Hello and welcome to another one of my top 50 lists! In case you missed the last two, here are the Top 50 Spot Removal and Top 50 Wrath cards (according to me, with a lot of community guidance). Note that those lists are still not final. They're at a nearly complete beta stage, but I still plan on consulting my playgroup for some tweaks and discussion. In fact, I didn't plan on releasing another one of these until I got back to school but I think it's important to have the community look this list over because undoubtedly I've either missed a few good ones or under- or overestimated their ranking.
This edition is about tutors. It's interesting to note that this thread is existing in tandem with Sheldon's thread on a tutor-less EDH league; a lot of passion and argument (from myself included) about the importance of tutors and what role they play or should play in Commander.
As a quick aside, I think the Commander format is currently broken, rampant with more combo than just about every other format. There are those, of course, who choose to play casually. The rules committee falls under this category because this is their vision of Commander. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that, enjoyment of the game is one of the most important things, it's why we play. However, in the interest of competition a lot of players will optimize their deck to the best of their ability and use powerful, expensive cards that cause a deep schism in the player base and a steep barrier to entry. I'm guilty of this type of play. My personal stance though has been that a near-Legacy ban list should be instated. I think this is what Wizards would do, were they to officially sanction the format. This kind of ban would include three of the best cards in the game: Vampiric Tutor, Imperial Seal and Demonic Tutor. Some will argue that these cards cause repetitive games and is against the idea of a singleton format. I don't care about that at all, I just think they set you up with the win too quickly before anyone has a chance to respond. In a format where you can win with a turn one combo with relative ease, especially with the likes of Mana Crypt and Sol Ring, cheap tutors stack your hand too quickly in my opinion. But I digress, that isn't the purpose of this thread.
Tutors are something I'm very familiar with. While I don't often run many wraths or spot removal (3-6 per deck), one fifth of my Commander decks are tutors. Is it just so I have more ways to grab my combo pieces and go off easier? Well... yes, sometimes. But they're also there for when there are threats on the board and I need to get something that suits the situation. I am a toolbox player and tutors are essential for a player like me, and any competitive minded player.
So what is a tutor? I define a tutor as a card that searches your library for another card and puts it somewhere that you can access it easier, or at least allows you to know where it is. This can be in your hand, on the battlefield, in the grave, even three cards down from the top of your deck. The card also has to work independent of other cards. So what about mana ramp? Aren't those tutors? Here's where I draw the line. If it accelerates you in any way (mainly by putting it onto the battlefield), it is mana ramp. If it goes to your hand, it is not. If people disagree with this, I'm open to reconsideration. Now I've deliberated a bit too much, so let's get to the list.
8/9/2013 5:30 PM EST
8/9/2013 6:15 PM EST
8/9/2013 7:00 PM EST
8/9/2013 10:30 PM EST
8/10/2013 2:00 PM EST
-Reap and Sow (ramp)
+Primal Command 8/10/2013 3:00 PM EST
-Godo, Bandit Warlord
+Academy Rector 8/11/2013 1:15 AM EST
^ Gamble
v Personal Tutor 8/12/2013 2:00 AM EST
^ Weathered Wayfarer
v Long-Term Plans
Again, this is a first draft. Things will be moved around a lot and I may have missed some important cards. Have at it!
Imperial Seal is one of the worst tutors on that list. It has all the problems that the other 1-mana tutors do, with the added problem of sorcery speed. It in no way deserves its #3 spot.
Imperial Seal is one of the worst tutors on that list. It has all the problems that the other 1-mana tutors do, with the added problem of sorcery speed. It in no way deserves its #3 spot.
I agree. Just because it's 700 dollars doesn't mean it's stupendously good - and it's not. I wouldn't go as far as to say it's "one of the worst", because there's a few of awful tutors on that list, but it's certainly not the third best tutor ever.
Definitely, because how often does red get a decent tutor (especially one that can tutor up Goblins!)?
It would be great if that got reprinted.
Long-Term Plans ain't bad for monoblue trying to find a nonartifact, noninstant/sorcery spell. It's low on the list, but better for Blue than Planar Portal since card draw is cheap, and the tutor is an instant. Once it resolves a single Brainstorm or Ponder brings it to hand for what absolutely must be found.
Imperial Seal is not #3. Its an ok tutor but it only floats its price tag due to availability. Its probably like 10-15th at best. Its a bad Vampiric Tutor.
