June MCC Round 4 (finals) - The aftermath

[bravelion83]

(This round's banner is my own elaboration on the art of Spark Rupture by Viko Menezes.)


June MCC Round 4 (finals)

The aftermath

As is tradition by now, this month we will celebrate the latest set, in this case March of the Machine (plus The Aftermath), by exploring its mechanics and themes, as usual in this kind of MCC months.


Main Challenge

Choose one of the planes that have been represented in a battle card in March of the Machine. Please state your chosen plane in your submission post. This is a specific exception to the "no extra content" rule for this month.

Your chosen plane CANNOT share any colors in its MOM battle card with the one you chose in previous Rounds.

Then choose a planeswalker native of your chosen plane (you can find them mentioned for each plane in the three Maro's articles about all the battles or in the clarifications spoiler below) or that has received a card in an expansion set on your chosen plane. For planes that have no expansions set on them and no native planeswalkers, but ONLY for those, you're free to create a new planeswalker character coming from that plane. Design a legendary creature card that represents your chosen character as a desparked planeswalker after having lost their spark due to the Spark Rupture.

You can't use any mana symbols that go outside of your chosen battle card's colors anywhere on the card.

I hope this wording is clear enough, but if it isn't, follow these steps:
1 - Choose a battle card from MOM that doesn't share any colors with the MOM battle cards you chose in previous rounds. (See the list of players at the bottom of this post for the colors each player is allowed to choose.) Don't think about the colors of the cards you designed, those don't matter here. Just compare the colors of the MOM battle cards.
2 - Once you chose your MOM battle card for THIS round in step 1, choose a known planeswalker (before the Aftermath and all the desparking that came with it) character that's either native to the plane represented by your chosen MOM battle card for THIS round or that has received a card in an expansion set on the plane represented by your chosen MOM battle card for THIS round. If no such characters exist, and ONLY in that case, you can make a custom planeswalker that's native to that plane. If you're in this case and you have designed one, then DO NOT POST THEIR PLANESWALKER CARD IN YOUR SUBMISSION POST HERE! YOUR SUBMISSION WOULD GET DQ'ed FOR EXTRA CONTENT!
3 - Once you've chosen your plane and your planeswalker character to despark, proceed with the desparking. That is, design a "Legendary Creature" (on the type line) card for them after they've lost their spark to the Spark Rupture that happens in The Aftermath. The card must be at least one color (unless you choose Ravnica), while staying within the colors of the MOM battle card you chose for THIS round in step 1. (What counts for the MOM battle card is only the FRONT face, the actual battle, for example Theros is mono-W even if Ephara is WU.)
4 - Post your choice of plane (aka MOM battle card) for THIS round and the card you designed in step 3. That's your submission for this round. Remember not to include any lore/flavor explanation about how they lost their spark and in general not to include anything that's not your chosen plane and the card you've designed.

If you choose Ravnica, that has a colorless battle card, then your card must also be colorless and can't have any colored mana symbols on it.

Note: See clarifications for a list of the 36 battle cards in MOM and all the planeswalker characters that are either native to that plane or that have received cards in expansions set on that plane.


Subchallenge 1 - Your card has flavor text mentioning by proper name a plane other than Argentum, Mirrodin, (New) Phyrexia, Zhalfir, or your chosen plane for this round. (Planes you chose in past rounds are fair game here.)


Subchallenge 2 - Your chosen planeswalker character has NOT received a card representing them as a desparked planeswalker in The Aftermath. Please see clarifications for the list of the ones who did.

Clarifications

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Main Challenge

List of planes and planeswalkers

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BATTLE LIST

Plane: Ravnica
Colors: colorless
Native planeswalkers: Domri Rade, Ral Zarek, Vraska
Non-native planeswalkers with cards from sets on this plane: Jace Beleren, Gideon Jura, Dovin Baan, Kaya, Ajani Goldmane, Angrath, Arlinn Kord, Ashiok, Chandra Nalaar, Davriel Cane, Huatli, Jaya Ballard, Jiang Yanggu, Karn, Kasmina, Kiora, Liliana Vess, Nahiri, Narset, Nicol Bolas, Nissa Revane, Ob Nixilis, Saheeli Rai, Samut, Sarkhan Vol, Sorin, Tamiyo, Teferi Akosa, Teyo Verada, Tezzeret, The Wanderer, Tibalt, Ugin, Vivien Reid
You CANNOT create a new planeswalker character from this plane.

