Hey competitors, I just wanted to mention some things.
picnic_bomber - Given that Godo would be a creature on an opponent's turn, they should be able to attack it, right? If he blocks for himself, how would the damage work, would it go against his toughness or his loyalty? What about trample?
That's actualy something I didn't really think through honestly. I made his +1 "until your next turn" to really make bushido work, but yours is a really good point.
Oh, and kudos to Cardz, really close finish.
Subvert the Heavens2WWW
Legendary Sorcery (M)
Exile any number of target Spirits, Gods and/or legendary nonland permanents. "We could rebuild Kamigawa because of its strong foundations. As for our faith..."
—Lord Konda
Godo, Scourge of the Kami2RW
Legendary Planeswalker - Godo (M)
[+1]: Until your next turn, Godo, Scourge of the Kami becomes a 3/3 Human Samurai creature with bushido 2 and indestructible that's still a planeswalker.
[-2]: Exile target creature with power 4 or more.
[-6]: You get an emblem with: "During each of your turns, after your first combat phase, untap all Samurai you control and you get three additional combat phases each followed by an additional main phase."
{4}
If you want to play a BW deck that has a very easy time against U Tempo, I'd suggest my Orzhov Menagerie. It packs lots of non-targeted disruption and can keep up the late game grind.
As for the "Blue magic is cancer" part of your rant, just don't. Counter magic may seem miserable to play against, especially for inexperienced players, but it's just all about patience and timing. If you just mindlessly play out your most relevant spells into untapped blue lands, maybe it's time for some practice.
Vorel, Ascended Biomancer1GU
Legendary Planeswalker - Vorel (M) [ 0 ]: Double the number of each kind of counter on target permanent. [ -X ]: Distribute X +1/+1 counters among creatures you control. [ -XX ]: Create X X/X green Ooze creature tokens. { 2 }
Regarding my entry for Round 3: I'm baffled at the fact I didn't realize RaikouRaider made that same card in the same monthly contest. The reasoning behind my design was "I need this to not have mana cost in the rule box, so either Addendum or Afterlife could work easily rather than Adapt. I think Afterlife works better in hybrid than Addendum. Giving Afterlife to everything could work very well in both colors. Aaaaand... done!"
So, thank you to the judges not making it too harsh on me, and good luck to everyone for the finals!
Godo, the Uncontested1RR
Legendary Creature - Human Barbarian (M)
Trample
Bushido 2 (Whenever this creature blocks or becomes blocked, it gets +2/+2 until end of turn.)
Whenever Godo, the Uncontested deals combat damage to a player, you may search your library for a creature card with first strike, double strike, trample and/or bushido and put it into your hand. If you do, shuffle your library.
3/3
Godo's Recruiter2R
Creature - Human Samurai (C)
Bushido 1 (Whenever this creature blocks or becomes blocked, it gets +1/+1 until end of turn.)
When Godo's Recruiters enters the battlefield, you may search your library for a creature card with bushido, reveal it, then shuffle your library and put that card on top of it.
2/1
Godo's Enforcer3R
Creature - Ogre Samurai (U)
Menace
Bushido 1 (Whenever this creature blocks or becomes blocked, it gets +1/+1 until end of turn.)
Whenever a creature you control deals combat damage to a player, put a +1/+1 counter on it.
3/2
Godo's InstigatorsRR
Creature - Human Samurai (R)
Double strike
Bushido 2 (Whenever this creature blocks or becomes blocked, it gets +2/+2 until end of turn.)
Godo's Instigators must be blocked if able.
1/1
Denied Relief(W/B)(W/B)
Instant (U)
Non-Spirit creatures you control gain Afterlife 1 until end of turn. "It may seem cruel to most, but it's just business."
Ronan, Dragonsbane3WG
Legendary Creature - Hound Shaman (M)
Hexproof
Alert (Whenever an opponent attacks you and/or a planeswalker you control with one or more creatures, untap up to one creature you control.) : Target creature you control gets +1/+1 and gains reach until end of turn.
2/5 I say... Enough!
