March CCL, Signups/Round 1: Arcadian Monsters

[void_nothing]

CCL March Signups/Round 1

"Arcadian Monsters"


Hythonia the Cruel, taken from pucatrade.com, by Chris Rahn and Wizards of the Coast

Welcome to the Card Creation League! Everyone is free to participate in either or both of the first two rounds. Come join us!

Theme

It's Mythos Month here in the CCL! Everyone knows Magic draws heavily on real-world mythology to make its settings and stories. In this month we'll be doing what R&D's Creative department does - adapting myth-based concepts from around the world into the multiverse of Magic.

Challenge

Design a non-Human creature card based on a creature from Greek mythology.

Clarifications

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• Make sure to include a rarity.
• Your card can, flavorfully speaking, have a Theros setting or any other plane.

Anyone can enter this first round! Your submissions are due Saturday, March 7th, 23:59 EST.

Schedule

• Round 1 — Open to Everyone (March 1st–7th)
• Round 2 — Open to Everyone (March 8th–14th)
• Rounds 1 and 2 Critiques (Due March 17th)
• Top 8 — Open to top 8 finishers (March 18th–21st)
• Top 8 Critiques (Due March 23rd)
• Top 4 — Open to top 4 finishers (March 24th–27th)
• Top 4 Critiques (Due March 29th)
• Final (Aoril, winner determined by public poll)

[netn10]

The Five Plague-Bearers 3BR
Legendary Enchantment Creature - Saga (Mythic)
(As this Saga enters and after your draw step, add a lore counter. Sacrifice after V.)
I, II, III: Destroy target artifact or creature.
IV, V: Destroy two target artifacts and/or creatures. If The Five Plague-Bearers dies this way, you lose the game.
5/5

[slimytrout]

Ribdis, Swallower of the Sea 5UU
Legendary Creature - Leviathan (R)
3U: Return target creature to its owner's hand. Ribdis, Swallower of the Sea gains hexproof until end of turn.
"After her first gulp, the tallest mountains pierced the waves. Her second brought forth the islands. It is said that even Thassa fears her third."
-Bayma, Lagonna-Band Storyteller
7/7

[RaikouRider]

Cacophonous Choir 2UR
Creature - Siren {U}
Flash
Flying
When Cacophonous Choir enters the battlefield during the declare attackers step, for each attacking creature, its controller reselects which player or planeswalker that creature is attacking, and must select a different player or planeswalker if able.
2/3

[kwanyeegor-ii]

Tetraceph Devastator 2BR
Creature--Hound (Mythic)
Haste
when Tetraceph Devastator dies, you may tap four untapped creatures you control. When you do, cast target nonland card in a graveyard with converted mana cost 4 or less without paying its mana cost.
Only a mad god would ever think a Cerberus didn't have enough heads
4/4

[scarbo]

Chimeric Manticore 4br
Creature - Chimera Manticore (M)
First strike, deathtouch
If a creature dealt damage by Chimeric Manticore would die, exile it instead.
As long as a creature card exiled with Chimeric Manticore has flying, Chimeric Manticore has flying. The same is true for double strike, haste, hexproof, indestructible, indestructible, lifelink, menace, reach, trample, and vigilance.
4/4

[jamblock]

Cyclops of the Forge 2RR
Creature - Cyclops (U)
Menace
Whenever Cyclops of the Forge becomes tapped, put a work counter on it.
Equipment spells you cast and equip costs you activate cost 1 less for each work counter on Cyclops of the Forge.
4/3

[Ink-Treader]

Terror of the Strait 4BR
Legendary Creature - Nymph Horror (R)
Deathtouch, reach
Whenever one or more creatures attack you, their controller divides those creatures into a "whirlpool" pile and a "monster" pile. Then reveal the top card of your library. If it's a land card, destroy each creature in a whirlpool pile.
Creatures in a whirlpool pile can't be blocked.
3: Terror of the Strait fights target creature in a monster pile.
5/5

[FoilSquared]

Thyroxis, Golden Ram W
Legendary Creature - Sheep
Thyroxis, Golden Ram can't be sacrificed.
While an opponent is choosing targets as part of casting a spell they control or activating an ability they control, that player must choose Thyroxis, Golden Ram if able.
When Thyroxis, Golden Ram dies, you get an emblem with "Prevent all damage that would be dealt to creatures you control." and create three Treasure tokens.
0/1
It continues to graze, unaware of the thousands that have died in search of its hide.

[Henlock]

Stymphalian Flock 2ww
Creature - Bird (r)
Flying, first strike
Whenever Stymphalian Flock becomes the target of a spell or ability you may sacrifice it. If you do, create four 1/1 white Bird creature tokens with flying and first strike.
4/4

[Subject16]

Stalking Ophiotaur 2BR
Creature — Ox Snake (Uncommon)
Menace
Whenever Stalking Ophiotaur attacks, you may sacrifice another creature or enchantment. If you do, Stalking Ophiotaur gets +X/+0 until end of turn, where X is that card's converted mana cost.
The polis of Skophos is heavily guarded, and not just by minotaur.
3/3

[marioguy3]

Little Owl
Creature - Bird (Mythic Rare)
Flying
Other bird creatures you control get +0/+2.
Whenever Little Owl blocks, you may pay . If you do, draw a card.
Sought after by the uncaged lions, this owl sees its pray in a new light.
1/2

[void_nothing]

The round is closed. Please critique the six contestants below you on this list, looping to the top as necessary.

netn10
slimytrout
RaikouRider
kwanyeegor-ii
scarbo
jamblock
Ink-Treader
FoilSquared
Henlock
Subject16
marioguy3