Plane: Belenon
Colors: W
Native planeswalkers: none
Non-native planeswalkers with cards from sets on this plane: none
You CAN create a new planeswalker character from this plane.

Plane: Dominaria
Colors: W
Native planeswalkers: Nicol Bolas, Dakkon Blackblade, Freyalise, Jared Carthalion, Jaya Ballard, Jeska, Karn, Liliana Vess, Teferi Akosa, Tevesh Szat, Ugin, Urza, Venser, Lord Windgrace
Non-native planeswalkers with cards from sets on this plane: Chandra Nalaar, Ajani Goldmane, Saheeli Rai
You CANNOT create a new planeswalker character from this plane.

Plane: Gobakhan
Colors: W
Native planeswalkers: Teyo Verada
Non-native planeswalkers with cards from sets on this plane: none
You CANNOT create a new planeswalker character from this plane.

Plane: Theros
Colors: W
Native planeswalkers: Calix, Gideon Jura, Niko Aris, Xenagos
Non-native planeswalkers with cards from sets on this plane: Ashiok, Elspeth Tirel, Kiora, Ajani Goldmane
You CANNOT create a new planeswalker character from this plane.

Plane: Kamigawa
Colors: U
Native planeswalkers: Tamiyo, Kaito Shizuki, The Wanderer
Non-native planeswalkers with cards from sets on this plane: Tezzeret
You CANNOT create a new planeswalker character from this plane.

Plane: Vryn
Colors: U
Native planeswalkers: Jace
Non-native planeswalkers with cards from sets on this plane: none (Origins doesn't count as an expansion set on this plane as it was not specifically and totally focused on it.)
You CANNOT create a new planeswalker character from this plane.

Plane: Arcavios
Colors: U
Native planeswalkers: technically Quintorius even if he hasn't received a planeswalker card yet…
Non-native planeswalkers with cards from sets on this plane: Kasmina, Lukka, Liliana Vess, Will Kenrith, Rowan Kenrith
You CANNOT create a new planeswalker character from this plane.

Plane: Segovia
Colors: U
Native planeswalkers: none
Non-native planeswalkers with cards from sets on this plane: none
You CAN create a new planeswalker character from this plane.

Plane: Eldraine
Colors: B
Native planeswalkers: Will Kenrith, Rowan Kenrith
Non-native planeswalkers with cards from sets on this plane: Oko, Garruk
You CANNOT create a new planeswalker character from this plane.

Plane: Ulgrotha
Colors: B
Native planeswalkers: none
Non-native planeswalkers with cards from sets on this plane: none
You CAN create a new planeswalker character from this plane.

Plane: Fiora
Colors: B
Native planeswalkers: Dack Fayden, Daretti
Non-native planeswalkers with cards from sets on this plane: Kaya
You CANNOT create a new planeswalker character from this plane.

Plane: Innistrad
Colors: B
Native planeswalkers: Sorin, Tibalt, Arlinn Kord
Non-native planeswalkers with cards from sets on this plane: Garruk, Liliana Vess, Tamiyo, Tibalt, Jace Beleren, Nahiri, Teferi Akosa, Wrenn, Chandra Nalaar, Kaya
You CANNOT create a new planeswalker character from this plane.

Plane: Mercadia
Colors: R
Native planeswalkers: none
Non-native planeswalkers with cards from sets on this plane: none
You CAN create a new planeswalker character from this plane.

Plane: Regatha
Colors: R
Native planeswalkers: none
Non-native planeswalkers with cards from sets on this plane: none (Origins doesn't count as an expansion set on this plane as it was not specifically and totally focused on it.)
You CAN create a new planeswalker character from this plane.

Plane: Kaldheim
Colors: R
Native planeswalkers: Tyvar Kell
Non-native planeswalkers with cards from sets on this plane: Kaya, Niko Aris, Tibalt
You CANNOT create a new planeswalker character from this plane.

