fine, but doesn't need to be shield (esp. considering islandwalk), and could be more interesting. Good fortification, it's has lots of neat applications, not the least of which being Valakut. Sigil doesn't feel very inspired.
Eventide Sojourner - Cool enchantment, though 2 mana over 2 colors seems to be pushing it for the small effect. Bow is awkward to me, It's really powerful, shouldn't it hit only 1 target? Fun fortification, similar to squirrel nest. That Ensigil cost... phew. Well, you went for something big, so I commend you for that! But the drawbacks are a bit immense.
queensauce - Snakes! Enchantment is cool, a very unique effect, wording is strange. Mantle of Vipers is nice, strange that it always produces a creature for itself though, little powerful? Good, good use of fortify, great name too! Whoa, powerful sigil too, but not too powerful considering how difficult it is to use methinks, and again, great name.
Top 3:
1. queensauce
2. Yewlas
3. Eventide Sojourner
Crit responses:
@Cythare: I just wanted to say your critique of my cards was spot on, I had the precisely same thoughts and concerns, but couldn't find proper fixes. Thank you for the feedback!
I am aware my sigil can't be unequipped, I imagined it similar to an Abyssal persecutor idea, but I believe it's still too weak.
Instant (C)
Target player reveals his or her hand.
Look at the top X cards of your library, where X is equal to the number of nonland cards revealed in this way. Put one of them into your hand and the rest on the bottom of your library in any order.
Sorcery (U)
Put three 1/3 Gnome artifact creature tokens onto the battlefield, one with each of flying, first strike and haste.
//
Innovation UG
Sorcery (U)
Creatures you control gain target creature’s abilities until end of turn.
Lividfruit Tree G
Creature - Plant (C)
T, Exile a creature card from your graveyard: Put a +1/+1 counter on another target creature.
“Increases muscle mass, mental euphoric escalation, no adverse side effects. Also, delicious.” — Entry on Lividfruit, Pupil’s Journal
0/3
Lividfruit Hybrid 1GU
Creature - Plant Mutant (U)
Whenever a nontoken creature you control dies, put a 0/1 green Plant creature token onto the battlefield.
T, Tap two untapped creatures you control: Put a +1/+1 counter on two target creatures.
“Day 24: Reproduction increased twofold, fruit’s a bit odd though...” — Pupil’s Journal
2/3
Devilfruit Monstrosity 3GUB
Creature - Plant Mutant Horror (M)
Trample
When Devilfruit Monstrosity enters the battlefield, gain control of all creatures with counters on them.
T, Sacrifice a creature: Put +1/+1 counters on Devilfruit Monstrosity equal to the sacrificed creature’s toughness.
“Day 37: Current development, unforeseen.”
3/5
Artificial Paradise 3
Artifact - Fortification (R)
When Artificial Paradise enters the battlefield, you may search your library for a basic land card and put it onto the battlefield tapped, then attach this to it. If you do, Shuffle your library.
Fortified land has “T: Add one mana of any color to your mana pool.”
Fortify 1
Seal of Purgatory 1
Artifact - Sigil (R)
At the beginning of each upkeep, put a loyalty counter on ensigiled planeswalker.
Ensigiled planeswalker can’t use activated abilities, can’t have attacks directed towards it, and has shroud.
Ensigil 2
Claws of the Inferno 4
Artifact - Equipment (R)
Equipped creature gets +4/+0 and has double strike.
At the beginning of your upkeep, put two -1/-1 counters on equipped creature.
Equip—4, Pay 4 life.
Dante's Revelation WBBBR
Legendary Enchantment - Aura (M)
Enchant artifact
Enchanted artifact and permanents that artifact is attached to are indestructible.
At the beginning of your upkeep, destroy all permanents. Then, sacrifice Dante's Revelation.
WhisperedThunder: Yes, quite elegant and works well together. The precise "Madness 0" gives a unique presence to the cycle that I like. My only issue is one of ambition with the designs, as I feel it's all designed a bit "within the box".
Yarn: Grave Shambler - I don't quite understand why there is a +1/+1 counter involved. Flavorful and a 'cycle' connection maybe, there is no reason he shouldn't just be a 3/3 mechanically.
The other two are quite solid, I like the interactions between them. I can see the rare being printed as is in a real set too.
Random_Nation: I like the mana cost and P/T progressions on this cycle, it's quite coherent. I'm afraid these simply aren't enough though. The connection between the three is too obvious from a design point of view, and by the rare, it's probably become overpowered (Pyschatog comes to mind). Having some other design features that allowed these cards to feed off each other (the U or R maybe sacrificing creatures for example) could have brought the cycle up a notch, but is just one way of doing it.
This way of a consistent and true vertical cycle is still solid, and I do like the 'vulturous' flavor of these.
