A mox for creatures

[Guli]

Initial suggestion
  Mox Vial

 : Add one mana of any color to your mana pool.

If you have two or more Mox Vial in play, then instead : Add Add   to your mana pool. Mox Vial deals one damage to you.

 Spend this mana only to cast non-artifact creature spells.

Current version

Mox Pendant              
Artifact

: Add one mana of any one color to your mana pool. Spend this mana only to cast creature spells with converted mana cost 2.

[Delha]

Feels like this has a high potential to be broken.

Setting that aside, all yout text should be part of a single tap ability.
: Add one mana of any color to your mana pool. Spend this mana only to cast non-artifact creature spells. If you control more than one Mox Vial, instead add to your mana pool. (This mana can still only be spent on non-artifact creature spells.)

Probably cleaner to just remove the "more than one" conditional statement and make this legenday.

Also, the spending restriction of "non-artifact creature" spells feels clunky, though I don't offhand have a better template to suggest. The first thing that comes to mind is "This mana cannot be used to pay colorless mana costs. Spend this mana only to cast creature spells." I like this because it's marginally more restrictive, but still feels inelegant.

Edit: Fixed formatting for ability reminder text.

[DubDub]

Feels like this has a high potential to be broken.

I don't think it's so bad for Vintage, but "banned in Legacy" looks like it's right around the corner.

Setting that aside, all yout text should be part of a single tap ability.

Yep, here's another shot at it:

: Add one mana of any color to your mana pool.  If you control more than one Mox Vial, instead add to your mana pool.  Mana from Mox Vial can only be used cast non-artifact creature spells or activate non-artifact abilities.

[Delha]

Yeah, I wasn't thinking Vintage in particular would abuse it. TBH, I was most worried about Standard, though I figured it would be nasty in Legacy as well.

The problem with your suggested version is that it departs from the current templating, which is standardized as "Spend this mana only to X."

[Shax]

I think Guli wanted a Mox with a drawback of some sorts, the  mana for two and 1 lifeloss are good enough. If you want to play creatures in Vintage your more than welcome to without having to play a one of artifact because it's legendary. This would replace the off color moxen in Fish decks and maybe spawn something with potential or atleast more consistant.

[Delha]

As pointed out though, something being "fair/weak" in Vintage doesn't mean much. It's to be expected that a card while helps creatures doesn't really impact a format that inherently marginalizes creature.

In other formats though, this would probably be broken as hell. How many Standard decks wouldn't run 3-4 of these as autoincludes?

[Guli]

I think it is time for me to investigate the meta in other formats to come up with more balanced ways to create vintage cards without breaking other formats. My underlying wish was to give Fish decks the ability to play with 5 colour if they wish to do so. For example if you want to play Meddling Mage, Gaddock Teeg and Dark Confidant in the same deck. Spells are free anyway these days in Fish, see Force of Will, Daze, Mental Misstep.

I am sick of the fact that Workshop keeps getting more tools to play AND they have the means to power out those tools with the 5 black lotus in there decks.Fish did get a lot of new tools too but there simply isn't the right acceleration to get these threats out in time. You need to get a turn 1 Gaddock Teeg out against Blue to get a marginal advantage. Go listen to the 4th pod-cast of Steve and his friend. They explain what I mean in detail. They talk about how the ideal cc of hate bears should be 2 mana. I am fine with this, it doesn't have to be a 1 drop, as long as I get a decent way to power out these bears turn 1. I don't want to run Mox diamond or Chrome mox. Shop has Mishra's Workshop, Blue has Key/Ring/Mana Vault/Grim Monolith and Fish has things like Noble Hierarch and Aether Vial. Speed wise it just is not fair. And the things they power out can seal the win pretty quickly (Tezz/Jace/Golems/Wires/...)

Ok so, how would you create a mox for creatures without breaking standard or legacy... Suggestions?

[thorme]

Maybe a lotus petal for critters versus a mox?

Lotus Fruit
Artifact
 
 , Sacrifice Lotus Fruit: Add one mana of any color to your mana pool. Spend this mana only to cast creature spells.


Lets you get your hate bears out turn 1, but probably not as broken in standard.

