Today I was thinking are/were there every any truly unique cards in MTG? And if anyone has made a list of those cards? What I mean by that is this: any card that does not have an identical card and just a new name. For example Wyluli Wolf has been reprinted in a handful of sets but as far as I can see the closest thing to an identical card to it is Ghost Warden, Thunderscape Apprentice, Sunscape Apprentice, Kjeldoran Guard, or Icatian Priest. There are also Mogg Raider, Goblin Sledder, Child of Thorns, Blighted Shaman but sacrifices for a one use +1/+1 seems high to me. So this would be an example of close to unique but if you had a deck with Wyluli Wolf and you were revising it for a different format or whatnot it is possible it can be replaced with one of these others if you follow what I'm thinking. An example of identical cards except in name would be: Charging Badger and Defiant Elf unless subtype is important in a case of revision of a deck. And I think Willow Elf would be unique at least as a green creature because using wizards gatherer card search I see no other 1/1 green creature with no rules text and one mana cost.
The list of cards that do have functional reprints is much, much shorter than the list of cards that don't.
More interesting would be a list of cards that do unique things. There are a lot of cards that give +N/+N to a creature until end of turn. The effect of Abundance, not so much.
Same with the Shichifukujin Dragon, which I just cannot spell correctly for the life of me without cheating. Here's a link for more info at Magic Rarities-site. Awesome Chris Rush art on this one.
Then there's the Phoenix Heart, but I'll let the curious people find it themselves. While it's propably not unique (as printer makes minimum of 12 cards in one batch), there are no known copies sold.But it's great to see Drew Tucker art again on a card again.
The card is legendary, hard to remove, and has a powerful effect and powerful activated ability that haven't shared the same card before...and it never cost a car payment. Whip gave us several awesome reanimator decks in standard and made Sultai (plus splashes!) playable. Of course there were other pieces to those shells, but when Whip rotated, cards like Sidisi, Brood Tyrant slithered right back into binders, never to see standard again.
There's also the slew of cards that Garfield made for his family and friends, like when he was getting married, having a kid, having a second kid, etc.
My friends and I were talking a while back about sets and moving forward in time through them. My idea was that the only thing that really changes are names and artwork. The idea being that no deck really becomes obsolete as it can be updated to use newer cards so that it remains relevant. Though that may be over generalized. As the idea that was possible stems from observations that a lot of creatures such as 1/1, 2/2, and 3/3 get new names and art but are the exact same as old cards. Which got me to thinking if we were to remove the names and artwork from the cards what cards really do have duplicates and what ones don't. Like I know there are thousands of cards but boiled down is that really only maybe hundreds of non identical sans name and artwork? I had contemplated compiling a list but the idea of checking every card seems like a huge task with an insane amount of time involved. Which is why I was hoping perhaps others before me thought of this idea and had collaborated to make a list.
Steamflogger Boss. I challenge anyone to find a way to give your Rigger creatures +1/0 and Haste AND have them assemble two contraptions instead of one using the same card
City in a Bottle is joined by Apocalypse Chime and Golgothian Sylex. City in a Bottle is somewhat stronger than the other two in that it creates a persistent effect while the others are one-shots, but they're all very similar.
Just gonna list a few old favorites that never really got a replacement:
Breathstealer's Crypt, Mana Web, Storm Cauldron, Manabarbs, all had pretty unique effects, and were hilarious when an opponent picked them up, read them, read them again, and then had to think about what the cards actually did. (OK, everyone knew what Manabarbs did...)
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Cards are game pieces, and should be treated as such, easily replaceable.
Cards are not money, investments, or a retirement fund, and should never have been treated as such.
Wizards made a mistake caving to speculators once, and we still pay for that mistake 2 decades later.
"Entitled:" the entire ad hominem fallacy condensed into a single word. It doesn't strengthen your argument to attack motivations, it just makes you look like you don't understand the argument.
Trinisphere and Karn Liberated notably have rules dedicated to making them work that apply to no other card. I think that Rasputin Dreamweaver has a state-based action all to himself.
Spinal Parasite is the only card with a negative base power and toughness, and Char-Rumbler is the only other card besides that with negative base anything. Elvish Spirit Guide and Simian Spirit Guide are the only mana sources you can produce directly from your hand, as a defense from Force Spike for instance. Soul Sculptor is the only creature card that turns creatures into Humble-enchantments. I personally use it on my own at EOT, then my turn to make a Wrath more one-sided. Dash Hopes is the only black counterspell that can potentially counter any spell. Feast of Dreams is the only black card that can destroy enchantments with only black mana. Mana Drain is the only card strictly better than Counterspell.
