I love hybrid mana as well as Lorwyn, but I don't tend to use either one very much in my designs. So to slightly rectify that...

Mistmeadow Illusionist

Creature -- Kithkin Wizard (U)
You may have Mistmeadow Illusionist enter the battlefield as a copy of any creature on the battlefield with mana value 2 or less.
"The thoughtweft ensures that no kithkin can deceive another. You, however..."
2/2

White doesn't really get copy effects (outside of Populate), but I think this one is a good bleed. I think restricting it to weenies makes it sufficiently white.

:O nice. I hadn't seen Wild Shape myself before. That's great since not too long ago I made a Skinshifter callback where I tackled with the wording quite a bit.

EDIT: I just posted that card here.

Washed Overboard

Instant (R)
For each creature and planeswalker, return that permanent to its owner's hand unless its controller taps an untapped artifact they control.
"Wave incoming! Grab hold of something!"
—Captain Brandis Thorn

This is a revamped version of a card I posted to a game thread. I think this version is more flavorful (everyone's gotta grab hold of something sturdy, like an artifact, or get washed away) and it fits better mechanically since Ixalan's pirates have an artifact theme.

Curses are fun.

Bring Misfortune

Sorcery (U)
Each opponent with a Curse attached to them loses 5 life.
"You needn't worry about me taking vengeance on your firstborn. I'd rather have my satisfaction now."
—Gruema of the Ragged Coven

You all might be too young to have seen a mammoth, but they were a sight to behold.

Deadlands Mammoth

Creature -- Elephant Skeleton (U)
If you would return Deadlands Mammoth from your graveyard to your hand, you may return it to the battlefield instead.
Their annual migration has been made for thousands of years, undeterred by predators, changing climate, or extinction.
5/4

Trying a Goblin Guide variant.

Goblin Guerilla

Creature -- Goblin Warrior (R)
Haste
Play with your hand revealed.
Goblin Guerilla can't attack unless you have no land cards in your hand.
He'll fight to the death to defend whatever pile of dirt he happens to be standing on.
2/2

Reminds me of "Skelephant". Elephantimorpha undead arise

There's a surprising amount of art of dead elephants out there.

One of those cards that can’t be balanced by changing its cost

I've given it more thought and I think making it a 4/3 for might be better. I don't think it would be problematic in its current form, necessarily, but I think the potential is there. Raise the Draugr/Return from Extinction maybe shouldn't be able to bring 10 power from your graveyard on turn 2. But then again, Reanimate costs 1 mana and can bring back virtually anything you want.

For every good mechanic I design, there are 46 dumb ones.

Fleetfoot Moa

Creature -- Bird (U)
Haste
Mimic flying (Whenever you control another creature with flying and this creature doesn’t have that ability, put a flying counter on it.)
Nature decided they didn't need to fly, but the moa had other ideas.
3/2

I would make it an ETB: When Fleetfoot Moa enters the battlefield, if you control a creature with flying, put a flying counter on it.
or simply a static ability: Fleetfoot Moa has flying as long as you control another creature with flying.

Hmmm, yeah. I think it does need a tweak so it doesn't explode the game with Solemnity. I think I'd make it "At the beginning of each combat, if you control a creature with ABILITY and this creature doesn't have that ability, put an ABILITY counter on it."

Hey, how have ya been? How did Q1 2024 treat you? Oh, I'm sorry to hear that.

I haven't been designing a lot of cards lately, but I've been getting the itch to do more.

Enclosure Breaker

Creature -- Beast (U)
When Enclosure Breaker enters the battlefield, target opponent creates a 0/4 colorless Wall artifact creature token with defender.
The menagerie's new baloth exhibit proved to be a hit, a smash, and a runaway success.
4/4

Un-card design is something that I think is underappreciated, but it's not something I've really dipped my toes into much before. I think the best Un-cards do something that's easy to understand, but just can't be made to work within the current rules. Beyond that, Un-cards should strive to be the same things as any other card: flavorful, interesting, elegant, and above all else, fun.

This week, I'm going to (try) to post an Un-card every day. Let's see how it goes!

Zona the Well-Traveled

Legendary Creature -- Human Wizard (R)
When Zona the Well-Traveled enters a zone, note it. Then if you've noted the library, hand, battlefield, graveyard, exile, and command zones with cards named Zona, you win the game.
"What a shame — my guidebook says the ante zone is closed to tourists."
3/3

How do you get her into the command zone? Also what about the stack?

The stack is sort of a given, since you're probably casting her. I guess I could add it on there, though?

I actually didn't think through putting the command zone on there enough; I guess I just sort of assumed she'd be used as a commander. After further thought, I'd take that part off.

See the Multiverse

Sorcery (M)
Draw a card for each different plane shown in the art of nonland permanents you control. (Earth is a plane.)
"That one is Ravnica; you've just *got* to see it in the fall. And look closely, there's Segovia! Small but quaint. Over there is Innistrad! I, uh, wouldn't recommend there."

Long, Long-Term Plans

Instant (U)
Draw X cards, where X is the number of spells you've cast this match named Long, Long-Term Plans.
"Back while you were still learning to use a spoon, I was already making the winning move."
--Teferi

I'm imagining a cycle of cards that get stronger the more they're cast in a match. This is just the simplest execution of the idea, even though it makes all of my Un-cards so far blue.

Somewhat related to Hedron Alignment.

Also this gave me flashbacks of "Wormhole Investigator" and "Grimmer Brothers" from collectivecg.

Very gimmicky stuff but certainly was fun experimentation when the engine there allowed such effects. I actually think some design was suggested where there would be a massive reward if you had it go through all the zones.


Seems basically like Accumulated Knowledge / Frantic Inventory with more annoying tracking and without the graveyard synergies.