Weekend Art ChallengeGreetings, artisans! Click through to see this weekend's art and the design requirements for your single card submission, due Monday morning. Every submission warrants feedback, and everyone is encouraged to give feedback. You may use that feedback to revise your submission any number of times, though only the version rendered will be included in the review, if someone volunteers to render the cards.
Design a card using an existing mechanic that isn't evergreen. For additional challenge, justify this art in green or blue.
Stand Alone
ReplyDelete5UUU
Sorcery - Mythic Rare
Choose target creature. Return all other creatures to their owner's hands.
Rebound
Interesting design. If they printed this, it would almost certainly not target. See Duneblast.
DeleteThis is cool, but may be a bit splashier than we really want for Commander. Cyclonic Rift has caused some issues and while this doesn't punish noncreature permanents, anyone without one is told to just not bother with their next turn. That's fine if it's killing them 1-on-1 though. Perhaps we can reach some middle ground:
DeleteRise Above 2U
Sorcery (R)
Choose one creature and tap the rest. They don't untap during their controllers' next untap step.
Rebound
Granted rebound was implemented without much flavor it's first go round. There's nothing mechanically wrong with your card. It just feels like they had a hole to fill and it had to have rebound on it.
DeleteRagnarok Battle-Maiden 1W
ReplyDeleteCreature - Human Warrior (U)
Fateful hour — At the beginning of your upkeep, if you have 5 or less life, you may return Ragnarok Battle-Maiden from your graveyard to the battlefield.
2/1
Nice touch that this dies so easily so you get to chump block a lot and feel like the ability is pulling its weight.
DeleteFateful hour is a classic example of a mechanic that seems a lot cooler than it is in practice. I don't think it will come back, because it was such a flop, but seeing designs like this always makes me excited for it.
DeleteDefender of the Barrens 1WG
ReplyDeleteCreature-Human Warrior (U)
Morph--All creatures a chosen opponent controls are attacking (You may cast this card face down as a 2/2 creature for 3. You may turn it face up any time its morph condition is met.)
When CARDNAME is turned face up, untap it. It gets +2/+2 until end of turn.
3/3
Trap morphs are a common idea, and I like it, but I fear this is going to lead to a format where people always play their creature before combat, which just makes things less interesting because there aren't combat tricks or threat of flipping morphs etc.
DeleteFor these reasons, I suggest making it something like "three or more creatures are attacking you" which I think is also a bit more grokkable.
What would Scavenge look like on a planeswalker?
ReplyDeleteGazu, Survivor of Jund (mythic)
2BRG
Planeswalker - Gazu
0: Exile target creature card from your graveyard. CARDNAME gains loyalty equal to that card's power.
-X: Put an X/1 black, red, and green Elemental creature token onto the battlefield. It has trample, haste, and lifelink.
-X: Each player loses X life.
4
Good concept. Two X abilities feels awkward, somehow. I really want at least one that I can minus without having to do as much math.
DeleteLone Warrior 2U
ReplyDeleteCreature - Human Warrior (U)
Phasing
CARDNAME can't be blocked
When CARDNAME enters the battlefield or phases in, target creature gets -3/-0 until your next turn.
3/1
I'm bothered by the fact that, since this thing is unblockable, the -3/-0 has no synergy with this thing attacking, which seems like a real shame on a 3/1.
DeleteAlternative: When ~ enters the battlefield or phases in, target creature phases out.
DeleteThe -3/-0 lasts until your next turn - it's supposed to help you race to offset the phasing drawback.
DeleteWOTC really tries to avoid the "until your next turn" template because it creates so many memory issues. It is on two cards in standard, and both are Mythics.
DeleteGood points Tommy. Here's a simplified design, focusing on the stronger part of the card.
DeleteLone Warrior 1U
Creature - Human Warrior (U)
When CARDNAME enters the battlefield or phases in, target creature can't be blocked until end of turn.
2/1
Stoneforge Swordsmen 1W
ReplyDeleteCreature - Kor Soldier (U)
When ~ enters the battlefield, you may attach target equipment you control to it.
Unearth 3WW
2/2
In Grixis, Unearth represented necromancy, using the dead in service. Here it represents such strong devotion to the cause that the soldiers give their dying moment to one last charge.
Krieg Runemaster (RAR) 1GG
ReplyDeleteCreature - Human Warrior 3/3
Deathtouch
Whenever a creature dealt damage by Krieg Runemaster this turn dies, if it doesn't have provoke, put a +1/+1 counter on Krieg Runemaster and it gains provoke. (When it attacks, you may have target creature defending player controls untap and block it if able. This effect lasts indefinitely.)
I'd like this to just have the Sengir Vampire ability permanently, (like Predator Ooze does) because it tells the story of the warrior picking through her enemies on the battlefield one by one and getting stonger all the while. Also, this version that limits the effect is pretty awkward.
Know what, I'm going to use the other Predator Ooze counter making effect (along with some Spirit of the Night tech).
DeleteKrieg Runemaster (RAR) 1GG
Creature - Human Warrior 2/2
Provoke (Reminder text.)
Whenever Krieg Runemaster attacks, put a +1/+1 counter on it.
Krieg Runemaster has deathtouch as long as it's attacking.
Predator Ooze with provoke is a cool concept, but I think this is too strong. Is deathtouch necessary? Making players work a little (with say an aura) before getting their gigantic murder machine seems okay.
Delete"Making players work a little (with say an aura) before getting their gigantic murder machine" isn't a thing WotC seems interested in doing anymore. Siege Rhino would be cleaner without trample. Savage Knuckleblade doesn't need three abilities. But WotC seems to like giving players effcient removal and killer attackers.
