June MCC Round 2 - Genetic mutation

[bravelion83]

(This month's banner is my own elaboration on the art of the cards, left to right, Go for Blood by Chris Rallis, Tentative Connection by Kieran Yanner, and Fight as One by Bryan Sola.)


June MCC Round 2

Genetic mutation

Ok, this time no intro paragraph for real. Let's go straight to the challenges,

Main Challenge - Design a creature card with mutate. Your card can't use any other mechanics from Ikoria (keyword counters, companion, cycling).

Subchallenge 1 - Your card is NOT mythic.

Subchallenge 2 - Your card has two or more creature types.

Clarifications

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bravelion83 Does Zagoth Mamba type effects count as using mutate?

kwanyeegor-ii I didn't write "design a creature that uses mutates", but "design a creature that has mutate". The creature has to have mutate itself. So no, the Mamba would not pass.

If you have any questions, just ask in the discussion thread.

DEADLINES

Design deadline: Thursday, June 18th 2020, 23:59 EDT

Judging deadline: Sunday, June 21th 2020, 23:59 EDT


RUBRIC

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

bravelion83
Sojourner Dusk
void_nothing


PLAYERS

@Freyleyes
@Henlock
@Jimmy Groove
@kwanyeegor-ii
@Kypster
@marioguy3
@netn10
@Phyrexian Editor
@Pygyzy
@Ryder
@slimytrout
@Subject16


BRACKETS

Judge: Sojourner Dusk
Freyleyes
marioguy3
netn10
Phyrexian Editor

Judge: bravelion83
kwanyeegor-ii
Pygyzy
Ryder
slimytrout

Judge: void_nothing
Henlock
Jimmy Groove
Kypster
Subject16

Top 2 from each bracket advance to round 3.

[Jimmy Groove]

Ancient Surviver 1G
Creature - Ooze (R)
Mutate 1G(If you cast this spell for its mutate cost, put it over or under target non-Human creature you own. They mutate into the creature on top plus all abilities from under it.)
Whenever this mutated creature would die, you may exile one of the other creature cards above or below it. If you do, remove all damage from it and it doesn't die instead.

1/4

[slimytrout]

Ankylokapi 1RG
Creature — Dinosaur Antelope (R)
Mutate 3{r/g}{r/g} (If you cast this spell for its mutate cost, put it over or under target non-Human creature you own. They mutate into the creature on top plus all abilities from under it.)
Trample
Whenever this creature mutates, it fights up to one target creature you don't control. When that creature dies this turn, put two +1/+1 counters on this creature.
4/3

[kwanyeegor-ii]

Swift-Tongue Preserver 2GU
Creature--Frog Snake (Rare)
Mutate 2GU
Flash
You may cast creature spells with mutate as though they had flash.
Whenever this creature mutates, return up to one target permanent you own to your hand. Scry X, where X is that permanent's converted mana cost.
4/2

[Ryder]

Shell-Style Master 1{g/u}R
Creature — Turtle Ninja Mutant (R)
Mutate {g/u}R (If you cast this spell for its mutate cost, put it over or under target non-Human creature you own. They mutate into the creature on top plus all abilities from under it.)
Flash
First strike
Whenever this creature enters the battlefield or mutates, you may switch its power and toughness until end of turn.
1/4

[Subject16]

Bloodshriek Howler 2BR
Creature — Dinosaur Leech (Rare)
Mutate 3BR (If you cast this spell for its mutate cost, put it over or under target non-Human creature you own. They mutate into the creature on top plus all abilities from under it.)
Menace
Whenever this creature attacks for the first time each turn, untap it and all mutated creatures you control. After this phase, there is an additional combat phase.
4/2

[marioguy3]

Lightyear Experimenter
Creature — Elf Wizard (Rare)
Mutate (If you cast this spell for its mutate cost, put it over or under target non-Human creature you own. They mutate into the creature on top plus all abilities from under it.)
Trample
Whenever this creature mutates, you gain 1 life, you create a 1/1 white Human creature token, and you draw a card.
: Target human you control becomes the creature type of your choice until end of turn.
5/4

[Pygyzy]

Bestiadigitator UG
Creature — Shapeshifter Beast (R)
Mutate 1UG (If you cast this spell for its mutate cost, put it over or under target non-Human creature you own. They mutate into the creature on top plus all abilities from under it.)
If a triggered ability of this creature would trigger, it triggers an additional time
1/1

[Phyrexian Editor]

