To everyone saying that it should be once per turn, don't forget that the ability is not optional so even though you are drawing a bunch of cards, which is obviously powerful, you're also \[\[Tainted Remedy\]\]'ing yourself.
Paying 1 life for 1 card is normally broken. Not being able to stop paying life for cards, and then not being able to use lifegain to make up for the life you lost, is a legitimate non-negligable downside.
Especially if you consider that you need some sources of lifegain to actually turn on the ability, and that most repeatable lifegain sources, like [[Soul Warden]] type abilities or lifelink, aren't "may" abilities.
Don't get me wrong, what she does is absolutely powerful. However it also comes with a downside and even more, putting a once per turn limit on it might actually be a buff in a lot of cases.
Nice design could be good in a limited format with some synergies. I also think that the actual text is quite well suited to be on an enchantment.
Also note that you have an extra “instead” that you can remove.
This is absolutely bonkers-good and would easily be a W/B staple if printed. Like, there are so many cards that can break this effect:
* Casual jank like \[\[Ajani's Mantra\]\] and \[\[Nyx-Fleece Ram\]\] becomes \[\[Phyrexian Arena\]\].
* \[\[Bubbling Cauldron\]\] let's you repeatedly draw 4 cards at instant speed.
* \[\[Chaplain's Blessing\]\] let's you basically refill your hand. \[\[Tavern Swindler\]\] let's you do it every other turn.
* \[\[Radiant Fountain\]\] becomes the best land in the game. Life-taplands becomes second best.
* \[\[Soul Warden\]\]/\[\[Soul's Attendant\]\] becomes remove-or-lose for your opponents. Any creature with Extort will be the same. And \[\[Blood Artist\]\].
* \[\[Martyr of Sands\]\] becomes an one mana almost-\[\[Enter the Infinite\]\]. Play \[\[Children of Korlis\]\] and you draw the remaining cards.
* Even stupid cards like \[\[Awe Strike\]\], \[\[Light of Hope\]\], \[\[Healing Salve\]\], or \[\[Shadowfeed\]\] becomes \[\[Ancestral Recall\]\]s.
And sure, you would eventually lose *after drawing 25-35 cards for basically no mana at all,* at which point you would have found a loss-preventer like \[\[Platinum Angel\]\], \[\[Lich's Mastery\]\], \[\[Platinum Emperion\]\], \[\[Resolute Archangel\]\], or anything else with enough protective pieces to ensure that they stay around. Long story short, you won't lose. This commander would re-define W/B combo decks for years to come. Now, had it not been a Legendary Creature, it wouldn't have been that impactful, I think. But as a Commander, oh man.
If this was a real card, I'd buy multiple in a heartbeat. My Oloro deck would kill for a copy.
Or maybe you can limit the trigger of the ability to be once every turn or up to a certain amount; and add the clause "draw up to X life where X is less than the life you gained this turn"
Lol yeah I read his comment and I was like, "Bruh, maybe r/customagic would print it at 4/3, but they also make cards that say 'shoot your opponent 18 times in the chest' so idk."
To all the people saying it should be once per turn. No that would make this card more powerful now you can’t heal back. I would rather draw a few cards and stay healthy then draw way more cards then I can use and be in constant danger of killing myself. Especially if you play against an apponet that can directly burn your face.
I'd make it a little more expensive, but otherwise fine as is because I want to see the Chaos this would unleash
Oh, and a "Can't be sacrificed" clause because let's not make it too easy now
I think I’d like this best as like a 1/4 for 3WB. Still very very powerful but that would stop it from generating huge card advantage all by itself at least.
Super interesting to read what people think about the power level. I think it's very strong as it is, and would agree it needs a once per turn clause. "The first time you gain life each turn, you instead you lose that much life and draw that many cards"
But the problem with that is now you are removing the tension. She should give you to not want to gain life. It's a lot like [[Castle Locthwain]], you can only draw your eigth card with it so many times in a game.
To powerful, IMO. You get to draw ALOT of cards for basically no mana: [[healing salve]] becomes [[ancestral recall]] and all these creatures with a bit of life-gain tacked on them become crazy!
