Grevax, Master Illusionist1U
Legendary Creature — Human Wizard [R]
Skulk 1U: Return Grevax, Master Illusionist to its owner's hand, then put a token onto the battlefield that's a copy of it.
2/2
Experience: 3
Grevax breathed a sigh of relief when Nilt joined the fight to aid him. He had little mana left, but he could probably summon a trinket to aid his ally in the battle.
Illusionist's Safeguard1
Artifact — Equipment [U]
Whenever equipped creature becomes the target of a spell or ability an opponent controls, counter that spell or ability unless its controller pays 1.
Whenever equipped creature blocks or becomes blocked by a creature an opponent controls, prevent all damage that would be dealt to equipped creature until end of turn unless that opponent pays 1.
Equip 1 "A massive suit of armor isn't the only way to keep yourself safe."
Grevax had been shaken to his core by the fight up until now. Fearing that he might not be able to control his power, he avoided using it. Yet he had used more mana in the last hour than he had in the last year. He feared that he might change as well; that using his magic might unleash nebulous desires locked deep inside him. He felt as though he had insidious intentions, and he tried to bury them by not using magic. However, that illusion was fast running out. He feared that too much more strife might change him forever.
Sylvan Teachings1GU
Enchantment — Aura [R]
Enchant card in your graveyard
When Sylvan Teachings enters the battlefield, draw a card.
At the beginning of your upkeep, target opponent may let you draw a card. If they don't, return enchanted card from your graveyard to your hand.
Frost's Bite1BBB
Enchantment [R]
Whenever a nonsnow creature an opponent controls becomes tapped, put a -1/-1 counter on it. In order to become a warrior in the Un'Kla tribe, one must survive a full night alone in the Winter's Grasp. Many do not survive the attempt.
Reincarnate1GG
Sorcery [R]
Return target creature card from your graveyard to the battlefield, except it's a land instead of its other types. It has "t: Add G to your mana pool" for as long as it's a land.
Grevax, Master Illusionist1U
Legendary Creature — Human Wizard [R]
Skulk 1U: Return Grevax, Master Illusionist to its owner's hand, then put a token onto the battlefield that's a copy of it.
2/2
Experience: 2
"We cannot allow them to pilfer our supplies!" Grevax shouted. He ran outside the tent, then cast a spell to inhibit the bandits.
Collective Sagacity2U
Instant [R]
Escalate—U, Exile two instant and/or sorcery cards from your graveyard. (Pay this cost for each mode chosen beyond the first.)
Choose one or more:
-Counter target spell unless its controller pays 3
-Search your library for an instant or sorcery card and reveal it. Shuffle your library, then put that card on top of it.
-Return target creature to its owner's hand.
You're like 3 redesigns behind. Actually, it's almost back to the original, but it went through some radically different forms. I realized that problem immediately, and I've been redesigning ever since. I was overzealous, I'll admit. If it still doesn't work, let me know, but I think it does.
This was a harder challenge than usual, as it required a little actual research.
Enraged Dimetrodon2GG
Creature- Lizard Beast (U)
When Enraged Dimetrodon is dealt 3 or more damage, it gets +3/+3 and trample until end of turn. Untap it.
3/3
Infinite power/toughness plus trample with Burning Anger. It's not cheap, and it's easy to disrupt, but it works.
IIW: Legendary auras
Sorry, but that doesn't work. The creature dies before its trigger resolves because of state-based effects.
Design
(1/3) Appeal: This is strictly Timmy territory.
(2.5/3) Elegance: There's a lot of moving parts going on here.
Development
(3/3) Viability:
(2.5/3) Balance: This is definitely pushing it in limited, even for a gold rare. Two mana and a creature is a large cost to pay to keep this around, but this is an unbeatable bomb rare that also protects itself. This would be among the best five rares in the set, easily.
Creativity
(2/3) Uniqueness: The card doesn't feel much different than your typical limited bomb that won't see play in constructed. This feels like a card that would be the face rare of an intro deck.
(2.5/3) Flavor: The name and the mechanics fit together well, but you're missing flavor text.
