Card Design Challenge (blue and blue/black uncommon)

Community Set

squire1

25 November 2011

2259 views

Alright after voting on the uncommons for Ulgris from previous challenges, we have some new cards to add to our set. We changed the names and abilities of some of the cards to make them fit well as uncommons and here they are:
    
    
    

New challenge

So after those cards were added to the set, we have 2 uncommon slots to fill with this challenge. We have a mono-blue card and a Black/blue multicolor card to design.

The Rules

  1. For this challenge, each member of the community may submit four cards total.
  2. Each card must be either mono-blue card or black/blue multicolor.
  3. Each card must be an uncommon
  4. While the casting cost must fit those specifications, activated abilities are allowed to use any combination of blue, black, and green if you so choose.
  5. Hybrid mana is NOT allowed.
  6. Cards submitted may be creatures, enchantments, enchantments/aura, instants, or sorceries.
  7. All submissions will be graded on:
    • Creativity - As you may or may not realize, different players look for different things in cards. One thing that many players look for is new interactions and situations in gameplay. This allows players who have been playing forever (the design team) to still find the game interesting with each new set.
    • Power level - Power level is often one of the biggest roadblocks to design. now that we are at uncommons, we should want to play the cards that are designed but not think of them as musts. Unlike the rares, many of which the design team wanted playsets of the submitted cards. The uncommon cards must be strong but not too strong. Also consider pricing. you would not want an uncommon to cost $5 because it is so wildly popular.
    • Flavor - Lands are often looked over as simply utility, but as newer sets like Innastrad have shown, they can bring a huge amount of flavor to the game. Lands, unlike other cards, have the unique ability to provide a setting to your world, specific cities, temples, battlefields. Things things are needed to give depth to a set for some players and make it more interesting to play a game. i know that some competitive players would still play if the cards had no art or flavor or story and they were just numbers for names, but most players like the whimsical flourish of flavor, so keep that in mind.
    • Usefulness - What is useful? Why is it useful? Will your design be useful in every format (probably not, but maybe)? Will your card create interesting interactions and synergies? Does it have an effect on board complexity? Does it effect tempo? Whatever the answers to these questions are, they are essential to answer for yourself. Without a vision of why a card is being created and what it lends to the game or potentially detract, then it is difficult to balance it.
  8. As with all uncommon challenges. Each design team member will now be presenting the 1 card per color per design team member for voting along with the other top cards presented. In order to make it unbiased, we will continue to stay out of the card voting, so if no one votes for our cards, we can not win. Also our cards will not be evaluated along side everyone else's, they will only be revealed during the voting articles so that we do not compare your cards against those designed by design team members. Basically it will work the same as always, except you will see 3 additional cards to vote on if you wish. So if you do not like our ideas or just don't want design team cards winning challenges, do not vote for them and we won't. If there is an outcry for this idea to stop altogether, it will.

Extra Information

To see all of the cards that have been designed for this shard so far, as well as the story and shard description please see this article.
http://tappedout.net/mtg-articles/2011/sep/5/community-set-ulgris-summary/
Also keep in mind what is missing from the shard. Do we need more creatures? Small or big spells? etc.

Due date:

All card submissions are dueby midnight on Wednesday, November 30th, 2011

This article is a follow-up to Voting for BUG uncommon card designs The next article in this series is Card Design Challenge (blue and blue/black uncommon) Voting

IronHead says... #1

Stunning Frog 1u

creature - frog

1uu, tap : tap target creature. It does not untap during its controllers next untap step.

1/2


Feeling of Dispair 2ub

Instant

Counter target spell. That spell's controller then loses 1 life for each copy of that spell in their graveyard.


Shrieking Bat 2ub

Creature - Bat

Flying

When Shrieking Bat enters the battle field each player discards a card at random from their hand then puts the top 5 cards of their library into their graveyard.

2/2


Lose Trace 2u

Sorcery

Return target nonland permanent to the top of its owner's library.

November 25, 2011 10:46 p.m.

IronHead says... #2

Also it should probably be pointed out that Ulgrasian Fly doesn't have a power and toughness and that shroud is no longer used so that should be changed to hex proof.

November 25, 2011 11 p.m.