Alert sounds like a cool ability and an interesting take on psuedo-vigilance. On the other hand, the card overall isn't quite exciting, especially for a mythic. It's just a very good limited card.
Mayael, the World Herald1RGW
Legendary Creature - Elf Shaman (Mythic Rare)
Whenever a creature enters the battlefield under your control, look at the top X cards of your library, where X is that creature's power. Put one of those cards on top of your library and the rest on the bottom of your library in any order. RGW, T: Reveal the top card of your library. If it's a creature card with power 5 or greater, put it onto the battlefield. It gains haste. Return it to your hand at the beginning of the next end step. "I walk, and Progenitus follows."
2/3
I like it, even if it's very reminiscent of the OG Mayael, it plays out in a different way enough to feel fresh. Not very original, but a solid design.
Yagarema, the InsidiousBB
Legendary Creature - Demon Spirit (M)
When Yagarema dies choose a creature your opponents control, then put a -1/-1 counter on it.
As long a creature your opponents control has a -1/-1 counter on it you may return Yagarema from your graveyard to your hand at the beginning of each end step.
3/2
Art by
I'm a big fan of "persisting" creature and this brings something new to the table. I would personally have made it put counters on ETB, but this works just fine and does feel balanced.
Tasigur, Khan of Fangs1BGU
Legendary Creature — Human Shaman (M)
Wealth (When this creature dies, reveal the top card of your library. If it has a lower converted mana cost than this card, put it into your hand.)
Whenever a creature you control dies, scry 1.
3/4
Wealth is such a good, fun and perfectly named ability, it's really sad to see the rest of the design being so dull.
This round I'll represent another faction, from Morningtide - Shamans
The Triplet of Misery1BRG
Legendary Creature - Goblin Elemental Elf Shaman (Rare)
Deathtouch, haste
Shamans you control have "T: Add G. This creature deals 1 damage to any target and 1 damage to you. "We are three banished souls banding together to teach our kind about pain. Join our calling, and you will never be alone."
1/3
Lovely flavor and a fantastic design overall. Haste on a pinger that also adds mana is very strong, deathtouch I feel just breaks it, I would have gone with wither, maybe.
Nilaung RavagefistRWB
Legendary Creature - Ogre Warrior (M) RW: Create a 1/1 white Warrior creature token that's tapped and attacking. Activate this ability only during your declare attackers step. 1WB: Each creature you control gains deathtouch and gets +0/+X until end of turn, where X is its power. If it's your turn, each creature you control can't be blocked except by one additional creature this turn. Otherwise, each creature you control can block an additional creature this turn. (For example, if this ability resolves twice during your turn, creatures you control can't be blocked except by three or more creatures this turn.)
4/2
That's a whole lot of text! The first ability is completely fine but the second one feels sketchy. Pumping toughness, giving deathtouch and an additional block on defense seems way too good and annoying, especially in Limited. I like the versatilty of the whole design though and it has some weird color combination appeal.
Warree Tarcha
Legendary Creature - Kithkin Wizard {M}
You have hexproof. : Put target attacking creature with power X or less into its owner’s library just beneath the top X cards of that library.
1/3
God, this card feels obnoxious to play against, it doesn't even need to tap! It's not my kind of card, but I know a couple people who would kill to play with such horrors. That's what makes it a good design.
Sokenzan Raiders2R
Creature - Human Samurai (U)
First strike
Bushido 1
Whenever a creature with bushido you control deals combat damage to a player, you may discard a card. If you do, draw a card.
2/1
Soulsplit StrikeW
Instant (R)
Exile target nontoken creature. Its controller creates four 1/1 colorless Spirit creature tokens. "I have learned not to fear it, now I will learn how to master it."
Godo, the Uncontested1RR
Legendary Creature - Human Barbarian (M)
Trample
Bushido 2 (Whenever this creature blocks or becomes blocked, it gets +2/+2 until end of turn.)
Whenever Godo, the Uncontested deals combat damage to a player, you may search your library for a creature card with first strike, double strike, trample and/or bushido and put it into your hand. If you do, shuffle your library.
