The Phyrexian Life Cycle - Advice needed
Custom Cards forum
Posted on March 1, 2015, 11:32 a.m. by FAMOUSWATERMELON
Phyrexian mana is too beast. So yeah. I just had to make a cycle out of it. It's pretty simple: identical mana costs (except for color), one or two abilities, identical 6/6 bodies, and two phyrexian mana abilities. All of these cards would be banned in EDH. Here we go!
Xionide is my green choice. Trample is obvious, but I wanted a twist on it, hence the deathtouch. His first ability is a more expensive Mutagenic Growth, and his second is a Chord of Calling with phyrexian mana and without the convoke, making it harder to achieve. I think he's possibly one of the most reasonable creatures in the cycle.
Saxtros is the next one. Hexproof is all blue, and I didn't give him another ability, considering that he can be played by T5, and is very hard to get rid of. He has a Divination for three mana (or 6 life), and his last ability is pretty interesting. Obviously, to avoid infinite turns, he disappears forever after using it, but four extra turns is nothing to scoff at.
This is the card that started the cycle, and this is the fifth draft of it. Being Karn, it's obviously an artifact also. Indestructible is a powerful ability, but definitely fits Karn. He has a Hero's Downfall ready, and I added a Life's Finale for flavor being one of my favorite cards.
WARNING: THE NEXT CARDS ARE PRETTY OP
OK, I admit it, this is a pretty OP card. Twelve damage by T5 is way too much. Adding the fact that he can provide extra bodies and has a huge player/boardwipe (and can also wipe lands) makes him pretty ridiculous. But he's definitely my favorite. He's got some pretty nice flavor. And I think that the next one is even better.
Well, ya. First strike is not the best ability on the planet, but I think that you can forget that looking at his next ability. He utterly wrecks mono-colored decks, he can blink himself for protection if needed (or for a change in color), or other creatures for abusing ETB abilities. His last ability is not the best, but I think that's OK.
So tell me what you guys think! I should probably add something for every card like "You can't gain life" because lifelink and other life-gaining abilities would not be fair, but I want to know your opinions. Obviously, there cards are probably too good to see actual play, but still.
THANK YOU!!
He's reffering to the Haste/Doublestrike on him Jayfeather but yea I like em. Feel like the blue one's kinda on the weaker side personally but I don't know.
March 1, 2015 11:42 a.m.
FAMOUSWATERMELON says... #4
Thanks! I will try!
And what you said about Frawtz is definitely true. He definitely has some setbacks, but double strike on a 6/6 is very good in any scenario. And don't forget that you can combine red mana and phyrexian mana. He's the kind of guy that will either kill your opponent very quickly, or kill you very quickly. Though he is very of suicidal :)
March 1, 2015 11:43 a.m.
FAMOUSWATERMELON says... #5
Saxtros does seem a bit reasonable compared to others. Maybe flying? Or would an evasive 6/6 with hexproof be too good? And maybe making the final ability a bit less, considering that you can't reuse it unlike the others.
March 1, 2015 11:45 a.m.
alexthegreat38 says... #6
These all seem completely ridiculous but I suppose if they were banned in commander they might be balanced. I think trample/deathtouch on the green one is kindof a bit much.
March 1, 2015 12:05 p.m.
In any combo deck, Saxtros' last ability is basically gg. If they can ramp into a turn 3 or 4 Saxtros, they will definitely be willing to pay the 22 life to take 4 more turns. 4 turns uninterrupted for a combo deck is basically a win. You should reduce it to 2 turns.
March 1, 2015 12:05 p.m.
FAMOUSWATERMELON says... #8
Well yes, obviously they're a bit broken :) Trample and deathtouch may seem a bit much, but it's mostly for flavor (remember, this is infected New Phyrexia, so death seemed to fit it). Besides, it's a 6/6 and will generally kill anything that blocks it when it attacks even without deathtouch.