[Stormanimagus]

Maybe a lotus petal for critters versus a mox?

Lotus Fruit
Artifact
 
 , Sacrifice Lotus Fruit: Add one mana of any color to your mana pool. Spend this mana only to cast creature spells.


Lets you get your hate bears out turn 1, but probably not as broken in standard.

That is way too underpowered for a deck that relies on consistent mana sources. Since Fish is not a 1-shot kill deck then cards like petal would probably not see much play. Think of this. Most Noble Fish builds don't even run 1 lotus petal. Why is this? Because it is not a permanent mana source and one is not able to leverage a small burst of mana into a game ending threat the way Storm is. That said, here's where I'd go with such a mox.

Mox Pendant       0

Artifact

 : Add 2 mana of any one color to your mana pool. Spend this mana only to cast creature spells with converted mana cost 2 or less.



This card would be a house in Fish and really not much else. It would also encourage fish to play a higher density of creatures and shape that archetype into the true aggro deck of the format.

-Storm

[Ten-Ten]

Mox Pendant       0

Legendary Artifact

 : Add 2 1 mana of any one color to your mana pool. Spend this mana only to cast creature spells with converted mana cost 2 or less.

much better

how 'bout an equip:

Aether Pendant  

Artifact- equipment
*
equiped creature gains Haste and has:
 : place a creature with converted mana cost equal to this creatures from your hand onto the battlefield.

Equip:Tap an untapped *creature you control.


edit: i thought of this for a deck with Master of etherium, otherwise i would have included an non-artifact creature restriction (*)

[Guli]

Maybe a lotus petal for critters versus a mox?

Lotus Fruit
Artifact
 
 , Sacrifice Lotus Fruit: Add one mana of any color to your mana pool. Spend this mana only to cast creature spells.


Lets you get your hate bears out turn 1, but probably not as broken in standard.

That is way too underpowered for a deck that relies on consistent mana sources. Since Fish is not a 1-shot kill deck then cards like petal would probably not see much play. Think of this. Most Noble Fish builds don't even run 1 lotus petal. Why is this? Because it is not a permanent mana source and one is not able to leverage a small burst of mana into a game ending threat the way Storm is. That said, here's where I'd go with such a mox.

Mox Pendant       0

Artifact

 : Add 2 mana of any one color to your mana pool. Spend this mana only to cast creature spells with converted mana cost 2 or less.



This card would be a house in Fish and really not much else. It would also encourage fish to play a higher density of creatures and shape that archetype into the true aggro deck of the format.

-Storm

I like it, what about making it just for 2 drops too make it even more narrow and specific? This would make it 'less' stronger for other formats too and harder to play with. And I think 2 mana is too broken. The idea is land/mox into bear.

Mox Pendant

Artifact

: Add one mana of any one color to your mana pool. Spend this mana only to cast creature spells with converted cost 2.

[Wagner]

I feel limiting is to two drops is WAY out of flavor and feels like it's directed at a particular format.

I think I would just go with the 1 mana of any color and make it Legendary. Mox Opal is good and still pretty tame, this should have the same effect. Awesome on turn 1, very bad in late game or in multiples.

The first idea to make it give colorless in multiples was good, but I feel that in a real game it would become confusing

[Guli]

I feel limiting is to two drops is WAY out of flavor and feels like it's directed at a particular format.

I think I would just go with the 1 mana of any color and make it Legendary. Mox Opal is good and still pretty tame, this should have the same effect. Awesome on turn 1, very bad in late game or in multiples.

The first idea to make it give colorless in multiples was good, but I feel that in a real game it would become confusing

Lodestone Golem wasn't directed to a particular format?

I don't want to make it legendary, so let's avoid it at all cost. What about just give it pain instead legendary? A city of brass Mox for creatures. I would reinstate Storm's idea in this case.

Mox Pendant              
Artifact

: Add up to two mana of any one color to your mana pool. Spend this mana only to cast creature spells with converted mana cost 2 or less. Mox Pendant deals one damage to you for each mana spend this way.

[Wagner]

Two is MUCH too strong. 1 mana of any color is enough.

