Welcome back to another session with the Epic Experiment. 2022 is upon us and so now is the perfect time to look back and go over the top 21 cards of 2021. For this review we will go over the new cards and not reprints. The theory being that we are familiar with what reprints offer the format and apart from a drop in price on the secondary market there should really be little in the way of additional impact on the format. I also will not be including cards that appear in Secret Lairs even if they are mechanically unique. There are still lots of great options, so let’s get down to business.
Tergrid, God of Fright
Tergrid earns a spot on this list for being among the most miserable cards to face down whenever you happen to see her. The ability to steal cards that are discarded or sacrificed is truly heinous and something just about everyone despises. Having encountered this build a few times since she was printed, I’m glad she has not become an overwhelming favorite. Also, caution to anyone who plays this on Spelltable or the equivalent webcam platform, because Tergrid is the sort of card that truly ruins the experience because it is just so tricky to represent the board state effectively.
The World Tree
This terrific addition to mana bases everywhere makes mana fixing silly easy. Hit 6 lands and now all your lands just tap for whatever you want. Who needs a Chromatic Lantern? Oh, as if the fixing weren’t enough, you can tutor for gods. Sure, it is a pricey ability, but it is really just the cherry on top. There really is nothing not to like about this and the 12k decks already running this agree.
Toski, Bearer of Secrets
Over 20k decks include this little squirrel and really why not? The fact it is uncounterable, indestructible, and makes it such that all of your creatures are now an Ophidian means that green decks can now bury your opponents in card advantage. The card is outstanding and makes this list easily.
Vorinclex, Monstrous Raider
One of the themes of the last couple of years has been the frequency with which WOTC has gone to the “double” something trope as part of their design philosophy. The big praetor doubles your counters, essentially hates out your opponents counters, and packs a big ol’ 6/6 with haste and trample. As a great tool to combat +1/+1 counter decks, and as a great way to amp up any counter matters strategies, Vorinclex is obviously super popular with over 10k decks including this big monster already. Enjoy!
Culling Ritual
An inclusion in over 13k decks, this is a very potent b/g spell because it hits a surprising number of impactful artifacts, utility creatures, and enchantments such that when you the mana back in the form of the ritual you can often put together a pretty explosive turn and really turn the heat up on the opposition. I mean, who doesn’t like killing all the sol rings, arcane signets, and the like for value and to further your own board state? Yes please.
Beledros Witherbloom
Ah yes, the first of the latest series of elder dragons from Strixhaven. Beledros is very interesting because it has the same text as Tendershoot Dryad, and can imitate a Wilderness Reclamation all while being a sleek 4/4 flier. The untapping ability is probably the most impactful and leads to broken game actions and combo kills. In 7300 decks already since the spring, Beledros is well on his way to being an outstanding card in the format and a force for years to come.
Prismari Command
Everyone loves a command. Players love options and when we get modal cards we always consider their playability very closely. Fortunately for us Prismari Command is suitably easy to determine if we want to play because all 4 modes are useful. It has already found a home in over 7600 decks making it a high priority card to blue/red decks and with commanders like Eruth, Tormented Prophet, Rielle, the Everwise, and Galazeth Prismari being fairly recent and playing right into what this card does, I find it hard to imagine it will be any less popular.
Expressive Iteration
Yet another Izzet card to buddy up with all the same commanders, this is just a super efficient method of filtering cards that has all sorts of applications. While this is perhaps slightly less impactful than some options that exist, the truth of the matter is that many decks need a cheap, but useful effect like this. Oh yeah…it is in over 6000 decks, so no small number.
Wandering Archaic
This card is funny. I know it is an MDFC. It has two modes you could use. However, are you EVER using the back of this card? Not a chance. This card is played almost entirely for the front side where you can get all sorts of fun effects off the triggered ability if your opponents are tapped out and can’t pay the 2. Incidentally, if you hated the “do you pay the 1?” question from Rhystic Study, this just makes it worse. Sorry. This card is hugely powerful and has found a home in over 19k decks and clearly made a big splash in just over 9 months.
Esper Sentinel
Ah, yes, Modern Horizons 2 and the plethora of broken things that the set has to offer. Number 1 on the top of the list for us is Esper Sentinel. This is White’s answer to Rhystic Study and in some ways it just might be better because since it is a creature it is easier to recur. Mono white card draw is a thing and this has found a home in almost 40k decks! This card is no joke. I’m praying for a reprint soon.
