Magic: The Gathering: War of The Spark: 26 Best Cards (So Far!)

War of The Spark is peak Magic, and it’s going to absolutely blow a hole in every format in the game when it drops. Commander is getting absurd amounts of viable cards; I can see some of these making Modern, but it’s Standard I play, and it’s Standard I’m talking about here. And because I only have a page or so to do it, we are going to be looking at cards in broad strokes and short sentences, and I will miss things in the process. Sorry about that, but there are too many pushed and powerful cards for me to keep track of here.

A six-mana Planeswalker that I think will see regular play in Standard. Her passive is too strong and she can protect herself while grinding out value. She’s a one-of probably, but she’s still one heck of a card.

As if G/W Aggro wasn’t already a strong deck that gains too much life. Protects himself too, kinda.

Hello, anti-control for Gruul Aggro. He’s tiny, but he’s annoying and will kill Esper players sometimes.

Izzet Phoenix is already strong and acts a lot like a storm deck. This just made it even more so. Chaining cantrips, dealing damage, bringing back Phoenix: it’s gonna be fun.

Apparently, there can never be a Teferi card that isn’t annoying. That static ability was already gnarly for a lot of decks, but then you realize that first loyalty ability means board wipes at instant speed.

Someone’s going to break this card with some combo. I have no idea what it is yet—but it’s happening.

Because Dive Down wasn’t annoying enough. This is a pushed combat trick if I ever saw one.

This card looks a little too much like Bitterblossom for my own comfort.

The effect is not overly powerful, but the fact it’s instant speed and sometimes hand attack means this card is going to see some play.

He’s a wizard and every time he attacks you get to recast a cantrip or a small burn spell. This card is so much better than you think it is.

The meta doesn’t seem to be favoring Mono-Red lately. But this is a solid card for those lists.

Somehow, this card is going to enable some truly busted stuff to happen, and I’m not prepared to play against those decks.

If the right cards are there for this to get counters regularly, it’s a solid stompy include. Might see some play, but probably overshadowed by better beaters.

Pairs well with Evolution Sage. It’s no Growth Spiral, but it’s something.

Reminds me of Birds of Paradise in a very positive way. A sorta-hexproof mana dork is a cool idea.

Might see some fringe play or maybe heavy play. It’s a good card the more I look at it.

Solid aggro card. Jund and Rakdos and Mardu all want this.

The mill isn’t that important, but it’s still good without that. Wish it was four mana.

Esper did not need more powerful cards. This is an absurdly strong Esper card.

What did I just say about too many strong Esper cards?! I do find the idea of just saying “no” to counter-wars funny, though.

This card is quite possibly busted in a lot of decks. If you thought Crackling Drakes got big, imagine that, but not dying to Lava Coil.

Okay, someone play a competitive Aristocrats deck already. WOTC really wants to make it happen.

This gives the Merfolk deck more late-game options.

They put this ability on an artifact, and it was busted. On a creature, and it did not see much play. Let’s try this one more time.

This card is going to get expensive real fast.

Lands that can become creatures tend to see play. This can become a creature for no cost.

—

And that’s my top picks so far. I can only imagine what strange and powerful new decks will soon emerge.

Possibly Related Posts:

• Friday Fiction: The Opposite of a Werewolf Curse
• Halloween Fiction: Pumpkin Coins and Fae Rules
• Agatha All Along Episodic Coverage: Follow Me My Friend/To Glory at the End
• Book Review: I Found The Boogeyman Under My Brother’s Crib
• Friday Fiction: The Art Gallery (Part 3)