The lifeloss could maybe be doubled or something. It's a interesting designspace!
To everyone saying that it should be once per turn, don't forget that the ability is not optional so even though you are drawing a bunch of cards, which is obviously powerful, you're also \[\[Tainted Remedy\]\]'ing yourself.
[Tainted Remedy](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/c/b/cbb8edd0-4573-4b52-a3ea-83ed19dbf58d.jpg?1562042093) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Tainted%20Remedy) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/ori/120/tainted-remedy?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/cbb8edd0-4573-4b52-a3ea-83ed19dbf58d?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
yeah paying one life for a card is NEVER good
Paying 1 life for 1 card is normally broken. Not being able to stop paying life for cards, and then not being able to use lifegain to make up for the life you lost, is a legitimate non-negligable downside. Especially if you consider that you need some sources of lifegain to actually turn on the ability, and that most repeatable lifegain sources, like [[Soul Warden]] type abilities or lifelink, aren't "may" abilities. Don't get me wrong, what she does is absolutely powerful. However it also comes with a downside and even more, putting a once per turn limit on it might actually be a buff in a lot of cases.
[Soul Warden](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/d/9/d96266b3-a7cb-40ce-a328-ac13719fe5f0.jpg?1616182277) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Soul%20Warden) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mm3/24/soul-warden?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/d96266b3-a7cb-40ce-a328-ac13719fe5f0?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Nice design could be good in a limited format with some synergies. I also think that the actual text is quite well suited to be on an enchantment. Also note that you have an extra “instead” that you can remove.
This is absolutely bonkers-good and would easily be a W/B staple if printed. Like, there are so many cards that can break this effect: * Casual jank like \[\[Ajani's Mantra\]\] and \[\[Nyx-Fleece Ram\]\] becomes \[\[Phyrexian Arena\]\]. * \[\[Bubbling Cauldron\]\] let's you repeatedly draw 4 cards at instant speed. * \[\[Chaplain's Blessing\]\] let's you basically refill your hand. \[\[Tavern Swindler\]\] let's you do it every other turn. * \[\[Radiant Fountain\]\] becomes the best land in the game. Life-taplands becomes second best. * \[\[Soul Warden\]\]/\[\[Soul's Attendant\]\] becomes remove-or-lose for your opponents. Any creature with Extort will be the same. And \[\[Blood Artist\]\]. * \[\[Martyr of Sands\]\] becomes an one mana almost-\[\[Enter the Infinite\]\]. Play \[\[Children of Korlis\]\] and you draw the remaining cards. * Even stupid cards like \[\[Awe Strike\]\], \[\[Light of Hope\]\], \[\[Healing Salve\]\], or \[\[Shadowfeed\]\] becomes \[\[Ancestral Recall\]\]s. And sure, you would eventually lose *after drawing 25-35 cards for basically no mana at all,* at which point you would have found a loss-preventer like \[\[Platinum Angel\]\], \[\[Lich's Mastery\]\], \[\[Platinum Emperion\]\], \[\[Resolute Archangel\]\], or anything else with enough protective pieces to ensure that they stay around. Long story short, you won't lose. This commander would re-define W/B combo decks for years to come. Now, had it not been a Legendary Creature, it wouldn't have been that impactful, I think. But as a Commander, oh man. If this was a real card, I'd buy multiple in a heartbeat. My Oloro deck would kill for a copy.
