Crazy Set Idea (Mechanics Help Needed)
Custom Cards forum
Posted on Sept. 22, 2015, 1:58 a.m. by mistrsinistr
So I had an idea for a set based on Biblical Mythology, so Demons, Angels, and all that fun stuff (I won't be using the names and characters from the Bible, but that's just because of how MtG works these days.)Anyway, I needed some help with the mechanics for this set. The flavor for this set makes exile "going somewhere", like heaven, hell, or in the case of one card, the belly of a whale.The set will be based on allied colors, and focus primarily on black and white, and there will be heavy emphasis on color.Now to move on to the actual mechanics I'll be putting in.
There is Defile, which can show up on any nonblack card. An example would be something like this:
Tortured Soul | 1W
Creature-Human
Defile (When this creature dies, if it isn't black return it to the battlefield. It is black.)
As long as Tortured Soul is black, it has +2/+1 and is a Demon.
1/1
The next thing I have is a white mechanic that makes use of white's loyalty, and how it protects people, called Savior.
Syr-Ban Cleric | 2WW
Creature-Human Cleric
Savior (When another creature would die, you may sacrifice this creature instead. If you do, return the other creature to the battlefield)
2/2
Savior will be a mostly white mechanic, but will show up on blue cards as well. Blue-white will be a group of good, faithful clerics, and the angels that guide them.
Then for Blue-Black, mill will be the focus, and it will be based on a group of corrupt Pharisees that are tricked by Demons into following them. The Blue-Black Mechanic is Corrupt
Darkcaller Pharisee | 4UB
Creature-Human Cleric
Corrupt (Whenever a creature dealt damage by this creature dies, exile that creature.)
When Darkcaller Pharisee deals combat damage to a player, that player puts the top X cards of his or her library into his or her graveyard, where X is the number of creatures in exile they control.
4/3
There isn't a keyword for green-red, but this is going to be the beasts of the earth. They will primarily be based on tokens, and pumping in various ways.
As for green-white, this will be the Rome-Like militaries that are ravaging the area. They will be using the Battalion mechanic from Return to Ravnica.
Finally, black and red are just the demons and devils of the world, and they will mostly be burn and have plenty of tribal mechanics for demons and devils.
Also returning from Lorwyn will be Tribal instants, sorceries, and enchantments, and the primary tribes will be Human, Beast, Demon, Devil, and Angel.
Finally, Suspend will be showing up in all colors as a way to show that people can come back from exile. A notable example is as follows.
Tenin, the Lost Prophet | 3U
Legendary Creature-Human Cleric
5UU, Exile Tenin, the Lost Prophet: Put 5 time counters on Tenin, the Lost Prophet. He gains Suspend.
As long as Tenin, the Lost Prophet was exiled using his ability, put a 9/9 blue Whale creature token with "When a creature named Tenin, the Lost Prophet enters the battlefield under your control, sacrifice this creature." onto the battlefield.
2/3
Any thoughts and constructive critique is appreciated.
mistrsinistr says... #3
I like where you're going with Corrupt, but I wanted to keep with the whole "just one type of counter per set" thing. And seeing as some of the demons use +1/+1 counters, it made sense I'd keep those. I could amend Corrupt to be an until end of turn effect like I had in my head. I guess I just worded it wrong. Same with Savior.
September 22, 2015 1:05 p.m.
Karns_Pyromancer says... #4
This is interesting, to say the least.
First off, I think Battalion is a bad fit for a WG ability because of its aggressiveness.
Also, a word of warning about Tribal. It causes all kinds of issues with cost reduction effects and other oddities. Anyway, on to the new stuff!
Defile: I can see what you're aiming for. Maybe try something like this: 'Defile - When this creature dies, if it isn't black, return it to the battlefield. It becomes black. Otherwise, exile it.' This little rider can add a lot of flavor. You can also add 'black in addition to other colors'.
Corrupt: when I think corrupt in MTG I think of Corrupted Conscience and things becoming Black (like Haunted Angel). Maybe have it be 'Corrupt - Whenever this creature deals combat damage to another creature, that creature becomes Black in addition to its other colors.'
Saviour: I like this a lot. It definitely needs a bit of work (maybe a mana cost?) and maybe I'm biased as it's very similar to a card I made for my Cube. In any case, it looks very fun.
Suspend: I could see you having a lot of fun with this. For instance:
Swallowed Whole 
Exile target creature and put three time counters on it. It gains suspend.
