Four Color Commander Design Challenge PART ONE
Challenges and Articles forum
Posted on July 31, 2014, 9:16 p.m. by MagicalHacker
The Problem
Everyone knows that there exactly zero commanders you can cast with only four different colors (as long as you don't count Reaper King ), but what's stopping the design of four color commanders? Mark Rosewater did mention that four color cards are too difficult to design basically due to the fact that the card has to be defined by four of the colors but not the fifth, but what about bending the rules with this? Hybrid costs and mana symbols within text boxes let cards be representative of new things, especially four color cards.
The Challenge
Design a legendary creature with the following rules (or the submission will be invalid):
It must allow a four color deck to be built with it as the commander.
It cannot allow a five colored deck to be built with it as the commander.
It must have a use as the commander, even if a deck is built with it without using all four colors. (Oloro, Ageless Ascetic , Reaper King , Rhys the Redeemed , and Memnarch are good examples of how to do this.) It must be usable for more than just "for the colors". Above all, be creative and have fun with it!
It must represent an archetype or mechanic that is defined by those colors and those colors only. Trust me, there are plenty.
It must also have one or more unique abilities at the time of submission. (If all your creature does is sit there or tap for mana, that's not unique).
Only one card for each color combo from each user please.
The Theme
Design the card for a combo deck!
I don't necessarily mean an infinite combo, but any type of combo works! I want your card to beg to be in a gimmicky, synergistic combo deck rather than a fast aggro or control deck.
The Submission
Comment here with your card, and you're all set!
The Criteria
This card is not under-powered or too limited in scope.
This card is not over-powered or at risk of becoming banned.
This card is not complicated or confusing.
The Judges
I do not have my three judges yet, however, if you are interested in becoming a judge for this individual contest, comment here that you would like to help critique cards! (Obviously, a judge cannot have any submissions.) First come, first serve. The first three users to volunteer as judges will be the judges. If you miss your opportunity this time, there will be more chances in the future, I promise!
The Process
Our three judges will be given the cards as they would be printed, but without names or art (to make the contest fair). Also, no usernames will be given so that each judge can be unbiased in their rating. They will judge each card on a scale from zero to fifteen, based on a scale from zero to five for each of the criteria given above with any necessary comments. (Obviously, the lower the score, the lengthier the comment should be. Sometimes there are exceptions.)
The Deadlines
Card posting: August 7, 2014. 11:59 PM.
Card judging: August 14, 2014. 11:59 PM.
The Reward
I will personally +1, link in PART TWO of this challenge, and comment with my thoughts on the EDH/Commander deck of your choice.
The Future
If this challenge proves successful, and at least fifteen cards are submitted in total, I will be doing this again for aggro and control.
The Recommendation
Ask friends and other fellow planeswalkers about your card design! A fresh perspective helps a lot!
Best Of Luck, Everyone!
I believe 4 colors should not be what indicates the cards 'personality', but it should be the missing color. So a non-red creature would be very passive and detached, as red is the color of acting on impulses.
August 1, 2014 12:01 a.m.
Gadriel, the Traitor - 2WUBR
Flying, Deathtouch
XWUBR T: Draw X cards, or destroy X target creatures and lose X life.
6/6
August 1, 2014 12:11 a.m.
MagicalHacker says... #6
Scytec, yes, you can post just the text, just make sure you are clear if you need to unsubmit a card.
I'll also clarify this now and in future parts of this challenge.
You can just post text for the mana cost, types, subtypes, text, power, and toughness. I will be making the images for the judges to judge.
Also, your submission doesn't follow rule number 3 under "The Challenge". Take a quick read over that section again.
angrychains, that sounds great! You can be judge #1. Are you okay with what is outlined in the process? If you are, and if you can promise to be respectful of time invested in this challenge by everyone, then all you need to do is click unsubscribe at the bottom, and I'll msg you on your profile when I've got the cards for you to judge. :)
jonhydude, I agree. However, the difference between a card costing 1UBR and a card costing WUBR is that the first card is not white and the second one is white. If the second one is white, then it must reflect white as a reason why it's needed. Let me further elaborate.
There are many passive creatures detached creatures in mono blue, mono white, mono black, and mono green, because all of those don't have black. But additionally, they reflect the fact that they are not the other three colors too. A GWUB creature needs to be green, white, blue, black, AND not red. Being not red isn't defined enough to justify the fact that it costs all four other colors.
That said, that is purely my opinion, and ultimately, if you choose to take part in this challenge, you can design a GWUB card for this contest however you like, as long as it follows the rules and the theme.
