The doorkeeper chortles. "We haven't had one of your kind in quite a while! Well, we'll see how long you last out there."
No sooner does the last sentence escape his weathered lips than a deafening fanfare of trumpets sounds outside the portcullis. The dread barrier rises and you hear the cheers of the crowd as you run for the exit. The darkness of the dungeon is quickly replaced by the scorching sun above the colossal pit of sand you're standing in, and a wild battle begins, with everyone staying in the loose alliances they made in the holding cells together.
To survive, you need to act fast.
Round 2 Challenge: As the battle royale begins, it's time for you to make your first move - create a combat trick card that is somehow "on theme" with your style of combat. No matter what card type this card is it must under some conditions be playable at instant speed, of course.
Dichotomized BlazeRR
Instant (U)
Choose even or odd. Dichotomized Blaze deals 2 damage to each creature with converted mana cost of the chosen value. "At last! Fire that obeys will without constant attention!"
-Grant, pyromancer
Zamek HulkerUG
Creature - Human Mutant (R) 1UG: Zamek Hulker becomes 5/5 and gains trample until end of turn. At the beginning of the next end step, tap Zamek Hulker, it doesn't untap during its controller's next untap step.
2/2
Frenzied ChargeGG
Instant (U)
Target attacking creature you control gets +3/+3 until end of turn. It fights target creature you don't control. There's nothing like a good fight before a battle.
Steelblast Charger3
Creature - Construct Berserker (R)
When Steelblast Charger dies, you may pay X. If you do, destroy each permanent with converted mana cost X. X can't be 0. "How much fuel does it need?"
"How much boom do you need?"
1/1
Furious Feedback(R/W)
Instant (C)
Until end of turn, whenever damage is dealt to target creature you control, that creature deals twice that much damage to target creature an opponent controls.
Enraged PsychoticR
Creature - Human (U)
When Enraged Psychotic enters the battlefield, it fights target creature. "Not everyone made it through the dark days without Avacyn with their minds intact. The fortunate among the mad find rest at their own hands. The others must be put down like rabid dogs." - Auran, Town Guardsman
2/1
Anything-Goes School of Martial Arts, signature move: Fight!!!
Genma Ambusher1GR
Creature - Bear Monk (U)
Flash
When Genma Ambusher enters the battlefield, you may have it fight target creature. "People think the expression 'No one ever sees an angry Genma.' means the panda-folk are universally peaceful. It merely means that none who anger them live." - Enrikae, Wise Coward
2/3
Leonin Swordmaster1WW
Creature - Cat Knight [R]
Doublestrike
Whenever Leonin Swordmaster becomes blocked, Leonin Swordmaster deals 2 damage divided as you choose between all blocking creatures, then exile Leonin Swordmaster and return it to the battlefield tapped and attacking. "The Master of Swords appears not where you expect him and never remains where you saw him."
2/1
Leonin Swordmaster1WW
Creature - Cat Knight [R]
First Strike
Whenever Leonin Swordmaster becomes blocked, you may return it to its owners hand. If you do, put a token that is a copy of Leonin Swordmaster onto the battlefield tapped and attacking. Exile all tokens you control named Leonin Swordmaster at the beginning of the next end step.
2/2
Diversionary Strike1GW
Instant [U]
Put a +1/+1 counter on target attacking creature, then switch the blocking creatures of two target attacking creatures. Cast this spell only during the declare blockers step. “The actual attack is often not the one you see coming.” — Tolarian Tactics Manual
Deepmine Scavenger1B
Creature-Rat Warrior [U]
You may cast Deepmine Scavenger without paying its mana cost if an opponent discarded two or more cards this turn.
2/1
Tears for the FallenWB
Instant [U]
Destroy target attacking creature. That creature's controller reveals his or her hand and discards all cards that have the same name as that creature.
"Ah, summer grasses! All that remains of the warriors' dreams." -Basho
My style... is the Way of The Order Of Clear Sight! (Rewarding colorless mana)
Clear Sight Monk1W
Creature - Cat Monk
Clarity (This enters the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter on it for each colorless mana spent to cast it.)
