October MCC, Round 2: Shields Up

[void_nothing]

Banner based on Waves of Aggression by Jim Pavelec and Wizards of the Coast. Thanks to bravelion83 for the "Core Set Style" MCC Logo

October MCC, Round 2 - Shields Up

Welcome to the October MCC! It's Combat Month here at the MCC. The challenges this month will all have something to do with the combat phase and its different steps.

Main Challenge: Design a card with a triggered ability that triggers when creatures block
Subchallenge 1: Your card can at least in some situations be cast during the combat phase
Subchallenge 2: Your card is uncommon

DEADLINES

Design deadline: Sunday, October 18th 23:59 EDT

Judging deadline: Tuesday, October 20th 23:59 EDT

Clarifications

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Main Challenge: It doesn't matter what kind of creatures or what other conditions are attached to the triggered ability. It could be "Whenever this creature blocks" or "Whenever two or more Merfolk block" or anything along these lines.

Subchallenge 1: For example, your card could have flash under certain conditions.

MCC Rubric

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Design
(X/3) Appeal - Do the different player psychographics (Timmy/Johhny/Spike) have a use for the card?
(X/3) Elegance - Is the card easily understandable at a glance? Do all the flavor and mechanics combined as a whole make sense?

Development
(X/3) Viability - How well does the card fit into the color wheel? Does it break or bend the rules of the game? Is it the appropriate rarity?
(X/3) Balance - Does the card have a power level appropriate for contemporary constructed/limited environments without breaking them? Does it play well in casual and multiplayer formats? Does it create or fit into a deck/archetype? Does it create an oppressive environment?

Creativity
(X/3) Uniqueness - Has a card like this ever been printed before? Does it use new mechanics, ideas, or design space? Does it combine old ideas in a new way? Overall, does it feel "fresh"?
(X/3) Flavor - Does the name seem realistic for a card? Does the flavor text sound professional? Do all the flavor elements synch together to please Vorthos players?

Polish
(X/3) Quality - Points deducted for incorrect spelling, grammar, and templating.
(X/2) Main Challenge (*) - Was the main challenge satisfied? Was it approached in a unique or interesting way? Does the card fit the intent of the challenge?
(X/2) Subchallenges - One point awarded per satisfied subchallenge condition.

Total: X/25
*An entry with 0 points here is subject to disqualification.

Judges:
void_nothing
Dragoon26
slimytrout

Players:
@Lorn Asbord Schutta
@StonerOfKruphix
@Stankweed Imp
@haywire
@Riria
@BaconCatBug
@marioguy3
@Raptorchan
@Subject16
@netn10
@kwanyeegor-ii
@Henlock

[Riria]

Flowing Style Pacifist 2U
Creature - Human Ninja (U)
Ninjutsu 1U (1U, Return an unblocked attacker you control to hand: Put this card onto the battlefield from your hand tapped and attacking.)
Whenever a Ninja you control becomes blocked, you may return it to its owner's hand.
Harm not the henchmen; they are merely earning their daily bread.
3/2

[Subject16]

Kessig Embermane RG
Creature — Wolf (U)
Kessig Embermane has flash as long as you control a Wolf or a Werewolf.
Whenever a Wolf or a Werewolf you control blocks or becomes blocked by a creature, Kessig Embermane deals 1 damage to that creature.
"The fiercest hunters have fire in their hearts."
—Garruk Wildspeaker
3/2

[StonerOfKruphix]

Ledev Patrol 2{G/W}{G/W}
Creature - Human Knight (U)
If two or more creatures are attacking you, you may cast Ledev Patrol as though it had flash.
When Ledev Patrol enters the battlefield, create a 2/2 green Wolf creature token.
Whenever two or more creatures you control attack or block, put a +1/+1 counter on target creature.
2/2

[Stankweed Imp]

Defender of the Meek
Creature- Human Soldier (U)
First Strike
Whenever Defender of the Meek blocks a creature, you may draw a card.
You may cast Defender of the Meek as though it had flash If you control a creature with power 2 or less.
3/2

[haywire]

Light-Finger Vandal
Creature - Goblin Rogue (U)
You may cast Light-Finger Vandal as though it had flash if an opponent has activated an ability of an Equipment this turn.
Whenever Light-Finger Vandal blocks an equipped creature, choose target Equipment attached to that creature. Attach it to Light-Finger Vandal.
At the beginning of your end step, destroy each Equipment attached to Light-Finger Vandal.
Don't worry, you'll have it back before you know it's gone. Probably.
2/2