August 1, 2014 12:19 a.m.
Out of curiosity how is it complicated?? The card is self explanatory. Do you mean the cards can have no other abilities other than the standard ones such as flying, lifelink, deathtouch and the like?
August 1, 2014 12:55 a.m.
I wouldn't mind judging this. I'm a sucker for a good combo card, and also a stickler for the color pie. I'd like to see what happens up in here. :)
August 1, 2014 1:14 a.m.
angrychains says... #9
@MagicalHacker im on daily so time is not a problem, and im exclusively an edh player so this is pretty great. unsubscribed right after this message
August 1, 2014 1:14 a.m.
I'll probably end up making one, as well, but the inevitable problem with a 4-color creature (or any card, really) is that you might as well just play the fifth color in your deck. Wizards and Mark Rosewater have repeatedly stated this the reason why they'll probably never make Legendary 4-color creatures. In a format like EDH, your land-base and card choices are already so deep that adding the fifth color would really only benefit you with the other ~20% of Magic cards.
August 1, 2014 1:19 a.m.
MagicalHacker says... #11
Scytec, those are the criteria for the judges to use in judging between the cards. I'm talking about rule 3 of 6 under section "The Challenge" which says this:
It must have a use as the commander, even if a deck is built with it without using all four colors. (Oloro, Ageless Ascetic , Reaper King , Rhys the Redeemed , and Memnarch are good examples of how to do this.) It must be usable for more than just "for the colors". Above all, be creative and have fun with it!
Besides that, I think that your design also doesn't follow rule number four because the design could be defined as mono black, since all of that can be black.
With a bit of tweaking I think you could have a nice submission.
erabel, great to hear! I just want to make sure that you are okay with the sections "The Criteria" and "The Process", and that you too can be respectful of any time invested, and it looks like we could have our judge number 2.
angrychains, sorry to link you back, but just wanted to make sure that you are okay with everything in "The Criteria" and "The Process". If you are, comment your thoughts and then unsubscribe again. Sorry and thank you!
zandl, you can make one for each color combo if you want, so you can submit up to five total cards! ;)
That's true. You get so many possibilities opened up when you add that fifth color or the third color more than when you add a fourth color. On top of that, four colors would actually have a worse mana base than a five color deck. Because of those reasons, I didn't want any of these creatures to "force" a player to build a four color deck, but just as the legendary creatures I mentioned in rule 3 of 6 under "The Challenge", give players the option of choosing three, two, or even a one color deck, consequently fixing the land base for the creature.
August 1, 2014 5:29 a.m.
TheFanatic says... #12
Korihana, The Unburnt1, 2/w, 2/u, 2/b, 2/gLegendary Creature - Human
Red spells cost 1 more to cast
Whenever you cast a white spell, you may gain 2 life.
Whenever you cast a blue spell, you may tap or untap target permanent.
Whenever you cast a black spell, you may pay 3 life and draw a card.
Whenever you cast a green spell, you may return target creature card from your graveyard to your hand.
4/4
August 1, 2014 9:30 a.m.
Everything is simple enough. We're gonna be given the cards blind, and give 'em a 0-5 in each of 3 categories: not OP, not UP, and not Chains of Mephistopheles . And yeah, card design takes work. Be respectful.
August 1, 2014 2:33 p.m.
angrychains says... #15
MagicalHackerFrom what I gather I will be judging the balance and clarity of a 4 color combo enabling general. If Im confused relink me here or on my wall. Unsubscribed
August 1, 2014 2:38 p.m.
MagicalHacker says... #16
erabel, yep! Thanks so much for being a judge! You can go ahead and hit the unsubscribe button, and I'll write on your profile when it's the Day of Judgment .
August 1, 2014 5:16 p.m.
MagicalHacker says... #17
TheFanatic, Scytec, and everyone else, I have to add a fourth criteria for judging, and I want everyone to be aware of that (because I can't edit posts, at least to my awareness).
The fourth criteria is this:
This card is designed for the archetype mentioned in the challenge (part one is combo).
Remember, you can submit up until 11:59 PM on August 7, 2014, and you can freely change/update your submissions.
August 1, 2014 5:24 p.m.
Tiddilywinkus says... #18
Captain Brineslaw, Tide's Vengeance
1RWUB - Legendary Creature - Ghost Pirate
Flying, First Strike p/T. 3/3
Whenever Captain Brineshlaw, Tide's Vengeance attacks you may exile target creature you control. If you do you deal X damage to target creature where X is that creature, s power. You gain life equal to damage dealt this way. Return exiled creature to the battlefield at the beginning of your next upkeep.
