Surge ConductorSurge Conductor | Art by Alexandr Leskinen | Stormscale ScionStormscale Scion | Art by Andrew Mar

2025 is almost over? It's hard to believe, but it's December already. We've seen a lot of good Magic cards this year, from Tarkir to Avatar, and I'm here to talk about some of the best ones.

In this article, I'll go over the top 10 nonlegendary creatures printed in 2025 (and five honorable mentions), so you can be sure you didn't miss any bangers out of the 2,020 cards released this year.

#10. Summon: BahamutSummon: Bahamut

Final Fantasy had a great many innovations, not the least of which was the introduction of Saga creatures. This one costs , but its whole mana cost is colorless, which means it can be powered out with mana rocks like Sol RingSol Ring or simply reanimated to avoid paying that cost altogether.

When this Dragon hits the board, though, it's a very powerful win condition. It removes an opponent's best threat twice and draws us some cards before sending a nuke directly at each of our opponents' life totals. If any player manages to get this behemoth onto the battlefield, the game is certain to end soon after.

#9. Icetill ExplorerIcetill Explorer

Lands decks in Commander typically want a few things: the ability to play extra lands, Crucible of WorldsCrucible of Worlds effects, and self-mill effects to enable the Crucible. This creature provides all three for just . I struggle to think of another creature that provides so much of what land-centric decks want in one package.

This Insect Scout is most at home in high-power casual decks, but has some limited cEDH potential in decks led by Lumra, Bellow of the WoodsLumra, Bellow of the Woods.

#8. Quantum RiddlerQuantum Riddler

If you like drawing cards, you'll love this Sphinx. If you love drawing cards, you'll buy 10 copies of this Sphinx to put one in each deck you own.

This creature has two main functions. First, it can replace itself in your hand for just . Then, for , it becomes a card advantage accelerant that comes along with a 4/6 flying body. Either half of the Riddler is great, as it can help you come back from a losing position or provide a boost when you're already winning.

This creature's flexibility earns it the #8 spot on our list.

#7. Elegy AcolyteElegy Acolyte

I really like the direction that Wizards of the Coast has been taking creature design recently. Yes, there have been some power outliers like Orcish BowmastersOrcish Bowmasters and Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIERSephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER, but it feels like we're getting more innovative designs now than we did in past years.

Elegy Acolyte is no exception to this trend. It's a 4/4 lifelinker that draws up to three cards per turn (or possibly more with double strike or extra combats) and makes 2/2s if we can trigger its void ability. In a color with so many sacrifice outlets, that won't be hard to do.

This Human Cleric is a sweet self-contained value engine that fits in a wide variety of strategies, earning it a slot in our top 10.

#6. Pinnacle EmissaryPinnacle Emissary

When a new Young PyromancerYoung Pyromancer effect comes around, I pay attention. When that effect triggers off of artifacts, I pay even more attention. When that card is an artifact itself and makes artifact tokens, I'm fully hooked. This Robot provides everything that artifact decks want, and can even be had temporarily for just .

It's hard to dream up a better card for Izzet+ artifact decks, and I'm so glad they decided to temper this absolutely busted card slightly by restricting the combat abilities of the Drone tokens it makes.

#5.OuroboroidOuroboroid

Coming to us from Edge of Eternities, this Plant Wurm is monstrous. It starts off powerful, putting a +1/+1 counter on our whole team the turn it hits play, and only gets better from there. If we're able to suit it up with Equipment, pump spells, or +1/+1 counters before combat, this creature becomes absolutely bonkers.

Ouroboroid turns a mediocre board state into a great one and a great board state into a game-winning one in short order. I've seen it do some absolutely disgusting things when paired with commanders like Vorinclex, Monstrous RaiderVorinclex, Monstrous Raider, if any of you are looking to end your next Commander game in less than five minutes.

#4. Cosmogrand ZenithCosmogrand Zenith

Commander players frequently cast multiple spells in a turn. That's why cards like Ledger ShredderLedger Shredder and Rhystic StudyRhystic Study are so strong in our format. So, when a card rewards us for casting multiple spells in a turn, it's going to get triggered pretty often. That's exactly why Cosmogrand Zenith is so strong.

Token decks, +1/+1 counter decks, and really any deck that can make should be running this card. It rewards Commander players for doing what they were already going to do: cast spells. At a low mana cost of , this Human Soldier can hit the board early and start generating insane amounts of value over the course of the game.

#3. Voice of VictoryVoice of Victory

This card made waves the moment it was spoiled. From cEDH all the way down to casual play, the newest version of Grand AbolisherGrand Abolisher was sure to grab people's attention.

