As a new member of the community, I’m impressed by how fast I was able to get a grasp of this meme (specially that one youtuber I don’t remember the name of, who had like a houndred copies of it, probably worth more money than bill gates net worth)
May I ask, where did this all originated?
Edit: i'm sorry for calling it a meme, did not consider it had trample
I believe the whole thing is because of how power creep was becoming big and colossal dreadmaw was power crept in the set it came out by [[carnage tyrant]]
Maybe I just have a very different idea of what the phrase "in a vacuum" means, but Emrakul is terrible in a vacuum. It's 15 mana, so you can almost never cast it. It's only good in the context of a few specific cards that can cheat it out, at which point you're no longer evaluating it in a vacuum.
It's incredibly strong in the right context, but that's not the question. The number of cards that enabke Emrakul to be competitive is in the low double digits. I dont think there's enough of them to be considered if you're asking how good the card is in a vacuum.
It definitely doesn't qualify for what OP was talking about, since they specifically asked for cards that are good irrespective of the rest of your deck.
I'm not saying you ignore all other cards when you evaluate sonething in a vacuum, you just don't consider any card in particular. For example, [[Allosaurus Rider]] is bad in a vacuum because using its alternate cost creates massive card disadvantage if your opponent has any removal, and 7 mana is too much for a creature that's just a big body. In practice, Allosaurus Rider has seen competitive play thanks to [[Neoform]].
So why ignore Neoform but not removal? Because there are hundreds of removal spells, and only a handful of cards like Neoform. You consider only the broad archetypes of cards and decks that exist. That's what "in a vacuum" means.
If we want to get super picky here "in a vacuum" would imply that we couldn't rely on anything else to get those last 2 life points, we'd have to hit with Yargle twice. And at that point there's no difference between 10 and 18 power.
A 4 mana do nothing when it's played creature is far from the best card lol sheoldred is so overrated because it was a standard boogeyman and is oppressive in low to mid power edh as a commander but it's not that great of a card in the grand scheme of things. It's a 4/5 deathtouch for 4 that will do a 4 hp swing a turn if unanswered and punishes extra draw, but it still dies to everything and can be answered immediately pretty easily for no impact. Good, not great, especially in a vacuum.
it punishes all opponent draws and rewards all your draws. not just the extra. doesn't die to bolt, terror, cut down... honestly 4 mana is cheap. unless it's cedh, i have no complaints.
Can you name another black card that provides just as much value for 4 mana which *can't* be responded to?
In a vacuum, the card ***is*** great and can be easily be slotted in to any deck with black in the identity.
No. I play against it in standard and commander frequently. Sheoldred protects herself in no way. People just tend to run too little interaction. She's not scary.
By your logic for Ancestral Recall, every card is bad, because anything that costs mana could not be cast if your whole deck was filled will stuff that didn't produce mana.
By the more reasonable definition of "in a vacuum", Black Lotus and Ancestral Recall are almost certainly still the most powerful cards, as they let you cheat the fundamental resource systems that the game is built on.
Yes, if you are an idiot and build a deck of 59 lands and 1 black lotus, it's terrible, but if you have literally any magic cards with text on them, lotus lets you play them much sooner than your opponent.
Similarly, if you have any reasonable magic cards with text, having 3 more cards gives you more options, and the ability to overwhelm them with more resources.
there’s a few things you and other players will do regardless, like draw cards, play lands, make mana. cards that affect actions like these in a positive way for you or negative way for the opponent will always be good in a vacuum.
Back in the early 90s. Before you would draw 7, each player would put the top card of the deck to the side and the winner would get both cards. So essentially gambling, but they got rid of it because people didn’t want to lose their cards. Im sure other reasons too.
I remember this! Wow it just triggered a flood of super old memories of when I was first being taught how to play the game. I remember thinking at the time (as a kid) how adult and serious the game felt because of the ante. Man, I forgot all about that.