3/3
Bloodtinged BishopWB
Creature - Human Cleric (R)
Other Clerics you control get +1/+1.
Whenever you pay life, you may pay . If you do, create a 0/1 black and white Cleric creature token.
2/2
Arms of the Conclave 3GW
Creature - Centaur Soldier (U)
Convoke (Your creatures can help cast this spell. Each creature you tap while casting this spell pays for 1 or one mana of the creature’s color.)
Vigilance
When Arms of the Conclave enters the battlefield, if you control no tapped lands, create a 3/4 green and white Centaur creature token with vigilance.
3/4
The Horror AshoreUB
Enchantment (R)
At the beginning of your upkeep, surveil 1. Then, if your library has 10 or less cards in it, sacrifice The Horror Ashore and create a 10/10 blue Leviathan creature token with flying, trample and hexproof. 1, Sacrifice a creature: Surveil 1.
Eidolon of SorrowsWB
Enchantment Creature - Spirit (R)
Flying Constellation — Whenever Eidolon of Sorrows or another enchantment enters the battlefield under your control, target opponent loses 1 life and you gain 1 life. 3WB: Create a black and white enchantment token with: "Whenever another enchantment enters the battlefield under your control, target opponent loses 1 life and you gain 1 life."
1/2
Regent of Bone1BR
Creature - Dragon Skeleton (Mythic)
Flying, haste
Whenever Regent of Bone attacks, other attacking creatures you control get +1/-1 until the end of the turn.
When Regent of Bone dies, you may search your library for a card named Dragon Throne of Tarkir and put it onto the battlefield, then shuffle your library.
2/1
A couple of things feel off on this one. For starter, this just can't be a mythic rare. I get the restriction on the rarity challenge but it doesn't feel mythic at all, both power-level and flavor wise. It's not even legendary . Secondly: you'll need a rare card to work with your mythic card which in a limited environment is almost impossible to pull off. Also it's not very goood for constructed, seems more like something from a pre-con deck. Not impressed, sorry.
Ugin's Spirit-Blade 1
Artifact-Equipment (R)
Equipped creature gets +2/+2 and gains vigilance.
Whenever a colorless creature enters the battlefield under your control, you may attach Ugin's Spirit-Blade to it. Only those similar in spirit to the Soul of Tarkir may wield it.
I get what you're going for and it's cute, but I don't think leaving out Equip entirely would be a good move. It just doesn't feel right.
Prevaricating Impersonation2UU
Enchantment (R)
Sacrifice a face-down permanent: Add CCC.
Whenever a permanent you control is turned face up, you may have Prevaricating Impersonation become a copy of that permanent except it has "Sacrifice a face-down permanent: Add CCC" and this ability.
This card has such a weird appeal to it, I can't quite understand the flavor behind it. I like it though, it can have a lot of build around option, like with Ixidron, or Eldrazis, or face-down permanents Storm-aristocrats-whatever. I can see a lot of brewer like me trying to figure out what to do with this and it's something that makes me appreciate it a lot.
Makeshift Augmentation2W
Enchantment - Aura (c)
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature gets +2/+2
When Makeshift Augmentation is put into a graveyard from teh battlefield, create two 1/1 colorless Servo artifact creature tokens. "Give me an arm."
Nice concept ad clean design. It's an interesting spin to something a la toten armor, which I'm not a huge fan of. It also ties reasonably with your post "apocalyptic scenario" from your round 1 which is cool.
Marang Trapper2GU
Creature — Human Scout (R)
Wealth (When this card is put into your graveyard from the battlefield, reveal the top card of your library. If it has a lower converted mana cost than this card, put it into your hand.)
~ can't be blocked by creatures with power 2 or less.
Whenever ~ attacks, other creatures you control gain wealth until end of turn.
3/2
Following the Path3UR
Sorcery (U)
Draw a card, then reveal a card from your hand. Following the Path deals damage to any target equal to the converted mana cost of the revealed card. The Way is different for everyone who walks it; follow not another's.
