By now, players and article writers have begun to post their top Return to Ravnica cards. Here's my take on Magic the Gathering's most recent expansion.
As a note, I've written about the best cards of past expansions. I've tried to define what best really is. Honestly, it's too difficult to say. A card can be a good card on its own but it wouldn't be played in a competitive level. There are cards that can fit into tier 1 decks and there are cards that make tier 2 decks into tier 1. And so on and so forth. That said, I give up on how to define "best". This would be a mix and match of everything good and more.
Honorable mention:
1. Corspejack Menace
2. Mizzium Mortars
3. Dreadbore
Incidentally, Corspejack Menace is the only prerelease card in the list (technically not in the list but I'll just include the honorable mentions still). I tried hard to think if it was really that good. So far, it has been enough to warrant an honorable mention. The doubling of a counter would have an application for the Undying ability. But other than that, it's a useful weapon for Golgari's Scavenge ability. Even Rakdos' Unleash would be happy.
Mizzium Mortars is the only monocolored card in the list. It's not there because of what the normal casting cost can do nor is it there for what the Overload cost can do. Rather, I've placed it in the list because of the versatility it provides to the spellcaster knowing that the card is still useful late in the game against multiple creatures.
The only Rakdos card in the list is Dreadbore. For quite a long time, we get to see the word Planeswalker placed in a non-Planeswalker card again. Dreadbore is not an "I win" card but its ability to snuff out a Planeswalker is quite an ability. And again, with versatility, Dreadbore can get rid of a pesky creature just in case.
I cheated. It's supposed to be only 1 honorable mention card. Originally, I had only Corspejack Menace as honorable mention. I figured I could add Mizzium Mortars - being the only monocolored card in the list - and Dreadbore - being the only Rakdos card in the list.
10. Lotleth Troll
As a 2/1 creature for 2, Lotleth Troll is just okay. It's the added abilities that coincide with its guild that makes it worthy at the #10 position. And the best thing about getting bigger is that it has trample.
The best use of Lotleth Troll's +1/+1 counter ability is to, of course, discard creatures with Scavenge. In any case, any creature would have to do.
9. Sphinx's Revelation
I've seen instant spells that allow the player to draw multiple cards before. This might be just a functional reprint but as always it is a relevant weapon. And I just realized that it somehow "nullifies" Rakdos' Return (a card that I would think is also good).
Well, very straightforward - it nets you cards and lets you gain life. The cost is moot here and players would want to cast this at end of turn anyway.
8. Loxodon Smiter
Loxodon Smiter has initiated lots of debate on whether blue was dead. I, for one, would say "No". Loxodon Smiter is just like any other creature and as long as it doesn't have hexproof, it has a bulls-eye on its head.
In any case, Loxodon Smiter is still a good card. A 4/4 for 3 is not common (it's rare!). The other abilities are pure gravy. Still it should provide quite the beatdown not just for blue mages.
7. Mercurial Chemister
Mercurial Chemister's abilities are just what an Izzet mage should be. Again, the ability to draw cards is a major plus. The red mana ability is just splendid.
Unfortunately though, Mercurial Chemister is too costly at 5 mana. Nevertheless, I hope someone puts this in a tier 1 deck.
6. Return to Ravnica charms
Again, I'm cheating by putting in all 5 charms at #6. One particular favorite is Golgari Charm. But no matter, all 5 charms are useful in their own right. 3 abilities in one card is never boring.
5. Deathrite Shaman
Yet another creature with lots of abilities. As I'm writing this, I realize that I've been looking (and evaluating) the cards based on their abilities.
Deathrite Shaman is a wonderful work. Again, it pairs itself well with the Golgari guild. Like Mercurial Chemister, it would be hard to find a deck for it. Still, I want to see it in a tier 1 deck.
* Creatures like Deathrite Shaman and Mercurial Chemister seem to be similar to the Planeswalkers with their abilities.
4. Return to Ravnica guildmages
Aside from the trend of creature abilities, I'm also seeing a trend on the cheating. Here is another cycle with the guildmages. The favorite here is New Prahv Guildmage which can win games on its own.
All 5 guildmages are of the same power level and have useful abilities. The best thing about the new guildmages is they don't need to be tapped to activate their abilities.
3. Supreme Verdict
The new functional reprint of Wrath of God is more of a Day of Judgment reprint and comes with a "cannot be countered" clause. Considering how M13 got Planar Cleansing only (and a bad choice at that for the usual mass destruction for white) Supreme Verdict would be an appropriate mass destruction spell of choice.
2. Niv-Mizzet, Dracogenius
The only guildmaster in the list and it had to be Niv-Mizzet. I loved the original Niv-Mizzet in Guildpact. It was just too bad that being in the second set (and a small one at that), it had to go to the sidelines as other better cards got attention.
I still love the new Niv-Mizzet and he warrants a deck. The ability is directly related to the original incarnation. With the Titans gone, Niv-Mizzet heralds a new breed of "titans" from Return to Ravnica.
1. Armada Wurm
The new Broodmate Dragon is 2-colored only. Armada Wurm doesn't fly but it still has trample. The net power that is attained from the 2 wurms is enough to make it #1 in this list. And that's not the only reason: Armada Wurm enables the Populate mechanic of Selesnya.