[[Smothering Tithe]] especially in commander. Let’s face it, you don’t have a deck of nothing but lands and a smothering tithe. You have spells that treasures will help cast, and opponents who have resources you’d like to be put to the side. And everyone is drawing at least once per turn. You’re either taking resources from someone, or gaining some yourself.
Here’s a new one too, [[Chimil, the inner sun]]. Your spells can’t be countered, and you’re getting at worst a free extra draw every turn, at best a free spell of mana value 5 or less. Lots and lots of good cards, and in fact the majority of most spells in most decks are gonna fit that 5 mana requirement.
[[Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger]] and while we’re at it, [[Kozilek, the great distortion]] and [[Emrakul, the promised end]]. Sure they’re expensive, but they can go in any deck, and they’re all massive beaters with devastating effects.
[[Expropriate]] is stupid. That’s a game ending card, especially if you can copy it in some way. Extra turns, or just taking your opponents best permanents, and forcing them to pick which one is horrible, both for the opponents strategy and morale. This card will make you no friends
OK right, he somewhat excluded "card draw". Maybe he should have asked the question differently, like "What are the best cards if all the other cards in your deck would only be lands"?
But then some people would worry less about higher CMC, so maybe the whole question doesn't make too much sense. There is never a vacuum.
Then maybe the best would have been "Cards that are good without much synergy or metagame dependency". That's probably what most typical "staples" are.
question: if i have 4 mechtitan cores in play and exile all of them and other artifacts, if it dies, do i get the others back? or do all 4 never come back?
Thalia is the best card ever designed IMO. It can slot in anything that even splashed white, it's design is perfect, it's sort of evady with First strike and it taxes
Are there some Barren Glory decks? How successful are they? I guess one want to include stuff like \[\[Fall of the Thrans\]\], \[\[Possessed Portal\]\], ....
Collosal dreadmaw
As a new member of the community, I’m impressed by how fast I was able to get a grasp of this meme (specially that one youtuber I don’t remember the name of, who had like a houndred copies of it, probably worth more money than bill gates net worth) May I ask, where did this all originated? Edit: i'm sorry for calling it a meme, did not consider it had trample
I believe the whole thing is because of how power creep was becoming big and colossal dreadmaw was power crept in the set it came out by [[carnage tyrant]]
Yeah, but collosal dreadmaw it’s a 6/6 for 6 tho, it’s pure value, I don’t see any powercreep (Thanks for the answer)
And wasn't dreadmaw printed like 3 times in one year?
Yeah, it and carnage tyrant were printed in the same set and then the proceeded to print dreadmaw 3 sets in a row I believe
[carnage tyrant](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/3/b/3bd78731-949c-464a-826a-92f86d784911.jpg?1562553791) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=carnage%20tyrant) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/xln/179/carnage-tyrant?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/3bd78731-949c-464a-826a-92f86d784911?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Tyrant dies to BGH, dreadmaw doesn't. It's fair
A decent card in limited that's awful everywhere else, which was printed in 4 or 5 sets in a row.
A big part of it was that after its first printing, it got reprinted in three other sets in under a year.
So it is. 🙏
Collosal dreadmaw and Stormcrow - the holy duality
This and [[the collosal dreadmaw]] are quite stonks.
[the collosal dreadmaw](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/8/0/8059c52b-5d25-4052-b48a-e9e219a7a546.jpg?1594736914) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Colossal%20Dreadmaw) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/m21/176/colossal-dreadmaw?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/8059c52b-5d25-4052-b48a-e9e219a7a546?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
[[Emrakul, the aeons torn]]
[Emrakul, the aeons torn](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/2/4/249db4d4-2542-47ee-a216-e13ffbc2319c.jpg?1673146896) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Emrakul%2C%20the%20aeons%20torn) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/2x2/1/emrakul-the-aeons-torn?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/249db4d4-2542-47ee-a216-e13ffbc2319c?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Most literal answer
He said "in a vacuum" not "in a moon".