Or
Worldfire Dragon 
Trample
Suspend 50 -
Whenever a card is put into a graveyard, remove a time counter from CARDNAME.
Whenever CARDNAME deals combat damage to a player, that player loses the game.
6/6
I think you get the references. In any case, I like this and will be thinking on it a bit more.
September 22, 2015 4:43 p.m.
mistrsinistr says... #5
Do you have any suggestions for the GW ability, then, Karns_Pyromancer? I personally thought Battlion would fit in with the Roman theme of the colors here, but I'm always open to new ideas.
September 23, 2015 2:42 a.m.
Karns_Pyromancer says... #6
The only reason I don't see it fitting is it's aggression. I do think you're right about Roman armies being GW though. Same with Raid. My thought process is 'We are numerous, we are efficient, we are strong.'
What about an Absorb variant? (If a source would deal damage to a CARDNAME, prevent 1 of that damage.)
September 23, 2015 9:19 a.m.
Hey! I can't remember much from what I read from the bible, but what I do might help some creature ideas and mechanics.
Creatures There was these beast of the earth that G-d created and I think they were locked in the earth or something. I think there were seven. You could easily devote one to each color (and just ignore the other two. Because I think the bible doesn't specify on the creatures themselves) They were born out of the apocalypse (so if you want to look them up they're in revelations). There was this one "women" she was to represent lust in revelations, but she just makes for a cool creature. Because in my perception she was made from the faces of those who fell for her (like she had a snake lower half covered in faces) and a gorgeous upper body. So that might fit in your demon aspect. I'm not sure if the princess of hell are in the bible, but there were 7 and each had different powers (they were a catholic belief, I think). If you want to base a design off them and look them up. Like Beelzebub tried to over through Satan; to obtain the power he deserved, I think? So maybe a black white legendary. Then there's the angel who records destruction and annihilations. So maybe a white or blue white legendary who has indestructible (or protection) and can Scry, but weak basic stats. There was this one story about how there was a big army coming. And I think only the devote stayed to fight the big army. So naturally there was few. But the few pulled a few tricks to scare the big army away. I was thinking a small army of wizards and rogues who could have those mill abilities you wanted or basic blue technics. There is of talk about absolute darkness in the beginning! maybe ancient creatures born from that. There's a quote and I'm going to try to paraphrase. "A house divided by itself cannot stand". I think clans betraying the demon they pledged to could be a thing.
But you can also study Satanism or Demonology and not just the bible if you want to expand your ideas for black.
Anyways that's my piece I hope that helps some what haha
September 23, 2015 6:36 p.m.
Karns_Pyromancer says... #8
I think maybe you should go reread Revelation, mate. I do like the execution you suggest, but your details are off target enough that they could be likened to playing horseshoes with nukes. (Please don't take offense at that, I've been arguing morality with feminists all week and can't take much more of 'offended' people.)
This does bring up a good point though. What do you mean by 'biblical'? Are you going to cover general tropes of Judaic Christian beliefs or will every card be a reference to a Bible passage?
September 23, 2015 10:25 p.m.
mistrsinistr says... #9
It'll be more of a Judeo-Christian themed set. I's based around the world climate during that setting.
Also, I had another idea for the GW mechanic. It'll be Utilize X.
Cardname 4GW
Creature-Human Soldier
Utilize X (When this creature enters the battlefield, you may exile any number of lands you control attached to this creature.)
CARDNAME gets +1/+1 for each land it is utilizing.
2/2
Does that fit better? It definitely fits the Roman's tenancy to use resources from whatever place they're in, and it makes for some fun design space for Oblivion Sower type effects.
September 24, 2015 1:05 a.m.
Karns_Pyromancer says... #10
I don't know that "attached to this creature" works (especially with Oblivion Sower), but I like it.
Maybe Utilize - when you cast ~, exile X lands you control, ~ enters with X +1/+1 counters.
Also, have you considered using Fortify?
September 24, 2015 9:22 a.m.
mistrsinistr says... #12
Karns_Pyromancer I'm still playing with Utilize to make it a bit better for gameplay. Another version was just going to be you exile one land and get the effect, like "Utilize (You may exile a land as you cast this spell." and "If ~ is utilizing, it gets +1/+1" and I could use it as an extra effect on spells. As for Fortify, I don't think that it'd fit the flavor very well, seeing as this set doesn't really have a focus on Artifacts. It's got more of a Legendary vibe going for it.
