Magic Deck Vortex: DeckCenter - Talking about MDV IDOL 2!

Aaand Welcome to DeckCenter. I am Berm, and I am joined with my broadcast partner Jack. Today, we will be providing you coverage of the first voting session of MDV Idol 2: In the Crossfire!

Its been a long time coming, as they had the slight delay in the registration, but they are now fully underway, as the referee has blown the whistle, and the contenders begin the battle for supremacy in the Semi-Finals of the contest.

Mirrored Leviathan
Artifact Creature – Leviathan 9
As Mirrored Leviathan comes into play, your opponent reveals his hand.
When Mirrored Leviathan leaves play, you lose the game.
1: Put a 0/1 Egg artifact creature token into play. Play this ability no more than twice each turn.
Whenever Mirrored Leviathan becomes the target of a spell or ability you may change that spell to target another creature you control.
"The reason for the near extinction of the Leviathans is unknown, but their are several theories that explain how they deflect their attackers into the eggs of their young."
-Mirrorpeople Observations Volume 412
8/9

The first gladiator out the door, Mirrored Leviathan, is a powerhouse. At a casting cost of 9, this thing is in great shape with 8 power and 9 toughness. This thing could level a field in no time by itself, but the added ability of shooting out smaller blockers or sacrifice fodder for its own second ability, it is insane. This guy is broken, and should be placed in the Hall of Infamy just under the Power Nine. It wouldn’t rule the arena quite as much if it had Defender, or if the tokens became the targets of spells and abilities aimed at it.

Yea, I am not sure what is going on in this play, but a big shiny Levi sending its own eggs up the river is no way to procreate.

Spellfeeder Rustwurm
Artifact Creature - Wurm Construct 5
As Spellfeeder Rustwurm comes into play, target opponent reveals his or her hand.
Pay 2 life: Counter target spell that targets Spellfeeder Rustwurm. Put a +1/+1 counter on Spellfeeder Rustwurm.
When Spellfeeder Rustwurm leaves play, you lose the game.
It lives by rusting, it rusts by dying.
7/7

Next up is the Spellfeeder Rustwurm. This is closer to having what it takes to see print, but it’s still low on the mana curve. It begins as a 7/7 for 5 mana, and grows from there. Most undercosted cards get smaller as the game progresses, not larger. The drawback makes the card interesting, though. It looks like beef, and tastes like chicken. Paying two life to counter a spell is pretty big, and adding counters to it does give it the Wurm feel. If it had a smaller body, it might fit through the door.

I ah… I don’t know what to say except that this guy might be a contest too late.

Spellshifter Engine
Artifact Creature 4
As Spellshifter Construct comes into play, your opponent reveals his hand.
When Spellshifter Construct leaves play, you lose the game.
2:Spellshifter Construct's color becomes the color of your choice until end of turn.
2:Counter target spell that shares a color with Spellshifter Construct.
They say at the center is a tiny diamond through which all manor of color burst forth.
4/4

The Spellshifter Construct is a warrior. An Eight-and-a-Half Tails in machine form, a Wild Mongrel without losing card advantage. It’s balanced, and fair at rare, but it looks too much like a certain legendary fox to be a real contender. But, there are always surprises, folks. You never know who Could... Go... All... The... Way.

What is not to like about a permanent countering card for four colorless mana? Who needs Islands anymore right?

Cabal Dreadnought
Artifact Creature – Dreadnought 8
Trample
As Cabal Dreadnought comes into play, your opponent reveals his hand.
When Cabal Dreadnought leaves play, you lose the game.
2T: Name a nonland card. Target opponent discards any cards with that name from their hand.
Remove 2 cards from your graveyard: Regenerate Cabal Dreadnought
Pay 2 Life: Untap Cabal Dreadnought.
The Cabal engineers who created the monstrosity were quickly executed, for fear they would improve on their design.
8/8

Cabal Dreadnought might have what it takes. An 8/8 for 8 mana is good by itself, but with regeneration, uptapping, and discard, this little juggernaught could be over-the-top. But with the power of choosing a card from an opponent’s hand and forcing the discard at two colorless, when Black has to pay two Black, this is just too good. But, it needs to deal with its opponent quickly, and without Haste, I don’t think it’ll stand up in the arena.

