MTG Top 10: Hexproof | The BEST Cards With one of the BEST Keywords | Magic: the Gathering | Ep. 451

[@ZackeroniAndCheese]

I love how even though your list is labeled "top 10", you discuss the cards that have fallen off the list since last time. Keep up the awesome videos!

[@gabrielkay6866]

Man is a master of his craft

[@johngleeman8347]

It always amazes me to see new cards racking up points in vintage.

[@TheGloriousLobsterEmperor]

It's how you can tell a card is beyond busted.

[@brandonbrooks779]

@@TheGloriousLobsterEmperor or the older card/mechanic it has synergy with was busted from the start and remains unchecked

[@nickbalmes6640]

@@TheGloriousLobsterEmperor true that Drew. Veil of Summer is a sterling example of it.

[@ArgentumEmperio]

@@TheGloriousLobsterEmperor Death's Shadow is the beat example as to why you are wrong Cards ain't played in vintage, legacy, or even modern because its busted, but because the synergy or because of the prevalence of one oppressive colour is rampant in these formats Synergy triumphs over individual card strength in formats with more cards

[@TheGloriousLobsterEmperor]

@@ArgentumEmperio Well a card having good synergy is a form of strength. It's why Bazaar of Baghdad is busted because of all the synergy with it.

[@harrison1735]

In addition to pushing Ward they've also shifted Hexproof toward being a temporary effect granted by combat tricks. In fact there are only two creatures currently in Standard across all rarities that have unconditional, always-on Hexproof. For comparison a recent set like Guilds of Ravnica had three on its own.

[@kittylynne592]

I love that the one modern deck built around hexproof doesn't have any cards on the list. RIP in peace my sweet boi. May you be slippery forever in that big plane in the sky.

[@SomeOfTheJuice]

Veil of Summer is another one of those cards where I look at it and say "who thought this was a good idea to put in something other than a modern masters set?" It's just so damn powerful that it basically was destined to be banned from standard and pioneer.

[@TheGloriousLobsterEmperor]

Sorry I'm late. I think my mobile network didn't have hexproof so it's been rekt. Seriously, I'm on holiday in Melbourne and ever since I touched down the signal has been awful. But at least I wasn't late to "Top 10 Vintage Cards (Minus Power 9)!"

[@troythewizard9940]

A note on Hexproof- Wizard's continually says Blue is primary in Hexproof, but the only cards of recent years it gets are like Cradle of Safety (till end of turn; conditional). But Green gets it on things like Avabrook Caretaker every set (as though Green needs the help with pushed creatures).

[@andyspendlove1019]

That’s hilarious 😂 the only recent blue creatures I can think of with hexproof are 5+ CMC draft chaff commons.

[@ROMANTIKILLER2]

It's yet another example of WotC designing the game around the annoying philosphy "Green must be the best color and do everything"...

[@stevesmith5883]

I agree but I'm glad that Avabrook Caretaker exists as somebody with a werewolf tribal EDH deck.

[@TheGloriousLobsterEmperor]

Green's share of the colour pie is the whole thing.

[@TheSquareOnes]

As someone that quit MTG decades ago it's always interesting to read threads like this. Green was always good because mana is always good, but that tended to be the limit of its advantages and blue is still locked in my mind as the "does whatever the designers want it to do" color. Slightly amusing to hear the situation has reversed, although you'd think after this long the designers would finally have a clear idea of what the color pie is supposed to be and how to balance it.

[@corey2232]

Will always prefer Shroud to Hexproof... I always enjoyed the fact that having such a strong upside of not being able to be targeted by opponents came with a cost; you also can't target it. Feels like a fair compromise for an effect that is very beneficial overall. Hexproof just kills that balance & makes things too one-sided. I'm glad Ward has slowly taken over as the main mechanic for such an effect, as it at least provides more opportunities for counterplay. I don't ALWAYS hate the idea of Hexproof though, as I wouldn't mind it so much on non-creature permanents. But yeah... this list just reminded me of how many cards with this mechanic I've hated over the years 🤣

[@TempestDacine]

Even with the old legendary rule playing in a format that had thrun sigard geist and invisible stalker was awful lol fortunately we had a 2 mana clone in the format but it def stands out as a reason why they eventually toned down on the hexproof beaters.