Hunted Vestige b
Creature - Dauthi Spirit {R}
Mutate 2bb
Shadow
Whenever this creature mutates, each player creates two 1/1 black Dauthi Soldier creature tokens with shadow.
1/1

[Kypster]

Kresh, Primal Savior 4RW
Legendary Creature - Beast God (M)
Mutate 2RW
As long as your devotion to red and white is less than five, this creature cannot mutate.
When this creature dies, exile it instead. You may play cards exiled this way until the end of your next turn.
5/5

[Freyleyes]

Prowling Highmane 1RW
Creature - Cat Beast {R}
Mutate 3RW (If you cast this spell for its mutate cost, put it over or under target non-Human creature you own. They mutate into the creature on top plus all abilities from under it.)
First strike, vigilance, trample, haste
This creature can't attack or block unless it's mutated.
2/2

[netn10]

Carrier of Extinction 4BG
Creature - Avatar Nightmare (Rare)
Mutate 6WW
When Carrier of Extinction enters the battlefield or mutates, choose a number. Destroy each nonland permenant with converted mana cost equal to the chosen number.
6/6

[Henlock]

Stalking Octopucelot gu
Creature - Cat Octopus (u)
Flash
Mutate (If you cast this spell for its mutate cost, put it over or under target non-Human creature you own. They mutate into the creature on top plus all abilities from under it.)
Whenver this creature mutates, it becomes of the color of your choice until end of turn.
2/2

[bravelion83]

The round is closed.

BRACKETS

Judge: Sojourner Dusk
Freyleyes
marioguy3
netn10
Phyrexian Editor

Judge: bravelion83
kwanyeegor-ii
Pygyzy
Ryder
slimytrout

Judge: void_nothing
Henlock
Jimmy Groove
Kypster
Subject16

Top 2 from each bracket advance to round 3.

Dear colleagues, let's get to work. Good work to both of you. If you have any problems, I'm always available, preferably via pm.

[Sojourner Dusk]

marioguy3

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Design
(2.5/3) Appeal: T sees a big, on-curve, stompy creature. J sees mutate combos. S isn't sure if they want to put in that much effort.
(2.5/3) Elegance: I understand what it does, but why does an Elf poop out a Human when it mutates?

Development
(2/3) Viability: The White in this card is extraneous. Though listed as a Rare, this could potentially be a Swiss Army Mythic.
(1/3) Balance: This does everything Elder Gargaroth does for you, but all at once whenever you mutate it. So much advantage gained with a single mutation. It has potential to take over a Limited or Constructed game if not immediately answered, and asks to be built around.

Creativity
(1.5/3) Uniqueness: Single creatures that do more than some decks are quickly growing tiresome. With the activated ability, the Old School players recall Mistform from Onslaught block. And I don't understand why the 'Mistform a Human' ability is on here.
(1.5/3) Flavor: Why "Lightyear"? All that word does is make me think of Tim Allen. And why not an Elf Mutant to punch up the flavor?

Polish
(2.75/3) Quality: "Target Human..." (-0.25)
(2/2) *Main Challenge: No qualms.
(1.5/2) Subchallenges: This blurs the Rare/Mythic line. Two creature types.

Total: 17.25/25

Phyrexian Editor

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Design
(1/3) Appeal: T doesn't want to give his opponents creatures. J would like this, but can't steal the tokens with Brand anymore. S knows there are ways to abuse this in aggro.
(3/3) Elegance: No issues here.

Development
(2.5/3) Viability: Black and shadow go together like Green and card draw (*sigh*). Had this only given you the tokens, Rare would make sense for power. With the symmetrical token generation, this could drop to Uncommon in the current environment.
(3/3) Balance: For all intents, this works all around without being pushed or overly advantageous. It is a very fair Magic card.

Creativity
(1/3) Uniqueness: This is, at its heart, a bad Cubwarden.
(2/3) Flavor: This is the shadows of Rath by way of Ravnica. Making the tokens white Soltari Soldiers with shadow would have pushed the flavor over the top.

Polish
(1.5/3) Quality: Missing Em dash. (-0.25) Brackets instead of parentheses around rarity. (-0.25) Missing mutate reminder text. Every card - even Mythics - have the reminder text due to ability complexity. (-1)
(2/2) *Main Challenge: No qualms.
(2/2) Subchallenges: Not Mythic. Two creature types.

Total: 18/25

Freyleyes

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Design
(2/3) Appeal: T sees a creature with lots of abilities, but a hoop to jump through. J and S are brewing along similar lines.
(2.75/3) Elegance: Abilities are understood, but the name and the restriction are contradictory.