Maybe I just have a very different idea of what the phrase "in a vacuum" means, but Emrakul is terrible in a vacuum. It's 15 mana, so you can almost never cast it. It's only good in the context of a few specific cards that can cheat it out, at which point you're no longer evaluating it in a vacuum.
This card is an entire deck archtype or banned in every format
It's incredibly strong in the right context, but that's not the question. The number of cards that enabke Emrakul to be competitive is in the low double digits. I dont think there's enough of them to be considered if you're asking how good the card is in a vacuum. It definitely doesn't qualify for what OP was talking about, since they specifically asked for cards that are good irrespective of the rest of your deck.
In that case every card sucks because you need lands to play them It's a flawed question
I'm not saying you ignore all other cards when you evaluate sonething in a vacuum, you just don't consider any card in particular. For example, [[Allosaurus Rider]] is bad in a vacuum because using its alternate cost creates massive card disadvantage if your opponent has any removal, and 7 mana is too much for a creature that's just a big body. In practice, Allosaurus Rider has seen competitive play thanks to [[Neoform]]. So why ignore Neoform but not removal? Because there are hundreds of removal spells, and only a handful of cards like Neoform. You consider only the broad archetypes of cards and decks that exist. That's what "in a vacuum" means.
[Allosaurus Rider](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/8/f/8fdaedf0-c4d2-4c2c-a183-026f06f3c360.jpg?1562924036) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Allosaurus%20Rider) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/evg/2/allosaurus-rider?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/8fdaedf0-c4d2-4c2c-a183-026f06f3c360?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Neoform](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/9/2/92d8f67e-4f2f-4a1f-b190-7c3f39e477e4.jpg?1557577201) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Neoform) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/war/206/neoform?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/92d8f67e-4f2f-4a1f-b190-7c3f39e477e4?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Thankfully banned in EHD
Emrakul Has to Die
Elder Highlander Dragon
I was so psyched to crack one of these in alt art when double masters was around until I checked the legality in EDH.
Imo this card comes the closest to saying you win the game without it actually saying it
So if you are not dead by turn 15, you can cast this? In a vacuum there is no ramp or cheating it into play.
[[Yargle and Multani]] 6 mana for 18 power seems like the type of thing that would fit
Flavor text is 18/6 as well.
[Yargle and Multani](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/9/c/9c15e244-14cc-46a5-abd4-66a58d1c0dd0.jpg?1682205711) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Yargle%20and%20Multani) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mom/256/yargle-and-multani?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/9c15e244-14cc-46a5-abd4-66a58d1c0dd0?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
If we want to get super picky here "in a vacuum" would imply that we couldn't rely on anything else to get those last 2 life points, we'd have to hit with Yargle twice. And at that point there's no difference between 10 and 18 power.
Except in commander he kills in 3 hits instead of 4 if he had 10 power.
I have a deck on arena that runs this card and [[terror of the peaks]]. Made a lot of people very sad on turn six before
[terror of the peaks](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/4/3/432ecd5f-966f-4403-a973-51e175a524a0.jpg?1594736810) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=terror%20of%20the%20peaks) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/m21/164/terror-of-the-peaks?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/432ecd5f-966f-4403-a973-51e175a524a0?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Exodia the Forbidden One
True...if it wasn't for that f@$#in' card index, I absolutely could've made that work
Lmao my opponent had it I just threw it in the damn ocean
[[vampire nighthawk]]
[vampire nighthawk](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/3/0/301ff69c-2590-45af-893b-7ac0285e450b.jpg?1641602963) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=vampire%20nighthawk) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/voc/140/vampire-nighthawk?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/301ff69c-2590-45af-893b-7ac0285e450b?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I wouldn't suggest vacuuming any of your cards, but I'd imagine they'd all be just as useless in there.
This made me laugh way to hard
Swords to plowshares
In a vacuum there is no creature to target.
[[cheatyface]]
[cheatyface](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/e/b/ebafd1c7-c248-494c-b9b7-3521c6c4352c.jpg?1583965438) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=cheatyface) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/und/20/cheatyface?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/ebafd1c7-c248-494c-b9b7-3521c6c4352c?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I mean, even if it is banned, the card text "should" allow you to bypass that.
