The Top 10 Magic: The Gathering Cards of All Time 

Lsv, Kibler, and The Duke. Dream team was saved for last. Good job.

#0 - Contract from Below

Good calling having BMK, LSV, and Reid Duke at the end

Yeah. LSV, Kibler and Reid are such a good trio for this. All of them are very articulated, and Brian is just so energetic.

The Contract From Below shout out made me so happy, after playing 4 of it in Shandalar I truly understand how it is the real most powerful card of all time

If it ever becomes safe for ~8 people to share 4 chairs again, I’d pay good money to see an updated top 200 with some of the cards that didn’t make this list, some of the cards that have been printed since, clearer criteria and longer discussions.

LSV, Kibler, and The Duke were a nice icing on the cake, but the entire roster was amazing! Great series!

Hi guys, since I'm one of the few that can correct you, I will- During playtesting, Time Walk said "take an extra turn." It was Starburst, also known as the red Time Walk, that said "opponent loses next turn." That caused confusion, it was meant to skip someone which was important in group play. But due to confusion it was never made.

So happy to hear LSV mention Contract from Below at 23:23. It is absolutely the most powerful card ever printed, no contest, not even close.

I’m gonna need numbers 0 through negative 10 next week. Alternatively, the 100 worst cards countdown.

Tbh, this was way more nice to watch than I thought. Congrats cfb, usually I don't like your production but this one you guys nailed!

Now, a video discussing: - Sylvan Library - Hermit Druid - Chalice of the Void - Goblin Recruiter - Reanimate - Voltaic Key - Earthcraft - Demonic Consultation - Chrome Mox - Mox Diamond - City of Traitors

That'd be nice to have a remake of that in 2023 after the crazy last few years worth of power creep we've had.

this video is barely over 2 years old and it already needs an update. These last couple years have been absurd for power level

if #1 isn’t storm crow i am going to lose my mind

Fun! My daughter was digging around in our attic and found a couple of my old tournament decks from 1996. I stopped playing that same year because I was placed on academic probation (UT Austin) because every waking hour was spent playing magic. Driving to tournaments with my crew, playing for money, fifty bucks a game, two against two. My favorite was a black/blue/red hand destruction deck - every card was beta or black border. Time set, sapphire, jet, chains of mephistopheles, storm world (Italian of course!), Juzam, Necropetence, and yes a beta black lotus. I just started playing again and have found this channel and others like it super valuable and informative. I've got 20+ years of catching up to do. But Arena has made it possible. Maybe I'll run into someone from this channel online - my gamertag is Academic Probation :-D And obviously it's Lotus at #1. When you said recall, my heart sank. It just wouldn't be right. Lotus makes things real.

Sylvan Library most definitely deserves to be on this list.

You guys have the best intro of all time. Bravo!

BMK, LSV, DUKE; three of the best minds to ever grace Magic.

“They would never even think about printing yaug will in standard” *Theros beyond death has entered the chat*

10. Yawgmoth's Will 9. Mana Crypt 8. Force of Will 7. Tolarian Academy 6. Brainstorm 5. Time Walk 4. Sol Ring 3. The Moxes 2. Ancestral Recall 1. Black Lotus

I still cannot believe wheel of fortune is 91

Brainstorm is legal in pauper, where Evolving Wilds is the best "fetchland", Ponder and Preordain are better in pauper, generally.

The "Jesus Christ" from LSV was hilarious.

This was so enjoyable.

Love how you gotta go down all the way to Jace at 15th to have an actual win condition!!!

I think flash was a huge miss. That card is often forgotten about, but I think it wins for being the enabler of the most powerful deck to ever exist in legacy at any point in magic history

Great concise list thanks for all of your time and effort. Really enjoyed the videos. how long till top 100 worst?

3:37 Duke calling LSVs "Value Yogs", "bad Yogs" 😂😂😂

Contract from Below is the strongest magic card ever printed. All the MicroProse Shandalar OGs know it.

Just a few cards you missed: Glory seeker, grizzly bears, goblin instigator, tattered mummy, I mean come one, those cards are undeniably overpowered!!

Would you rather cast 3 ancestoral recall off of a black lotus or 3 black lotus off of ancestoral recall?

