Top 5 Overrated and Underrated EDH cards

Well it is about time I got into a subject I do like to comment on, Elder Dragon Highlander. Thanks to Chris F for making this request as it let me really think on the cards and interactions that I will be commenting on today. There is no particular order that these cards were placed in. This review is only meant to encompass my views at our local game store: Alluring Treasures.  Outside of those disclaimers I present to you my viewers: The Top 5 Overrated and Underrated EDH cards.

Top 5 Overrated EDH cards

1.) Sol Ring- The power it generates comes from the early game. As the game state progress Sol Ring gets progressively weaker. While Sol Ring on turns 1-3 can be backbreaking, a turn 5-8 Sol Ring is not nearly as impressive. In addition, If you are in colors than can ramp, pulling land from your deck is much more beneficial than a simple 2 mana boost.

2.) Lightning Greaves- Not every deck needs a pair of boots to protect creatures. While many aggro decks benefit from the haste, there are plenty of other effects in other colors that give built in haste. Only a few generals really benefit from having boots slapped on. More often than not the boots tend to sit on a creature or unequipped. Lightning Greaves is also a pretty terrible top deck when you are in need of pretty much anything, as they do not immediately buff a creature or affect the game board.

3.) Sensei's Diving Top- While Top lets you dig three cards deep at any given time, not every deck need to use this effect. Blue, Green and Black all have reliable ways to draw multiple cards a turn and thus do not completely benefit from looking at the next 3 cards. Red and White, arguably benefit the most from this, but overall Top sometimes feels like a crutch, other times a waste of time while you realize nothing can change the board based on your top 3.

4.) Kokusho, the Evening Star- Many black decks will just try and jam him into their lists and assume he will be amazing. While Kokopuffs is a strong creature, he is not an auto-include because his death trigger might only be relevant once. There are decks out there that will abuse the living shit out of him, but like Prime Time, Kokopuffs benefits from being in a deck that can utilize his ability or play on his ability. Examples of this include general like Kresh, Jarad, or Mimeoplasm

5.)Reliquary Tower- I used to think this land was essential to playing EDH, however I feel it does not do enough for it to warrant a slot. While there are decks that can take advantage of having a land that lets their hand size being infinite, most decks do not. Most people will play this land and assume someone will do something that will let them take advantage of having an unlimited hand size. However, having to rely on someone to bring something to the table is kind of a no-no in EDH.

Top 5 Underrated EDH cards

1.) Knowledge Exploitation- I know many of you like Bribery, and to a lesser extent Acquire, but what if there was an effect for your opponents broken spells. Well there it is. This card can cause all sorts of hilarity and blow out board states, as this can be your extra wrath or disrupt an opponents game plan.

2.) Lurking Predators- This enchantment makes your opponents question playing spells. Anything that makes your opponent have to think about doing something that is not blue based is powerful, in my opinion. If any of your opponent try to act like nothing is going to happen, they will quickly run into a brick wall of dudes as you get ready to untap.

3.) Cauldron Dance- This is one of the sneakiest combat tricks in EDH. Being able to Sneak Attack a dude and Regrowth a second creature, while both get to attack is absolutely bonkers. Add in any comes into play or leaves play triggers and this is the perfect concoction to fuck with any combat step. The last bit, of returning a dude back to your hand and having a prime reanimation target set up in your yard, is the cherry on top of this sundae.

4.) Stonecloaker- Being able to save a creature at instant speed from removal, Having a 3/2 flyer body, and removing a card from the graveyard when he hits play make this guy a steal of a deal. Even if this guy just bounces himself, having an on-demand graveyard hater is pretty damn good in a format where big creature are reanimated consistently.

5.) Aftershock-  A red card that says destroy a creature. Yea, this card is nuts in a color that can only deal certain amounts of damage to creatures and hope that finishes them off. The drawback of taking 3 damage is miniscule compared to the advantages this card offers to a color that can have trouble with big creatures.

There you go viewing public. Feel free to comment below with your opinions and theories. Next time on Brandon's Space Travel Adventure Fun Caravan, uh probably why violins are awesome and that board game review I promised.