]- Divert isn't narrow at all. It promotes certain deck strategies, is relevant in many games, and works more effectively in multiples.
The uses for the effect isn't narrow unlike some of the other mechanics but the number of designs you can create in a set certainly is. It has power level concerns and everything turning into Golbin Heelcutters won't make for a good enviroment.
- Tactician isn't broad at all. In fact, it modifies the rules for combat in a way that having to explain it without using the keyword as reference becomes a pain. It's not as broad as you make it out to be.
Your right that was a typo on my end, was meant to be in the "too narrow" category.
- Infiltrate, on the other hand, is definitely too broad.
Totally agree.
[ability name] - [this creature] has [ability] as long as you control a creature token. - This would primarily be in white/green.
I don't see any problems with this.
Neither do I as I mentioned other than requiring a sightly niche environment. Which is fine but worth noting.
Of the mechanics I'll probably end up adding the "token matters" ability and the modified flanking.
In the entry for arm, there shouldn't be quotes around "Equip 2", it shouldn't be capitalized, and the equip ability should come after the other ability. See Nahiri, the Lithomancer. A closing parenthesis is also missing in the reminder text.
Arm (Put a colorless Equipment artifact token named Weapon onto the battlefield with “Equipped creature gets +1/+1” and equip 2 and attached to this/those creature(s).)
Though I'd love to hear any design restrictions or playtest feedback about any mechanic that anyone has experience with. As that makes it more likely to make the new curated list.
Would you like me to remove it from the mechanics credits? Its simply that I wasn't able to find a previous example of that mechanic and I'm pretty sure I suggested Justice for Tesla based on your version.
In suvnica, was proposed here. I don't mind credit for giving it wider visibility; I just wouldn't like the thread to give the impression I'm using it in the final version
No problem, I'll say it was used in Suvnica Early Design. Making it clearer.
I've abandoned the use of Justice for Suvnica. The current Orzhov-style mechanic is Interdict (Whenever a creature with power higher than this enters the battlefield under an an opponent's control, that player loses 1 life and you gain 1 life.).
Would you like me to remove it from the mechanics credits? Its simply that I wasn't able to find a previous example of that mechanic and I'm pretty sure I suggested Justice for Tesla based on your version.
Ok there has been a bunch of issues with the wiki version I was trying to setup.
Thus I'll be posting early iterations onto the end of this thread and when I have reached a satisfactory number of mechanics I'll start a new thread that will end up replacing this one.
Note that the reboot of the custom mechanic encyclopedia is going to be a curated list, just suggesting a mechanic isn't enough to get it added.
I will be happy to provide feedback on all mechanics suggested, including improvements that could be made to have it included.
Once a mechanic is chosen to be included I will create a common example card and attempt to find any previous uses of that mechanic in custom cards projects.
Mechanic Name(Reminder Text)
Used in: Tags:
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The Custom Mechanic Encyclopedia
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The Custom Mechanic Encyclopedia is a curated resource for custom card creators, containing a database of custom keywords, ability words and keyword actions.
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Dreamwalk(This creature can't be blocked by untapped creatures. Tapped creatures can block it.)
702.XXa Dreamwalk is an evasion ability that modifies the rules for the declare blockers step. (See rule 509, "Declare Blockers Step.")
702.XXb A creature with dreamwalk can't be blocked by untapped creatures. Instead, the defending player can choose tapped creatures that he or she controls to block an attacking creature with dreamwalk.
702.XXc Dreamwalk does not allow tapped creatures to block creatures without dreamwalk.
702.XXd Multiple instances of dreamwalk on the same creature are redundant.
Encourages an aggressive format
Has very low comprehension complexity
Has higher board and tracking complexity than you would initially guess
Has good flavor for Nightmares or Dreamwalking wizards
Greatly increases the complexity of instant speed T abilities
Good at warping a player's evaluation of previous cards and mechanics
Dreamscape Purifier3WW
Creature - Human Knight (C)
Dreamwalk (This creature can’t be blocked by untapped creatures. Tapped creatures can block it.)
Vigilance “Reality must be protected.”
2/5
Used in:Dreamscape, Dreams of Lyanar (Sleepwalk) Tags: #Creature keyword #Evasion
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Lineage X(This creature enters the battlefield with X +1/+1 counters on it if it shares a creature type with a card in your graveyard.)
Encourages a tribal theme or subtheme
Flavorful for factions that care about ancestry, lineage etc.
Encourages graveyard themes
Has low tracking and comprehension complexity.
Could potentially combine with triggers caring about getting its lineage bonus or enabling another card's lineage.
Arashin Heretic2W
Creature - Human Warrior (C)
Lineage 1 (This creature enters the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter on it if it shares a creature type with a card in your graveyard.) “Unknown to Dromoka, a hidden grove of kin-trees remain, passing down the legacy of the Abzan.”
3/1
Growth [COST]([COST]: Put a +1/+1 counter on this creature. This costs 1 more to activate for each +1/+1 counter on it. Grow only as a sorcery.)
Creates a constant late game mana sink
Self restricts by getting linearly more expensive. Allowing it to be viable at common
Encourages ramp and breaks board stalls
Has medium tracking and low comprehension complexity.
Sorcery speed restriction reduces the tracking complexity of multiple activations.
Can be used with "when this grows" triggers at higher rarities.
Ancient Wurm5G
Creature - Wurm (C)
Growth 2G (2G: Put a +1/+1 counter on this creature. This costs 1 more to activate for each +1/+1 counter on it. Grow only as a sorcery.) Wurms never age or stop growing, either they eat or they die.
5/5
Used in:Overworld, Tesla Exploratory Design (Iterate) Tags: #Creature Keyword #+1/+1 Counter #Mana Sink
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Enchantment-Craft — As long as you control three or more enchantments, [EFFECT]
Enchantment version of metalcraft
More restrictive than metalcraft unless you have enchantment creatures in the enviroment
Can potentially be reduced to threshold of 2 rather than 3 due to the risks of auras and the uncommon-ness of global enchantments
Low comprehension and tracking complexity
Can be used on spells or permanents.
Winged ManifestU
Enchantment (C) Enchantment-Craft — Winged Manifest is a 2/2 Bird enchantment creature with flying as long as you control three or more enchantments. The best ideas take flight on their own.
Used in:Dreams of Lyanar (Dreamscape), Various Others (Wonderous, Perfect, Enchantcraft etc..) Tags: #Creature Keyword #Spell Keyword, #Ability Word, #Threshold Mechanic
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Premonition X -[COST] (Rather than cast this card from your hand, you may pay [COST] and put this card into your library face up just beneath the top seven cards. As it reaches the top, cast it without paying its mana cost.)
702.XXX. Premonition
702.XXXa Premonition is a keyword that represents a static ability that functions while the card with premonition is in a player's hand. "Premonition N -- [cost]" means "If you could begin to cast this card by putting it onto the stack from your hand and your library has at least N cards in it, you may pay [cost] and put it onto your library beneath the Nth card of your library. This card becomes face up in your library. This action doesn't use the stack."