SwiftDeath says... #3

shroud is a seperate ability then hexproof and there will be more cards printed with both abilities.

November 26, 2011 12:17 a.m.

SwiftDeath says... #4

contagious ooze-3BU

creature-ooze

wither

enters the battlefield with 2 -1/-1 counters.

1BU, remove a -1/-1 counter from a creature you control, tap: put a -1/-1 counter on target creature

4/4

works well with some of the abilities like the land that returns creatures with a -1/-1 counter on them.


flying fish-1U

creature-fish

flying

can't be blocked by creatures with -1/-1 counters on them.

1/1


fly fishing-2U

sorcery

return target creature to it's owners hand then put X 1/1 fish tokens with flying onto the battlefield where X is equal to that creatures power.

there are suposedly fish creatures in the set but I haven't seen any fish cards yet.


prey on the weak-UB

instant

destroy target creature with a -1/-1 counter on it then that creatures controller puts the top X cards of his/her library into his/her graveyard where X is equal to the number of -1/-1 counters on that creature.

November 26, 2011 1:46 a.m.

squire1 says... #5

Shroud is used still and I will fix ulgresian fly. Sorry about that

November 26, 2011 7:17 a.m.

IronHead says... #6

Really I thought I read somewhere that Wizards was retiring shroud as an ability. Maybe not though. My apologies.

November 26, 2011 8:28 a.m.

nightscape says... #7

Blight Return

3UB

Sorcery

Put target creature on top of its owner's library, then put a -1/-1 counter on up to X target creatures, where X is that creature's power.


Primal Control

3UU

Enchantment - Aura

Enchant creature or land

You control enchanted permanent.

If the enchanted permanent is a creature, it has wither.

November 26, 2011 9:02 a.m.

nightscape says... #8

Rotweaver Swarm

2UB

Creature - Insect

Flying, wither

If Rotweaver Swarm is in your graveyard and a creature token would enter the battlefield under your control, you may put Rotweaver Swarm onto the battlefield instead.

3/1


Scour Mind

3U

Instant

Target creature loses all abilities until end of turn.

At the beginning of your upkeep, if Scour Mind is in your graveyard, you may exile the top card of target player's library. If you do, return Scour Mind to your hand.

November 26, 2011 9:57 a.m.

1st submission

Defensive Frog - 1U

Creature - Frog

B,(T) sacrifice Defensive Frog: Put two -1/-1 counters target creature

G,(T) sacrifice Defensive Frog: Put a 2/2 Lizard token with wither into play

1/1

November 26, 2011 10:40 a.m.

Azotaka says... #10

Mind Destroying Matter BBU

Sorcery

Destroy Target Creature.

Draw a Card.

November 26, 2011 3:50 p.m.

Lectrys says... #11

Okay, here I go!

Rotten Retort 1U

Instant

As an additional cost to cast Rotten Retort, put a -1/-1 counter on a creature you control.

Counter target spell.

Next:

Malevolent Ooze 2UB

Creature - Ooze

Wither

Sacrifice Malevolent Ooze: Choose one - Counter target creature spell; or destroy target creature.

2/2

I'll come up with two more cards later.

November 26, 2011 5:09 p.m.

KrazyCaley says... #12

Voidspell - U

Instant

Lose 3 life. Counter target spell.

Your massive effort is my mild inconvenience.

--

Quicken Memories, - 3BU

Enchantment - Aura Curse

Enchant Player.

1BU: Enchanted player exiles the top two cards of his or her library. For each creature exiled this way, put a 3/3 Colorless Illusion into play with "When this creature becomes the target of a spell or ability, sacrifice it."

"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to be devoured alive by it."

--

November 26, 2011 5:45 p.m.

Jarrod_0067 says... #13

Poison Dart 2U

Creature - Frog

B, T: Tap target creature. Put a -1/-1 counter on that creature.

1/2

November 27, 2011 4:31 a.m.

2nd submission

Fungal Infection - 1B

Enchantment - Aura

Enchant Creature

At the Beginning of your upkeep put a -1/-1 on Enchanted creature.

When enchanted creature dies, return Fungal Infection to your hand.

*not sure about power level. over/underpowered?

