The Holiday season is in full swing and it is time to take a look back at what happened this year in the world of Magic: The Gathering. So many new sets and universes were introduced to us, countless Secret Lairs were sold, and so many new cards made it into the hands of the players. I am one of those players looking back on the past year. Everyone has their favorite cards out of any set or year and now it's time to look at mine. But why did these cards make my list?

I have been playing Magic for about a decade now. I was introduced to the game at my uncle's kitchen table, casting incredibly broken spells like Nightmare. (I mean honestly how were you supposed to deal with that thing ....removal? What's that?). I quickly located a local game store, bought a Deck-builders Toolkit, and started down the rabbit trail of becoming a true Magic player. Fast forward to today, I now mainly play Commander, while dabbling in Pauper, Cube, and Battlebox. These are the lenses I wear when evaluating what I consider a "cool" card. I love playing Commander for the goofiness of the format and having laughs with friends. Winning is secondary, but playing always brings enjoyment. I also play the other side of the Commander coin occasionally with cEDH and love that format as well.

So, with all of the backstory behind us, let's dive into my favorite cards from this past year.

Honorable Mention

Unstable Experiment is the only honorable mention of this year. This card, I believe, is one of the best cards in the 99 from Spider-Man. This cantrip is great for creature decks, graveyard decks, spellslinger decks, and +1/+1 counter decks. It's versatile and draws cards. I believe this card should see play in a number of decks and have loved playing it myself. Now onto the true top 10 list.

10. Goldlust Triad

Goldlust Triad is one of the best generic Red cards to come out of 2025. A five-mana 4/3 flyer with myriad is already a decent threat in a game of Commander. However, this card also generates a treasure token when it connects to someone's face. This can generate three treasures a turn, quickly paying you back and allowing you to progress your game plan in the late game. Combine this card with The Master, Multiplied to put a clock on your opponents. This is perfect for Red decks focused on combat, dragons, or a sacrifice sub theme!

9. Kimahri, Valiant Guardian

Kimahri, Valiant Guardian is my standout Simic legend of this year. This unique clone effect in the Command Zone allows you to play Simic in a whole new way. This card allows you to copy your opponent's cards while gaining incremental power. Kimahri also allows you to get in for combat easily and makes for an amazing blocker thanks to his vigilance keyword. If you are looking for a Simic legend that doesn't say "Draw a Card" Kimahri is for you.

8. Mai, Scornful Striker

Mai, Scornful Striker is a powerful stax effect that is perfect for casual Commander. I know that sounds a little taboo, however, it doesn't prevent your opponents from playing Magic. Mai causes any player to lose 2 life if they cast a noncreature spell. This effect is similar to Kambal, Consul of Allocation, but Mai is cheaper to cast and in Mono-Black. I am glad to add Mai to my Sygg, River Cutthroat deck and would love to see if she is able to make any waves in cEDH.

7. Mutinous Massacre

Mutinous Massacre is a Rakdos coated boardwipe through and through. The Nipton Lottery and Last One Standing are classic Rakdos boardwipes that have a sense of randomness and efficiency to them. They have equal strengths and weaknesses. Mutinous Massacre removes the randomness element with a choice and gives you a version of Insurrection. I think this board wipe could see more play than the ones I previously mentioned since it can potentially leave you unharmed and lead a way to victory. I also believe this to be one of the best designed cards for Rakdos that we received this year!

6. Depthshaker Titan

Depthshaker Titan is an artifact finisher that the archetype has been begging for. This massive robot turns all your noncreature artifacts into killing machines thanks to the numerous keywords it gives all of them. It does have the downside of making you sacrifice all of them at the end of turn, but you should be winning the game on the spot if you cast this. Artifacts tend to be a grindy archetype. Widdling down life totals with Reckless Fireweaver pings and the sort is how most decks win. Now, artifacts can play a Craterhoof Behemoth like effect and trample over for the win.

5. Faller's Faithful

Faller's Faithful is an efficient piece of removal on a body. For only 3 mana you destroy any creature in play and that player gets to draw two cards. I like that you can use this creature to help remove a problematic creature in a pinch OR destroy your own creature for some cards in hand. This ability makes this creature much more desirable than Ravenous Chupacabra, a staple for blink and reanimate strategies for years. If you do play one of those strategies consider this new creature from Edge of Eternities!

4. Waterbender Ascension

Waterbender Ascension is a two-mana Coastal Piracy that requires a few turns to get online. This brand-new enchantment does have a leg up on Piracy since it's only two mana. Ascension also has a very powerful waterbend ability to give a creature unblockable until the end of turn. You can use this on one of your own creatures or your opponents if need be. Waterbend can also be paid for by tapping your artifacts and other creatures as well as mana from lands. Flying decks or token decks may want to give this card a try. I personally believe this card has some of the best art out of this entire year.

3. Wan Shi Tong, Librarian

Wan Shi Tong, Librarian competes for the spot of strongest card of 2025. This flash flying vigilant threat sees play across multiple formats and is performing well in most of them. Wan Shi Tong is not only a powerful card, but an extremely flavorful one. Wherever an opponent searches their library, you gain knowledge and power. A very clever nod to the episode that Wan Shi Tong appears in the Avatar series.

2. Will of the Mardu

Will of the Mardu is part of a brand new cycle of cards that were introduced this year in Tarkir: Dragonstorm. These cards have two modes to choose from when you cast them, but if you control your Commander you can choose both of the modes. These cards are similar to the cycle from Commander Masters, but are focused on three color pairings instead of mono colored. Will of the Mardu is a removal spell that hits all opponents without targeting AND a Reanimation spell all in one four-mana package. This card has overperformed for me on multiple occasions and has even been the target of a Demonic Tutor across different games. If you don't have any of this cycle in your collection, as a Commander player, I strongly encourage you to pick them up.

1. Colossal Grave-Reaver

Colossal Grave-Reaver is hands down my favorite card of the year. This awesome Golgari dragon is a Reanimating machine on a massive 7/6 flying body. This card made me change my Slimefoot, the Stowaway deck, into a Reanimator strategy just so I could play this brand new beast. If you haven't had the opportunity to cast this card, you are severely missing out. Each time you mill cards off the top of your library everyone holds their breath. It's such a fun card to build with and a powerful way to end the game.

I hope you have enjoyed this year of Magic as much as I have. From great universe sets like Tarkir and Edge of Eternities to outside universe sets like Final Fantasy and Avatar, this year has been unforgettable. Be sure to go back and make sure you didn't miss any potential cards that overlooked your radar from this past year!

See you on the battlefield!

-Nigel