Definitely an improvement on Master the Way, which was absolute balls especially in limited. This has much more applications and can be very good and just as bad, balancing it well.
Sigil of Tirel1WW
Enchantment - Aura (Rare)
Enchant permanent
Enchanted permanent has indestructible. 3WW: Permanents you control gain indestructible until end of turn. No one knows what became of Valeron's holy knight, but her love and duty towards Bant will never be forgotten.
I really liked your round 1 submission and I'm sad to say this is not quite as good and as interesting design-wise. I would have kept in mind the Radiant ability when designing this, like giving indestructible to other permanents with the same or different colors of the enchanted one, making it more of a build around card, rather than "just" a good limited rare. It's balanced well, and the flavor is there. I just find it bland.
Zhur-taa ShamanR
Creature - Goblin Shaman (R)
Riot G, T: Add two mana of any color. Activate this ability only if Zhur-taa Shaman has a +1/+1 counter on it. R, T: Zhur-taa Shaman deals 1 damage to any target. Activate this ability only if Zhur-taa Shaman has no +1/+1 counter on it.
0/1
Dominant Gron (Common) 4U
Creature - Beast
3/3
Flying
Reshape (When this creature enters the battlefield, you may have target creature you control become a copy of this creature.)
Interesting ability, I would like to see it on a more interesting creature though. Another concern I have is that it doen't really feel rathian.
Araba's Garrison3
Artifact - Fortification(R)
Whenever fortified land becomes tapped, create a 1/1 white samurai token with Bushido 1 (Whenever this creature blocks or becomes blocked, it gets +1/+1 until end of turn.).
Fortify 1W(1W: Attach to target land you control. Fortify only as a sorcery. This card enters the battlefield unattached and stays on the battlefield if the land leaves.)
Ah, Kamigawa, I see you're a man of culture aswell. I love your take on a "rebuilding" of Kamigawa and the Fortification flavour works really well. As for powerlevel, I think it's a bit too strong since you get a token for just 1W every turn.
Foothold To Nyx1G
Sorcery (C)
Bloat (You may discard an enchantment card or sacrifice an enchantment as an additional cost to cast this spell.)
You may search your library for up to two basic land cards that share a basic land type and reveal them. Put those cards into your hand. If Foothold to Nyx was bloated, put one of those land card onto the library instead. Shuffle your library. The gods wondered what mighty force could possibly be draining their strength. They never imagined an invasion could begin with mold.
Bloat fits well in Theros, sure. I like how you restricted it to basic lands of the same type to justify the 2 cmc.
Faeries' Feast1B
Tribal Instant - Faerie (Uncommon)
Regress (As an additional cost to cast this spell, you may put a card from your hand on top of your library.)
Target player discards a card. If you regressed this spell, you gain 4 life.
I like how Regress works with Kinship as you mentioned, but I'm not sold on it as a mechanic by itself. My problem with this card in particular is I don't think I ever want to give up my next turn draw step for 4 life. I know it's just an added bonus, but it's not like kicker which gets better as the game progresses.
Transmogrify(G/U)(U/R)
Instant {U}
Gain control of target creature an opponent controls until end of turn. Untap that creature. It loses all abilities and becomes a green Beast with base power and toughness 3/3 and gains haste until end of turn.
Weird hybrid mana costs lead to weird color-pie-breaking-cards. Like mono U shouldn't have this kind of effect. But I like weird hybrid mana costed color-pie-breaking-cards, so you get a pass.
Decomposing Assassin3B
Creature - Zombie Assassin (U)
Deathtouch
Decomposed Assassin enters the battlefield with two +1/+1 counters if it was cast from your hand.
Unearth B
1/2
I love Unearth and this is a very nice spin on it. I really like it.
That's actualy something I didn't really think through honestly. I made his +1 "until your next turn" to really make bushido work, but yours is a really good point.
Oh, and kudos to Cardz, really close finish.
Legendary Sorcery (M)
Exile any number of target Spirits, Gods and/or legendary nonland permanents.