Grim Tutor is probably a bit high. I would probably shift it down to like 15 range. Its not so cheap that its actually that amazing. Its still solid but I dont think quite where you put it. As mana cost increases power decreases fairly quickly.
Muddle the Mixture its good but I dont know if I would place it as high as you did. I would probably go for like 25ish spot.
Zur the Enchanter I would say doesn't even belong in this list. If he isnt the commander he really isnt that playable. If he is the commander then sure.... but I don't know if that's really the point of this list. As a singleton he is a lot weaker than you placed him.
Fabricate I feel like perhaps Tezzeret belongs this high but I have my doubts that Fabricate belongs as high as well.
The main thing for me is that any tutor that does not require you to reveal the card(s) that you tutored for is going to be fundamentally better than one that does.
Also, tooth and nail should be higher. I mean, come on.
Imperial Seal is not #3. Its an ok tutor but it only floats its price tag due to availability. Its probably like 10-15th at best. Its a bad Vampiric Tutor.
Grim Tutor is probably a bit high. I would probably shift it down to like 15 range. Its not so cheap that its actually that amazing. Its still solid but I dont think quite where you put it. As mana cost increases power decreases fairly quickly.
Muddle the Mixture its good but I dont know if I would place it as high as you did. I would probably go for like 25ish spot.
Zur the Enchanter I would say doesn't even belong in this list. If he isnt the commander he really isnt that playable. If he is the commander then sure.... but I don't know if that's really the point of this list. As a singleton he is a lot weaker than you placed him.
Fabricate I feel like perhaps Tezzeret belongs this high but I have my doubts that Fabricate belongs as high as well.
I completely agree with all of this and have updated accordingly!
the statistical ordering isn't exactly fair, imperial seal isn't even on the list afaik, but it's from price, not effectiveness.
I honestly think intuition > mystical and enlightened. It wants a little build around, granted, but it's a triple tutor for 3 mana as an instant, and no card disadvantage either. I would also put survival and tooth and nail in the top 10 minimum, since they're also capable of winning the game single-handedly in the right deck.
I would definitely vote Demonic as higher than Vampiric, although they're easily #1 and #2. Instant speed on Vampiric is negated by the fact that it tutors to the top of the library, meaning it's technically card disadvantage. Demonic is so much more useful when you need the card right away and can't spare or don't have access to a way to draw the top card.
It's a good point... One of them allows you to stack your deck, but is only useful in a Goblin deck while the other gets a card to your hand. I think you're right though, Imperial Recruiter is less narrow. I would say that card is pretty similar to Trinket Mage so they should be on the same level.
Imperial Recruiter is on the list twice.
The red tutors are amazing, because red isnt supposed to tutor.
However, Goblin Recruiter is so narrow in a format where goblins dont do anything other than kiki combo or find krenko if he gets tucked.. probably not in the top 50, def not the top 15.
Its hard to make a list for this stuff when each color tutors so differently. Moreover you have cards vying for top spots when they are "best" because of efficiency OR power. The top tier should consist of the cards that are most efficient and powerful followed by the rest that accel at one thing or another.
Worldly Tutor is nowhere near where you placed it. I would put it at like 30th at best. Green Sun's Zenith, Chord of Calling, Survival of the Fittest, heck most actual green tutors are better.
I'm going to disagree. Well, those tutors you listed are definitely good, but worldly tutor costs 1. It is essentially a Vampiric Tutor in any deck running green with value creatures.
@the OP:
How in the world is Cruel Tutor higher than ANY of the following?? That card is just awful:
These tutors should be top 30 at least, they are way too low on your list. Especially natural order and birthing pod. Tutors that spit things onto the field are sooo valuable, even if they cost a creature sac. They are way better than things like Summoner's Pact and Reap and Sow.
However, Goblin Recruiter is so narrow in a format where goblins dont do anything other than kiki combo or find krenko if he gets tucked.. probably not in the top 50, def not the top 15.
It depends on where. Many mono-red lists will want Goblin Recruiter because many of the best creatures in red just happen to be goblins. It's a wider tutor than you think - Goblin Welder, Stingscourger, Siege-Gang Commander/Mogg War Marshal/etc. (token producers), and of course Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker. I'd probably put it in the top 50, but only barely. Late 40's. The fact it can tutor whole combos is just a boon.
I'm going to disagree. Well, those tutors you listed are definitely good, but worldly tutor costs 1. It is essentially a Vampiric Tutor in any deck running green with value creatures.
