I would argue that Lich’s Mirror is only trying to reset your game, where as Karn Liberated’s last ability is restarting the entire game for everyone. Actually restarting the game. Thus making them two very different things.
If anything, Lich’s Mirror is a one sided Sway of the Stars type effect.
When it comes to “unique” things in MTG, the further the game continues the less truly unique effects there will be mainly because everything in Magic gets revisited at some point. WOTC will take a unique card or mechanic from an earlier set and make it the focus of a newer set.
I do believe however that Leeches is still the only card that directly removes poison counters from players.
In spite of who he is, DesolatorMagic has a great series of videos that broach this topic, "The Weirdest MTG Cards Ever Printed".
Whether you like him or hate him, these particular videos of his are worth the watch if one is interested in this subject: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efDuj6cysv0
Like actually unique. I don't mean like "Darkness is the only fog in black". I mean "only card in the whole damn game that can do this".
I've been thinking about it for a while, and Voidmage Apprentice is the only card that can hard counter a spell with Split Second- morph as a special action, trigger goes on the stack, nothing else can because Split Second. It's been my pet card ever since in EDH. What else have you?
For a number of years this had been an obsession of mine. Over time many unique abilities have been revisited, so finding the truly unique ones takes some serious digging. Mirror Gallery and Mirror Box are fairly unique-ish. Karn Liberated's ability to restart the game is unique.
Designed for round-table and just as good for shutting down out-of-control stacks , Obeka·s ability taps to give the active player the ability to end the turn .
True, however Sundial only ends your turn. Obeka gives the active player the choice to end their turn, but Time Stop is a hard stop of whoever's turn it is. Subtle but meaningful differences to be sure.
Goblin Game:
"Object", which is now "Item" has been defined as something to do with the game, i.e. dice, coins, tokens, etc., or it can just be a number written on a piece of paper.
Designed for round-table and just as good for shutting down out-of-control stacks , Obeka·s ability taps to give the active player the ability to end the turn .
Gaea’s Liege would have a word with you.
If anything, Lich’s Mirror is a one sided Sway of the Stars type effect.
When it comes to “unique” things in MTG, the further the game continues the less truly unique effects there will be mainly because everything in Magic gets revisited at some point. WOTC will take a unique card or mechanic from an earlier set and make it the focus of a newer set.
I do believe however that Leeches is still the only card that directly removes poison counters from players.
Whether you like him or hate him, these particular videos of his are worth the watch if one is interested in this subject: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efDuj6cysv0
While Desertwalk is unique among landwalking abilities, it's still just a variation of landwalk.
For a number of years this had been an obsession of mine. Over time many unique abilities have been revisited, so finding the truly unique ones takes some serious digging.
Mirror Gallery and Mirror Box are fairly unique-ish.
Karn Liberated's ability to restart the game is unique.
True, however Sundial only ends your turn. Obeka gives the active player the choice to end their turn, but Time Stop is a hard stop of whoever's turn it is. Subtle but meaningful differences to be sure.
While unique early on, it's ability has been retooled into Morph and Manifest. There's even an updated version, Scroll of Fate.
Ice Cauldron:
This was the first attempt at what would become the Imprint mechanic, albeit overly cumbersome and needlessly complicated.
Shahrazad:
If you take Un-sets into account there are two more subgame cards, Enter the Dungeon and The Countdown Is at One.
Goblin Game:
"Object", which is now "Item" has been defined as something to do with the game, i.e. dice, coins, tokens, etc., or it can just be a number written on a piece of paper.
There’s also Time Stop.