Colors: white and blue are for the blinking effect. White and black are both congruent with the lifetime, and red and black are known to do the ping damage.
Combo and synergy: ETB effects are a must with this commander, has awesom ssynergy with multiple turn effects or multiple combat phases. Could be used in combo, aggro, or control decks
Cons: has to attack to trigger putting itself in a vulnerable position as its toughness is only 3, creature comes back on your next upkeep as to not make overpowered
Pros: flying and first strike give it a bit of protection from getting stopped by weenie blockers. If need be you could remove first strike from the card to make less overpowered
Flavor text: These seas are mine and i shall see that none but I sail them.
August 2, 2014 1:13 p.m.
Adese, Life Force Manipulator
1WBUG
Legendary Creature - Mutant
WW, Tap - Gain two times X life, where X is the number of creatures target opponent controls. (X can't be more than seven)
GG, Pay three times X life, Tap - Add X mana to your mana pool of any one color.
UU, Pay three times X life, Tap - Counter target non-creature spell with converted mana cost X.
BB, Pay X life, Tap - Look at the top X cards of your library and take one of them into your hand.
WWBBUUGG - Choose one or more - Gain seven life, add two mana of any color to your mana pool, counter target non-creature spell, or look at the top five cards of your library and take one of them into your hand.
3/3
August 2, 2014 1:19 p.m.
MagicalHacker says... #20
Tiddilywinkus and Wic_Uber, before you can submit your designs, alter them to account for rule 3 (of the 6 total) under the section "The Criteria" which says this:
3.It must have a use as the commander, even if a deck is built with it without using all four colors. (Oloro, Ageless Ascetic , Reaper King , Rhys the Redeemed , and Memnarch are good examples of how to do this.) It must be usable for more than just "for the colors". Above all, be creative and have fun with it!
August 2, 2014 7:44 p.m.
SwiftDeath says... #22
MagicalHacker sorry to double post but I feel like I should link you so you can see this sooner but I am interested in being a Judge.
August 3, 2014 3:43 p.m.
MagicalHacker says... #24
SwiftDeath, if you can do these three things, you can be the third and final judge:
Look at all three criteria, and acknowledge the process that I have outlined. (I recently decided to add a fourth criteria basically rating the card on how combo-related it rather than aggro-related or control-related.
Understand that a lot of work is going into a lot of this challenge and be respectful of that in every way.
Comment that you understand all these things and then click the unsubscribe button in the comment box. (I'll notify you when it's time to judge.)
August 3, 2014 10:09 p.m.
SwiftDeath says... #25
MagicalHackerI have read the criteria and I do understand there is going to be a lot of work. I really enjoy making new cards so I will be doing my best to help in any way I can. Thank you for the opportunity and can't wait to see what the community will come up with.
August 3, 2014 10:31 p.m.
Valstrath, Brood Sire
4RBUG
Legendary Creature -Dragon
Flying , Trample, Haste
Dragons you control get +X/+X where X is the difference between your starting life total and your current life total.
RBUG, Pay X X life: Exile the top X cards of your library and put each dragon with converted mana cost X or less onto the battlefield.
5/5
August 6, 2014 6:12 p.m.
MagicalHacker says... #27
Arctic, before you can submit your designs, alter them to account for rule 3 (of the 6 total) under the section "The Criteria" which says this:
3.It must have a use as the commander, even if a deck is built with it without using all four colors. (Oloro, Ageless Ascetic , Reaper King , Rhys the Redeemed , and Memnarch are good examples of how to do this.) It must be usable for more than just "for the colors". Above all, be creative and have fun with it!
August 6, 2014 7:40 p.m.
I don't see how it wouldn't have a use as a commander. It would be in a more or less dragon tribal deck. It has a reason for you to want to cast it (buffing your dragons and providing a way to put more of them on the field) and it represents all of the 4 colors in some way. And its actually a very political card (sure you can give up most your life to throw a bunch of large probably hasted dragons out and pump them up big but your dead to something as simple as a Lightning Bolt if you do). Is there something I'm not seeing that makes it not fit criteria 3?
August 6, 2014 7:47 p.m.