Acromic Growth1G
Instant (C)
Target creature gets +4/+4 until end of turn. If you used colorless mana to cast Acromic Growth, that creature gains trample until end of turn.
Voidsong Adept2WU
Creature — Human Wizard Monk (R)
Whenever Voidsong Adept blocks or becomes blocked by a creature, exile it and that creature until the beginning of the next end step.
Combat style: Stealth
Constellation Gate1WW
Instant (U)
Exile target creature, then return it to the battlefield tapped and attacking.
Flashback 3UU To know the sky, one must walk among the stars.
Hunting Mates4GG
Instant {U}
Cast Hunting Mates only during the declare attackers step and only if you or a planeswalker you control has been attacked this step.
Put two 4/4 green Beast creature tokens onto the battlefield. They must block this combat if able.
Maiden of the Holy Shield :1mana::symw::symw: Creature — Human Knight (R)
:symw:, : Put a shield counter on target creature.
Whenever a creature with a shield counter on it would take damage, prevent X of that damage, where X is Maiden of the Holy Shield's toughness.
[2/2]
Dawnguard's Aegis2WW Enchantment — Aura (R) Flash
Enchant creature you control
All damage that would be dealt to other creatures you control is dealt to enchanted creature instead. W: Enchanted creature gets +0/+2 until end of turn.
Lead the charge4R
Instant - Trap (U)
~ costs 1 less to cast for each blocking creature an opponent controls.
Target attacking creature gains double strike until the end of turn strike. Each other attacking creature gains first strike until the end of turn.
"His sudden display of swordsmanship could not fail but to inspire the remaining rank and file."
Enslave to Blood1UBR
Enchantment - Aura {R}
Enchant Creature
At the beginning of the upkeep of enchanted creature's controller, put a lust counter on enchanted creature. If you don't control enchanted creature, its controller may pay 2 life for each lust counter on it. If they don't you gain control of enchanted creature.
If you control enchanted creature, it gets +1/+1 for each lust counter on it.
Wanted a Mind Control Variant that forced a hard choice on the opponent. Either take increasingly large amounter of damage or give them the creature indefinitely. Even once you get the creature it's bloodlust continues to increase. Wanted to get the flavour of the opponent feeding their blood to their creature to keep it loyal. Unfortunately no room for flavour text.
Whenever Shield of the Defiant enters the battlefield, untap target creature. That creature gains protection from the color of your choice until the end of turn.
2/2
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Thanks for spiderboy4 of High~Light_Studios for the kick ass avatar.
Thanks for DarkNightCavalier of HotPS for the exceptional signature.
I am convinced that WotC is "dumbing" the game because of all the stupid posts they come across on MTG-related forums
Moss_Elemental: Burning Denial - How often is this going to be usable as a combat trick?
hankroyd: Unexpected Betrayal - Nice.
EzraEliot: Tears for the Fallen - Wonderful, especially considering how difficult your style makes the challenge.
Ryder052: Shadow Fight - How does this fit your style?
Eskimo_Rage: Morn Mist Elemental - I don't see a situation where using this as a combat trick would be preferable to just casting it during the opponent's upkeep. Maybe if it had split second...
Brutality opening up a can of whoop-hiney on Finesse
Team Finesse:
(nameless one) - Definitely a solid card. Alone it'll ambush and eat X/2s safely, and it shines even more with a larger body on the field. Strong no matter when you draw it, an auto-play in Limited when in-color, and a possible Standard presence.
Ink-Treader - Dichotomized Blaze: An interesting Pyroclasm variant. It encourages you to build your deck around either even or odd mana cost creatures, and can backfire in some situations. Very chaotic but fun and reasonably priced.
willows - This breaks all sort of rules, and would require an extensive rules rewrite to make it work. It probably would have been better as "Exile target creature. At the beginning of its controller's next declare attackers phase, return it to the battlefield tapped and attacking." as that preserves a lot of the same flavor but doesn't require as much rewriting of the rules.
L0ng5h0t - A very strong trick that requires two attacking creatures be blocked, which is a rare enough event and easy enough to play around to justify the power level.
