Worst card in Magic

[b4r0n]

It may have been mentioned by now, forget reading six pages of this garbage, but the worst card cannot possibly be a creature. By definition, they are more useful than their equivalent awfulness of lands or enchantments, simply by being a threat (note: you can be an 0/1 wall, and still potentially be a threat).

I agree with the sentiment that creatures can't be the worst cards in Magic because they're capable of winning the game by themselves. However, if you're claiming that a 0/1 Wall is a potential threat, then so is Cathedral of Serra (with a Barbed Field) or Arcum's Weathervane (with an Animate Artifact).

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned Mudhole yet. Not being a permanent gives it a big one-down on most of the cards suggested here because of the various synergies those cards get by virtue of being in play.

Mudhole is actually useful against some playable cards: Life from the Loam, Terravore, and Knight of the Reliquary, to name a few. And it's even an instant!

[Michael Keller]

If I had to vote for one specific card, I'd go with a card that ultimately savages your game more than your opponent.



This...says...you lose the game when it comes into play. You don't even get an attack. I don't know what is worse.

[rufus]

If I had to vote for one specific card, I'd go with a card that ultimately savages your game more than your opponent.



This...says...you lose the game when it comes into play. You don't even get an attack. I don't know what is worse.

Except that there are ways to avoid the drawback, or even turn it into a benefit with cards like Shared Fate, Shelldock Isle, Stifle, Illusionary Mask, Conjurer's Bauble and Trickbind.

[TrialByFire]

Mudhole is actually useful against some playable cards: Life from the Loam, Terravore, and Knight of the Reliquary, to name a few. And it's even an instant!

Plus it says DRAW A CARD!!!!!

[Mijorre]

Except that there are ways to avoid the drawback, or even turn it into a benefit with cards like Shared Fate, Shelldock Isle, Stifle, Illusionary Mask, Conjurer's Bauble and Trickbind.

Suddenly, the wishes become the best toolbox since demonic tutor...

[quicksilver]

Plus it says DRAW A CARD!!!!!

No it doesn't.

[SpatulaOfTheAges]

A preliminary list...

Worst card: Amulet of Quoz

Most useless non-ante cards:

all the "bands with other legends" lands
Arcum's Weathervane
Great Wall
Snowfall

Most overcosted non-ante cards:

Aysen Highway
Rakalite

Most overcosted creature:

Wood Elemental
Chimney Imp

I'm not sure whether to also include Dripping Dead or Tahngarths Glare.


Also: Who knew that good ol' Arcum has some other powerful tools besides his Weathervane around...?

No, seriously. The Welder + Angel tech is a hell of a lot better than you can do with Great Wall.



The worst card can't be proactive, since even a terrible strategy is better than an answer to a threat that doesn't exist.

[Ectoplasm]

Cathedral of Serra could potentially be turned into a 8/10 or whatever elemental with that legendary kamigawa enchantment, feed a terravore, be pitched to seismic assault, grow dakkon blackblade etc :D At least it's free to play as well, compared to wood elemental.

[georgjorge]

I agree that creatures are more useful than other cards even if they do nothing relevant, which is why I made separate categories for creatures and non-creatures.

The worst card can't be proactive, since even a terrible strategy is better than an answer to a threat that doesn't exist.

I like that quote very much . But does that mean that Amulet of Quoz is proactive? After all, the only effect it MIGHT have is getting an extra ante card, it doesn't affect the board.


Anyway, it's nice to have heated discussions about who knows worse cards, for a change from the discussions about who can build the best decks and use the best cards.

[SpatulaOfTheAges]

I think you're thinking about this in the context of not playing for ante. In which case all ante cards are equally terrible.

But thinking about this in terms of ante-games for a minute, which would you rather have? A card that stops plainswalkers, or a card that MIGHT get you a free dual land?

[Finn]

When Legends came out, one of the popular magazines of the time highlighted Righteous Avengers as one of the popular cards from the set. Consequently, the card saw play. And I distinctly recall the conversation I had with a guy who refused to remove, yep, Great Wall due to its value in shutting them down. Oh man.

And Camel was relatively popular at the time because you basically got a Desert in every pack of Arabian Nights (there were only something like 80 cards in the set). So everyone played Deserts. And the ability to nerf them was quite advantageous.

Also, when The Dark came out, one of the developers admitted in an interview that the team made some cards in the set that they did not actually see any application for even while they were making them. That's why you get ridiculous garbage like Riptide and Nemeless Race.

[SpatulaOfTheAges]

Nameless Race is totally legit. Also, the artwork is awesome.

[hi-val]

Nameless Race is totally legit. Also, the artwork is awesome.

You will LOVE the Oracle creature type on this guy, btw.


Riptide is probably the WORST.

[SpatulaOfTheAges]

Dang. Nice try, Engineered Plague.



Riptide would totally have been marginally sideboard playable in Kawigama limited.

I still haven't seen anything suck more than Great Wall.

[hi-val]

Another calculation is whether a card stands a chance of getting better. Great Wall would be a lot better if the next set has 16 new, playable plainswalkers in it that would see play in casual or competitive formats. It would still be bad, but it would be better.

Riptide is unplayable and counterproductive almost all the time.

[SpatulaOfTheAges]

If you view it that way you can never make a valid judgement.

Say the next set was 200 ridiculously overpowered blue creatures that all had "This creature doesn't untap during your untap step."

[TheInfamousBearAssassin]

Not true. It's physically impossible for Squire to become even marginally playble.

Unless they print a card that says, "Creatures you control named Squire get +4/+4, Double Strike and Lifelink."

[SpatulaOfTheAges]

See that's not true. There are tons of limited enviroments where Squire would be playable. Never more than a near last pick, yes, but playable.

Again, the same cannot be said of Great Wall.

[URABAHN]

I have to agree with Nightmare, I don't think any creature can take the title of "worst".

[Xero]

Yeah, even really overcosted creatures could potentially win the game, while cards like Great Wall are basically always useless. Speaking of useless:



Can anyone think of a reason to play this card?