MTG Top 10: Sagas | Magic: the Gathering | Episode 589

[@mikotagayuna8494]

Sagas in its current form was Richard Garfield's contribution to RtD. It's such a fun, clean way to depict the MtG story in-game and the template does a lot to highlight the awesome art not limited to fantasy tropes.

[@joelhaggis5054]

Literally Magic as Richard Garfield intended.

[@SgtCookie111]

8:28 Actually, you don't necessarilly need the card in your graveyard. You can, in fact, choose to _discard_ a land which the chapter ability would then be able to reanimate.

[@hiimemily]

My favorite trick with Restoration is actually cracking a Roadside Reliquary and then bringing it back.

[@picassodilly]

Yeah- since you can discard the plains you just got from chapter 1, a ramp spell is kinda’ the fail case if you don’t happen to have a good two-drop in your graveyard or hand.

[@derekfnord]

Honestly surprised that Kumano Faces Kakkazan didn't make the list.

[@elnatanbitensky8314]

I thought it sees play in multiple formats.

[@derekfnord]

@@elnatanbitensky8314 Even if it doesn't, I thought it would have earned enough points just from Standard.

[@joelhaggis5054]

I don't even remember what that card does

[@edkolbe1850]

​@Joel Haggis only costs one red: Chapter 1: deals 1 damage to target player and planeswalker Chapter 2: The next creature you play this turn enters with a +1/+1 counter Chapter 3: Turns into a 2/2 with haste and whenever a creature your opponent control dies Exile it instead

[@markholzderber4384]

@@joelhaggis5054 1 Red, 1st: deal 1 damage to each opponent and each planeswalker, 2nd: your next creature comes into play with a +1/+1 counter on it this turn, 3rd: gives you a 2/2 that exiles everything your sources kill. so yeah hell of a 1 drop. edit: oh yeah my bad just exiles creatures

[@c.jhamblin5759]

I am truly of the mind the sagas are in the top 5 additions to magic ever. They gave enchantments back a lot of the unique territory that they had lost to artifacts over the years, offer the perfect meld of story and gameplay, and feature a gorgeous graphic layout with some of magics best art since 2018. And they feel simultaneously fair and poweful because they do a lot but they give your opponent multiple avenues and chances to interact with them. Richard Garfield sure does know how to design

[@SansGray]

Sagas are also #1 in my heart because they're almost universally blessed with great art.

[@Davisnacho]

Anyone else find it funny that the best card in an enchantment subtype is all about artifacts.

[@ClubbingSealCub]

Just like the urza's saga block

[@ceulgai2817]

No, because expecting that kind of parasitism is asking the game to become Yugioh.

[@hi-i-am-atan]

@@ceulgai2817 ... it's not funny because an evergreen card type supporting another evergreen card type is parasitic? or because an evergreen card type supporting _its own_ card type would be parasitic? either way, i feel like ygo has a fair few things that are a _bit_ more defining

[@MakeVarahHappen]

Fits given Urza's Saga the block was an enchantment focused block with some of the most broken artifacts of all time.

[@HotBlasterBot]

@@MakeVarahHappen wait, really???

[@-ZH]

12:12 Wait a minute, those scores add up to 49. Which one of those formats was mistyped?

[@King-Bubel]

Sagas are such a cool addition to mtg. I was there when they were introduced and they’ve just continued to prove that they are worthwhile and interesting.

[@Shimatzu95]

I expected fable to be nr 1, I also forgot about urzas saga being a saga XD

[@Orcasgt22]

Only way Urza's Saga falls down this list is if it gets banned. Absolutely insane card

[@michaelcollins4534]

Sagas are definitely my favorite subtype of card in the game. Love blinking them and going straight down to value town Some of my favorites include: birth of meletis, restoration of eiganjo, the bloodsky massacre (art is beautiful on this one), binding of the old gods, and fall of the thran (its so degen but i have a historic brawl deck where this is my windcon when combined with tormod's crypt type effects, i get far too much joy when i get this to happen)

[@mikenahmias7102]

Love the choice for the thumbnail. I have those sleeves on my white Explorer deck on Arena.

[@michaelcollins4534]

I remember when mh2 first cane out in sealed i thought urza's saga was even more busted than it actually was because i didn't realize it meant an artifact with a mana value 0 or 1 printed on it. So when it was getting ready to expire on the third chapter i was fetching the artifact dual lands in the set. I apologize to my opponents now because apparently thats not how it works lol

[@adamgoldreich1514]

Yeah the key distinction is that it says “mana cost”, not “mana value”. I also misinterpreted it when I first played with it.

[@michaelcollins4534]

@@adamgoldreich1514 my mind will never be able to remember the difference between mana value and mana cost

[@eddievedderface]

History of Benalia

[@Windowlick_]

Kind of insane to me that Fable has only 10 points in Pioneer, since it's arguably the best card in the format. Is it just a lack of events?

