The Best Commander Cards From... Mirage
Welcome back to The Best Commander Cards From..., a series focusing on the most powerful EDH cards from across Magic: the Gathering's rich thirty-year long history. Today's focus is Mirage, the ninth expansion set of Magic, which was released in October of 1996.
The Menagerie
Strangely, the Mirage expansion was actually developed by a team of playtesters over the course of several years. Finalized in October of 1995, it was initially called The Menagerie before it was decided that Mirage would be the name. Additionally, this was the first set to truly be designed for sealed deck play.
Jamuraan Gold Medals
Mirage is the first set to visit a tropical, African-themed region of any plane. Although the plane is technically Dominaria, early Magic spends a ton of time exploring the various regions of this world. Of note, the creature types of Pirate, Scout, Griffin, Cyclops, Minion, and Viashino all make their first appearance here. That said, we've talked enough about the set, so let's get into some cards.
Mystical Tutor
Yeah, Mystical Tutor is a pretty big one. It's hard to argue that this card is anything but a supremely powerful enabler for almost whatever you want, be it card draw, removal, a board wipe, or anything else. For the low price of one mana it's hard to ask for more.
Rampant Growth
Ah, the humble Rampant Growth. This card is an absolute slam-dunk when it comes to design, as evidenced by the fact that it's been printed a ton. It is, and will likely always be, a staple in any green deck that's looking to put extra lands into play.
Shallow Grave
This is one of the few cards that really cares about the order of your graveyard, and also one of the only cards that can return an Eldrazi, like Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger, straight to the battlefield from your graveyard. Shallow Grave seems somewhat high variance in theory, but it often still slays in practice.
Phyrexian Dreadnought
This might seem like a bit of a meme card, but Phyrexian Dreadnought is one of those cards you're only ever going to see when it's doing something unfair. Surprisingly, it works quite well with a number of other cards, most notably Selvala, Heart of the Wilds and Alena, Kessig Trapper.
Enlightened Tutor
Another combo-enabler, Enlightened Tutor is the perfect poster child for how mono-white's favorite toys are often best utilized in multicolor decks. Sure, mono-white can go get Rule of Law or Smothering Tithe, but multicolor decks can go get Rhystic Study, Bolas's Citadel, and much more.
Lion's Eye Diamond
There're a lot of ways to make Lion's Eye Diamond powerful in most formats, and EDH is no exception. In addition to the obvious card in your command zone that won't get discarded, there're plenty of high power options for what to do after you've binned your hand. Just as well, if you have no hand, it's just a Black Lotus.
The Fair Diamonds
Sky Diamond completes the cycle of two-mana rocks that enter tapped, alongside Fire Diamond, Charcoal Diamond, Marble Diamond, and Moss Diamond. These are perfectly fair, and even strong, in most mono-color decks. They're also serviceable in most two- to three-color decks if you're either uninterested in cards like Golgari Signet or you just need a critical mass of artifact ramp.
Worldly Tutor
Although most green players I face off against are more interested in fetching huge beaters, like Craterhoof Behemoth or Avenger of Zendikar, you can use Worldly Tutor for all manner of creature-based combos. Just as well, it even fetches out your creature-based disruption, like Shriekmaw, Reclamation Sage, or Grand Abolisher.
Crystal Vein
If you're looking to ramp at any cost, Crystal Vein will do the job. Unlike the depletion lands, like Peat Bog, this immediately comes in untapped and can even be used without worry for as long as you desire before cashing it in. It's no Ancient Tomb, but I do think it's underrated.
Final Fortune
I can't tell you how many times I've almost slotted Final Fortune into my Saheeli, the Gifted deck. I often need a good setup turn to pave the way for my big payoff turn, and this can certainly do the job. The only risk is that the card makes you lose the game if you can't close out or protect yourself in time. Well, no reward without risk, right?
Withering Boon
For some reason there's an Essence Scatter that you can play in mono-black. Make no mistake, Withering Boon is almost exclusively played in mono-black EDH decks. If you're not looking to board wipe and letting the creature resolve isn't an option, Withering Boon has you covered.
Polymorph
I'm sensing a pattern in Mirage regarding combo pieces, and Polymorph is no exception. Sure, trading in one creature for another is not that uncommon these days, but modern templating often only allows you to target opposing creatures. Why does that matter? If you can manage to resolve this spell with only one creature in your deck...
The Ally Color Tapped Fetches
Alongside Rocky Tar Pit, Flood Plain, Mountain Valley, and Bad River, Grasslands completes a cycle of tapped fetches. The biggest drawback to these lands is that they don't have the best home. While they excel at fetching nonbasics, like Ziatora's Proving Ground or Godless Shrine, but the former comes in tapped and the latter is probably already paired with conventional fetchlands. That said, these can be extra copies of Evolving Wilds in any deck that wants them.
Hall of Gemstone
A green mana-hoser, Hall of Gemstone punishes multicolor decks pretty hard in some situations. Pairing this with Collector Ouphe can be crippling since mana rocks are one of the ways to escape from the squeeze this card puts you under.
Tombstone Stairwell
If you've never played with Tombstone Stairwell, you owe it to yourself to try. If you can fill up your graveyard, this can represent tons of damage. Either through attacking with or sacrificing the tokens, you can easily pump out combat damage or death triggers. Just add Blood Artist and Black Market.
While Mirage doesn't have any card that's quite as iconic as Force of Will from Alliances, it has a lot of staples and lots of room for innovation. I didn't cover every single playable from this set, so feel free to dig around for some hidden gems that I might not have featured. I know how much you all like to remind me of what I missed, so let me know in the comments. I've been Luka "Robot" Sharaska, and I hope to see you again soon.