SelesnyaNewLife - Already strong before the tribal interactions, since it is cheaper than griptide and an instant, and the limit of attacking or blocking creatures isn't a huge limitation in exchange for that. The bonus is actually quite strong, and makes this a very easy 3-mana 2-for-1 to pull off.
Wow I just realized I totally misread the design parameters for this round...
Brutality putting the beatdown to team Finesse
Ink-Treader: Simply yet effective pyroclasm variant that supports very odd deckbuilding, I love it, but may be a little undercosted.
L0ngShot A little complex rule wise but otherwise powerful and interesting effect.
SelesnyaNewLife: I don't like how unsyergistic the two abilities are as unless they are attacking with two creatures at once the second effect is useless.
willows: This needs to have the condition that it can only be cast during the target controllers combat as otherwise the attacking part doesn't really work properly. Also I'm not a fan of the blue flashback as while flickering is blue this is so combat orientated that it feels very unblue.
(nameless one): Simple, powerful and definitly a combat trick. My favorite of the bunch. I have a similar card in my white uncommons that I've been working on in the last week.
Round 2 - Prepare for Glory
The doorkeeper chortles. "We haven't had one of your kind in quite a while! Well, we'll see how long you last out there."
No sooner does the last sentence escape his weathered lips than a deafening fanfare of trumpets sounds outside the portcullis. The dread barrier rises and you hear the cheers of the crowd as you run for the exit. The darkness of the dungeon is quickly replaced by the scorching sun above the colossal pit of sand you're standing in, and a wild battle begins, with everyone staying in the loose alliances they made in the holding cells together.
To survive, you need to act fast.
Round 2 Challenge: As the battle royale begins, it's time for you to make your first move - create a combat trick card that is somehow "on theme" with your style of combat. No matter what card type this card is it must under some conditions be playable at instant speed, of course.
Past Rounds:
Round 1 - Morituri Te Salutant
Submission Deadline: Sunday, November 10th, 11:59 PM EST
Critique Deadline: Tuesday, November 12th, 11:59 PM EST
We will now, if at all possible, stick to the four days design/two days critique schedule. GLADIATORS HOOOOOOO!
Team Subterfuge:
Moss_Elemental 10
Ryder052 45
EzraEliot 55
herbert west 10
hankroyd 60
Eskimo_Rage 15
Team Brutality:
Gerrard's Mom 30
Jimmy Groove 30
doombringer 35
Antny223 40
Profani 15
FreshMeat 50
Team Righteousness:
Egak 71
aftermarketradio 12
Koopa 29
Raikou Rider 12
ced395 82
Achren 35
Team Finesse:
(nameless one) 45
Ink-Treader 15
willows 65
L0ng5h0t 5
SelesnyaNewLife 95