[Raptorchan]

Genuflected Protector ww
Creature - Thrull Knight (U)
Defender
Whenever Genuflected Protector blocks, it gets +1/+1 until end of turn for each attacking creature.
"As long as you're alive, I have no will other than Yours" is their motto, but you must be deaf not to hear a second meaning of those words.
2/2

[BaconCatBug]

Twisted Formshaper 2UR
Creature — Illusion (Uncommon)
Flash
Whenever a creature you control blocks, switch its power and toughness until end of turn.
1/3

[netn10]

Kami of Desperate Plea WW
Creature - Spirit (Uncommon)
Flash
If each creature you control blocked this turn and you control a plains, Kami of Desperate Plea cost W to cast.
Whenever a creature you control blocks, it gets +0/+1 until end of turn. (This ability doesn't trigger after blockers are declared).
2/2

[kwanyeegor-ii]

Siege and Starvation BB
Enchantment (Uncommon)
This spell has flash as long as you control three or more attacking creatures.
Whenever a creature an opponent controls blocks, its controller loses 1 life.
4B: Target opponent loses 1 life.
Some wars are won in a huge, destructive battle. Some are won when the destruction comes bit by bit and day by day.

[Lorn Asbord Schutta]

Jelenn Clerk
Creature — Vedalken Advisor (U)
Defender
Whenever Jelenn Clerk blocks a creature, that creature gains defender. Put a paperwork counter on it.
"Before you can file a complaint, I need you to read and fill in some papers..."
0/3

[marioguy3]

Mage of the Whirling Shield
Creature — Human Wizard (Uncommon)
Mage of the Whirling Shield has flash as long as you shuffled your library this turn.
Whenever Mage of the Whirling Shield blocks, you may shuffle target permanent you control into your library. If you do, draw a card.
Advocates for change in this mage's town called upon her to scramble away the certain, dull aspects of life.
2/3

[Henlock]

Sustainers of Blades 1ww
Creature - Human Cleric Knight (u)
Sustainers of Blades can block an additional creature each combat.
Whenever Sustainers of Blades blocks two or more creatures, put a +1/+1 counter on it and draw a card.
2/3

[void_nothing]

And the round is closed. Judge brackets are as follows. The top two per judge advance:

void_nothing:
Riria
kwanyeegor-ii
Lorn Asbord Schutta
marioguy3

Dragoon26:
Subject16
Stankweed Imp
Raptorchan
netn10

slimytrout:
StonerOfKruphix
haywire
BaconCatBug
Henlock

[Dragoon26]

Judgement done.

Subject 16

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Design
(2/3) Appeal - Timmy likes Were/wolf tribal; Spike likes the efficient cost.
(3/3) Elegance - Flavor matches the mechanics very well.

Development
(3/3) Viability - Appropriately uncommon, fits RG very well.
(2/3) Balance - A 3/2 feels a little aggressive for a card that cares about blocking. Functionally a +1/+0 for Wolves and Werewolves when they get into creature combat, and it really takes X/1s out of the conversation for blocking. Even without the tribal synergy, this could fit well in an aggressive RG deck. Having two of these in play can make combat hell.

Creativity
(1.5/3) Uniqueness - We don't have a ton of Were/wolf tribal cards, but this effect isn't exactly new, just stapled onto a tribal effect.
(3/3) Flavor - Name and all around flavor is great.

Polish
(3/3) Quality - No issues
(2/2) Main Challenge - Deals with blocking, check.
(2/2) Subchallenges - Check and check.

Total: 21.5/25

Stankweed Imp

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Design
(1/3) Appeal - Spike likes to draw cards.
(3/3) Elegance - The card is easily grokkable, reads well, and the flavor ties everything together pretty well.

Development
(1/3) Viability - I know we're looking for ways for white to get a piece of the card-drawing pie, but it should still be the worst color at drawing cards, and drawing a card for blocking in a creature-centric color is just a little too easy to achieve, in my opinion. As is, I believe this is easily pushing into rare territory, regardless of the color pie break.
(1/3) Balance - First strike is already incredibly powerful on a blocking creature, so to add card advantage on top of that makes this card pretty scary.

