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Let's Design Some Evolve Cards!How to avoid erasing other peoples' comments, in five easy steps:
What is the new definition of Evolve? Evolve is an ability word that means "Whenever a creature with power greater than CARDNAME's power enters the battlefield under your control, SOMETHING HAPPENS." Rules for common Evolve creatures The SOMETHING that happens is the same for all common Evolve creatures: "you may put a +1/+1 counter on CARDNAME." +1/+1 counters a clever because they limit how much your creature can grow. It gets harder and harder to cast big enough creatures every time your Evolver evolves. Common evolve creatures may have one evergreen keyword in addition to Evolve. Creatures that add +1/+1 counters need to have "square stats," that means their power and toughness need to be equal, to make math easier. Rules for uncommon and rare Evolve creatures The SOMETHING that happens could be anything, as long as it feel like evolution. Generally, Evolve effects should effect the Evolve creature, but feel free to explore other interesting interactions. Like Landfall, Evolve can do a lot of different things. Unlike lands, however, there is no hard limit to how many creatures you can put onto the battlefield in a turn. If your Evolve ability is powerful and shouldn't be triggered multiple times, you may want to increase the Evolver's base power and/or add +1/+1 counters as part of the Evolve effect. What we need We need green and red Evolve creatures of every rarity. I feel like Evolve creatures and spells that ramp your mana are competing for slots at the low end of green's mana curve, so if I could see some designs for an uncommon Evolver that adds +1/+1 counters and ramps your mana in some way (not necessarily as a result of the Evolve trigger, could be a tap effect or an "enters the battlefield" trigger) that would put my mind at ease. Here's what we have so far:
I increased Eohippus's power to give him square stats and moved him to uncommon because he's so aggressive. I'm not married to either of these specific cards, but I'm pretty pleased with them. I'd love to see what kind of ideas the rest of you have, and what a red Evolver looks like with the latest Evolve template! I'm eager to see some exciting new uncommon and rare Evolvers, now that we have some flexibility with our effects! -Ethan Fleischer 13 Jan 2011 Is Evolve still a non-sentient mechanic?
--jtreat Some evolve ideas:
I'll be back for more later, gotta work ~Dan Emmons Oh, yeah, the evolvers should be animals (or plants, I guess) but not elves or humans or minotaurs. -Ethan Fleischer 13 Jan 2011 For cuteness, you could add Trample to the 1/1 Evolve =)
- Toby or not Toby
Lee C- Jan 13 You should probably have something like this:
Robert Bruce
- Toby or not Toby Hi, Here's a cheap red evolve creature. Could alternatively be 2/1 I think. Mutating Cinder (uncommon) - Geoffrey I think that the bonuses which Evolve grants should be permanent ones, to go along with the flavor. It makes the mechanic distinct from landfall or allies. Giving creatures abilities if they have +1/+1 counters on them is the way to go if you want to diversify creature roles. It also gives non-creature magics an easy symbol for fiddling with time and natural evolution: adding +1/+1 counters. Also if you're looking for deck construction guidance, Tooth and Claw will probably play somewhat similar to the Ally deck. Spoiler:Show 9 Forest8 Mountain1 Terramorphic Expanse(18) 1 Awakener Druid1 Borderland Ranger1 Greenweaver Druid2 Highland Berserker1 Joraga Bard1 Kazuul Warlord1 Murasa Pyromancer2 Oran-Rief Survivalist1 Stonework Puma1 Tajuru Archer2 Tuktuk Grunts1 Turntimber Ranger(15) 1 Act of Treason1 Beast Hunt1 Fireball2 Giant Growth2 Lightning Bolt1 Overrun(8) -Robert Bruce As a note, there wasn't that hard a limit on how many lands you could play a turn Fetch land, sac it, Knight of the reliquary away the new land for another sac land, sac it... then maybe play a harrow if I had one. Playing 6 creatures a turn is actually much harder (unless you are playing elves). Anyways, the commons should be obvious  1/1 Evolve +1/+1 2/2 Evolve +1/+1since they are on theme and common you can have up to 3 of each in the deck (off theme commons and any uncommons are limited to 2ofs in pre-constructed decks) high power cantriping creatures would be a good fit here, they have to be green though Like a Kavu Climber Awakened Mammoth  3/3 ETB Draw a cardFlametrodon (uncommon)   2/2 Evolve +1/+1, Remove +1/+1: do 1 damage to target player/creatureEarth Wurm (uncommon) 3/3 Evolve +1/+1, Trollshroud (its a baby plated slagwurm!)Expansion pre-con decks seem to have 18-24 cards for their core theme (placing/using counters and proliferate, infect cards, etc.) Fatties and card draw (to find the fatties) are good support --Cardkeeper
...or...