November 27, 2011 11:23 a.m.

dude1818 says... #15

Stalking Toad (UB)

Creature - Frog

Flash, wither

When Stalking Toad dies, put a -1/-1 counter on target creature.

2/1


Devastating Blow (U)

Instant

Exile target creature if it has a counter on it.


Raise Up (UB)

Sorcery

Return target creature card from a graveyard and target creature on the battlefield to their owners' hands.


Swarm of Mosquitoes (3U)

Creature - Insect

Flying

Swarm of Mosquitoes's power and toughness are each equal to the number of blue permanents you control.

X/X

November 27, 2011 9:30 p.m.

Virlym says... #16

Confusion of the Bog (1UB)

~Instant~

Move all counters from one permanent to another.

November 27, 2011 11:45 p.m.

LeChaps says... #17

Hold that Thought - BBUU

Instant

Counter target spell unless its controller pays 3

Target players put the top 3 cards of his library into his graveyard.

Wait... Wait... Almost... Ok, you were saying?

November 28, 2011 11:05 a.m.

dude1818 says... #18

The problem with Ulgris is that even though it's blue and black, there's no real sentience.

November 28, 2011 1:05 p.m.

kaopectate says... #19

3UB - Burr hole hematoma

aura - curse

Whenver target player draws a card he must discard a card unless he pays 2 or 1 life.

Let the painful thoughts bleed out.

November 28, 2011 8:12 p.m.

IAmKingTony says... #20

Damn, a card I just made earlier would have fit pretty nice into this set I think. Unfortunately I think it would be worthy of "Rare" status. Plus it's a flip card and I don't know if you're doing those or not.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v86/KingTony1980/HivemindSanctuary.jpg

November 29, 2011 1:24 a.m.

shadowdart says... #21

Venomous AEther 1UB

Creature- Snake

Whenever Venomous AEther deals damage to a player, you may put a -1/-1 counter on target creature.

2/2

November 29, 2011 10:35 a.m.

shadowdart says... #22

Your Pain Shall be Twofold 2U

Instant

Double the number of -1/-1 counters on all target permanents. Draw a card.

November 29, 2011 10:39 a.m.

squire1 says... #23

Hey there people. Come on everyone. Many of you have only put up 1 or two cards. Throw out some more. Your get four. Lets see um.

November 29, 2011 12:55 p.m.

IAmKingTony says... #24

Hivemind Shaman 3UU

Creature - Bee Shaman

Flying, Hivemind Shaman can target creatures with hexproof.

2U: Move a counter of any type from one target creature to another target creature.

1/2

==========

Hivemind Legionnaire 2UB

Creature - Bee Warrior

Flying

UB: Put a -1/-1 counter on target attacking creature.

3/1

==========

Hivemind Elite 1UB

Creature - Bee Warrior

Flying, first strike, vigilance

If Hivemind Elite has any counters on it, it gains double strike instead of first strike.

2/2

==========

Hivemind Kamikaze (X)UB

Creature - Bee Warrior

Flying, haste, flash, wither

Hivemind Kamikaze's power is equal to (X)

Tap: Hivemind Kamikaze fights target creature. (Each creature takes damage equal to the other's power)

During the next end step, sacrifice Hivemind Kamikaze.

X/1

November 29, 2011 2:50 p.m.

Pestilent Swarm - XBU

Creature - insect

Pestilent Swarm enters the battlefield -1/-1 counters equal to 5 minus X.When Pestilent Swarm enters the battlefield, put X -1/-1 counters on all creatures you control.

5/5

not solid on the name yet, but I think the card is good. It has a drawback that can actually be an enabler with some cards.

November 29, 2011 4:55 p.m.

Lectrys says... #26

Alright, here are my other two cards:

Rancid Manipulation UU

Instant

Put a -1/-1 counter on target creature. You may tap or untap that creature.

If the text of the card above looks familiar, it's because it's found on Vedalken Anatomist , an uncommon blue card. The mechanics of this card feel really appropriate for Ulgris, though.

Here's the other card:

Repulsive Return 3UB

Sorcery

Return target creature card from your graveyard to the battlefield. Return target creature to its owner's hand.

November 29, 2011 4:56 p.m.

Hidden Moth 1UU

Shroud, Flying

Whenever Hidden Moth blocks or attacks, return it to it'sowners hand.

