Magic: The Gathering Challenge Opponent (Stop the Swarm Queen)

[NeoRWBY65]

This is my custom challenge opponent that is somewhat complex, as it has 3 different difficulties and 8 levels on each difficulty setting. I'll start with the constants, then go into the rules that don't apply to every setting of the challenge.

 

Rules that are always present:

The Swarm Queen always starts with 20 life. However, unlike the player, the swarm queen has no deck. Instead, the swarm queen uses special Emblems that, when their conditions are activated, put counters on themselves, and then put an ever-increasing number of tokens onto the battlefield. Each level that you go up gives the queen a new emblem. When an emblem gets a counter, it puts out new tokens equal to the number of counters currently on that emblem.

 

Rules For Easy:

On easy, The emblems have a limit on how many counters can be put on each emblem. This limit is always equal to the level you are facing (example: Level 5 limits each emblem to 5 counters being on it).

On easy, the tokens are much weaker than on higher difficulties. A token's power and toughness are each equal to the number of tokens left that showed up in that group (if 5 tokens are put out at the same time, each one is a 5/5, but if only 3 are left, those ones are now 3/3s).

 

Rules For Medium:

On Medium, the emblems have a limit again, but this time it is twice the number of the level (Level 5 on medium allows each emblem to go to 10 before no more can be placed on that emblem).

Each Emblem on medium gives an ability to each token that was generated by that emblem (one emblem gives all of its tokens flying, for example).

On Medium, power and toughness of each token is determined by how many tokens are present that were made by the same emblem (3 tokens all with the flying emblem are all 3/3s)

 

Rules For Hard:

On hard, the counter limit is three times the current level (Level 5 on hard won't stop emblems until the emblem has 15).

The abilities that the emblems gave to only their tokens on medium are now given to all of the tokens on hard.

On hard, power and toughness are determined by how many tokens the Swarm Queen has.

 

Good so far? Now for the emblems (Each one starts appearing at the level that it is named for and shows up in each level after that). After the counter ability, I will list the ability it gives to its own tokens on medium and all of the Queen's tokens on hard.

 

Level 1 Emblem:

At the beginning of the Swarm Queen's Upkeep, if the Swarm Queen has no tokens, put a charge counter on this emblem.

Hexproof

 

Level 2 Emblem:

If the Swarm Queen has no tokens on the battlefield and any player has a creature on the battlefield, put a counter on this emblem.

Haste

 

Level 3 Emblem:

If the Swarm Queen takes damage, put a counter on this emblem.

Lifelink

 

Level 4 Emblem:

At the beginning of the Swarm Queen's Upkeep, put a counter on this emblem

Vigilance

 

Level 5 Emblem:

When a counter is put on a different emblem, put a counter on this emblem

Trample

 

Level 6 Emblem:

If a creature enters the battlefield on the opponent's side that has higher power or toughness than any of the Swarm Queen's tokens, put a counter on this emblem

Flying

 

Level 7 Emblem:

If an opponent attacks the Swarm Queen with more creatures than the Swarm Queen currently controls, put a counter on this emblem.

First-Strike

 

Level 8 Emblem:

When a creature an opponent controls dies, put a counter on this emblem.

Deathtouch

 

Level 9 Emblem:

When the Swarm Queen declares attackers, put a counter on this emblem.

Infect

 

If you are confused about anything, please don't hesitate to ask, and if you feel confident enough, try to face this challenge. The Swarm Queen's tokens attack every turn that they can, and always block your strongest creature with enough tokens to kill it when they can block.

[Trebuchet MS]

Sounds interesting. Does the level change mid-game? Otherwise, a well-timed Archetype can effectively neuter the emblems.

[NeoRWBY65]

No, you select which level you want to play against before you start. The part of the challenge that caused me the most problems was when it adds lifelink at level 3. Please don't hesitate to use your own deck against it, and inform me on how you did. I really want to hear how far you guys can go against my challenge.

[Trebuchet MS]

Suppose the Swarm Queen is on Level 3, but takes combat damage from multiple unblocked attackers at once. Does she then generate a Token per attacker?

[NeoRWBY65]

In that scenario, it only puts on 1 counter onto that emblem, then generates tokens equal to however many counters are on the emblem.

[NeoRWBY65]

Bumping this topic because I have nerfed the Level 2 Emblem, and I have a new easier mode called the Chained Queen. You can fight this challenge on any of the regular levels and on Easy, Medium, and Hard, but the emblems are weakened.

 

Level 1 Chained Emblem:

At the beginning of each second upkeep, if the Swarm Queen at any time did not have creatures on the field since the last time this ability was used, put a counter on this emblem

(This was the hardest for me to word right, if you have suggestions for even better wording, that would be great)

Level 2 Chained Emblem:

If the Swarm Queen's opponents have 2 or more creatures on the battlefield, and the Swarm Queen has none, put a counter on this emblem.

 

Level 3 Chained Emblem:

If the Swarm Queen takes 2 or more points of damage, put a counter on this emblem.

 

Level 4 Chained Emblem:

At the beginning of each 2nd of the Swarm Queen's Upkeeps, put a counter on this emblem.

 

Level 5 Chained Emblem:

For every 2nd counter put on each other emblem, put a counter on this emblem.

 

Level 6 Chained Emblem:

If a creature enters the battlefield on the opponent's side that has 2 higher power or toughness than any of the Swarm Queen's tokens, put a counter on this emblem

 

Level 7 Chained Emblem:

If an opponent attacks the Swarm Queen with 2 more creatures than the Swarm Queen currently controls, put a counter on this emblem.

 

Level 8 Chained Emblem:

For every second creature that an opponent controls dies this turn, put a counter on this emblem.

 

Level 9 Chained Emblem:

When the Swarm Queen attacks with 2 or more creatures, put a counter on this emblem.

 

The Chained Emblems give the same abilities as they would normally on Normal and Hard, but they have been nerfed so that they can't overwhelm you (the challenger) as quickly.

[NeoRWBY65]

Changing the rules on power and toughness of tokens

 

Easy:

The tokens power and toughness are X/X, where X is the number of counters on the emblem that summoned them (which it also produces X tokens, so it makes X X/X tokens each time).

 

Medium:

Power and Toughness are determined by how many tokens that were put onto the battlefield by its emblem are still around (if 6 tokens are still left that were made by that emblem, and 4 new ones are made, then the 4 new ones are each 10/10)

 

Hard

Power and Toughness are each equal to how many tokens the Swarm Queen has when the token enters the battlefield (GET RID OF THE TOKENS QUICKLY).

 

This way, the tokens don't constantly shift in power and toughness. This makes some parts harder, but other parts easier when facing it on Medium and hard, as the tokens don't grow when new ones show up now. Also, the Chained mode is discontinued. I only made that to make an easier variant, but Easy Mode levels 1-3 are easy enough to handle. It doesn't do anything bigger than 3 3/3s on level 3 on easy anyway.