Subterfuge crits Righteousness
Brutality crits Finesse
Righteousness crits Subterfuge
Finesse crits Brutality
I̟̥͍̠ͅn̩͉̣͍̬͚ͅ ̬̬͖t̯̹̞̺͖͓̯̤h̘͍̬e͙̯͈̖̼̮ ̭̬f̺̲̲̪i͙͉̟̩̰r̪̝͚͈̝̥͍̝̲s̼̻͇̘̳͔ͅt̲̺̳̗̜̪̙ ̳̺̥̻͚̗ͅm̜̜̟̰͈͓͎͇o̝̖̮̝͇m̯̻̞̼̫̗͓̤e̩̯̬̮̩n͎̱̪̲̹͖t͇̖s̰̮ͅ,̤̲͙̻̭̻̯̹̰ ̖t̫̙̺̯͖͚̯ͅh͙̯̦̳̗̰̟e͖̪͉̼̯ ̪͕g̞̣͔a̗̦t̬̬͓͙̫̖̭̻e̩̻̯ ̜̖̦̖̤̭͙̬t̞̹̥̪͎͉ͅo͕͚͍͇̲͇͓̺ ̭̬͙͈̣̻t͈͍͙͓̫̖͙̩h̪̬̖̙e̗͈ ̗̬̟̞̺̤͉̯ͅa̦̯͚̙̜̮f͉͙̲̣̞̼t̪̤̞̣͚e̲͉̳̥r͇̪̙͚͓l̥̞̞͎̹̯̹ͅi͓̬f̮̥̬̞͈ͅe͎ ̟̩̤̳̠̯̩̯o̮̘̲p̟͚̣̞͉͓e͍̩̣n͔̼͕͚̜e̬̱d̼̘͎̖̹͍̮̠,͖̺̭̱̮ ̣̲͖̬̪̭̥a̪͚n̟̲̝̤̤̞̗d̘̱̗͇̮͕̳͕͔ ͖̞͉͎t̹̙͎h̰̱͉̗e̪̞̱̝̹̩ͅ ̠̱̩̭̦p̯̙e͓o̳͚̰̯̺̱̰͔̘p̬͎̱̣̼̩͇l̗̟̖͚̠e̱͉͔̱̦̬̟̙ ̖͚̪͔̼̦w̺̖̤̱e͖̗̻̦͓̖̘̜r̭̥e͔̹̫̱͕̦̰͕ ̗͔̠p̠̗͍͍̱̳̠r̰͔͎̰o͉̥͓̰͚̥s̟͚̹̱͔̣t͉̙̳̖͖̪̮r̥̘̥͙̹a͉̟̫̟̳̠̟̭t͈̜̰͈͎e̞̣̭̲̬ ͚̗̯̟͙i͍͖̰̘̦͖͉ṇ̮̻̯̦̲̩͍ ̦̮͚̫̤t͉͖̫͕ͅͅh͙̮̻̘̣̮̼e͕̺ ͙l͕̠͎̰̥i̲͓͉̲g̫̳̟͈͇̖h̠̦̖t͓̯͎̗ ̳̪̘̟̙̩̦o̫̲f̙͔̰̙̠ ̹̪̗͇̯t͖̼̼͉͖̬h̹͇̩e͚̖̺̤͉̹͕̪ ͚͓̭̝̺G͎̗̯̩o̫̯̮̟̮̳̘d̜̲͙̠-̩̳̯̲̗̜P̹̘̥͉̝h͍͈̗̖̝ͅa͍̗̮̼̗r̜̖͇̙̺a̭̺͔̞̳͈o̪̣͓̯̬͙̯̰̗h̖̦͈̥̯͔.͇̣̙̝
Round 1
My style is sabotage (removal, countering, discard, etc.)
Burning Denial 3UUR
Instant
Counter target spell. ~ deals damage equal to that spell's converted mana cost to target creature or player.
Time to be less silly.
Dichotomized Blaze RR
Instant (U)
Choose even or odd. Dichotomized Blaze deals 2 damage to each creature with converted mana cost of the chosen value.
"At last! Fire that obeys will without constant attention!"
-Grant, pyromancer
Ashling's Prerogative for the wording.
Choose one of these judge of creation:
Make Strionic Resonator shine!
You can not grasp the true form of Ashiok's attack!
Style: "You don't want to see me when I'm angry"
Creature - Human Mutant (R)
1UG: Zamek Hulker becomes 5/5 and gains trample until end of turn. At the beginning of the next end step, tap Zamek Hulker, it doesn't untap during its controller's next untap step.
2/2
Frenzied Charge GG
Instant (U)
Target attacking creature you control gets +3/+3 until end of turn. It fights target creature you don't control.
There's nothing like a good fight before a battle.
Creature - Construct Berserker (R)
When Steelblast Charger dies, you may pay X. If you do, destroy each permanent with converted mana cost X. X can't be 0.
"How much fuel does it need?"
"How much boom do you need?"
1/1
Instant (C)
Until end of turn, whenever damage is dealt to target creature you control, that creature deals twice that much damage to target creature an opponent controls.
Creature - Human (U)
When Enraged Psychotic enters the battlefield, it fights target creature.
"Not everyone made it through the dark days without Avacyn with their minds intact. The fortunate among the mad find rest at their own hands. The others must be put down like rabid dogs." - Auran, Town Guardsman
2/1
Anything-Goes School of Martial Arts, signature move: Fight!!!
Genma Ambusher 1GR
Creature - Bear Monk (U)
Flash
When Genma Ambusher enters the battlefield, you may have it fight target creature.
