Weekend Art ChallengeClick through to see this weekend's art and the design requirements for your single card submission, due Monday morning. Every submission warrants feedback, which I will try to provide, and which everyone is welcome to provide as well.
If you choose, you may use that feedback to revise your submission any number of times. I will post and review the most recent submission from each designer some time on Monday, life permitting. To help ensure I recreate your design accurately, please use CARDNAME instead of ~ in your submissions.
Design a common (or uncommon) minotaur for Born of the Gods or Journey into Nyx. Try to serve an underserved purpose.
You forgot to credit the artist! Andy Park. :)
ReplyDeleteCelebrant of Ruin 1R
Creature - Minotaur Berserker (C)
Celebrant of Ruin can't attack or block unless you sacrifice a land.
3/2
"I need no tribute other than the carnage and rubble strewn across the battlefield."
- Mogis, god of the slaughter
http://i.imgur.com/smRESKd.jpg
(Forgot to credit on the example render, I mean. Obviously it's in the title. :P)
DeleteNot that it's a significant gameplay alteration, but any particular reason not to go with the pre-existing Ruinous Minotaur text?
DeleteYour flavor text makes me feel like the line "Whenever CARDNAME deals damage, sacrifice a land" is somehow more apropos.
I like the direction that this is going, but at present it's way worse than something like Scythe Tiger.
DeleteI prefer metaghost's triggered ability more than the cost to attack version. I think if a player sacrifices all her lands to this over the course of turns attacking, she should still be able to attack when there's no land left. It's less unfun and punishing this way.
DeleteWhy not Ruinous Minotaur's exact ability?
DeleteWhy not Ruinous Minotaur?
DeleteAlright, alright, I get that Ruinous Minotaur exists now! :P
DeleteI didn't know Ruinous Minotaur existed. I guess I was WAY more cautious in this design than I should have been!
Oh well. You can withdraw this one from the contest. Here's a new version: http://i.imgur.com/lkzzJZm.jpg
Being a one-drop makes it significantly more potent, and the trigger (thanks, metaghost) thus makes a lot more balancing sense.
Interesting! I'd imagine you could go even bigger, since Scythe Tiger and Rogue Elephant still out class this guy a bit. Maybe 2/3 to match other minotaur stats?
DeleteWhat's funny is that I was assuming that its name was supposed to let us know that you were intentionally referencing (and altering) Ruinous Minotaur.
DeleteAlso, I like it as a 3/2, as it portrays a certain color-pie element in conjuntion with Swordwise Centaur.
2/3 or 3/2. This is a major downside.
DeleteFelhide Deathtalker (uncommon)
ReplyDelete3B
Creature - Minotaur Shaman
Whenever CARDNAME blocks or becomes blocked by a creature, that creature gets -X/-X until end of turn, where X is your devotion to black.
3/3
I like the 'devotion-flanking' design. What underserved purpose is this serving?
DeleteMinotaurs are the red/black tribe. They have a card that interacts with devotion to red (Fanatic of Mogis) but not one that interacts with devotion to black.
DeleteI think that's because their primarily red, but this shows a particularly dark Minotaur, which is cool.
DeleteBull-eye Butcher 2BB
ReplyDeleteCreature- Minotaur Warrior [U]
Inspired- whenever CARDNAME becomes untapped, look at the top 3 cards of your library, you may reveal a Minotaur card from among them. put that card on top of your library and put the rest into your graveyard.
4/2
smoothing for a minitour deck. alternately could put the cards on bottom but that makes the effect more labor incentive.
Deletealso syntax should read
Inspired- whenever CARDNAME becomes untapped, look at the top 3 cards of your library, you may reveal a Minotaur card from among them, if you do put that card on top of your library. then put the rest into your graveyard.
I love how this also works with the existing BG "fill your graveyard" theme. My instinct is that you could afford to power up the ability a bit more (look at more cards, or put the Minotaur in hand), since it requires both an inspired trigger and a Minotaur-heavy deck to be effective.
DeleteCan you make this ability blacker (and/or redder)?
Deletemilling your self is now like 100% in black's color pie. it has gotten it at common twice in the theros block
DeleteBoggart Harbinger is precedent for mono-B getting this ability as a tribal thing. That said, I favor putting the Minotaur in hand as a way to make this more black and tutor-esque.
DeleteThis isn't milling yourself; This is digging for cards, which is green.
