Poison Planeswalker
Custom Cards forum
Posted on July 11, 2014, 5:17 p.m. by lothshteth
Calen the Compleated
2GG
Planeswalker - Calen
+1: Each player gets a poison counter.
-2: Put three +1/+1 counters or three -1/-1 counters on target creature.
-6: For each poison counter you have, proliferate.
Calen was a Viridian elf from the Tangle of Mirrordin during the Phyrexian invasion. He was a master rogue and expert poisonsmith who concocted various substances to cripple the Phyrexian warmachine. Through no fault of his own the tide turned towards the invading army and he was eventually captured. The Phyrexians were greatly impressed with his poisonous qualities and offered him compleation without his consent. It was during this process that his spark ignited and he was flung into the Blind Eternities.
I have a desire to make green a better and more unique color. To me it is just too bland with just ramp and beats. And worse off, all the forest can do with regularity is take out fliers. To that end I believe green's creature destruction should center around weakening since green is all about pump anyway. And poison fits in with the creatures of the jungle like snakes and insects. That is why I decided to keep him in green, plus New Phyrexians come in all shapes and colors nowadays.
I'm pretty happy with him overall, but I would greatly appreciate any input on costs, power level, wording, and anything else y'all can think of.
Servo_Token says... #3
Depending on it's starting loyalty, I think that this could be one heck of a fair and good walker.
Granted, the -2 is a bit OP (assuming that the original loyalty is like 4) in an infect deck, but this could be really good.
July 11, 2014 5:18 p.m.
i love how it comes with a certain downside that opponents usually wont be able to take advantage of. also, for the -2, maybe include distribute? that way when you proliferate, it has a lot more power
July 11, 2014 5:21 p.m.
Servo_Token says... #7
For the ultimate, I believe that a more proper wording would be "Choose a player: For each Poison Counter on that player, Proliferate."
To make it a bit more fair / work with his "downside", you could have some negative consequence for choosing your opponent, etc.
July 11, 2014 5:25 p.m.
I think it should be G/B. That would fit the flavor of Infect a lot better.
July 11, 2014 5:27 p.m.
lothshteth says... #9
I would love distribute even more for the -2 especially with proliferate, but I feel that is a bit too OP. Plus that would make the ability more wordy which I was trying to stay away from with his abilities.
July 11, 2014 5:28 p.m.
How would that make it too wordy? You'd go from 7 words to 11 words. lmao
July 11, 2014 5:31 p.m.
I don't know if this feels Green to me. I can understand flavor-wise why he's Green, but I think this abilty fits more in Black or maybe B/G. I'd also re-do the ultimate b/c Proliferate isn't a Green thing, more of a B/U thing. That said, if you change his mana cost to 2BG I'd be more on-board.
July 11, 2014 5:32 p.m.
lothshteth says... #12
Mono-Green is completely preferential for me because of my feelings towards the color pie.
As for the ultimate it was worded to reduce power level by having it equal your poison counters and not the opponents as they are most likely to have more since you would be running an infect deck.
July 11, 2014 5:34 p.m.
lothshteth says... #13
Sorry zandl I guess I'm OCD. Even so I still feel the power level would go way up.
July 11, 2014 5:39 p.m.
I wouldn't be so worried about it. It's an ultimate ability. Infect already gets weaker the later the game goes on, for something that wouldn't happen until at least turn 7 or so should end the game for Infect.
July 11, 2014 5:49 p.m.
MindAblaze says... #15
Green has one proliferate card. I always thought green should have had more, but apparently Plaguemaw Beast was enough.
Re: the color pie. Green just doesn't get some effects. Distributing -1/-1 counters is straight up removal, something green doesn't do. It kills things by being bigger than them "survival of the fittest" style, not by making them smaller. This is why I like it better as is than "distribute." One guy grows at a time, rather than a bunch of little guys grow a little bit. That's a more white effect. See Ajani, Mentor of Heroes .
The + ability I'm fine with since you're poisoning everything. That's how nature works, things just spread without a concern for where it's spreading and how. Kind of like people.
I like where you're coming from with the ultimate. Its not as OP as the suggestion to choose a player, but you would still likely proliferate at least 3 times without some Doubling Season shenanigans. Again though, it's rapidly spreading the infection based on how infected you are which to me feels more black than green. The color pie has a lot to do with motivation, and this has a malevolent "you feel all the pain I feel" overtone to it.
Overall, a very balanced and fun planeswalker. I like it.
July 11, 2014 5:55 p.m.
lothshteth says... #16
Believe me if Wizards came to me and said we want to print your card but only as 2BG I definitely would say go right ahead. I just wanted to see what people think about a Mono-Green Poison walker in the New Phyrexian motif. But you are correct MindAblaze with it being malevolently black.
July 11, 2014 6:05 p.m.
Green's problem is that it doesn't mono well. Splash any other color in and it plays fine.