Well, there's a couple things to help that. First, just activation the ability costs 16 life, more if you payed life to play him. You said 22 life would be payed easily... but generally you would die if you pay 22 life, and blue is not known for lifegain. Second, he disappears as soon as you use it, so no infinite shenanigans and you can't reuse him in any way. And finally, four extra turns is definitely not an auto win. It's obviously very good, especially in combo-type decks, but if you think about it, you can win with all of the creatures' final abilities if you use them at the right time. Reducing it to two turns would be too little, considering the cost it takes just to activate the ability. Considering what the others can do, he's actually fairly reasonable.
March 1, 2015 12:52 p.m.
I have played competitive combo EDH decks before, and on many occasions using Necropotence for 30 life while you're at 38 is the right thing to do. Competitive combo decks are designed to be as fast as possible, and gaining 4 extra turns is good game.
Epochalyptik - his 0% Basic and Dominus - Dreamcrusher Edition combo decks usually win by turn 6. If on turn 4 they can get 4 extra turns without the opponent being able to draw or untap anything is a game-winner.
March 1, 2015 1:03 p.m.
Epochalyptik says... #10
A free ability that gives you four turns and can be activated in response to itself? Are you serious? No part of that sentence is okay.
March 1, 2015 1:05 p.m.
CharlesMandore says... #11
No... Getting any of those out by turn five is a major headache.
March 1, 2015 1:13 p.m.
FAMOUSWATERMELON says... #12
These cards are banned in EDH, as it says on the top. Obviously that would be too ridiculous.
Hey, I never said that these cards were fair :) I mean, considering that you usually have to pay at least 8-10 life for the ability, (usually more if you're playing many colors), that blue has basically no life-gain, that it's at least T4 or 5 before you can get him out (and you have to pay 6 more life - I think that adds up to about 16 or 18, which is extremely risky and suicidal VS aggro or burn), and that he vanishes forever right after using it... In the right circumstances it definitely wins (ex. in combo decks) but so do all the other abilities (Yalston giving your tokens +3/+3) used at the right time.
Hahaha yup I can imagine. That said, other decks can get Blightsteel Colossus out by T2 or T3, so...
March 1, 2015 1:16 p.m.
scopesightzx says... #13
With Karn's second ability, it can just say destroy all creatures since he's indestructible
March 1, 2015 1:23 p.m.
CapnMooMoo says... #16
Firstly, the artwork is amazing.
Secondly, on Karn, you don't need to specify not to destroy Karn because he's indestructible.
Thirdly, these are really fun looking!
Good job so far.
March 1, 2015 1:29 p.m.
FAMOUSWATERMELON says... #17
Wow, I totally missed that. I guess it's just in case he loses it, but that will never happen... Oh well. It makes him look tough :)
Hahaha yeah, these were not meant for EDH (which I don't play). And of course Karn is not phyrexian, but he was possessed I believe by them (though I may be off on that one) which would make him their "ally". This cycle happens during Mirrodin's invasion.
Thanks!
Though I definitely can't take credit for the artwork, but it really is amazing how some guys can draw this (especially Xionide and Frawtz)! I'll probably look up who draw these to give them the credit that they deserve.
March 1, 2015 1:31 p.m.
DERPLINGSUPREME says... #18
lore-wise, karn can't be here. He was redeemed. also, I feel 4 extra turns is WAY too good, seeing you could activate the ability the turn after he enters with no life los, and shroud makes him WAY TOO GOOD!!! he needs to be able to be dealt with. Also, you can copy his activatedd ability, which is fucked up. take away hexproof and make it somethings like "spells that target saxtros cost 2 more to cast" or something like that.
March 1, 2015 2:56 p.m.
FAMOUSWATERMELON says... #19
Hmm... You COULD eventually activate him after the turn you play him, but that would only be if you were playing a mono-blue deck with no other mana... It would be very hard. Maybe bring it down to three turns?
This cycle, although in M15 card format, happens with "pretend" characters (except for Karn obviously) during the Scars of Mirrodin block where Karn is possessed, so he does fit in.
March 1, 2015 4:44 p.m.
alexthegreat38 says... #20
Deathtouch and trample on the same card seems pretty gross because at that point he's essentially just a 5/5 unblockable.
Dr_Jay says... #2
Love 'Em! Keep the good work up, while I don't think that Frawtz is broken. You realize to do that, you have to pay 18 life, and take 12 from the ability.
March 1, 2015 11:39 a.m.