"We could rebuild Kamigawa because of its strong foundations. As for our faith..."
—Lord Konda
Godo, Scourge of the Kami 2RW
Legendary Planeswalker - Godo (M)
[+1]: Until your next turn, Godo, Scourge of the Kami becomes a 3/3 Human Samurai creature with bushido 2 and indestructible that's still a planeswalker.
[-2]: Exile target creature with power 4 or more.
[-6]: You get an emblem with: "During each of your turns, after your first combat phase, untap all Samurai you control and you get three additional combat phases each followed by an additional main phase."
{4}
As for the "Blue magic is cancer" part of your rant, just don't. Counter magic may seem miserable to play against, especially for inexperienced players, but it's just all about patience and timing. If you just mindlessly play out your most relevant spells into untapped blue lands, maybe it's time for some practice.
Legendary Planeswalker - Vorel (M)
[ 0 ]: Double the number of each kind of counter on target permanent.
[ -X ]: Distribute X +1/+1 counters among creatures you control.
[ -XX ]: Create X X/X green Ooze creature tokens.
{ 2 }
So, thank you to the judges not making it too harsh on me, and good luck to everyone for the finals!
Legendary Creature - Human Barbarian (M)
Trample
Bushido 2 (Whenever this creature blocks or becomes blocked, it gets +2/+2 until end of turn.)
Whenever Godo, the Uncontested deals combat damage to a player, you may search your library for a creature card with first strike, double strike, trample and/or bushido and put it into your hand. If you do, shuffle your library.
3/3
Godo's Recruiter 2R
Creature - Human Samurai (C)
Bushido 1 (Whenever this creature blocks or becomes blocked, it gets +1/+1 until end of turn.)
When Godo's Recruiters enters the battlefield, you may search your library for a creature card with bushido, reveal it, then shuffle your library and put that card on top of it.
2/1
Godo's Enforcer 3R
Creature - Ogre Samurai (U)
Menace
Bushido 1 (Whenever this creature blocks or becomes blocked, it gets +1/+1 until end of turn.)
Whenever a creature you control deals combat damage to a player, put a +1/+1 counter on it.
3/2
Godo's Instigators RR
Creature - Human Samurai (R)
Double strike
Bushido 2 (Whenever this creature blocks or becomes blocked, it gets +2/+2 until end of turn.)
Godo's Instigators must be blocked if able.
1/1
Instant (U)
Non-Spirit creatures you control gain Afterlife 1 until end of turn.
"It may seem cruel to most, but it's just business."
Alert sounds like a cool ability and an interesting take on psuedo-vigilance. On the other hand, the card overall isn't quite exciting, especially for a mythic. It's just a very good limited card.
I like it, even if it's very reminiscent of the OG Mayael, it plays out in a different way enough to feel fresh. Not very original, but a solid design.
I'm a big fan of "persisting" creature and this brings something new to the table. I would personally have made it put counters on ETB, but this works just fine and does feel balanced.
Wealth is such a good, fun and perfectly named ability, it's really sad to see the rest of the design being so dull.
Lovely flavor and a fantastic design overall. Haste on a pinger that also adds mana is very strong, deathtouch I feel just breaks it, I would have gone with wither, maybe.
That's a whole lot of text! The first ability is completely fine but the second one feels sketchy. Pumping toughness, giving deathtouch and an additional block on defense seems way too good and annoying, especially in Limited. I like the versatilty of the whole design though and it has some weird color combination appeal.
God, this card feels obnoxious to play against, it doesn't even need to tap! It's not my kind of card, but I know a couple people who would kill to play with such horrors. That's what makes it a good design.
Creature - Human Samurai (U)
First strike
Bushido 1
Whenever a creature with bushido you control deals combat damage to a player, you may discard a card. If you do, draw a card.
2/1
Soulsplit Strike W
Instant (R)
Exile target nontoken creature. Its controller creates four 1/1 colorless Spirit creature tokens.
"I have learned not to fear it, now I will learn how to master it."