Ancestral Vision draws 3... Wheel draws 7. Wheel should be #2!!!!!

#1 Charging badger

I actually got mad when he said #2 black lotus

By far biggest omission was Liliana of the Veil, but planeswalkers in general got shafted in this list. Jace being the only one on there is quite wrong.

Grim Monolith? It was not even in the top 100

I remember when this video first came out, and there is no way I would have believed you if you had told me that within two years there would be more than one card printed that would be in this discussion lol.

I think the reason sol ring is acceptable in commander is just that EVERYONE can have one. Its not a mox that only people with money can have.

I just watched the whole series again, it great i would like channelfireball to make more things like this, but i am surprised by the second time, how is pendalhaven not on the list?!

"The most common place people see Sol Ring is cube" .... Kibler has obviously never played Commander... Also, WOW Reid was quiet the episode.

On the Final Episode of "Is This Card Better Than Wheel?", the answer of course is "They better be!"

Thanks for the list and the content, guys! I haven't played Magic in about 5 years, but it's still fun watching along and reminiscing about all the awesome cards throughout the years.

I really don't think brainstorm is top 10, but I know how powerful of an enabler it is for all of the other decks using some of these other broken cards.

Would love to see what this list looks like now haha

Thank you for the series. This video has demonstrated that these are four people I would love to have dinner and conversations with.

I feel like they valued iconic-ness and nostalgia way too high. How strong a card is in a vacuum shouldn't be the only thing that matters sure, but like a card like cursed scrolls does not deserve a spot on this list just because it was strong in it's format.

20:50 LSV Confirms that he didn't start until they did the basic lands segment. Basic lands only 15 spots higher than Sol Ring and Moxes. Lol.

My personal favorite is #16 Lightning Bolt. I adore the simplicity of the design, the flavour, the colour identity, power level and versatility. It was basically the first non-creature spell I was introduced to, and 20 years later I'm still casting it in Modern.

Bazaar of Baghdad, number one in my heart (and I really think it's better than many of the cards from 16 to 1). No one loves dredge :(.

sure time walk alone is relatively harmless, but combined with many other staples such as snapcaster, eternal witness or yawgmoth's will it is a ridiculous, ban-worthy power house imho

#5 is my personal favorite card in the game.

No joke, re-watching through most of these in the post-Modern Horizons era is pretty depressing. At least the top 10 are still classics. 🎉

2024 and still a good list!

Martell was right when he said that Sylvan Library not being in this list seems wrong. It is a green Brainstorm that went off every turn with the upside of being able to pay 4 life and keep extra cards from the draws. I think the list makers just forgot about Sylvan Library.

The 3 rares in my first Revised starter deck where Drain Power, Crusade, and Helm of Chatzuk. There was also a Demonic Tutor in the pack. Now I can't find the card image for Crusade on gatherer because it shows crusaders.

Reid Duuuuuke. He's the man, we were on the same crew team

Has this been posted in list form yet?

Some ideas for cards that didn't make the list: I think the list needed more hate cards. Stuff like Blood Moon, Ensnaring Bridge, Chalice of the Void, even something like Rest In Peace. You may scoff at one or more of those but tell me they aren't more powerful than Vendilion Clique, Duress, or Dismember. Sometimes you play one of these cards and the opponent just scoops. Sylvan Library: I think the pros were surprised this didn't make it, too. It's great card selection in a color that needs it. Path and Fatal Push: I can see why these aren't included, because they aren't strictly powerful effects on their own. However, they allow for white and black decks to be playable in modern without splashing red or whatever to have a removal spell. You basically literally couldn't play Sultai in modern a few years ago because you had no reliable answer to 1 CMC creatures. Now you can because of Push. I'd (usually) play these over Dismember, depending on format. Inquisition: I'm not completely sure on this, but I think there's an argument to be made of Inquisition vs. Duress. It definitely depends on deck and if you're pre/post-sideboard, but Inquisition is a very powerful card. Splinter Twin: Possibly doesn't belong on this list, but it's a card that ends games on the spot. And combined with Exarch, it warped the modern meta. Second Sunrise: Unbearable to play against and watch, but it could reliably help you win in the first few turns. Liliana of the Veil: Stupidly powerful and the second best planeswalker. Karn Liberated: Dumb card that wins games. Tron lands: Enable dumb cards that win games. I'm okay with anyone saying my ideas are trash. Just thought it would be fun to throw out some really good cards that could've been on the list. I think I'd put Blood Moon, Lily, and Sylvan Library on for sure at the very least. Edit: Oh, also Assassin's Trophy and Teferi should be considered. Obviously one was new and the other wasn't spoiled at the making of this video, but they are both dumb cards.

brainstorm was also played in turbo land with thawing glaciers in old extended.