DeleteTimely Avenger 2WW
ReplyDeleteCreature - Human Soldier (R)
Miracle W (You may cast this card for its miracle cost when you draw it if it's the first card you drew this turn.)
Timely Avenger can block any number of creatures.
3/5
Just when all hope was lost.
Pretty sure this works. Feedback appreciated as always.
I think vigilance is better than "can block any number of creatures" because it lets you swing and make progress towards winning the game while defending yourself. Otherwise, Miracle is an awesome choice.
DeleteThis design seems to want Flash more than Miracle to me. Something that blocks really well doesn't have very good stickiness/synergy with something that you almost always have to play during your draw step.
DeleteI messed around with this sort of thing back when they first spoiled Miracle, like a sort of "savior" creature you really wanted to top deck when you were losing the game. The problem was that Terminus was spoiled shortly after and sort of stole away that emotional space xD Your design is cool though.
DeleteYeah, Terminus does sorta invalidate this, but I think it's interesting enough.
DeleteIn my head, I want this to be the thing you draw when you're facing down a horde you don't know how to beat. That's why I have block any number instead of vigilance. Vigilance lets you deal damage if you can maybe get past the opposing army, but block any number is the thing that guarantees you'll live another day.
Destroyer of kingdoms 2GG
ReplyDeleteCreature - Human Warrior (R)
Exalted (Whenever a creature you control attacks alone, that creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn.)
Lands you control have exalted.
3/3
“This land is not yours to rule. Nor anyone’s.”
Assuming you play four lands then this, this is basically a 5/5 haste for 4 (from the five exalted triggers) with an enormous upside. I think that is a bit too much, and you don't have to work for it like with Sublime Archangel.
DeleteI suppose you could argue this isn't too much different than Wolfir Siliverheart, so probably 5 mana is the right price if you want this effect. It will be a gigantic pain on MTGO.
You're probably right, I didn't think it through. I thought that with exalted, Destroyer of kingdoms not having any kind of evasion was a big drawback, which is why I undercosted it. But you can have another creature with evasion gain the exalted bonus, so it's not that much of a problem, I guess.
DeleteSo, new version :
Destroyer of kingdoms 3GG
Creature - Human Warrior (R)
Exalted (Whenever a creature you control attacks alone, that creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn.)
Lands you control have exalted.
3/3
“This land is not yours to rule. Nor anyone’s.”
Death-Eating Warrior B
ReplyDeleteCreature - Human Warrior (Rare)
Death-Eating Warrior can’t block.
Morbid — If a creature died this turn, you may cast Death-Eating Warrior from your graveyard.
2/1
Blood-Soaked Champion certainly suggests this should be fine.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThe challenge requires a non-evergreen "mechanic", not a keyword...
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorites is twobrid:
Wasteland Recon {2/W}{2/W}
Sorcery
Put X 1/1 white soldier creature tokens into the battlefield, where X is the amount of mana spent to cast CARDNAME.
Yikes! This is a strictly better than Captain's Call with no color requirement, and that's only when you cast it for {4}. Fix it at two 1/1s, though, and I'm sold on this as a very solid common design.
DeletePeople will wonder if you can pay 4 with only Plains? I'm fairly good at rules, and I'm 90% sure you can, but I wouldn't be shocked if you can't, and I bet newer players will not be so clear on the issue.
DeleteAlso, I think it is strange to have a two-brid card that rewards playing it off color instead of on color.
Good points all around. How about:
DeleteWasteland sentry. {2/W}{2/W}
Uncommon
Creature - human soldier
When CARDNAME enters the battlefield, you gain 1 life for each W spent to cast it.
2/4
"I laugh at pillarfield oxen!"
On second thought, cut the toughness: 2/3
DeleteAbzan Survivor 1W
ReplyDeleteCreature- Human Warrior (U)
1{b/g}: Regenerate Abzan Survivor. When it regenerates this way, put a +1/+1 counter on it.
2/1
Abzan Survivor 1W
DeleteCreature- Human Warrior (C)
1{b/g}{b/g}: Regenerate Abzan Survivor. When it regenerates this way, put a +1/+1 counter on it.
2/2
Using an updated template of the Nightmare mechanic from Torment/Judgment:
ReplyDeleteHero of the Ruins 2WW
Creature - Human Warrior (Rare/Mythic)
When Hero of the Ruins enters the battlefield, exile all other creatures you control until Hero of the Ruins leaves the battlefield.
First Strike
4/4
Super broken if you have two of them.
DeleteCommander supliment offering:
ReplyDeleteYawgmoth, Father of Machines
(B!)(B!)(B!)
Enchantment creature- God
Mythic
Unless a player has 5 or more poison counters, CARDNAME isn't a creature.
All creatures have infect.
(B!): regenerate target creature.
5/5
I forgot the legendary tag :/
DeleteJust spit balling throwbacks, obviously it doesn't match the art...
Delete"Devotion to Phyrexia" (mana) is so thematically cool that I'm surprised you didn't go that route.
DeleteRegeneration doesn't work on creatures that die to -1/-1 counters, so the regeneration ability on this feels really weird.
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteI'm not in love with the card and it doesn't match the artwork. It was just a spur of the moment inspiration.
DeleteInfect limits the usefulness of the regen by design. Damage from creatures is always lethal, but non creature damage and destroy effects are still affected.
Rimeblade Scholar 2U
ReplyDeleteCreature - Human Wizard (U)
Battle Cry (Whenever this creature attacks, each other attacking creature gets +1/+0 until end of turn.)
Whenever Rimeblade Scholar becomes blocked, you may draw two card.
1/3
This is very clever but I can't imagine this as monoblue. Maybe UW?
DeleteI'll do some renders.
ReplyDelete