Little juggernaut? An 8/8 little? Man, this guy gets around the Black problem, which is that Black needs Black mana to be Black.

Silver-Mirror Golem 9
Artifact Creature
As Silver-Mirror Golem comes into play, target opponent reveals his or her hand.
When Silver-Mirror Golem leaves play, you lose the game.
If Silver-Mirror Golem is the target of a spell or ability which could target another permenant in play, you may choose a new target for that spell or ability.
3: Put a 0/1 Glass Wall Artifact Token Creature into play.
'Sheltered in its brilliant shell, it stands against those who would harm its master.'
1/7

The above card is not actually one being voted upon.

The first entry by Luther“This Is Not the Leviathan You’re Looking For”vampirelord could be related to the Mirror Leviathan. But this card is playable. At 9 casting cost for a 1/7 body, this wall of beef can spit out bait and redirect spells. Sadly, this was withdrawn because of the conflict with Mirrored Leviathan.

Maxidor, Distilled Magic : 7
Legendary Artifact Creature - Wizard
As Maxidor, Distilled Magic comes into play, target opponent reveals his or her hand.
When Maxidor, Distilled Magic leaves play, you lose the game.
1U; Remove the top two cards of your library from the game: Counter Target Spell.
'You can forget that! Saying that, what was I doing?'
2/4

So, we have a second entry by Luthor“I Need New Minions”vampirelord. Maxidor is a hate crime waiting to happen. 7 casting cost for a 2/4 body, but it counters up to 27 or so spells. I can’t help but think that there could be something more to the essence of Distilled Magic, but it’s a balanced card.

Balanced card? This card is pretty darn good if you ask me… wha.. what was I saying? Nice flavor text too.

Mindgorge Duplicant
Artifact Creature – Shapeshifter 8
Imprint - As Mindgorge Duplicant comes into play, target opponent reveals his or her hand. You may remove any number of Instant and Sorcery cards in his or her hand from the game.
2: You may copy an imprinted card. Counter that spell unless you pay its converted mana cost.
When Mindgorge Duplicant leaves play, you lose the game.
Mishra spent countless nights trying to create such duplicants, never knowing how many times he succeeded.
2/4

I can’t believe what I’m seeing. The Mindgorge Duplicant is a game winner, pure and simple. At 8 casting cost for a 2/4 body, it might look harmless enough, but with any kind of acceleration, this card would break the game, the field, and a few of the fans on its way in. This is a wrecking ball. All you’d need is a little mana and a way to get it out of your library. You don’t need other cards with this one. It’s like Mike Tyson and Bo Jackson rolled into one.

I just think Cashew is trying to hurt someone, I don’t think he came to play around.

Spellguard
Artifact Creature - Construct 6
As Spellguard comes into play, target opponent reveals his or her hand.
Whenever a player plays an instant or sorcery spell that targets Spellguard, counter it and remove it from the game.
At end of turn, return all cards removed from the game by Spellguard to their owner's hands.
When Spellguard leaves play, you lose the game.
A guardian, a soul unborn; a purpose given, never fulfilled.
1/5

Spellguard brings a huge defense to the table, but it comes at a price. For 6 mana and a 1/5 body, the only thing this needs is Defender. Your opponent can use Spellguard to stop hand disruption and discard. A tough body keeps it around after a Ribbons of the Night. This is close to a very playable card. It’ll hold the Red Zone without steroids.