Plane: Karsus
Colors: R
Native planeswalkers: none
Non-native planeswalkers with cards from sets on this plane: none
You CAN create a new planeswalker character from this plane.

Plane: Tarkir
Colors: R
Native planeswalkers: Sarkhan, Narset
Non-native planeswalkers with cards from sets on this plane: Ugin, Sorin
You CANNOT create a new planeswalker character from this plane.

Plane: Muraganda
Colors: G
Native planeswalkers: none
Non-native planeswalkers with cards from sets on this plane: none
You CAN create a new planeswalker character from this plane.

Plane: Zendikar
Colors: G
Native planeswalkers: Nissa Revane, Nahiri, Kiora
Non-native planeswalkers with cards from sets on this plane: Chandra Nalaar, Sorin, Jace Beleren, Gideon Jura, Sarkhan Vol, Ob Nixilis
You CANNOT create a new planeswalker character from this plane.

Plane: Ikoria
Colors: G
Native planeswalkers: Lukka
Non-native planeswalkers with cards from sets on this plane: Narset, Vivien Reid
You CANNOT create a new planeswalker character from this plane.

Plane: Ixalan
Colors: G
Native planeswalkers: Huatli
Non-native planeswalkers with cards from sets on this plane: Vraska, Jace Beleren, Angrath
You CANNOT create a new planeswalker character from this plane.

Plane: Shandalar
Colors: G
Native planeswalkers: none
Non-native planeswalkers with cards from sets on this plane: none (core sets don't count as expansions set on this plane as they were not specifically and totally focused on it.)
You CAN create a new planeswalker character from this plane.

Plane: New Phyrexia
Colors: WU
Native planeswalkers: Koth
Non-native planeswalkers with cards from sets on this plane: Elspeth Tirel, Venser, Tezzeret, Karn, Jace Beleren, Kaya, Kaito Shizuki, Lukka, Nahiri, Nissa Revane, The Wanderer, Tyvar Kell, Vraska
You CANNOT create a new planeswalker character from this plane.

Plane: Xerex
Colors: WU
Native planeswalkers: none
Non-native planeswalkers with cards from sets on this plane: none
You CAN create a new planeswalker character from this plane.

Plane: Amonkhet
Colors: UB
Native planeswalkers: Samut, Basri Ket
Non-native planeswalkers with cards from sets on this plane: Liliana Vess, Gideon Jura, Nissa Revane, Nicol Bolas
You CANNOT create a new planeswalker character from this plane.

Plane: Azgol
Colors: BR
Native planeswalkers: none
Non-native planeswalkers with cards from sets on this plane: none
You CAN create a new planeswalker character from this plane.

Plane: Ergamon
Colors: RG
Native planeswalkers: none
Non-native planeswalkers with cards from sets on this plane: none
You CAN create a new planeswalker character from this plane.

Plane: Moag
Colors: GW
Native planeswalkers: none
Non-native planeswalkers with cards from sets on this plane: none
You CAN create a new planeswalker character from this plane.

Plane: (New) Capenna
Colors: WB
Native planeswalkers: Elspeth Tirel
Non-native planeswalkers with cards from sets on this plane: Ob Nixilis, Vivien Reid
You CANNOT create a new planeswalker character from this plane.

Plane: Tolvada
Colors: WB
Native planeswalkers: Kaya
Non-native planeswalkers with cards from sets on this plane: none
You CANNOT create a new planeswalker character from this plane.

Plane: Kaladesh
Colors: UR
Native planeswalkers: Saheeli Rai, Dovin Baan, Chandra Nalaar
Non-native planeswalkers with cards from sets on this plane: Nissa Revane, Ajani Goldmane, Tezzeret
You CANNOT create a new planeswalker character from this plane.

Plane: Lorwyn
Colors: BG
Native planeswalkers: none.
Non-native planeswalkers with cards from sets on this plane: Ajani Goldmane, Jace Beleren, Liliana Vess, Chandra Nalaar, Garruk
You CANNOT create a new planeswalker character from this plane.