-VPS
-VPS How about a vertical cycle?
Is this the Johnny piece of the puzzle? -Robert Bruce Here's a bunch of double-dip french vanilla cards covering a bunch of easy-to-design ground with the basic evolve effect of +1/+1 counters. You know, to get it out of the way and for easy reference. You can use these to fill in holes in the slots of your deck and such. HasteLittle Hasty1R Creature - Lizard 1/1 Haste Evolve - +1/+1 counter Little Bigger Hasty 2R Creature - Lizard 2/2 Haste Evolve - +1/+1 counter Medium Hasty 2RR Creature - Lizard 3/3 Haste Evolve - +1/+1 counter Other Medium Hasty 4R Creature - Lizard 3/3 Haste Evolve - +1/+1 counter Large Hasty 4RR Creature - Lizard 4/4 Haste Evolve - +1/+1 counter First StrikeLittle StrikerRR Creature - Lizard 1/1 First Strike Evolve - +1/+1 counter Other Little Striker 2R Creature - Lizard 1/1 First Strike Evolve - +1/+1 counter Bigger Striker 1RR Creature - Lizard 2/2 First Strike Evolve - +1/+1 counter Other Bigger Striker 3R Creature - Lizard 2/2 First Strike Evolve - +1/+1 counter TrampleLittle Red TramplerRR Creature - Lizard 1/1 Trample Evolve - +1/+1 counter Other Little Red Trampler 2R Creature - Lizard 1/1 Trample Evolve - +1/+1 counter Little Green Trampler GG Creature - Lizard 1/1 Trample Evolve - +1/+1 counter Other Little Green Trampler 2G Creature - Lizard 1/1 Trample Evolve - +1/+1 counter Little Bigger Red Trampler 1RR Creature - Lizard 2/2 Trample Evolve - +1/+1 counter Other Little Bigger Red Trampler 3R Creature - Lizard 2/2 Trample Evolve - +1/+1 counter Little Bigger Green Trampler 1GG Creature - Lizard 2/2 Trample Evolve - +1/+1 counter Other Little Bigger Green Trampler 3G Creature - Lizard 2/2 Trample Evolve - +1/+1 counter Medium Red Trampler 4RR Creature - Lizard 3/3 Trample Evolve - +1/+1 counter Other Medium Red Trampler 5R Creature - Lizard 3/3 Trample Evolve - +1/+1 counter Medium Green Trampler 2GG Creature - Lizard 3/3 Trample Evolve - +1/+1 counter Other Medium Green Trampler 4G Creature - Lizard 3/3 Trample Evolve - +1/+1 counter Large Green Trampler 3GG Creature - Lizard 4/4 Trample Evolve - +1/+1 counter Other Large Green Trampler 5G Creature - Lizard 4/4 Trample Evolve - +1/+1 counter Giant Green Trampler 4GG Creature - Lizard 5/5 Trample Evolve - +1/+1 counter Other Giant Green Trampler 6G Creature - Lizard 5/5 Trample Evolve - +1/+1 counter IntimidateLittle Intimidator1RR Creature - Lizard 1/1 Intimidate Evolve - +1/+1 counter Other Little Intimidator 3R Creature - Lizard 1/1 Intimidate Evolve - +1/+1 counter Little Bigger Intimidator 2RR Creature - Lizard 2/2 Intimidate Evolve - +1/+1 counter Other Little Bigger Intimidator 4R Creature - Lizard 2/2 Intimidate Evolve - +1/+1 counter Medium Intimidator 4RR Creature - Lizard 3/3 Intimidate Evolve - +1/+1 counter Other Medium Intimidator 6R Creature - Lizard 3/3 Intimidate Evolve - +1/+1 counter Double StrikeLittle Doublestriker1RR Creature - Lizard 1/1 Double strike Evolve - +1/+1 counter Other Little Doublestriker 3R Creature - Lizard 1/1 Double strike Evolve - +1/+1 counter Bigger Doublestriker 3RR Creature - Lizard 2/2 Double strike Evolve - +1/+1 counter Other Bigger Doublestriker 5R Creature - Lizard 2/2 Double strike Evolve - +1/+1 counter ReachLittle Reacher1G Creature - Spider 1/1 Reach Evolve - +1/+1 counter Little