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When we talk about multi-player, we are generally referring to casual games between friends, where budgets are low, grudges live forever, and it's almost as fun to be killed in a new and interesting way as it is to win. So what do we look for in a multi-player card? We'll start with the obvious: sweeping effects. Cards that mean business. Cards that target all opponents as opposed to just one. Follow that up with cards whose effects can draw power from multiple game zones. Something like Reanimate will always be better in multi-player than Zombify. Mana cost isn't really a problem in multi-player, as most games last long enough to support high cost spells. In fact, some of your higher cost spells that have no place in the Standard card pool find welcome and fruitful homes in multi-player games. I'll start with my honorable mentions, so you can see what I mean.
Not only does it let you lock down the opponent of your choice, but you can steal spells from that player in the meantime. This is an ideal multi-player card, along the lines of Sisters of the Stone Death. Its only a 3/3 for five mana, but you can combo this with any number of lockdown strategies and really piss off your opponents. Its only downfall is that, after the initial win or two, this card may just become frowned upon in your playgroup. "Aw, dude, you're playing that? I concede."
Some may think this one needs to be in the top ten, but for me it's just an honorable mention. It has potential to wipe the board of tokens or perhaps a planeswalker, but more often than not I'll be running Putrefy in these colors.
The combo potential is too good to pass up. I imagine this guy to become a staple one-of in artifact theme decks.
One of the best ways to gain advantage in multi-player is with an extra turn. Too often we tap out to kill one player, only to expose ourselves to an attack from someone else. The opportunity for an extra turn can put you over the hump. March of the Machines and Grave Pact may help you out here, but those of you who play artifacts can probably figure this one out without too much help.
Yeah, this guy's going to be a good reanimator target. Pair him with Diabolic Edicts, Grave Pact, etc. There is no need to pay mana costs at the kitchen table, and I doubt anyone will pay this one.
This one's going to translate into some quick wins. Multi-player games have the potential to drag on long enough for everyone to do something spectacular. This alt-win card will be abused. The downside: Like the Sen Triplets, this card may move to the casual banned list rather quickly.
10. Breath of Malfegor
Breath of Malfegor is a quintessential multiplayer card. It deals damage to all of your opponents at once. Five damage for five mana isn't bad, but in a multi-player game, you are more than likely dealing upwards of fifteen and twenty. In the common slot, this one is sure to find its way to the kitchen table in sets of three. 9. Uril, the Miststalker
Yes, it's a Gatherer of Graces with built in shroud. Oh yeah, but he's a 5/5. Retether loves this guy. This guy's going to be one of the hugest creatures you'll ever see hit the table. Hands down. 8. Soulquake
Have you met my friend, Megrim? Yeah, this one's going to be pissing people off in many languages. 7. Dragon Broodmother
First, even though its efficiently costed, most dragon decks will sneak this card into play. When you're faced with the decision of killing this or your buddy's Rimescale Dragon, it's going to be a tough decision (well, not really). This will be a card that must be dealt with. Anything that makes tokens can be fun in multi-player, and this one makes tokens with devour. Not only can your tokens devour each other, but they can chew up all those little other tokens you're making. It's mythic, so don't expect to see many of these, but if you pull it, play with it or trade it to a friend who will use it. This one definitely shouldn't be collecting dust in your binder.
Not necessarily a powerhouse in itself, but this card is going to benefit all of those single creature strategy decks. It's a bit cost intensive, but it reminds me of Concerted Effort. It's going to take exalted decks to the next level. 5. Etherwrought Page
At first, I completely overlooked this card. Alaster Eisaroh pointed it out, and my jaw just dropped. To me it means one thing, but the wonderful thing about this card is its options. Oh, what's that one thing? It's a casual dredge card. Big time. In a lot of casual decks built with dredge, the biggest problem is dredging to the yard cards you want to draw. With Etherwrought Page, you have the option of seeing that draw before your draw step. If it's Golgari Grave-Troll, put it in the yard and dredge away. If it's Bloodbond March, leave it where it is. Any type of draw engine set outside your draw step makes this card a serious helper and allows you to take dredge someplace other than to the now-overused Bridge From Below combo. The life gain and life loss are just options for icing on the cake. Good call, AE!
Lifelinked zombies? Why not? I see this card sliding in as a one-of in many reanimation decks, ala Debtor's Knell. The lifelink just adds to the excitement. 3. Blitz Hellion
Getting a creature out of your library and into play is a relatively simple task in multi-player. I think you'd rarely be paying the mana cost for this creature, and even if you did, it's not all that bad. A recurring 7/7 trampler is nothing to scoff at, and in multi-player you will almost always be guaranteed to get him through if you target the player with the weakest board.
This one's just ri-freakin-diculous! Not creature cards, not all cards in your graveyard or target opponent's graveyard; all cards in all graveyards. Let's get this guy some trample.
This has to be number one. This card brings the mechanic to any card you want. The combos are endless, as you are going to be into all five colors to play this. Rumor has it that the cascade mechanic is the bomb in Limited, but this card makes it universal, and for that it grabs the top spot. The beauty is that you can build a "cascade" deck without a single card (other than this one) from Alara Reborn. Thank you, Wizards.
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Spotlights from 2009: |
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Welcome
ladies and gents! It's First Impressions week for Alara Reborn, and what a week
it's going to be. Wizards of the Coast has decided to satiate our multicolor
hunger with an all gold set. Who would've thought? The introduction of the
cascade mechanic and the inclusion of hybrid multicolored gold cards are just
two of the multi-player highlights in this set. I have been charged with
choosing the FI Top Ten Multi-player card list and I have to say it was
difficult to whittle down to size. For those of you who know the sandwich, you
understand that the MFFA (Multi-player Free For All) is what it's all about for
this lunchmeat. Though I have spent some time dabbling in Standard and enjoy the
limited formats now and again, the staple of my Magic diet is sitting around the
kitchen table trying to kill multiple mages all at the same time (or at least in
successive order). 
Odds
are that someone won't be playing creature spells and/or someone else will be
preventing them. This enchantment can give you some serious Overrun potential.
It's too small of a nuisance to waste removal on, but it will pay off big when
ignored.
6.
Finest Hour
4.
Necromancer's Covenant
2.
Lord of Extinction
1.
Maelstrom Nexus
So
there you have it. Sandwich's top ten and a few honorable mentions to boot. I
have to say, this was one of the more difficult FI articles I have worked on. I
like this set quite a bit, and with its all gold theme and array of allied and
enemy colors, it's multi-player potential is astounding. Sound off in the forums
and let me know what you think. Also, don't forget to visit our combo