Phyrexian Signet is pretty much exactly Phyrexian Lens, a rare from Invasion. Phyrexian Signet is much better, obviously, but given the Len's cost and rarity, I might wonder if its too powerful.
Totally top-down design inspired by the Ed Woodward/Christopher Lee movie. (Not that Nick Cage pile)
Wicker Man 6
Artifact Creature - Scarecrow
Whenever Wicker Man blocks or is blocked, exile a creature blocking or blocked by it. Then, return all other creatures exiled by Wicker Man to the battlefield under their owner's control.
When Wicker Man is put into a graveyard from the battlefield, return any creatures exiled by Wicker Man to the battlefield under their owner's control. 2R: Exile Wicker Man.
That is a good point about the red one, I hadn't considered that. Its an easy fix (just add "up to X target"), but I'm not really happy with that ability in the first place. Has anybody thought of a way to make direct damage work, or else is there something else red might be able to do?
As for the splice costs, I considered that they might be too cheap, but its the fact that you retain the card weighed against the fact that you have to play another card to splice it in the first place. I'm actually a big fan of the white one as is. I like the idea of playing Wrath of God with this spliced. Destroy all creatures, then put 4 1/1's into play for 6 cmc isn't really broken if you need two cards to do it, right?
If I would change any of them right now, I'd change the red and the green one.
Xantcha, Phyrexian Deserter 1BR
Legendary Creature - Human Minion
At the beginning of your upkeep, you may discard your hand. If you do, return target card from your graveyard to your hand.
2/3
Mind U
Instant
Draw a card.
////
Spark R
Instant
Spark deals 2 damage to target creature or player.
The hybridization is just a gimmick. Mechanically both cards are the same. Hybrid cards are cards that can be played in any color, not strictly modal cards that care about the color of mana you paid.
This is not entirely true. There are (albeit rare) instances where the hybridization makes the card play differently, i.e. a Sphere of Resistance or Trinisphere on the table.
This spell is awesome, and I love it, and I hate to criticize it, but honestly... I think it should be a sorcery. It is strictly better than both the cards it is aping.
I've had a strange obsession lately with Splice as a mechanic, specifically its potential interactions with other spells. The idea for this cycle is to explore Splice spells that vary in power depending on the spell they're spliced onto.
Some of the templates might be a little sticky. For the red one, I really wanted a direct damage spell, but the wording as is was clunky as hell (I tried basing it off Glacial Ray).
Strange Conscription
1W
Sorcery - Arcane
Put X 1/1 white Soldier tokens onto the battlefield, where X is this spell's converted mana cost.
Splice onto Sorcery - 1W
Strange Denial
2U
Sorcery - Arcane
Target player puts the top X cards of his or her library into his or her graveyard, where X is this spells converted mana cost.
Splice onto Sorcery - 1U
Strange Ritual
2B
Sorcery - Arcane
Look at target player's hand and choose a card with converted mana cost X or less, where X is this spell's converted mana cost. That player discards that card.
Splice onto Sorcery - 1B
Strange Empowerment
2R
Sorcery - Arcane
X target creatures gain Intimidate until end of turn, where X is this spell's converted mana cost.
Splice onto Sorcery - 1R
Strange Birth
1GG
Sorcery - Arcane
Put an X/X green Beast token with trample onto the battlefield, where X is this spell's casting cost.
Splice onto Sorcery - 1G
Emblems are purposely rare. They're tricky to keep track of in large numbers, and, as Yarpus pointed out, really just made to denote permanent effects that are supposed to last the rest of the game. Focusing on Emblems is setting yourself up to be another Kamigawa.
And so, a card:
Imperious Sphinx 4UUU
Creature - Sphinx
Flying
All other creatures lose flying.
5/5
Abridged Codex 2
Artifact
As Abridged Codex enters the battlefield, name a card.
At the beginning of your upkeep, reveal the top card of your library. If it is the named card, exile it, then draw a card.
Weave Time 4UU
Sorcery
Take an extra turn after this one. If this spell's name is something other than Weave Time, take two extra turns instead.
Splice onto Sorcery 4UUUU
Really like the idea of Splicing, but felt it got a raw deal in Kamigawa block, so I might try to make some more Splice cards. I've been tempted to try a template for Splicing onto Permanents for some time. But for right now, big splashy thing.
Wicker Man
6
Artifact Creature - Scarecrow
Whenever Wicker Man blocks or is blocked, exile a creature blocking or blocked by it. Then, return all other creatures exiled by Wicker Man to the battlefield under their owner's control.
When Wicker Man is put into a graveyard from the battlefield, return any creatures exiled by Wicker Man to the battlefield under their owner's control.
2R: Exile Wicker Man.
5/5
As for the splice costs, I considered that they might be too cheap, but its the fact that you retain the card weighed against the fact that you have to play another card to splice it in the first place. I'm actually a big fan of the white one as is. I like the idea of playing Wrath of God with this spliced. Destroy all creatures, then put 4 1/1's into play for 6 cmc isn't really broken if you need two cards to do it, right?
If I would change any of them right now, I'd change the red and the green one.
Xantcha, Phyrexian Deserter
1BR
Legendary Creature - Human Minion
At the beginning of your upkeep, you may discard your hand. If you do, return target card from your graveyard to your hand.
2/3
She was always one of my favorite characters.
This is not entirely true. There are (albeit rare) instances where the hybridization makes the card play differently, i.e. a Sphere of Resistance or Trinisphere on the table.
Some of the templates might be a little sticky. For the red one, I really wanted a direct damage spell, but the wording as is was clunky as hell (I tried basing it off Glacial Ray).
Strange Conscription
1W
Sorcery - Arcane
Put X 1/1 white Soldier tokens onto the battlefield, where X is this spell's converted mana cost.
Splice onto Sorcery - 1W
Strange Denial
2U
Sorcery - Arcane
Target player puts the top X cards of his or her library into his or her graveyard, where X is this spells converted mana cost.
Splice onto Sorcery - 1U
Strange Ritual
2B
Sorcery - Arcane
Look at target player's hand and choose a card with converted mana cost X or less, where X is this spell's converted mana cost. That player discards that card.
Splice onto Sorcery - 1B
Strange Empowerment
2R
Sorcery - Arcane
X target creatures gain Intimidate until end of turn, where X is this spell's converted mana cost.
Splice onto Sorcery - 1R
Strange Birth
1GG
Sorcery - Arcane
Put an X/X green Beast token with trample onto the battlefield, where X is this spell's casting cost.
Splice onto Sorcery - 1G
And so, a card:
Imperious Sphinx
4UUU
Creature - Sphinx
Flying
All other creatures lose flying.
5/5
Abridged Codex
2
Artifact
As Abridged Codex enters the battlefield, name a card.
At the beginning of your upkeep, reveal the top card of your library. If it is the named card, exile it, then draw a card.
4UU
Sorcery
Take an extra turn after this one. If this spell's name is something other than Weave Time, take two extra turns instead.
Splice onto Sorcery 4UUUU
Really like the idea of Splicing, but felt it got a raw deal in Kamigawa block, so I might try to make some more Splice cards. I've been tempted to try a template for Splicing onto Permanents for some time. But for right now, big splashy thing.