At the rate that the Falcons are letting running backs run through their defensive line, perhaps they ought to conjure up a Spellguard or two…

Spell-Jack Automaton
Artifact Creature - 6
When Spell-Jack Automaton comes into play target opponent reveals his/her hand.
If two or more spells of the same type would be in the stack at the same time both are countered.
6: Target played reveals his/her hand, you may choose a card and remove it from the game. If this card shares a type as a card on the stack you may counter it.
When Spell-Jack Automaton leaves play you lose the game.
In desperation the caster swung his staff cracking the Automaton's outer shell, shattering the beast. His victory was short-lived.... quite literally.
3/1

Here’s a challenger. Spell-Jack Automaton starts out slow, but it can take the worst from its opponent in the long haul. With a 3/1 body, it doesn’t look like a threat, but its ability to hit the stack hard makes it a monster. It’s going backbackbackbackback.. It could be gone..

Tharados, Breeder of Death
Legendary Artifact Creature- Horror 5
In addition to colorless, Tharados, Breeder of Death is Black.
When Tharados, Breeder of Death comes into play, look at target opponent's hand.
When Tharados, Breeder of Death leaves play, you lose the game.
When Tharados, Breeder of Death deals combat damage to a creature, that creature is destroyed at end of combat. It can't be regenerated.
When Tharados, Breeder of Death deals combat damage to a player, that player loses half of his or her life, rounded up.
Pay half your life, rounded up: Regenerate Tharados, Breeder of Death.
Death knocks on your door with cold, iron hands.
1/4

It has a huge drawback, but one that lets it stay for the long haul. The body is just a 1/4 for 5 mana. But it’s listed as a Horror. I dunno. It just doesn’t have the Horror feel to it. Horrors remove things from the game, and let them come back when they die. It’s close to a contender, but there’s something missing.. Duck sauce needs a duck to be really good.

Typically we would just comment on the performance and not the player behind the performance.. but this time I need to take an alternate route to the finish line Berm. Death_by_Aggro seemed very confident in his card as he pumped his fist and declared himself the next MDV Idol winner, but then turned face and had to back in and try to duck out of the plagiarizing issue that some of the contestants were talking about backstage. If you are gonna poof out your chest and beat on it in one moment, you can’t turn around and be coward in the next can you?

Winged Lightning 4
Artifact Creature-Wisp
As this comes into play, target opponent reveals his or her hand, and discards one card of your choice. Then you reveal your hand and discard one card.
Haste. Vigilance. Flying. Winged Lightning can't be blocked.
1: Regenerate Winged Lightning. If you do, Winged Lightning deals 4 damage to you.
4: Winged lightning does 2 damage to target creature.
Whenever this leaves play, you lose the game.
There are few have ever seen it; there are few it has never seen; for it never stops moving.
2/1

Does Winged Lightning really need haste, vigilance, and unblockable-ity? At 4 mana, it could stand to lose a few pounds and fight in a lower weight class. The other abilities could keep this one in contention, which is why I’m going to take a chance on it.

What happens if you’re only at two life and need to block with this? Either it dies or you die.

Phyrexian Morpher
Artifact Creature 6
When Phyrexian Morpher comes into play, look at target opponent's hand.
When Phyrexian Morpher leaves play, you lose the game.
3: Phyrexian Morpher's card type becomes the type of your choice until the end of turn. (This type replaces Phyrexian Morpher's current card type(s) You may not choose sorcery or instant.)
While Phyrexian Morpher is land, it has "T: add one mana of any color to your mana pool."
While Phyrexian Morpher is an enchantment, it has "3: Put a 0/1 Morphling token into play."
While Phyrexian Morpher is a non-artifact creature, it has "This creature's power and toughness are equal to the number of non-artifact, non-token creatures you control."
While Phyrexian Morpher is a non-creature artifact, it has "T: put a +1/+1 counter on target artifact creature"
"Nobody knows its true form."
4/4

Phyrexian Morpher comes out of nowhere, takes the ball, jukes, slides, and breaks away for the score. But it does too much, and could burn out in the first quarter. With that many abilities, it could be too good to be true. It has the style, but does it have the balance to stay on its feet? Only time will tell.

“I block with the Morpher. Damage on the stack? Ok, now in response, I morph the Morpher into a turnip, and damage falls off.”