Development
(2.5/3) Viability: The ability pile works in Boros, but it also leans this more towards Mythic than Rare.
(2.5/3) Balance: On Turn 3, this is waiting for a Turn 4 Vulpikeet, Cloudpiercer, or Cubwarden, depending on your playstyle. On Turn 5, this is akin to an unremovable Aura to amplify a creature's power. Better in Constructed than Limited, and unlikely to warp either compared to Embercleave.

Creativity
(1/3) Uniqueness: Minikroma. The restriction is best compared with Amonkhet gods.
(2/3) Flavor: "Prowling" doesn't make much sense for a creature that can't attack on its own, especially when compared to all the other creatures that prowl. "Predatory" would work better with the abilities, conveying the notion of a cat preparing to pounce.

Polish
(2/3) Quality: Missing Em dash. (-0.25) Brackets instead of parentheses around rarity. (-0.25) "...unless it has mutated." Contraction here does not help with clarity, and 'has mutated' is a term that has rules support, such as from Huntmaster Liger and Porcuparrot. (-0.5)
(2/2) *Main Challenge: No qualms.
(1.5/2) Subchallenges: This blurs the Rare/Mythic line. Two creature types.

Total: 18.25/25

netn10

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Design
(2/3) Appeal: T sees a big creature. J sees some potential, but winces at the casting cost. S compares this to Bane of Progress and shrugs.
(3/3) Elegance: Surprisingly easy to follow, even given the length of the text.

Development
(1/3) Viability: Why is there White in this card? With Golgari colors, you would think this had the ability of Deed or Gaze, but it doesn't. Instead we get a "Choose your own EE" effect that only destroys a single CMC, which only appears on other colorless cards. Rare is fine for this effect.
(1.5/3) Balance: It won't break Limited, and will have trouble with efficacy in Constructed formats that can't cheat it into play. That mutate cost is insane, and adds an unneeded color to a nonlegendary creature. The effect, without the "X or less" text, is much weaker than it otherwise appears. You would have been better with "Whenever this ETBs or mutates, you may pay X. If you do, Deed." As is, it's a 'build-around' with low cost mutate effects, but it takes a LOT of work to get there.

Creativity
(2/3) Uniqueness: This effect hasn't had a "choose the number" option previously.
(2/3) Flavor: We have several Extinction named cards, and this seems like a soft entry to that group. The name feels a little lacking. With the missing reminder text, there would not be sufficient space for flavor text.

Polish
(1.25/3) Quality: Missing Em dash. (-0.25) Missing mutate reminder text. Every card - even Mythics - have the reminder text due to ability complexity. (-1) "Whenever Carrier..." (-0.5)
(2/2) *Main Challenge: No qualms.
(2/2) Subchallenges: Rare, based on rarity of cards with similar abilities. Two creature types.

Total: 16.75/25

Scores
marioguy3: 17.25
Phyrexian Editor: 18
Freyleyes: 18.25
netn10: 16.75

[bravelion83]

Judgments complete and posted. (Thank you Ryder for letting me know I missed that.)

Done, as fast as I can (more speed equals less detail), among more boxes to fill. Thursday is the big day. Sorry for being late.

kwanyeegor-ii

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Swift-Tongue Preserver 2GU
Creature--Frog Snake (Rare)
Mutate 2GU
Flash
You may cast creature spells with mutate as though they had flash.
Whenever this creature mutates, return up to one target permanent you own to your hand. Scry X, where X is that permanent's converted mana cost.
4/2

Design
Appeal 3/3 - Timmy likes casting his creatures with flash. Johnny can make this part of an engine, especially with the self-bounce. Spike also likes the flash interactions.
Elegance 2.5/3 - The text is a bit too long, especially when you add reminder text for mutate.
Development
Viability 3/3 - No problems with the color pie, rarity, or the rules.
Balance 3/3 - Definitely playable in limited, maybe in Standard too mainly because of the flash part. No problems in casual or multiplayer.
Creativity
Uniqueness 2/3 - Flash on a mutate card already exists in Ikoria (Sea-Dasher Octopus and Pouncing Shoreshark). The rest is new.
Flavor 2.5/3 - If the name were bolded, I'd have no other problems with it. No flavor text, but that's the right call, I don't think there is room for it here. Frog Snake is a good pair of creature types.
Polish
Quality 1/3 - We've already talked many times about the name not bolded (-1) and the double hyphen instead on the dash in the type line (-0.5). Flavor text for mutate is missing (-0.5).
Main Challenge 2/2 - Good.
Subchallenges 2/2 - Both met.
TOTAL 21/25