I do like the idea, though. It can actually use infect for something BESIDES infecting. Infect vs infect could really go nuts with that -6 in a cool slow-game way, especially if you had an artifact which let players hold 15 or 20 poison counters before dying. An infect deck built to be slow would certainly be interesting, and likely have better flavor because it would play like an infection rather than eat your face out.
And this from someone who despises infect.
The -2 might work better pure green as four +1/+0 or -1/-0 counters, that way it can't become removal but can still strengthen or weaken.
July 11, 2014 8:36 p.m.
lothshteth says... #18
Keeping him mono-green was more of a philosophical point on my view of the color pie and how I would like it to be. Probably should have done a separate thread for that. In reality he should be BG or possibly even more so just mono-black.
I hope Wizards returns to poison at some point, maybe in more of a control fashion instead of blitz aggro as it is today. In current infect tourney decks he would be sideboard at best for control matches only. But I'm a casual player so I could care less, just wish they gave poison as much walker love as they do mill ala Jace.
July 11, 2014 9:02 p.m.
I like the idea of mono green infect, the infect doesnt have to have a plague-like dark poison theme. Think about it as a natural "green" thing like a pollen or airborne spores that enter an opponents bloodstream and sprout saplings or vines or flowers that come bursting forth from their skin. real cool
July 11, 2014 9:22 p.m.
WotC likes to have only +1 or -1 counters in a block not both. For example Scars block had -1 counters and theros block had +1 counters. Also I think starting loyalty should be two.
July 11, 2014 10:08 p.m.
lothshteth says... #21
Obama said it's time for a change! But in all seriousness I could see it at 2 loyalty, but I like keeping him outa bolt range. Also made him four mana to dodge Inquisition and decay.
July 12, 2014 1:01 a.m.
biggestmtgnerd says... #22
I think one of the green mana symbols should be replaced by G/B.
July 12, 2014 2:32 a.m.
lothshteth says... #23
Hybrid mana would be cool, don't think Wizards will ever do that on a walker but would be nice. Maybe even use phyrexian mana one black one green, but then I'd have to raise the colorless cost.
July 12, 2014 2:52 a.m.
Remember that Phyrexian mana is supposed to represent something that can be done on artifacts. Not just something to change the levers on a card. Also the color pie isn't something you can just change. WotC does stretch it at times, but always sticks to the main themes. And if many of us feel he should be G/B, he should probably be G/B. I would ask Maro on his blog, but he can't look at custom cards.
Also making a mana cost for "selfish" reasons like Abrupt Decay
and Inquisition of Kozilek
proof is a little odd. Regardless I like the 4 CMC, but I could see him starting at 2 loyalty so he could die to Bolt.
I think that he could be good, and the only way to know how good is to playtest him.
July 12, 2014 4:49 a.m.
lothshteth says... #25
Custom card creation is almost entirely selfish in nature unless you work for WOTC, and even then might still be at times for designers. And as I said before him being mono-green with flavorful reasoning was a test to see what people thought about New Phyrexia and its crazy ways. Do people forget Planar Chaos? I may be showing my age but there was a time when red didn't have rits. Times change.
That being said if printed today he would definitely be BG. And probably 2 loyalty now that I think of it. What do you guys think about 3 cmc?
July 12, 2014 5:55 a.m.
MindAblaze says... #27
Having gone through the process of Phyresis
, the being is compleated.
July 16, 2014 10:56 a.m.
Rhinowarrior says... #28
@ MindAblaze! I still don't follow.. Is it a play on words?
July 16, 2014 2:45 p.m.
MindAblaze says... #29
I'd say so. Complete ~ Compleat... It's essentially having achieved (phyrexian) perfection, usually aligned with one color or another. Green evolves to compleation, blue modifies, white indoctrinates, black enslaves. Take Noxious Revival
and Xenograft
, all the Praetors seek the perfect Phyrexia through their own means.
Funnily enough, Urabrask the Hidden
chose to go all laissez-faire on their asses. Good old evil chaotic red...ruination through...doing nothing.
July 16, 2014 3:17 p.m.
Rhinowarrior says... #30
Oh ok so i didn't realize that there were different ways to spell complete. I feel smarter now.
July 16, 2014 3:28 p.m.
MindAblaze says... #31
It directly refers to Phyrexia. I wouldn't go putting it in essays or anything, unless you're writing about Phyrexia that is.
July 16, 2014 3:31 p.m.
lothshteth says... #33
What y'all think about
-X: Put X +1/+1 or -1/-1 counters on target creature.
for the second ability?
July 16, 2014 4:45 p.m.
MindAblaze says... #34
I thought the Phyrexian Contagion was incompatible with a Planeswalker spark?
I think that ability is fine. Most of the time it will be weaker (arbitrarily) than what it is now, but it's power will come from it's utility...at killing utility creatures.
Liliana of the Dark Realms second ability is comparable. It's not unheard of.