@the OP:
How in the world is Cruel Tutor higher than ANY of the following?? That card is just awful
Yeah, I don't know what I was thinking, Cruel Tutor is barely playable. Also I moved Worldly Tutor up a bit but I think it should be higher still. I'm brainstorming about where it belongs...
These tutors should be top 30 at least, they are way too low on your list. Especially natural order and birthing pod. Tutors that spit things onto the field are sooo valuable, even if they cost a creature sac. They are way better than things like Summoner's Pact and Reap and Sow.
I agree with this to an extent. I think Natural Order is pretty slim in that it only gets green creatures but the same can be said about Summoner's Pact. You're absolutely right about the fact that putting things into play is really undervauled. I'll update to reflect this.
Is this list limited to only cards that generate an effect immediately upon casting or ETB? Maybe not since we are including Survival of the Fittest. I would suggest Academy Rector and Stonehewer Giant should fit somewhere on this list as well, both are very strong in the right decks.
Edit: Also you might as well include Prime Time in your banned list as he is a beast obviously. Primeval Titan
Is this list limited to only cards that generate an effect immediately upon casting or ETB? Maybe not since we are including Survival of the Fittest. I would suggest Academy Rector and Stonehewer Giant should fit somewhere on this list as well, both are very strong in the right decks.
Edit: Also you might as well include Prime Time in your banned list as he is a beast obviously. Primeval Titan
You raise a good question, and I think it doesn't have to be ETB, it can be activated abilities. However, I think the card should be able to work independent of other cards, so since Academy Rector requires a sac outlet or combat damage to be killed, I won't be putting it on the list.
Needs more transmute artifact . Imperial seal below crop rotation ?? In general no way :/. I'd include lim duls it's a tutor I'm
Making the call XD. But the card I'm most upset I don't see is DoomsDay
You raise a good question, and I think it doesn't have to be ETB, it can be activated abilities. However, I think the card should be able to work independent of other cards, so since Academy Rector requires a sac outlet or combat damage to be killed, I won't be putting it on the list.
I forgot about Prime Time, thanks!
I have to disagree with this. Rector's "condition" is so easily fulfilled as to be laughable. It's incredibly powerful and if you're running white with any power enchantments it should be an autoinclude. I'd say around the 20 spot in terms of the list. It's at least 10x more powerful than cruel tutor say, or demonic collusion.
Edit: Also Natural Order and Transmute Artifact both require another card(a green creature and an artifact respectively), so that "independent of other cards" clause is already kinda broken.
This edition is about tutors. It's interesting to note that this thread is existing in tandem with Sheldon's thread on a tutor-less EDH league; a lot of passion and argument (from myself included) about the importance of tutors and what role they play or should play in Commander.
As a quick aside, I think the Commander format is currently broken, rampant with more combo than just about every other format. There are those, of course, who choose to play casually. The rules committee falls under this category because this is their vision of Commander. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that, enjoyment of the game is one of the most important things, it's why we play. However, in the interest of competition a lot of players will optimize their deck to the best of their ability and use powerful, expensive cards that cause a deep schism in the player base and a steep barrier to entry. I'm guilty of this type of play. My personal stance though has been that a near-Legacy ban list should be instated. I think this is what Wizards would do, were they to officially sanction the format. This kind of ban would include three of the best cards in the game: Vampiric Tutor, Imperial Seal and Demonic Tutor. Some will argue that these cards cause repetitive games and is against the idea of a singleton format. I don't care about that at all, I just think they set you up with the win too quickly before anyone has a chance to respond. In a format where you can win with a turn one combo with relative ease, especially with the likes of Mana Crypt and Sol Ring, cheap tutors stack your hand too quickly in my opinion. But I digress, that isn't the purpose of this thread.
Tutors are something I'm very familiar with. While I don't often run many wraths or spot removal (3-6 per deck), one fifth of my Commander decks are tutors. Is it just so I have more ways to grab my combo pieces and go off easier? Well... yes, sometimes. But they're also there for when there are threats on the board and I need to get something that suits the situation. I am a toolbox player and tutors are essential for a player like me, and any competitive minded player.
So what is a tutor? I define a tutor as a card that searches your library for another card and puts it somewhere that you can access it easier, or at least allows you to know where it is. This can be in your hand, on the battlefield, in the grave, even three cards down from the top of your deck. The card also has to work independent of other cards. So what about mana ramp? Aren't those tutors? Here's where I draw the line. If it accelerates you in any way (mainly by putting it onto the battlefield), it is mana ramp. If it goes to your hand, it is not. If people disagree with this, I'm open to reconsideration. Now I've deliberated a bit too much, so let's get to the list.
