Are they hidden gems? Maybe not. But these ten cards are still legal in Standard and they need some love.
10. Combustible Gearhulk
Poor Combustible Gearhulk. Every other Gearhulk sees play in at least a Tier 2 deck but nobody seems to remember that the red Gearhulk does…things, too.
Hell, people have been playing Refurbish in some of the God-Pharaoh’s Gift decks. Why not go all Gearhulk, all the time? You probably need some sweepers to stay alive, and Strategic Planning into Sweltering Suns into Refurbish a Combustible Gearhulk sounds tempting.
…right?
9. Kozilek, the Great Distortion
Both non-Kozilek Eldrazi Titans have been responsible for getting a card banned in this Standard format. Emrakul, the Promised End got herself banned and Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger helped Aetherworks Marvel out the door. But Kozilek? Well, no one has heard from Kozilek for a while. Should someone stop by and check on him?
8. & 7. Felidar Cub and Saheeli Rai
Yes, Felidar Guardian got banned. But Copy Cat players just gave up on the deck too soon and forgot that there was another white Felidar in Standard. Maybe Felidar Cub is the Cub That Was Promised? Why not? You can kill a lot of…enchantments…with this combo.
6. Seasons Past
Remember when Jon Finkel Top 8’d Pro Tour Shadows over Innistrad with a Seasons Past control deck? Then everyone bought the card and played it and won approximately 90% less? There’s still a few months left to try and get that win rate up!
5. Felidar Sovereign
What? There’s a third Felidar in Standard? Aren’t people trying to beat mono-red? Are you aware that Anointer Priest is a card? Isn’t there a lifegain deck? Not playing Felidar Sovereign seems like a missed opportunity.
4. Duskwatch Recruiter
What the hell is going on with green two drops? Like, really. How many ridiculous green two drops are in Standard right now (see below)? This format is wide open, Cryptolith Rite is still around, and nobody is playing Duskwatch Recruiter? Aren’t there ramp decks with a ton of mana? The best deck is a bunch of zombies that slowly overwhelm opponents? There’s probably something we’re missing.
3. Sylvan Advocate
Remember when this was the best green two drop since Tarmogoyf? Brad Nelson and Corey Baumeister played these in Minneapolis a few weeks ago, but they had so much confidence in it that they actually bet on who could win more matches with it in their deck.
2. Spell Queller
This card was keeping Aetherworks Marvel in check for an entire Pro Tour. Aetherworks Marvel gets banned, and Spell Queller can’t even get anyone to return its calls. Did they print an efficient way to kill a three-toughness flier or something?
1. Gideon, Ally of Zendikar
Lol.
Carrie O’Hara contributed to this article.