Deletepumping your team is white... but rageblood shaman. there are a number of things that all colors get when inside a tribe. tutoring or "scrying" for tribesmates is one of them. Grave Defiler
DeleteGrave Defiler is digging zombies out of graves.
DeleteWhy does this minotaur love the graveyard?
Slaughter Caller 1BR
ReplyDeleteCreature- Minotaur Shaman (Uncommon)
3/2
Pay 2 life: Exile the top card of your library. Until end of turn, you may cast that card if it's a Minotaur creature card.
Minotaurs are a difficult tribe to design for because they aren't super-aggressive like Goblins, combo-friendly like Elves, or good at generating value like Faeries. For the most part they're just a bunch of 3-drops (and occasionally 2-drops) that attack for 2. How to fix this? Well, Red and Black both have a history (Sign in Blood, Browbeat) of mixing aggressive strategies with card advantage. What if Minotaurs could do that sort of thing? And what if it also synergized with red's scry effects?
Feedback welcome and appreciated.
I love your goal.
DeleteThis ability feels rare to me since it's mana-free, timing-controlled, reliable and repeatable. What if it were instead an upkeep or attack trigger? Could/Should we use play-with-top-card-revealed somehow?
Good point. What about this?
DeleteAt the beginning of your upkeep, exile the top card of your library. If it's a Minotaur creature card, you may cast it this turn by paying 2 life in addition to its other costs.
Might actually be stronger (because it doesn't require 2 life when you miss). I could also go with an attack trigger as you suggest. I don't want to do 'top card revealed' because that's rare and blue/green.
This is good.
DeleteCould also be
At the beginning of your upkeep, lose 2 life and exile the top card of your library. If it's a Minotaur creature card, you may cast it this turn.
While that's cleaner I think we'll have a hard time convincing a lot of LSPs to play it if the life loss is unavoidable, so I'd stick with Ipaulsen's version.
DeleteOK, sounds good. Official submission:
DeleteSlaughter Caller 1BR
Creature- Minotaur Shaman (Uncommon)
3/2
At the beginning of your upkeep, exile the top card of your library. If it's a Minotaur creature card, you may cast it this turn by paying 2 life in addition to its other costs.
As a rare, I'd like "Whenever ~ attacks, reveal the top card of your library. If it's a Minotaur creature card, put it onto the battlefield tapped and attacking."
DeleteMinotaurs need a curve!
ReplyDeleteBloodpact Minotaur B
Creature - Minotaur Warrior (C)
Whenever another creature dies, sacrifice CARDNAME.
2/3
Interesting!
DeleteI feel like people missed the fact that there is a 1 drop Minotaur in born of the gods. and that it is good. and that decks don't actually need 1 drops to be aggressive because of how quickly they fall off. (hint: the one drop is an enchantment creature)
Deletesorry, I meant jou.
DeleteBlood-Crazzed Butcher R
ReplyDeleteCreature - Minotaur (R)
Haste
CARDNAME Atacks each turn if able.
Whenever CARDNAME attacks, it deals damage to itself equal to its power.
2/3
Flavor text: Reason with them? They cut at their own flesh before every battle. How would you propose I reason with them?
Blood-Crazed Butcher. sorry spelling is not my best subject...
DeleteThis is my attempt at a creative way to make a 2/1 1 drop Minotaur, without upsetting creative's wishes of always having at least 2/3 power and toughness for all Minotaurs.
DeleteThis isn't common just by virtue of having three lines of non-flavor text.
DeleteDo we need either/both of the first two?
Maybe just make it deal 2 damage to itself. Otherwise, it asks a player to understand how to correctly stack the abilities when she also has Kragma Warcaller on the battlefield. Plus, I don't see any card balancing reason for the effect to scale up.
Deletehaste and attacks each turn if able prevents you from getting a cheap but efficient blocker for a turn.
DeleteI made him deal damage equal to its power for flavor reasons.
Could this be uncommon?
It could be uncommon, I think.
DeleteHaste doesn't prevent a player from casting this after combat and using it as a blocker once. I think that's the least contributing line.
that is a great point. lets remove the haste and make it an uncommon.
Deletewhat about this:
DeleteBloodfrenzy Minotaur R
Creature - Minotaur (C)
Whenever CARDNAME deals damage to a opponents or a creature an opponent controls, it deals that much damage to itself.
