Restoration MagicRestoration Magic | Art by Yumi Yaoshida

Every single year, more and more cards are added to the game. Some of those cards are brand new, and some are a second, third, or maybe even fifteenth time a card has been printed in the game: looking at you, Giant SpiderGiant Spider. Sometimes, however, cards are only printed once, for various reasons. Those reasons could be that they're on the Reserved List or maybe they are part of the "new Reserved List," a.k.a. from a Universes Beyond set. Maybe they are just from a newer set, and there hasn't been a reason to reprint them yet.

What I want to know is: which ones are the best? So, to start my quest to find out whether there are actually hot singles in my area, I'm looking at the Top Ten White One-Drops with only a single printing, according to data from EDHREC. Not every card type will be on the list, and some colors will lend themselves better to a card type than others, as you might see below.

Creatures

Kinjalli's CallerKinjalli's Caller

To begin, we have the single creature on the list: Kinjalli's CallerKinjalli's Caller. A simple creature that does one thing: make your big Dinosaurs easier to cast. While not a Dinosaur itself, it's a pivotal part of the strategy. It comes down early and help you power out big threats like Zetalpa, Primal DawnZetalpa, Primal Dawn, Pantlaza, Sun-FavoredPantlaza, Sun-Favored, or Gishath, Sun's AvatarGishath, Sun's Avatar.

Instants

Restoration MagicRestoration Magic

The card that I play most in a variety of formats and the most played card by the numbers on the list: Restoration MagicRestoration Magic. A modal spell that provides everything from protection to an individual permanent, or your entire board, or incidental life gain, all dependent on the mana cost you want to pay. The white portion of the color pie loves a cheap spell that provides hexproof and indestructible, but there isn't another card that can give it to all permanents on your board.

The life gain this card provides might not be the most relevant, but in some decks, the three or six life that you can gain for or , respectively, can do a good amount of work.

Loran's EscapeLoran's Escape / Blacksmith's SkillBlacksmith's Skill

I said that white loves a protection spell, and trust me, I meant it. This top ten will actually be a top eleven, and that's because Loran's EscapeLoran's Escape and Blacksmith's SkillBlacksmith's Skill are so similar that I felt wrong putting them separately. Both cards can give hexproof and indestructible: Loran, to an artifact or a creature, and Blacksmith, to any permanent. If you value the card selection ability, then the scry would have you lean toward Loran, but if you have a plethora of artifact creatures, Blacksmith is the way to go.

Unwanted RemakeUnwanted Remake

White is no stranger to removal spells. It has the two best in the game: Path to ExilePath to Exile and Swords to PlowsharesSwords to Plowshares. The list of creature removal is plentiful and filled with variety, and one such card on the list is Unwanted RemakeUnwanted Remake. More similar to some blue removal (PongifyPongify and Rapid HybridizationRapid Hybridization) than the removal in its own slice of the pie, Unwanted Remake has the chance to find a way into your removal suite.

If you value exile removal or something closer to Generous GiftGenerous Gift, it won't be the card for you, but with a small card pool of white cards that care about manifesting, this card might be just what you are looking for.

Enter the Avatar StateEnter the Avatar State

Not only will we Enter the Avatar StateEnter the Avatar State, but we will also enter a brief reprieve from protection spells...kind of. I can't tell you a reason why I would want a creature to become an Avatar in addition to its other types, but if you need that line of text to matter, then here is the card for you.

Yes, this card gives a creature hexproof. But, compared to the other cards on this list, it's far more aggressive. Flying, first strike, and lifelink are all the words you want to see when you are attacking or possibly blocking with the creature targeted by this spell.

Giving evasion, a way to win combat, and a way for you to come out ahead when an opponent finds a way to turn the combat even has this card doing a great deal for only a single .

Divine ResilienceDivine Resilience

Back on the protection train, but this time with a kicker. That kicker is, in fact, just the kicker ability of Divine ResilienceDivine Resilience. Another card to give a creature indestructible, but this time you can pay and give any number of creatures you control indestructible. It's a simple card with a simple effect. I thought it would be a lot cooler if the kicker let you target anyone's creatures.

Crumb and Get ItCrumb and Get It

While the numbers are not great on this card when it comes to inclusion, only beating out the Caller in play rate, this is the only instant on the list that only gives indestructible if you "pay" the additional cost. While that cost isn't in the form of mana, Crumb and Get ItCrumb and Get It at base is a simple +2/+2 pump spell with some upside. This reaches the end of the instant-speed indestructible spells — which one will be reprinted first?

Enchantments

Swift ReconfigurationSwift Reconfiguration

A true combo card finds its way onto the list disguised as a removal spell. You may be forced to use Swift Reconfiguration to take out an opponent's creature, and that can be the difference between winning or losing a game. Instead, what you should be doing is comboing this card with something like Devoted DruidDevoted Druid to make infinite mana. Or maybe protecting your life total is more your style; if so, stick this onto a Barrenton MedicBarrenton Medic and fog yourself 'til the cows come home.

Eventually, this card will become even more broken than it is now, and when that happens, it will be begging for a reprint. Or the next time we have a Vehicle-focused set, it will make a comeback.

Shardmage's RescueShardmage's Rescue

Protection and a pump, but this time on a permanent. Shardmage's RescueShardmage's Rescue does have the ability to give repeated protection if you can blink it repeatedly or maybe pick it up with a Nurturing PixieNurturing Pixie, which you can read all about here. Either way, this card is a house if you are playing a white or white-x Enchantress strategy as a way to trigger cards like Mesa EnchantressMesa Enchantress and draw a fistful of cards.

While +1/+1 is not the biggest buff, even from a one-mana card, it isn't nothing. This card being a permanent rather than an instant raises its value greatly.

Sanctum of Tranquil LightSanctum of Tranquil Light

Finishing off the list much the same way it started, we have Sanctum of Tranquil LightSanctum of Tranquil Light. Just as Kinjalli's Caller was great for Dinosaur decks, the Sanctum is great for Shrine decks. If you haven't had the "pleasure" of playing against a Shrine deck, then let me tell you firsthand: this card does work. The deck has no problem getting the activation cost of this card down to a single mana, and the constant tapping of creatures causes a true headache whenever combat comes around.

A card perfect for the exact deck you will find it in, and one that I'm sure will find itself off this list the quickest.

Wrap Up

So is this the most exciting Top Ten ever? No. But as the mana value goes up and we move around the color pie, it will get more exciting, I promise. How exciting depends on the mix of recent set design and Universes Beyond. How easy is it to reprint a card, let alone one that comes from an outside IP? Hopefully, the next time this article comes across your screen, it will have a little more variety. There can't be that many blue one-mana counterspells...right?