Criteria 1: Create a card with Experience or Swap.
Amp Helm --
Artifact - Equipment (U)
Experience
(For each counter on this permanent, increase its converted mana cost by 1.)Equipped creature has Experience and gets +X/+X, where X is Amp Helm's converted mana cost.
Equip
altimis, I like this design. Experience is a difficult keyword to activate on an equipment card, but I like that this card double buffs - both the equipment and creature will have experience.
Infinite Potential
Creature - Avatar
: Swap X
(Look at the top card of your library. If it’s a creature card with converted mana cost x or less, you may cast it without paying its mana cost. If you do, put this card on top of its owner’s library.)What is it?
You mean what isn't it?3/3
The swap ability on this creature is actually relatively weak... You pay
for a 1 CMC creature,
for 2 CMC,
for 3 CMC, etc. I understand that the ability scales very nicely, but at what cost? I like the concept of this card, but the execution could be a little better (maybe
instead?)
Young Tutor
Creature - Human Advisor (U)
Experience
,
: Swap X, where X is ~'s converted mana cost. Then, put a +1/+1 counter on ~.
1/2
I really like the combination of abilities on this guy. If you can't swap (you hit a noncreature, a creature with too high CMC, or you choose not to swap), then the Young Tutor gains experience. It may need to be a 1/1 and have a more restrictive swap cost. You might also consider another type of counter (charge, perhaps?) to stop this guy from getting too powerful.
Walls of Old Jericho Creature - Wall (U)
Defender
Whenever a creature an opponent controls attacks, ~ gains "
: Swap 5" until end of turn.
If a creature is swapped with ~, it must block this turn if able.
The Bastion of Old Jericho relied not on the brick of its walls, but the spirit of its people.0/5
This card is a headache, rules-wise. combat - opponent declares attackers, you declare blockers, you swap this wall out and something else in before combat damage... the "must block this turn if able" clause does not matter in this scenario. I like the concept, but I feel like there is a simpler approach.
Sudden Entrance Instant 〔R〕
Swap 6
I don't know how I feel about this card. Until now, I have tried to make swap a creature-only mechanic - but this is a good indication that it will work on other spells/permanents. This card balances the right amount of risk with the right amount of reward. I like the flavor too. This is also really elegant.
The Fencers of Talonheights -
Creature - Human Warrior
Experience, Double Strike
~ can't be blocked by creatures with converted mana cost less than it.
2/1
This card is dangerous. I would want it to be a 1/1. It would be doing 2 damage a turn until the defending player gets a 3+ CMC creature on the field. At 2/1, 4 damage a turn is pretty brutal. What makes it even more brutal is the damage once you get one or more +1/+1 counters on it. It makes it more evasive and more powerful. That being said, the combination of the three abilities work perfectly together.
The winner of Criteria 1 is altimis by a small margin.Criteria 2: Create a card that synergizes with Experience or Swap without having the keyword itself.
{m} Druid's Dominion
EnchantmentCreatures on the battlefield or in graveyards, hands, or libraries have their mana costs reduced by
.
Instants and Sorceries in graveyards, hands, or libraries have their mana costs increased by
.
The wizard's stomach rumbled, and when he tried to conjure food no words flowed out. I like that this card actively works against experience cards (something green would do). It also works towards swap cards (another thing green would do). It also punishes blue, black, and red mages for attempting to remove your creatures (yet another green-aligned ability). That being said, it is hard to determine whether this card is too good in its current state or not quite good enough. Also, the second ability can just increase the cost to cast Instants and Sorceries.
Wellspring of DawnLand 〔U〕
: Add
to your mana pool.
, Sacrifice ~: Put target card in a graveyard on top of its owner's library.
This land is simple, but effective. It either stops your opponent's swap strategy or it enables your own. For the former, it may be too slow - seeing as they can swap in response. For the latter, it is perfect. I like this change better than the original.
Ironwoods Shaman -
Creature - Elf Shaman
Protection from creatures with converted mana cost 4 or more.
Other creatures enter the battlefield with a +1/+1 on it.
3/3
I really like this design. The synergies with experience are enjoyable (particularly in the colors that don't utilize the mechanic). Great design!
An-Tor Elder Creature - Bird WizardFlying
Play with the top card of your library revealed.
Such is the burden of the An-Tor. To know the future, and yet be powerless to change it.3/3
Let me begin by saying, I like this card. It is both really good and really bad. Good: You no longer have to gamble to swap creatures - you know if it's going to be able to swap or not. Bad: Your opponent can predict your every swap AND your every draw. Let me end by saying, I really do like the risks that come with this card. Good job!
The winner of Criteria 2 is Silly by a small margin.Criteria 3: Create a card within a theme of this set.
Punish the False God --
Instant (U)
Choose a number equal to the amount of cards in target player's hand, then return target creature that player controls to its owner's hand. If the number of cards in that player's hand is equal to your chosen number, Punish the False God deals 3 damage to that player.
I like the way this punishes creature token decks (literally). Otherwise, this is just an overpriced bounce spell (but that's okay!). I like the name quite a bit too. It adds some pizzazz to the flavor of the card.
Voice of the Masses Creature — Human Soldier 〔C〕
Whenever a creature enters the battlefield under you control, ~ gets +1/+1 until end of turn.
2/2 This is simple, but effective. Commons are difficult to design without making them unoriginal, overpowered, or too geared towards the limited environment. This, I believe, straddles these three very well!
The winner of Criteria 3 is Mown by a small margin.Also, congratulations are in order for
Confused for designing excellent cards for the first two criteria, but not quite beating out the competition!