This Human Bard may not protect us from activated abilities in the same way the classic Abolisher does, but it has other benefits. It makes us two disposable 1/1s when it attacks, and requires one pip less to cast. That gives it a space in high-color decks like Najeela, the Blade-BlossomNajeela, the Blade-Blossom that may sometime struggle to cast Grand Abolisher.

Voice of Victory is admittedly stronger in higher bracket games, where players run more interaction, but it became an instant staple in a way that very few other cards have this year.

#2. Umbral Collar ZealotUmbral Collar Zealot

It takes a lot to topple a Commander icon. This creature, somehow printed as an uncommon, has begun taking away a lot of Viscera SeerViscera Seer's market share. It may cost more than the Seer, but Umbral Collar Zealot can sacrifice artifacts and fills up the graveyard instead of just putting unwanted cards to the bottom of the library.

In some decks, this Human Cleric sees play alongside its one-mana counterpart. But, in others, this sac outlet replaces it. I never thought I'd see the day, but 14 years after Viscera Seer's release it's finally been somewhat outclassed.

#1. Badgermole CubBadgermole Cub

The best nonlegendary creature card from this year is also one of the most recently printed. This is the most talked about card from ATLA (other than Wan Shi Tong, LibrarianWan Shi Tong, Librarian) and for good reason. It's a mana accelerator that's reminiscent of Kinnan, Bonder ProdigyKinnan, Bonder Prodigy. This Badger supercharges all mana dorks, and even creates a mana dork on entry. It also removes many of the traditional downsides associated with land animation, giving lands haste and returning them to the battlefield when they leave for any reason.

They really did cover all their bases when they designed this card. This two-drop has a home in basically any -based deck, and at the #1 slot on our list.

Honorable Mentions

Howlsquad HeavyHowlsquad Heavy

This creature does a little bit of everything that Goblin decks want: It's part Legion WarbossLegion Warboss, part FervorFervor, and part Brightstone RitualBrightstone Ritual. Goblins are the eighth most popular creature type on EDHREC, and this creature from Aetherdrift gives pilots yet another tool to maximize the effectiveness of their little green friends. As if they needed the help.

Exalted SunbornExalted Sunborn

This is just the fifth token doubler to be printed on a creature, and it's also the cheapest version of this effect we've ever seen. The ability to warp it in for a turn at the cost of just is incredibly strong, and one of the biggest reasons this Angel garnered an honorable mention. But its full casting cost also netting us a 5/5 flying, lifelinking creature isn't bad either.

The Gearhulk Cycle

I'm cheating a little bit here, because this is really a cycle of five fantastic cards. The two best, by far, are Brightglass GearhulkBrightglass Gearhulk (which can tutor strong cards like Esper SentinelEsper Sentinel and Haywire MiteHaywire Mite into hand) and Riptide GearhulkRiptide Gearhulk (which is Grasp of FateGrasp of Fate on a very intimidating 2/5 double striking body).

The other cards in the cycle aren't slouches, though. Oildeep GearhulkOildeep Gearhulk can rip the best card out of an opponents hand in the style of Vendilion CliqueVendilion Clique, Coalstoke GearhulkCoalstoke Gearhulk can temporarily revive a creature in a much stronger form, and Pyrewood GearhulkPyrewood Gearhulk is a modern take on End-Raze ForerunnersEnd-Raze Forerunners.

Horizon ExplorerHorizon Explorer

I feel like I've talked about a lot of green cards that care about lands today, but Wizards printed so many good ones! Horizon Explorer is a (slightly less powerful) version of Amulet of VigorAmulet of Vigor on a body. It also comes with a token that lets us cast Rampant GrowthRampant Growth for so we can immediately get an untapped land from its first ability.

Stadium HeadlinerStadium Headliner

I'm a sucker for one-mana creatures. Stadium Headliner always attacks with a 1/1 buddy, and can act as a pretty effective deterrent against any opponents who want to develop their board state. If they want to put Lightning GreavesLightning Greaves on their best creature, we can sac the Headliner to get rid of the threat. If they're deciding who to attack, we can point out the Headliner's ability to gently guide their aggression elsewhere. Creatures like this provide the constant threat of activation, which often forces opponents to limit themselves and take game actions that they otherwise wouldn't to avoid the untimely death of their best creature.

Conclusion

That's all I've got for you this week, folks! Ranking Magic cards is tricky business. It's hard to compare two cards that do completely different things for different sorts of decks, and it's also hard to keep up with the more than 2000 cards printed in a year.

Did I miss your favorite creature? Did I rank a card in the wrong spot? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!