Polish
(3/3) Quality:
(5/5) Challenges:
Total: 20.5/25
Design
(1.5/3) Appeal: Johnny likes this a lot. Spike likes drawing card, but this is a bit of a stretch for him.
(1.5/3) Elegance: This card has many moving parts and non-obvious interactions to it.
Development
(2.5/3) Viability: This could have probably been a mono blue card, but azorious isn't a bad fit.
(3/3) Balance: This draws a bunch of cards and gives your team evasion, but it also costs a ton of mana to do so. This is the ultimate snowball card that's close to useless when you're behind. I'm not a fan of this kind of design, but as a rare it's acceptable.
Creativity
(3/3) Uniqueness:
(1.5/3) Flavor: The card's flavor text is at ends with its mechanics, and I'm not really a fan of the name either.
Polish
(3/3) Quality:
(5/5) Challenges:
Total: 20/25
Design
(2/3) Appeal: This is Johnny for sure, with the right power level to make Spike curious.
(2.5/3) Elegance: The fact that this puts an artifact into play then sacrfices it instead of just discarding it is a little weird (even if it makes sense).
Development
(2.5/3) Viability: Sure, I'm willing to let red have this effect. This feels like a mythic rare in terms of power level, but rare isn't a bad choice.
(0/3) Balance: In standard, this can get the ETB/LTB trigger of any Gearhulk, Skysovereign, Consul Flagship, Treasure Keeper, and Workshop Assistant. In modern, this can put get the ETB/LTB trigger of Sundering Titan, Wurmcoil Engine, Sharuum the Hegemon, Myr Battlesphere, Sphinx Summoner, Summoner's Egg (yes, it works), and Spine of Ish Sah, to only name the most obvious cards. In fact, if you discard Sharuum to this card's ability, it can reanimate itself. All of these things happen at the low, low price of a one time, two mana investment. Even without going in to the power level of the activated ability as well, this card is clearly a developmental failure.
Creativity
(3/3) Uniqueness: The first ability alone nets you full points here.
(1/3) Flavor: The name is too comical and cartoonish for a Magic card. The flavor text is only slightly more serious.
Polish
(3/3) Quality:
(5/5) Challenges:
Total: 18/25
Design
(3/3) Appeal: Spike wants to kill people with this, Johnny wants to abuse it, and Timmy likes extra combat steps.
(1.5/3) Elegance: The "End of first combat" wording leads to a great deal of ambiguity. It's fairly obscure that you can't deal combat damage with a creature and also flicker that same creature to get the extra combat step, and the fact that Galvanius needs to survive combat to get the extra combat step is also not obvious at first glance.
Development
(1.5/3) Viability: This clearly seems like a mythic rare to me. It's extremely powerful and very complex. Lightning Runner is both simpler and less powerful than this card, and that card is a mythic.
(1/3) Balance: Compare your card to Lightning Runner. Revolt is much easier to achieve than paying six energy (though it is noted that Lightning Runner's ability to generate energy for other means is there). Not only that, your card costs one less mana, has one more toughness, and has a very strong activated ability. Also, the fact that this triggers if your opponent kills another creature in or before combat (either with a removal spell or a blocker) makes this far too powerful for its mana cost. That's not even touching the power level of this card with fetchlands in older formats.
Creativity
(3/3) Uniqueness: Though your card is similar to Lightning Runner, it is unique enough for me to give you full points here.
(3/3) Flavor: The mechanics work well with the name to make up for the lack of flavor text.
Grevax, Master Illusionist1U
Legendary Creature — Human Wizard [R]
Skulk 1U: Return Grevax, Master Illusionist to its owner's hand, then put a token onto the battlefield that's a copy of it.
2/2
Experience Counters: 1
Grevax drew power from a nearby library, hoping to find the power necessary to finish casting his spell.
Apprentice's Study
Land [U] t: Add C to your mana pool.
Whenever you cast an instant or sorcery spell, you may pay 1. If you do, scry 1. Every archmage has to start somewhere.