TheNextRedDude-Rest in Peace is a good idea, especially with the exile themes that are appearing. And it gimps Boneyard Demon, which I posted about in the last thread I created.
September 25, 2015 12:51 a.m.
Karns_Pyromancer says... #13
You might want to make a functional reprint of Riftsweeper with all these exile effects.
September 25, 2015 9:53 a.m.
mistrsinistr says... #14
I was actually planning on that, plus a couple Processor-type effects to make the gameplay more interesting.
September 26, 2015 12:20 a.m.
SwaggyMcSwagglepants says... #15
I think it would be cooler to have the graveyard represent Hell, and the exile zone be more of Heavenish area.
I think that the design ideas are really cool. However, I don't think new players get the themes without keywords. That's why a lot of new sets have every "tribe" have a keyword.
A B/R (Rakdos) keyword that would be sweet is mischief. Heres how it reads:
Rambunctious Rioters 
Creature-Devil
Mischief X: When CARDNAME enters the battlefield, if you've dealt X or more damage to an opponent this turn, put a +1/+1 counter on CARDNAME.
3/3
Another interesting card would be something like
Sylvana, Darkened Priest 
Creature - Human Cleric
Lifelink, Vigilance
When CARDNAME enters the battlefield, you may put a creature card from exile into your graveyard. If you do, put X +1/+1 counters on CARDNAME, where X is equal to that creature's power.
They told me if they could have a soul from above, I would be eternally rewarded. I have rose from being a lowly priest of [god(dess)] to a emissary of below.
1/2
On the flipside
Aman, Enlightened Fiend 
Creature - Devil
First Strike
When CARDNAME enters the battlefield, you exile a creature card in your graveyard. If you do, you may deal X damage to a creature your opponent controls, where X is the toughness of the exiled creature.
I emerged from under and saw the light above, and I pledged myself to protecting the light from the harm of my brethren.
3/1
Thematically, I think it would be cool to have the people devoted to the heaven side care more about toughness, and the people devoted to the darker side care about power more.
Also, I think instead of defile, there should be a previous mechanic like undying or persist, so black guys can come back from the graveyard.
September 28, 2015 9:31 p.m.
Karns_Pyromancer says... #16
I like your take on Processors. Very cool!
September 28, 2015 9:47 p.m.
mistrsinistr says... #17
SwaggyMcSwagglepants All those sound like great ideas. I think I'll put in a legendary cycle or enemy colored creatures just so I can use those mechanics (probably not keyworded, because they'll only be on one card). As for Defile, I was considering Undying, but I wanted to create a new way to recur things, and I thought it'd be kinda cool to do something more based on color, so that I didn't have to use a counter for it, and it also fits the good/evil flavor. Plus it gives me some fun options for cards that do different things if they're black. I had one idea that went like:
Tempted Angel 4WWW
Creature-Angel
Flying
Defile
If Tempted Angel is white, angel spells you cast cost 1 less to cast.
If Tempted Angel is black, demon spells you cast cost 1 less to cast.
5/5
Thematically, it represents temptation, and it also adds design space for color changing mechanics.
September 29, 2015 1:32 a.m.
mistrsinistr says... #18
Some of the cards from my design notes. I want to know what you all think of these. Just a note, I noted the rarity of the cards as well, so if you think the rarity should be higher or lower, or the card should be powered up or down to fit into it's cycle, just let me know.
Tesran, Arisen Fiend | 1WR
Legenadary Creature-Devil
R
When Tesran, Arisen Fiend enters the battefield, you may exile a devil creature card from your graveyard. If you do, he deals X damage to target creature or player, where X is the exiled creature's toughness plus 2.
2/1_____
Cairn, the Wanderer | 2WB
Legendary Creature-Human
R
Indestructible.
When Cairn, the Wanderer enters the battlefield, sacrifice a creature.
Whenever a creature or spell deals damage to Cairn, the Wanderer, prevent that damage. Cairn deals that much damage times two to that creature or that spell's controller.
1/1_____
Tinin, Pharisee Traitor | 2UR
Legendary Creature-Human Cleric
R
When Tinin, Pharisee Traitor enters the battlefield, exile any number of cards from your hand, and then draw that many cards. If you control an angel, you may play cards exiled this way as long as Tinin Pharise Traitor is on the battlefield.
3/4_____
Ba'ashein Hellborn | 2BG
Legendary Creature-Serpent Beast
R
When Ba'ashein Hellborn enters the battlefield, destroy target nonland permanent with a converted mana cost of two or less.