[@emperornapoleon6204]

Another great video! I love the updated lists - it’s interesting to see how the game evolves.

[@NizzahonMagic]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@deifiedtitan]

“Veil of Summer is too good at hosing black and blue.” Good. Sincerely, Naya mage

[@timothylee8494]

Ever done a “can’t be countered” list? Just saw kenobi talking about Loxodon Smiter, I’d be curious to see what other ones have been good in the past

[@enilson002]

I still have nightmares of Geist from those damn Bant Hexproof decks . . . hated playing against it and refused to give in and play it myself.

[@makenshao9886]

While not nearly as good as Blossoming Defense as it only boosts toughness, I also loved to play with Dive Down when it was relevant, because it was just as good as Blossoming Defense in blanking removal, and sometimes it even let you turn trades into chumps or even wins. That genre of conditional counterspells honestly some of my favorites, because they let you actually interact with more removal heavy matchups, and incentive a bit more of a tall approach to aggro either by playing strong creatures or enchanting one creature to be a threat. I think Karametra's blessing also seeing some play in pauper heroic decks too if I'm remembering right.

[@ozmond]

Lol I was literally looking at Taoist hermit on Troll&Toad earlier tonight and was like “does this just have hexproof?”

[@phallen_1]

Paradise Druid was a house in Selesnya Auras and Naya Feather decks late in her Standard. If you could stick Sentinel's Eyes on her, she was a great place to stack other auras.

[@bonidc6732]

I like the revisits, good video!!

[@NizzahonMagic]

Thanks!

[@hesiyyn4880]

Enjoyed the video :) Will need to rewatch to see if I missed any of the jokes! Looking forward to Nizzanotes tomorrow

[@NizzahonMagic]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@Засотнюваэропортпоехали]

Nice work, as always. How about top 10 green fliers?

[@NizzahonMagic]

Great suggestion! I'll probably do that at some point.

[@Jeffwinsauce]

Your videos are the best and are my favorite thing to watch ever since I started getting back into Magic! Thank you!!!

[@NizzahonMagic]

Glad you like them!

[@BostonMoose513]

You should create a list of not quite top 10 where they are cards that see a lot of use but are just always below being used.

[@jackattackhissnack]

Is there a top ten cards list? No modifiers just the top ten cards with the most points? Would be interesting to see, I'm sure it wouldn't be the power 9 given how they're banned in most formats.

[@3kojimbles895]

at number 1 island

[@alexcapps9290]

So surprised not to see slippery Bogle on the list.

[@epochsgaming]

Did I just miss it or did Bogle somehow not make the list?

[@boots4snootin571]

Very curious to see where Bogle weighs in, super surprised it wouldn't be in top 10

[@streetpeter3210]

That one is fucking with me. And wouldn't Gladecover Scout be right along with it? They're best buddies.

[@NizzahonMagic]

It didn't make the list. Only being played sporadically in Modern generally isn't enough for a list this stacked. It has 24 points.

[@nemesisbloodryche22]

Can't wait to see episode 450 to be the top ten worst cards overall!!!!

[@gigawarman12]

Yooooo

[@venkelos6996]

I am a fan of Hexproof, so this was a fun list, but I must confess I was surprised not to see Narset anywhere. I know she's a rather unpopular Commander, with a Salt score to prove it, but I guess I didn't realize she was do inconsequential in other formats, where "being in the Command zone" availability wasn't a thing.

[@watapon3415]

I dont play other formats, but she is probably too clunky and vulnerable for the competitive 1v1 formats.

[@brianwalters8641]

With so many great hexproof cards that have come out in the last 5 years, I'm legit surprised that cards that made the list last time still remained!

[@TheEvilDuck666]

I have to ask, how many points does Carnage Tyrant have?

[@NizzahonMagic]

28

[@elogee_yt]

My own personal top 10 would include Dungrove Elder 10 times

[@connormohs6046]

How much did lotus field gain? Thought that would make the list

[@NizzahonMagic]

It has 26 points.

[@connormohs6046]

@@NizzahonMagic oh less than I thought. Thank you!

