The Wanderlust Mechanic

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Post by JessWill 11 months ago

One of the mechanics I've been playing around with is what I'm currently calling Wanderlust, which I believe I actually first saw proposed by Wizyard here some years back:

(Your Wanderlust is equal to the number of lands you control with different names.)

There are a variety of ways in which this can potentially be used and I'm brainstorming how to go about best using it. The closest existing mechanic is domain, but domain is more limited to basic land types and caps out at 5. Wanderlust instead rewards diversity of land names in general and is more geared towards nonbasic and legendary lands, and is EDH friendly.

Here is a brainstorm of card ideas representing different angles of trying to use Wanderlust.

Spirit of the Planes
Creature - Spirit (U)
Flying
Spirit of the Planes gets +1/+1 so long as your Wanderlust is greater than any other player's.
1/1

Warp Ether
Instant (U)
Return target land or spell to its owner's hand. If your Wanderlust is 4 or greater, put that card on top of its owner's library instead.

Show of Dominance
Instant (U)
Destroy target creature or planeswalker with converted mana cost equal to or less than your Wanderlust.

Balefire Bolt
Instant (U)
Wanderlust - Balefire Bolt costs less to cast for each land you control with a different name.
Balefire Bolt deals 5 damage to any target. Damage dealt this way can't be prevented.

Earthen Song
Instant (C)
Target creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn. Then, if your Wanderlust increased this turn, put a +1/+1 counter on that creature.

Further ideas using Wanderlust as a sort of "bomb":

Soul Exodus
Sorcery (U)
Exile up to a number of cards from a graveyard equal to your Wanderlust. For each card exiled this way, create a 1/1 white and black spirit creature token with flying. (Your Wanderlust is equal to the number of lands you control with different names.)

Ascending the Stairway
Sorcery (U)
Put a +1/+1 or loyalty counter on up to a number of target creatures and/or planeswalkers equal to your Wanderlust. For each creature targeted this way, untap that creature. (Your Wanderlust is equal to the number of lands you control with different names.)

Entropy Cycle
Sorcery (U)
Exile up to number of cards from a graveyard equal to your Wanderlust. For each card exiled this way, add or . (Your Wanderlust is equal to the number of lands you control with different names.)

Fruits of Lust
Sorcery (U)
Exile up to a number of cards from the top of your library equal to your Wanderlust. Until end of turn, you may play cards exiled this way. (Your Wanderlust is equal to the number of lands you control with different names.)

Planar Insight
Sorcery (U)
Draw a number of cards equal to your Wanderlust. (Your Wanderlust is equal to the number of lands you control with different names.)

Into the Abyss
Sorcery (U)
Target player exiles a number of cards from the top of their library equal to your Wanderlust. (Your Wanderlust is equal to the number of lands you control with different names.)

Descend Below
Sorcery (U)
Mill a number of cards equal to your Wanderlust. Until end of turn, instant and sorcery spells in your graveyard gain flashback for their mana cost. (Your Wanderlust is equal to the number of lands you control with different names.)

Will of the Archons
Instant (U)
Tap up to a number of target permanents equal to your Wanderlust. Those permanents don't untap during their controller's next untap step. (Your Wanderlust is equal to the number of lands you control with different names.)

Rally of Ysgard
Instant (U)
Untap up to a number of target creatures equal to your Wanderlust. Until end of turn, those creatures get +1/+1 and gain haste. (Your Wanderlust is equal to the number of lands you control with different names.)

Storms of Pandemonium
Sorcery (U)
Shuffle target permanent with converted mana cost equal to or less than your Wanderlust into its owner's library. (Your Wanderlust is equal to the number of lands you control with different names.)

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Post by JessWill 10 months ago

Some more Wanderlust card ideas...

Defend the Castle
Instant (U)
Exile target attacking creature with power equal to or less than your Wanderlust, then gain life equal to your Wanderlust.

Spirit of the Planes
Creature - Spirit (U)
Flying
At the beginning of your end step, if your Wanderlust increased this turn, create a 1/1 white and black spirit creature token with flying.
1/1

Enlightened Domain
Instant (U)
Untap up to a number of target creatures equal to your Wanderlust, then put a +1/+1 counter on each of those creatures.

Visions of the Realm
Sorcery (U)
Scry X, where X is your Wanderlust, then draw a card.

Mortuary Specter
Creature - Specter (U)
Flying
Whenever Mortuary Specter deals combat damage to a player, that player exiles a number of cards from the top of their library equal to your Wanderlust.
2/2

Crypt Dweller
Creature - Ghoul (U)
Menace
At the beginning of your end step, if your Wanderlust is equal to or greater than Crypt Dweller's converted mana cost, you may return it from your graveyard to your hand.
3/3

Malignant Spawn
Sorcery (U)
Return target creature card from your graveyard to the battlefield with a number of +1/+1 counters on it equal to your Wanderlust.