Prior to the Sixth Edition rules change, Interdict was the only way a mana ability could be countered. Scour from Existence is the only Instant that can exile any permanent. Coalition Victory is the only card that lets you win the game immediately, without triggering at the beginning of your upkeep. Memnite is the only 0-drop 1/1 creature. Manamorphose is the only mana-fixing, essentially free cantrip (the Brothers' Baubles come at a cost of waiting for your opponent's upkeep to draw a card). Psionic Blast is the only blue direct-damage spell. Gamble is the only red spell that can tutor for anything in your library. Gemstone Caverns is the only card that cares about whether you pass or play at the beginning of the game. Lich's Mirror is the only card that has a replacement effect if you would lose the game. Serum Powder is the only card that modifies the mulligan rule. Time Stop is both the only way to counter permanent cards that have "can't be countered" printed on them, and the only card that can't resolve after casting it. Misdirection is the only way to counter Last Word without paying mana. Shahrazad was the only card to be banned, unbanned, then re-banned from Vintage/Type I. Humility is just straight-up one-of-a-kind.
There's lots of truly unique cards. You just have to have played for a long damn time to think of what to search for.
These cards plus Angel's Grace are the reason for the only exception to the Golden Rule- a player may concede the game at any time.
No, they are not. It's the golden rule for a reason. Nothing affects it. Neither Platinum Angel, Angel's Grace, nor Abyssal Persecutor remove a player's right to concede, just as concession is the only thing a player retains under the effect of Mindslaver or its black cousins.
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More interesting would be a list of cards that do unique things. There are a lot of cards that give +N/+N to a creature until end of turn. The effect of Abundance, not so much.
Two Score, Minus Two or: A Stargate Tail
(Image by totallynotabrony)
Pioneer:UR Pheonix
Modern:U Mono U Tron
EDH
GB Glissa, the traitor: Army of Cans
UW Dragonlord Ojutai: Dragonlord NOjutai
UWGDerevi, Empyrial Tactician "you cannot fight the storm"
R Zirilan of the claw. The solution to every problem is dragons
UB Etrata, the Silencer Cloning assassination
Peasant cube: Cards I own
Aww.. Who doesn't love Armageddon?
Then there's the Phoenix Heart, but I'll let the curious people find it themselves. While it's propably not unique (as printer makes minimum of 12 cards in one batch), there are no known copies sold.But it's great to see Drew Tucker art again on a card again.
Set to default
The card is legendary, hard to remove, and has a powerful effect and powerful activated ability that haven't shared the same card before...and it never cost a car payment. Whip gave us several awesome reanimator decks in standard and made Sultai (plus splashes!) playable. Of course there were other pieces to those shells, but when Whip rotated, cards like Sidisi, Brood Tyrant slithered right back into binders, never to see standard again.
I miss Whip in standard.
Form of the _
Shahrazad and
City in a Bottleare a little more off base.Relentless Rats and Shadowborn Apostle are two of a kind, and they operate really differently from one another.
Opalescence, Channel, Misthollow Griffin, andNaked Singularityare pretty unique too.Hedron Alignment is the only new card I can think of off the top of my head.
Edit: As Icanur pointed out, Starfield of Nyx joined Opalescence on the enchanimating throne. Speaking of which, Sigil of the Empty Throne. Oh, and Transguild Courier.
Low-power cube enthusiast!
My 1570 card cube (no longer updated)
My 415 Peasant+ Artifact and Enchantment Cube
Ever-Expanding "Just throw it in" cube.
Reality Twist is the same as Naked Singularity except that it doesn't screw with islands or blue mana.
Two Score, Minus Two or: A Stargate Tail
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RETIRED - GAME SUCKS
Modern:
UUUMerfolksUUU
RGoblinsR
Ad Nauseam
BR 8 Racks RB
WUB Mill BUW
Legacy:
XOps! All splels! X
What I think of MaRo
Breathstealer's Crypt, Mana Web, Storm Cauldron, Manabarbs, all had pretty unique effects, and were hilarious when an opponent picked them up, read them, read them again, and then had to think about what the cards actually did. (OK, everyone knew what Manabarbs did...)