Ba'ashein Hellborn gets +1/+1 for each creature card in all graveyards.
1/1_____
Galil, Biomind | 2UG
Legendary Creature-Human Wizard
R
When Galil, Biomind enters the battlefield, reveal the top card of your library. If it's a noncreature, card, put it on the bottom of your library. Repeat this process until you reveal a creature card and put it into your hand.
1/2_____
Annihilator Devil | 1R
Creature-Devil
U
Annihilator Devil gets +1/+1 for each other Devil you control.
3/0_____
Hellish Commander | 1RR
Creautre-Devil
R
Other devil creatures you control have +1/+1 and devil creatures you control have "Whenever this creature deals combat damage to a player, it deals 2 damage to target creature that player controls and 1 damage to itself."
3/2_____
Evil Ideas | 2R
Tribal Enchantment-Devil
U
Whenever you cast a devil spell, draw a card, then discard a card.
Creatures you control have +1/+1, first strike, and "Whenever this creature attacks, it deals 1 damage to itself."
Devilish Tormentor | 1R
Creature-Devil
U
Whenever this creature deals combat damage to a player, it deals 2 damage to itself.
4/2_____
Hexed Bolt | 1R
Tribal Instant-Devil
Hexed Lightning costs 1 less to cast if you control a devil.
Hexed Lightning deals 3 damage to target creature or player.
Torch Fiend | 1R
Creature-Devil
C
R, Sacrifice Torch Fiend: Destroy target arifiact.
2/1
Vexing Devil | R
Creature-Devil
R
When Vexing Devil enters the battlefield, any player may have it deal 4 damage to them. If they do, sacrifice Vexing Devil.
4/3_____
Preplexing Puzzle| 1U
Tribal Instant-Human
C
Counter target spell. If that spell's controller controls a Beast, you draw a card.
Harsh Response | 1G
Tribal Instant-Beast
C
Target creature you control gets +2/+2 until end of turn. If an opponent controls a Human, put a +1/+1 counter onto target creature you control.
Hateful Intent | 1R
Tribal Instant-Devil
C
Hateful Intent deals 2 damage to target creature. If that creature is
an Angel, Hateful Intent deals 5
damage to that creature instead.
Dark Force | 1B
Tribal Instant-Demon
C
Destroy target nonblack creature. If that creature was an Angel, it's controller loses 2 life and you gain 2 life.
Holy Retribution | 1W
Tribal Instant-Angel
C
Prevent all combat damage that would be dealt this turn. If your opponent controls an attacking demon, destroy target attacking demon.
Talifir | 3WUBRG
Legendary Creature-God
M
Indestructible
If Talifir would be exiled, put a time counter on him. He gains Suspend.
WUBRG, T: Each player chooses two creatures, two artifacts, two enchantments, and two lands and sacrifices all other permanents they control.
4/5_____
Drag to Hell | 2B
Instant
R
Destroy target creature or planeswalker.
Tibalt, Painbringer | RR
Planeswalker-Tibalt
M
+3 | Tibalt, Painbringer deals 3 damage to target creature or player and 1 to himself.
-3 | Put a 2/2 red Devil creature token with haste onto the battlefield.
-8 | You gain an emblem with "Whenever you discard a card, draw a card," and "Whenever a creature you control dies, it deals 3 damage to target creature or player."
2_____
Defender of Seni | GG
Creature-Human Soldier
C
Utilize (When this creature enters the battlefield, you may exile a land you control attached to it.)
If Defender of Seni is utilizing, it gets +1/+1.
2/2_____
Seni Trapper | 1WG
Creature-Human Soldier
U
Utilize
When Seni Trapper enters the battlefield, if it is utilizing, exile target creature until Seni Trapper leaves the battlefield.
1/4_____
Seni Fallen | WWGG
Creature-Human Soldier
R
Utilize
Defile
As long as Seni Fallen is white and utilizing, you have hexproof.
As long as Seni Fallen is black and utilizing, it has "T: Destroy target tapped, nonblack creature."
2/3_____
Seni Charm | WG
Instant
U
Choose one:
-Target creature you control gets +1/+1
-You may unattach a land from target creature and put it onto the battlefield under it's owner's control.
-Exile up to two target creature cards from their owner's graveyards.
Seni Druid | GG
Creature-Human Druid
R/U (Still deciding on rarity here)
Utilize
T: Add G to your mana pool. If Seni Druid is utilizing, add GGG to your mana pool instead.