Bigger Reacher2G Creature - Spider 2/2 Reach Evolve - +1/+1 counter Other Little Bigger Reacher GG Creature - Spider 2/2 Reach Evolve - +1/+1 counter Medium Reacher 2GG Creature - Spider 3/3 Reach Evolve - +1/+1 counter Other Medium Reacher 4G Creature - Spider 3/3 Reach Evolve - +1/+1 counter DefenderMedium Defender2G Creature - Plant 3/3 Defender Evolve - +1/+1 counter Other Medium Defender GG Creature - Plant 3/3 Defender Evolve - +1/+1 counter Large Defender 2GG Creature - Plant 4/4 Defender Evolve - +1/+1 counter Other Large Defender 4G Creature - Plant 4/4 Defender Evolve - +1/+1 counter ForestwalkLittle ForestwalkerGG Creature - Lizard 1/1 Forestwalk Evolve - +1/+1 counter Other Little Forestwalker 2G Creature - Lizard 1/1 Forestwalk Evolve - +1/+1 counter Little Bigger Forestwalker 1GG Creature - Lizard 2/2 Forestwalk Evolve - +1/+1 counter Other Little Bigger Forestwalker 3G Creature - Lizard 2/2 Forestwalk Evolve - +1/+1 counter Medium Forestwalker 3GG Creature - Lizard 3/3 Forestwalk Evolve - +1/+1 counter Other Medium Forestwalker 5G Creature - Lizard 3/3 Forestwalk Evolve - +1/+1 counter VigilanceLittle Vigilant OneGG Creature - Plant 1/1 Vigilance Evolve - +1/+1 counter Other Little Vigilant One 2G Creature - Plant 1/1 Vigilance Evolve - +1/+1 counter Little Bigger Vigilant One 2GG Creature - Plant 2/2 Vigilance Evolve - +1/+1 counter Other Little Bigger Vigilant One 4G Creature - Plant 2/2 Vigilance Evolve - +1/+1 counter Medium Vigilant One 3GG Creature - Plant 3/3 Vigilance Evolve - +1/+1 counter Other Medium Vigilant One 5G Creature - Plant 3/3 Vigilance Evolve - +1/+1 counter Large Vigilant One 4GG Creature - Plant 4/4 Vigilance Evolve - +1/+1 counter Other Vigilant One 6G Creature - Plant 4/4 Vigilance Evolve - +1/+1 counter ShroudLittle Shrouded OneGG Creature - Lizard 1/1 Shroud Evolve - +1/+1 counter Other Little Shrouded One 2G Creature - Lizard 1/1 Shroud Evolve - +1/+1 counter Little Bigger Shrouded One 1GG Creature - Lizard 2/2 Shroud Evolve - +1/+1 counter Other Little Bigger Shrouded One 3G Creature - Lizard 2/2 Shroud Evolve - +1/+1 counter Medium Shrouded One 3GG Creature - Lizard 3/3 Shroud Evolve - +1/+1 counter Other Medium Shrouded One 5G Creature - Lizard 3/3 Shroud Evolve - +1/+1 counter Large Shrouded One 4GG Creature - Lizard 4/4 Shroud Evolve - +1/+1 counter Other Large Shrouded One 6G Creature - Lizard 4/4 Shroud Evolve - +1/+1 counter Also, I like the vertical cycle above, but I think it might be too weak to removal to disrupt, so I suggest changing it to a green cycle and adding shroud to at least the uncommon and rare ones. But, that would either mean involving the premium as a part of the cycle or two green rares. Also, you can't really do that cycle at common (too complex), so it could just be a two-card thing. Here, I'll do a sample: Evolvling 2G Creature - Lizard 1/1 Evolve - +1/+1 counter When there are three or more +1/+1 counters on Evolving, you may sacrifice it. If you do, search your library for a card named Evolved Thing and put it onto the battlefield with three +1/+1 counters Evolved Thing 4GG Creature - Lizard 5/5 Shroud Evolved Thing could even be an uncommon. It could be an uncommon-uncommon pairing. Or, perhaps, you can bump up Evolved thing to rare. It needs to be more exciting, though, for a