702.XXXb Cards that are put into a player's library by the Premonition ability are put into the library face up. This is an exception to rule 401.2. Players should keep face up cards in an orientation separate from the orientation of cards in a library that are not face-up or otherwise easily visible to all players.
702.XXXc If a face up card in a library would become the top card of a player's library, that player casts it without paying its mana cost instead. If that player can't, he or she turns the face up card face down instead and it becomes the top card of his or her library. It is no longer face up.
702.XXXd If a one-shot effect causes a player to reveal, shuffle, or randomize the order of a card or cards in a library, at least one of which is face up, each such card is turned face down, and then the cards are revealed, shuffled, or randomized.
702.XXXe If a continuous effect causes a face up card to be revealed, that card is both revealed and is face up. If the card somehow ceases to be revealed, the card remains face up.
702.XXXf If a one-shot effect causes a card to be put into the library "face up beneath the top N cards of [a player's] library," and that player's library has N or more cards in it, that player puts that card onto his or her library using the process described in rule 702.PRMb.
Modified version of suspend that removed the upkeep triggers by modifying the rules to use face-up cards in the library.
More interactive than suspend due to card draw and milling effects
Shuffling the library will turn all face-up cards in a library face down.
High comprehension complexity and low-medium tracking complexity
Chaining multiple premonition spells together is extremely fun
Can be used on nearly any cardtype except planeswalker.
Can be combined with more expensive Premonition costs when combined with certain effects that work better when delayed
Temporal Journey4UU
Sorcery (M)
Take an additional turn after this one. Exile Temporal Journey.
Premonition 7-1U (Rather than cast this card from your hand, you may pay 1U and put this card into your library face up just beneath the top seven cards. As it reaches the top, cast it without paying its mana cost.)
Colonization — As long as you control three lands with different names, [EFFECT]
Depending on the environment and playtesting should maybe be adjusted to a threshold of 4 names.
Promotes both multicolor and nonbasic lands
Low tracking and comprehension complexity
Can be used on both many different card types
Flyrocopter Scout2U
Creature - Human Scout (C)
Flying
Colonization — Flyrocopter Scout gets +1/+1 as long as you control three lands with different names.
2/1
Used in:Kazundoo, Ankheret Tags: #Creature Keyword #Spell Keyword, #Ability Word, #Threshold Mechanic
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Eternal [COST](If you cast this spell for [COST], change its text by removing all instances of "until end of turn" and exile it engraved to its target.)
Used on instant/sorcery spells
Wording may need minor tweaks
Medium tracking and comprehension complexity
Can be tweaked to target players to allow effects such as Ego Erasure to be permanent
"influencing that creature" is like encoding for cipher, its just used as a memory aid.
Aeonic BindingW
Instant (C)
Until end of turn, prevent all damage target creature would deal.
Eternal 2W (If you cast this spell for 2W, change its text by removing all instances of "until end of turn" and exile it engraved to its target.) “May a thousand years of history protect us.”
Justice — At the beginning of your upkeep, if an opponent broke any laws since your last upkeep, [EFFECT]
Combines with effects such as "It is against the law for an opponent to [CONDITION]."
Being against the law doesn't mean you cant do it, just that it triggers an opponent's justice cards.
A single broken law will trigger all cards with justice. This creates a linear aspect to the mechanic where it gets better in multiples.
Playtesting has shown that wider and more proactive laws have better gameplay than narrow or reactive laws.
Medium/high tracking complexity and medium comprehension complexity. Depending on how different laws you have, especially at common.
Tends to make cards relatively wordy.
Very flavorful
Mindleak Agent1U
Creature - Human Wizard (C)
It is against the law for an opponent to cast no spells during his or her turn. Justice — At the beginning of your upkeep, if an opponent broke any laws since your last upkeep, that player puts the top three cards of his or her library into his or her graveyard.
1/3
Supplicate(Each creature you control which you put a -1/-1 counter on while casting this spell pays for 1 or one mana of that creature’s color.)
Convoke style mechanic for a -1/-1 counter environment. Only a single counter can be placed on each creature.
Developmentally dangerous due to using the same creature multiple times on the same time, playtesting may show that the ability to produce colorled mana is too powerful.
Low tracking complexity and medium comprehension complexity.
Legions of Norn3WW
Sorcery (C)
Supplicate (Each creature you control which you put a -1/-1 counter on while casting this spell pays for 1 or one mana of that creature’s color.)
Put three 1/1 white Cleric creature tokens onto the battlefield.
Canister put a colorless Canister artifact token onto the battlefield. It has "T, Sacrifice this artifact: Untap target permanent. Activate this ability only only during your turn".
Eldrazi spawn variant that can't attack/block but instead provides additional options other than just producing mana.
Your turn activation prevents on-board tricks that can create "feel bad" moments during combat.
Low tracking complexity and medium comprehension complexity.
Very wordy.
That it can ramp you can create potential color pie bends but also is often overlooked initially.
Flavored as Kaladesh AEther canisters but can be easily re-used in other settings under different names.
Developmentally dangerous if mixed with lands like Cabal Coffers or Karoos
Note the created artifact tokens have the artifact subtype Canister.
Power the Frontier2G
Sorcery (C)
Search your library for a basic land card, reveal it, put it onto the battlefield tapped, then shuffle your library. Then put a colorless Canister artifact token onto the battlefield with "T, Sacrifice this: Untap target permanent. Activate this ability only during your turn."
Used in:Tesla, Consul Duel Deck Tags: #Modular #Tokens #Creature Keyword #Spell Keyword
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Hostility — Whenever you cast a spell that targets one or more creatures you don’t control, [EFFECT]
Reversed style Heroic mechanic.
Promotes aggressive interactive decks.
Can be potentially restricted to a single target if developmentally difficult
Can be both built around or play standalone more than heroic.
Low tracking complexity and medium comprehension complexity.
Ragesword FlamekinR
Creature - Elemental Warrior (C) Hostility — Whenever you cast a spell that targets one or more creatures you don’t control, Ragesword Flamekin gets +2/+0 and gains haste until end of turn.
1/2
Used in: Tags: #Creature keyword #Ability Word #Modular #Linear
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Arm(Put a colorless Equipment artifact token named Weapon onto the battlefield with "Equip 2" and “Equipped creature gets +1/+1” attached to this/those creature(s).
Keyword action similar to regenerate in that it specifies a creature or creatures. Eg: Arm each creature you control.
Is best used in a limited environment that doesn't use either +1/+1 or -1/-1 counters to reduce board complexity.
2 equip cost is because playtests with 1 equip cost where found to be far too powerful at moving around a large number of Weapons.
Medium comprehension and tracking complexity.