Wild Intuition
Sorcery (U)
Exile a number of cards from the top of your library equal to your Wanderlust. Until the end of your next turn, you may play those cards.

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Post by void_nothing 10 months ago

A lot of these names are neat. I have to commend you for getting the flavor of the mechanic across.
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Post by JessWill 10 months ago

void_nothing wrote:
10 months ago
A lot of these names are neat. I have to commend you for getting the flavor of the mechanic across.
I probably care more about flavor than I used to. I'm especially pleased if both the mechanics and flavor of a card cohere.

I'm still feeling out how to design with Wanderlust, it's one of those mechanics with a variable number which can sometimes make it hard to figure out what mana cost I want to use for things, but I think I'm getting the hang of it.

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Post by JessWill 10 months ago

Wanderlust as psuedo-landfall:

Hive Expeditioner
Creature - Human Scout (C)
Wanderlust - Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control with a different name than another land you control, Hive Expeditioner explores.
1/1

Blessing of Elysium
Enchantment (U)
Wanderlust - Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control with a different name than another land you control, you may put a +1/+1 or loyalty counter on target creature or planeswalker you control.

Law of Mechanus
Enchantment (U)
Wanderlust - Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control with a different name than another land you control, you may tap target permanent. That permanent doesn't untap during its controller's next untap step.

Undertow of Hades
Enchantment (U)
Wanderlust - Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control with a different name than another land you control, Mill three cards.

Madness of Limbo
Enchantment (U)
Wanderlust - Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control with a different name than another land you control, exile the top card of your library. Until end of turn, you may play that card.

Calling of Arborea
Enchantment (U)
Wanderlust - Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control with a different name than another land you control, you may untap target permanent. Until the end of your next turn, that permanent gains Unbound.

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Post by JessWill 10 months ago

Some more Wanderlust ideas...

Arborean Genesis
Sorcery (U)
Distribute a number of +1/+1 counters equal to your Wanderlust among any number of target lands. Those lands become 0/0 creatures that are still lands with haste and "When this dies or is exiled, return it to the battlefield tapped." (Your Wanderlust is equal to the number of lands you control with different names.)

Planar Incarnation
Creature - Elemental (U)
Planar Incarnation has power and toughness equal to your Wanderlust. (Your Wanderlust is equal to the number of lands you control with different names.)
*/*
Planar Journey
Sorcery - Adventure
Search your library for a nonbasic land card, put it onto the battlefield tapped, then shuffle. (Then exile this card. You may cast the creature later from exile.)

Aoskar's Wish
Enchantment - Aura (U)
Enchant land
When Aoskar's Wish enters the battlefield, gain control of enchanted land, then put a number of +1/+1 counters on that land equal to your Wanderlust and it becomes a 0/0 creature that's still a land with haste and "When this dies or is exiled, return it to the battlefield tapped under its owner's control." (Your Wanderlust is equal to the number of lands you control with different names.)

Flames of Ignus
Instant (U)
Wanderlust - Flames of Ignus costs less to cast for each land you control with a different name than another land you control.
Flames of Ignus deals 5 damage to any target. If that target would go to a graveyard, exile it instead.

Celestial Planetar
Creature - Angel (U)
Wanderlust - Celestial Planetar costs less to cast for each land you control with a different name than another land you control.
Flying
5/5

Wrath of Vecna
Sorcery (U)
Wanderlust - Wrath of Vecna costs less to cast for each land you control with a different name than another land you control.
Each opponent loses 5 life.

Ethereal Flux
Instant (U)
Wanderlust - Ethereal Flux costs less to cast for each land you control with a different name than another land you control.
Counter target spell, then exile it.

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Post by JessWill 10 months ago

A different approach to using Wanderlust...

Outlands Shaman
Creature - Tuladhara Druid (U)
: Add one mana of any color.
, sacrifice Outlands Shaman: Add . You may only use this ability if your Wanderlust is 5 or greater. (Your Wanderlust is equal to the number of lands you control with different names.)
1/3

Ancient Outlander
Creature - Rilmani Druid (U)
When Ancient Outlander enters the battlefield, if you cast it and your Wanderlust is 5 or greater, add . (Your Wanderlust is equal to the number of lands you control with different names.)
4/5

Celestial Warden
Creature - Aasimar Warrior (U)
Wanderlust - When Celestial Warden enters the battlefield, distribute a number of +1/+1 counters equal to the number of lands with different names tapped to cast this spell among any number of target creatures.
2/2

Ignus's Flames
Sorcery (U)
Wanderlust - Ignus's Flames deals damage equal to the number of lands with different names tapped to cast this spell, divided as you choose among any number of targets.