[@xxANBUxx]

I would argue Nykthos is the best card in Pioneer.

[@ClubbingSealCub]

​@@xxANBUxxthen you'd be wrong

[@TheEvolver311]

​@@xxANBUxxmono-green Devotion is T2 at best

[@Jerry-zf3ip]

I'm glad history of benalia got on the list. That was a beater in GRN standard.

[@crawdaddy1234]

Calling Number 1: Urza’s Saga. 0:01

[@taylorolson6228]

seeing #9 reminded me of all the games it singlehandedly won against my cycling deck in standard. So brutal in that matchup

[@XYGamingRemedyG]

I bet Urza's Saga is gonna be here. Love that card. AAAAAYYYYYYY

[@bolassnowman7429]

One of my most favorite Sagas is still The Eldest Reborn. Sagas have come such a long way in such a short time. Thank you sir

[@mrpinguimninja]

Fable is ridiculous, honestly. Also, i was kinda surprised none of the read ahead cards made the list, i thought they would see more play

[@NizzahonMagic]

Cruelty of Gix will make the list in the long run.

[@SirZapdos]

I'm pretty sure The Eldest Reborn and History of Benalia rotated out of standard in 2019, as that was when Eldraine was released and everything went to hell in a hand basket.

[@TheEvolver311]

Ironically also when Mtg got a big spike in New players

[@darkagerush3098]

I love watching your vids nizzahon. I don't play magic ATM but have a lot in life and still like to keep up with the game and your media is most of how I do that thanks much

[@gerudo4sale861]

I finally read an article of yours on card kingdom and for some reason I thought it ne written hiw you speak lol. Very well written articles. Good technique which isn't surprising since you have a PhD in history I suppose

[@CoL_Drake]

With cards now being 1 year longer in Standart new cards will get slot more points

[@herringway434]

A cool idea for a top 10 I don’t think you’ve done is of cards that make unique tokens. According to scryfall there are over 250 cards that make unique tokens so I would imagine there have to be at least 10 with points

[@edkolbe1850]

I wonder where Kumano Faces Kakkazan is on the list, it is also a multiformat staple and is on the ladder just as much as Fable of the Mirror Breaker.

[@leninade20]

Oh, flashbacks to endless matches against White Weenie decks and the terror History of Benalia. Do not miss it, but heckuva card in its day.

[@salvulcano1049]

hmm i wonder what #1 is gonna be

[@ErikTheRedd1]

Urzas or fable

[@TrumpLester]

Just in time for Tom Bombadil's card too. Saga Tribal, here we come

[@JasonFanelli]

Fable of the Mirror-Breaker's chances to catch the number one spot have gone up with the new Standard changes, no?

[@NizzahonMagic]

Unless it gets banned, which I think is more likely with the new system.

[@brianmcevoy1990]

I really should have bought a ton of Fable of the Mirror Breaker's when it was like 2 dollars. Knew it was gonna be a hit.

[@henryzelman4541]

Yeah I took a break right before that set came out, but looked at the card and immediately realized that it was a standard legal seasoned pyromancer (there are some differences but the two cards are basically the same power level)

[@MageSkeleton]

i am amazed Cruelty of Gix isn't top 3 and not even top 10. It's an amazing saga that literally does the three main things black wants to do. Remove a creature or planeswalker card from an opponents hand, search your library (grim tutor style losing three life), and then pull a creature from any graveyard onto your battlefield. Cruelty of Gix also has the saga breaking "READ AHEAD" so if you need to tutor RIGHT NOW you can, and still get the reanimation next turn. If you need to pull a creature onto the battlefield RIGHT NOW you can do that.

[@tuubi2783]

Its too slow, 5 mana reanimate something is not a good enough floor for older formats. I'd say a great way to think about this type of ranking is how excited you would be to pick the card in a cube draft. Showdown of the skalds is not exciting but its good in its archetype.

[@janvandeven906]

Really thought mirror breaker would 1 before seeing the list

[@TheKillerman3333]

This seems a bit earlier given our newest sagas. Perhaps we will get a new list in two years

[@BloodDracolich]

It may have just been me, but your eldest reborn section kind of blinked out there. I heard you talking about it, but I didn't see the card for a moment there.

[@authorinabox]

Akroan war's points look like they add up to 49 to me unless I'm mistaken?

[@notbot4525]

Surprised Reflection of Kiki Jiki didn't make the list. Seems like it is played occasionally and sideboarded in for grindier green and white based matchups Oh well.

[@NizzahonMagic]

So uh. Did you not watch the video or what?

