Wither Beast | Wither Monster

[Xinef]

I think it's quite balanced, but it needs some 'limits' to prevent abuse. For example if antimattered one increases maxHP, a player could set up a PvP game to gain unlimited HP. I don't know if HP>100 affects rewards in PvP the same way it does in PvE, but if it does, it needs to be limited somehow (eg. no more than 200 MaxHP gained this way).

I also do not like the idea of cards that can affect the amount of electrum your opponent gains if he beats you.

[Ashebrethafe]

Just a question, you wrote 'opponent', so it would deal unhealable damage to gravity pulling creatures as well?
It would be obviously good against the armagio/angel combo.

Do creatures with venom give poison counters to gravity-pulled creatures? (I don't know -- I've never seen the situation come up.)

There actually is a keyword mechanic called wither (http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?text=+%5Bwither%5D) in MtG (in the sets Shadowmoor and Eventide) -- a source with wither deals damage to creatures in the form of -1/-1 counters. What Gl1tch was saying would only work in Elements is the ability to "wither" players, since MtG players have no max-HP value to decrease.

[Avenger]

Typo: it's --> its

[Avenger]

Just a question, you wrote 'opponent', so it would deal unhealable damage to gravity pulling creatures as well?
It would be obviously good against the armagio/angel combo.

Do creatures with venom give poison counters to gravity-pulled creatures? (I don't know -- I've never seen the situation come up.)

I don't think so, though it would make sense.

[Drawckab]

I'm a little confused on the wording.  When the max HP is lowered is it still at 100%?

[Glitch]

Yes.

[ilovethevalley]

Decks that don't rely on healing will not be harmed by Wither Beast. If you take 10 damage from a Black Dragon and your max HP decreases by three, you're still at 90 HP. If you have no healing spells, it's not going to matter if your HP is decreasing faster than your max HP. Even if you have two Shards of Grad your life would still only go down by three. And if any other damage comes Wither Beast won't really matter.

Wither Beast is a great counter for:
Miracle
Holy flash/heal
Shards
Empathy

It's casting cost of 5 is reasonable and it's not overpowered. I also think it's way of dealing damage is very creative and original.

[Drawckab]

If you take 10 damage from a Black Dragon and your max HP decreases by three, you're still at 90 HP.

Wouldn't this be different if you play the Wither Beast before the Dragon?  The Beast will decrease your max HP to 97, then the Dragon will hit you for 10 taking you to 87.

[Glitch]

Alright, I see the confusion.  Wither beasts damage DOES stack with a wounded player.

E.G

You're at 90/100 HP.
Wither beast hits you.
You're at 87/97 HP.

I'll make a note of that in the OP.  Should I reword the card too?

[Xinef]

So it lowers HP in addition to normal damage...

I'd suggest a description like: "Degrade: in addition to dealing damage, Wither Beast lowers maximum HP by the same amount."

[Drawckab]

Well, basically it's like Shard of Divinity only smaller and in reverse.  SoD only says it affects max HP, but it also affects current HP to keep it where it was proportionally to max HP.

I don't think it needs rewording.  I was just wondering if it worked like SoD.

[Glitch]

So it lowers HP in addition to normal damage...

I'd suggest a description like: "Degrade: in addition to dealing damage, Wither Beast lowers maximum HP by the same amount."

Hmm, good one.  I'll do that really quickly.