1/1_____
Rescuer Angel | 3WW
Creature-Angel Soldier
U
Flying
Savior
When Rescuer Angel enters the battefield or dies, you gain 2 life.
4/4_____
Young Angel | W
Creature-Angel
C
Flying
0/2_____
Angel Trumpeteer | 4WU
Creature-Angel
U
Flying
Other angel creatures you control get +1/+1 and have vigilance
4/4_____
Sudden Courage | 1WU
Instant
C
Target creature gains Savior until end of turn.
Seni Surefoot | 3GG
Creature-Human Soldier
R
Utilize
If Seni Surefoot is utilizing, it gets +1/+1 for each other creature you control that is utilizing.
2/2_____
Testri Hydra | XRG
Creature-Hydra Beast
R
Testri Hydra enters the battlefield with X +1/+1 counters on it.
When Testri Hydra dies, put a 2/2 red and green Hydra Beast creature token onto the battlefield for every two +1/+1 counters on it.
Testri Beastcaller | G
Creature-Human Shaman
C
T: Add RG to your mana pool. Testri Beastcaller deals 2 damage to you if you don't control a beast.
1/1_____
Testri Flare | 2RG
Instant
U
Testri Flare deals X damage to target player, where X is the amount of mana in that player's mana pool.
Jaili's Ragebeast | RRGG
Creature-Beast
U
6/6_____
Jaili, Caller of Beasts | 3RG
Planeswalker-Jaili
M
+1 | Add RG to your mana pool. Use this mana only to cast creature spells.
-3 | Put a 3/3 red and green Beast creature token onto the battlefield.
-8 | You may search your library for any number of beast creatures. They gain haste. Sacrifice them at the beginning of the next end step.
3_____
The Tower of Hatil | 5
Legendary Arifact
M
6, T, Exile The Tower of Hatil: For each creature, it's controller flips a coin. If that player loses the flip, a random opponent gains control of that creature.
September 29, 2015 9:32 a.m.
Karns_Pyromancer says... #19
Try "Utilized" instead of Utilizing.
Looks good so far. I like the tribal aspect, most people don't do it so well.
September 29, 2015 9:59 a.m.
TheNextRedDude says... #20
Here's a cycle of bears with defile, and a creative thought on balancing black with the other colors.
Falling Priest 1W
Creature - Human Cleric
Defile
2/2
Falling Cleric 1U
Creature - Human Cleric
Defile
2/2
Falling Beastmaster 1G
Creature- Human Shaman
Defile
2/2
Falling Soldier 1R
Creature- Human Shaman
Defile
2/2
Lord of the Fallen 3BB
Creature- Demon
Nonblack creatures you control get -2/-2
Black creatures you control get +1/+1
3/2
Savior of the Falling 3WW
Creature - Angel
Nonblack creatures you control get +2/+2
Black creatures you control get -1/-1
1/2
September 29, 2015 10:37 a.m.
mistrsinistr says... #21
Thanks for the feedback guys! Do you have any other suggestions. It's always nice to have some help on this kind of project.
September 29, 2015 2:58 p.m.
SwaggyMcSwagglepants says... #22
Umm, a couple of things:
Putting "Tibalt deals 1 damage to himself" is like not adding another loyalty counter to him. It would be smarter to just have it as a + , or a random damage factor (like the number of non-devil creatures you control)
2nd, is my mischief idea a thing, or is it scrapped?
3rd, I think for the devil idea, I think it would be smarter to not have it exile a devil, since with what I was going with, that would be "rewarding" it by having it go to "heaven." I guess the story I kinda outlined with those 2 cards is that maybe the main theme is that someone important to the god (Talifir?) was sent to hell by Sylvania, the priestess, and maybe Aman (the devil) recovers him/her from the hellpit and sends him/her back to their rightful spot. IDK how you feel about that idea, but I think it could be an advanced storyline.
September 29, 2015 6:31 p.m.
TheNextRedDude says... #23
Any cards in particular your having trouble with? Because if that is so, just post what you have and the internet will solve it within 24 hours.
September 29, 2015 6:38 p.m.
mistrsinistr says... #24
Actually, I was kinda thinking that the exiled devil was that RW devil. It was just a way to say, "Hey, he ascended, and now he's allowed into Heaven", but it could also mean that he is enlightening other devils to join him in working with the angels.
