Magic: The Gathering – 4 Creatures Worth Buying

A Magic: The Gathering deck is only as strong as its creature base. But, when there are over 20,000 unique cards in the game, understanding which creature singles are worth the cost can be a challenge. It isn’t about having the “cool card” but having the cards that will help you win the game and hold their value.

I was chatting to some expert Magic players recently and they put together a list of creatures that are not only powerful but are also helping to define the game across competitive landscape formats such as Modern, Standard, Pioneer and Commander.

Before we take a closer look, let’s consider what makes a top-tier creature, and it isn’t all about raw power. In Magic, the best creatures offer more than just a big body. They provide board control, card advantage or even a synergy that makes powerful combos possible. Key factors to think about include:

• low mana cost (to dominate the game early)
• protection
• evasion
• powerful abilities like Flying, Indestructible or Hexproof that can make them a challenge for opponents to deal with because they protect creatures from removal or blocking
• powerful abilities that can generate resources, provide a recurrent threat or draw cards.

4 Creatures to Consider Investing In

There’s no doubt that there are plenty of cards to consider with the above criteria, but here are 4 of our favourite options.

Sheoldred, the Apocalypse

A true all-star in the Standard format and in others a rising star, this card is a combination of formidable 4/5 body and Deathtouch, and this makes it a threat in combat. Her passive ability, however, is what makes her a metagame titan. She helps you gain 2 life whenever you draw a card, a powerful way to stay in the game. Even more devastating, whenever your opponent draws a card, she makes them lose 2 life, meaning every time your opponent draws a card on their turn, or uses a spell to draw more cards, they take damage. She has the ability to single-handedly win games in black-based decks. Her presence can dictate how opponents need to play around her.

Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer

This is both a Modern and Legacy staple for a very good reason. With just a 1/1 for a single red mana, Ragavan’s Dash ability and Treasure generation means that he is one of the most explosive one-drops that has ever been printed. Early on he can generate a man advantage by creating a Treasure token, this means you can cast bigger spells ahead of schedule. When he deals combat damage to a player, you can exile the top card of their library and then can cast it for a short period. He offers card advantage and disruption. He also has a low mana cost that makes him a must-answer threat from the first turn.

Aurelia, Exemplar of Justice

In the very fast-paced world of competitive Commander (EDH), Aurelia is an aggressive commander focused on maximizing combat value – mainly via her ability to grant extra combat phases. Her main advantages lie in creating a strong early presence by quickly weakening opponents with keyword abilities like Flying, Vigilance and Haste. But that strategy comes at a high cost and by focusing on attacking she can be susceptible to control strategies. To win with Aurelia, you need to draw cards that can protect her or capitalise on the additional combat steps

She may not seem like a powerhouse, but the right supporting cards can change her into an unstoppable force. This makes her a valuable card of any Commander collection.

Urza, Lord Protector

Urza is undoubtedly a classic Commander card and one that continues to be a dominant force. Urza’s cost-reduction ability makes him an excellent fit for artifact-heavy decks. So prioritise getting Urza onto the battlefield early to take advantage of this cost reduction.

Also, if you own and control Urza, Lord Protector and an artifact named The Mightstone and Weakstone you can meld them into Urza, Planeswalker. Use a midrange or control approach to disrupt opponents’ strategies while building towards the meld with cards like Teferi, Time Raveler and Containment Priest. Urza is a great investment and there is a strong chance that he will remain a key player in Magic for years to come.

All-Stars to Watch

Whilst it does not define every format, cards such as Murktide Regent in Modern, Dockside Extortionist in Commander and Orcish Bowmasters in Vintage are other incredible creatures that certainly hold their value. They are key players in their own respective formats and great examples of creatures that offer powerful, game-winning value and are a safe bet when it comes to any collection.