[kwanyeegor-ii]

scarbo - Pretty cool but doesn't seem like its ability get used a lot, nobody will attack into it or block it

jamblock - super flavorful, I really like reducing both costs too

Ink-Treader - Scylla and Charybdis in one, wow that's impressive... raging river reference too? such a weird cool card, would want to see it in action

FoilSquared - pretty innovative thing to give to white, definitely a creative card, but might be too easy to get rid of and get the big benefit

Henlock - good mechanicaly but the styphalian birds don't seem like they'd be white

Subject16 - seems okay, fits with the BR theme of theros beyond death, but a little boring

1 Ink-Treader
2 jamblock
3 FoilSquared

[slimytrout]

RaikouRider

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Cacophonous Choir: Kinda awkward wording, and the effect is almost entirely useless in a single player game. Also not really what sirens are generally about, which is luring people to their doom, not getting them to attack other people.

kwanyeegor-ii

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Tetraceph Devastator: This should probably exile itself on death, otherwise you could have them constantly recurring each other. Also R/B don't tend to use tapping a lot of creatures as a cost. But overall a fun card.

scarbo

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Chimeric Manticore: Lotta text that would mean absolutely nothing, since no one would tangle with this in combat unless they absolutely had to. Also not a fan of taking two creature types that players already barely understand and mashing them together to make it even less comprehensible.

jamblock

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Cyclops of the Forge: Not sure why it's "becomes tapped" instead of "attacks" - maybe for vehicle synergies? If so, would have preferred that to be included in the cost reduction. But otherwise very fun card.

Ink-Treader

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Terror of the Strait: Not sure why it's not "Terrors of the Strait," since it seems to be capturing both, but otherwise very flavorful, perhaps to a fault, since I think players unfamiliar with the source material would be very confused.

FoilSquared

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Thyroxis, Golden Ram: Legendary flagbearer with upside if it dies. I don't think emblems should be given by non-planeswalkers, especially this easily - if your opponent is playing removal, sweepers, or ground creatures this is going to die and then you get a ton of ramp and a powerful emblem. Very unfun in limited, and to make matters worse you forgot a rarity.

T3

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1. jamblock
2. kwanyeegor-ii
3. Ink-Treader

[Ink-Treader]

FoilSquared

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This is far too strong I feel. Even with the "can't be sacrificed" text, its pretty easy to kill, and the reward for doing so is huge. and in the mean time, it also lightning rods opponent's spells and abilities to it. This needs to cost a lot more for what it is.

Henlock

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A little strong, but not overbearing. Mostly just dodges kill spells and the like.

Subject16

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I get that it wouldn't be quite accurate, but I really want this to be a Minotaur Snake. That aside, this is very solid card.

marioguy3

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Mythic feels weird here. It's certainly decent, but this could perhaps be an uncommon. The last ability isn't so powerful on its own.

netn10

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I'm not sure what exactly this is referencing, but it does feel like it belongs. A Creature saga is very weird. This card can grant a lot of card advantage, but it gets risky. It does allow someone who doesn't want to take the risk to get out of it at stage III at least.

slimytrout

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Pretty powerful if it gets to stick around. Being able to repeatably send creatures back to hand is potent. Doesn't seem too overbearing considering the mana investment.

Top 3

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1. Subject16
2. slimytrout
3. Henlock

[jamblock]

critiques

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Ink-Treader - This does create some tension and obviously wants to be abused with Top. It does a whole lot of interesting things but the fact that it's either swingy in a way that might not be fun, or VERY good if you can manipulate your library, might be oppressive.
FoilSquared - Yes, you can't sacrifice it, but being able to deal 1 damage to this to get all those rewards feels like a quite easy way out, especially since you will easily net back more mana than you used. Cool adherence to lore, though.
Henlock - I like that the sacrifice is optional, I can't think of a card with an ability with that clause and it's very cool. Also, this is a very powerful but great-feeling card.
Subject16 - What a simple and flavorful uncommon! Since you have to sacrifice something big for it to get big, I kind of wish it also gained trample when you sacrifice, but it's still quite fun.
marioguy3 - As adorable as this is, I don't know if it's mythic! It's very cute, but ultimately just underwhelms me a bit, much as I like each component.
netn10 - A very interesting card as far as lore, and it does seem powerful. The idea of a saga creature is very cool but this doesn't feel like the creature IS a story. Cool effects, though!

1. Henlock
2. netn10
3. Subject16

[Subject16]

netn10: Lots of consistent removal going on here, and I like the flavour of having to protect your own Saga. A Saga creature is a neat bit of design space.

slimytrout: I like the repeatable bouncing which goes well with Charibdys' mythos, but I also feel like it should say "up to one" so you don't need a target to activate the hexproof? Otherwise strong limited rare.

RaikouRider: This is Portal Mage on steroids and I love it. Definitely too complex a card for an uncommon, but stupidly fun shenanigans for multiplayer.

kwanyeegor-ii: It's a strong creature, a 4/4 four mana haster that can get you a free spell when it dies. Probably more rare than mythic. Having four untapped creatures is a pretty harsh condition though, and I think getting a free spell off it would be much harder.

scarbo: Soulflayer but with first strike and deathtouch built in. I love these types of keyword soup creators, and this design fits just right in its colors.

marioguy3: This is a fun card, but definitely not a mythic (probably uncommon really). Bird tribal is always something fun to see, and card draw on blocking can make an opponent wary of attacking.


Top 3:
1: Scarbo
2: RaikouRider
3: Netn10

[RaikouRider]

1) Henlock
2) Ink-Treader
3) kwanyeegor-ii

[Henlock]

only top, sorry

1. Subjwct16
2. slimytrout
3. RaikouRaider