[@HenryC04]

what is the framed card behind you? Edit: Great video by the way

[@NizzahonMagic]

You'll find out in a video next week!

[@HenryC04]

@@NizzahonMagic great cant wait!

[@joseluki]

Veil of summer is ebola card design.

[@ppgg8843]

I love these top 10s

[@user-fd2co5xr7k]

Can someone explain to me why blossoming defense is more successful than snakeskin veil? I don’t understand

[@NizzahonMagic]

In Infect, +2/+2 is way better than a +1/+1 counter.

[@user-fd2co5xr7k]

@@NizzahonMagic Ahh, that makes sense. Are there any other decks that would want the temporary stats boost more than the counter?

[@NizzahonMagic]

Death's Shadow would also rather have +2/+2.

[@user-fd2co5xr7k]

@@NizzahonMagic Huh. That's pretty cool! Thanks!

[@anxoviqueira2669]

Thrun has a really cool art, one of my favs, and reading it 11 years after it's release feels so weak compared to other creatures with the same CMC and stats

[@tonberrytoby]

I suppose cards like Shadowspear aren't eligible for this, even though it interacts with hexproof. You should make a list of cards that remove target abilities, like that.

[@Tws5515]

Invisible stalker gang rise up. Probably one of my favorite mono blue creatures of all time.

[@TheOdinsLance]

I wonder if hexproof for just spells or just abilities would be better balanced or just be too weak.

[@taylorolson6228]

Sylvan Caryatid's points dont add up. I'm guessing the missing points are from modern?

[@Shoup1155]

whoop whoop i really like your videos......

[@NizzahonMagic]

Thanks!

[@SR-di7ox]

I'm a little surprised that Dream Trawler didn't make the list

[@latsblaster]

It seems like ward is used at all rarities?

[@NizzahonMagic]

Yep! My point was just that hexproof is only at higher rarities now.

[@jackmalloy5902]

I’m surprised lotus field didn’t make the list Did it get anywhere near?

[@NizzahonMagic]

Sort of. It has 26 points.

[@andrewgauthier8479]

lol the *lion's* share

[@usiahz9640]

lol just a hour before this came out I watched his old video on hexproof

[@NizzahonMagic]

Nice

[@SageOfEchoes]

How do I hexproof Giada’s Gift

[@mikenahmias7102]

Shocked Snakeskin Veil is not on the list. I'm expecting that and Tamiyo's Safekeeping to make the list in the future. Both are very annoying in Standard.

[@NizzahonMagic]

They might make it, but Blossoming Defense is better than both in Modern. I guess it will depend on Historic maybe?

[@Dragracingduleist]

How are slippery boogle and gladecover scout not on this list

[@NizzahonMagic]

Because they are only played in Modern, and not that consistently across the life of the format. They only have points in the 20s.

[@Bloody-Butterfly]

I like Dungrove Elder

[@hungrybois5954]

I was hoping my boi Carnage Tyrant would be in here.

[@andyspendlove1019]

I thought Dream Trawler was going to make the list for sure. One of the most annoying creatures in the history of the game 😂🙃

[@llongone2]

Can confirm. Fuck Dream Trawler.

[@MineRoyale.]

Wasn't even that good in standard. No chance it gets anywhere near this list.

[@NizzahonMagic]

It has 22 points.

[@PrimeShifter]

There's a creature that when tapped all your tap creatures are hexproof and when untapped all your untapped creatures are hexproof out of that werewolf hunt set 🤔

[@NizzahonMagic]

Yep. Sure is.

[@kingangst233]

Wait so if Hexproof is one of the strongest keywords what is stronger? I have to guess storm but like… maybe?

[@lightbearer313]

Haste and trample are two of the strongest creature abilities. Indestructible and vigilance are also fairly strong, as is menace.

[@kingangst233]

@@lightbearer313 I will concede that menace and haste are on par with Hexproof. Trample is always good but I would almost always rather see one of the earlier three. Never been a fan of indestructible as they are just “remove me another way” targets.

[@zackestin1368]

companion is a good contender for strongest keyword, unless you mean evergreen, then it has to be indestructible.

[@BrainSlug91]

If you ever get to 1000 you need to do "top 10 MTG top 10's".