Plane: Kylem
Colors: RW
Native planeswalkers: none
Non-native planeswalkers with cards from sets on this plane: Will Kenrith, Rowan Kenrith
You CANNOT create a new planeswalker character from this plane.

Plane: Pyrulea
Colors: GU
Native planeswalkers: none
Non-native planeswalkers with cards from sets on this plane: none
You CAN create a new planeswalker character from this plane.

Plane: Alara
Colors: WUBRG
Native planeswalkers: Ajani Goldmane, Tezzeret
Non-native planeswalkers with cards from sets on this plane: Elspeth Tirel, Sarkhan Vol
You CANNOT create a new planeswalker character from this plane.

Subchallenge 1

First, the card has to have flavor text. If the card doesn't have flavor text, this Subchallenge is automatically failed.

What matters are the proper name of the planes. There are five proper names that are forbidden by this Subchallenge:
• "Argentum"
• "Mirrodin"
• "Phyrexia" (either old or new, so also including "New Phyrexia")
• "Zhalfir"
• The proper name of your chosen plane for this round.

Your card's flavor text must include the proper name of at least one of all the remaining known (as in "actually existing in real Magic", or "not a custom plane") planes in Magic's history.

You can mention more than one plane by proper name as long as none of them is included in the forbidden list above.

Any other planes can be mentioned by proper name in your flavor text, including those you chose in past rounds.


Subchallenge 2

List of desparked planeswalkers in MAT

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DESPARKED PLANESWALKERS in The Aftermath

Calix
Karn
Kiora
Nahiri
Narset
Nissa Revane
Ob Nixilis
Samut
Sarkhan Vol
Tyvar Kell

If you have any questions, feel free to post them in the MCC discussion thread.

DEADLINES

Design deadline: Sunday, July 23rd 2023 at 23:59 Eastern Time

Judging deadline: Wednesday, July 26th 2023 at 23:59 Eastern Time


RUBRIC

MCC Rubric

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The MCC Rubric is given below, in an easily "copy and pasted" form. (Courtesy of Rithaniel.)

---

Code: Select all

[b]Design[/b]
[b](X/3) Appeal[/b] - Do the different player psychographics (Timmy/Johhny/Spike) have a use for the card?
[b](X/3) Elegance[/b] - Is the card easily understandable at a glance? Do all the flavor and mechanics combined as a whole make sense?
 
[b]Development[/b]
[b](X/3) Viability[/b] - 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?
[b](X/3) Balance[/b] - 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?
 
[b]Creativity[/b]
[b](X/3) Uniqueness[/b] - 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"?
[b](X/3) Flavor[/b] - 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?
 
[b]Polish[/b]
[b](X/3) Quality[/b] - Points deducted for incorrect spelling, grammar, and templating.
[b](X/2) Main Challenge (*)[/b] - Was the main challenge satisfied? Was it approached in a unique or interesting way? Does the card fit the intent of the challenge?
[b](X/2) Subchallenges[/b] - One point awarded per satisfied subchallenge condition.
 
[b]Total: X/25[/b]
*An entry with 0 points here is subject to disqualification.

JUDGES

bravelion83
void_nothing


PLAYERS

I will also mention which colors are still available to which player for their choice of MOM battle card for THIS round based on their submissions from past rounds.

@MonoRedMage - Colors available: B or colorless (Ravnica)
@slimytrout - Colors available: RW or colorless (Ravnica)
@StonerOfKruphix - Colors available: B or colorless (Ravnica)



A reminder to everyone:
In the MCC, putting rarity on cards is mandatory! If you don't put a rarity on your card, expect huge deductions in both Viability AND Quality.
Please check out the MCC Guidelines and FAQ if you have the will and time. Link in my signature. Among the many things you can find there are a detailed explanation of the rubric (section 6.2) and the recommended card formatting (section 4) that you should use to format your text cards. Expect deductions in Quality otherwise.