[@notbot4525]

@@NizzahonMagic I was just trolling Edit: Or maybe you just pulled the double-troll, by giving a trollish response to my troll comment If so, I like your style sir Either way I like your style and videos

[@hungrybois5954]

I don't think any saga can be #1 since no saga grants +4/+4 rampage. Waiting for Teeka's saga until that day.

[@astuteanansi4935]

Teeka's Dragoncraft 9 Artifact Enchantment - Saga I: put a Flying counter on target creature. II: creatures with flying you control gain trample. III: target creature with flying gains rampage 4 until end of turn.

[@cax1175]

Don't forget Trample

[@elementaleighteight]

Showdown goldspan spell slinger.pump and protect otk

[@nathannjh]

How in the world will they ever power creep urzas saga. I’m scared for the future.

[@marcoottina654]

For the 666-th video, will you do the best (or worst) Demons? It's not that much far

[@n.m5253]

Top Ten one mana sorceries leaving out discard spells? (Or grouping them together since otherwise they'd fill the entire list)

[@aritzmartinezrodriguez1825]

Probably rift bolt, lava spike, glimpse of nature and Dark ritual will be somewhere there filling that list.

[@n.m5253]

@@aritzmartinezrodriguez1825 Ritual is an instant, the other cards most likely yes. But would be an interesting list, there's stuff like ancient stirrings, chain lightning, bloodchiefs thirst, claim the firstborn, gitaxian probe, ponder etc.

[@bigbonerecords.4080]

Nah .. Best Saga to me in is The Kami War .. in a flexible mana Ramp card deck.

[@jsum33]

Does the fact that Fable is staying in Standard another year make the race to #1 a bit more interesting? Also, how likely do you think it is we'll see Urza's Saga banned? I dislike that card, it's nutters, but it's flavor and the tribute to Urza's Saga, which was my first booster box and favorite block, I can't hate it.

[@aritzmartinezrodriguez1825]

By now, sadly, I doubt we are getting more modern horizons card banned. Personally I'll rather have them ban the freaking elementals than Saga.

[@joelhaggis5054]

Between the first saga video and this one, the number of tournament legal sagas has exactly doubled, going from 44 to 88. It's fitting, then, that exactly half of the cards on the first list have fallen off.

[@alienicecream]

Urzas Saga / Urzas Legacy / Urzas Destiny

[@Generic42]

Lol “Timorette” “Best to See God” “Birth of Mites” “The Oldest Reborn” “Showdown of the Skulls” “Restoration of Igonjo” “Hidezugu Consumes all” “Beth Conkers Death” “Erza Saga”

[@hyoroemongaming569]

Saga of the Eyes of Blue

[@samuelvanetten4324]

Can someone please tell me what make saga's good? Because I never understand the appeal...

[@arthurvandenbergh1881]

They usually give a lot of value for their cost. You have to wait a bit so that’s the downside but overall they tend to be pretty great

[@christopherb501]

Wonder how many from LotR will belong here.

[@Vario69]

Jeez Urza's Saga is so broken

[@StrawMan1235]

Fable doing so poorly in historic and pioneer seems pretty shocking to me considering how prevalent Rakdos is in those formats.

[@ClubbingSealCub]

It's not doing poorly it's just not that many events

[@yawg691]

Oh trust me lmao its doin just fine. I just don't think there are enough events to show it yet.

[@SpitefulAZ]

How long until you do top ten BATTLES?!?!

[@Arethusa01]

I wonder if it's even possible to make a top 10 worst Sagas.

[@aritzmartinezrodriguez1825]

Probably only because technically "worst" doesn't mean necessarily "bad". If it was "top 10 bad sagas" I doubt he could....xD

[@airtempest8945]

I mean, Dragon Kami Reborn definitely would be there for basically doing nothing.

[@cax1175]

Urza's Saga is good but it would be a lot better if you could search for an artifact creature with a mana cost of 9.

[@mikotagayuna8494]

Preferably with flying and rampage

[@davidlundquist1979]

Ah, you mean Colossus of Sardia? Better include a way to tutor up Instill Energy too then.

[@caseywellington4761]

Hmm I wonder which saga is number one OH WAIT NO I DON'T BECAUSE IT'S IN LITERALLY EVERY DECK

[@martinithechobit]

YAAA!.

[@TheGloriousLobsterEmperor]

I can't say I'm surprised at the #1. What's hilarious is that it's (I think) the newest Saga here and it already has completely dominated all the others. Maybe one day it'll make it onto "Top 10 Vintage Cards (Minus Power 9)", I'm not sure.

[@blueredlover1060]

It came out before Fable did. That said, both are insane cards.

[@jaxexe9408]

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[@andresperez7476]

I dont have any of these 10 cards 🐗🐧🐢

[@Lovuschka]

Of course the number 1 spot is a land.