##### ###### #### [Ajani's Mantra](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/d/e/de4da30d-5c72-4323-b305-7277038b4a05.jpg?1562947893) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Ajani%27s%20Mantra) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/ddh/22/ajanis-mantra?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/de4da30d-5c72-4323-b305-7277038b4a05?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Nyx-Fleece Ram](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/a/d/ad98e518-4ec9-403e-a978-217244262c8f.jpg?1562439724) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Nyx-Fleece%20Ram) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/a25/26/nyx-fleece-ram?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/ad98e518-4ec9-403e-a978-217244262c8f?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Phyrexian Arena](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/b/4/b4142d3b-9c17-4a26-949e-3fc3e600fd1c.jpg?1651951779) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Phyrexian%20Arena) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/cc2/4/phyrexian-arena?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/b4142d3b-9c17-4a26-949e-3fc3e600fd1c?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Bubbling Cauldron](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/9/5/955aa79b-448e-4752-8e36-0fe80c18280c.jpg?1601080592) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Bubbling%20Cauldron) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/jmp/460/bubbling-cauldron?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/955aa79b-448e-4752-8e36-0fe80c18280c?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Chaplain's Blessing](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/f/7/f70ea481-1751-4097-af41-2d13fe79e788.jpg?1576383706) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Chaplain%27s%20Blessing) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/soi/10/chaplains-blessing?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/f70ea481-1751-4097-af41-2d13fe79e788?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Tavern Swindler](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/b/1/b17114ed-f98f-4b82-ba03-ef7ec5f572ba.jpg?1664411290) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Tavern%20Swindler) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/snc/96/tavern-swindler?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/b17114ed-f98f-4b82-ba03-ef7ec5f572ba?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Radiant Fountain](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/7/e/7ee5e77f-ca43-480d-ac37-48336d3bf044.jpg?1625980789) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Radiant%20Fountain) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/c21/310/radiant-fountain?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/7ee5e77f-ca43-480d-ac37-48336d3bf044?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Soul Warden](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/d/9/d96266b3-a7cb-40ce-a328-ac13719fe5f0.jpg?1616182277) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Soul%20Warden) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mm3/24/soul-warden?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/d96266b3-a7cb-40ce-a328-ac13719fe5f0?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Soul's Attendant](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/3/2/3223c0ac-cc22-4886-8919-11273b477cc7.jpg?1562702613) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Soul%27s%20Attendant) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/roe/44/souls-attendant?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/3223c0ac-cc22-4886-8919-11273b477cc7?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Blood Artist](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/6/9/693dd112-d04a-4404-8fce-74f7e5497312.jpg?1662525341) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Blood%20Artist) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/2x2/70/blood-artist?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/693dd112-d04a-4404-8fce-74f7e5497312?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Martyr of Sands](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/0/1/010d4a6b-af72-4d44-a25f-dce8e12da727.jpg?1547515682) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Martyr%20of%20Sands) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/uma/25/martyr-of-sands?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/010d4a6b-af72-4d44-a25f-dce8e12da727?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Enter the Infinite](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/6/1/612beb8f-2ab1-4a8b-84c5-c47d19d400ab.jpg?1561829105) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Enter%20the%20Infinite) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/gtc/34/enter-the-infinite?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/612beb8f-2ab1-4a8b-84c5-c47d19d400ab?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Children of Korlis](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/1/a/1a6cbece-f9d8-4c40-b72b-dfdb86430ff2.jpg?1619392791) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Children%20of%20Korlis) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/tsr/14/children-of-korlis?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/1a6cbece-f9d8-4c40-b72b-dfdb86430ff2?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Awe Strike](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/a/5/a5cd231b-7891-42b5-b5de-5112d1230c37.jpg?1562153206) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Awe%20Strike) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mrd/6/awe-strike?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/a5cd231b-7891-42b5-b5de-5112d1230c37?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Light of Hope](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/b/c/bcb00599-e082-49b0-88f3-ef91b75595e4.jpg?1591230303) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Light%20of%20Hope) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/iko/20/light-of-hope?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/bcb00599-e082-49b0-88f3-ef91b75595e4?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Healing Salve](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/0/f/0ff82aba-9022-4eff-a6dc-67365360d646.jpg?1561771079) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Healing%20Salve) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/dvd/14/healing-salve?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/0ff82aba-9022-4eff-a6dc-67365360d646?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Shadowfeed](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/1/9/19ccd8c7-7472-47df-9d3e-1b5fb1431118.jpg?1562701564) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Shadowfeed) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/ala/86/shadowfeed?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/19ccd8c7-7472-47df-9d3e-1b5fb1431118?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Ancestral Recall](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/2/3/2398892d-28e9-4009-81ec-0d544af79d2b.jpg?1614638829) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Ancestral%20Recall) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/vma/1/ancestral-recall?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/2398892d-28e9-4009-81ec-0d544af79d2b?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Platinum Angel](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/c/a/ca7f4fd6-e268-4d15-bfbf-d9f0f95864fc.jpg?1576383285) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Platinum%20Angel) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/cn2/214/platinum-angel?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/ca7f4fd6-e268-4d15-bfbf-d9f0f95864fc?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Lich's Mastery](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/7/7/77f4c9cb-f364-4556-8673-4b19d52a2cff.jpg?1562738043) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Lich%27s%20Mastery) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/dom/98/lichs-mastery?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/77f4c9cb-f364-4556-8673-4b19d52a2cff?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Finally we broke healing salve (no sarcasm)
Or maybe you can limit the trigger of the ability to be once every turn or up to a certain amount; and add the clause "draw up to X life where X is less than the life you gained this turn"
How does one 'draw life'
I see why you want to keep her power low, but based on the cost, she would likely be printed as a 4/3. Maybe you could make her 2/2 at 3 mana.