Imagine you have 2 in your opening hand, you can cast up to 3-4 creatures on turn 1.

I would make it give 1 mana, 1 damage, but no CC restriction.


Another weird option

"When you cast Mox Pendant, remove from the game all cards names Mox Pendant you control". That way they are not awful in multiple, they just serve as Lotus Petals.

[Delha]

I think the cost restriction is necessary to stop this from being stupid good. As mentioned earlier, one needs to keep in mind the question of whether each version proposed is an autoinclude in most Standard decks. 1 mana, 1 pain, no CC restriction definitely qualifies.

My personal preference is for the tight mana cost restriction without a pain component. I don't see anything wrong with printing narrow cards, and I'd go so far as to say that's the safest way to build powerful things. Anything that's both strong and broadly usable ends up being a "just throw this into everything you build" type of card, which is lame.

Hatchery Mox
Artifact
: Add one mana of any color to your mana pool. Spend this mana only to cast creature spells with converted mana cost 2.

[CHaPuZaS]

I fin it too limited to be a card with the name Mox on it. Creatures of convertered mana cost 2 or less will make it better, but maybe not too much.

I think that the problem relies on the name, might there be any other approximation?

[serracollector]

I just wanted to point out that a Mox, with no legendary status that reads "tap add one mana of any color, this mana can only be used on non-artifact creatures, and must be CMC 2 or less"  also reads

"My welder MUD now has 5 mox Ruby's"

Just wanted to point that out.

[TheWhiteDragon]

I am fine with this, it doesn't have to be a 1 drop, as long as I get a decent way to power out these bears turn 1. I don't want to run Mox diamond or Chrome mox. Shop has Mishra's Workshop, Blue has Key/Ring/Mana Vault/Grim Monolith and Fish has things like Noble Hierarch and Aether Vial. Speed wise it just is not fair. And the things they power out can seal the win pretty quickly (Tezz/Jace/Golems/Wires/...)

Ok so, how would you create a mox for creatures without breaking standard or legacy... Suggestions?

You play on colored moxen, lotus, lotus petal, mox diamond, chrome mox, and not complain that there is nothing fish can use to drop a 2cc critter on turn 1.  Fish has tons of ways to get multicolor mana on turn 1.  Shit, if you're that hard up for a turn 1 gaddock, try ESG.  I don't see blue having access to uncounterable, unspherable, lotus petals.  Maybe someone playing U should complain and get a "1U - merfolk spirit guide - 1/1".

[Wagner]

I am fine with this, it doesn't have to be a 1 drop, as long as I get a decent way to power out these bears turn 1. I don't want to run Mox diamond or Chrome mox. Shop has Mishra's Workshop, Blue has Key/Ring/Mana Vault/Grim Monolith and Fish has things like Noble Hierarch and Aether Vial. Speed wise it just is not fair. And the things they power out can seal the win pretty quickly (Tezz/Jace/Golems/Wires/...)

Ok so, how would you create a mox for creatures without breaking standard or legacy... Suggestions?

You play on colored moxen, lotus, lotus petal, mox diamond, chrome mox, and not complain that there is nothing fish can use to drop a 2cc critter on turn 1.  Fish has tons of ways to get multicolor mana on turn 1.  Shit, if you're that hard up for a turn 1 gaddock, try ESG.  I don't see blue having access to uncounterable, unspherable, lotus petals.  Maybe someone playing U should complain and get a "1U - merfolk spirit guide - 1/1".

All the cards you named cause a card disadvantage, which it a normal drawback for speed. This new card has basically not drawback in a fish deck.

[Delha]

I just wanted to point out that a Mox, with no legendary status that reads "tap add one mana of any color, this mana can only be used on non-artifact creatures, and must be CMC 2 or less"  also reads

"My welder MUD now has 5 mox Ruby's that might as well be Great Furnaces since they can actually cast lock pieces."

Just wanted to point that out.

Fixed.

I don't see blue having access to uncounterable, unspherable, lotus petals.  Maybe someone playing U should complain and get a "1U - merfolk spirit guide - 1/1".

Sure, right after they print  " - Counter target spell".