Prepared Traveller1W
Creature - Human Soldier (C)
When Prepared Traveller enters the battlefield, arm it. (Put a colorless Equipment artifact token named Weapon onto the battlefield with "Equip 2" and “Equipped creature gets +1/+1” attached to this creature.) “These are unstable times. Best to be ready for anything.”
1/1
Corrupt(Whenever this deals damage to a creature, 1 of that damage is dealt in the form of a -1/-1 counter.)
Wither variant that allows for smaller numbers of -1/-1 counter to allow for pushed bodies and -1/-1 counter themes.
Worded this way to allow for lower board complexity.
Medium comprehension complexity and low tracking complexity
Phyrexian Forerunner1B
Creature - Horror (C)
Corrupt (Whenever this deals damage to a creature, 1 of that damage is dealt in the form of a -1/-1 counter.)
2/2
Used in: Tags: #-1/-1 Counters #Creature Keyword #Damage Modifier
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Foreshadow [COST] ([COST]: Play with this card revealed as long as it's in your hand. You can’t cast it this turn. Foreshadow only as a sorcery.)
To play a card revealed from your hand you can simply turn it facing towards your opponent.
The revealed card remains revealed until it changes zones.
Can create some fun bluffing and mana sink situations.
Medium comprehension and board complexity
Be careful of foreshadowed cards creating too many on-board tricks.
Can appear on instants/sorceries or creature ETB/cast triggers.
Charge into Legend1W
Sorcery (C)
Foreshadow 2W2W: Play with this card revealed as long as it's in your hand. You can’t cast it this turn. Foreshadow only as a sorcery.)
Creatures you control get +1/+1 until end of turn. Those creatures get +2/+2 until end of turn instead if Charge into Legend was foreshadowed.
Embolden — If you control a planeswalker or legendary permanent, [EFFECT]
Requires a Kamigawa or EDH focused environment or product.
Can be used as both a bonus for instants/sorceries, a triggered effect on a creature, or a conditional or kicker effect for an ability.
Low tracking and comprehension complexity.
Friend of the Gatewatch1G
Creature - Elf Druid (C) T: Add G to your mana pool. Embolden — T: Add three mana of any one color to your mana pool. Activate this ability only if you control a planeswalker or legendary permanent.
1/2
Used in: Tags: #Ability Word #Creature Keyword #Spell Keyword #Threshold Mechanic
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Revive [COST] ([COST], Exile this card from your graveyard: Put a token that’s a copy of it onto the battlefield. Revive only as a sorcery)
Unearth/flashback variant that creates a permanent creature copy.
Acts as a good mana sink like flashback for creatures.
Can create a large amount of board complexity as keeping track of which tokens are which can be tricky.
The exiled card can be placed under or on-top of the token, but you must remember no to put it back into the graveayard.
High tracking complexity and low comprehension complexity.
Can have silly interactions with Populate, bounce and other effects that care about tokens.
Phantasmal Exemplar3UU
Creature - Illusion (C)
Whenever Phantasmal Exemplar becomes the target of a spell or ability, sacrifice it.
Revive 3UU(3UU, Exile this card from your graveyard: Put a token that’s a copy of it onto the battlefield. Revive only as a sorcery.)
5/6
Used in:Comic Book Set Tags: #Creature Keyword #Modular #Tokens #Graveyard Mechanic # Mana Sink
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Rebirth [COST]([COST]: Return this card from your graveyard to the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter on it. If this dies with a +1/+1 counter on it, exile it instead. Rebirth only as a sorcery.)
Combination of Unearth and Undying.
Far easier to track than Revive (see above), but does require that you don't often have to grant +1/+1 counter to your own cards like undying.
+1/+1 counters allow it to act as a very potent mana sink
Is a flexible mechanic that can be made to work with -1/-1 counters or a variable such as Rebirth N that adds N counters.
low comprehension and tracking complexity
Perverted Pegasus2B
Creature - Zombie Pegasus (C)
Flying, haste
Perverted Pegasus can’t block.
Rebirth 3B (3B: Return this card from your graveyard to the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter on it. If this dies with a +1/+1 counter on it, exile it instead. Rebirth only as a sorcery.)
2/1
Nightmare [COST](If you cast this spell for [COST], it isn’t a creature until you embody it.)
Always appears on enchantment creatures
Combined with a conditional effect that embodies the card eg: "Whenever a creature your control becomes blocked, embody CARDNAME."
Should use a very restricted list of simple conditions at common to reduce board complexity.
Can have a passive or triggered effects that works when not a creature such as "Other creatures you control get +1/+0."
Can have at higher rarities abilities that feed into its embody condition.
Medium comprehension and medium -> high tracking complexity depending on the conditions used.
Nyxstorm Elemental4U
Enchantment Creature - Elemental (C)
Nightmare 2U (If you cast this spell for 2U, it isn’t a creature until you embody it.)
Flying
At the beginning your end step if you haven’t cast a spell this turn, embody Nyxstorm Elemental.
3/3
Used in:Dreams of Lyanar Tags: #Creature Keyword #Alternate Cost
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Revolution(T, Tap two untapped creatures you control: Transform all creatures with revolution you control. Revolt only as a sorcery.)
DFC based mechanic combined with "Creatures you control with revolution enter the battlefield transformed." on the backside
Creates great flavor of the revolution continuing until all revolutionaries are killed.
At common a +1/+1 and keyword or +2/+2 bonus is a good baseline
Can have "when transformed or ETBs" triggers or other more complex effects at higher rarities
The mechanic has been heavily playtested.
Creates both a linear "build around" strategy but the mechanic and each card still work standalone
Medium tracking and comprehension complexity
Chain-Bound Ogre
Creature — Ogre (C)
Revolution ( :symtap:, Tap two untapped creatures you control: Transform all permanents with revolution you control. Revolt only as a sorcery.)
3/3
---Flip--- Chain-Whip Ogre
Creatures you control with revolution enter the battlefield transformed.
5/5
Used in:Tesla Tags: #Linear #Modular #Creature Keyword #DFC
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Weaken N (Choose a creature with the greatest toughness among creatures you don’t control. Put N -1/-1 counter(s) on that creature.)
Reversed Bolster using-1/-1 counters to drag down the largest creature
Works well with other -1/-1 mechanics and "-1/-1 counters matters themes"
Low tracking and comprehension complexity
Grixis Sentry1B
Creature - Zombie Scout (C)
When Grixis Sentry enters the battlefield, weaken 1. (Choose a creature with the greatest toughness among creatures you don’t control. Put a -1/-1 counter on that creature.) “Death waits, death watches, secure in its own inevitability.”
—Jharic, Disciple of Grixis
1/3
[Type] charged(You may tap an untapped [Type] you control as you cast this spell.)
Minor kicker variant that uses tribal creatures as the kicker to try to create the feeling of Tribal spells.
Potentially developmentally dangerous with changelings etc
Potentially too broad as a mechanic and should be narrowed to a specific tribe.
