Man, that is quite the machine gun. You're aware that this is -3/-3 for , right? (-4/-4 if it was in play since last turn...). Plus, it's more effective at blocking your opponent's stuff than Reassembling Skeleton or Blinking Spirit (you can always target Salem with his own ability).

6 CMC for -3/-3? I don't think it's that much of a problem. 4 for -2/-2 maybe. I didn't think about it as a blocker though. If it helps any, it was originally going to be a legend until I realized every character based card should not be a legend.

It's a sorcery speed multikicker; that's probably not so bad since black does get to kill creatures easily. It's massively repeatable nature is probably a problem though. "Return to your hand" is like buyback .

I know it doesn't look like much, but the versatility of this card is pretty bonkers. If this card was in most player's decks, they would stop playing the other cards in their deck and just keep bouncing this one for the rest of the game.... that and mana acceleration. It can hose the board, clearing up all the utility creatures while blocking the large threat, mess with combat, and can't be countered due to a lack of valid targets, like most buyback spells.

Let's look at it another way. If the card looked like this, would you think it was fair?

­
Sorcery
Deal 1 damage to target creature.
­: Return ~ from your graveyard to your hand.

Compare to Geistflame and Searing Touch. Most red wizards would kill to have a spell like that, and that doesn't include the ability to attack, block, or activate once at instant speed.

How's about splitting it? for a 1/1 with the ability ,Return:-1/-1

It's still pretty bonkers that way, though.

A mana activation would go a long way to calming it down, though. Drudge Skeletons activates for for a reason...

Oh - your "They would only run..." deck? Nope, they'd add an orrery. And plausibly also hexproof and unblockable stuff, or just direct player damage, which is the one thing this card can't deal with. :)

By the way... in my haste I forgot to point out that I do like the flavor. The card is cute, whether the flavor is a cat that sneaks in a scratch and runs off, or a human sized cat wizard laying down hexes and slinking off. Being about 30 minutes away from Salem, Massachusetts, and knowing a few neighborly witches, I find the name to be kind of "spot-on-funny". A little like naming a dalmatian "Fire Truck". :D

I think the casting cost should still be increased. The total cost for the ability plus casting should be , in my opinion. Either and , or and , respectively.

If the ability was worded "Mana: Target creature gets -1/-1 until end of turn. Return Salem to your hand." would that prevent the bounce if there weren't legal targets or if it tried to target itself? If so, I think that would be better.

I like the last suggestion the best. I wanted Salem to return to the hand (running away after his scheme goes awry). I haphazardly made that the cost of his effect, but having him target a creature and then returning him would prevent a lot of unintended shenanigans.

That's rather saner. Now it's just a Blaze with automatic buyback and the ability to block like a Darksteel Myr. I.e., it's still way overpowered.