Ambush

[Anusien]

We probably already have an ambush, so I'll have to change the name at some point.  Here's a white-style combat trick that isn't about preventing damage.

Ambush - 2W
Instant
As an additional cost to play Ambush, tap an untapped creature you control.
Play Ambush only before blockers are declared.
Put a creature card from your hand into play.

The idea is that you leave one lone guy on defense who looks rather pathetic, but it's a trap to lure your opponent into attacking when the big guys jump out from behind a rock outcropping.  I was originally contemplating making this require the creature to have defender, but I'm worried that actually gets the flavor backwards.
I could see either raising it to 2WW (harder to cast than Breath of Life, but instant speed), or requiring a creature with Defender, for power level concerns.

Current version:
Ambush - 2W
Instant
As an additional cost to play Ambush, tap an untapped creature you control.
Play Ambush only during combat during the declare attackers step.
Put a creature card from your hand into play.  That creature must block this turn if able.[/b]

[Matt]

This reminds of Angelic Favor in a good way, and Show and Tell in a bad way.

[Illissius]

This reminds me of Surprise Deployment in a strong way.

[Anusien]

24 hour clock

[parallax]

I feel there ought to be some stipulation that the creature must block. Maybe something like this:

Remove target blocking creature you control from combat.
Put a creature card from your hand into play blocking the creatures that creature was blocking.

[Anusien]

I considered that, but I'm worried about the hassles of Flash Foliage.  Since you don't reveal the creature until it comes into play, you can't restrict it to things it could normally.  You could reveal the creature as part of the cost, and require it to be a creature it could normally block, but I don't know how that would work with Wonder or effects like that.

[parallax]

I considered that, but I'm worried about the hassles of Flash Foliage.  Since you don't reveal the creature until it comes into play, you can't restrict it to things it could normally.  You could reveal the creature as part of the cost, and require it to be a creature it could normally block, but I don't know how that would work with Wonder or effects like that.

Yeah, there really isn't a way to do that. The other way to force a block is:
Play Ambush only before blockers are declared and only if there is a creature attacking you.
Put a creature card from your hand into play. That creature must block this turn.
I just worry about people using this to drop a creature into play undercosted on their opponent's turn and then not even bothering to block with it.

Also, three mana Akromas are just patently absurd. This must either: cost , cost and allow you to "play a creature card from your hand", sacrifice the creature at end of turn/combat, or return the creature to your hand at end of turn/combat. The latter two obviate the need for the block-forcing text. The former two just allow you to play a creature as an instant, a la Flash. Tapping a creature as an additional cost might be unnecessary as well.

[Anusien]

Going to go ahead and make the creature have to block and force it to be played during combat.

At 3W, this would be an instant speed Breath of Life from hand with an extra cost (tapping a creature) and only during combat.  Is that too much?

[parallax]

Three/four mana Akromas might not be that bad considering Zombify and Breath of Life. The only difference is reanimate effectsr have the added hurdle of getting the creature card in the graveyard in the first place.