Pygyzy

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Bestiadigitator UG
Creature — Shapeshifter Beast (R)
Mutate 1UG (If you cast this spell for its mutate cost, put it over or under target non-Human creature you own. They mutate into the creature on top plus all abilities from under it.)
If a triggered ability of this creature would trigger, it triggers an additional time
1/1

Design
Appeal 2.5/3 - Timmy likes doubling his big mutating monster's abilities. Johnny can definitely do something with the last ability. Spike is the least interested, she'll just take whatever Johnny comes up with if it's good enough.
Elegance 3/3 - If Panharmonicon was fine, this should be too.
Development
Viability 2.5/3 - This could just be monoblue, but it also makes sense in GU. No problems with rarity or the rules.
Balance 3/3 - Yes, I'd play this in limited, especially on an already mutated creature. It's interesting seeing what Johnny will come up with this in constructed. No problems in casual or multiplayer.
Creativity
Uniqueness 3/3 - The triggered ability is new on a mutate card.
Flavor 1.5/3 - I can't really see this name printed on a Magic card. Too strange and complicated. The creature types are good. No flavor text, but that's the right call.
Polish
Quality 0/3 - Wrong order of mana symbols both in the mana cost and in the activation cost (-1 each makes -2). Reminder text should be italicized (-1). A full stop is missing at the end of the triggered ability (-0.5).
Main Challenge 2/2 - Good.
Subchallenges 2/2 - Both met.
TOTAL 19.5/25

Ryder

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Shell-Style Master 1{g/u}R
Creature — Turtle Ninja Mutant (R)
Mutate {g/u}R (If you cast this spell for its mutate cost, put it over or under target non-Human creature you own. They mutate into the creature on top plus all abilities from under it.)
Flash
First strike
Whenever this creature enters the battlefield or mutates, you may switch its power and toughness until end of turn.
1/4

Design
Appeal 2.5/3 - Timmy doesn't care that much. Johnny loves this and the switching part. Spike really likes the flash part.
Elegance 3/3 - No problems here.
Development
Viability 2.5/3 - Flash is GU, and first strike red. Switching power and toughness is heavily primary blue, but red can also do it. If you cast this as UR, that's the blue part. If you cast this as RG, that's the red part. Intricated, but it works. No problems with rarity or the rules.
Balance 2.5/3 - Absolutely playable in limited, not sure about competitive constructed. No problems in casual or multiplayer.
Creativity
Uniqueness 3/3 - The triggered ability is new on a mutate card.
Flavor 2.5/3 - Too bad a Teenage creature type doesn't exist in Magic! You did the best you could with existing subtypes, and I love it! But wait! Is this their Master? I would avoided that word in the name, but I love Shell-Style. No flavor text but it's the right call.
Polish
Quality 3/3 - All good.
Main Challenge 2/2 - Good.
Subchallenges 2/2 - Both met.
TOTAL 23/25

slimytrout

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Ankylokapi 1RG
Creature — Dinosaur Antelope (R)
Mutate 3{r/g}{r/g} (If you cast this spell for its mutate cost, put it over or under target non-Human creature you own. They mutate into the creature on top plus all abilities from under it.)
Trample
Whenever this creature mutates, it fights up to one target creature you don't control. When that creature dies this turn, put two +1/+1 counters on this creature.
4/3

Design
Appeal 2.5/3 - Timmy likes the fight on a big trample creature that gets even bigger. I don't see much for Johnny to do, but maybe he'll come up with something unexpected. Spike really likes the removal feature.
Elegance 3/3 - No problems here.
Development
Viability 3/3 - No problems with the color pie, rarity, or the rules.
Balance 3/3 - Costs look right to me, and I like the use of hybrid mana here. Definitely playable in limited and I could see it getting some Standard play too. No problems in casual or multiplayer.
Creativity
Uniqueness 3/3 - The triggered ability is new on a mutate card.
Flavor 2/3 - What's this name? I feel like I'm missing something here... and Google doesn't help. The only thing I recognize is the "Ankyl" part that's clearly tied to the Antelope part, but "okapi" for a dinosaur? I can't remember any dinosaur with that name, and as I've already said in the past, I've always been a huge fan of dinosaurs. Again, no flavor text but it's right.
Polish
Quality 3/3 - All good.
Main Challenge 2/2 - Good.
Subchallenges 2/2 - Both met.
TOTAL 23.5/25

Results (bold advance)

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slimytrout: 23.5
Ryder: 23
kwanyeegor-ii: 21
Pygyzy: 19.5

[void_nothing]

Henlock

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Design
(2/3) Appeal - Jxnny and Spike both have reasons to want a free instant-speed mutate trigger. Jxnny could also do something with the color change. Txmmy doesn't care.
(3/3) Elegance - Totally understandable.