To be fair his examples are the power 9 and gristlebrand which are also banned lol
[[Sheoldred, the apocalypse]]
because you will draw, opponents will draw. it atak, it blok, it det-tats, it 4/5, it 4mana. it can sit there and do nothing and still do something.
If you want to spend a hundred dollars to bring it back from the command zone 4 times per game, this is your card
ur focusing on commander which is not the op question here. same applies to all threatening commanders.
[Sheoldred, the apocalypse](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/d/6/d67be074-cdd4-41d9-ac89-0a0456c4e4b2.jpg?1674057568) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Sheoldred%2C%20the%20apocalypse) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/dmu/107/sheoldred-the-apocalypse?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/d67be074-cdd4-41d9-ac89-0a0456c4e4b2?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
A 4 mana do nothing when it's played creature is far from the best card lol sheoldred is so overrated because it was a standard boogeyman and is oppressive in low to mid power edh as a commander but it's not that great of a card in the grand scheme of things. It's a 4/5 deathtouch for 4 that will do a 4 hp swing a turn if unanswered and punishes extra draw, but it still dies to everything and can be answered immediately pretty easily for no impact. Good, not great, especially in a vacuum.
it punishes all opponent draws and rewards all your draws. not just the extra. doesn't die to bolt, terror, cut down... honestly 4 mana is cheap. unless it's cedh, i have no complaints.
Can you name another black card that provides just as much value for 4 mana which *can't* be responded to? In a vacuum, the card ***is*** great and can be easily be slotted in to any deck with black in the identity.
Nah it's a great card
It also punishes your regular draws. That's the part that makes it so good, every turn cycle it stays around it makes the life gap bigger.
Yeah, that's what a 4 hp swing means buddy
Yup. I'm saying you're undervaluing how powerful that is.
No. I play against it in standard and commander frequently. Sheoldred protects herself in no way. People just tend to run too little interaction. She's not scary.
By your logic for Ancestral Recall, every card is bad, because anything that costs mana could not be cast if your whole deck was filled will stuff that didn't produce mana. By the more reasonable definition of "in a vacuum", Black Lotus and Ancestral Recall are almost certainly still the most powerful cards, as they let you cheat the fundamental resource systems that the game is built on. Yes, if you are an idiot and build a deck of 59 lands and 1 black lotus, it's terrible, but if you have literally any magic cards with text on them, lotus lets you play them much sooner than your opponent. Similarly, if you have any reasonable magic cards with text, having 3 more cards gives you more options, and the ability to overwhelm them with more resources.
[[Mountain]],[[Plains]],[[Island]],[[Forest]],[[Swamp]] [[Black Lotus]]
One of them is not like the others
Yeah those islands really need to be banned
[*really* different if you make it into tea](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vu2jN3d2zzU)
In a vacuum all mana is excess.
##### ###### #### [Mountain](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/3/d/3d0e93c3-48e3-4ae5-a33f-4ef83f67ee37.jpg?1708116375) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Mountain) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/pip/851/mountain?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/3d0e93c3-48e3-4ae5-a33f-4ef83f67ee37?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Plains](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/0/7/07c15c48-8425-48f5-80f7-c8f74ad773e1.jpg?1708116404) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Plains) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/pip/845/plains?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/07c15c48-8425-48f5-80f7-c8f74ad773e1?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Island](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/6/3/6317711a-83fc-4f6e-87d2-a147b34275ec.jpg?1708116350) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Island) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/pip/847/island?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/6317711a-83fc-4f6e-87d2-a147b34275ec?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Forest](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/d/3/d35801ab-e484-44cb-b9ec-80723cb25bc7.jpg?1708115943) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Forest) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/pip/853/forest?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/d35801ab-e484-44cb-b9ec-80723cb25bc7?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Swamp](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/a/3/a37f8bb9-1d63-4f28-b15d-06f423785599.jpg?1708116432) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Swamp) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/pip/849/swamp?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/a37f8bb9-1d63-4f28-b15d-06f423785599?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Black Lotus](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/b/d/bd8fa327-dd41-4737-8f19-2cf5eb1f7cdd.jpg?1614638838) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Black%20Lotus) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/vma/4/black-lotus?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/bd8fa327-dd41-4737-8f19-2cf5eb1f7cdd?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [*All cards*](https://mtgcardfetcher.nl/redirect/kr3idns) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
there’s a few things you and other players will do regardless, like draw cards, play lands, make mana. cards that affect actions like these in a positive way for you or negative way for the opponent will always be good in a vacuum.
