Powerful Cards Balanced with Fair Drawbacks
Custom Cards forum
Posted on May 25, 2015, 3:20 a.m. by CastleSiege
So I've always been interested by some of the older, more powerful creatures with drawbacks. Granted, many of them aren't very good (I'm looking at you, Leviathan!).
I've taken my own crack at designing a creature along similar lines, but hopefully it has more playability. Keep in mind the main format I play is EDH so this might not be viable in constructed play.
Eater of Worlds 
Legendary Creature - Demon (Mythic)
Fear (This creature can't be blocked except by artifact creatures and/or black creatures.)
Eater of Worlds' power and toughness are each equal to the number of lands in all graveyards.
Whenever Eater of Worlds deals combat damage to a player, you lose that much life and the defending player sacrifices half that many lands rounded down. Draw a card for each land sacrificed this way.
I'm not entirely sure if I have the last ability worded correctly. Also I'd like anyone's feedback on whether you think this is or isn't balanced, viable, and/or at least interesting. Don't be afraid to post your own creations either, as long as you believe they meet similar criteria (powerful with drawbacks).
FAMOUSWATERMELON says... #3
LeaPlath I think the Fear is on purpose because it's supposed to be an old-style card.
Regardless, I think that that last ability is too powerful. They sacrifice a good part of their board (maybe four lands?) and you draw four cards... every time he attacks, because he has evasion. He'll also probably be nice and big because of fetches, etc...
May 25, 2015 8:23 a.m.
julianjmoss says... #4
I also feel as if he is more black green as far as abilities go. Typically lands in the graveyard have more to do with green (see knight of the reliquary)
May 25, 2015 8:55 a.m.
CastleSiege says... #5
So after reading the feedback you three left me, I've made some adjustments:
The CMC has been changed to 
.
The first ability has been changed from Fear to Intimidate. With the addition of a second colour, Eater of Worlds is now able to be blocked by three different colour identities instead of only two.
The creature type has been changed to Lhurgoyf as that seems to be more fitting than Demon, especially with being added to the mana cost. The next ability has been changed accordingly:
Eater of Worlds power is equal to the number of lands in all graveyards and its toughness is equal to that number plus 1. This also allows it to be played when no lands are in any graveyard.
The last ability has been changed more dramatically in an attempt to make the card more fair, as well as make it more political in a group EDH environment:
Whenever Eater of Worlds deals combat damage to an opponent, any player may sacrifice a land. If no player does, draw two cards. This also gives the controller the option to sacrifice their own lands if they happen to value its power over card advantage for any reason.
So here's the entire layout:
Eater of Worlds
Legendary Creature - Lhurgoyf (Mythic)
Intimidate
Eater of Worlds power is equal to the number of lands in all graveyards and its toughness is equal to that number plus 1.
Whenever Eater of Worlds deals combat damage to an opponent, any player may sacrifice a land. If no player does, draw two cards.
Do you think this is more fair? Is it still powerful or not powerful enough?
May 25, 2015 8:20 p.m.
I may be missing something here, but it seems the "fixed" version doesn't actually have any drawbacks. I think you could do a call back to the Prophecy/Mercadia Masques mechanic with this card.
Intimidate
Eater of Worlds power is equal to the number of land cards in all graveyards and its toughness is equal to that number plus 1.
Sacrifice a land: Prevent all damage dealt by Eater of Worlds, each opponent draws a card. Any player may activate this ability.
Admittedly this version doesn't have the "strong" drawback you initial version had, but I think it presents some interesting multiplayer situations. An opponent can sac a land or more, hoping one of your other opponents draws an answer with the risk of giving you another threat on top of making this one bigger. Just my $0.02.
June 1, 2015 6:27 p.m.
Oops I read your fix wrong, I read "... If a (instead of, no) player does, draw two cards."
In that case, this version seems fun, and balanced to me.
June 1, 2015 6:33 p.m.
I guess it does share some similarities. I didn't think of that. I think the card draw for each opponent, and the loss of restriction of timing can create more interesting tension for multiplayer, but yes it would have a Desecration Demon vibe to in all the same.
June 1, 2015 6:36 p.m.
SadisticMystic says... #10
Terravore is 3 mana, and doesn't give opponents an escape clause. Granted, it doesn't give you an outlet for sacrificing any number of your own lands either, but if you're playing a deck with Terravore in it, you should have no shortage of those already.
MollyMab says... #2
So first 2 abilities are fine except Fear should be intimidate, which is the new version. Functionally the same on this card though.
The last ability is doing lots of things though. Saccing lands, you losing life, you drawing cards. I would stream line it a bit and reduce power. Make it a 5 mana card and when it deals combat damage, you may have them sacrifice a land. Draw a card whenever they sacrifice a land as a separate ability.
Suddenly the power level is reduced otherwise you can kill 10 lands in a go and draw 10 cards, but now it has utility versus fetches and wasteland etc
May 25, 2015 6:14 a.m.