Development
(3/3) Viability - Colors definitely right and oddball stuff like this goes at uncommon - this even feels like a signpost card.
(2/3) Balance - Stuff like this is always hard to evaluate. If there were a cheap creature with an expensive mutate and a high-impact triggered ability, it would be abuseable with this card; if not, then it would be more of a source of "fun" combos than game-breaking ones.

Creativity
(1.5/3) Uniqueness - Flash and mutate together aren't new (there were a couple cards that had both in IKO), but the color change is an interesting trinket effect, the free mutate is cool, and I like the creature types.
(3/3) Flavor - Octopus neatly explains the color changing.

Polish
(2/3) Quality - Flash goes below mutate (Pouncing Shoreshark). "Whenever" misspelled.
(2/2) Main Challenge (*) - Done.
(2/2) Subchallenges - And done.

Total: 20.5/25

Jimmy Groove

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Design
(2/3) Appeal - Primarily a Jxnny/Spike card. Txmmy generally passes up 1/4s.
(1.5/3) Elegance - The ability is rather wordy, but more than that, preventing a creature from being destroyed is one thing, ruleswise. Preventing it from dying is another thing altogether; this card has the potential to cause mass confusion over what it does when it's sacrificed, when its toughness is reduced to zero, and other similar cases.

Development
(2.5/3) Viability - I can't say for sure whether this is a green card or not - I guess it's analogous to regeneration but this alternately also feels like a white or black card.
(2.5/3) Balance - This seems like a cheap way to repeatedly abuse sacrifice effects more than anything else.

Creativity
(2.5/3) Uniqueness - A quite unique way to use mutate, with vague analogues only in Brokkos, Apex of Forever and Everquill Phoenix.
(3/3) Flavor - Works for me; a primeval Ooze really would be the ultimate survivor.

Polish
(0/3) Quality - A mess. The spelling is "survivor." There is no space between the mutate cost and the reminder text. Cards within a mutated creature are called "merged" with it, not "above or below". Ability is not sure if it's a triggered or a replacement ability (it SHOULD be a replacement and therefore should start with "if"). There is a random line break between the last line of rules text and the power and toughness.
(2/2) Main Challenge (*) - Done.
(1/2) Subchallenges - Only one subtype.

Total: 17/25

Kypster

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Design
(2/3) Appeal - Primarily a Txmmy/Jxnny card. Spike is leery of the devotion requirement.
(2/3) Elegance - The devotion clause allows you to cast this as a mutating creature spell no matter what your devotion, which is at least strange. The whole card is also a little bit busy with attempting to combine very unrelated mechanics in this way.

Development
(2/3) Viability - I can't really imagine the setting this card is for, and the secondary color somehow seems more like black than white to me.
(2.5/3) Balance - The recursion ability is not necessarily OP even without a drawback, and the card has one - a potentially annoying one in fact.

Creativity
(2.5/3) Uniqueness - An out-of-the-box card.
(1/3) Flavor - Kresh is already the name of a character with a legendary card and everything, and the flavor of Theros Gods and Ikoria behemoths really doesn't mix.

Polish
(2/3) Quality - Magic uses "can't" instead of "cannot", and if the death ability is a triggered ability it doesn't take an instead but if it's a replacement ability it starts with "if" not "when".
(2/2) Main Challenge (*) - Done.
(1/2) Subchallenges - Is mythic.

Total: 17/25

Subject16

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Design
(3/3) Appeal - Txmmy, Jxnny, and Spike all LOVE repeated extra combats.
(3/3) Elegance - Pretty easy to understand imho.

Development
(2.5/3) Viability - Feels very much like it could have been monored.
(3/3) Balance - Sure - Casting this as a creature feels strong but it at least has a restriction on what creature it untaps.

Creativity
(1.5/3) Uniqueness - Obviously draws on a lot of combat repeater creatures of recent years, like Aurelia, the Warleader and Combat Celebrant, but has the unique wrinkle of using mutate in the way that it does.
(2.5/3) Flavor - Leech seems like an odd secondary type to use. I would have gone with Nightmare.

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

Total: 22.5/25

Totals (Bold advance)

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Subject16 22.5
Henlock 20.5
Jimmy Groove 17
Kypster 17