Junkyard Machine
Artifact Creature – Machine 7
When Junkyard machine comes into play name a card type (creature, instant, sorcery, enchantment, or artifact) Junkyard Machine has protection from that type. Discard your hand you may change its protection. Use this ability once per turn. If Junkyard Machine is not in play at the beginning of your upkeep you lose the game.
One mans junk is another mans treasure.
3/4

The Junkyard Machine looks like a junkyard dog. It plays by its own rules, but those rules are hard to beat. It looks like a contender, but I don’t think it’ll be allowed to fight.

What the heck? Is it allowed to change the rules text like that? Where are the penalty flags?!

Blind Man's Pet
Artifact Creature - Construct 5
As Blind Man's Pet comes into play, your opponent reveals his hand.
Blind Man's Pet can't be the target of spells or abilities.
When Blind Man's Pet leaves play, you lose the game.
The pet acts as it's master's eyes, which is why without it, the master is doomed to die.
2/2

Blind Man’s Pet is the Thrilla in Vanilla. This isn’t flashy or inspiring, but it gets the job done. It has a place, which is ringside.

Well, I think we all expected this card to show up, I was more curious to know who was going to be the guy who made it and what they were going to name it.

Adamantine Seraph
Artifact Creature - Angel 8
When Adamantine Seraph comes into play, your opponent reveals his or her hand.
Choose a card type (artifact, creature, enchantment, instant, land, or sorcery) from the revealed cards. Adamantine Angel has protection from each of the card's types.
When Adamantine Seraph leaves play you lose the game
Flying, Vigilance
1: Adamantine Seraph gets +0/+1 until end of turn.
When she soars over the battlefield, the troops' spirits are renewed. When she departs, all hope is lost.
2/4

The Adamantine Seraph is no junkyard dog, but she has teeth. Eight casting cost for a 2/4 with very White abilities, this lady’s no angel. She’s a red-zone player all the way.

Treacherous Golem 4
Artifact Creature - Golem
When Treacherous Golem comes into play, target player reveals his or her hand.
When Treacherous Golem leaves play, you lose the game.
2UU: Target player gains control of Treacherous Golem
"All a man can betray is his conscience." - Joseph Conrad
0/3

The Treacherous Golem is like Blue Cheese dressing on spicy Buffalo Wings. You don’t know how good it might be until after it’s done. The Treacherous Golem has all the trappings of the Bronze Bombshell, plus a nasty little trap of its own. This escape artist wants to be taken down, only because it knows that its opponent will be hurt worse.

Golem of the Circles
Artifact Creature – Golem 4
When Golem of the Circles comes into play, target player reveals his or her hand.
When Golem of the Circles leaves play, you lose the game.
1:Golem of the Circles become the color of your choice in addition to all of it's other colors until end of turn.
2:Golem of the Circles gains protection from all colors it is until end of turn. If it has no colors, it gains protection from artifacts.
Tap, Prevent all damage dealt to a creature or player from a source that shares a color with Golem of the Circles.
1. Serve the public trust
2. Protect the innocent
3. Uphold the law
-Prime Directives, RoboCop.
3/3

This round’s offering by J“Suh-Weetness”Sweeney, Golem of the Circles, looks to fare much better than his last one. The power of seeing your opponent’s hand is enough to put a creature at 4 casting cost, but to add a low cost for protection and a chameleon ability could make this card broken. It has the right stuff, but it might have too much of it.

Tundra Drone
Artifact Creature 0
When Tundra Drone comes into play, target player reveals his or her hand.
When Tundra Drone leaves play, you lose the game.
Tundra Drone cannot be the target of spells or abilities.
It sees far into the distance and blends perfectly with the snow. Most importantly though, it keeps us warm!
0/2

A free untargetable spell? Tundra Drone just robbed Fort Knox with a clean getaway.

FuDaWg45, come on now, how are you going to follow up last contests honorable mention with this effort?