2 Vampiric Tutor
3 Mystical Tutor
4 Intuition
5 Enlightened Tutor
6 Survival of the Fittest
7 Tezzeret, the Seeker
8 Eladamri's Call
9 Crop Rotation
10 Imperial Seal
11 Chord of Calling
12 Grim Tutor
13 Lim-Dul's Vault
14 Green Sun's Zenith
15 Weathered Wayfarer
16 Tooth and Nail
17 Diabolic Intent
18 Transmute Artifact
19 Sylvan Scrying
20 Expedition Map
22 Gamble
23 Entomb
24 Fabricate
25 Tolaria West
26 Trinket Mage
27 Imperial Recruiter
28 Muddle the Mixture
29 Stoneforge Mystic
30 Natural Order
31 Diabolic Tutor
32 Academy Rector
33 Idyllic Tutor
34 Beseech the Queen
35 Wargate
36 Cruel Tutor
37 Liliana Vess
38 Long-Term Plans
39 Primal Command
40 Birthing Pod
42 Summoner's Pact
43 Increasing Ambition
44 Diabolic Revelation
45 Kaho, Minamo Historian
46 Rune-Scarred Demon
47 Steelshaper's Gift
48 Demonic Collusion
49 Planar Portal
50 Personal Tutor
Banned
1 Tinker
2 Gift's Ungiven
3 Protean Hulk
1 Arcum Dagsson
8/9/2013 6:15 PM EST
8/9/2013 7:00 PM EST
8/9/2013 10:30 PM EST
8/10/2013 2:00 PM EST
-Reap and Sow (ramp)
+Primal Command
8/10/2013 3:00 PM EST
-Godo, Bandit Warlord
+Academy Rector
8/11/2013 1:15 AM EST
^ Gamble
v Personal Tutor
8/12/2013 2:00 AM EST
^ Weathered Wayfarer
v Long-Term Plans
Sharuum | Damia | Hermit Druid
GRW Mayael the Anima WRG
If you're considering Planar Portal, you should probably consider Ring of Three Wishes which is essentially better.
I agree. Just because it's 700 dollars doesn't mean it's stupendously good - and it's not. I wouldn't go as far as to say it's "one of the worst", because there's a few of awful tutors on that list, but it's certainly not the third best tutor ever.
Definitely, because how often does red get a decent tutor (especially one that can tutor up Goblins!)?
It would be great if that got reprinted.
Long-Term Plans ain't bad for monoblue trying to find a nonartifact, noninstant/sorcery spell. It's low on the list, but better for Blue than Planar Portal since card draw is cheap, and the tutor is an instant. Once it resolves a single Brainstorm or Ponder brings it to hand for what absolutely must be found.
Beating Face with Bane
Beatrice, the Golden Witch
Imperial Seal is not #3. Its an ok tutor but it only floats its price tag due to availability. Its probably like 10-15th at best. Its a bad Vampiric Tutor.
Diabolic Tutor and Beseech the Queen should be near the end of the list. They are entirely too high.
Survival of the Fittest should probably be somewhere arround 5-10.
Grim Tutor is probably a bit high. I would probably shift it down to like 15 range. Its not so cheap that its actually that amazing. Its still solid but I dont think quite where you put it. As mana cost increases power decreases fairly quickly.
Weathered Wayfarer probably deserves to be in the 15-20 range.
Sylvan Tutor remove it or put it in dead last. Its absolutely terrible.
Eye of Ugin / Kuldotha Forgemaster these two dont deserve spots.
Goblin Matron / Imperial Recruiter should come on the list. Recruiter should probably be somewhere in the 10-20 range.
Survival of the Fittest should be probably in the top 5-10. Its usually considered the most broken tutor in green.
Stoneforge Mystic should probably be in the top 20.
Muddle the Mixture its good but I dont know if I would place it as high as you did. I would probably go for like 25ish spot.
Zur the Enchanter I would say doesn't even belong in this list. If he isnt the commander he really isnt that playable. If he is the commander then sure.... but I don't know if that's really the point of this list. As a singleton he is a lot weaker than you placed him.
Fabricate I feel like perhaps Tezzeret belongs this high but I have my doubts that Fabricate belongs as high as well.
Signature by Inkfox Aesthetics by Xen
[Modern] Allies
survival is also top 10 easily. and tooth and nail is way higher than 24, it's one of the brokenest legal cards.