Creativity
(2/3) Uniqueness - I mean, technically we haven't seen white draw cards this easily before, but I wouldn't necessarily call it unique. The flavor of white protecting smaller creatures is pretty common.
(2.5/3) Flavor - The flavor is pretty good, and ties in pretty well with the mechanics.

Polish
(1.5/3) Quality - When templating cards, abilities that impact the timing restrictions of casting the spell are listed above the other abilities, as those abilities are relevant to the card before the other abilities are (the card has to be cast before any of its effects are relevant.) Addtionally, "strike" does not need to be capitalized in first strike, even when the "F" is capitalized.
(2/2) Main Challenge - Cares about blocking, check.
(2/2) Subchallenges - Check and check.

Total: 16/25

Raptorchan

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Design
(1/3) Appeal - Timmy might get a kick out of this in their Thrull/Knights/Defender deck.
(2/3) Elegance - That flavor text is not very elegant; but everything else is grokkable.

Development
(2.5/3) Viability - There's nothing about this that isn't white. I don't really feel like this is worth an uncommon slot, this feels more appropriate at common.
(1.5/3) Balance - This honestly feels like a little on the weak side for an uncommon. 2/2 for 2 is a fair rate for an aggressive white creature, but not smoething you want to play defensively. On top of that, its drawback removes its aggressive potential, and its "upside" doesn't impact an aggressive strategy at all. So it just doesn't really feel like it has a home anywhere.

Creativity
(1.5/3) Uniqueness - Feels like a pretty standard white defensive card. A mono white Thrull is not very common though.
(1.5/3) Flavor - The flavor text is super heavy-handed; it's trying to be clever, but ends up explaining its own joke, and it just loses all effect. The quote by itself would have arguably been much better. Outside of that, there's nothing really wrong with the flavor of the card, though "genuflected" is an awfully specific term to describe something, and there doesn't seem to be another tie-in to kneeling or anything like that.

Polish
(3/3) Quality - No issues.
(2/2) Main Challenge - Cares about blocking, check.
(1/2) Subchallenges - No way of playing during combat.

Total: 16/25

netn10

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Design
(1/3) Appeal - Spike likes 2/2s for 2 with flash.
(1.5/3) Elegance - I think it's actually deceptively inelegant, as it doesn't do what one might expect it to do (more on this below.)

Development
(1.5/3) Viability - It feels strange that this wants you to jump through some hoops to get a reduction on its cost, but then the only way it impacts the board occurs before said hoops were jumped through, so it just doesn't do anything the turn you play it for its discounted cost (it can't even block, as you're having to cast it after blockers are declared.) It just leads to a very unintuitive play pattern, which you have addressed with reminder text, but that just kinda proves that the card isn't going to do what one might expect the card to do, and I feel like that's a fundamental design problem. It's not broken or anything, it's just not intuitive.
(2.5/3) Balance - No real power concerns, though it seems to be asking a lot of you just to get a one-mana discount on a two-mana card.

Creativity
(2/3) Uniqueness - Nothing ground breaking, but it's a fairly unique combination of abilities tied up with solid flavor.
(3/3) Flavor - Sounds like something straight out of Kamigawa, and the mechanics match the flavor pretty well.

Polish
(1.5/3) Quality - I believe your alternate casting ability should be worded differently. Going based off the reminder text of Surge (which is the only reference I could think of for a static conditional alternate mana cost ability rather than just a conditional mana cost modifier ability) I think it should be worded "You may cast ~ for W if each creature you control blocked this turn and you control a plains."
(2/2) Main Challenge - Cares about blocking, check.
(2/2) Subchallenges - Check, check.

Total: 17/25

Results

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Subject16 - 21.5
netn10 - 17
Raptorchan - 16
Stankweed Imp - 16

[slimytrout]

StonerOfKruphix

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Ledev Patrol 2{G/W}{G/W}
Creature - Human Knight (U)
If two or more creatures are attacking you, you may cast Ledev Patrol as though it had flash.
When Ledev Patrol enters the battlefield, create a 2/2 green Wolf creature token.
Whenever two or more creatures you control attack or block, put a +1/+1 counter on target creature.
2/2

Design
(2/3) Appeal — Timmy likes jamming into the red zone, Spike likes the challenge of getting the most value out of this. Johnny isn't interested.
(3/3) Elegance — Nice and clean.

Development
(3/3) Viability — White flash is a little unusual at uncommon, but certainly not out of the question, especially on hybrid and with that precondition.
(3/3) Balance — Definitely not constructed playable, so evaluating for limited. And yeah, it seems like a solid 4/4 worth of stats with a decent ability, and if you can play it with flash and potentially eat two creatures it's a huge blowout, but that's hard to set up.