July 16, 2014 5:28 p.m.
lothshteth says... #35
Well I haven't read that anywhere, I'm only on Bloodlines atm. But my take is Calen always had the spark, it just ignited under the trauma of the compleation process.
July 16, 2014 7:42 p.m.
You are all missing the point- Phyrexians can't hold sparks.
July 17, 2014 4:13 p.m.
MindAblaze says... #37
@ OpenFire Yeah, that's what I meant in my last post. That's why Venser gave his up to Karn.
July 17, 2014 4:36 p.m.
lothshteth says... #38
I didn't read those books so I'm not hip to that, but Venser must have done that because he felt the corruption taking over not because he was going to lose his spark anyway. There would be no way of knowing that since its never happened before. Karn lost his closing the Tolarian rift from what I understand not phyrexian corruption.
Besides Calen wasn't fully compleated since his spark ignited during the process not after.
July 17, 2014 5:12 p.m.
I love it, he seems strong but fair and very fun to play! The only thing i dont like about him is the color choice, i think the should be 2BB not 2GG, as was said in some comments above me as well. Phyrexia at the core is a the embodiment of black mana, the original Phyrexia was THE black mana plane, like Serra was THE white mana plane. In new Phyrexia, they come in every color, but they still all feel black. Most Infect decks, be it competetive or casual are played black/ X or even mono black with articafts. If he would be mono black, most of the infect decks could play him, now only B/G can play him. Make him 2BB and he will be played in B/G, B/U, or mono black infect. Even 2BG makes it too narrow for just this one archetype ignoring all the other infect deck color choices.
His +1 Ability can be a straight up win condition, wich makes him impact the game as soon as he hits the battlefield. It also has the wording of "Every player" which is a slight gameplay downside if you dont read his ultimate. It also has this flavor of the uncontrollable phyresis spreading, which is awesome.
His -2 Ability feels costed great, he can do it once the turn he comes out, but then has to +1 to do it again; fair! Since i would want to see him as a black planeswalker the +3+3 doesnt really fit here. I would change it to one of the following: "Put a -1/-1 counter on up to three target creatures" or "Put three -1/-1 counters divided as you coose on any target creatures" The second one may be a little too powerful, i dont know. It is often said, that the best planeswalkers can protect themself, well he does by either removing threads or weakening them so he can survive.
His ultimate is great, it is a big thread either to win the game or to clear the board, depending if you used the +1 ability or the -2 ability a lot. It is very powerful, and no enemy would want to let it come to this, like it should be for an ultimate that can come soonest in the third turn after he resolves. Again, strong but balanced, the opponent has enough time to deal with it, so it isnt overpowered. The flavor is just right as well, it scales with how much infection has gone on over the time, bringing the pyresis to a massive outbreak!
3 Starting loyalty is a good number, as you said yourself it keeps him out of bolt and strike range, it goes good with the 4 cmc. You obviously did put some thought into it.
Overall a really solid and fun planeswalker, that by default is cool as hell since he is associated with phyrexia! I just really really want him to be black, not green, i would seriously be sad if he would ever be printed as a green planeswalker and i could not use him in my mono B or B/U infect deck.
July 21, 2014 2:12 a.m.
lothshteth says... #40
Thanks a lot for the praise and suggestions. I think my color pie social experiment is concluded, and the winner is...the masses. He shall be 2BG. I feel he could definitely be mono black, but he is/was a Viridian Elf so he will retain his green side. If I did make him mono black I would change his -2 by taking away the pump, but I like having the option to pump a creature to give an opponent three more poison counters. I'm still considering changing the -2 to -X as I stated before, but I'd like some more input.
July 22, 2014 5:20 p.m.
lothshteth says... #41
::UPDATE::
Calen the Compleated
2BG
Planeswalker - Calen
+1: Each player gets a poison counter.
-X: Put X +1/+1 or -1/-1 counters on target creature.
-6: For each poison counter you have, proliferate.
[ 3 ]
July 30, 2014 6:56 a.m.
i like the -X it makes him less powerfull, which is ok. (still go mono black :D )
July 30, 2014 9:46 a.m.
lothshteth says... #43
Yeah more and more I feel he should be monoblack. However because he is a Viridian elf, he will remain BG much like Glissa, the Traitor . Plus pumping with counters is more of a green thing.
July 30, 2014 4:27 p.m.
Well, you could just get rid of the pumping part and not make him an elf but...i dont know an fully compleated beeing. Maybe an horror or something. Maybe he was an elf at one point but got fully compleated so now there is no green aspect of him left. Bu thats just wishful thinking from my side :D
July 30, 2014 6:45 p.m.
lothshteth says... #45
I could change the character creation part, but I like being able to pump a guy to give more poison counters than just +1 if the situation warrants it. Plus poison has always been BG since Pit Scorpion and Marsh Viper .
tempest says... #2
how many counters does he start with?
July 11, 2014 5:18 p.m.