Cat Burglar1UR
Creature — Cat Rogue [U]
Haste
Cat Burglar can't be blocked.
Whenever Cat Burglar attacks, you may draw a card, then put a card from your hand on top of your library.
2/1
Legendary Creature — Human Wizard [R]
Skulk
1U: Return Grevax, Master Illusionist to its owner's hand, then put a token onto the battlefield that's a copy of it.
2/2
Experience: 3
Grevax breathed a sigh of relief when Nilt joined the fight to aid him. He had little mana left, but he could probably summon a trinket to aid his ally in the battle.
Illusionist's Safeguard 1
Artifact — Equipment [U]
Whenever equipped creature becomes the target of a spell or ability an opponent controls, counter that spell or ability unless its controller pays 1.
Whenever equipped creature blocks or becomes blocked by a creature an opponent controls, prevent all damage that would be dealt to equipped creature until end of turn unless that opponent pays 1.
Equip 1
"A massive suit of armor isn't the only way to keep yourself safe."
Grevax had been shaken to his core by the fight up until now. Fearing that he might not be able to control his power, he avoided using it. Yet he had used more mana in the last hour than he had in the last year. He feared that he might change as well; that using his magic might unleash nebulous desires locked deep inside him. He felt as though he had insidious intentions, and he tried to bury them by not using magic. However, that illusion was fast running out. He feared that too much more strife might change him forever.
Enchantment — Aura [R]
Enchant card in your graveyard
When Sylvan Teachings enters the battlefield, draw a card.
At the beginning of your upkeep, target opponent may let you draw a card. If they don't, return enchanted card from your graveyard to your hand.
IIW: Small yet free effects
Enchantment [R]
Whenever a nonsnow creature an opponent controls becomes tapped, put a -1/-1 counter on it.
In order to become a warrior in the Un'Kla tribe, one must survive a full night alone in the Winter's Grasp. Many do not survive the attempt.
Sorcery [R]
Return target creature card from your graveyard to the battlefield, except it's a land instead of its other types. It has "t: Add G to your mana pool" for as long as it's a land.
IIW: Small yet free effects
Legendary Creature — Human Wizard [R]
Skulk
1U: Return Grevax, Master Illusionist to its owner's hand, then put a token onto the battlefield that's a copy of it.
2/2
Experience: 2
"We cannot allow them to pilfer our supplies!" Grevax shouted. He ran outside the tent, then cast a spell to inhibit the bandits.
Collective Sagacity 2U
Instant [R]
Escalate—U, Exile two instant and/or sorcery cards from your graveyard. (Pay this cost for each mode chosen beyond the first.)
Choose one or more:
-Counter target spell unless its controller pays 3
-Search your library for an instant or sorcery card and reveal it. Shuffle your library, then put that card on top of it.
-Return target creature to its owner's hand.
Its current design works!
Sorry, but that doesn't work. The creature dies before its trigger resolves because of state-based effects.
(1/3) Appeal: This is strictly Timmy territory.
(2.5/3) Elegance: There's a lot of moving parts going on here.
Development
(3/3) Viability:
(2.5/3) Balance: This is definitely pushing it in limited, even for a gold rare. Two mana and a creature is a large cost to pay to keep this around, but this is an unbeatable bomb rare that also protects itself. This would be among the best five rares in the set, easily.
Creativity
(2/3) Uniqueness: The card doesn't feel much different than your typical limited bomb that won't see play in constructed. This feels like a card that would be the face rare of an intro deck.
(2.5/3) Flavor: The name and the mechanics fit together well, but you're missing flavor text.
Polish
(3/3) Quality:
(5/5) Challenges:
Total: 20.5/25
(1.5/3) Appeal: Johnny likes this a lot. Spike likes drawing card, but this is a bit of a stretch for him.
(1.5/3) Elegance: This card has many moving parts and non-obvious interactions to it.
Development
(2.5/3) Viability: This could have probably been a mono blue card, but azorious isn't a bad fit.