September 30, 2015 1:30 a.m.
mistrsinistr says... #25
As for you, TheNextRedDude, I've just been having trouble balancing flavor with mechanics. Like the best example is The Tower of Hatil, because the idea was a rendering of the Tower of Babel (this is actually the card that gave me the idea for the whole set), and I wanted to know if there was a way to edit it to be playable, especially because I may use some of these cards in my commander playgroup.
September 30, 2015 1:32 a.m.
Karns_Pyromancer says... #26
Do you want the Tower to be a game ender? Or just a card that has a cool effect. If the latter:
Tower of Hatil (Land)
At the beginning of your upkeep, you may draw a draw. If you do, discard a card at the end of your draw phase.
If the former:
Tower of Hatil
Enchantment
, sacrifice a creature: put X charge counters on ~. Then if there are 30 or more counters on ~, it becomes a land.
T, sacrifice all creatures you control: Target player loses the game. Activate this ability only if ~ is a land.
September 30, 2015 9:57 a.m.
TheNextRedDude says... #27
give me 2-5 requirements that Tower of Hatil must fufill, and I can do it.
September 30, 2015 2:37 p.m.
mistrsinistr says... #28
Okay, TheNextRedDude so the Tower has to:
A: Fit the Tower of Babel flavor (people try to build a tower to Heaven, God gets angry, makes everyone speak a different language and go somewhere else)
B: It has to be fun.
C: This one is optional, but something that doesn't take forever to resolve.
October 1, 2015 12:31 a.m.
TheNextRedDude says... #29
How about:
Tower of Hatil 5
Legendary Artifact
Exile three creatures you control: Put a tower counter on Tower of Hatil, then if there are 7 or more tower counters on Tower of Hatil exile it and put each creature exiled with Tower of Hatil onto the battlefield under a random player's control. Any player may activate this ability.
10: Exile target creature.
Feel free to change it up.
October 1, 2015 2:53 p.m.
mistrsinistr says... #30
That could be pretty fun, I'll see what I can do with that, thanks!
October 2, 2015 12:50 a.m.
mistrsinistr says... #31
Liliana, of the Fianl Pact | 1BB
Planeswalker-Liliana
M
+2 | Each opponent dicards a card.
-1 | Each opponent loses 1 life and you gain life equal to the amount of life lost this way.
-8 | Put up to one creature card from each graveyard under the battlefield under your control. They are black zombies in addition to their other types and colors and have "When this creature dies, return it to the battlefield under your control."
3
Planeswalker #3 for set 1! Any ideas? Lil's flavor in this set is that she's going after the final demon she made a pact with and wins. Any suggestions for her abilities? Is she too busted? Or is she not strong enough?
October 6, 2015 2:40 a.m.
TheNextRedDude says... #32
If she's meant to be played in multiplayer, flawless success.
October 6, 2015 6:05 a.m.
mistrsinistr says... #33
She's meant to be strong in multiple formats, but I did have "being nice to EDH players" in mind while making her.
October 6, 2015 7:18 a.m.
For walker no. Three if you want and existing walkerXenagos may be interesting. Escaped from the underworld, fled from theros, found this plane, challenges this new God as just another challenge.But not sure if you want a G/R walker
Egann says... #2
I like most of what I see, but I have a few phrasing concerns.
Defile: So is the human example still white when he returns or does the keyword mean he's only black? As this is a keyword I would tighten it to "When this creature dies, if it isn't black return it to the battlefield. It gains black in addition to it's other colors."
Still, a good mechanic which leads to creatures with recursion.
Savior: Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't this ability go onto the stack before the creature has died and left the battlefield? If so, there's nothing to return to the battlefield and the keyword doesn't work.
Personally, I'd replace "return to the battlefield" with exile, then return during the next end step.
Corrupt: Again, phrasing. Does any damage this creature has EVER dealt apply, or just this turn? If it's any damage this creature has ever dealt, I would associate some sort of token or counter with it so you can remember it. I would also split the ability up into a keyword trigger and a creature specific ability like Rimescale Dragon has.
"Corrupt: When this creature deals damage to a creature, if that creature doesn't have a corruption counter, you may put a corruption counter on it instead."
Potential abilities: Prevent all damage dealt to this creature by creatures with corruption counters. Prevent all damage dealt to creatures you control by creatures with corruption counters. Whenever a creature with a corruption counter dies, exile it instead. Whenever a creature with a corruption counter dies, you gain life equal to it's power....
The list of potential applications can go on for days, and if you have several creatures putting corruption counters out there, several abilities might trigger at once. A split ability gives you a lot more flexibility.
September 22, 2015 11:15 a.m.