Tiddilywinkus says... #29
I agree with Arctic im not seeing the problem with the some of the cards being posted and the ones you are telling us to relate to. How is a Dragon tribal deck, that is specificalloy build around working with dragons any different than Reaper King or Rhys the Redeemed . Arctic's card in particular is a great example card of a commander becuase there is no other card like that out there you would like to use as a commander if you were going to do a dragon tribal. Not only that but i know that i have used Oloro, Rhys, and Menarch in decks not as the commander but becausethey fit what my actual commander was doing. Rule three either isn't defined clearly enough or is to broad and self defeating in my opinion.
August 6, 2014 7:54 p.m.
MagicalHacker says... #30
Sorry I didn't communicate it thoroughly!
Basically, these commanders must be able to be cast (or have effects) without necessarily playing all four colors in the deck. Here are the examples I have to elaborate:
Even though he has white and black and blue in his colors, because he has an effect in the command zone, you can just pretend he doesn't have blue in his mana cost and play orzhov life gain without ever casting him. If a four color commander was designed like this, players could choose two or three of the colors and build the deck with just those.
This creature is the only legendary creature with a 2/C hybrid cost, and that means that a player could choose any combination of colors for the deck, but for every color less than the original he chooses, he has to pay one more mana total. A player could make a jund deck with him, so this could translate to a four color commander by utilizing the 2/C hybrid costs.
This creature can be made into a green or white deck, but it has to be one of these. By combining these in a four color commander, you can create possibilities while limiting others.
- Rhys the Exiled and Memnarch :
These are good examples of how to make a four color commander without all four in the mana cost by adding the mana colors in the text.
Does all of that make sense, Scytec, Tiddilywinkus, Wic_Uber, and Arctic?
August 6, 2014 8:09 p.m.
Yes that is much more well defined. I took what you were stating as it had to have a function as a commander so basically you want a 4 color hybrid commander. May want to make a update of that. I'll reformat and resubmit my entry.
August 6, 2014 8:13 p.m.
Valstrath, Brood Sire
4 R/P B/P U/P G/P (RBUG can be paid with either RBUG or 2 life for each color)
Legendary Creature - Dragon
Flying , Trample, Haste
Dragons you control get +x/+x*1 where X is the difference between your starting life total and your current life total
R/P B/P U/P G/P (RBUG can be paid with either RBUG or 2 life for each color), Pay X X life: Exile the top X cards of your library and put each dragon with converted mana cost X or less onto the battlefield.
5/5
Basically my previous entry but using Phyrexia mana (which was my original idea but I thought would make it too OP) Sorry its kind of wordy.
August 6, 2014 8:23 p.m.
MagicalHacker says... #33
Okay, feel free to experiment with extra mana symbols in the abilities or abilities while it's in the command zone as alternatives to using either C/D or 2/C hybrid costs.
You could even combine them together!
August 6, 2014 8:25 p.m.
MagicalHacker says... #34
Well the three judges are going to judge it based upon the four criteria, but your design has been submitted Arctic. Remember, everyone can make up to five designs, one for each four color combo.
Also, anyone can modify their design anytime before the deadline.
August 6, 2014 8:35 p.m.
Tiddilywinkus says... #35
I also agree that makes much more sense, thank you for the clarification
August 7, 2014 6:04 a.m.
I would like to update my entry I made a few changes to it to make it a bit more intresting:
Valstrath, Brood Sire
4 (R/P) (B/P) (U/P) (G/P) (RBUG can be paid with either RBUG or 2 life for each color)
Legendary Creature - Dragon
Flying , Trample, Haste
Dragons you control get +X/+X where X is the difference between your starting life total and your current life total
(R/B) (B/U)(U/G)(G/R) , Pay (X)(X) life: Exile the top X cards of your library and put each dragon with converted mana cost X or less onto the battlefield.
0/0
August 7, 2014 6:15 a.m.
MagicalHacker says... #37
Tiddilywinkus, no problem, I just wish that I had known earlier that I hadn't actually clarified things. Lol
Arctic, updated.
August 7, 2014 7:35 a.m.
MagicalHacker says... #38
Because there haven't been a large amount of submissions yet and tonight is the deadline, I have decided to push the deadlines back three days each.
Here are the new deadlines:
Card posting: August 10, 2014. 11:59 PM.
Card judging: August 17, 2014. 11:59 PM.
Additionally, and for the same reason, I have also decided to enter the arena myself! Since I am not one of the judges, the judges don't know I'm submitting designs, and the submissions will be completely anonymous, I will not have any advantage over anyone else. On top of all that, the points system used in this challenge makes it very hard to have a bias since each point comes from a specific area and each area will have the judge's comments about why that score was given.
Also, feel free to invite your friends. The more the merrier!
All I can say now is may the best man or woman win! Good luck all!