Low tracking and comprehension complexity
Pulverizing EarthR
Instant (C)
Elemental charged (You may tap an untapped Elemental you control as you cast this spell.)
Pulverizing Earth deals 2 damage to target creature or player. If it was charged it deals 3 damage to that creature or player instead. “Earthquake” has a bit of a different meaning on Kaltei.
Used in: Tags: #Kicker #Modular #Linear #Tribal #Spell Keyword
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Charge attack(T: At the beginning of your next upkeep, this creature gets +2/+2 until end of turn. Charge only as a sorcery.)
Potential board stall breaker in a similar style to Outlast
Can be flavored either as Cavalry physical charge or a power charge similar to Dragon Ball Z
Can be combined with additional effects or keywords when charged.
Has potential variants as an ability word or with Charge N where it gets +N/+N
Medium tracking and low comprehension complexity.
Coiling Wurm5G
Creature - Wurm (C)
Charge attack (T: At the beginning of your next upkeep, this creature gets +2/+2 until end of turn. Charge only as a sorcery.)
Whenever Coiling Wurm attacks, if its charged, it gains trample until end of turn.
5/5
Used in: Tags: #Modular #Creature Keyword
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Wealthy — As long as CARDNAME is enchanted or equipped, [EFFECT]
Ability word that cares if the create is enchanted or equipped. Flavored as high status or wealth.
Requires a specialized enviroment to support it that has a mix of both an enchantment and equipment subtheme.
Low tracking and comprehension complexity
Hightower Noble2W
Creature - Human Citizen (C) Wealthy — As long as Hightower Noble is enchanted or equipped, it has first strike.
3/1
Used in:20min Booster Challenge Tags: #Ability Word #Creature Keyword
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Overwhelm — Whenever CARDNAME attacks and any of your attacking creatures aren’t blocked, [EFFECT]
Ability word that rewards you for attacking unblocked with anything else.
Works best on creatures without evasion to create interaction.
Be really careful of how this ability "Snowballs" becoming continuously more powerful for each successful trigger.
Requires an environment where evasion isn't super powerful to make triggering the bonuses not too easy.
Low tracking and medium comprehension complexity.
Village Raider2R
Creature - Human Warrior (C) Overwhelm — Whenever Village Raider attacks and any of your attacking creatures aren’t blocked, you may discard a card. If you do, draw a card.
2/2
Used in:Great Designer Search 2 (Breakout) Tags: #Ability Word, #Creature Keyword #Modular
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Retort [COST] You may cast this spell for its retort cost if a creature is attacking you.)
Cost reduction mechanic designed to go on instants. Allowing you to turn them into combat tricks more easily.
Can staunch aggression thus you want to be sure that is healthy for the format this is in.
Low tracking and comprehension complexity
Mana Staunch2U
Instant (C)
Retort U (You may cast this spell for its retort cost if a creature is attacking you.)
Counter target spell unless its controller pays 3.
Used in:Overworld (Riposte) Tags: #Spell Keyword #Modular #Alt Cost
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Virtuoso — Whenever you cast a multicolored spell, [EFFECT]
Ability word of the Multicolor themes most seen in RTR
Works best in a set with multicolor or 5 color themes, yet be careful of your multicolor as-fan
Can appear on any permanent.
Low comprehension and tracking complexity
Flamespeak Bard2R
Creature - Human Rogue (C) Virtuoso — Whenever you cast a multicolored spell, Flamespeak Bard deals 1 damage to target player.
3/2
Used in: AEnyr Tags: #Ability Word, #Creature Keyword #Linear
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Trance — [EFFECT] for each tapped creature you control.
Encourages aggression and token strategies
Can appear on both permanents or instants/sorceries
Low comprehension and medium tracking complexity
Sleepless Stupor1B
Enchantment - Aura (C)
Enchant creature
Trance — Enchanted creature gets -1/-1 for each tapped creature you control. The worst dreams are the ones you know are far too real.
Used in:Dreamscape Tags: #Ability Word, #Modular
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Mindtouch(Damage dealt by this creature also causes an opponent to put that many cards from his or her library into his or her graveyard)
Causes milling when blocked and blocking
The milled player doesn't have to be the damaged player or the owner of the damaged creature. This is mainly due to bad wording and could be modified.
Medium Comprehension complexity and low tracking complexity
Thought-Eater Neonate2B
Creature - Vampire Rogue (C)
Mindtouch (Damage dealt by this creature also causes an opponent to put that many cards from his or her library into his or her graveyard)
3/2
Used in: Tags: #Creature Keyword, #Modular
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Congregate(Whenever another creature enters the battlefield under you control, you may pay . If you do, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature.)
A potential Selesnya mechanic for a Ravnica set.
Uses extort style wording and can't work on itself.
Requires testing for power level concerns in multiples or with tokens.
Low Comprehension complexity and Medium tracking complexity.
Animated Temple4G
Creature - Plant Elemental (C)
Trample
Congregate (Whenever another creature enters the battlefield under you control, you may pay . If you do, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature.)
3/5
Used in: Tags: #Modular, #+1/+1 Counter Mechanic
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Foreboding(The next time a creature enters the battlefield under you control, exile this card from your graveyard. Put a +1/+1 counter on that creature.)
Could be used on any permanent but works best on instant/sorcery cards due to naturally going to the graveyard and better fitting the flavor.
Creates great tension in making the next creature cast larger.
Low Comprehension complexity and medium tracking complexity.
Ominious Mist1G
Instant (C)
Prevent all combat damage that would be dealt this turn.
Foreboding (The next time a creature enters the battlefield under you control, exile this card from your graveyard. Put a +1/+1 counter on that creature.)
Used in: Tags: #Modular, #+1/+1 Counter Mechanic, #Spell Mechanic
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Manipulate(Move a counter from target permanent to another target permanent of the same type)
Potentially a phyrexian or simic mechanic. Works with both -1/-1 and +1/+1 counters.
The same type is different to sharing a type, this means you can't offload -1/-1 counters on an artifact creature to a regular artifact
Be careful with instant speed activated abilities etc that may make combat math very difficult.
Low Comprehension complexity and Low Tracking Complexity
Experimental Adjustment1U
Instant (C)
Tap or untap target permanent.
Manipulate (Move a counter from target permanent to another target permanent of the same type)
Manalink(Damage dealt by this creature also adds that much C to your mana pool. That mana doesn’t empty from your mana pool until end of turn.)
Requires an enviroment that can make good use of lots of colorless manabut also not break with all the extra mana
Small design space
Works via any damage from the creature, meaning extra mana on the opponent's turn if blocking
Medium Comprehension complexity and Medium Tracking Complexity
Leyline Ritualist2B
Creature — Human Shaman (C)
Deathtouch
Manalink (Damage dealt by this creature also adds that much C to your mana pool. That mana doesn’t empty from your mana pool until end of turn.)