Creativity
(2/3) Uniqueness — We've definitely had some previous cards that cared about N or more creatures attacking, but the addition of blocking makes it feel like a fresh take.
(3/3) Flavor — Very Selesnya.

Polish
(3/3) Quality — All good.
(2/2) Main Challenge — Yep.
(2/2) Subchallenges — Yep yep.

Total: 23/25

haywire

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Light-Finger Vandal
Creature - Goblin Rogue (U)
You may cast Light-Finger Vandal as though it had flash if an opponent has activated an ability of an Equipment this turn.
Whenever Light-Finger Vandal blocks an equipped creature, choose target Equipment attached to that creature. Attach it to Light-Finger Vandal.
At the beginning of your end step, destroy each Equipment attached to Light-Finger Vandal.
Don't worry, you'll have it back before you know it's gone. Probably.
2/2

Design
(1/3) Appeal — Spike likes the potential for huge value with surprise blocks. Johnny doesn't like the fact that it basically depends on your opponent to do things. Timmy doesn't like having their equipment taken and destroyed.
(1.5/3) Elegance — Flavor text doesn't really fit on a card with this much text. Also people will definitely think of this as having their equipment "stolen" and miss the fact that they can still reequip after combat to save their equipment.

Development
(3/3) Viability — Yeah, this should be okay at uncommon, and is definitely red.
(2/3) Balance — In a format with strong equipment maybe this could do something, but it's very weak in limited and pretty niche in constructed.

Creativity
(2.5/3) Uniqueness — Sure, that's all pretty new. We've seen equipment-stealing on things like Ogre Geargrabber but not quite like this.
(2.5/3) Flavor — Should really be "light-fingered" since that's the typical phrase. This makes it seem like he has luminous fingers.

Polish
(3/3) Quality — All good.
(2/2) Main Challenge — Yep.
(2/2) Subchallenges — Yep yep.

Total: 19.5/25

BaconCatBug

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Twisted Formshaper 2UR
Creature — Illusion (Uncommon)
Flash
Whenever a creature you control blocks, switch its power and toughness until end of turn.
1/3

Design
(0.5/3) Appeal — Spike is a bit interested in getting some surprising blocks by flashing this in, but the fact that it's so fragile itself makes it a lot harder to get value. Timmy doesn't like that it only works on blocks because they don't want a 1/3 on attacks, and Johnny doesn't like it because it depends on the opponent doing something.
(3/3) Elegance — Very simple.

Development
(3/3) Viability — Sure, all good. Switching is surprisingly complex (shakes fist Layers!) so can't be common.
(1.5/3) Balance — This is very weak, even for limited – it basically never eats anything on its own, so maybe you get a surprise block and trade for a 3-drop but that's hardly amazing. You can't even get value by flashing this in in response to a combat trick, since it only triggers when the creature actually blocks.

Creativity
(2/3) Uniqueness — Obviously p/t switching has been done before, but not via blocking.
(1.5/3) Flavor — Should really have flavor text to explain why such a generic name has something to do with blocking.

Polish
(2.5/3) Quality — Name should be bolded.
(2/2) Main Challenge — Yep.
(2/2) Subchallenges — Yep yep.

Total: 18/25

Henlock

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Sustainers of Blades 1ww
Creature - Human Cleric Knight (u)
Sustainers of Blades can block an additional creature each combat.
Whenever Sustainers of Blades blocks two or more creatures, put a +1/+1 counter on it and draw a card.
2/3

Design
(1.5/3) Appeal — Spike likes repeatable value and not getting run over by aggro. Timmy likes that it grows, but wishes it wasn't so hard to make it do so. As is the theme this round, Johnny doesn't like that it needs the opponent to do something.
(3/3) Elegance — Smooth as silk.

Development
(3/3) Viability — White can do this now, as shown by Mangara, the Diplomat so no problems here.
(2.5/3) Balance — This is fairly mediocre even in limited. Obviously it works extremely well as a stopper against small creatures, but there's only so much you get for maxing out that skill to the exclusion of everything else, especially when you're a hard-to-cast 3-mana 2/3. If it had vigilance it would be much more playable.