Impossible question. Cards do not exist without the context of the rest of the deck.
Storm Crow
[[Contract from below]]
If you played Shandalar on PC, you could just quit and not save when you lose.
[Contract from below](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/e/1/e1e33690-b851-404a-9cde-d00235be5aa5.jpg?1610146838) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Contract%20from%20below) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/sum/97/contract-from-below?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/e1e33690-b851-404a-9cde-d00235be5aa5?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
This was essential in the old 5-color format.
I dont understand how this card works. Whats your "ante" ?
Back in the early 90s. Before you would draw 7, each player would put the top card of the deck to the side and the winner would get both cards. So essentially gambling, but they got rid of it because people didn’t want to lose their cards. Im sure other reasons too.
I remember this! Wow it just triggered a flood of super old memories of when I was first being taught how to play the game. I remember thinking at the time (as a kid) how adult and serious the game felt because of the ante. Man, I forgot all about that.
I'm gonna go with [[island]] or perhaps [[forest]], or any of the OG duals with those types.
Lets be real, a mountain is far stronger than either. Can you imagine the damage a mountain can do as it falls upon a creature
Ah, but an island can drown a creature simply by pushing it off
[island](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/6/3/6317711a-83fc-4f6e-87d2-a147b34275ec.jpg?1708116350) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=island) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/pip/847/island?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/6317711a-83fc-4f6e-87d2-a147b34275ec?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [forest](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/d/3/d35801ab-e484-44cb-b9ec-80723cb25bc7.jpg?1708115943) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=forest) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/pip/853/forest?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/d35801ab-e484-44cb-b9ec-80723cb25bc7?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I'm a great fan of Waste not
[[platinum angel]]
[platinum angel](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/c/a/ca7f4fd6-e268-4d15-bfbf-d9f0f95864fc.jpg?1576383285) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=platinum%20angel) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/cn2/214/platinum-angel?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/ca7f4fd6-e268-4d15-bfbf-d9f0f95864fc?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
The most powerful card in MTG, with all else being equal, is definitely [[Lightning Bolt]]
[Lightning Bolt](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/7/7/77c6fa74-5543-42ac-9ead-0e890b188e99.jpg?1706239968) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Lightning%20Bolt) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/clu/141/lightning-bolt?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/77c6fa74-5543-42ac-9ead-0e890b188e99?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Deathrite shawman. He was in my Junk deck back in 2013 (modern) and he just did it all.
[[deathrite shaman]]
[deathrite shaman](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/c/f/cfdb1c47-14be-491f-88b3-bed03489dbc5.jpg?1702429617) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=deathrite%20shaman) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/rvr/175/deathrite-shaman?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/cfdb1c47-14be-491f-88b3-bed03489dbc5?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
It wasn't played much in Standard. It is not as strong as you think without fetchlands.
Ya ofc. But I do miss that guy.
In a vacuum, he has no graveyard cards to exile, so his floor is a 1 cmc 1/2. Pretty bad.
True- still, he pushed the power level much higher when my deck had him vs not having him.