2/3
I like Nich's suggestion, but if development needed to tweak it to make sure putting pants on it didn't get out of hand, I think it could go as simple as:
DeleteBloodfrenzy Minotaur R
Creature - Minotaur (C)
Whenever CARDNAME attacks, it deals damage to itself equal to its power.
2/3
Red having a 2/3 blocker for R might be too strong, but I don't know that it is for sure. (Kird Ape is a precedent, but I do love Torpid Moloch.)
Has Red ever gotten a straight-up 2/1 for 1? I feel like there's a Development rule saying that there has to be a drawback (cf. Firedrinker Satyr). This, on the other hand, is significantly better.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteBloodfrenzy Minotaur R
DeleteCreature - Minotaur (C)
Whenever CARDNAME attacks or blocks, it deals damage to itself equal to its power.
2/3
Flavor text: Reason with them? They cut at their own flesh before every battle. How would you propose I reason with them?
This is a clever solution, but it strikes me as Borderpost-esque. If the best solution has this much added complexity to do something more basic, we should reconsider our goals.
DeleteUncommon?
DeleteBullgore (Journey into Nyx, Uncommon)
ReplyDeleteBBRR
Creature – Minotaur Warrior
4/4
Intimidate (This creature can’t be blocked except by artifact creatures and/or creatures that share a color with it.)
This design does a lot of things. It gives a player something substantial to do with Ragemonger in Constructed. Even though there aren’t any cards (other than the gods) with Devotion effects in Journey into Nyx, it fuels Devotion decks using cards from the first two sets. It has low complexity. Intimidate is weak on a multicolor card, but still, Minotaurs need some options for evasion to give the deck a way to break stalls. And maybe my favorite part, for limited, it’s a powerful card that will get to the player drafting Minotaurs because of its prohibitive cost.
Between this and a few others, I'm really glad I didn't force people into making cheap minotaurs.
DeleteIf the challenge were just "a card" for the Minotaur deck, I would have suggested a Urn from a potential 5 card cycle in Born of the Gods.
DeleteKragma Urn (Uncommon)
BR
Enchantment Artifact
3B: Target creature gains lifelink until end of turn.
3R: Target creature gains first strike until end of turn.
2BR, T: Target creature gains first strike and lifelink until end of turn.
Kragma Goremaster BR
ReplyDeleteCreature - Minotaur (U)
Whenever another creature dies, Kragma Goremaster deals 1 damage to target opponent and 1 damage to you.
3/2
Trying to give the tribe a little more reach out of combat, since Fanatic of Mogis is better in a mono-red deck than a proper bicolored Minotaur tribal deck. As a bicolored two-drop, also fills in the devotion curve for Mogis himself.
And is free via Ragemonger. Badass.
DeleteIs there a reason this isn't just "1 damage to each player"? Regardless, this does A LOT of damage right now. Development might need to make it only trigger off of creatures you control.
Delete@Jules: No, not really. Making that change.
DeleteMy dude's optimal scenario is either getting in unblocked, or staying out of combat and having your other creatures repeatedly trading with the opponent's. I can't speak for JBT, but in Theros-Born Limited, it was stupidly easy to win games without ever killing an opponent's creature, thanks to evasive Voltron dudes plus bounce. Additionally, he constrains you to red-black, one of which is the worst color in the block and the other of which requires devoting (heh) a lot of your deck to that color to be maximally effective. So I don't think he's broken in Limited. In Constructed, he's a lightning rod for cheap spot removal but punishes Wraths, which seems like a fair trade.
I didn't read carefully enough and thought you were calling for an undeserved design... I'm going to need to come back with a fresh mind after that dead end.
ReplyDeleteha. Now I'm curious what that would look like.
DeleteMostly it ended up with Stone Rain 'taurs, but I did think at one point, "how do I make Counterspell out of a Minotaur?"
DeleteI did dig around a lot in history lessons, so I figured I'd give this one a shot:
Minotaur Carnophage {B}
Creature - Minotaur
Inspired — Whenever CARDNAME untaps, it gets +2/+1 until end of turn and you lose 1 life.
1/1
Yeah this is almost certainly an uncommon.
Whether he gets Warrior or some other creature type or if +1/+2 is a better idea or some other stat increase is entirely up for debate.
