Back when Invasion Block hit Standard, I created my own unique deck to play at FNM. It usually did pretty well, either winning outright or having a winning record. This deck, called Equinaut, was a Bant () Brew built around the interaction between Fleetfoot Panther and Equilibrium.

Let's unpack that interaction a bit. Equilibrium allows you to pay mana whenever you cast a creature to return target creature to its owner's hand. Since it triggers on cast, not enters, we cannot bounce the creature triggering Equilibrium, but that also means the ability will resolve even if the creature is countered.

Now, Fleetfoot Panther returns a Green or White creature to you control to its owner's hand when it enters, and it has Flash so you can do it at instant speed. That means you can cast and recast him over and over again to trigger Equilibrium or things like Aura Shards, bounce something about to be killed or after chump blocking, Tap-Lock with Opposition, bounce a creature with an enters ability like Mystic Snake, or to surprise block and kill an attacker too.

I've written about my Equinaut deck many times, from its 60-card iteration to a Commander brew (the first iteration of which was highlighted in the 'Article of the Day" on Wizards of the Coast's website). It has changed a lot over the years as more creatures with interesting enters effects have been printed. For example, I used to run Dismantling Blow and Seed Spark, but then those were slotted out as creatures like Reclamation Sage and Loran of the Third Path usurped them.

The Best Bounce Creatures for Equinaut

As we get started, I should note that this is not a Blink deck. It shares some similarities with Blink decks and shares some cards, like Aura Shards and juicy Enters triggers; but, this is a Self-Bounce Brew first and foremost. Azorius Aethermage exemplifies our priorities since its trigger to pay and draw a card happens when we return a permanent to our hand. See the difference?

Now, the best Bounce creatures, like Fleetfoot Panther and Whitemane Lion, have Flash, can bounce a single thing (ideally themselves as well), and are as cheap as possible since this deck guzzles mana like you wouldn't believe. We need leftover mana to trigger Equilibrium and Azorius Aethermage after all. Of course, these aren't strict criteria, but you'll see a common theme in this list.

Without further ado, let's dive in to what I think are the best Bounce creatures!

#15. All Man-o'-Wars

Visions saw the printing of many good creatures with Enters abilities, including the original 2/2 tempo machine for three mana, Man-o'-War. It can bounce any creature, including ours, earning its place on the list as the representative for every version of this effect (from Aether Adept to Mist Raven to Exclusion Mage and beyond).

#14. Disruptor of Currents

Disruptor of Currents is a little expensive at five mana, but it does have Flash, a 3/3 body, and Convoke so it can be cast for cheaper by tapping our other creatures. Not to mention, its Enters trigger bounces any nonland permanent not just a creature. That's a pretty good step up from the baseline Man-o'-War fare.

#13. Stormfront Riders

Stormfront Riders also costs five mana, but this time that gets you a 4/3 Flyer that bounces two creatures you control back to your hand. That's a lot of value on its own, but there's more to it. Whenever it or another creature is returned to your hand from the battlefield, you get to make a 1/1 white Soldier creature token.

That's right, it's also a value engine for all the self-bouncing you want to be doing. In an Equinaut-style deck, this is going to make so many 1/1s perfect for going wide or chump blocking.

#12. Mischievous Pup

Mischievous Pup is a bit of a step down on stats as a three-mana 3/1, but it does has Flash and it can bounce any other target permanent you control back to your hand. Yes, this speedy little pup can even bounce one of your lands. That's some impressive flexibility, even if the body is a little unexciting.

#11. Loyal Gryff AND Flock Imposter

Next up we've got two nearly identical creatures in Loyal Gryff and Flock Impostor. Both cost three mana for a 2/2, have flash and flying, and bounce a single creature you control. Instant-speed Wind Drakes that bounce one of our creatures are great, stat-wise. The only major difference is that Flock Impostor has Changeling, which means it pulls extra weight by being every creature type for decks that care about such things. You can't go wrong with either.