August 7, 2014 8:14 a.m.
OcelotProblems says... #39
A few submissions in for the fun of it.
Made using the following online card makerswww.mtgcardmaker.commtgcardsmith.com
August 7, 2014 4:40 p.m.
MagicalHacker says... #40
OcelotProblems, your designs have been submitted. Thanks!
August 7, 2014 5:30 p.m.
MagicalHacker says... #41
Here are my four submissions:
Bishop Cawle of Elgaud
2 W/U W/R W/G
Legendary Creature - Human Cleric
Each instant and sorcery card you control has miracle. The miracle cost is equal to its mana cost. (You may cast that card for its miracle cost when you draw it if it's the first card you drew this turn.)
Miracle costs you pay cost up to 3 less.
1/5
Watnik, Master Glassblower
1 W/B U/R
Legendary Creature - Human Artificer
Whenever you sacrifice one or more artifacts to activate an ability, return one of those artifacts to the battlefield under your control at the beginning of the next end step.
1/1
Sisters of Flesh and Spirit
2/B 2/R 2/G 2/W
Legendary Creature - Human Dragon Spirit
Skip your next turn: Counter target spell. Any player may activate this ability but only if he or she has not activated it since the beginning of his or her last turn.
2/2
Daudi, Femeref Tutor
W/B U/B B/G
Legendary Creature - Human Artificer
When you cast ~, you may reveal the top card of your library. If you do, search your library for a card that shares a color with it, reveal that card, put it into your hand, then shuffle your library.
1/1
I may try to design a fifth, but who knows...
August 7, 2014 9:44 p.m.
Tezuga, Penguin Overlord
(Snow)(G/U)(B/U)(W/U)
Legendary Snow Creature - Penguin
Snow landwalk, Islandwalk
(Snow), Tap: Put X 1/1 Penguin Snow Creature tokens onto the battlefield X is the number of snow permenents you control.
As long as Tezuga, Penguin Overlord remains on the field all cards in your hand and on the battlefield are Snow in addition to their other types
You may play snow cards as though they had flash
4/4
August 8, 2014 4:32 a.m.
MagicalHacker says... #43
Arctic, your design has been submitted!
(I really like the snow cards get flash part!)
August 8, 2014 9:19 a.m.
Update - Sorry just reread my submission it was suppose to read:
Tezuga, Penguin Overlord
(Snow)(G/U)(B/U)(W/U)
Legendary Snow Creature - Penguin
Snow landwalk, Islandwalk
(Snow), Tap: Put X 1/1 Penguin Snow Creature tokens onto the battlefield X is the number of snow permenents you control.
As long as Tezuga, Penguin Overlord remains on the battlefield all cards in your hand and on the battlefield that you control are Snow in addition to their other types.
You may play Snow cards as though they had flash.
4/4
August 8, 2014 2:15 p.m.
lothshteth says... #46
Blazefin 2UB
Legendary Creature - Merfolk
XWR(T): Exile target creature spell. Blazefin deals X damage to each creature, where X is equal to that spell's converted mana cost.
0/4
August 9, 2014 6:06 a.m.
MagicalHacker says... #47
lothshteth, your design has been submitted, thanks!
August 9, 2014 8:59 a.m.
MagicalHacker says... #48
lothshteth, I didn't realize this earlier, but your commander is vanilla unless you run all four colors, so it violates either rule 3 or rule 5 (of 6; it's under the title "the challenge").
Before I can submit your challenge to the judges, modify it so that it's not a vanilla creature if all four colors are not used.
Sorry for the confusion!
August 9, 2014 4:14 p.m.
TheRedDude says... #49
Senkorest, Kindly Scholar 2WURG
Skip your draw step
Whenever you draw a card, Gain 3 life, OR Senkorest deals 3 damage to target creature or player, OR add 2 mana of any one color to your mana pool, OR Return target creature to it's owner's hand.
1/4
August 9, 2014 4:45 p.m.
Orgmath, Natures Servant - WUGR
Legendary creature - Weird Elemental
Reach
When ~ enters the battlefield, two target creatures can't attack you until your next turn.
When ~ is cast the fifth time from the command zone, you gain X life, deal X damage to each creature and each player and put X 1/1 Squirrel tokens into play, where is is the number of cards in your hand.
4/6
"Is it made of trees? Water? Fire? Sun? It is just weird...." - Philosophers
Scytec says... #2
I am not sure how to link a photo on this site...so can i post a card as text only so you can get an idea?
July 31, 2014 11:18 p.m.