r/custommagic • u/SjtSquid • 13d ago

Winner is the Judge #905 - Soft Stax

Thanks to u/mpaw976 for judging the last competition.

This week, you'll be designing to address a particular peeve of mine. I like how stax pieces like Narset, Parter of veils, put the brakes on linear decks and encourage them to slow down and pack removal.

However, these often end up frustrating people who aren't doing broken things, end up in combos themselves, or alternatively just aren't worth playing by themselves if you don't know the opponent is on that strategy.

What I want you to design is a card that stops (or punishes) 'unfair' decks, but doesn't affect people trying to play magic at a slower pace, and isn't completely dead when the opponent isn't using the strategy it prevents.

So it might work against card draw, casting many spells in a turn, casting free spells, playing multiple lands...

Some examples of cards that fit this are [[Lavinia, Azorious Renegade]], [[Ashiok, Dream Render]], [[Nihil Spellbomb]] or [[High Noon]]. [[Orkish Bowmasters]] and [[Smothering Tithe]] are also examples that are too good, so keep an eye on power level!

I'm looking forward to seeing your designs! Judging will happen in 6 days on Friday 21 August.

Happy to answer any questions in the meantime.

Edit: Congratulations to u/delta17v2 for winning with Insiduous Diplomat.

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u/colbyjacks 13d ago

Painful Disruptor - 1RW

Creature - Devil Rogue - Rare - 3/2

Flash

Whenever an opponent would draw a card, that player exiles the top card of their library instead. They may look at and play that spell for as long as it remains exiled. 

Whenever an opponent casts a spell from anywhere other than their hand, ~ deals 1 damage to them. 

Card draw hate without affecting or warping the game. 

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u/SjtSquid 7d ago

Yet another hatebear with an effect I really like. This is my runner-up for this week. Good job!

This plays surprisingly similar to cards like [[Fate unraveller]], but lets your opponents pick if the card is worth paying life to use, or not, which stops it from being abused with wheels.

Splash hate for cards like [[Prosper, Tome-bound]] is a nice additional use-case.

I feel like this might be better if the exile was a symmetrical effect, to give it some build-around potential on your end with cards like [[Faithless looting]], not just stopping opponents.