"People think the expression 'No one ever sees an angry Genma.' means the panda-folk are universally peaceful. It merely means that none who anger them live." - Enrikae, Wise Coward
2/3
Leonin Swordmaster 1WW
Creature - Cat Knight [R]
Doublestrike
Whenever Leonin Swordmaster becomes blocked, Leonin Swordmaster deals 2 damage divided as you choose between all blocking creatures, then exile Leonin Swordmaster and return it to the battlefield tapped and attacking.
"The Master of Swords appears not where you expect him and never remains where you saw him."
2/1
Leonin Swordmaster 1WW
Creature - Cat Knight [R]
First Strike
Whenever Leonin Swordmaster becomes blocked, you may return it to its owners hand. If you do, put a token that is a copy of Leonin Swordmaster onto the battlefield tapped and attacking. Exile all tokens you control named Leonin Swordmaster at the beginning of the next end step.
2/2
Instant [U]
Put a +1/+1 counter on target attacking creature, then switch the blocking creatures of two target attacking creatures. Cast this spell only during the declare blockers step.
“The actual attack is often not the one you see coming.” — Tolarian Tactics Manual
CCL Winner- July '08, Aug '08 Sept '08, Oct '08
Survivor- CCS: Lost in Takenuma, CCS: Stranded In Tolaria
Round One
Creature-Rat Warrior [U]
You may cast Deepmine Scavenger without paying its mana cost if an opponent discarded two or more cards this turn.
2/1
Tears for the Fallen WB
Instant [U]
Destroy target attacking creature. That creature's controller reveals his or her hand and discards all cards that have the same name as that creature.
"Ah, summer grasses! All that remains of the warriors' dreams."
-Basho
Thanks to High~Light Studios for the awesome sig. Go check'em out!
Clear Sight Monk 1W
Creature - Cat Monk
Clarity (This enters the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter on it for each colorless mana spent to cast it.)
Acromic Growth 1G
Instant (C)
Target creature gets +4/+4 until end of turn. If you used colorless mana to cast Acromic Growth, that creature gains trample until end of turn.
Creature — Human Wizard Monk (R)
Whenever Voidsong Adept blocks or becomes blocked by a creature, exile it and that creature until the beginning of the next end step.
Constellation Gate 1WW
Instant (U)
Exile target creature, then return it to the battlefield tapped and attacking.
Flashback 3UU
To know the sky, one must walk among the stars.
Style: Summoning
Hunting Mates 4GG
Instant {U}
Cast Hunting Mates only during the declare attackers step and only if you or a planeswalker you control has been attacked this step.
Put two 4/4 green Beast creature tokens onto the battlefield. They must block this combat if able.
Emille, Seven-Sting Dancer Shalin Nariya
Style: Branchbending (Treefolk)
Treefolk Sapling G
Creature - Treefolk (C)
Reach
T: Add 1 to your mana pool.
Even the smallest of them have the strength of an ox.
0/2
Bash with Bark G
Instant (C)
Until end of turn, target creature assigns combat damage equal to its toughness rather than its power
Mind your head.
BGStandard Green AggroGB
UWRGModern Saheeli CobraGRWU
UBRGLegacy StormGRBU
Wizards Certified Rules Advisor
Creature — Human Knight (R)
:symw:, : Put a shield counter on target creature.
Whenever a creature with a shield counter on it would take damage, prevent X of that damage, where X is Maiden of the Holy Shield's toughness.
[2/2]
Enchantment — Aura (R)
Flash
Enchant creature you control
All damage that would be dealt to other creatures you control is dealt to enchanted creature instead.
W: Enchanted creature gets +0/+2 until end of turn.
Round 1 Entry
Signature Move: Bushido
Style: Relentless
Lead the charge 4R
Instant - Trap (U)
~ costs 1 less to cast for each blocking creature an opponent controls.
Target attacking creature gains double strike until the end of turn strike. Each other attacking creature gains first strike until the end of turn.
"His sudden display of swordsmanship could not fail but to inspire the remaining rank and file."
Style: Blood Magic
Enslave to Blood 1UBR
Enchantment - Aura {R}
Enchant Creature
At the beginning of the upkeep of enchanted creature's controller, put a lust counter on enchanted creature. If you don't control enchanted creature, its controller may pay 2 life for each lust counter on it. If they don't you gain control of enchanted creature.