Æthermage: Haha, I looked over these with a friend and we had... quite differing opinions. Luckily, you didn't draw the short straw as I like them! I'm a big fan of fog bank, and these are reminiscent of it, and in a very appropriate color. The Uncommon especially is well designed to the 'sand' flavor. Unfortunately though, I gotta agree with my friend that the rare is a bit out of color and strange as a card (I do see the connection with the uncommon, but I don't think that's justification enough). Additionally, regeneration is an odd choice... but I kinda like it lol. Fun set of cards.
Krey: That Uncommon is a pretty sweet way to do a pseudo-clone. I kinda wish it could absorb the whole text of another card rather than just activated abilities though. I like how the common only clones in combat, but the 'jump' ability is very strange - the rules on what overrides what when you give it flying then put it into combat is a bit much for newer players methinks, and this is a common.
The rare is where things get much too wonky. 0: ability isn't used much anymore to my knowledge, and this is one of the most broken I've seen. It's exponentially better than Clone and frighten me with its combo potential. In the end, I'm not even sure one would be able to tell these are a cycle in an actual set as well.
Koopa: OhMehGerd, love the starfishies! Very cute, and great flavor. The Uncommon especially is ridiculously cool (though probably should be rare when compared to Mirror-Sigil Sergeant). Also, I honestly would have loved if the rare produced 5 tokens when it died or some such, more flavor! Pretty solid as it is now though, and probably more balanced.
Blue getting regenerate is rare, but I love it in this case. It's intensely flavorful. (PS. Hate the name Kingstar, sorry, sounds like a bad pokemon!)
Mitt Romney: These are a quite solid set of cards. It's completely understandable as a cycle. The common is especially elegant for its rarity. I must admit however, I'm just not crazy excited by the uncommon and rare. The trick of the cycle is very smart, so I have to give ya some points. The haste and double-strike on the rare is a nice touch, quite brutal! Honestly, there's a lot of hidden smart ideas in these cards (how the common is a 'this or that' choice, where the uncommon is a shade type effect, and the rare is both!), so props to that. Lastly, Cheating on the 'intelligent creature' requirement is a bit irksome, make sure you read challenges carefully.
Cypher28: Solid Common, it works well and reminds me of watchwolf haha. Pack Alpha's soulbound abilities are a bit strange though, I'm not sure about the first flavorfully, and both are templated in a strange way, if you can understand what I mean (0/0 wolves and normal creatures gaining "other wolves get +1/+1" when they aren't wolves themselves.)
The Uncommon is exceptionally strong however, and would be cool to have in certain decks. It's like a co-operative Vampire Nighthawk.
Top 3:
1. WhisperedThunder
2. Koopa
3. Mitt Romney
HM - Yarn, Æthermage
Honestly, it was an exceptional round, lots of strong cards. Props all round!
Instant (C)
Target player reveals his or her hand.
Look at the top X cards of your library, where X is equal to the number of nonland cards revealed in this way. Put one of them into your hand and the rest on the bottom of your library in any order.
Sorcery (U)
Put three 1/3 Gnome artifact creature tokens onto the battlefield, one with each of flying, first strike and haste.
//
Innovation UG
Sorcery (U)
Creatures you control gain target creature’s abilities until end of turn.
Lividfruit Tree G
Creature - Plant (C)
T, Exile a creature card from your graveyard: Put a +1/+1 counter on another target creature.
“Increases muscle mass, mental euphoric escalation, no adverse side effects. Also, delicious.” — Entry on Lividfruit, Pupil’s Journal
0/3
Lividfruit Hybrid 1GU
Creature - Plant Mutant (U)
Whenever a nontoken creature you control dies, put a 0/1 green Plant creature token onto the battlefield.
T, Tap two untapped creatures you control: Put a +1/+1 counter on two target creatures.
“Day 24: Reproduction increased twofold, fruit’s a bit odd though...” — Pupil’s Journal
2/3
Devilfruit Monstrosity 3GUB
Creature - Plant Mutant Horror (M)
Trample
When Devilfruit Monstrosity enters the battlefield, gain control of all creatures with counters on them.
T, Sacrifice a creature: Put +1/+1 counters on Devilfruit Monstrosity equal to the sacrificed creature’s toughness.
“Day 37: Current development, unforeseen.”
3/5
Atogaholic
Will 2W
Sorcery (U)
Put three +1/+1 counters on target creature.
//
Grace 2W
Sorcery (U)
Target player gains 5 life.
Draw a card.
While not an explicit condition of the challenge, it is the flavor of the challenge and split cards in general that the cards have differing mana costs. "...and how to adjust spells based on the available mana. Your final exam is to prove that you've mastered this." Will too is a bit odd for a White card, I feel it should give the counters to three seperate creatures, as small armies rather that strong individuals is more white's flavor (though it does have some great auras, admittedly). Either way, I believe the effect to be quite underpowered at sorcery speed.
Grace on the otherhand I believe to be a well balanced, and quite good for it's cost. I think it could be a decent pick in limited. Good job.