Deflector Combine
Artifact Creature - Construct 5
When Deflector Combine comes into play, target player reveals his or her hand.
When Deflector Combine leaves play, you lose the game.
All permanents are artifacts in addition to their other types.
Whenever Deflector Combine becomes the target of a spell or ability that designates a single target, you may sacrifice an untapped land. If you do, choose a new target for that spell.
No Flavor Text Submitted.
1/3

Oooh.. The Deflector Combine is a peanut butter and honey sandwich on wheat. The problem is that it becomes land destruction on a stick. If it only hit nonland permanents, this little juggernaught may have taken the lead. So close, but it caroms off the foul pole.

I don’t know Berm, I kind of like this one. It is twisted, I guess it suits Tekkactus well.

Heart Carrier 5
Artifact Creature - Carrier
When Heart Carrier comes into play, look at target opponent's hand. You can play these revealed cards as if they were in your hands using targeted opponent mana. This effect last until end of turn.
Pay 2 life: Look at target opponent's hand. You can play these revealed cards as if they were in your hands using targeted opponent mana. This effect last until end of turn.
When Heart Carrier leaves play, you lose the game.
"This little device is cruelly simple. You literally put your living heart into his fragile metallic entrails and he grant you no less than the power of soul desecration. Is violating your enemy's soul is worth putting your very life on the line. Well, most certainly it is!" Necrosage Krovicus
0/1

Heart Carrier is the first entry by Joy“If LVL Can Do It So Can I”zilla. I’m confused. “Targeted opponent mana?” Did I miss a rule here? If this had an explanation of the ability, I might give it a shot. Then again, this card might break the game if it were explained.

At 9 mana for a 9/9 body, the Synthesized Avatar is good by itself. But the special abilities make this thing far too good. At 2/2 for the same casting cost, the Avatar might have made the cut. With evasion like that, who needs beef?

Warp-time Golem
Artifact Creature 8
When you play Warp-time Golem, each player shuffles His or her graveyard, hand, and all permanents he or she controls into his or her library. Then each player draws 7 cards.
When Warp-time Golem comes into play, look at target player's hand.
When Warp-time golem leaves play, you lose the game.
This golem was designed by Ashnod, during the brother's war. Its functional purpose was to revert time to before the actual war had started and relay information about the future to Mishra. Destruction of this golem after activation would cause rips in space-time, so I have stationed it in the galley instead of destroying it.
-Tawnos' Scavenging reports, Day 4
1/3

The Time-warp golem could be a saving grace for a player. It does what the Commission wants to see: it stops your opponent in his or her tracks. It clears the board, and resets the game. It’s a cinch that you’ll survive the next round, but it’s anyone’s game after that.

Too bad that the contest rules say that upon revealing the opponent’s hand, you see a Dark Banishing and a Shatter. The rules never really specify what happens before or after the contest takes place. I would guess that the two cards are there when he reveals the cards. Wonder what the Judges will rule on that?

Guide of the Suns
Artifact Creature – Guide 7
Sunburst
When Guide of the Suns comes in play, look at target's player hand.
When Guide of the Suns leaves play, you lose the game.
1,Counter target spell with the same color as the mana that was spent to play this ability that targets Guide of the Suns .
It's creator gave it all the wisdom to save the world.
But that wisdom could lead to the apocalypse.
0/0

The guide of the suns is a real blast from the past, with the Sunburst mechanic. Its ability to counter a spell for a single mana could send it to the showers, since this is an ongoing effect. Even Counterspell, a one-shot deal, needs two mana. There are too many ways to get all five colors on this bad boy, and if it comes into play as a 2/2, 3/3, or 4/4, the ability could get confusing. Nifty idea, but it might prove too powerful or too unplayable.

Avenging Golem
Artifact creature – Golem 6
As Avenging Golem comes into play, target opponent reveals his or her hand.
You may choose a card. If you do, remove it from the game. This ability doesn't go to the stack.
When Avenging Golem comes into play, each oppenent sacrifices a creature.
Trample, haste, vigilance.
Sacrifice two lands: regenerate Avenging Rolem, and put a +1/+1 counter on Avenging Golem.
When Avenging golem leaves play, you lose the game.
When it was freed, it only wanted to take revenge on the ones who cursed him.
4/5

The Avenging Golem has three keyword abilities and a 4/5 body for a measly 6 mana. Without those, this could be a usable machine. Send it in as a relief pitcher in the bottom of the ninth, and it gets one automatic out. Keep it in the game with a sacrifice, and it’s a game-winner. With a higher casting cost and no keyword abilities, this beast Could.. Go.. All.. The.. Way.