EDH Primers
Phelddagrif - Zirilan
EDH
Thrasios+Bruse - Pang - Sasaya - Wydwen - Feather - Rona - Toshiro - Sylvia+Khorvath - Geth - QMarchesa - Firesong - Athreos - Arixmethes - Isperia - Etali - Silas+Sidar - Saskia - Virtus+Gorm - Kynaios - Naban - Aryel - Mizzix - Kazuul - Tymna+Kraum - Sidar+Tymna - Ayli - Gwendlyn - Phelddagrif 4 - Liliana - Kaervek - Phelddagrif 3 - Mairsil - Scarab - Child - Phenax - Shirei - Thada - Depala - Circu - Kytheon - GrenzoHR - Phelddagrif - Reyhan+Kraum - Toshiro - Varolz - Nin - Ojutai - Tasigur - Zedruu - Uril - Edric - Wort - Zurgo - Nahiri - Grenzo - Kozilek - Yisan - Ink-Treader - Yisan - Brago - Sidisi - Toshiro - Alexi - Sygg - Brimaz - Sek'Kuar - Marchesa - Vish Kal - Iroas - Phelddagrif - Ephara - Derevi - Glissa - Wanderer - Saffi - Melek - Xiahou Dun - Lazav - Lin Sivvi - Zirilan - Glissa
PDH - Drake - Graverobber - Izzet GM - Tallowisp - Symbiote Brawl - Feather - Ugin - Jace - Scarab - Angrath - Vraska - Kumena Oathbreaker - Wrenn&6
Also, tooth and nail should be higher. I mean, come on.
UBRThe MindrazerRBU
UUUSpymaster of TrestGGG
GGGThe South TreeGGG
RRRHuman AscendantRRR
I like this card a lot more than chord or green sun's, definitely.
UBRThe MindrazerRBU
UUUSpymaster of TrestGGG
GGGThe South TreeGGG
RRRHuman AscendantRRR
I completely agree with all of this and have updated accordingly!
Man, I don't know how I missed Intuition, I run it in every blue deck I make. Thanks for the reminder!
If it were just the mana cost and life loss I would agree, but the Instant speed makes a bigger impact in my opinion.
Sharuum | Damia | Hermit Druid
Also: Goblin Recruiter is now on the list twice. I'm guessing the first one should be Imperial Recruiter.
How do you decide the order on this stuff?
Wouldnt it be better to just use the statistical most used cards and list the top 50 that way?
http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=388001
Mimeoplasm Midrange, CHAINER CHAINER HIGH VOLTAGE
Rafiq of the Astral Slide, 67land.dec Child of Alara, Gisela <3 Sunforger
TRADE!?WUBRGMy Pauper Cube
Sek'Kuar, Deathkeeper, Phage the Uncastable, Azusa Lost but Stompy, Crosis Combo Breaker, All-In-Skullbriar, Rafiq/Jenara ETB army, Hazezon Swarm, Glissa Voltron!, Jarad Zombie Tribal, Zedruu Pillowfort, Reaper King Artifact Shenanagains
I honestly think intuition > mystical and enlightened. It wants a little build around, granted, but it's a triple tutor for 3 mana as an instant, and no card disadvantage either. I would also put survival and tooth and nail in the top 10 minimum, since they're also capable of winning the game single-handedly in the right deck.
EDH Primers
Phelddagrif - Zirilan
EDH
Thrasios+Bruse - Pang - Sasaya - Wydwen - Feather - Rona - Toshiro - Sylvia+Khorvath - Geth - QMarchesa - Firesong - Athreos - Arixmethes - Isperia - Etali - Silas+Sidar - Saskia - Virtus+Gorm - Kynaios - Naban - Aryel - Mizzix - Kazuul - Tymna+Kraum - Sidar+Tymna - Ayli - Gwendlyn - Phelddagrif 4 - Liliana - Kaervek - Phelddagrif 3 - Mairsil - Scarab - Child - Phenax - Shirei - Thada - Depala - Circu - Kytheon - GrenzoHR - Phelddagrif - Reyhan+Kraum - Toshiro - Varolz - Nin - Ojutai - Tasigur - Zedruu - Uril - Edric - Wort - Zurgo - Nahiri - Grenzo - Kozilek - Yisan - Ink-Treader - Yisan - Brago - Sidisi - Toshiro - Alexi - Sygg - Brimaz - Sek'Kuar - Marchesa - Vish Kal - Iroas - Phelddagrif - Ephara - Derevi - Glissa - Wanderer - Saffi - Melek - Xiahou Dun - Lazav - Lin Sivvi - Zirilan - Glissa
PDH - Drake - Graverobber - Izzet GM - Tallowisp - Symbiote Brawl - Feather - Ugin - Jace - Scarab - Angrath - Vraska - Kumena Oathbreaker - Wrenn&6
GUB [Retired Primer] The Mimeoplasm BUG
Modern: UR Storm RU
Cube: WUBRG Pauper Cube GRBUW
Credit for the banner goes to DarkNightCavalier at Heroes of the Plane Studios
I'd call Goblin Recruiter good, but not as generally as Imperial Recruiter. Its more limited use would put it closer to the bottom, and Imperial Recruiter higher up (in the teens?).