#10. Venser, Shaper Savant

Venser, Shaper Savant may be a 2/2 Flash for four mana, but it can bounce spells as well as permanents. Venser is tempo, self-bounce, protects our stuff and delays our opponents' spells all in one package. You'll definitely want one as an emergency escape button.

#9. Jeskai Barricade

Jeskai Barricade costs two mana, has Flash, and bounces a creature we control. Perfect. Granted, it's better for blocking with its 0/4 body and Defender, but it's hard to beat the low, low cost of two mana.

#8. Shrieking Drake

Shrieking Drake is a one-drop 1/1 Flyer and the best sorcery-speed bouncer since it can bounce itself and does it for just one mana. Since it's Blue, you can't bounce it with Fleetfoot Panther, but that hardly matters when it can help jumpstart your engine with its extremely low mana cost.

#8. Deputy of Acquittals

We have another two-drop bouncer in Deputy of Acquittals. This Azorius () 2/2 with Flash enters and bounces one of your creatures. It's pretty plain other than costing two colors of mana to cast, but a 2/2 instant-speed bouncer for two mana is huge when pairing up with Equilibrium and Azorius Aethermage.

#7. Quickling

The two-drops keep on rolling, but this time our two-mana investment gets us Quickling, a 2/2 flyer in Blue that sacrifices itself unless you bounce one of your creatures. As long as you control another creature when Quickling's enters ability resolves, you'll be able to bounce something and keep it alive, leaving you with the most efficient creature so far on this list.

#6. Zephyr Sentinel AND Sunpearl Kirin

We've got another two-for-one with Zephyr Sentinel and Sunpearl Kirin. Both of these creatures cost two mana, are 2/1 flyers, and bounce something you control, but they both have a little extra spice. The Sentinel has the added benefit of getting a +1/+1 counter if you bounced a Soldier, and the Kirin will draw you a card if you bounced a token. Note that Kirin's effect doesn't specify a creature token, so you can draw off bouncing a treasure or food too.

#5. Rescuer Chwinga

Rescuer Chwinga is another two-mana 2/2 with Flash that bounces something, but what sets it apart is that it can bounce any of your permanents, not just creatures. That added versatility is enough to push it up the ranks compared to the other Bounce Bears on the list.

#4. Stonecloaker

Stonecloaker gives us a pretty good 3/2 flying body for three mana, has flash, and can also bounce itself. What sets it apart further is the tacked on graveyard hate at instant speed. Graveyard decks are on notice since Stonecloaker can serve as its own recursive engine to exile their graveyard one card at a time. Great stats, great utility.

#3. Temur Sabertooth

Temur Sabertooth is one you shouldn't sleep on. Four mana for a 4/3 Green Cat with a repeatable bounce activated ability (that can't target itself) for . Not only can you protect another of your creatures by bouncing it to your hand, Temur Sabertooth also protects itself by gaining indestructible when you do. It's hard to argue with an additional bounce engine that is difficult to remove.

#2. Whitemane Lion

Our ultimate two-mana 2/2, Whitemane Lion is a pure bounce creature. It's got flash and can bounce any creature you control (including itself). That's all you need. It may not be able to bounce any permanent like Rescuer Chwinga, but being able to target itself is a big game. The ultimate Bounce Bear.

#1. Fleetfoot Panther

It might be a little controversial to place Fleetfoot Panther over Whitemane Lion, since it costs three mana and can only bounce creatures it shares a color with. I hear you. But it can still bounce itself, it has great stats as a flash 3/4 that can surprise block 3/3s or anything with three power. It's not the most efficient, like Whitemane Lion, but it's the original Equinaut and the top of the food chain for creatures that bounce.

Conclusion

And there we go. So, what do you think of the list? Do you agree with my picks? Of course, the Equinaut decks doesn't run on bounce creatures alone, so I might touch on engines and efficient beaters like Watchwolf in future lists. Until next time!