Blood Spawn Golem
Artifact Creature - Golem Spawn 7
Blood Spawn Golem is black
When Blood Spawn Golem comes into play, look at target player's hand.
When Blood Spawn Golem leaves play, you lose the game.
B, Pay X life: Counter target spell with the converted mana cost of X.
B, Pay 2 life: Put a 2/2 black Spawn creature token into play.
Created by the flesh of a necromancer, it can ward magic and reanimate the dead by using its master's own life force.
6/6

Blood Spawn Golem is a heavyweight. This beast will drain your resources, but it will keep the game going. At a casting cost of 7, even the beefy 6/6 body looks fair when you’re losing to win. This one is tough to beat, even if it is another Black artifact. (Artifacts are, by definition, colorless. Things like this lead to Congressional hearings. Just ask Barry Bonds.)

It almost seems too easy to just say that my Artifact is actually Black and not colorless doesn’t it?

Chaos-Bound Golem 5
Artifact Creature - Golem
When Chaos-Bound Golem comes into play, target opponent reveals his or her hand.
When Chaos-Bound Golem leaves play, you lose the game.
Whenever Chaos-Bound Golem becomes the target of a spell or ability, you may remove the top four cards of your library from the game and pay 1. If you do, remove that card from the game.
Put target card you don't own that's removed from the game on top of their owners' library: Chaos-Bound Golem gets +1/+1 until end of turn.
"Sir, we've done everything to try and take that thing down, but every time we hack at it, it remains unscathed." -Khur, Leonin soldier
2/3

We have before us an unusual specimen. The Chaos-Bound Golem chews through your resources while it chews up your opponent’s offense. A 2/3 for 5 mana, the Chaos-Bound Golem can get bigger by handing your opponent what he or she needs. It’s like Rocky, but without the theme music, incredible comeback, or the moose. Shazam!

Wither Engine
Artifact Creature – Horror Construct 7
When Wither Engine comes into play, target opponent reveals his or her hand and removes from it up to 3 cards of your choice from the game until end of turn. This ability cannot be responded to.
All mana-producing effects produce colorless mana instead of their normal type(s).
3, Tap: Put a -1/-1 counter on each non-artifact creature.
Whenever a creature is put into a graveyard from play, you lose 1 life.
When Wither Engine leaves play, you lose the game.
“Suffer, wither, die.” – Virot Maglan, Cabal Patriarch
3/3

Now this is a Horror. The Wither Engine doesn’t wait for the puck to drop. It dekes the gloves and starts the fight as soon as it hits the ice. Who needs scoring when you have an enforcer that takes everyone out of the game? The Wither Engine is a thug, pure and simple.

Filch Engine - 6
Artifact Creature - Golem Wizard Rogue
When Filch Engine comes into play target opponent reveals his or her hand, and removes all instant and/or sorcery cards in it from the game.
4: You may play any card removed from the game with Filch Engine without paying its mana cost.
6, Discard your hand, T: Target opponent reveals his or her hand, and removes all instant or sorcery cards in it from the game.
When Filch Engine leaves play you lose the game.
"A wizard's worst nightmare."
4/4

The Filch Engine is a wily competitor. It has a change-up and a slider that are hard to see coming, and it looks like it can bring the heat. This has more pitches at its disposal than most, but its salary is pretty high. As a closer, the Filch Engine can save a shutout.

This guy is like having a Free Safety with a Sniper Rifle. The second the ball is released from the Quarterbacks hand, the bullet goes through the ball, and the flat ball falls to the ground.