2/1
Used in:Raksu Unchained Tags: #Creature Keyword, #Modular
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Convoke Type bonus If CARDNAME was convoked by a CREATURE TYPE
Expansion of the convoke keyword, adding a tribal element caring about what is helping convoke the card
Can be expanded to care about color, power or whatever other elements the set requires
Medium Comprehension complexity and Low Tracking Complexity
Study the Tomes 3U
Instant (C)
Convoke (Your creatures can help cast this spell. Each creature you tap while casting this spell pays for 1 or one mana of that creature’s color.)
Draw two cards, then discard a card. If Study the Tomes was convoked by a Wizard, draw three cards, then discard a card instead.
Used in: Tags: #Modular #Tribal
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Jinx [COST]([COST]: Exile this card from your graveyard jinxing target creature you don’t control. Jinx only as a sorcery.)
Graveyard mechanic that allows you to reuse your creatures from the graveyard in a similar manner to an aura
Exiles attached to the creature to help tracking
Can give either positive or negative effects and easy to scale the effects at higher rarities
Medium Comprehension complexity and Medium Tracking Complexity
Witch Doctor1B
Creature — Human Shaman (C)
Jinx B (B: Exile this card from your graveyard jinxing target creature you don’t control. Jinx only as a sorcery.)
When Witch Doctor or jinxed creature dies, target player loses 1 life and you gain 1 life.
2/1
Used in:Kazundoo Tags: #Creature Keyword, #Spell Keyword, #Alt Cost, #Graveyard Mechanic
----------------------------
More to come.....
Crew
Vessel
Quest hub
Connection
Gold counters
Auramorph
Worship ( bolster like )
Worship (complex)
Consign
Access the Machine
Ruincast
Linger
Temptation
Convoke (type bonus)
Artifactfall
Artifact exploit
Cleave (creature trample)
Parry (blocking trample)
Mechs charged
Combine
Transform flashback
Underdog ( cmc 2 or less)
Blood gift
Epitaph
Ensoul (valla)
Ancestry (valla)
Prosperity
Prosper (other creaturefall)
Chain/showdown
Vanguard (blocked first)
Duel (bonus if opponent has cast a spell this turn)
Reshape
Temptation
Resonance
Imaginarium (Chromatic)
ok I've been given permission to rework this thread:
I'll be going through the current list, removing a large number of them and then adding several dozen more.
My plan is to have notes on each mechanic with an example card, if the mechanic has any complexity issues and what context it may require.
For mechanics that have been playtested I will add relevant notes as well
I will also link to any sets the mechanics have been used in if possible (for some heavily used mechanics this will be difficult.)
Eg: Dreamwalk(This creature can't be blocked by untapped creatures. Tapped creatures can block it.)
702.XXa Dreamwalk is an evasion ability that modifies the rules for the declare blockers step. (See rule 509, "Declare Blockers Step.")
702.XXb A creature with dreamwalk can't be blocked by untapped creatures. Instead, the defending player can choose tapped creatures that he or she controls to block an attacking creature with dreamwalk.
702.XXc Dreamwalk does not allow tapped creatures to block creatures without dreamwalk.
702.XXd Multiple instances of dreamwalk on the same creature are redundant.
- Note that the CR entry section is optional
Encourages an aggressive format
Has very low comprehension complexity
Has higher board and tracking complexity than you would initially guess
Has good flavor for Nightmares or Dreamwalking wizards
Greatly increases the complexity of instant speed T abilities
Good at warping a player's evaluation of previous cards and mechanics
Dreamscape Purifier3WW
Creature - Human Knight (C)
Dreamwalk (This creature can’t be blocked by untapped creatures. Tapped creatures can block it.)
Vigilance “Reality must be protected.”
2/5
I will still take suggestions for new mechanics etc but they will all be curated to a certain extent to reduce repetition.
Now my question is that should mechanics with huge problems be allowed? Should these be kept in a separate section or just not added?
EDIT: added some notes about which sections are optional etc
Question to whoever runs this thing: Can I use the mechanics from this encyclopedia if I ask pretty please?
The keywords here don't belong to anyone, the creation of a keyword is only a tiny part of actually implementing it successfully into a set.
So go ahead and use them. Credit them if the idea feels particularly original. Go ahead and make some amazing custom magic cards. Thats what this list is here for.
The uses for the effect isn't narrow unlike some of the other mechanics but the number of designs you can create in a set certainly is. It has power level concerns and everything turning into Golbin Heelcutters won't make for a good enviroment.
Your right that was a typo on my end, was meant to be in the "too narrow" category.
Totally agree.
Neither do I as I mentioned other than requiring a sightly niche environment. Which is fine but worth noting.
Of the mechanics I'll probably end up adding the "token matters" ability and the modified flanking.
Are you designing commons? Check out my primer on NWO.
Interested in making a custom set? Check out my Set skeleton and archetype primer.
I also write articles about getting started with custom card creation.
Go and PLAYTEST your designs, you will learn more in a single playtests than a dozen discussions.
My custom sets:
Dreamscape
Coins of Mercalis [COMPLETE]
Exodus of Zendikar - ON HOLD
Tactician and Infiltrate are too broad, it would be like keywording "Enter the battlefield." , not very useful.
The "Token Matters" is a niche possibility ifor a mechanic in the right type of set.
The "fixed" Flanking is also interesting enough if I can make the wording clearer.
I suggest giving a listen to our "What makes a good mechanic" podcast [pt1] [pt2]
Thanks for the suggestions
Are you designing commons? Check out my primer on NWO.
Interested in making a custom set? Check out my Set skeleton and archetype primer.
I also write articles about getting started with custom card creation.
Go and PLAYTEST your designs, you will learn more in a single playtests than a dozen discussions.
My custom sets:
Dreamscape
Coins of Mercalis [COMPLETE]
Exodus of Zendikar - ON HOLD
Thanks, changing.
Are you designing commons? Check out my primer on NWO.
Interested in making a custom set? Check out my Set skeleton and archetype primer.
I also write articles about getting started with custom card creation.
Go and PLAYTEST your designs, you will learn more in a single playtests than a dozen discussions.
My custom sets:
Dreamscape
Coins of Mercalis [COMPLETE]
Exodus of Zendikar - ON HOLD
Hopefully I should have a chance to be more active as my paid work draws to a close.
Are you designing commons? Check out my primer on NWO.
Interested in making a custom set? Check out my Set skeleton and archetype primer.
I also write articles about getting started with custom card creation.
Go and PLAYTEST your designs, you will learn more in a single playtests than a dozen discussions.
My custom sets:
Dreamscape
Coins of Mercalis [COMPLETE]
Exodus of Zendikar - ON HOLD
Are you designing commons? Check out my primer on NWO.
Interested in making a custom set? Check out my Set skeleton and archetype primer.
I also write articles about getting started with custom card creation.