Good video. But someone should have a look at Mashi's microphone/sound level.

So The probably should do a follow up for the biggest snubs(thinking tron lands, Karn, Sylvan Library, etc..), and one for cards that have been released only recently but should make the list(tefferri HoD, and Assasins trouphy).

Great series!! But I think Oath of druids should be higher

LSV is great

this is the end my friend

the commentary dream team

You forgot Blightsteel Colossus. Despite its cost, it's one of the most complete finishers the game's got. It's got the exact set of abilities and power it needs to finish a game on one hit, literally. Maybe it would be better with flying, but that would be asking too much of an 11/11 infect, trample and indestructible. It deserved a spot. :/

26:07 is too good, Reid asks LSV straight up in the beta draft, what card he would take after LSV has explained why Ancestral is a better card

Duke comments on how force of will isn't that good.. and the thing is it IS that good.. it's the type of a good card that once it reaches its maximum intrinsic potential of strength, It will then actually still continue to get stronger as the cards around it get stronger. If there are more powerful things in magic, Force will be among them to contend with them. Not just because it stops their op stuff from being good, but also because it protects your op stuff as well. Ultimately though, I think the essence of what Reid said is right - it's kind of spooky that a card like force is on the top 8, when you'd expect to see a bunch of iconic things that basically win the game. Yawg's will, Mana crypt, lower on the rating over force? While surprising, I don't think it isn't deserving. I'm glad it was on the top 10!

How did you manage to misspell Kibler's name at the beginning? It's in his Twitter handle!

'Jesus Christ' - LSV's reaction to #2 xD

Late to this party, but I'm kind of surprised necropotence isn't higher. I played through the standard eras where necro was a thing and it was disgusting. I think 1996 was known as the black summer because you either played necro or you played something to try and beat it, there was no other meta. This and it's reprint in 5th edition created a period of time where you could play 4 necro in the deck and 4 dark ritual and if your opponent went first and played swamp, ritual, necro then you took a look at your hand and could probably concede before having a turn, in standard! Plus, as far as I'm aware the concept of card advantage winning games if not actually coming about as a result of necropotence was at least well and truly hammered home for evermore, so bit of a legacy there.

Top 10 Magic cards that 99% of players will never cast. Good list though!

10:51 Reid just doesn’t move

Great video to top off the top 100. I agree that 95% of the cards presented have a valid argument (Only strongly disagree with 5 cards being in the top 100: Counterbalance, Primeval Titan, Basic Lands (haha), Birds of Paradise and Wheel of Fortune). I would make a very strong argument for 7 cards I think you guys missed: Contract from Below (I think this is the best card ever), Chaos Orb, Grim Monolith, Candelabra of Tawnos, Regrowth, Hermit Druid and Spell Pierce.

LSV, Brian, and Duke all in one video talking to 10 cards... U literally put Chapin or nassif in this video with them and u have The Beatles of MTG IMO. Nothing against Mashi tho he's awesome too.

where's the episode you put bonfire of the damned on I want to watch kiblers face on that one