It's a good point... One of them allows you to stack your deck, but is only useful in a Goblin deck while the other gets a card to your hand. I think you're right though, Imperial Recruiter is less narrow. I would say that card is pretty similar to Trinket Mage so they should be on the same level.
Sharuum | Damia | Hermit Druid
The red tutors are amazing, because red isnt supposed to tutor.
However, Goblin Recruiter is so narrow in a format where goblins dont do anything other than kiki combo or find krenko if he gets tucked.. probably not in the top 50, def not the top 15.
Its hard to make a list for this stuff when each color tutors so differently. Moreover you have cards vying for top spots when they are "best" because of efficiency OR power. The top tier should consist of the cards that are most efficient and powerful followed by the rest that accel at one thing or another.
Mimeoplasm Midrange, CHAINER CHAINER HIGH VOLTAGE
Rafiq of the Astral Slide, 67land.dec Child of Alara, Gisela <3 Sunforger
TRADE!?WUBRGMy Pauper Cube
Sek'Kuar, Deathkeeper, Phage the Uncastable, Azusa Lost but Stompy, Crosis Combo Breaker, All-In-Skullbriar, Rafiq/Jenara ETB army, Hazezon Swarm, Glissa Voltron!, Jarad Zombie Tribal, Zedruu Pillowfort, Reaper King Artifact Shenanagains
I'm going to disagree. Well, those tutors you listed are definitely good, but worldly tutor costs 1. It is essentially a Vampiric Tutor in any deck running green with value creatures.
@the OP:
How in the world is Cruel Tutor higher than ANY of the following?? That card is just awful:
These tutors should be top 30 at least, they are way too low on your list. Especially natural order and birthing pod. Tutors that spit things onto the field are sooo valuable, even if they cost a creature sac. They are way better than things like Summoner's Pact and Reap and Sow.
Also you have Imperial Recruiter on the list thrice.
Username: Cabz
It depends on where. Many mono-red lists will want Goblin Recruiter because many of the best creatures in red just happen to be goblins. It's a wider tutor than you think - Goblin Welder, Stingscourger, Siege-Gang Commander/Mogg War Marshal/etc. (token producers), and of course Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker. I'd probably put it in the top 50, but only barely. Late 40's. The fact it can tutor whole combos is just a boon.
Yeah, I don't know what I was thinking, Cruel Tutor is barely playable. Also I moved Worldly Tutor up a bit but I think it should be higher still. I'm brainstorming about where it belongs...
I agree with this to an extent. I think Natural Order is pretty slim in that it only gets green creatures but the same can be said about Summoner's Pact. You're absolutely right about the fact that putting things into play is really undervauled. I'll update to reflect this.
Sharuum | Damia | Hermit Druid
Edit: Also you might as well include Prime Time in your banned list as he is a beast obviously. Primeval Titan
You raise a good question, and I think it doesn't have to be ETB, it can be activated abilities. However, I think the card should be able to work independent of other cards, so since Academy Rector requires a sac outlet or combat damage to be killed, I won't be putting it on the list.
I forgot about Prime Time, thanks!
Sharuum | Damia | Hermit Druid
Making the call XD. But the card I'm most upset I don't see is DoomsDay
Damia http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=410191
DDFT Legacyhttp://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=505247
Domain Zoo http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?p=10212429#post10212429
I have to disagree with this. Rector's "condition" is so easily fulfilled as to be laughable. It's incredibly powerful and if you're running white with any power enchantments it should be an autoinclude. I'd say around the 20 spot in terms of the list. It's at least 10x more powerful than cruel tutor say, or demonic collusion.
Edit: Also Natural Order and Transmute Artifact both require another card(a green creature and an artifact respectively), so that "independent of other cards" clause is already kinda broken.