Godo, the Uncontested 1RR
Legendary Creature - Human Barbarian (M)
Trample
Bushido 2 (Whenever this creature blocks or becomes blocked, it gets +2/+2 until end of turn.)
Whenever Godo, the Uncontested deals combat damage to a player, you may search your library for a creature card with first strike, double strike, trample and/or bushido and put it into your hand. If you do, shuffle your library.
3/3
Creature - Human Cleric (R)
Other Clerics you control get +1/+1.
Whenever you pay life, you may pay
2/2
Arms of the Conclave 3GW
Creature - Centaur Soldier (U)
Convoke (Your creatures can help cast this spell. Each creature you tap while casting this spell pays for 1 or one mana of the creature’s color.)
Vigilance
When Arms of the Conclave enters the battlefield, if you control no tapped lands, create a 3/4 green and white Centaur creature token with vigilance.
3/4
The Horror Ashore UB
Enchantment (R)
At the beginning of your upkeep, surveil 1. Then, if your library has 10 or less cards in it, sacrifice The Horror Ashore and create a 10/10 blue Leviathan creature token with flying, trample and hexproof.
1, Sacrifice a creature: Surveil 1.
Eidolon of Sorrows WB
Enchantment Creature - Spirit (R)
Flying
Constellation — Whenever Eidolon of Sorrows or another enchantment enters the battlefield under your control, target opponent loses 1 life and you gain 1 life.
3WB: Create a black and white enchantment token with: "Whenever another enchantment enters the battlefield under your control, target opponent loses 1 life and you gain 1 life."
1/2
A couple of things feel off on this one. For starter, this just can't be a mythic rare. I get the restriction on the rarity challenge but it doesn't feel mythic at all, both power-level and flavor wise. It's not even legendary
I get what you're going for and it's cute, but I don't think leaving out Equip entirely would be a good move. It just doesn't feel right.
This card has such a weird appeal to it, I can't quite understand the flavor behind it. I like it though, it can have a lot of build around option, like with Ixidron, or Eldrazis, or face-down permanents Storm-aristocrats-whatever. I can see a lot of brewer like me trying to figure out what to do with this and it's something that makes me appreciate it a lot.
Nice concept ad clean design. It's an interesting spin to something a la toten armor, which I'm not a huge fan of. It also ties reasonably with your post "apocalyptic scenario" from your round 1 which is cool.
Definitely an improvement on Master the Way, which was absolute balls especially in limited. This has much more applications and can be very good and just as bad, balancing it well.
I really liked your round 1 submission and I'm sad to say this is not quite as good and as interesting design-wise. I would have kept in mind the Radiant ability when designing this, like giving indestructible to other permanents with the same or different colors of the enchanted one, making it more of a build around card, rather than "just" a good limited rare. It's balanced well, and the flavor is there. I just find it bland.
Creature - Goblin Shaman (R)
Riot
G, T: Add two mana of any color. Activate this ability only if Zhur-taa Shaman has a +1/+1 counter on it.
R, T: Zhur-taa Shaman deals 1 damage to any target. Activate this ability only if Zhur-taa Shaman has no +1/+1 counter on it.
0/1
Interesting ability, I would like to see it on a more interesting creature though. Another concern I have is that it doen't really feel rathian.
Ah, Kamigawa, I see you're a man of culture aswell. I love your take on a "rebuilding" of Kamigawa and the Fortification flavour works really well. As for powerlevel, I think it's a bit too strong since you get a token for just 1W every turn.
Bloat fits well in Theros, sure. I like how you restricted it to basic lands of the same type to justify the 2 cmc.
I like how Regress works with Kinship as you mentioned, but I'm not sold on it as a mechanic by itself. My problem with this card in particular is I don't think I ever want to give up my next turn draw step for 4 life. I know it's just an added bonus, but it's not like kicker which gets better as the game progresses.
Weird hybrid mana costs lead to weird color-pie-breaking-cards. Like mono U shouldn't have this kind of effect. But I like weird hybrid mana costed color-pie-breaking-cards, so you get a pass.
I love Unearth and this is a very nice spin on it. I really like it.