DeleteI'd make it a 0/2 with +2/+1, as that fulfills both Hurloon Minotaur and Unholy Armor number expectations. It might be too cute, but I like this card - I'd love to see a good flavor for it.
DeleteI prefer Tigt's
DeleteI have 7 ideas right now. Trying to pare that down to a reasonable number. Was hoping some of you would use some of them, but no luck yet.
ReplyDeleteBloodthirsty Brute R
ReplyDeleteCreature - Minotaur Berserker (C)
Whenever CARDNAME becomes blocked, it gets +2/+0 until end of turn.
1/2
Red doesn't usually get 1/2 for 1 (especially with upside). What about 1/1, gets +2/+2 when blocked? (Compare with Deepwood Wolverine.)
DeleteOr 1R, or 1/1 with +1/+2, or uncommon?
DeleteGiven comparisons to Triton Shorestalker, I certainly don't think there are any power level concerns here, but I could go for uncommon or 2 cmc. I don't like the other pumping numbers because red is always supposed to pump more power than toughness. On top of that, +1/+2 requires the player to calculate two numbers as opposed to Rootwalla or Bellows Lizard.
DeleteFor now let's just go with uncommon.
Not my submission, but here's another thought for the "on-curve minotaur":
ReplyDeleteReckless Minotaur (uncommon)
R
Creature - Minotaur Berserker
Haste
When it's not your first, second, or third turn of the game, sacrifice CARDNAME.
3/2
Serra Avenger in reverse? That's quite spicy (and possibly rare). The templating might need a little work-- maybe say "At the beginning of your end step, if it isn't your first or second turn of the game, sacrifice CARDNAME." That also makes clear that it can be used as a Spark Elemental when you draw it late (maybe too good, but that's hard to know). In any case, I really like the design.
DeleteOhhh. I kept missing 'haste' and couldn't figure out why this didn't read the same as Serra Avenger. Yeah, if the idea is that it you sack it EOT, it needs to say that.
DeleteI like the idea of a conditional Spark Elemental, but I'd rather see a more minotaur-y condition.
Whoops. My intention was not that you would have to sacrifice this guy at EOT, jut that he'd be a blank if you drew him on turn 4 or later.
DeleteReckless Minotaur (uncommon)
R
Creature - Minotaur Berserker
Haste
When it's your turn, if it's not your first, second, or third turn of the game, sacrifice CARDNAME.
3/2
Why not…
Delete"You can't cast CARDNAME after your third turn of the game."
Or at least…
"When CARDNAME ETB under your control, if its after your third of the game, sacrifice ~."
Kragma Blooddrinker
ReplyDelete3B
Creature - Minotaur (C)
When Kragma Blooddrinker enters the battlefield, up to X target creatures each gain lifelink until end of turn, where X is your devotion to black. (Each {B} in the mana costs of permanents you control counts toward your devotion to black.)
4/1
It provides a black 4-drop for Minotaurs, as well as being the only black minotaur with the devotion mechanic on it.
For all I know, this card is uncommon. I think its current iteration is common, but let me know. Feedback appreciated as always.
Um... Mogis's Maurader? (To address Tommy's comment, you might adopt that card's strategy and also grant haste.)
DeleteWait a second... Mogis's Maurader is a human. I had no idea!
DeleteThat one has gotten me before! You have to look at the art real close to see it is a guy wearing a minotaur pelt.
DeleteIf I wanted to make this uncommon, I think I would adopt the haste of the Marauders. Though then I'd fear it was too similar. If uncommon, I'd probably make it bigger and cost more.
DeleteWhat about it doesn't feel "minotaur-y"?
The lifelink part feels rather out of place on a minotaur, to me. I would prefer deathlink, the (rarely used) "When this is dealt damage, each opponent loses that much life" ability, or some variation (like life loss when something blocks).
DeleteAlso note, by the way, that Journey into Nyx specifically eschews devotion except on the gods because [story].
DeleteI agree.
DeleteIt is really disappointing that this card combines 4 power and lifelink, which would go really well together, but in such a way that you never get to use them together!
ReplyDeleteI'm also not sure this feels "minotaur-y" to me.
Deathbellow Bloodreader BR
ReplyDeleteCreature - Minotaur Shaman (u)
When CARDNAME enters the battlefield, draw two cards. Then, you lose three life and discard three cards.