0/1

"You never see it till it's flown away"

November 29, 2011 5:07 p.m.

Spoofed says... #28

1

Underground River - Enchantment - (1)(U)

(1)(U)(Discard a card): Target creature with power 3 or less that you control is unblockable until end of turn. You may only do this once per turn.


Would prefer this to be a land; however the rules restrict that. If not, the land would come into play tapped and require a tap to use the ability in addition to the current cost.


# 2

Flickering Rat - Creature Rat - 1/1 - 1(U)(B)

Flash

When Flickering Rats enters the battlefield discard a card from your hand and put 2 -1/-1 counters on target creature.

(3)(U)(Discard a card from your hand): Return Flickering Rats to your hand and draw a card. Do this only when you could cast a sorcery.


I feel that this card is pretty good and isn't quite easy to break. This gives graveyard based decks a recurable "kill" spell that fuels their graveyard; however it isn't so fast that it would be abuseable.

November 29, 2011 6:14 p.m.

KrazyCaley says... #29

AEther Spy - 1UUB

Creature - Wraith

T: Draw a card, then discard a card, then look at target player's hand. That player chooses any number of creatures he or she controls. During that player's next combat step, only the chosen creatures may attack, and the chosen creatures must attack if able.

0/3

"It is said that if you know your enemies and know yourself, you will not be imperiled in a hundred battles" - Sun Tzu, The Art of War


Taint Terrain - UB

Enchantment

Enchant Land. When Taint Terrain enters the battlefield, enchanted land's controller discards a card. Enchanted land is a basic land type of your choice.

"I have harnessed the shadows that stride from world to world to sow death and madness..." - H.P. Lovecraft, From Beyond

November 29, 2011 11:36 p.m.

Might of Ulgris - BU

Enchantment - Aura

Enchanted creature has deathtouch and shroud.At the beginning of each upkeep, put a -1/-1 counter enchanted creature. When enchanted creature goes to the graveyard, return Might of Ulgris to your hand.

Again, I'm open to a better name.

November 30, 2011 12:18 a.m.

Survival Instincts - 1U

Instant

Return target creature you control to its owner's hand. Put a token of that creature onto the battlefield with "pay 1U: Sacrifice this creature. Put a creature card with the same name from your hand onto the battlefield. Activate this ability only anytime you could cast a sorcery."

This feels a bit overpowered, but I think it could work at uncommon level.

November 30, 2011 12:36 a.m.

IAmKingTony says... #32

Survival Instincts is pretty intense. Maybe if it exiled a creature you control, made a token of it, and then when the token left play the exiled creature came back. Still pretty intense with Doubling Chant , Intangible Virtue , etc.

November 30, 2011 12:45 a.m.

I can see that. Would it be a bad idea to have it exile target creature you control, then have the ability "1U: sac this creature. Return exiled creature with the same name to the battlefield"?

November 30, 2011 1:04 a.m.

IAmKingTony says... #34

Yeah maybe, maybe 2U

November 30, 2011 1:40 a.m.

shadowdart says... #35

Fizzle 1UB

Instant

Counter target spell. Put a -1/-1 counter on a creature of that spell's controller.

November 30, 2011 2:03 a.m.

shadowdart says... #36

Greiver BBB

Creature- Horror

Greiver get +1/+1 for every -1/-1 counters on the field.

0/0

November 30, 2011 2:05 a.m.

shadowdart says... #37

I meant UBB sorry

November 30, 2011 2:06 a.m.

Jarrod_0067 says... #38

So I thought to hell with it

Rotting Sinew 1UB

Sorcery

Destroy target creature with a counter on it. Its controller puts the top 5 cards of his or her library into his or her graveyard.

Ulgrisian parasites are far from symbiotic. Within an hour of being infected, the victim's extremities become gangrenous and their mind is poisoned beyond repair

November 30, 2011 3:33 a.m.

Denizen says... #39

Awash 2UUU

Enchantment

At the beginning of each player's upkeep, that player puts a -1/-1 counter on a creature they control without Islandwalk.

November 30, 2011 10:31 a.m.

Denizen says... #40

Flavor text for the above

Sink or swim.

November 30, 2011 10:37 a.m.