Go and PLAYTEST your designs, you will learn more in a single playtests than a dozen discussions.
My custom sets:
Dreamscape
Coins of Mercalis [COMPLETE]
Exodus of Zendikar - ON HOLD
Note they are on the TO DO list.
Though I'd love to hear any design restrictions or playtest feedback about any mechanic that anyone has experience with. As that makes it more likely to make the new curated list.
Are you designing commons? Check out my primer on NWO.
Interested in making a custom set? Check out my Set skeleton and archetype primer.
I also write articles about getting started with custom card creation.
Go and PLAYTEST your designs, you will learn more in a single playtests than a dozen discussions.
My custom sets:
Dreamscape
Coins of Mercalis [COMPLETE]
Exodus of Zendikar - ON HOLD
No problem, I'll say it was used in Suvnica Early Design. Making it clearer.
Are you designing commons? Check out my primer on NWO.
Interested in making a custom set? Check out my Set skeleton and archetype primer.
I also write articles about getting started with custom card creation.
Go and PLAYTEST your designs, you will learn more in a single playtests than a dozen discussions.
My custom sets:
Dreamscape
Coins of Mercalis [COMPLETE]
Exodus of Zendikar - ON HOLD
Would you like me to remove it from the mechanics credits? Its simply that I wasn't able to find a previous example of that mechanic and I'm pretty sure I suggested Justice for Tesla based on your version.
Are you designing commons? Check out my primer on NWO.
Interested in making a custom set? Check out my Set skeleton and archetype primer.
I also write articles about getting started with custom card creation.
Go and PLAYTEST your designs, you will learn more in a single playtests than a dozen discussions.
My custom sets:
Dreamscape
Coins of Mercalis [COMPLETE]
Exodus of Zendikar - ON HOLD
Thus I'll be posting early iterations onto the end of this thread and when I have reached a satisfactory number of mechanics I'll start a new thread that will end up replacing this one.
Note that the reboot of the custom mechanic encyclopedia is going to be a curated list, just suggesting a mechanic isn't enough to get it added.
I will be happy to provide feedback on all mechanics suggested, including improvements that could be made to have it included.
Once a mechanic is chosen to be included I will create a common example card and attempt to find any previous uses of that mechanic in custom cards projects.
Mechanic Name (Reminder Text)
Tags:
----------------------------
----------------------------
The Custom Mechanic Encyclopedia is a curated resource for custom card creators, containing a database of custom keywords, ability words and keyword actions.
----------------------------
Dreamwalk (This creature can't be blocked by untapped creatures. Tapped creatures can block it.)
702.XXb A creature with dreamwalk can't be blocked by untapped creatures. Instead, the defending player can choose tapped creatures that he or she controls to block an attacking creature with dreamwalk.
702.XXc Dreamwalk does not allow tapped creatures to block creatures without dreamwalk.
702.XXd Multiple instances of dreamwalk on the same creature are redundant.
Creature - Human Knight (C)
Dreamwalk (This creature can’t be blocked by untapped creatures. Tapped creatures can block it.)
Vigilance
“Reality must be protected.”
2/5
Tags: #Creature keyword #Evasion
----------------------------
Lineage X (This creature enters the battlefield with X +1/+1 counters on it if it shares a creature type with a card in your graveyard.)
Creature - Human Warrior (C)
Lineage 1 (This creature enters the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter on it if it shares a creature type with a card in your graveyard.)
“Unknown to Dromoka, a hidden grove of kin-trees remain, passing down the legacy of the Abzan.”
3/1
Tags: #Creature Keyword #Graveyard #Tribal #Modular
----------------------------
Growth [COST] ([COST]: Put a +1/+1 counter on this creature. This costs 1 more to activate for each +1/+1 counter on it. Grow only as a sorcery.)
Creature - Wurm (C)
Growth 2G (2G: Put a +1/+1 counter on this creature. This costs 1 more to activate for each +1/+1 counter on it. Grow only as a sorcery.)
Wurms never age or stop growing, either they eat or they die.
5/5
Tags: #Creature Keyword #+1/+1 Counter #Mana Sink
----------------------------
Enchantment-Craft — As long as you control three or more enchantments, [EFFECT]
Enchantment (C)
Enchantment-Craft — Winged Manifest is a 2/2 Bird enchantment creature with flying as long as you control three or more enchantments.
The best ideas take flight on their own.
Tags: #Creature Keyword #Spell Keyword, #Ability Word, #Threshold Mechanic
----------------------------
Premonition X -[COST] (Rather than cast this card from your hand, you may pay [COST] and put this card into your library face up just beneath the top seven cards. As it reaches the top, cast it without paying its mana cost.)
b.Sorcery (M)
Take an additional turn after this one. Exile Temporal Journey.
Premonition 7-1U (Rather than cast this card from your hand, you may pay 1U and put this card into your library face up just beneath the top seven cards. As it reaches the top, cast it without paying its mana cost.)
Tags: #Alternate Cost #Creature Keyword #Spell Keyword
----------------------------
Colonization — As long as you control three lands with different names, [EFFECT]
Creature - Human Scout (C)
Flying
Colonization — Flyrocopter Scout gets +1/+1 as long as you control three lands with different names.
2/1
Tags: #Creature Keyword #Spell Keyword, #Ability Word, #Threshold Mechanic
----------------------------
Eternal [COST] (If you cast this spell for [COST], change its text by removing all instances of "until end of turn" and exile it engraved to its target.)
Instant (C)
Until end of turn, prevent all damage target creature would deal.
Eternal 2W (If you cast this spell for 2W, change its text by removing all instances of "until end of turn" and exile it engraved to its target.)
“May a thousand years of history protect us.”
Tags: #Spell Keyword #Alternate Cost #Mana Sink
----------------------------
Justice — At the beginning of your upkeep, if an opponent broke any laws since your last upkeep, [EFFECT]
Creature - Human Wizard (C)
It is against the law for an opponent to cast no spells during his or her turn.
Justice — At the beginning of your upkeep, if an opponent broke any laws since your last upkeep, that player puts the top three cards of his or her library into his or her graveyard.
1/3
Tags: #Creature Keyword, #Ability Word, #Linear
----------------------------
Supplicate (Each creature you control which you put a -1/-1 counter on while casting this spell pays for 1 or one mana of that creature’s color.)
Sorcery (C)
Supplicate (Each creature you control which you put a -1/-1 counter on while casting this spell pays for 1 or one mana of that creature’s color.)
Put three 1/1 white Cleric creature tokens onto the battlefield.
Tags: #Cost Reduction, #Creature Keyword, #Spell Keyword, #-1/-1 Counter #Modular
----------------------------
Canister put a colorless Canister artifact token onto the battlefield. It has "T, Sacrifice this artifact: Untap target permanent. Activate this ability only only during your turn".