[StonerOfKruphix]

Plane: Ravnica


Ugin, Plane-Bound Jailer X
Legendary Creature — Dragon Spirit (M)
Ugin, Plane-Bound Jailer enters the battlefield with X +1/+1 counters on it.
Flying, ward X, where X is Ugin's power.
When Ugin enters the battlefield, exile target nonland permanent that is X or less colors and put X time counters on it.
When Ugin leaves the battlefield, each card in exile with time counters on it that doesn't have suspend gains suspend.
As Ugin's real form manifested in the Meditation Plane, Bolas knew it was only a matter of time before his escape.
0/0

[MonoRedMage]

Plane: Innistrad

Liliana, Diva of the Dead 2BB
Legendary Creature - Human Warlock {M}
Tap an untapped Zombie you control: Add B. Spend this mana only to activate abilities.
2BB: Create a 2/2 black Zombie creature token, then each player discards a card. Activate only as a sorcery.
6BBBB, T: Each opponent separates all permanents they control into two piles, then sacrifices the pile of your choice. Activate only as a sorcery.
"Wonder if they'll give me that professorship on Arcavios back."
4/4

[bravelion83]

About a day left before the deadline and we're missing @slimytrout's submission. Remember that all three of you have all the time until the deadline to edit your submission even if you've already posted it.

[slimytrout]

Plane: Kylem

Rowan, Sparked to Action 2RR
Legendary Creature — Human Wizard (M)
First strike, haste
Whenever Rowan, Sparked to Action attacks, it deals 1 damage to target creature. If that creature is tapped, Rowan deals 3 damage to it instead.
Whenever Rowan deals combat damage to a player, target creature that player controls attacks during its controller's next turn if able.
"I will restore Eldraine's courts, no matter the cost."
3/3

[void_nothing]

@bravelion83 Are we good to begin judging?

[bravelion83]

@bravelion83 Are we good to begin judging?

Yes. of course. The round is officially closed and judging may begin right now.

[bravelion83]

Judgments complete. Sorry again for all the delays this month. I'm not proud at all to say that we will have the winner for June in August... I'll try to do better for Wilds of Eldraine in September. In the meantime, the only thing we're missing to declare a winner for June are @void_nothing's judgments.

StonerOfKruphix

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Plane: Ravnica


Ugin, Plane-Bound Jailer X
Legendary Creature — Dragon Spirit (M)
Ugin, Plane-Bound Jailer enters the battlefield with X +1/+1 counters on it.
Flying, ward X, where X is Ugin's power.
When Ugin enters the battlefield, exile target nonland permanent that is X or less colors and put X time counters on it.
When Ugin leaves the battlefield, each card in exile with time counters on it that doesn't have suspend gains suspend.
As Ugin's real form manifested in the Meditation Plane, Bolas knew it was only a matter of time before his escape.
0/0

Design
Appeal 3/3 - Timmy loves everything here except for a single thing: the thing that has been exiled returning eventually when Ugin leaves the battlefield, but will he ever leave the battlefield with ward and a big enough value of X, that Timmy would want anyway for size? Johnny can probably manipulate time counters and do tricks with suspend. Spike likes this as a finisher that gets rid on an opposing threat and has a flexible cost.
Elegance 0.5/3 - The text is very long, in fact it's microtext according to MSE. It's ten lines and four breaks in the M15 frame, while with ten lines you're allowed up to two breaks. One idea to solve this would be to just decide a fixed value for X, use that number for mana cost, power, toughness, and all the abilities which lets you drop the first ability, but it would admittedly hugely affect the card's functionality.
Development
Viability 2/3 - Ugin must obviously be colorless as a character, but this card feels more white than colorless to me. Mono-W could do everything here: flying, ward for mana, using +1/+1 counters, Oblivion Ring effects, and you could even see suspend as delaying the return of whatever was exiled and delaying things is absolutely white as well. No problems with rarity or the rules.
Balance 3/3 - Limited bomb and a very good mana sink for constructed, with added flexibility thanks to the use of X. It also comes with removal attached to an almost arbitrarily large body. I can easily see this in competitive formats, Standard but sure but maybe even beyond that, and in casual and multiplayer too. Everybody likes a strictly better Endless One.
Creativity
Uniqueness 2/3 - An Oblivion Ring variant that delays the exiled object's return and makes it vulnerable to counterspells, as you do cast it at the end of suspend, and on a hard-to-kill body. The idea isn't the most original, but the execution via suspend isn't so obvious.
Flavor 3/3 - Very good. We know that currently Ugin is Bolas's guardian. Bolas, who you could call the first desparked planeswalker as he was desparked in WAR years ago, seeing his twin now being desparked as well and imprisoned together with his own former jailer, has already started planning his own escape, presumably by resparking somehow (or just casually happening to find an omenpath out of the plane, which is now always a possibility for anyone, regardless of everything, and that's just one of the reasons why I hate the mass desparking happening in MAT, there are several others) and leaving his own twin and former jailor behind, a prisoner in his own prison. While Ugin is still a planeswalker, he removes something (by exiling it), then when he loses his spark, represented by him leaving the battlefield, the thing he removed starts slowly reappearing, and its complete reappearance is "only a matter of time". The creature types are obvious given the character, he even has a card named after them.
Polish
Quality 3/3 - All good.
Main Challenge 2/2 - Ravnica (colorless) is a valid choice of plane after Kaladesh (UR), Theros (W), and Ixalan (G). Ugin has been printed as a planeswalker in War of the Spark, which is set on Ravnica.
Subchallenges 2/2 - The Meditation Plane (also known as the Prison Realm after WAR) is in the flavor text and Ugin is not in MAT, so both met.
TOTAL 20.5/25