Familiar of Reflections
Artifact Creature – Golem 10
As an additional cost to playing Familiar of Reflections, pay half your life.
Familiar of Reflections comes into play with power equal to your life total and toughness equal to 20 minus your life total.
As Familiar of Reflections comes into play, your opponent reveals his or her hand.
1: If a spell would target you as it's first target, it instead targets Familiar of Reflections. Spells that could not otherwise target Familiar of Reflections are countered.
1: If a spell would target Familiar of Reflections as it's first target, it instead targets you. Spells that could not otherwise target you are countered.
When Familiar of Reflections leaves play, you lose the game.
"Dera was so obsessed with her reflection that she eventually sold her soul for a golem that would always give it to her."
~Alami the Scholar, Notes
*/*

The Familiar of Reflections is good on both offense and defense. In the early quarters of the game, it might drive hard, but it can get blocked easily before hitting the net. In overtime, it can bring excellent defense to the paint, and keep your opponent throwing nothing but bricks. The ability to redirect anything makes it a powerhouse on offense, able to get the rebound, or push the shots away from the hoop on defense.

Aethergate Construct - 2
Artifact Creature - Construct
As Aethergate Construct comes into play, your opponent reveals his hand.
When Aethergate Construct leaves play play, you lose the game.
2: Flip a coin, if it comes up heads remove Aethergate Construct from game then return it to play, if it comes up tails return Aethergate Construct to your hand.
no flavor text submitted
1/1

Aethergate Construct has interesting abilities, but, sadly, either one will lose you the game. On another card, these could have the potential to bring a powerful contender to the arena, but with the limits given, this is a time bomb.

It kind of reminds me of the Frentic Efreet, it should be good, it has to be good, yet..

Darksteel Goblin
Artifact Creature – Goblin 2
As Darksteel Goblin comes into play, your opponent reveals his hand.
When Darksteel Goblin leaves play, you lose the game.
Darksteel Goblin is indestructible. ("Destroy" effects and lethal damage don't destroy it.)
10, Discard a card: until your next upkeep, if a spell or effect would cause Darksteel Goblin to leave play, counter that spell or effect.
"There is nothing worse than a dwarf in your rutabagas.... except a mechanical goblin in your rutabagas, of course!" - Jamul, Femeref farmer
1/1

The Darksteel Goblin is slightly more inspiring than the Kansas City Royals. It was expected that there would be one that would use the indestructible mechanic, and this is it. The only thing about this card that has potential is the flavor text, a tip of the hat to Dwarven Miner from Mirage.

The Royals should take a tip from this guy and learn how to not get killed everytime a Yankee comes around.

Ancestral Colossus 8
Artifact Creature - Colossus
Trample
As Ancestral Colossus comes into play, your opponent reveals his hand. Put X +1/+1 counter on Ancestral Colossus where X is equal to the total converted mana cost of cards revealed this way.
If a spell would target Ancestral Colossus, counter that spell. Remove a +1/+1 counter from Ancestral Colossus.
When Ancestral Colossus leaves play, you lose the game.
"What you brought with you today will be your doom tomorrow."
1/1

Note: The above card is Joyzilla's third submission - not his first which was chosen by default.

The third challenger from Joyzilla could be the strongest of what I’ve seen so far. The card is huge, but so is the cost. It might look like a mouse, with a 1/1 body, but this thing has teeth. Its ability to counter anything aimed at it makes this a slippery contender, able to get out of every squeeze play until it runs out of counters.

Phyrexian Displacer
Artifact Creature- Illusion Aberration 6
When Phyrexian Displacer comes into play, look at an opponent's hand.
When Phyrexian Displacer leaves play, you lose the game.
If there is more than one card called "Phyrexian Displacer" in play, you cannot lose the game.
Phyrexian Displacer cannot be the target of spells or abilities.
Whenever a spell is played, change it's target to another legal target, if you cannot, sacrifice Phyrexian Displacer.
3, lose 2 life: put a copy of Phyrexian Displacer into play.
Its creators tried to destroy it, fearing what they had created. It showed them their doom in its faces.
1/5

The Phyrexian Displacer is a deceptive opponent. The abilities to redirect anything aimed at it and make copies of itself makes it look good on the surface, but deep down, this could end your game faster than you expect. Untargetability makes this champ a chump. Without another target to move the spell to, it’s sacrificed. Even the clause in its contract that states, “If there is more than one card called ‘Phyrexian Displacer’ in play, you cannot lose the game,” is tricky, because copies of a card are not cards themselves. Once the original is gone, so are you. It could have been a contender, but it has too much going for it.