Creativity
(2/3) Uniqueness — The first ability is not new at all, but the second one is a fun twist on the aforementioned diplomat.
(2/3) Flavor — Sounds so inelegant with the plural name – should just be "sustainer of blades." Also could use some flavor text to give an idea of setting.

Polish
(3/3) Quality — No problems.
(2/2) Main Challenge — Yep.
(1/2) Subchallenges — Nothing that resembles flash.

Total: 20/25

Results

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Sorry for unusual brevity, but that's the way it has to be.
StonerOfKruphix 23
Henlock 20
haywire 19.5
BaconCatBug 18

[void_nothing]

Riria

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Design
(1.5/3) Appeal - Primarily a Jxnny thing. If there were lots of Ninjas in the environment Spike would use it to abuse ETBs.
(3/3) Elegance - Solid stuff with resonant flavor.

Development
(3/3) Viability - Colors and rarity are spot on I'd say.
(3/3) Balance - Comparable to the (not-inconsiderable) Walker of Secret Ways, with the key of course being that the bounce is not on-demand.

Creativity
(1/3) Uniqueness - Best point of comparison was mentioned earlier, and it is quite similar to that card,
(3/3) Flavor - "Pacifist" and "Ninja" wouldn't normally go together, but I kinda get it: This is the nonviolent, information-gathering kind of shinobi.

Polish
(3/3) Quality - Looks good.
(1.5/2) Main Challenge (*) - While "becomes blocked" doesn't fit the challenge exactly as I intended, a creature does in fact usually have to block in order to trigger the ability.
(1/2) Subchallenges - Ninjutsu doesn't allow you to cast a spell, just put the card onto the battlefield.

Total: 20/25

kwanyeegor-ii

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Design
(1/3) Appeal - Really primarily a Spike card - not splashy enough for Txmmy, too blunt for Jxnny.
(2.5/3) Elegance - Feels a bit wordier than it needs to be.

Development
(3/3) Viability - Could see this at black and uncommon.
(2.5/3) Balance - This is an interesting utility card that may be doing too much for its cost, and its rarity, in Limited.

Creativity
(0.5/3) Uniqueness - Pretty close to Battle Strain with several extras.
(2.5/3) Flavor - The "siege" flavor comes through well but doesn't explain the activated ability all that much.

Polish
(3/3) Quality - Looks fine.
(2/2) Main Challenge (*) - Done.
(2/2) Subchallenges - And done.

Total: 19/25

Lorn Asbord Schutta

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Design
(2/3) Appeal - Jxnny and Spike both have reasons to like this but Txmmy largely ignores it.
(3/3) Elegance - Very solidly elegant.

Development
(3/3) Viability - Works in both hybrid colors and is VERY uncommon.
(2.5/3) Balance - Could be a defensive house in Limited given how hard it is to attack into in the early game.

Creativity
(2/3) Uniqueness - Shockingly, I don't think anything that close to this card has been printed - Aurification may be the nearest inspiration.
(3/3) Flavor - Perfect. How could I mark off for this card? I'm especially glad it doesn't use "defender counters."

Polish
(3/3) Quality - Looks good.
(2/2) Main Challenge (*) - Done.
(1/2) Subchallenges - No conditional flash or the like.

Total: 21.5/25

marioguy3

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Design
(1/3) Appeal - Almost purely a Jxnny card. Txmmy and Spike will both compare it to Smuggler's Copter very unfavorably.
(1.5/3) Elegance - Shuffling libraries is a necessary evil. It is a mechanic meant to prevent cheating by deck stacking during searches and the like. It's not something I think should be encouraged, enabled, or done constantly.

Development
(3/3) Viability - Seems fine.
(3/3) Balance - The triggered ability might be costly but at least it's on a fine body that can be played with flash sometimes.

Creativity
(1/3) Uniqueness - "Shuffle matters" is unique but, again, something I don't think should really be done. Otherwise this effect has (much more elegant) precedent in the likes of Psychic Membrane.
(1/3) Flavor - I... don't get it. What is that flavor text trying to say? "Whirling" relates to shuffling I guess but the name seems like something that should be able to block multiple creatures instead of whatever this is doing.

Polish
(2/3) Quality - "This spell has flash" and "into its owner's library".
(2/2) Main Challenge (*) - Done.
(2/2) Subchallenges - And done.

Total: 16.5/25

Totals (Bold advance)

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Lorn Asbord Schutta 21.5
Riria 20
kwanyeegor-ii 19
marioguy3 16.5