[@EpicGamerz01]

Invisible Stalker being a human was such a huge disappointment to me when I was making my Illuna Aura Voltron commander deck

[@elementaleighteight]

How is that hexproof wolf thingy not legendary?

[@vinnythewebsurfer]

Hot take, shroud is a healthier mechanic than hexproof

[@TNTColonel]

iirc MaRo has admitted as much - they just can't use it because players use it as if it were hexproof anyway

[@stevenrhodes8338]

Idea for #450 do the best cards involving luck in spirit for st pattys day

[@Tygerwulff]

I don't know why "the unforeseeable future" suddenly sounded so ominous.

[@PokeBattlerJaze]

Veil of Summer? Edit: Ayyyyyy

[@Wolfgar-jx5kl]

I know it was mainly a side board card but I won alot of games thanks to carnage tyrant

[@MegatronYES]

Geist of Saint Traft is the only broken card in that entire brilliant cycle and it swings for fucking SIX and omg it is literally the solitary blemish on that whole block for me

[@philvess6376]

Kinda sad to not see Carnage Tyrant on this list...

[@NizzahonMagic]

Sorry, it doesn't have anywhere close to enough points -- this list is too stacked for a card that just saw a decent amount of play in Standard.

[@tedayism.3101]

At Number #2 right now and I’m guessing Number #1 is Dream Trawler

[@NizzahonMagic]

Nope! It doesn't even have 30 points. This list is far too stacked for it.

[@joeycote480]

Wow, carnage tyrant not even on the list? Color me surprised

[@NizzahonMagic]

List is way too stacked for such a thing to make it! It only has 28 points.

[@GodpraisethePALANTINE]

Here Before 15k Chain

[@John_Smith_Dumfugg]

I was absolutely angered and saddened that they had not one but TWO innistrad sets and CHOSE not to bring back St. Traft for a legendary card.

[@NizzahonMagic]

If you want to get even angrier, they didn't give it to us in Shadows Over Innistrad block either! Although, they did at least give us the Saint Traft aura thing I guess.

[@thesamuraiman]

💜⚡

[@sain223]

Mirror Shield should of been on this list.

[@NizzahonMagic]

Nope.

[@TNTColonel]

Ah yes, 1-mana Cryptic Command, no wonder it's the top contender

[@DaveyDAKFAE]

Clarification: what qualifies for this list? Does Deeproot Waters count? Garruk's Harbinger? Shadowspear?

[@NizzahonMagic]

Shadowspear doesn't because it doesn't grant Hexproof. Deeproot Waters does count.

[@DaveyDAKFAE]

@@NizzahonMagic what about Garruk's Harbinger and other partial-hexproof cards?

[@magicsinglez]

.35 cents for a top-10 hexproof rare card I’d pretty good.

[@Necrotog82]

And if you want your friends to hate you, go pick up some Veil of summer and enjoy playing alone at recess.

[@xxANBUxx]

God Veil of Summer is such an unfair card.

[@superbaas8822]

Thrun can't be interacted with on the stack Blue: That can't stop me because I don't follow the rules of the game.

[@andynonya1490]

Any non-blue card that gives blue the finger is an auto-include for me

[@XEndlessSteelX]

Veil Of Summer should never have been banned. Blue and Black are simply too oppressive and counter-spells should exist to a way lesser extent than they do right now so more "stuff can't be countered" spells should absolutely exist.

[@NizzahonMagic]

The problem is that Blue decks can just go UG and play it themselves -- that's basically what happened. It is just too good to exist in most formats.

[@anarchymatt]

ahh yes, hexproof, the keyword that makes creatures that cost more than 2 mana playable, and prevents an all-control meta

[@MortonGoldthwait]

Some say its's the glasses. Others say it's the facial hair. I say that tiny gap in your teeth is where your true beauty comes from.

[@lunaticfringe896]

I wish you did MULTIPLAYER best series. I watch these videos and they are just MEH to me, as MP is just an entirely different game, with entirely different strategies. As such, cards you pick I often go, "Ehhh?" But I get it, this is 1v1, not MP. Please consider adding MP commentary videos. It's not a nothing-burger, lots play MP like me