I would like to add a new mechanic called sustainment. Its like upkeep, except optional.
If there's something I don't like to see in Mage Wars, it's new mechanics, followed closely by new keywords.
The game needs some streamlining, not increasing it's complexity even further, YMMV.
+1
allready tomany key words, where a text-card could be explain, for example in this case : "if this upkeep isn't paid, don't destroy the creature"
Or "during upkeep phase You may pay X mana to get..."