With the recent news of a D2 crossover I started working on a custom set centered around Stasis (my beloved)

This is a WIP, so I'd really appreciate feedback, especially on rules text clarity and the design of the custom keywords, because I've definitely gone a bit insane staring at these for too long.

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It's Azorius Control, but heavily Blue-leaning The rough idea of a gameplan I envision is stalling with freeze effects, removal and lifegain; generating value through counters and resource engines (especially Shards and Crystals); and... uh... winning

Unlike other Azorius strategies, this doesn't involve fliers, nor creature token swarms (Crystals don't count, at least I'd like to believe). It's more about hard control and suppression.

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The core mechanic loop is inspired by Stasis' verb loop of \[Slow - Freeze - Shatter\], and relies on 3 main aspects:

* **Chill counters:** A "slowdown" that builds into a "freeze".
* **Stun counters/tapping/"freezing"**.
* **Shatter:** A burst of damage that applies to "frozen" targets, as payoff for a lockdown.

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These are the mechanics I have on the set so far

**Stasis Shard token.** Like a Treasure token, but it only taps for 1 Blue. Its strength comes from synergy with other cards that trigger off sacrificing these Shards.

**Stasis Crystal token.** A 0/4 artifact creature with defender, cover, and *"When this creature dies, it deals 2 damage to up to two target creatures."*  
Meant as protection and resources.

**Cover.** *"If a creature you control would be dealt damage, you may have this creature be dealt that damage instead, as long as the other creature isn’t attacking."*  
I'm on edge about this one, because idk if it's wholly necessary for Crystals, but I fear Crystals would be just another static resource/blocker if not. Perhaps it's ok for them to be just blockers?

\-and here come the ones I have a lot of trouble with-

**Rime counters.** *"If a source would deal damage to a permanent with X rime counters, prevent X of that damage. At the beginning of your upkeep, remove a rime counter from each permanent you control."*  
I like the idea of a temporary Absorption that gradually tapers off, but I fear this would be too cumbersome for players to manage.

**Chill counters.** *"A creature with a chill counter assigns combat damage after creatures without them, and its activated abilities cost {1} more. At the beginning of its controller’s upkeep, remove a chill counter from it. Whenever a chill counter is put on it, if the number of chill counters on it is a multiple of three, put a stun counter on it."*  
Holy mother of walls of text... The intent is to "slow" affected permanents and eventually build-up into a "Freeze" in the form of tapping and adding stun counters; but also making it so the debuff goes away if the pressure isn't kept constant. But this is TOO long.

**Shatter.** *"Remove all stun counters from it. It deals damage to it equal to 2 plus twice the number of counters removed this way. If it’s an artifact and that damage is greater than its mana value, destroy it."*  
The wording feels weird, and I'm still not sure enough if I should keep it able to break artifacts, even if it slightly fits into White identity.

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There are also some problem cards with way too long text, like Silence & Squall. But that one in particular I can't really find a way to evoke the source material without some wall of text, yet...

It's supposed to "Freeze" a group of targets on entering, and linger for subsequent rounds adding chill counters to a greater amount of targets.

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I've been iterating on this for a while and hit the point where fresh eyes would help a ton!!

[WIP] "Stasis" Azorius Control | Looking for feedback on mechanics + text cleanup | Destiny 2 x MTG