MonoRedMage

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Plane: Innistrad

Liliana, Diva of the Dead 2BB
Legendary Creature - Human Warlock {M}
Tap an untapped Zombie you control: Add B. Spend this mana only to activate abilities.
2BB: Create a 2/2 black Zombie creature token, then each player discards a card. Activate only as a sorcery.
6BBBB, T: Each opponent separates all permanents they control into two piles, then sacrifices the pile of your choice. Activate only as a sorcery.
"Wonder if they'll give me that professorship on Arcavios back."
4/4

Design
Appeal 2/3 - Timmy sees a planeswalker card in legendary creature form and he's excited by that, especially if he plays Commander (not a given) and can now play her as his Commander. He also dreams about activating that last ability. This feels like a playground to Johnny. Spike really likes that last ability, but there is no way she will ever pay ten mana for anything in her life.
Elegance 1/3 - The text is very long, in fact it's microtext according to MSE. It's ten lines and three breaks in the M15 frame, while with ten lines you're allowed up to two breaks. Too bad that two out of those ten lines are single words: "sorcery" in the second ability and "back" in the flavor text. Would there be a way to adjust the wording to cut a couple words somewhere in the card? Even just two words would probably be enough, so it would probably be an easy fix. This last sentence is the reason why I'm deducting half a point less here than I did for the previous card.
Development
Viability 2.5/3 - The restriction on the mana ability doesn't feel that black to me. Black usually pays life or some other kind of equivalent resource to add mana, and merely tapping a Zombie doesn't feel like it's enough to me. All the rest are things black can do without any problems. No problems with rarity or the rules either.
Balance 2.5/3 - Limited bomb and very easily playable in Standard. I only wonder how many times the last ability will be actually activated... Yes, I get that it essentially says "each opponent sacrifices half their board", but did it really need to cost ten mana with a quadruple colored mana cost? It's like turning that ability into trinket text, yes, it's there, but mostly for flavor. I'd be honestly surprised to see that ability going on the stack even just once in my life. The other two abilities and the 4/4 size for four mana are what actually makes her playable. Casual players also like this card. "Each player" and "each opponent" are obviously very relevant wordings for multiplayer.
Creativity
Uniqueness 1/3 - The structure of this card doesn't help at all here. Three activated abilities of increasing power level and cost, where have I already seen it... oh, yeah, of course! On almost every planeswalker ever printed! This feels a lot like Jaya Ballard, Task Mage, but back when Jaya's card was printed (in Time Spiral, I was already playing so I remember it well), planeswalkers as a card type weren't a thing yet. Now they are. That's the difference. Also, all the abilities are heavily reminiscent of different existing versions of Liliana (probably on purpose, it's piggybacking, but that doesn't help here as well): the ultimate is the reverse of the one on Liliana of the Veil (probably the most famous version of Liliana as a planeswalker), the 2/2 Zombie token comes from Liliana, Death's Majesty, Liliana, Dreadhorde General, and Liliana, the Last Hope's emblem, adding mana comes from Liliana of the Dark Realms, having each player discard also comes from Liliana of the Veil but Liliana, Defiant Necromancer and Liliana, Waker of the Dead too.
Flavor 3/3 - Yes, this is certainly Liliana and every little thing on this card helps making sure you recognize her. You imagined her losing her spark on Innistrad, being stuck there, and looking back at being a professor at Strixhaven with a sense of nostalgia. I would have no problems with a storyline like this being real. As far as I'm concerned, we've seen much more problematic thing in recent times... The creature types are correct.
Polish
Quality 2.5/3 - Hyphen instead of em dash, -0.5 here as both your opponents got it right. All the rest is good.
Main Challenge 2/2 - Innistrad (B) is a valid choice of plane after Kylem (RW), Kamigawa (U), and Muraganda (G). Liliana has been printed in multiple expansions set on Innistrad.
Subchallenges 2/2 - Arcavios in in the flavor text and Liliana is not in MAT, so both met.
TOTAL 18.5/25

