Surtur's Grasp
Custom Cards forum
Posted on Aug. 14, 2021, 12:35 a.m. by DemonDragonJ
Red and black cannot destroy enchantments, so I have made a card that is both of those colors and can destroy any type of permanent other than enchantments, as seen, below:
Surtur's Grasp Show
I know that WotC did print Feed the Swarm recently, but I personally believe that black should not be able to outright destroy enchantments; instead, it should deal with them in other ways, such as by having its own version of Enchanter's Bane, which is a way for red to deal with enchantments without outright destroying them. I also know that Wrecking Ball is an instant, but I made this card a sorcery, to prevent it from being strictly better than WB and also because I believe that being able to destory a land during another player's turn is extremely unfun.
What does everyone else say about this? Do you like this card?
TheOfficialCreator says... #3
What TypicalTimmy said. But doesn't black already destroy enchantments? They added that recently so although it's not common yet, it's been accepted somewhat as part of the color pie. What do you think of enchantment removal like Pharika's Libation?
I love the card though, it has a great feel to it. It could fit nicely into a Theros-esque Norse mythology set, which I suppose they already did with Kaldheim but there's always room for improvement.
August 14, 2021 8:33 a.m.
DemonDragonJ says... #4
TheOfficialCreator, I like that card, because it does not directly target an enchantment, and because the player can choose what enchantment they sacrifice; as long as black's ability to deal with enchantments is never equal to white and green's ability, in terms of either quantity or quality, I shall be satisfied.
TypicalTimmy, that is a very good way to describe how black can affect enchantments.
For a flavor explanation of the card, I chose to name it in honor of Surtur from Norse mythology because his name means "blackened" in Norse and he is always associated with fire, thus making this card black and red. From a mechanical standpoint, red can destroy artifacts and lands, and black can destroy creatures and planeswalkers, so they can together destroy anything other than enchantments. Black can now destroy enchantments, but WotC has said that they wish to keep unconditional permanent destruction within black/white (i.e., Vindicate) and black/green (i.e., Assassin's Trophy), so I am honoring that commitment.
August 14, 2021 9:49 a.m.
Black has gotten almost as omnipotent in dealing with permanents as white outside a Disenchant and red adds the artifact destruction, so yeah the card is pretty on point and is safely costed.
'
As for potential enchantment removal in black, how about we get a little spicy and do the Choice of Damnations treatment?
Corrupting Erosion
Sorcery
Choose target creature, enchantment, or planeswalker.
Its controller chooses a number. You may pay that amount of life to destroy that permanent. Otherwise that player loses that much life.
A classical question of: How much pain is that worth? And it fits that the black player has to pay the toll if they really want to remove it. The ambition at any cost.
August 17, 2021 3:49 p.m.
I didn't really realize it initially but I guess the above suggestion should probably specify "choose target bla bla bla an opponent controls." to avoid black getting a 2 mana way to get out of a Demonic Pact for free.
TypicalTimmy says... #2
I personally believe black destroying enchantments makes sense. Enchantments are magical and, almost, living in nature. They can be natural or created, but they have a form of energy and liveliness to them.
I feel the corruption of black mana to wither the fibers of magic apart and decay it into non-existent is fitting. Like dissolving the essence that binds the magics together to form the enchantment. Almost like unraveling the threads of a sweater as you break it down with mold.
But as for card, very nice and balanced. Black and red have an incredible amount of land destruction so seeing this, which can hit lands, feels both flavorful and impactful.
I'd definitely run it.
August 14, 2021 6:42 a.m.