rare. Either bigger or an extra ability. Also, I like how, if you do the Evolvling to Evolved Thing evolution, you'll pretty much trigger all your evolve triggers. Here's a proposed ability for Evolved Thing that would compliment Evolvling in case Evolved Thing is not in your library anymore AND it sets up for some synergy triggering with your evolve creatures: Evolved Thing 4GG Creature - Lizard 5/5 Shroud G: Put Evolved Thing on top of your library. OR G: Return Evolved Thing to your hand. ...Hmm. Too white. Something like that, you know? Bradley Rose About Toby's baby dragon - What if its firebreathing had a limited number of activations, the way Dragon Whelp
 CARDNAME gets +1/+0 until end of turn. You may activate this ability up to once per turn for each counter on it." but it's much simpler as +1/-1.Here's another version of Toby's dragon:
- Chah Jan 14, 2011 Hi Ethan, I have put together a draft idea for a RG Dinosaur pre-constructed deck that is along the lines of where I see this concept going, I have also tried to provide a feel that elves are beginning to evolve from living magical essence or energies on the plane.I see the solo predatory dinosaurs in black; the pack hunters in red; the herd dinosaurs in green and white and the winged and aquatic dinosaurs in blue.I have tried to use a balance of evolve creatures with creatures and effects that use +1/+1 counters as resources.
@Chah's Flowstone Baby Dragon: That one is so elegant on every level! It makes perfect sense for a fledgling to hurt himself when he uses fire. Cute too he can't use fire right away.
- Toby or not Toby I recommend that evolve means the same all across the rarities. When conditions are met, then put a +1/+1 counter on the evolve creatures. Otherwise i see how players would be confused. I have also a suggestion how you can add complexity to the set with clean keywording, and how to keep your targets:Simply add ability to your uncommon and rare cards that care about +1/+1 counters, and do various effects/triggers when those are there, gained, lost, whatever.You might also be interested to call creatures with +1/+1 counters as "evolved creatures" in your wording and templating. Once you are there, then you may be interested to ride the "evolution leap" gag from "ice age 2". I would do that with flip cards. Move all the fine evolve ideas which are related to evolution but cannot be explained with +1/+1 counters to flip cards such as the "lizard to bird card" you designed. M.A.G.U.S. 14th January 2011
(Or do it this way:
I'm not sure which wording is better. The latter is simpler, but the former seems to better capture the flavor.)
P.S. I agree with Robert Bruce's argument that the bonuses from Evolve should be permanent, rather than lasting until of turn. --orcishartillery, 14 Jan 2011
-VPS Lightbulb!
A scaling evolve burn creature... I got the idea from the Allies who get counters and do something else when activated. Is this overpowered for uncommon? ~Avatarjk137
- Brad R (@ErtaiSavant on Twitter) posted some uncommon evolvers on your utility card page, they fill both roles. -Cardkeeper
Edit: Haha whoops, this is the same card as Magmaraptor. Feel free to use my stats if you prefer. I think it may be too powerful as a 1/1. Palpable |
: CARDNAME deals 1 damage to target creature."