slimytrout

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Plane: Kylem

Rowan, Sparked to Action 2RR
Legendary Creature — Human Wizard (M)
First strike, haste
Whenever Rowan, Sparked to Action attacks, it deals 1 damage to target creature. If that creature is tapped, Rowan deals 3 damage to it instead.
Whenever Rowan deals combat damage to a player, target creature that player controls attacks during its controller's next turn if able.
"I will restore Eldraine's courts, no matter the cost."
3/3

Design
Appeal 2/3 - Timmy likes dealing damage to potential blockers on attack and possibly forcing his opponent to waste their counterattack. The body is also relevant, and he likes that. Johnny can maybe exploit the "if tapped" self-replacement effect, but he's forced to attack with her anyway and he might not want to do that. Otherwise, I don't see much for him here. Spike likes the rate here, and also... well, everything.
Elegance 2.5/3 - No problems here. It all fits in the frame and is very easy to understand. The only strike against it might be that the text is a bit long.
Development
Viability 3/3 - No problems with the color pie, rarity, or the rules.
Balance 3/3 - The rate itself is enough to make this playable in limited. It looks like a good top end for red aggro decks, especially in Standard. Monored burn decks are present in practically every format that exists, and some might consider playing one or two copies of her. Not too many because she's still four mana, and that begins to be on the high end for an aggro deck, especially in competitive builds. Casual players also like this card. I can see potential for political plays in multiplayer formats thanks to the last ability for players that like that style of play. I personally don't, like, at all, but that doesn't matter here, there are players who do like it and that's what actually matters, even if I'm not one of them.
Creativity
Uniqueness 2/3 - Nothing here is particularly groundbreaking, but there are several nice details, little touches of unusualness. (is that even a word?) Increasing the damage is the creature is tapped is an example. Having a targeted effect being turned on not now but on a future turn is another one.
Flavor 3/3 - I don't know if it was intentional or not making a desparked version of Rowan while we already know that she and Will are desparked and that we'll see them as such in the very next set. We even already know the name of her card, it was the image caption in the video where it was officially revealed, but I won't say it here in case somebody (not me) cares about spoilers. I'll just say this is not it, but I love this one, especially for the very clever use of the word "sparked", no longer referring to her planeswalker spark, which is no longer there, but to something that spurs her to action. It's a very clever double meaning. We also already know that Eldraine's courts are not in a good state after MOM and that Will and Rowan want to restore them, just by different means. This could potentially be Rowan's card in WOE. It won't be, but it has all the flavor elements to fit perfectly. I'm honestly not sure how I should judge this. It's a custom card but it uses known elements about the next premium set. It almost feels like you had advanced knowledge. Anyway, I do like it a lot and it fits perfectly with what we know from MOM and MAT, so I'll just give it full points here, also keeping into account that the creature types are correct.
Polish
Quality 3/3 - All good.
Main Challenge 2/2 - Kylem (RW) is a valid choice of plane after Innistrad (B), Arcavios (U), and Ixalan (G). Rowan has been printed in Battlebond.
Subchallenges 2/2 - Eldraine is in the flavor text and while we already know that Rowan is desparked in Wilds of Eldraine, she hasn't been printed as a desparked planeswalker in MAT, so both met.
TOTAL 22.5/25

