Magic 2010 is a revolutionary set that refaced the game of Magic the Gathering. Highlighted by insanely powerful cards and some awesome throwback cards, it will thrive as a set. Comprised here is a list of the top 20 cards from the set for use in casual play!…

#20 – Time Warp – Mythic Rare

Making its first appearance since Starter in 1999, Time Warp is brought back into M10 with fancy new art and as a mythic rare. It’s rank of 20 on this list shows the usability of many of the cards on this list!

#19- Ball Lightning – Rare

A card lost in time until recently, Ball lightning was last seen in “The Dark” in 1994! the last printing of this card is older than some of the younger players that play the game today! A great early game cast, this card can deal some serious damage! It’s great to see it around again.

#18 – Duress – Common

Duress is back! A pesky little early gamer, it remains, even with its re printings, as one of the more expensive commons in the game. Recently seen in the Devine -vs- Demonic theme decks, it was originally from the Urza Block.

#17 – Elite Vanguard – Uncommon

A brilliant illustration of the evolution of the game, this card has been around since Alpha, just under a different name. Originally “Savannah Lions” this look-alike jumps from the rare slot to uncommon. Just few years ago it was sought after as a rare!

#16 -Siege-Gang Commander – Rare

A very strong card from the Onslaught Block, Siege-gang Commander provides necessary fodder that so many goblin decks need to sauced! Not only that but it’s shock ability combos with many other cards to deal a ton of damage after resolution!

#15 – Lightning Bolt – Common

Another card not seen for over 12 years, Lightning bolt is a classic magic card. Players who were growing tired of the steep price of the older version rejoice at it’s re-printing! 3 mana for 3 damage is a bargain now-a-days and Lightning Bolt brings back the classic feel of that early game jolt.

#14 – Birds of Paradise – Rare

Another great card dating back to the first days of the game, Birds of Paradise has been holding down the fort in millions of games since Alpha. It has appeared in all but one core set, but also has appeared in the Ravnica Block. While an AMAZING card, its stuck higher up on this list only because its really no surprise we see it again, and it is expected to continue to be one of the best cards in the game! Subtract 10 from its 14th rank and I’d call that a fair rating.

#13 - Sangine Bond – Rare

A Strong enchantment for any bleed deck, Sanguine bond is a solid edition to any Orhov based deck. It can be assumed that it will become the win condition of many decks over time.

#12 – Great Sable Stag – Rare

This elusive green creature provides a strong and reliable attacker. Safe from blue and black, it would be a fantastic sideboarder. Too bad it’s an elk… but then again M10 did bring change.

#11 – Haunting Echoes – Rare

A favorite from the Odyssey block, Haunting Echoes is capable of destroying an entire deck in the middle of a game. Unstoppable when put into a mill deck, it is a very very pesky card to deal with.

#10 – Fog – Common

Ah… who doesn’t love (or loath) fog. The infamous one drop game changer, this little guy has been around since the early Alpha days of magic as well. I am a little disappointed in the lack of new art, but that does not take away from the fact that it is a ridiculously powerful and popular card!

#9 – The New Dual Lands – Rare

Another version of the dual land concept, these are unique for the fact that they don’t hurt you. There’s one for every friendly color combo, and they are very useful within this set. (as well as outside)

#8 – Honor the Pure – Rare

I always hated glorious anthem. Now, glorious anthem and Crusade have gone hand in hand and created an abomination of a white enchantment. A super-strong cast for only 2 mana, this card will be fueling white weenie deck for years and years to come!

#7 – Baneslayer Angel – Mythic Rare

Bneslayer Angel is another fresh card debuting in M10. Unfortunately it does not have protection from red or black (just pieces and parts). But then again, for only 5 mana this card packs a helluva punch! Its the new Serra Angel.

#6 Jace Beleren – Mythic Rare

Jace is the first of the planeswalkers to make this list. One of only 2 to make the cut, it was really illustrated in M10, how less powerful some of the planeswalkers are. Liliana, Ajani and Chandra all are fantastic cards, but their usabilty and power is outmatched by many others.

#5 – Garruk Wildspeaker – Mythic Rare

Big surprise you’d see Garruk on here… One of the best manaaccelerators in the game, he teams up with some of the already too powerful green cards in the set to really give green a big advantage! His overrun ability is great as well! It saves you the trouble of adding Overrun to your deck! (Overrun is also reprinted in M10!)

#4 – Platinum Angel – Mythic Rare

I have always been a sucker for this card. While it and Birds of Paradise should most definitely be flip flopped on this list, I’d like to take the time to point out that it really is the only card of it’s kind! A blunt and strait forward power, Saving the game for yourself is a fantastic ability. Just watch out for disenchant! (which is oddly enough not in M10!)

#3 – Darksteel Colossus – Mythic Rare

Woa. This big poppa makes his appearance for the first time since 2004. If you can handle the cost, Darksteel Colossus will win you the game… eventually. Thank goodness they’d never re-print tinker! I was happy to see this card back in action and moved to it’s well deserved spot in the Mythic rare slot.

#2 – Silence – Rare

The more I think about this card the better it gets! A playset of these in a deck could prove detrimental to your opponents, and if played at the right time, can give you a serious advantage. Why this is not a mythic rare and Bogardan Hellkite is? The world may never know…

#1 – Elvish Archdruid – Rare

In a game with already amended mana burn rules, this card becomes even more broken. In casual play, it will be the win condition in many elf decks! Just imagine comboing this with the onslaught block or lorwyn block elf strategies! Priest and Champion mixed together, this card is truly an assent to any elf deck and is, in my opinion (if that counts for anything) the best card in the set!

thanks for reading!

For a list of the top 10 new Magic 2010 cards (no reprints) click HERE!

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Thanks to www. magicdeckvortex.com for supplying many of the above images