Yourman says... #41

Vile Charge

BU

Enchant Creature/Aura

Flash

While attacking enchanted creature has flying and deathtouch.

November 30, 2011 6:54 p.m.

Virlym says... #42

Contaminated blood (1UB)

~Enchant Creature~

Enchanted creature gets -2,-1 and has "When this creature dies, gain control of all the creatures that blocked or was blocked by enchanted creature this turn."

Even the strongest minds can be tainted from the blood of war.

November 30, 2011 7:06 p.m.

Yourman says... #43

Brainsucker

UUU

Creature- Leech

If (cardname) would deal combat damage to a player, instead that player puts that many cards from the top of his or her library into his or her graveyard.

5/2

November 30, 2011 7:10 p.m.

Virlym says... #44

Reminds me of Szadek, Lord of Secrets , but a lot weaker

November 30, 2011 7:12 p.m.

Yourman says... #45

Hellbore Garden

2UB

Creature- Plant

During your upkeep put a -1/-1 on all other creatures in play

Defender

0/5

November 30, 2011 7:43 p.m.

3rd submission

Thoughts Forgotten - U

sorcery

Target player puts the top two cards of his or her library into their graveyard. If a creature is put into the graveyard this way, return Thoughts Forgotten to your hand.

November 30, 2011 8:09 p.m.

Yourman says... #47

Sea Wasp

U

Creature- Jellyfish

(T) put a -1/-1 counter on target creature.

0/1

November 30, 2011 9:08 p.m.

Virlym says... #48

Corruptive Mosquito (1UB)

~Creature - Insect~

Flying

(U) (B), (T): Corruptive Mossquito becomes an enchantment with "You control target creature with a -1/-1 counter on it for as long as Corruptive Mosquito is an enchantment." and "Pay 2 life, sacrifice a creature, T: Corruptive Mosquito becomes a 0/1 black Insect Creature".

1/2

These mosquitoes were once used as a form of brain control. That was until it was discovered they were only useful once and they had short lives.

November 30, 2011 10:02 p.m.

Virlym says... #49

Morphing Ooze (3U)

Creature - Ooze

Morphing Ooze comes into play with a -1/-1 counter on it.

(1)(B): Remove a -1/-1 counter from Morphing Ooze and put a -1/-1 on up to two target creatures.

3/3

No matter how much it gets smashed, it always reforms.

November 30, 2011 10:18 p.m.

Jarrod_0067 says... #50

Magics Unknown UB

Instant

As an additional cost to cast Magics Unknown, discard your hand. Search your library for an instant or sorcery card, reveal it and add it to your hand. Then shuffle your library.

December 1, 2011 3:13 a.m.

Jarrod_0067 says... #51

I just realized a flaw in my last card. "As an additional cost to cast Magics Unknown, discard your hand" is not possible, so change it to:

"Discard your hand. Search your library for an instant or sorcery card, reveal it and add it to your hand. Then shuffle your library."

December 1, 2011 3:14 a.m.

Skull_Creed says... #52

Adaptive Abomination 2UB

Creature - Horror

Whenever Adaptive Abomination attacks, put a -1/-1 counter on target creature, then put a +1/+1 counter on Adaptive Abomination.

2/2


Whispering Mastermind 2U

Creature - Human Wizard

Flash

When Whispering Mastermind enters the battlefield, return up to two target creatures to its owner's hands.

2/1

December 2, 2011 12:42 p.m.

Virlym says... #53

1) The deadline was 2 days ago.

2) That's a little overpowered for an uncommon. Its basically in instant that returns 2 creatures and gives you a 2/1 token...

3) Friendly tip, return to their owner's

December 2, 2011 1 p.m.

Skull_Creed says... #54

1) Oops. My apologies.

2) Yeah, now that I look at it, it really is.

3) Yup, just realized that too.

4) Your Ooze is overpowered also. Just put a -1/-1 counter on it and repeat.

December 2, 2011 1:08 p.m.

Virlym says... #55

Yea, I saw that after I hit post. I originally had it a 5 cmc not 4 and it was more color specific... But then I was messing with its power and toughness and forgot to change it back... (it would've been a 2/2 at its current cmc).

December 2, 2011 3:13 p.m.

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