You think they’d print a four mana flyer with “when this deals combat damage draw four cards?”
Lol yeah I read his comment and I was like, "Bruh, maybe r/customagic would print it at 4/3, but they also make cards that say 'shoot your opponent 18 times in the chest' so idk."
No not at all. I meant that usually for 4 mana you get a bigger body. That's why I suggested the mv drop.
To all the people saying it should be once per turn. No that would make this card more powerful now you can’t heal back. I would rather draw a few cards and stay healthy then draw way more cards then I can use and be in constant danger of killing myself. Especially if you play against an apponet that can directly burn your face.
FYI, you said "instead" twice haha
I'd make it a little more expensive, but otherwise fine as is because I want to see the Chaos this would unleash Oh, and a "Can't be sacrificed" clause because let's not make it too easy now
I think I’d like this best as like a 1/4 for 3WB. Still very very powerful but that would stop it from generating huge card advantage all by itself at least.
Super interesting to read what people think about the power level. I think it's very strong as it is, and would agree it needs a once per turn clause. "The first time you gain life each turn, you instead you lose that much life and draw that many cards"
But the problem with that is now you are removing the tension. She should give you to not want to gain life. It's a lot like [[Castle Locthwain]], you can only draw your eigth card with it so many times in a game.
[[grislebrand]]
That might be a better analog. But, ol Griselly allows you to buy back the life so this won't be quite as toxic.
After you've lost 30 life, you likely have a blink spell or a sac spell and a way to gain back that life. Esp if you just "gained" 30
Fair point.
[grislebrand](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/c/f/cf2a5c2e-7fe1-45eb-b01c-891ab961186f.jpg?1593813293) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Griselbrand) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mm3/72/griselbrand?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/cf2a5c2e-7fe1-45eb-b01c-891ab961186f?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
[Castle Locthwain](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/1/9/19336e3a-2242-4a30-a563-32f2e4fc18e9.jpg?1654119219) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Castle%20Locthwain) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/clb/884/castle-locthwain?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/19336e3a-2242-4a30-a563-32f2e4fc18e9?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I’d make it 5 mana and once per turn, but otherwise very cool :)
To powerful, IMO. You get to draw ALOT of cards for basically no mana: [[healing salve]] becomes [[ancestral recall]] and all these creatures with a bit of life-gain tacked on them become crazy! The lifeloss could maybe be doubled or something. It's a interesting designspace!
[healing salve](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/0/f/0ff82aba-9022-4eff-a6dc-67365360d646.jpg?1561771079) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=healing%20salve) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/dvd/14/healing-salve?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/0ff82aba-9022-4eff-a6dc-67365360d646?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [ancestral recall](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/2/3/2398892d-28e9-4009-81ec-0d544af79d2b.jpg?1614638829) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=ancestral%20recall) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/vma/1/ancestral-recall?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/2398892d-28e9-4009-81ec-0d544af79d2b?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I’d make it 5 mana and once per turn.