.Sorcery (C)
Search your library for a basic land card, reveal it, put it onto the battlefield tapped, then shuffle your library. Then put a colorless Canister artifact token onto the battlefield with "T, Sacrifice this: Untap target permanent. Activate this ability only during your turn."
Tags: #Modular #Tokens #Creature Keyword #Spell Keyword
----------------------------
Hostility — Whenever you cast a spell that targets one or more creatures you don’t control, [EFFECT]
Creature - Elemental Warrior (C)
Hostility — Whenever you cast a spell that targets one or more creatures you don’t control, Ragesword Flamekin gets +2/+0 and gains haste until end of turn.
1/2
Tags: #Creature keyword #Ability Word #Modular #Linear
----------------------------
Arm (Put a colorless Equipment artifact token named Weapon onto the battlefield with "Equip 2" and “Equipped creature gets +1/+1” attached to this/those creature(s).
Creature - Human Soldier (C)
When Prepared Traveller enters the battlefield, arm it. (Put a colorless Equipment artifact token named Weapon onto the battlefield with "Equip 2" and “Equipped creature gets +1/+1” attached to this creature.)
“These are unstable times. Best to be ready for anything.”
1/1
Tags: #Action Keyword #Modular #Creature Keyword #Spell Keyword
----------------------------
Corrupt (Whenever this deals damage to a creature, 1 of that damage is dealt in the form of a -1/-1 counter.)
Creature - Horror (C)
Corrupt (Whenever this deals damage to a creature, 1 of that damage is dealt in the form of a -1/-1 counter.)
2/2
Tags: #-1/-1 Counters #Creature Keyword #Damage Modifier
----------------------------
Foreshadow [COST] ([COST]: Play with this card revealed as long as it's in your hand. You can’t cast it this turn. Foreshadow only as a sorcery.)
Sorcery (C)
Foreshadow 2W 2W: Play with this card revealed as long as it's in your hand. You can’t cast it this turn. Foreshadow only as a sorcery.)
Creatures you control get +1/+1 until end of turn. Those creatures get +2/+2 until end of turn instead if Charge into Legend was foreshadowed.
Tags: #Creature Keyword #Spell Keyword #Modular #Mana Sink
----------------------------
Embolden — If you control a planeswalker or legendary permanent, [EFFECT]
Creature - Elf Druid (C)
T: Add G to your mana pool.
Embolden — T: Add three mana of any one color to your mana pool. Activate this ability only if you control a planeswalker or legendary permanent.
1/2
Tags: #Ability Word #Creature Keyword #Spell Keyword #Threshold Mechanic
----------------------------
Revive [COST] ([COST], Exile this card from your graveyard: Put a token that’s a copy of it onto the battlefield. Revive only as a sorcery)
Creature - Illusion (C)
Whenever Phantasmal Exemplar becomes the target of a spell or ability, sacrifice it.
Revive 3UU (3UU, Exile this card from your graveyard: Put a token that’s a copy of it onto the battlefield. Revive only as a sorcery.)
5/6
Tags: #Creature Keyword #Modular #Tokens #Graveyard Mechanic # Mana Sink
----------------------------
Rebirth [COST]([COST]: Return this card from your graveyard to the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter on it. If this dies with a +1/+1 counter on it, exile it instead. Rebirth only as a sorcery.)
Creature - Zombie Pegasus (C)
Flying, haste
Perverted Pegasus can’t block.
Rebirth 3B (3B: Return this card from your graveyard to the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter on it. If this dies with a +1/+1 counter on it, exile it instead. Rebirth only as a sorcery.)
2/1
Tags: #Creature Keyword #Modular #Graveyard Mechanic #Mana Sink #+1/+1 Counters
----------------------------
Nightmare [COST](If you cast this spell for [COST], it isn’t a creature until you embody it.)
Enchantment Creature - Elemental (C)
Nightmare 2U (If you cast this spell for 2U, it isn’t a creature until you embody it.)
Flying
At the beginning your end step if you haven’t cast a spell this turn, embody Nyxstorm Elemental.
3/3
Tags: #Creature Keyword #Alternate Cost
----------------------------
Revolution (T, Tap two untapped creatures you control: Transform all creatures with revolution you control. Revolt only as a sorcery.)
Creature — Ogre (C)
Revolution ( :symtap:, Tap two untapped creatures you control: Transform all permanents with revolution you control. Revolt only as a sorcery.)
3/3
---Flip---
Chain-Whip Ogre
Creatures you control with revolution enter the battlefield transformed.
5/5
Tags: #Linear #Modular #Creature Keyword #DFC
----------------------------
Weaken N (Choose a creature with the greatest toughness among creatures you don’t control. Put N -1/-1 counter(s) on that creature.)
Creature - Zombie Scout (C)
When Grixis Sentry enters the battlefield, weaken 1. (Choose a creature with the greatest toughness among creatures you don’t control. Put a -1/-1 counter on that creature.)
“Death waits, death watches, secure in its own inevitability.”
—Jharic, Disciple of Grixis
1/3
Tags: #-1/-1 Counters #Modular #Action Keyword #Spell Keyword #Creature Mechanic
----------------------------
[Type] charged (You may tap an untapped [Type] you control as you cast this spell.)
Instant (C)
Elemental charged (You may tap an untapped Elemental you control as you cast this spell.)
Pulverizing Earth deals 2 damage to target creature or player. If it was charged it deals 3 damage to that creature or player instead.
“Earthquake” has a bit of a different meaning on Kaltei.
Tags: #Kicker #Modular #Linear #Tribal #Spell Keyword
----------------------------
Charge attack (T: At the beginning of your next upkeep, this creature gets +2/+2 until end of turn. Charge only as a sorcery.)
Creature - Wurm (C)
Charge attack (T: At the beginning of your next upkeep, this creature gets +2/+2 until end of turn. Charge only as a sorcery.)
Whenever Coiling Wurm attacks, if its charged, it gains trample until end of turn.
5/5
Tags: #Modular #Creature Keyword
----------------------------
Wealthy — As long as CARDNAME is enchanted or equipped, [EFFECT]
Creature - Human Citizen (C)
Wealthy — As long as Hightower Noble is enchanted or equipped, it has first strike.
3/1
Tags: #Ability Word #Creature Keyword
----------------------------
Overwhelm — Whenever CARDNAME attacks and any of your attacking creatures aren’t blocked, [EFFECT]
Creature - Human Warrior (C)
Overwhelm — Whenever Village Raider attacks and any of your attacking creatures aren’t blocked, you may discard a card. If you do, draw a card.
2/2
Tags: #Ability Word, #Creature Keyword #Modular
----------------------------
Retort [COST] You may cast this spell for its retort cost if a creature is attacking you.)
Instant (C)
Retort U (You may cast this spell for its retort cost if a creature is attacking you.)
Counter target spell unless its controller pays 3.