(3/3) Balance: This draws a bunch of cards and gives your team evasion, but it also costs a ton of mana to do so. This is the ultimate snowball card that's close to useless when you're behind. I'm not a fan of this kind of design, but as a rare it's acceptable.
Creativity
(3/3) Uniqueness:
(1.5/3) Flavor: The card's flavor text is at ends with its mechanics, and I'm not really a fan of the name either.
Polish
(3/3) Quality:
(5/5) Challenges:
Total: 20/25
(2/3) Appeal: This is Johnny for sure, with the right power level to make Spike curious.
(2.5/3) Elegance: The fact that this puts an artifact into play then sacrfices it instead of just discarding it is a little weird (even if it makes sense).
Development
(2.5/3) Viability: Sure, I'm willing to let red have this effect. This feels like a mythic rare in terms of power level, but rare isn't a bad choice.
(0/3) Balance: In standard, this can get the ETB/LTB trigger of any Gearhulk, Skysovereign, Consul Flagship, Treasure Keeper, and Workshop Assistant. In modern, this can put get the ETB/LTB trigger of Sundering Titan, Wurmcoil Engine, Sharuum the Hegemon, Myr Battlesphere, Sphinx Summoner, Summoner's Egg (yes, it works), and Spine of Ish Sah, to only name the most obvious cards. In fact, if you discard Sharuum to this card's ability, it can reanimate itself. All of these things happen at the low, low price of a one time, two mana investment. Even without going in to the power level of the activated ability as well, this card is clearly a developmental failure.
Creativity
(3/3) Uniqueness: The first ability alone nets you full points here.
(1/3) Flavor: The name is too comical and cartoonish for a Magic card. The flavor text is only slightly more serious.
Polish
(3/3) Quality:
(5/5) Challenges:
Total: 18/25
(3/3) Appeal: Spike wants to kill people with this, Johnny wants to abuse it, and Timmy likes extra combat steps.
(1.5/3) Elegance: The "End of first combat" wording leads to a great deal of ambiguity. It's fairly obscure that you can't deal combat damage with a creature and also flicker that same creature to get the extra combat step, and the fact that Galvanius needs to survive combat to get the extra combat step is also not obvious at first glance.
Development
(1.5/3) Viability: This clearly seems like a mythic rare to me. It's extremely powerful and very complex. Lightning Runner is both simpler and less powerful than this card, and that card is a mythic.
(1/3) Balance: Compare your card to Lightning Runner. Revolt is much easier to achieve than paying six energy (though it is noted that Lightning Runner's ability to generate energy for other means is there). Not only that, your card costs one less mana, has one more toughness, and has a very strong activated ability. Also, the fact that this triggers if your opponent kills another creature in or before combat (either with a removal spell or a blocker) makes this far too powerful for its mana cost. That's not even touching the power level of this card with fetchlands in older formats.
Creativity
(3/3) Uniqueness: Though your card is similar to Lightning Runner, it is unique enough for me to give you full points here.
(3/3) Flavor: The mechanics work well with the name to make up for the lack of flavor text.
Polish
(3/3) Quality:
(5/5) Challenges:
Total: 21/25
I think getting to mini-brainstorm every turn lets you make a ton of decisions and is a highly skill testing effect.
"We should make sure that all the bandits are gone. We can't let then take everything we have!" he stated.
Uh, yeah, it's supposed to be. If it looted it would probably be too strong.
Legendary Creature — Human Wizard [R]
Skulk
1U: Return Grevax, Master Illusionist to its owner's hand, then put a token onto the battlefield that's a copy of it.
2/2
Experience Counters: 1
Grevax drew power from a nearby library, hoping to find the power necessary to finish casting his spell.
Apprentice's Study
Land [U]
t: Add C to your mana pool.
Whenever you cast an instant or sorcery spell, you may pay 1. If you do, scry 1.
Every archmage has to start somewhere.
Creature — Cat Rogue [U]
Haste
Cat Burglar can't be blocked.
Whenever Cat Burglar attacks, you may draw a card, then put a card from your hand on top of your library.
2/1
IIW: Small yet free effects