Cythare
Sense 1U
Sorcery (U)
Look at target player's hand.
Draw a card.
//
Sensibility 4W
Sorcery (U)
Gain 1 life for each creature target opponent controls.
During that player's next turn, creatures he or she controls cannot attack you.
Love the name, it's fun and perfect for a split card. Sense is a little underpowered though, Gitaxian Probe is quite a bit stronger.
Sensibility is also a bit underpowered, In a really optimal situation, it might gain you 6-8 life, which is alright, but compared to Stonehorn Dignitary at 3W, I feel even 8 life is only slightly better than a 1/4 creature in most situations.
Fun flavor overall though, and well balanced cards.
Achren
Heart 3W
Sorcery (U)
Put a +1/+1 counter on target creature for each other creature you control.
"...Look upon the wearied masses: Unto you their fate now passes..."
//
Soul 1WW
Sorcery (U)
Put three 0/X white Spirit creature tokens with defender onto the battlefield, where X is target creature's toughness.
"...Shall you save them, or condemn them? Strength of spirit can protect them..."
That flavor text... whew, great stuff! Heart has such flavor seeping out of it. I'm a little sad it's underpowered for its cost, but as a instant I believe it would have been solid.
Oh, oh my you are killing me. I'm absolutely in love with the connected flavor texts. Are they all meant to be read connectedly? If so, Bravo, just, bravo. Incredibly impressed. Soul's a great card in itself, well connected to the sign-up card and theme, and I love the use of this new type of token.
Just a fanatastic job.
Jimmy Grove
Through Hell 1W
Sorcery (U)
If target permanent you own would be put into your graveyard from the battlefield this turn, return it to your hand instead.
Rushed back to life in a wave of glory.
//
High Water 1U
Sorcery (U)
Whenever a creature without flying blocks this turn, return it to its owner's hand.
Washed off the earth by a wave of water.
High Water is nice flavor, but a confusing effect. The flavor text helps and not hitting flyers is a great touch, but the blocking clause makes it hard to connect the flavor. In practice, I believe these are two equally fascinating combat manipulations not seen exactly as such before in magic to my knowledge.
Gerrard's Mom
Come 1G
Sorcery (U)
Reveal cards from the top of your library until you reveal a creature card. Put that card into your hand and the rest of the revealed cards into your graveyard.
//
Go 3U
Sorcery (U)
Put target creature on the top or bottom of its owner's library.
Perfect costs and an extremely printable card. Great work.
Arcel
Down 3BB
Sorcery {U}
Destroy target non-black non-artifact creature, its controller loses life equal to its power.
//
Out XXUU
Sorcery {U}
Return up to X target creatures to there owners hands.
Down is quite expensive, perhaps a lower cost or removing the non-black/non-artifact restrictions would smooth it out. Good name though.
Out, I'm sorry to say, is just kind of awkward to me. It's simple yet somehow complex feeling, and while not overpowered nor neccisarily underpowered, I somehow feel it's off the mark in costing and rarity. When paying 8 mana, it feels a tad too powerful, like a rare. When paying less, it feels overcosted. XX is just not a cost I'm happy to see here I'm afraid.
Ninja Caterpie
Rock 2RR
Sorcery (U)
Destroy target artifact or land.
//
Roll 1RR
Sorcery (U)
Roll deals 2 damage to each creature.
Rimeshade
Shame - 1UU
Sorcery
Choose a colour. Tap all creatures of the chosen colour you don't control. Those creatures don't untap during their controllers next untap step.
//
Disgrace - 3WW
Sorcery
Destroy all tapped creatures.
Disgrace is fairly simple, but works well with Shame. It may be a case that other group members made more ambitious cards this round, but still a good attempt. I do wish this was more connected to your sign-up round card though.
Polendino
Hop U
Sorcery {U}
Target creature gains flying until end of turn.
//
Skip 4UUU
Sorcery {U}
Target player skips his or her next turn.
Hop though, is a reprint of Jump at sorcery, which isn't very exciting, and skip is on the one hand much too powerful an effect for uncommon, while also being too expensive for what it does (Time Warp is only 3UU, and is arguably more powerful in multiplayer and equivelent in single).
Top 3:
1. Achren - Lovely flavor, this card struck me in the most visceral way, well done.
2. Gerrard's Mom - Pristine execution, only a more striking impact could have fared you better.
3. Jimmy Grove - It was close between you and Rimeshade, but your interesting abilities won the day. Great innovation.
Sorcery (U)
Put three 1/3 Gnome artifact creature tokens onto the battlefield, one with each of flying, first strike and haste.
//
Innovation UG
Sorcery (U)
Creatures you control gain target creature’s abilities until end of turn.
Round 0:
Instant (C)
Target player reveals his or her hand.
Look at the top X cards of your library, where X is equal to the number of nonland cards revealed in this way. Put one of them into your hand and the rest on the bottom of your library in any order.