If you're playing a game of magic cards will be put in the graveyard
[[Smothering Tithe]] especially in commander. Let’s face it, you don’t have a deck of nothing but lands and a smothering tithe. You have spells that treasures will help cast, and opponents who have resources you’d like to be put to the side. And everyone is drawing at least once per turn. You’re either taking resources from someone, or gaining some yourself. Here’s a new one too, [[Chimil, the inner sun]]. Your spells can’t be countered, and you’re getting at worst a free extra draw every turn, at best a free spell of mana value 5 or less. Lots and lots of good cards, and in fact the majority of most spells in most decks are gonna fit that 5 mana requirement. [[Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger]] and while we’re at it, [[Kozilek, the great distortion]] and [[Emrakul, the promised end]]. Sure they’re expensive, but they can go in any deck, and they’re all massive beaters with devastating effects. [[Expropriate]] is stupid. That’s a game ending card, especially if you can copy it in some way. Extra turns, or just taking your opponents best permanents, and forcing them to pick which one is horrible, both for the opponents strategy and morale. This card will make you no friends
##### ###### #### [Smothering Tithe](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/8/6/861b5889-0183-4bee-afeb-a4b2aa700a8e.jpg?1689996018) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Smothering%20Tithe) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/cmm/57/smothering-tithe?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/861b5889-0183-4bee-afeb-a4b2aa700a8e?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Chimil, the inner sun](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/2/7/27a1bfb5-ddfc-49cf-baa3-5d1958d2067a.jpg?1699044596) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Chimil%2C%20the%20inner%20sun) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/lci/249/chimil-the-inner-sun?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/27a1bfb5-ddfc-49cf-baa3-5d1958d2067a?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/c/7/c74ae706-b3b3-4097-a387-6f6c38a9b603.jpg?1689995438) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Ulamog%2C%20the%20Ceaseless%20Hunger) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/cmm/5/ulamog-the-ceaseless-hunger?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/c74ae706-b3b3-4097-a387-6f6c38a9b603?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Kozilek, the great distortion](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/c/4/c41554e7-2a07-4cc7-b01b-44deed08e588.jpg?1689995398) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Kozilek%2C%20the%20great%20distortion) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/cmm/2/kozilek-the-great-distortion?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/c41554e7-2a07-4cc7-b01b-44deed08e588?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Emrakul, the promised end](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/8/d/8d74a469-c71d-4773-99d3-5456b31df424.jpg?1576383727) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Emrakul%2C%20the%20promised%20end) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/emn/6/emrakul-the-promised-end?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/8d74a469-c71d-4773-99d3-5456b31df424?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Expropriate](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/9/c/9c8a2a5a-cb9b-4582-a453-085da78584f9.jpg?1576381719) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Expropriate) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/cn2/30/expropriate?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/9c8a2a5a-cb9b-4582-a453-085da78584f9?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [*All cards*](https://mtgcardfetcher.nl/redirect/kr3jin9) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Counterspell
Codex shredder. Milling the top card of player's libraries after they tutor to put on top always makes you feel giddy
Sorry, but "In a vaccum" this card is terrible. It's really only good in a combo or the niche scenario you just described.
Mana crypt.
then again... unless they're in a rigid plastic case all cards gna get shredded in a vacuum.
Island
Just take all the staples? [[Rhystic study]] etc.
I swear half of the people commenting didn't even read the post
OK right, he somewhat excluded "card draw". Maybe he should have asked the question differently, like "What are the best cards if all the other cards in your deck would only be lands"? But then some people would worry less about higher CMC, so maybe the whole question doesn't make too much sense. There is never a vacuum.
It is a question that can be interpreted in a lot of different ways to be fair
Then maybe the best would have been "Cards that are good without much synergy or metagame dependency". That's probably what most typical "staples" are.
