Magic: The Gathering’s latest release, Core Set 2021 has been out for several days now and as usual, new and broken combos have already become rampant in platforms like Magic: The Gathering Arena. It’s only proof to how Core Set 2021 is setting a new power creep bar for Standard, Pioneer, and Modern formats.

Tons of cards– even those costing only one mana or less, are some of the most appealing additions to Core Set 2021. It heavily favors the “aggro” deck archetype and some can even win matches which is scary considering these cards are turn-one plays. Of course, not all one-drop cards from Core Set 2021 can make an aggro player drool, some leave much to be desired so here are the five most appealing one-drop cards from Core Set 2021 and five others that won’t turn heads.

10 MUST-PLAY: SPEAKER OF THE HEAVENS

Aggro lifegain just got a lot more resilient and formidable as a strategy in Magic thanks to certain newcomers like Speaker of the Heavens. For any deck that utilizes White cards’ lifegain, it shouldn’t be too hard to have an excess 7 life.

That’s why a lot of players who utilize Speaker of the Heavens can easily churn out 4/4 Angels as soon as turn 2 with cards like Light of Hope. Splash into Black for a certain vampire named Vito and watch the opponent panic at how much damage is being dealt as early as turn 3.

9 AVOID: SILENT DART

Silent dart is what happens when artifacts or colorless cards try to be Red burn cards except they can’t because they’re slower. It costs one mana of any color but comes with a delayed yield that will cost another 4 mana.

The effect? Not much, really– a mere 3 damage to any creature. Problem is, if both players already have 4 mana to spend, chances are, creatures bigger than 3/3 will have already populated the battlefield. It’s also a lot worse than Red burn staples like Lightning Bolt, or Chain Lightning, or even Incinerate.

8 MUST-PLAY: TORMOD’S CRYPT

Technically, Tormod’s Crypt doesn’t belong here since it costs a generous zero mana to cast. That very well means it’s a turn 1 play on top of another one-drop card. Its effect is also quite modest; it merely exiles all cards from a graveyard.

Still, considering how too many decks these days that use Blue or Black or even Green interact with their graveyards, Tormod’s Crypt can pretty much ruin an engine or combo. This card is another reason to include expensive artifacts like Pithing Needle in the sideboard.

7 AVOID: ROOKIE MISTAKE

Blue is sticking to its signature plan of ruining the opponent’s tempo or how fast they can put out threats. Rookie Mistake stays true to the color’s philosophy except it’s highly situational at best and requires a blocker from the caster’s side.

Even so, it doesn’t guarantee a safe block especially against Red’s one mana burn spells or Green’s creature instant spells. Moreover, Unsummon is simply better as a way to slow down an opposing creature.

6 MUST-PLAY: ARCHFIEND’S VESSEL

Black is chock full of devastating and powerful one-drop cards in Core Set 2021 and most of them make Mono-Black aggro viable again. Certain Black weenies like Archfiend’s Vessel can quickly become a 5/5 demonic flyer by turn 2.

Spells like Village Rites or any sacrifice outlets paired with one-drop revivals like Unearth or Claim // Fame will have the opponent worried at how to deal with a 5/5 creature as early as turn 2. This card makes it easy for Black aggro to outpace even Red aggro.

5 AVOID: ALCHEMIST’S GIFT

Alchemist’s Gift is not that bad for a one-drop spell, granting +1/+1, deathtouch, and lifelink. It can even be a good way to kill a big pesky blocker that only costs two mana if Alchemist’s Gift is used with a one-mana creature but other cards already do it better.

Two-mana combinations like Archfiend’s Vessel with Bone Splinters or Spark Harvest yield more profitable results for the same price. At best, Alchemist’s Gift can be used as a defensive spell to either gain life or save a creature from a blocker– it doesn’t really fit Black’s philosophy and playstyle.

4 MUST-PLAY: CRASH THROUGH

One of Red’s biggest problem has always been the card draw. Being an inherently fast and aggressive deck, Red players can quickly run out of steam and cards in their hand. That’s why two-for-one aggressive spells like Crash Through is looking good.

Not only does it give trample to attacking creatures, but it also lets players draw a card. The only downside is that it’s a sorcery spell instead of an instant but in a deck with Anax, Hardened in the Forge that has yet to draw Embercleave, Crash Through is a cheap alternative.

3 AVOID: FUROR OF THE BITTEN

There’s always that one odd spell in Red that looks like it would be better suited in Green. In Core Set 2021, it would be Furor of the Bitten. It pumps up a creature and if not for the “attacks each combat if able” then it would’ve been a Green spell.

That’s the problem with this card. That last piece of mechanic is easily stopped by Black abilities like deathtouch or can even serve as a free sacrifice outlet for Archfiend’s Vessel. More than half the time, it’s a good way to lose a creature.

2 MUST-PLAY: LIFE GOES ON

Much like Black, Green in 2021 Core Set is filled with so many appealing one-drop spells that it’s rather dizzying which of them to include. However, the top pick goes to Life Goes On for best value simply because of how it synergizes with aggressive lifegain decks.

Pair this one with Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose from Black and a sacrificed creature beforehand which is easily done in with Village Rites and that’s 8 raw damage and life gained for one mana three of these can end the game in one turn with spare change. That’s something unexpected from a Golgari deck.

1 AVOID: SHORT SWORD

In all Core Set releases there will always be that one card that’s just terribly unremarkable. Short Sword is that card in Core Set 2021– it costs one mana and the benefits obtained feel like they cost one mana… except it actually doesn’t just cost one mana.

Short Sword costs two mana for full effect. For a mere +1/+1, it’s just unimpressive. Green or even other colors simply have better ways to pump up a creature. Thankfully, there are hundreds of other alternatives in a card game like Magic: The Gathering.

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