MTG Cardsmith Community Forums
***LAST CALL!*** My First Contest - 1-Drop Commanders!
Hello all, this is my first contest here! I am new to this community and love the creativity here. I also love Commander formats, so this contest is geared towards that.
I am fascinated by the challenge of balancing low-cost cards, and as such am presenting the 1-Drop Commander Contest!
The only rules are:
The card must be a Legendary Creature
The card must have a CMC no greater than 1 (yes, 0 will be allowed too)
Points will be awarded based on creativity, balance, flavor, and color variety. Please also briefly explain how you'd play the card as a Commander.
Here is an example to get the juices flowing:
I understand most people reward winners with favorites, which I plan to do, and may even create trophy tokens for the winners. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place will be recognized.
Let me know if you have any questions, and have fun! End date will be disclosed in a few days after we've gotten the ball rolling
I am fascinated by the challenge of balancing low-cost cards, and as such am presenting the 1-Drop Commander Contest!
The only rules are:
The card must be a Legendary Creature
The card must have a CMC no greater than 1 (yes, 0 will be allowed too)
Points will be awarded based on creativity, balance, flavor, and color variety. Please also briefly explain how you'd play the card as a Commander.
Here is an example to get the juices flowing:
I understand most people reward winners with favorites, which I plan to do, and may even create trophy tokens for the winners. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place will be recognized.
Let me know if you have any questions, and have fun! End date will be disclosed in a few days after we've gotten the ball rolling
This discussion has been closed.
Comments
This creature's activated ability chooses target at random. Otherwise this card is too strong for 1 drop creature. But if you use it with well planned strategy, you can stand in advantageous position. You use it when you think no matter what happens, things will go well for you. Or you can go for a gamble. But even if you lose the gamble, 1st ability has synergy with 2nd ability, so it makes this creature bigger.
Solid defender
They were too cute. I didn't resist. So, I tried to do a good commander. There are many interactions: you can search even for nonbasic Forests, so Dryad Arbor can be a good choice. The subtype Treefolk is good because you can use the Treefolk Tribal cards from the Lorwyn block with thise strange couple. Hope you like them!
Also I think capping at two submissions per smith is fair, realized that was not previously determined.
(Let me know if this is out of bounds for the contest.)
http://mtgcardsmith.com/view/annabelle-innocences-end
Oh my god! They Killed Kenny!
Also you will find I'm pretty chill, and just want to encourage people to be creative and have fun!
http://mtgcardsmith.com/view/bubu-and-bobo-peaceseekers-1
What version of this strange duo is acceptable?
A spy
http://mtgcardsmith.com/view/daxin-the-lone-conqueror-1
http://mtgcardsmith.com/view/pelira-swiftblade
Feedback welcome!
Function: This card pays homage Serra Avenger, one of the most overpowered, undercosting cards with an interesting mechanic to balance it out. At first glance, these style of cards seem insane, even when played on turn four. But since this is commander and most decks run removal spells for commanders at about 3 converted mana, it's pretty safe to assume they'll have an option to kill Lionel when he comes out which means his protection is great but still leaves him vulnerable.
Deck designs would be very similar to Isamaru, Hound of Konda but with a delay. However, since this is a planned delay, the decks would pop on turn four. Using enchantments or having equipment out that can be placed on Lionel with the extra mana left over after casting him would be the most common tactic for immediate aggression (Lightning Greaves, Battle Mastery). Turns 1-3 would be spent putting down creatures and permanents that assist with the aggression or makes the most of turns while waiting around (Wall of Omens, Honor of the Pure). Since a lot of white removal is also about 3 mana (Oblivion Ring), the mana cost and timing can be capitalized on so the first three turns prepare for Lionel's appearance. Flying and protection from creatures is great for defense as well, so Lionel can be used to stave off opponents until resources provide more opportunities to push forward.
Low base mana cost and reasonable power make him applicable at any time but never broken. Any questions, please let me know!
Prowess, renown, and samurai tribal/bushido all have cards that reward them. This sort of a commander could be built around to be well-supported by whichever support cards of the three you draw. All three are found in white, so building a deck wouldn't be too difficult. This creature shows up on turn one, and on turn two your opponent has an interesting decision to make.
http://mtgcardsmith.com/view/brenda-elvish-queen
Function: Recently my housemate has been playing a Meren of Clan Nel Toth deck during our commander games. I was hoping to capture her energy with much more risk and timing, where having the effect itself is more important than having the creature (it being a creature should actually be a negative in this case because its easier to remove than other permanents).
To clarify, this affects cards that enter your graveyard from anywhere, including from your library (mill), discard, dying, and returning from exile to graveyard (cast from exile, Eldrazi effects). Since you don't have much mana during your earlier turns, this card really doesn't take off and doesn't need to be on the battlefield for several turns. Since you also have to do it the same turn it hits the graveyard, you have to pay the mana cost and life, I feel this effect is viable without being too overpowerd.
For my second entry, I toyed with multiple colors. But I soon realized I was trying to over complicate the situation and instead looked at the situation as an opportunity to create a solid mono-colored commander. I hope my lack of additional colors does not cause a negative review. Deck builds would be similar to Meren decks though monoblack and a focus on lower converted mana cost creatures (like Phyrexian Obliterator and Geralf's Messenger). Since you can keep Cylus around for a long time, you can keep your resources renewing and using enter battlefield or dying effects.
I would play this as an assist in commander. It would be a powerful card because of its scrying ability.
Anyways, I hope you guys like it.
P.S.: Please follow.
http://mtgcardsmith.com/view/flamel-immoral-strategist
Yes, it's poorly balanced. My thought concept was that he was a general who has no value for life. He'll happily throw the life of a soldier away if it means winning. I also tried to put in a Lord effect, because it seemed right.
Just realised you wanted us to briefly explain our entries. I'll leave it to this guy to explain my thinking behind Shura, Champion of Amaru
But basically run her similar to Isamaru http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=79217