Dauthi Voidwalker
Every commander player knows to beware the graveyard and thus cards like Bojuka Bog and the like see extensive play. Dauthi Voidwalker provides that same sort of protection, but also the added benefit of stealing something powerful from your opponent. That is just outstanding value on a very reasonably costed body. Oh, and over 24k people agree too making this one of the most impactful cards of the year.
Yavimaya, Cradle of Growth
Green Urborg huh? Yup…this is good. The metrics alone suggest this card is insane. Urborg, Tomb to Tawgmoth is in over 100k decks. Cradle is already in 35k…in 6 months. Guess who wants LOTS of forests? Every green player ever. This is only going to see more play as time progresses…guess it is already time for a reprint.
Archaeomancer’s Map
This has been a rather controversial card because there have been some in the community who find that they keep cutting the card from lists, while others swear this card is terrific and want to play it more often. Personally, I think the potential upside is tremendous and worth the slot in most decks running white. This is potentially 1 part Land Tax, 1 part Burgeoning and has a very high power level ceiling to help white decks to continue to narrow the gap with the other 4 colors. It does appear in over 18k decks, but some of that can be attributed to it appearing in a very popular precon this past spring. Nonetheless, the combination of a powerful card and appearing in a precon makes it very appealing to players of all stripes.
Circle of Dreams Druid
The math on this one is simple. The text on this card is the same as Gaea’s Cradle, one of the most iconic commander cards in the game. That’s the reason. End story. This card is already hugely popular and in almost 10k decks despite being printed mid-summer.
Prosper, Tome-Bound
This was one of the most interesting new commanders this year because it really entrenched B/R as a Treasure making deck. There was loads of buzz around his release and many players really enjoyed this new addition. As the lead singer in a precon, he appears in over 3000 decks, which is hardly earth shattering, but the dynamic nature of the card will make him a force for years to come because he will continue to be a viable and interesting commander for years to come.
Tovolar, Dire Overlord
All autumn werewolves have been on the tip of everyone’s tongue. The tribe had finally gotten the legendary werewolf we were all yearning for that provided the tribe with a viable Commander deck. Consequently, Tovolar has been among the top 10 commanders for many months and is starting 2022 in good shape. The only real drawback is with the design of the new werewolves from Midnight Hunt and Crimson Vow because they function mechanically differently than the old ones from our first forays into Innistrad. That doesn’t detract to greatly from the appeal of Tovolar, but it does take away some of the luster from the werewolves decks.
Vow Mid Dual Land Cycle ie. Shipwreck Marsh
These are among some of the best lands for casual play that we have seen in many years. In most every Commander game these are going to enter untapped and just be useful. The fact that they are untapped makes all the difference and takes these from being just ok, to being excellent and something that will keep players coming back time and time again.
The Meathook Massacre
Aristocrat decks are among the most popular strategies around. Many decks rely on a combination of Blood Artist, Zulaport Cutthroat and other aristocrat payoffs, but those can be removed easily enough. By making this a board wipe, on an enchantment that sticks around, and persists in having a powerful effect, WOTC just ticked all the boxes to have a card that people are going to be very excited over.
Unnatural Growth
Do you happen to remember Fiery Emancipation? This is very similar in many respects. Sure, it may not triple your damage, but this does increase the damage output of your creatures and makes it such that it won’t take much to close the deal. This card is hugely impactful and it has already found a way into almost 7000 decks despite having been printed earlier this autumn. Bottom line, this just ends games and is well deserving of its spot.
Welcoming Vampire
Mentor of the Meek just got an upgrade. When this becomes the de facto top white card draw creature after Esper Sentinel then you know it is going to wind up everywhere.
Torens, Fist of the Angels
I think this card is outstanding and takes your go wide strategy from being kind of wide to being ridiculous very, very quickly. Training is also a much more potent ability than some we have seen like the Mentor ability, and thus makes all your tokens eminently better. Torrens may only appear in 500 or so lists, but I think it is safe to say that Torens is going to be a commander people come back to and revisit with each subsequent set.
That sums up my top 21 of 2021. Let me know what you think I missed. With all the great new effects cards it was tricky to compile such a list, so if you don’t agree, please let me know. If you enjoyed my thoughts or have something you would like to see explored in more detail, please check out our decks and much more each week on our podcast on Itunes, Google Podcast, Spotify, Amazon, and anywhere else you find better podcasts. Just look for the name The Epic Experiment Podcast! We’d love to have you join us!
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