Cards are not money, investments, or a retirement fund, and should never have been treated as such.
Wizards made a mistake caving to speculators once, and we still pay for that mistake 2 decades later.
"Entitled:" the entire ad hominem fallacy condensed into a single word. It doesn't strengthen your argument to attack motivations, it just makes you look like you don't understand the argument.
Phyrexian Dreadnought, Dust Elemental, Countryside Crusher, One With Nothing, Mirror Gallery, Exotic Orchard, Death's Shadow, Void Winnower, Gilt-Leaf Winnower, False Orders, Painter's Servant, Dwarven Armorer, Leveler, Enchanted Evening, False Dawn, Orcish Spy, Fist of Suns, Goblin Charbelcher, Goblin Game, Force of Savagery, Brothers Yamazaki, and Hatred.
Low-power cube enthusiast!
My 1570 card cube (no longer updated)
My 415 Peasant+ Artifact and Enchantment Cube
Ever-Expanding "Just throw it in" cube.
This guy!
My altered Guardian Beast!
http://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/magic-fundamentals/magic-general/334931-what-is-the-most-pimp-card-deck-youve-seen-or?comment=5361
Commander
RGOmnath, Locus of Rage Grenades! EDHGR
UWSygg's Defense, EDH - Voltron & ControlWU
BUGMimeoplasm EDH ft. Ifnir Cycling-discard comboBUG
WBTeysa, Connoisseur of CullingBW
BWSelenia & Recruiter of the Guard suicice combo EDHWB
UBRWGO-Kagachi - 5 Color Enchantments - EDHUBRWG
My current trade binder.
"People most likely to cry "troll" are those who can't fathom holding a position for reasons unrelated to how they want to be perceived"
Zada, Hedron Grinder, Chaosphere, Trinisphere, Chalice of the Void, and Progenitus.Street Wraith remains the one free cantrip.Tarmogoyf was pretty unique until delirium came out. Moldgraf Scavenger may not be similar in power level, but it's certainly mechanically similar.
Abyssal Persecutor and Platinum Angel are a unique pair, only matched by one another.
Low-power cube enthusiast!
My 1570 card cube (no longer updated)
My 415 Peasant+ Artifact and Enchantment Cube
Ever-Expanding "Just throw it in" cube.
Elvish Spirit Guide and Simian Spirit Guide are the only mana sources you can produce directly from your hand, as a defense from Force Spike for instance.
Soul Sculptor is the only creature card that turns creatures into Humble-enchantments. I personally use it on my own at EOT, then my turn to make a Wrath more one-sided.
Dash Hopes is the only black counterspell that can potentially counter any spell.
Feast of Dreams is the only black card that can destroy enchantments with only black mana.
Mana Drain is the only card strictly better than Counterspell.
Prior to the Sixth Edition rules change, Interdict was the only way a mana ability could be countered.
Scour from Existence is the only Instant that can exile any permanent.
Coalition Victory is the only card that lets you win the game immediately, without triggering at the beginning of your upkeep.
Memnite is the only 0-drop 1/1 creature.
Manamorphose is the only mana-fixing, essentially free cantrip (the Brothers' Baubles come at a cost of waiting for your opponent's upkeep to draw a card).
Psionic Blast is the only blue direct-damage spell.
Gamble is the only red spell that can tutor for anything in your library.
Gemstone Caverns is the only card that cares about whether you pass or play at the beginning of the game.
Lich's Mirror is the only card that has a replacement effect if you would lose the game.
Serum Powder is the only card that modifies the mulligan rule.
Time Stop is both the only way to counter permanent cards that have "can't be countered" printed on them, and the only card that can't resolve after casting it.
Misdirection is the only way to counter Last Word without paying mana.
Shahrazad was the only card to be banned, unbanned, then re-banned from Vintage/Type I.
Humility is just straight-up one-of-a-kind.
There's lots of truly unique cards. You just have to have played for a long damn time to think of what to search for.
These cards plus Angel's Grace are the reason for the only exception to the Golden Rule- a player may concede the game at any time.
No, they are not. It's the golden rule for a reason. Nothing affects it. Neither Platinum Angel, Angel's Grace, nor Abyssal Persecutor remove a player's right to concede, just as concession is the only thing a player retains under the effect of Mindslaver or its black cousins.