re: Defiance. How about this version of Defiance:
When this comes into play, reveal (x). For each color of cards in x, (effect).
with x being different for each shard.
So for Bant:
When this comes into play, for each color of permanent your opponents control, (effect).
Esper:
When this comes into play, reveal the top five cards of your library. For each color among them, (effect). Then shuffle these cards into your library.
Grixis:
When this comes into play, for each color of cards in your graveyard, (effect).
Jund:
When this comes into play, for each color of permanents you control, (effect).
Naya:
When this comes into play, reveal your hand. For each color of cards in it, (effect).
Or we can just forget about defiance and focus on protection from the other color (ie protection from green or protection from black on Grixis)
Raging Ravine: A-. Probably not as good as Celestial Colonnade, but comparable, in my opinion. Very interesting concept.
Omnath, Locus of Mana: B+. Well, on the bad side, it requires you not to play spells for it to grow. On the good side, if you've depleted your hand, it becomes humongous.
Stone Idol Trap: A+. Basically reads "Destroy target attacking creature + Ball Lightning" for about 3R, plus or minus one. I like.
Harabaz Druid: A-. Insane in an Ally deck, of course, but even in a deck with only a couple Allies this is OK.
Tideforce Elemental: C+. Probably enables some insane combo. But for now, just a Master Decoy for 3.
Kor Firewalker: A+. Dragon's Claw+Sliver Knight-First Strike. Add two cards that cost 2 each and remove a 1-mana ability. Then cost the result at 2 mana.
When this comes into play, reveal (x). For each color of cards in x, (effect).
with x being different for each shard.
So for Bant:
When this comes into play, for each color of permanent your opponents control, (effect).
Esper:
When this comes into play, reveal the top five cards of your library. For each color among them, (effect). Then shuffle these cards into your library.
Grixis:
When this comes into play, for each color of cards in your graveyard, (effect).
Jund:
When this comes into play, for each color of permanents you control, (effect).
Naya:
When this comes into play, reveal your hand. For each color of cards in it, (effect).
Or we can just forget about defiance and focus on protection from the other color (ie protection from green or protection from black on Grixis)
Omnath, Locus of Mana: B+. Well, on the bad side, it requires you not to play spells for it to grow. On the good side, if you've depleted your hand, it becomes humongous.
Harabaz Druid: A-. Insane in an Ally deck, of course, but even in a deck with only a couple Allies this is OK.
Tideforce Elemental: C+. Probably enables some insane combo. But for now, just a Master Decoy for 3.