Results

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StonerOfKruphix: 20.5
MonoRedMage: 18.5
slimytrout : 22.5

[void_nothing]

StonerOfKruphix

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Design
(3/3) Appeal - Txmmy likes an X flyer with extras, Jxnny could do things with that delayed-suspend deal, Spike appreciates just how much this card does.
(1.5/3) Elegance - A lot going on here for sure. There are actually two different values of X on this card determining four different things in total, which is a bit confusing.

Development
(3/3) Viability - Definitely feels like a desparked Ugin, definitely mythic.
(1/3) Balance - So this is nothing if not pushed. Certainly better than Endless One in a lot of ways! Removal ability aside, without debating how good that is, I don't think every single color should have access to something comparable to Shivan Devastator for one less mana.

Creativity
(1.5/3) Uniqueness - Creatures that are effectively X/X for X are nothing new. However, the ward is somewhat new, and the suspend-removal ability is very new.
(3/3) Flavor - I 100% get what you're going for here (even if I do hope Bolas really is gone from the storyline for good).

Polish
(1.5/3) Quality - Several errors here - Evergreen keywords should go above "ETBs with X counters", that ward ability should be on a separate line a la Owlin Shieldmage because it's not a straight-up constant mana cost, and it would be "X or fewer colors" because "colors" is a countable noun.
(2/2) Main Challenge (*) - Done.
(2/2) Subchallenges - And done.

Total: 18.5/25

MonoRedMage

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Design
(3/3) Appeal - Txmmy wants a Zombie token army that makes them mana. Jxnny can use this as an engine. Spike likes the power on offer: Zombies are already a good tribe and this is a good addition to them.
(1/3) Elegance - I appreciate what you're doing here giving loyalty-like abilities to a desparked planeswalker legend, but all in all it just kind of comes off as too wordy.

Development
(3/3) Viability - Definitely black, Lili-like, and mythic.
(2/3) Balance - This feels like it's a bit too much in some ways, particularly self-fueling the Zombie token ability. Ten mana is a lot, but it's really not much at all when you have that kind of help, and that Liliana of the Veil "ultimate" really is game-ending.

Creativity
(2/3) Uniqueness - Obviously pays homage to Lili PW cards past, but I like that this evolves those effects and does its own thing.
(3/3) Flavor - Heh, nice flavor text.

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

Total: 21/25

slimytrout

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Design
(2.5/3) Appeal - Txmmy likes the latter-day Jeska, Warrior Adept vibe. Jxnny finds this maybe a bit blunt but the two triggered abilities surely offer a little something to play with. Spike likes immediately being able to blast tapped creatures with Lightning Bolts.
(2/3) Elegance - The one issue here is that forced-attack ability is by necessity quite wordy. Otherwise, a focused, comprehensible card. (It is also a bit odd that Rowan will probably die to her own ability if there are no other creatures on the battlefield when she attacks?)

Development
(3/3) Viability - Red and mythic feel right particularly for Limited, and this feels like Rowan as well.
(3/3) Balance - Definitely a Limited bomb but not backbreaking or anything for Constructed formats. Lethal against some decks and as manageable as a 3/3 first striker can be against others.

Creativity
(1.5/3) Uniqueness - All familiar abilities but put together in a new way.
(3/3) Flavor - Fully expect something like this in Wilds of Eldraine!

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

Total: 22/25

[bravelion83]

Final results (finally...)

StonerOfKruphix: 20.5 + 18.5 = 39
MonoRedMage: 18.5 + 21 = 39.5
slimytrout = 22.5 + 22 = 44.5

slimytrout is the winner for June. Congratulations!

Stay tuned for a Wilds of Eldraine-themed month in September.