(DuneblastDuneblast | Art by Ryan Alexander Lee)

Wherever I walk, the ancestors walk too.Wherever I walk, the ancestors walk too.

Hey everyone! After covering all the two-color pairs and ending on Selesyna, I wanted to do another throwback Top 10 list. I love how different the vibes can be for articles covering old and new sets.

For example, you might not see over half of the currently most played Foundations cards on the list in 5 years. On the other hand, my Innistrad list featured a fun assortment of EDH classics and "oldies-but-goodies" that many players perhaps don't have the heart to cut for newer, wordier cards.

I'm particularly excited to look into 2014's Khans of Tarkir, with the next booster set Tarkir: Dragonstorm coming out on April 11. I'm confident in saying that KTK is one of the most beloved sets of all time.

Notably, the most played cards from the set are the reprinted "fetchlands," originally from Onslaught. I'm only covering first printings here, but it was worth mentioning the presence of Flooded StrandFlooded Strand and co., not least because KTK got copies of these cards into the hands of many more players.

10. Clever ImpersonatorClever Impersonator - 64,591 decks

This card may be over 10 years old, but it's still one of the most versatile CloneClone effects in the game. Notably, it can copy any nonland permanent on the battlefield, including your opponents'!

It's worth mentioning, because some a lot of the other copiers restrict you to either creatures or to anything on your side of the battlefield.

Aside from just being a versatile card that can copy the best thing in play — and then even get recurred or blinked to upgrade it to the newest best thing — Clever ImpersonatorClever Impersonator fits well into several commanders' game plans.

With Gyruda, Doom of DepthsGyruda, Doom of Depths, Impersonator and MortuaryMortuary let you mill everyone out, unless someone controls an old Eldrazi. Even if they do, infinite death, enters, or sacrifice triggers can help you find the win.

Meanwhile, in Lynde, Cheerful TormentorLynde, Cheerful Tormentor, you can copy powerful Curses and make your opponents' lives miserable.

Gyruda, Doom of DepthsGyruda, Doom of Depths

MortuaryMortuary

Clever ImpersonatorClever Impersonator

Infinite death triggersInfinite ETBInfinite LTBInfinite millInfinite sacrifice triggersInfinite self-mill

Commander Spellbook

You don't even need a commander in play to go off! You do need something else going on to win, but the simple two-card combo of Impersonator and Felidar GuardianFelidar Guardian (or any one of several variants) gives you infinite enters and leaves triggers. Check out this card's Commander Spellbook page for more inspiration!

9. Altar of the BroodAltar of the Brood - 65,669 decks

Speaking of Felidar Guardian, Altar of the BroodAltar of the Brood is another KTK card that combines with it for the win, with the help of Clone effects like Spark DoubleSpark Double:

Felidar GuardianFelidar Guardian

Altar of the BroodAltar of the Brood

Spark DoubleSpark Double

Infinite ETBInfinite LTBInfinite mill

Commander Spellbook

While looking to put together some sort of combo is probably the best way to go, you can also just run it in builds that want to deplete libraries using commander abilities like Captain N'ghathrodCaptain N'ghathrod, Phenax, God of DeceptionPhenax, God of Deception, and Bruvac the GrandiloquentBruvac the Grandiloquent.

I also love seeing it paired often enough with mono-red commanders Krenko, Mob BossKrenko, Mob Boss and Norin the WaryNorin the Wary, maybe as a sort of spare Impact TremorsImpact Tremors in token-heavy strategies, showing that you really can just do anything you want in EDH as long as there's enough support for your game plan.

8. Tormenting VoiceTormenting Voice - 71,194 decks

This type of effect is very popular in Commander, with Faithless LootingFaithless Looting and Thrill of PossibilityThrill of Possibility making it into the top 10 most played mono-red cards.

It does so much for just two mana, especially in a format where taking the time to cast this isn't going to cost you a game.

It fills the graveyard for reanimatorreanimator strategies or for builds where you want to have certain things in the graveyard (like for Delirium).

It is a cheapish sorcery for spellslinger decks, also turning a useless card into more gas. You'll often see it played alongside other similar cards like the red spells above, but also Frantic SearchFrantic Search and more specific tools like Grisly SalvageGrisly Salvage.

7. Utter EndUtter End - 79,509 decks

I love an unconditional removal spell, even if it does cost a steep four mana. You just have to deal with certain threats in EDH, and they won't always be creatures.

There are a ton of similar cards, with Anguished UnmakingAnguished Unmaking a much more popular option — surely because it's cheaper — and VindicateVindicate offering tradeoffs in Orzhov ().

Of course, just because End is one of the most-played cards from KTK, that doesn't mean it's one of the best removal spells on offer. Even a card like Void RendVoid Rend, which came out much more recently and costs an extra color of mana, seems more play overall.

It's just great having several different good removal options in different color pairs, aside from the best mono-color options like Swords to PlowsharesSwords to Plowshares and sweepers like Wrath of GodWrath of God.

6. Temur AscendancyTemur Ascendancy - 79,370 decks

Here's another card from this set with combo potential. The most popular one sticks to Temur () and requires the haste-granting part of Ascendancy, meaning there are a lot of other cards that slot in, and a creature with at least 7 power:

Temur SabertoothTemur Sabertooth

Selvala, Heart of the WildsSelvala, Heart of the Wilds

Temur AscendancyTemur Ascendancy

+1 other prerequisite

Infinite blinking of green creaturesInfinite colored manaInfinite ETBInfinite LTBInfinite storm count

Commander Spellbook

You'll still need a way to win, but having infinite mana will surely help you get there. Outside of combos, which you can read more about in this Temur-focused article by Ethan Coover, Ascendancy is useful in decks were you can make use of both halves of the card, like Dragons led by The Ur-DragonThe Ur-Dragon or Miirym, Sentinel WyrmMiirym, Sentinel Wyrm, and big Temur monsters with Animar, Soul of ElementsAnimar, Soul of Elements.