If you control enchanted creature, it gets +1/+1 for each lust counter on it.
Wanted a Mind Control Variant that forced a hard choice on the opponent. Either take increasingly large amounter of damage or give them the creature indefinitely. Even once you get the creature it's bloodlust continues to increase. Wanted to get the flavour of the opponent feeding their blood to their creature to keep it loyal. Unfortunately no room for flavour text.
Are you designing commons? Check out my primer on NWO.
Interested in making a custom set? Check out my Set skeleton and archetype primer.
I also write articles about getting started with custom card creation.
Go and PLAYTEST your designs, you will learn more in a single playtests than a dozen discussions.
My custom sets:
Dreamscape
Coins of Mercalis [COMPLETE]
Exodus of Zendikar - ON HOLD
Shield of the Defiant 1WW
Creature - Human Rebel Soldier (uncommon)
Flash
Whenever Shield of the Defiant enters the battlefield, untap target creature. That creature gains protection from the color of your choice until the end of turn.
2/2
Thanks for spiderboy4 of High~Light_Studios for the kick ass avatar.
Thanks for DarkNightCavalier of HotPS for the exceptional signature.
hankroyd: Unexpected Betrayal - Nice.
EzraEliot: Tears for the Fallen - Wonderful, especially considering how difficult your style makes the challenge.
Ryder052: Shadow Fight - How does this fit your style?
Eskimo_Rage: Morn Mist Elemental - I don't see a situation where using this as a combat trick would be preferable to just casting it during the opponent's upkeep. Maybe if it had split second...
2.)hankroyd
1.)EzraEliot
Team Finesse:
(nameless one) - Definitely a solid card. Alone it'll ambush and eat X/2s safely, and it shines even more with a larger body on the field. Strong no matter when you draw it, an auto-play in Limited when in-color, and a possible Standard presence.
Ink-Treader - Dichotomized Blaze: An interesting Pyroclasm variant. It encourages you to build your deck around either even or odd mana cost creatures, and can backfire in some situations. Very chaotic but fun and reasonably priced.
willows - This breaks all sort of rules, and would require an extensive rules rewrite to make it work. It probably would have been better as "Exile target creature. At the beginning of its controller's next declare attackers phase, return it to the battlefield tapped and attacking." as that preserves a lot of the same flavor but doesn't require as much rewriting of the rules.
L0ng5h0t - A very strong trick that requires two attacking creatures be blocked, which is a rare enough event and easy enough to play around to justify the power level.
SelesnyaNewLife - Already strong before the tribal interactions, since it is cheaper than griptide and an instant, and the limit of attacking or blocking creatures isn't a huge limitation in exchange for that. The bonus is actually quite strong, and makes this a very easy 3-mana 2-for-1 to pull off.
Top 3:
1. Longshot
2. nameless one
3. SelesynaNewLife
Brutality putting the beatdown to team Finesse
Ink-Treader: Simply yet effective pyroclasm variant that supports very odd deckbuilding, I love it, but may be a little undercosted.
L0ngShot A little complex rule wise but otherwise powerful and interesting effect.
SelesnyaNewLife: I don't like how unsyergistic the two abilities are as unless they are attacking with two creatures at once the second effect is useless.
willows: This needs to have the condition that it can only be cast during the target controllers combat as otherwise the attacking part doesn't really work properly. Also I'm not a fan of the blue flashback as while flickering is blue this is so combat orientated that it feels very unblue.
(nameless one): Simple, powerful and definitly a combat trick. My favorite of the bunch. I have a similar card in my white uncommons that I've been working on in the last week.
1: (nameless one)
2: Ink-Treader
3: L0ngShot
Are you designing commons? Check out my primer on NWO.
Interested in making a custom set? Check out my Set skeleton and archetype primer.
I also write articles about getting started with custom card creation.
Go and PLAYTEST your designs, you will learn more in a single playtests than a dozen discussions.
My custom sets:
Dreamscape
Coins of Mercalis [COMPLETE]
Exodus of Zendikar - ON HOLD
Thanks to High~Light Studios for the awesome sig. Go check'em out!