Infernal Denizen
Creature - Tiefling Rogue (U)
Wanderlust - When Infernal Denizen enters the battlefield, distribute a number of -1/-1 counters equal to the number of lands with different names tapped to cast this spell among any number of target creatures.
2/2

The Lady's Will
Instant (U)
Wanderlust - Counter target spell, then that spell's owner exiles a number of cards from the top of their library equal to the number of lands with different names tapped to cast this spell.

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Post by JessWill 9 months ago

Wanderlust meets The Dustmen ( faction)...

Dustman Guard
Creature - Human Priest (U)
When Dustman Guard enters the battlefield, exile target nonland permanent with mana value equal to or less than your Wanderlust until Dustman Guard leaves the battlefield. (Your Wanderlust is equal to the number of lands you control with different names.)
2/2
Dead Nations Excavation
Sorcery - Adventure
Put target land card from a graveyard onto the battlefield under your control.

Cremation Ritual
Sorcery (U)
Exile up to a number of creatures and/or planeswalkers from any number of players graveyards equal to your Wanderlust. (Your Wanderlust is equal to the number of lands you control with different names.)
Spectrum (This spell has the following effects only if mana of the corresponding type was spent to cast it.)
| Create a 1/1 white and black spirit creature token with flying for each card exiled this way.
| Create a treasure token for each card exiled this way.

True Death
Sorcery (U)
Exile target nonland permanent with mana value equal to or less than your Wanderlust. (Your Wanderlust is equal to the number of lands you control with different names.)

Nameless One's Memories
Enchantment (R)
Wanderlust - Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control with a different name than another land you control, you may airbend target nonland permanent card from your graveyard. You may pay 2 life instead of to cast that spell from exile, and you may cast it this way while exiled as though it had flash. (Exile it. While it's exiled, its owner may cast it for rather than its mana cost.)

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Post by JessWill 9 months ago

Astral Void
Enchantment (U)
When Astral Void enters, exile target nonland permanent with mana value equal to or less than your Wanderlust until Astral Void leaves the battlefield. (Your Wanderlust is equal to the number of lands you control with different names.)

Planar Dominion
Instant (U)
Counter target spell with mana value equal to or less than your Wanderlust. (Your Wanderlust is equal to the number of lands you control with different names.)

Mortuary Resurrection
Sorcery (U)
Return target creature or planeswalker with mana value equal to or less than your Wanderlust from your graveyard to the battlefield. (Your Wanderlust is equal to the number of lands you control with different names.)

Zerthimon's Gift
Instant (U)
Add . If your Wanderlust is 4 or greater, add equal to your Wanderlust instead, up to a maximum of . (Your Wanderlust is equal to the number of lands you control with different names.)

Planar Travels
Sorcery (U)
Shuffle your library, then reveal cards from the top of your library until you reveal a land card and a nonland card with mana value equal to or less than your Wanderlust plus one. Put the revealed land onto the battlefield tapped and the revealed nonland card into your hand. Put the remaining cards into your graveyard. (Your Wanderlust is equal to the number of lands you control with different names.)

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Post by JessWill 8 months ago

Arborean Druid
Creature - Human Druid (U)
Wanderlust - Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control with a different name than another land you control, you may have Arborean Druid become a copy of that land in addition to its other types.
1/3

Planar Consciousness
Enchantment (R)
Wanderlust - Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control with a different name than another land you control, that land becomes a 0/0 elemental creature with haste that's still a land. Put two +1/+1 counters on it. When it dies or is exiled, return it to the battlefield tapped.

Mirror Realm
Land (U)
: Add .
Wanderlust - Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control with a different name than another land you control, you may have Mirror Realm become a copy of that land until end of turn.

Planar Incarnation
Land Creature - Forest Elemental (R)
(This land isn't a spell, it has summoning sickness, and it has ": Add .")
Wanderlust - Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control with a different name than another land you control, put a +1/+1 counter on Planar Incarnation.
0/0

Planar Dominion
Enchantment (R)
Creatures you control have power and toughness each equal to your Wanderlust. (Your Wanderlust is equal to the number of lands you control with different names.)

Outlands Wanderer
Creature - Rilmani Druid (U)
As long as your Wanderlust is greater than any other player's, Outlands Wanderer gets +2/+1 and gains trample. (Your Wanderlust is equal to the number of lands you control with different names.)
1/1

Meek Explorer
Creature - Human Scout (U)
As long as your Wanderlust is less than any other player's, Meek Explorer gets +1/+2 and gains vigilance. (Your Wanderlust is equal to the number of lands you control with different names.)
1/1

Planar Equilibrium
Sorcery (U)
You may only cast this spell if your Wanderlust is less than any other player's. (Your Wanderlust is equal to the number of lands you control with different names.)
Search your library for a land card, put it onto the battlefield tapped, then shuffle.

Hive Wizard
Creature - Human Wizard (C)
Wanderlust - Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control with a different name than another land you control, surveil 1.
1/1

Cranium Rat
Creature - Rat (U)
Wanderlust - Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control with a different name than another land you control, target player mills a card.
1/1

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