For Challenge # 044.

I tried lots and lots of variants, some with coin flipping and some with "if a creature dies". I felt this was the best, although I'm not sure. It will always kill a 1-cost creature, and some of the time it will take out a cascade of larger creatures.

I considered not allowing it to hit players, but the idea of ending up with a giant fireball to the face was so wonderful I had to keep it.

The best comparison is probably arc trail. This is arc trail some of the time (but it can't reliably hit a 2-toughness creature alone). But obviously, it can build up to do massively more in the right circumstance.

It's possible it would be better without the condition of flipping or lethal damage, or without either, but having a mana cost, but I decided this was good enough for the challenge.

I like this card, but, to be honest, I think the amount of damage+1 is more than enough. As it stands, I'd think hard about running this over Shock, since it kills a utility creature, then has a 50/50 shot of being a Shock. But a 12.5% chance of dealing 8 damage to an opponent after getting a Cone of Flame? Phew.

Thank you. It could be, I'm having a hard time judging it. They do need three small creatures for it to work (and if they have three 1/1s, it's probably better to do 2 or 4 damage to the player, not gamble on getting 8).

For a long time, the card was way too good, because in order to give a reasonable chance of not disappointing Timmy by doing nothing, it was basically as good as arc trail most of the time.

It still can do, on average, infinite damage (although that doesn't matter, since only one lot can be to a player).

I want to save the "reasonable chance of giant damage" aspect, since 1, 2, 3 damage is strong, but not as sexy as doubling. Possibly it should not hit players after all.

Alternatively, I played with versions which gave the copy to the controller of the creature (a bit like chain lightning), but couldn't find a balanced version. Maybe that would work with this version "Deal 1 damage to target creature or player. That player or that creature's controller flips a coin. If they win, they may copy this spell, double the damage, choose new targets..."?

I love it. And I don't think Spike would like it very much because it's not reliably even a Shock.

As worded, I think you might be able to chain this between two targets. Creatures won't go to the graveyard until the spell resolves, and it only asks for a new target... it doesn't ask for a target that has not been targeted by this spell...

Minor templating kerfuffle, though. I like the spell. Never confuse my pickiness for disdain.