Custom Recursion Vampire
Custom Cards forum
Posted on Oct. 13, 2021, 3:11 p.m. by Last_Laugh
Xylia, Markov Matron
Legendary Creature - Vampire Noble
If a nontoken vampire you control would die, exile it instead and create a 0/1 black bat creature token with flying and ", : Sacrifice this creature to return the exiled creature to the battlefield. X is equal to the exiled creatures mana value."
4/4
I'm after general feedback and ideas of how to template this card to accomplish the bat token that returns the dead creature to the battlefield (it feels thematically on point for vamps). Thanks in advance!
Wendithewendigo says... #3
Putting the " , : etc. etc." Would make it be better formating
October 13, 2021 7:37 p.m.
seshiro_of_the_orochi’s post is incorrect. This is a replacement effect, so you need to use the word “If” instead of “Whenever”. Look at Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet as an example of formatting.
You also do not use the symbol in the activated ability’s text - you only use that in the cost. In the text, you use just the letter X.
Converted mana cost should now be “mana value”.
October 13, 2021 8:09 p.m. Edited.
Last_Laugh says... #5
Ty seshiro_of_the_orochi, Wendithewendigo and Caerwyn. I wasn't sure how to word it to make it up to date and correct or if there was a way to make it less convoluted. As far as the effect, mana cost, and power/toughness goes, any thoughts? I figured making the token tap and sac for the ability would make it fair.
I was also just gonna go Vampire Noble for the creature type but forgot to type it out.
Just double checking, it needs to be...
Whenever a nontoken vampire you control would die, exile it instead and put an 0/1 black bat creature token with flying and ", : Sacrifice this creature to return the exiled creature to the battlefield. X is equal to the exiled creatures mana value."?
October 13, 2021 9:09 p.m.
Last_Laugh says... #6
https://mtgcardsmith.com/view/xylia-markov-matron
If anyone want to check out my mocked up version.
October 13, 2021 9:20 p.m. Edited.
seshiro_of_the_orochi says... #7
If I understood Caerwyn correctlx, it'd have to be "If" insteaf of whenever.
Regarding the remaining text I don't to say sth. now...just got up from sleep, so I'll propably miss something here.
October 13, 2021 11:44 p.m.
Just as with some of white's recent recursion tools, this has the issue where you lock yourself out of your resources if people tamper with your recursion tools or the tool itself locks them away while in "use" - as is the case of Idol of Endurance.
I would really like this card better if the exiling was a may. I would like it even more if it was only exiled while "in use" by the bat token, but that's probably going to be too much ability text to put onto a token.
However if someone kills the bat, your vampire is stuck in exile. Thematically, that's an oof.
As for the creature itself, it seems fine. It's on curve stats - 4/4 for 4 and no keyword abilities. It's rather plain and your interest is mostly the recursion, which makes it less appealing to be proactive about playing. It's a safety measure rather than an acceleration of your win condition. It does work on itself though (although risky due to aforementioned lock-out threat) so you can keep bringing it back for 4 mana, given the bat token doesn't die.
The concept is thematic and potentially powerful. Although I don't find it that exciting, but then again it's likely going in the 99 of an Edgar Markov deck. I doubt it's worthwhile to replace Edgar with Xylia and if that was the intention here, I'm not sure it is possible without making Xylia closer to broken than Edgar already is.
October 14, 2021 10:45 a.m.
Last_Laugh says... #9
Tzefick - Thanks for posting. Making it a 'may' ability is something I could possibly change. It takes away from the 'high risk, high reward' thing I was going for a bit, but it's worth considering.
However, the bat being susceptible to removal and leaving the creature exiled was a conscious choice actually. I also made sure the bat's ability requires tapping so that it has to survive til your next turn (barring a haste enabler of course).
I felt that this was a good way to balance the power level of the card so it's powerful but not busted.
October 14, 2021 12:37 p.m. Edited.
Fair enough, you made it the way you intended, pros and cons. Can't really say much else.
It would be interesting to see in print and playtest but I do fear the downside when facing e.g. Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite (or any easy to activate damage tool) that just instantly exiles your entire board, either by itself or by assist of a board wipe/board damage that doesn't remove Elesh Norn herself. Then again I didn't have that many recursion tools in my last vampire deck list but I did have a few where it would be bad to have your vampires exiled.
seshiro_of_the_orochi says... #2
I'm pretty sure the wording works, but there has to be one change:
Whenever a nontoken vampire you control would die...
This is because the creature is exiled instead of being put into the graveyard.
Regarding the rest of the card: It would oviously have to have a creature typ. And "Broodmother" is a weird word for vampires, especially on Innistrad. Maybe something like "Xylia, Markov Matron".
October 13, 2021 3:31 p.m.