Tags: #Spell Keyword #Modular #Alt Cost
----------------------------
Virtuoso — Whenever you cast a multicolored spell, [EFFECT]
Creature - Human Rogue (C)
Virtuoso — Whenever you cast a multicolored spell, Flamespeak Bard deals 1 damage to target player.
3/2
Tags: #Ability Word, #Creature Keyword #Linear
----------------------------
Trance — [EFFECT] for each tapped creature you control.
Sleepless Stupor 1B
Enchantment - Aura (C)
Enchant creature
Trance — Enchanted creature gets -1/-1 for each tapped creature you control.
The worst dreams are the ones you know are far too real.
Tags: #Ability Word, #Modular
----------------------------
Mindtouch (Damage dealt by this creature also causes an opponent to put that many cards from his or her library into his or her graveyard)
Creature - Vampire Rogue (C)
Mindtouch (Damage dealt by this creature also causes an opponent to put that many cards from his or her library into his or her graveyard)
3/2
Tags: #Creature Keyword, #Modular
----------------------------
Congregate (Whenever another creature enters the battlefield under you control, you may pay
Creature - Plant Elemental (C)
Trample
Congregate (Whenever another creature enters the battlefield under you control, you may pay
3/5
Tags: #Modular, #+1/+1 Counter Mechanic
----------------------------
Foreboding (The next time a creature enters the battlefield under you control, exile this card from your graveyard. Put a +1/+1 counter on that creature.)
Instant (C)
Prevent all combat damage that would be dealt this turn.
Foreboding (The next time a creature enters the battlefield under you control, exile this card from your graveyard. Put a +1/+1 counter on that creature.)
Tags: #Modular, #+1/+1 Counter Mechanic, #Spell Mechanic
----------------------------
Manipulate (Move a counter from target permanent to another target permanent of the same type)
Instant (C)
Tap or untap target permanent.
Manipulate (Move a counter from target permanent to another target permanent of the same type)
Tags: #Modular #Action Keyword
----------------------------
Manalink (Damage dealt by this creature also adds that much C to your mana pool. That mana doesn’t empty from your mana pool until end of turn.)
Leyline Ritualist 2B
Creature — Human Shaman (C)
Deathtouch
Manalink (Damage dealt by this creature also adds that much C to your mana pool. That mana doesn’t empty from your mana pool until end of turn.)
2/1
Tags: #Creature Keyword, #Modular
----------------------------
Convoke Type bonus If CARDNAME was convoked by a CREATURE TYPE
Study the Tomes 3U
Instant (C)
Convoke (Your creatures can help cast this spell. Each creature you tap while casting this spell pays for 1 or one mana of that creature’s color.)
Draw two cards, then discard a card. If Study the Tomes was convoked by a Wizard, draw three cards, then discard a card instead.
Tags: #Modular #Tribal
----------------------------
Jinx [COST]([COST]: Exile this card from your graveyard jinxing target creature you don’t control. Jinx only as a sorcery.)
Witch Doctor 1B
Creature — Human Shaman (C)
Jinx B (B: Exile this card from your graveyard jinxing target creature you don’t control. Jinx only as a sorcery.)
When Witch Doctor or jinxed creature dies, target player loses 1 life and you gain 1 life.
2/1
Tags: #Creature Keyword, #Spell Keyword, #Alt Cost, #Graveyard Mechanic
----------------------------
More to come.....
Crew
Vessel
Quest hub
Connection
Gold counters
Auramorph
Worship ( bolster like )
Worship (complex)
Consign
Access the Machine
Ruincast
Linger
Temptation
Convoke (type bonus)
Artifactfall
Artifact exploit
Cleave (creature trample)
Parry (blocking trample)
Mechs charged
Combine
Transform flashback
Underdog ( cmc 2 or less)
Blood gift
Epitaph
Ensoul (valla)
Ancestry (valla)
Prosperity
Prosper (other creaturefall)
Chain/showdown
Vanguard (blocked first)
Duel (bonus if opponent has cast a spell this turn)
Reshape
Temptation
Resonance
Imaginarium (Chromatic)
Are you designing commons? Check out my primer on NWO.
Interested in making a custom set? Check out my Set skeleton and archetype primer.
I also write articles about getting started with custom card creation.
Go and PLAYTEST your designs, you will learn more in a single playtests than a dozen discussions.
My custom sets:
Dreamscape
Coins of Mercalis [COMPLETE]
Exodus of Zendikar - ON HOLD
I'll be going through the current list, removing a large number of them and then adding several dozen more.
My plan is to have notes on each mechanic with an example card, if the mechanic has any complexity issues and what context it may require.
For mechanics that have been playtested I will add relevant notes as well
I will also link to any sets the mechanics have been used in if possible (for some heavily used mechanics this will be difficult.)
Eg:
Dreamwalk (This creature can't be blocked by untapped creatures. Tapped creatures can block it.)
702.XXb A creature with dreamwalk can't be blocked by untapped creatures. Instead, the defending player can choose tapped creatures that he or she controls to block an attacking creature with dreamwalk.
702.XXc Dreamwalk does not allow tapped creatures to block creatures without dreamwalk.
702.XXd Multiple instances of dreamwalk on the same creature are redundant.
Creature - Human Knight (C)
Dreamwalk (This creature can’t be blocked by untapped creatures. Tapped creatures can block it.)
Vigilance
“Reality must be protected.”
2/5
Tags: #Creature keyword #Evasion
I will still take suggestions for new mechanics etc but they will all be curated to a certain extent to reduce repetition.
Now my question is that should mechanics with huge problems be allowed? Should these be kept in a separate section or just not added?
EDIT: added some notes about which sections are optional etc
Are you designing commons? Check out my primer on NWO.
Interested in making a custom set? Check out my Set skeleton and archetype primer.
I also write articles about getting started with custom card creation.
Go and PLAYTEST your designs, you will learn more in a single playtests than a dozen discussions.
My custom sets:
Dreamscape
Coins of Mercalis [COMPLETE]
Exodus of Zendikar - ON HOLD
Are you designing commons? Check out my primer on NWO.
Interested in making a custom set? Check out my Set skeleton and archetype primer.
I also write articles about getting started with custom card creation.
Go and PLAYTEST your designs, you will learn more in a single playtests than a dozen discussions.
My custom sets:
Dreamscape
Coins of Mercalis [COMPLETE]
Exodus of Zendikar - ON HOLD
The keywords here don't belong to anyone, the creation of a keyword is only a tiny part of actually implementing it successfully into a set.
So go ahead and use them. Credit them if the idea feels particularly original. Go ahead and make some amazing custom magic cards. Thats what this list is here for.
Are you designing commons? Check out my primer on NWO.
Interested in making a custom set? Check out my Set skeleton and archetype primer.
I also write articles about getting started with custom card creation.
Go and PLAYTEST your designs, you will learn more in a single playtests than a dozen discussions.
My custom sets:
Dreamscape
Coins of Mercalis [COMPLETE]
Exodus of Zendikar - ON HOLD