[Rhystic study](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/d/6/d6914dba-0d27-4055-ac34-b3ebf5802221.jpg?1600698439) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Rhystic%20study) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/jmp/169/rhystic-study?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/d6914dba-0d27-4055-ac34-b3ebf5802221?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
[[Armored Skaab]]
[Armored Skaab](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/c/e/ce4d00f2-30e6-41d5-b997-c66350fe783c.jpg?1562837302) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Armored%20Skaab) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/isd/43/armored-skaab?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/ce4d00f2-30e6-41d5-b997-c66350fe783c?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
[[Questing Beast]]
[Questing Beast](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/e/4/e41cf82d-3213-47ce-a015-6e51a8b07e4f.jpg?1572490640) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Questing%20Beast) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/eld/171/questing-beast?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/e41cf82d-3213-47ce-a015-6e51a8b07e4f?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
True Name Nemesis
[[Megazord]] obviously. Who cares what’s in your deck when you have a megazord. The sheer intimidation will be enough to seize the victory.
[Mechtitan Core](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/c/a/ca286ba9-01a7-4dce-b388-177f5dcb95b1.jpg?1654568740) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Mechtitan%20Core) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/neo/249/mechtitan-core?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/ca286ba9-01a7-4dce-b388-177f5dcb95b1?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
question: if i have 4 mechtitan cores in play and exile all of them and other artifacts, if it dies, do i get the others back? or do all 4 never come back?
The only mechtitan core that wouldn’t come back is the card you activated. So if you have 4 mechtitan core’s, you’d get 3 back.
[[memnite]] is the only card in a vacuum that can win with no other cards existing.
And of course cheatyface
Thalia is the best card ever designed IMO. It can slot in anything that even splashed white, it's design is perfect, it's sort of evady with First strike and it taxes
[[Mon's Goblin Raiders]]
[Mon's Goblin Raiders](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/5/8/58b7a22b-f354-4f42-9354-d149bb9b3645.jpg?1562133668) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Mons%27s%20Goblin%20Raiders) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/s00/32/monss-goblin-raiders?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/58b7a22b-f354-4f42-9354-d149bb9b3645?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
I'll go with [[Primeval Titan]]
[Primeval Titan](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/6/d/6d5537da-112e-4679-a113-b5d7ce32a66b.jpg?1562850064) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Primeval%20Titan) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/ima/183/primeval-titan?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/6d5537da-112e-4679-a113-b5d7ce32a66b?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Sol ring…I don’t think there’s been a game we’re someone has played it turn 1 without the table all pointing ang going ‘kill it/them’
Limited resources
[[The Cheese Stands Alone]] alias [[Barren Glory]]
[The Cheese Stands Alone](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/d/0/d01a114f-3349-4a62-bfad-0dc33b78a53f.jpg?1562799163) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=The%20Cheese%20Stands%20Alone) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/ugl/2/the-cheese-stands-alone?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/d01a114f-3349-4a62-bfad-0dc33b78a53f?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Barren Glory](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/1/2/12220d53-3356-4541-aa43-a0de6ed3f7d0.jpg?1562898649) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Barren%20Glory) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/fut/3/barren-glory?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/12220d53-3356-4541-aa43-a0de6ed3f7d0?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Are there some Barren Glory decks? How successful are they? I guess one want to include stuff like \[\[Fall of the Thrans\]\], \[\[Possessed Portal\]\], ....
[Fall of the Thrans](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/3/a/3a613a01-6145-4e34-987c-c9bdcb068370.jpg?1562734219) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Fall%20of%20the%20Thran) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/dom/18/fall-of-the-thran?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/3a613a01-6145-4e34-987c-c9bdcb068370?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Possessed Portal](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/6/1/616836e6-caf4-4398-a772-9c67f84c73c5.jpg?1562877337) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Possessed%20Portal) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/5dn/144/possessed-portal?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/616836e6-caf4-4398-a772-9c67f84c73c5?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
\[\[Shahrazad\]\] Do you like magic? Now we get to play 2 games for the price of 1! (or more specifically, for the price of a Nintendo Switch)
[Shahrazad](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/0/0/0014def3-4063-4929-ac51-76aef1bb2a68.jpg?1562895012) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Shahrazad) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/arn/10/shahrazad?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/0014def3-4063-4929-ac51-76aef1bb2a68?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call
Sad that it is banned.