2/3
This is quite the thought-provoking design. Probably either the card-disadvantage or the life-loss would be sufficient to make it balanced, but it's hard to tell; in some situations I might actually want a 'free' spell that said "draw two cards, then discard three cards".
DeleteDoes this fill the gap of minotaurs spikes can only love?
DeleteI'm going to think through my ideas here. If you only want to see the final choice, skip to the next comment. All of them are aimed at filling the cheap-minotaur slot.
ReplyDeleteKragma Bullock {R}
unc
Whenever another Minotaur enters the battlefield under your control, put a +1/+1 counter on Kragma Bullock.
1/1
A bit like a minotaur-only ally, or an evolve creature, I'm okay with red growing based on this trigger, but it's in conflict with heroic and monstrosity.
Kragma Recruit {R}
cmn
Whenever another Minotaur attacks, Kragma Recruit gets +1/+2 until end of turn.
1/1
Sort of a Kird Ape of attacking with other minotaurs. Could also be a 0/1 that gets +2/+2.
Minotaur Calf {R}
cmn
1RR: Monstrosity 2.
1/1
My only hesitation here is that no other minotaurs got monstrosity and I think that was intentional. They also never get heroic. Maybe Creative really wanted them to feel in-between humanoid and monstrous, but it seems like every tribe should qualify as hero, monster, or god.
Kragma Warcaller {1}{R}
unc
RR: Monstrosity 1.
When becomes monstrous, creatures you control gain haste until end of turn.
1/2
The uncommon version. Less big, but more useful late.
Kragma Zealot {1}{R}
unc
Kragma Zealot has power and toughness each equal to the number of Minotaurs you control.
*/*
Works a lot like the Bullock, but without the counters. Red used to own this mechanic, but white does now. Still, counting minotaurs seems okay.
Kragma Violator {R}{R}
unc
3/1
I wanted to make this common, but being better for devotion just makes it too strong, I think.
While I like all of these designs, its easy to discount the ones that I have even small concerns about, since there are some I have none for.
Of those, Kragma Recruit and Violator stand out as pretty safe. note that Violator doesn't have combined p/t 5+, but I feel like a 3/1 for two is pretty agressive and minotaur-y. Tough choice here…
There's one minotaur with tribute, so they fall into the "monster" camp. My guess is that they had many monster types they wanted to put into the block, and minotaurs didn't feel right at sizes of 5/5 or more. They're like harpies and sirens, "grunt" monsters for the heroes to fight en masse before they face up against a big boss like a hydra or giant.
DeleteA minotaur Champion of the Parish? Sign me up. I like the idea of duplicating this design with some less ubiquitous tribes.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite of these is Kragma Recruit, though. You can think of it as a toned-down version of the Ember Beast mechanic, and in fact that might be a better way to template it (apparently making sure that Minotaurs have >4 combined P/T was a major creative rule). So I'd propose 2/3 base stats and "CARDNAME gets -1/-2 unless another Minotaur is attacking".
* "unless another Minotaur attacked this turn"
DeleteThat'll look better at first glance, but that text is so awkward, and turns it from an upside into a downside. Simplifying to Ember Beast is a great idea:
DeleteKragma Coward {R}
2/3 Minotaur
Kragma Coward can’t attack or block without another minotaur.
"Can't attack or block unless another minotaur is attacking or blocking" lets it block an attacking minotaur...
Bah. "Without another minotaur" is just so vague. Amazed "can't attack or block alone" works.
DeleteSo I think to be perfectly clear it has to be "~ can't attack unless another minotaur attacks and can't block unless another minotaur blocks."
Or... I could drop the minotaurization and just use "can't attack or block alone" In M10, that was a 2/2 for R and in M13, that was a 3/3 for 1R. This has to be better or worse than one of those. Given that it's the third set and other cards that couldn't have been printed in a first set were, I'm going to push it as a 2/3 for R.
I could also use just "can't attack alone" to justify something bigger than Jackal, but I'm not sure how a Torpid Moloch would affect Theros Limited.
How about we dig deep in the rules bucket and combine:
Delete"Can't attack alone" and "Attacks each turn if able" so the downside is worse than Mogg Flunkies, because they actually drag one of your other creatures along with them!
This would certainly require reminder text, because, as I learned in a stream the other day, even most experienced players don't know what happens if Loyal Pegasus is forced to attack by a Shipwreck Singer. (They must attack with another creature too.)