28:37 This, 100%. This was the best comment of the whole video. Kibler is exactly right. And thats the reason why Ancestral Recall and Lotus are, and will always be the two best cards in the game. And it really doesnt matter which one is better because they are the best cards for the both most important things in magic: card advantage and fast mana. Drawing more cards than your opponent and playing things faster than your opponent is the key to win. I dont want to make a choice here but there are other things you need to take into account when comparing those cards: In a game of Vintage, drawing 3 for U is always broken, sure. On the other hand you also have to say that there are some situations, where a Black Lotus is not as good as it could be. But more about that later.. Duke is is saying thatMM is making Acall harder to resolve. While thats true, you have to remeber that in Vintage, there was never a time where you want to let an opponents Acall to resolve. There were always many counterspells and Acall was always a top target for those counters. It was never easy or safe that an Ancestral Recall resolves if you play it. Now onto that "When Lotus isnt as good as it could be" : Vintage is such a mana efficient format in general and playing a Lotus is not always as powerful as it, could be. So i think while Lotus is more versatile, its also not always as good as Acall and way more situational. Remeber, you have access to so many Manarocks and stuff that makes you additional mana, that you often have enough mana by turn 3 or 4. While its true that there are more degenerate things to cast early in 2021 compared to 1993, but always remember that you need those cards in your opening hand to make Lotus that good. Vintage games can easily, but usually doesnt end on T1-3. Thats what you can identify by watching any vintage championship matches here on YT, for example. If there is nothing worth to cast, or if Lotus is played when there is enough mana on the board (which can happen very quick, even without the Lotus) its a dead card which becomes more worse the longer the game goes. Additional to this, if you have the ability to cast more things faster due to fast mana, (which is great btw) its also important to have the ability to "re-draw" your hand to a certain amount. Running out of cards mean running out of answers to your opponent and to running out of wincons (if you havent drawn them yet.) But that is all situational. I agree that Black Lotus is often better in your opening hand, but it also depends on the rest of your hand too. I just want to say that even in current Vintage, Black Lotus isnt always better than Ancestral Recall. But that is all situational. Important is, and thats what matters, Ancestral Recall and Lotus are the both best cards ever printed and they deserved their spots because drawing more cards than your opponent and playing things faster than your opponent are the both most important things you need to win. Ancestral Recall and Black Lotus are the only cards that deserves the top 2 spots because no other cards could to those things that game breaking efficient. Ancestral Recall is the Yin to Lotus Yang.

I still think that Dig and Cruise should be higher on the list. They were banned almost as soon as they were printed. Just absurd cards.

Watching this in 2021 is super funny with them only making a small passing mention to Commander lol

So is storm crow 0?

Is it just me or does the intro for this video sound like the intro for galacticgod?

Where's #15-11? it's missing from your playlist.

Ive watched these videos and come to the conclusion that well, you cant rate a magic card against the rest of the pool by singling out what that card does and when. To me, I feel as though Ancestral Recall is a far better card than the Lotus simply because you get gains at any time, whereas the Lotus' shines most in the early game. A late game draw into a Lotus doesn't help. On the other hand, the power level of Magic in general states that the formats in which these cards are legal have a "power creep" tempo. If you get to late game in Vintage, something is wrong. While I do admire the potency of a Black Lotus, my deep rooted ideology of the game tells me card advantage, no matter where in the tempo of the game it exists, is far superior. Recall being played usually always provides more over time than a Lotus. But thats my take on it. :/

Yes, number one is exactly what you think it is ;)

I know the mana cost is pretty high but Rules Lawyer is really good...

Glad to see Paul Cheon getting out of the house.

I liked the list for the most part but i do think even tho grave troll isnt the highest dredge count, the mechanic alone should have just taken the spot instead of troll

The Aura of the Lotus.... Nuff said.

I think that if you are going to crap on time walk, you should at least include the “untap all permanents you control”. Wouldn’t hurt to include haste and the combat phase. But play a 2 mana spell into a 3 mana spell is nothing to scoff at. Demonic Tutor went from 2 to 4 in recent printings. Time Walk? 5 +, unless miracled on turn 3, which is still a nerf. If you have cast time walk enough you would know its an auto include in any deck that can legally cast it. Untap phase, op.

I vaguely remember at one point reading or hearing about this being 12 episodes and not 11. Did something change, or there is a 12th and it's a Recap/Omissions/Retrospective and Too High/Low episode?

I’m surprised demonic consultation wasn’t on the list.

I think in this whole series the card that was mentioned the most times is Jamimeday tome

28:49 which word is Kibler saying between "important" ... and "so is"?? Something like "insequal" which isnt hardly a word? 🤨

I had a bunch of those… where were me other Time cards. Vault & Twister… 🤔

Aaaaaand Now we have Breach. Better than Yawgmoth's Will ?

LSV I have the same siracha T-shirt

why no gravedigger?

Where was Teferi?

I wish they would have gotten better sound when they knew they would be in the same room for so long.