Berm, you lost me when you started talking about contracts.. I feel T.O. when the Eagles told him to hit the road.. lost!

Now it’s time to look into the depths of the crystal ball and make this season’s predictions. The Swami has seen all of the contenders, and is prepared to enter the trance of insight. The people have not yet made their decisions, so any of the entrants could become this season’s MDV Idol.

In Group A, there is tough competition. The Swami isn’t sure which way this one will go. With three solid competitors, Maxidor, the Chaos-Bound Golem, and the Filtch Engine, the prediction isn’t easy. But, the Swami sees that there could be a late rally, and the Golem of Circles could take this group. But wait! The crystal ball of insight is starting to clear..

I am not really sure, except that the producers didn’t want me out of the skit yet, and so I am here to frustrate you to no end! *Evil, echo-y laughter*

Berm is shaking the Crystal Ball. Okay.. Moving on to Group B. This is a strange match-up. The gladiators in this group are tough to beat. Some because they’re well rounded, and some because they’re more broken than Theisman’s leg. The Spellguard is probably the best in this group, but the Swami isn’t so sure that being the best is enough. The Swami will go with his gut (and the Swami has learned to listen to anything that big) and predict the Wither Engine making a break for the goal.

Jack is spinning in the ball. Li..sten to your gut? Last time you listened to your gut, you were up all night all night, leaning over the toilet checking out the insides of your big gut!! Don’t listen to your gut! Pick the Spellguard!!

In Group C, we have some strange contenders. The free untargetable spell has no chance, even if they introduced ultra-rares. A Counterspell on a stick. A mighty morphin’ Phyrexian rager. The prediction should be easy, but this group could be the most hotly contested of the five. But, the Swami remembers what it was like playing with the undervalued cards for the first time, and seeing how they could get snapped like Bertuzzi’s stick over a rookie. The Swami will go out on a limb for this one, with Guide of the Suns.

Jack is foaming and drowning in the ball. If I am nice, will you stop shaking the damn ball? I like your pick Berm. You sure do know how to make a good pick!

Being nice to the Crystal Ball. Group D has two real contenders. The Adamantine Seraph and the Spell-Jack Automaton are the headliners of this fight card. The Seraph looks good in a tight situation, and Could.. Go.. All.. The.. Way.. but the Automaton is the more balanced of the two. Even though I want to say that it won’t come down to these two, the Swami says, “Spell-Jack Automaton.” Will the voters agree?

Floating in milky foam. You dope! Why didn’t you pick the Seraph! Like the last highly prized metaly angel, Platinum Angel for those of you with strange hats and big bellies who won’t understand me, didn’t leave behind a legacy of good stuff! Platinum Angel is making an appearance in the basic set, as will Adamantine Seraph one day!

Throws the ball over his shoulder. The final group of finalists has some tough playahs. The Swami is disappointed that Joyzilla didn’t specify which card was the actual submission, since the Heart Carrier was the weakest. The rules are there for a reason. Which brings me to the Junkyard Golem, which changed the wording. An otherwise solid contender, brought down like Tyson under King. There’s still a chance that these could pull off a win, but the Swami doesn’t see that happening. There are more tough choices in this group, though, and it’s hard for the Swami to see who will take this match-up. But, the Swami sez.. Blood Spawn Golem.

Only your votes count, even though I peered into the crystal ball, and got your answers, sorta, for you.

Voting runs until Friday, so what are you waiting for? Register now, vote now, and send the winners backbackback to the Judges and more voting, on MDV Idol.