I'm afraid whoever you learned that from had bad info. "Can't" always trumps "must" and you can never be forced to attack with a creature that has conditions you don't already meet or otherwise have to meet.
DeleteYou could do "creatures you control attack if able."
508.1d The active player checks each creature he or she controls to see whether it’s affected by any requirements (effects that say a creature must attack, or that it must attack if some condition is met). If the number of requirements that are being obeyed is fewer than the maximum possible number of requirements that could be obeyed without disobeying any restrictions, the declaration of attackers is illegal. If a creature can’t attack unless a player pays a cost, that player is not required to pay that cost, even if attacking with that creature would increase the number of requirements being obeyed.
DeleteExample: A player controls two creatures: one that “attacks if able” and one with no abilities. An effect states “No more than one creature can attack each turn.” The only legal attack is for just the creature that “attacks if able” to attack. It’s illegal to attack with the other creature, attack with both, or attack with neither.
Hmmm. Now I'm not so sure. Attacking isn't a cost in Magic terms.
DeleteIt actually does make another creature attack. "Must attack" adds a condition and the player must fulfill as many as possible among all possible permutations of which creatures attack.
DeletePoint is, definitely less than intuitive.
Yup, I was throwing around card ideas for Minotaur one-drops a while ago and came up with the same idea (I think I called it Minotaur Younghorn). The minotaurs-only part is something I didn't think of, would be awesome if you could get the wording down but it does sound very confusing or long ATM, haha xD
DeleteYou're not alone in thinking it works that way, Jay. That is what almost everyone in the stream was arguing.
DeleteWhat minotaurs really need is low drops. If the set did gold at common, I think a vanilla 2/3 for RB would be perfect. Sadly, that would be a pretty lame uncommon.
ReplyDeleteThere are, of course, a lot of dumb ways around this, like:
Tiny Monster B
R: Monstrosity 1
1/2
But this feels like it is really trying to shove a square peg in a round hole.
Maybe it would feel more natural as:
Mogis' Maulhorns R
Creature -- Minotaur (C)
1B : CARDNAME gets +1/+1 until end of turn.
1/2
What do you think?
I'm not comfortable making a black or red 1/2 for one with upside at common, but otherwise these seem like promising designs. We'll need some flavor to justify the minotaur-shade.
DeleteI think red should be fine with a 1/2 for 1 if the upside is in another color. I could see development being squeamish about it. If they were, I think I'd want to push the shade ability up to 2B rather than pushing the cost of up to 1R.
DeleteWould you be comfortable with it as is at uncommon?
Looking through history, I don't think they have ever justified the shade ability flavorfully, and certainly they've not kept it restrained to shades... Even in this block it appeared on a tree! That said, I think I'd want to portray it here as something about bloodcrazed anger, since it is on a red card.
It could be interesting to add "Attacks each turn if able," which is something I don't think we've ever seen with the shade ability, but there is clearly some synergy there.
Uncommon and must-attack sounds good.
DeleteSo final version:
DeleteBloodcrazed Minotaur R
Creature - Minotaur (Uncommon)
~ attacks each turn if able.
1B: ~ gets +1/+1 until end of turn.
1/2
So the thing that Theros really, really lacked was a Minotaur that would break Didgeridoo in Legacy. For those that know their Legacy history, you'd remember the infamous Thunderbluff deck which broke Anuba Grunt and warped the format so severely that the Grunt was emergency banned from the game entirely. So in that vein, I'm looking for a minotaur that would be ridiculous in Legacy but only fair in standard. And a common or uncommon.
ReplyDeleteKragma Grunt 4RR
Creature- Minotaur (C - Journey to Nyx)
When Kragma Grunt enters the battlefield, target opponent reveals their hand. Kragma Grunt deals damage to the opponent equal to the total converted mana cost of those cards.
2/3
I feel like your history lesson must have been some sort of joke that was above my head, since I can't find any of the cards you mention (or variations on their names). Am I missing something?
DeleteAs far as the design, I really don't think this really isn't a common. They do avoid using the phrase "converterted mana cost" at common, though occasionally they'll allow it (for example, on Singe-Mind Ogre, which is very close to your design).
In limited, this card will very often do 12+ damage, winning the game on its own. I think that is too swingy for common. Compare to Fanatic of Mogis, which can do way less damage, and is at uncommon.