Being a three color card, you also might want to run this in Aragorn, the UniterAragorn, the Uniter. One final suggestion is among my favorite types of deck, in EDH or Cube: Cascade!

5. Gainlands

Budget two-color lands are incredible tools in EDH; having access to them truly lets more people enjoy not just Commander, but other Constructed Magic formats as well.

In EDH, they even have extra utility, as lifegain is a powerful and popular deckbuilding theme! In the right decks, like Oloro, Ageless AsceticOloro, Ageless Ascetic or Karlov of the Ghost CouncilKarlov of the Ghost Council, playing a Scoured Barrens might even be better than an untapped Godless ShrineGodless Shrine.

4.Grim HaruspexGrim Haruspex - 103,797 decks

Sacrifice is probably my favorite deck theme across all of Magic, from Limited archetypes to Constructed deckbuilding. One thing about it though, you need A LOT of pieces to truly get things going.

need fodder to sacrifice — hopefully stuff that leaves something else behind so you net resources every sacrifice, sacrifice effects — preferably repeatable, and cards that pay you off for feeding stuff to the wood chipper.

It's the circle of life, and Grim HaruspexGrim Haruspex and similar cards like Midnight ReaperMidnight Reaper and Dark ProphecyDark Prophecy are important parts of it by generating card advantage.

When it comes down to winning, you'll still need your Zulaport CutthroatZulaport Cutthroats and/or Mayhem DevilMayhem Devils, but Haruspex and co. will help you find your win conditions and help make sure a timely sweeper doesn't ruin your day.

3. Treasure CruiseTreasure Cruise (136,391 decks) and Dig Through TimeDig Through Time (130,161 decks)

For two mana — which is most often what you'll be casting this for — Dig Through TimeDig Through Time is one of the best card selection spells ever printed.

While it's going to be great in many blue decks, it's optimized for two themes: spellslinger and control. In spells-matter decks, you can use Dig to find your combo cards while increasing your Storm count.

Niv-Mizzet, ParunNiv-Mizzet, Parun, Veyran, Voice of DualityVeyran, Voice of Duality, and Stella Lee, Wild CardStella Lee, Wild Card are popular Izzet () options for this strategy.

In a control deck, Dig will help you find win conditions or interaction, whatever you need more of. You can take advantage its instant card type with Alela, Cunning ConquerorAlela, Cunning Conqueror's "on your opponent's turn" clause or copy it with Anhelo, the PainterAnhelo, the Painter.

Finally, and while it's not necessarily a theme, there are many commanders that pay you for casting high-mana-value spells, which Dig is in spite of the steep discount you usually get from Delving.

Yuriko, the Tiger's ShadowYuriko, the Tiger's Shadow and Hidetsugu and KairiHidetsugu and Kairi can dome opponents for eight and Imoti, Celebrant of BountyImoti, Celebrant of Bounty gives you the opportunity to hit a giant monster off it.

Meanwhile,

Cruise offers much of the same upside as Dig in decks spells-matters decks and builds that take advantage of expensive cards.

I think it gets the edge because it can cost only one mana and also gives you more raw card advantage, which can be more important in streamlined Storm and spells decks than selection.

One of my favorite homes for this draw-three is in low-to-the-ground aggressive decks with, led by, for example, Ghyrson Starn, KelermorphGhyrson Starn, Kelermorph or Talrand, Sky SummonerTalrand, Sky Summoner.

There's a lot of support for this sub-theme, like Young PyromancerYoung Pyromancer, Third Path IconoclastThird Path Iconoclast, and Stormcatch MentorStormcatch Mentor.

Don't forget the whole genre of creature that "pings" opponents, or deals one damage to them, when you cast spells. Electrostatic FieldElectrostatic Field and Coruscation MageCoruscation Mage are great examples.

2. Trilands

Speaking of budget lands, Khans of Tarkir didn't just give us one set, but two! These uncommons are no-frills ways to play three-color Commander decks without breaking the bank.

1. Hardened ScalesHardened Scales - 236,535 decks

Rounding out the list, we have an enchantment that spawned a whole Modern deck, Hardened ScalesHardened Scales! While similar cards exist like Doubling SeasonDoubling Season, Vorinclex, Monstrous RaiderVorinclex, Monstrous Raider, and Winding ConstrictorWinding Constrictor, having a one-mana way to power-up counters strategies is priceless.

This is especially true when you want to be casting multiple versions of this effect to supercharge synergy creatures like Walking BallistaWalking Ballista, Shalai and HallarShalai and Hallar, and Forgotten AncientForgotten Ancient.

All at once Sarkhan's mind fell silentAll at once Sarkhan's mind fell silent

Reading this list flooded me with nostalgia, especially since KTK is when I started taking Magic more seriously as a hobby and competitive outlet.

I've played with all of these cards! I do have some honorable mentions for this set: Jeskai AscendancyJeskai Ascendancy is a fun win condition. DuneblastDuneblast is an expensive, powerful sweeper that has since been eclipsed by newer cards.

Finally, Villainous WealthVillainous Wealth is my favorite Fireball in the game.

What a beautiful set! I plan to cover Fate Reforged and Dragons of Tarkir, too, to really get into the mood for Sarkhan's latest adventure. Stay tuned!

Nick Price