As a final critique, the textbook and stats don't match up for me. I'd rather it just be a sorcery, or come on a body that also wants to be very aggressive (maybe with intimidate?).
I love the text box, but to me it actually feels more like a mythic than a common!
I applaud absolutely all of this, but I do think it sadly should probably be an uncommon. If I were pitching for this slot, it'd probably go something like:
DeleteKragma Cultist 4RR
Creature - Minotaur Shaman
When CARDNAME enters the battlefield, you may search your library for a Demon card, reveal it, and put it onto the battlefield. If you do, shuffle your library.
There is always a greater power.
2/3
...which probably needs to be a rare.
I can get behind upping it to uncommon and increasing the price.
DeleteKragma Grunt 5RR
Creature- Minotaur (U - Journey to Nyx)
When Kragma Grunt enters the battlefield, target opponent reveals their hand. Kragma Grunt deals damage to that player equal to the total converted mana cost of those cards.
2/3
Nyxfeaster 1B
ReplyDeleteEnchantment Creature - Minotaur (U)
Bestow 2B
Whenever Nyxfeaster or enchanted creature attacks, sacrifice an enchantment.
4/3
Yes, the art doesn't have the Nyx stars in it :( This also isn't tribal but I liked the design. If the art being non-starry is gonna be a problem, let's try this:
Keeper of Rage 4BR
Creature - Minotaur Warrior (U)
Whenever Keeper of Rage or another Minotaur creature you control attacks, target creature can't block this turn.
3/4
So you play a bunch of 2/3 Minotaurs and your opponent sticks down a 4/5 Nessian Asp or something to wall them all. This is your finisher. Uncommon for limited purposes, could be rare if pushed but this is likely a dangerous effect to push hard.
Meant to be when Nyxfeaster/enchanted creature attacks or blocks. My bad.
DeleteJust so we're clear, if you bestow an enemy creature with Nyxfeaster, you'll have to sacrifice whenever they attack or block with it.
DeleteAlso, if you attack with Keeper of Rage and two other minotaurs, you can choose three opposing creatures that can't block.
DeleteYes and yes (from the way you've said it I'm not sure if yes is a good answer, haha xD). Nyxfeaster is essentially irrelevant on their dudes anyway since if they don't want the Aura on their creature they can just sacrifice the bestowed Nyxfeaster the first time it attacks or blocks.
DeleteKeeper of Rage is cool, but I worry that it might make it a little too hard to block to be fun. What about "Creatures with power less than the number of attacking Minotaurs you control can't block."?
DeleteYeah, that's a thought I had too. Costing 6 and triggering off of only Minotaurs does make it pretty limited but still. That effect sounds cool but it's something I'd prefer to see on a rare lord I think.
DeleteOther things I thought were cool was something playing around in the space of Desecration Demon (giving the minotaur offerings to placate it), and something along the lines of this:
Kragma Horn-Tossers 4R
Creature - Minotaur (U)
When Kragma Horn-Tossers enters the battlefield, sacrifice another creature. Kragma Horn-Tossers deals damage equal to that creature’s power to target creature or player.
4/4
It's a fair body for limited, unlike Fling which is pretty "meh" outside of those times when you get finishing blows with it, but in a set like Theros you can be flinging your Voltrons they've locked down with various removal spells.
I like Horn-Tosser.
DeleteMake it optional?
DeleteDef. makes it a better card as optional; more red without the option. Optional is probably better overall though, yeah.
DeleteGrudgeholder Minotaur R
ReplyDeleteCreature - Minotaur Warrior (R)
Whenever a Minotaur you control dies, put a +1/+1 counter on each Minotaur you control.
~ can't attack unless it has a +1/+1 counter on it.
2/3
What Theros Minotaurs lack is a theme. They are a fast, aggressive tribe, like the Goblins, but this is diluted by the fact that they are big/costly. So maybe a "vengeful" style could have been the trademark of the Minotaurs' attack style. There could be many other abilities along that theme, especially a "reverse heroic" where you get a bonus if an opponent's spell targets your Minotaur.
I would describe them as brutal/savage but vengeful's far from out of place. This design is quite vengeful and definitely rare. I would change "each Minotaur you control" to CARDNAME for both thematic and balance reasons.
DeleteI'm with Jay on this one. Knucklebone Witch saw Standard play.
Delete