I love this game. I love writing about it. Compiling lists about it. Evaluating it. Sometimes, I even play it. I'm an Accidental Player.
The Tolarian Academy of Arcane Arts and Pictures presents: THE TOPDECK AWARDS!
The best way to celebrate 20 long years of this silly game, by rewarding all those beloved cards that, at one point or another, starred in our personal tragicomedies and psychodramas.
Today's category: Outstanding ETB Creature, CMC 4. An ETB creature is strictly defined as any creature whose rule text includes the sentence "When [creature's name] enters the battlefield", and which generates an effect that doesn't require additional costs. CMC 4 is the point when ETB effects on creatures start doing really powerful things. The nominations are divided into sub-categories and accompanied by a brief profile of the nominees, which are listed alphabetically. Winners will be published with the announcement of the next category. Last month's winners are here.
And the voting duty, ladies and gentlemen, is all yours.
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Category A: Outstanding Mono-White ETB Creature, CMC 4
The nominees are:
1. 
- Name: Angel of Finality
- Rarity: Rare
- Birthdate: November 2013
- Birthplace: Commander 2013
- Reason for Nomination: Because one-sided graveyard aggression is important.
2. 
- Name: Azorius Justiciar
- Rarity: Uncommon
- Birthdate: October 2012
- Birthplace: Return to Ravnica
- Reason for Nomination: Because it's twice of a bad cop.
3. 
- Name: Dust Elemental
- Rarity: Rare
- Birthdate: February 2007
- Birthplace: Planar Chaos
- Reason for Nomination: Because it requires some planning to be amazing.
4. 
- Name: Kor Cartographer
- Rarity: Common
- Birthdate: October 2009
- Birthplace: Zendikar
- Reason for Nomination: Because this effect is pretty unique in white.
5. 
- Name: Ranger of Eos
- Rarity: Rare
- Birthdate: October 2008
- Birthplace: Shards of Alara
- Reason for Nomination: Because he single-handedly enables entire decks' strategies.
6. 
- Name: Restoration Angel
- Rarity: Rare
- Birthdate: May 2012
- Birthplace: Avacyn Restored
- Reason for Nomination: Because she's here to win this whole thing.
7. 
- Name: Stonehorn Dignitary
- Rarity: Common
- Birthdate: July 2011
- Birthplace: Magic 2012
- Reason for Nomination: Because with a little help, he can locks his enemies out of their combat phases.
> GO TO THE BALLOTS <
Category B: Outstanding Mono-Blue ETB Creature, CMC 4
The nominees are:
1. 
- Name: Archaeomancer
- Rarity: Common
- Birthdate: July 2012
- Birthplace: Magic 2013
- Reason for Nomination: Because would you believe it never existed before?
2. 
- Name: Dungeon Geists
- Rarity: Rare
- Birthdate: February 2012
- Birthplace: Dark Ascension
- Reason for Nomination: Because it's a flying Claustrophobia.
3. 
- Name: Faerie Mechanist
- Rarity: Common
- Birthdate: February 2009
- Birthplace: Conflux
- Reason for Nomination: Because in the right deck, it's the glue.
4. 
- Name: Master of Waves
- Rarity: Mythic Rare
- Birthdate: September 2013
- Birthplace: Theros
- Reason for Nomination: Because he made blue devotion a thing.
5. 
- Name: Mistbind Clique
- Rarity: Rare
- Birthdate: October 2007
- Birthplace: Lorwyn
- Reason for Nomination: Because it makes for a nasty upkeep surprise.
6. 
- Name: Sower of Temptation
- Rarity: Rare
- Birthdate: October 2007
- Birthplace: Lorwyn
- Reason for Nomination: Because Control Magic doesn't give you an additional flyer.
7. 
- Name: Venser, Shaper Savant
- Rarity: Rare
- Birthdate: May 2007
- Birthplace: Future Sight
- Reason for Nomination: Because there's nothing he can't delay.
> GO TO THE BALLOTS <
Category C: Outstanding Mono-Black ETB Creature, CMC 4
The nominees are:
1. 
- Name: Crypt Champion
- Rarity: Uncommon
- Birthdate: May 2006
- Birthplace: Dissension
- Reason for Nomination: Because it's so very "can you find the combo?"
2. 
3. 
- Name: Entomber Exarch
- Rarity: Uncommon
- Birthdate: May 2011
- Birthplace: New Phyrexia
- Reason for Nomination: Because both its modes are worth pay 4 mana for. And it made good ol' Gravedigger obsolete.
4. 
- Name: Faceless Butcher
- Rarity: Common
- Birthdate: February 2002
- Birthplace: Torment
- Reason for Nomination: Because as far as the Nightmare mechanic goes, this one's pretty solid.
5. 
- Name: Liliana's Shade
- Rarity: Common
- Birthdate: July 2012
- Birthplace: Magic 2013
- Reason for Nomination: Because it's ramping, fixing and finisher in one neat little package.
6. 
- Name: Nekrataal
- Rarity: Uncommon
- Birthdate: February 1997
- Birthplace: Visions
- Reason for Nomination: Because he's still the best at what he does.
7. 
- Name: Skinrender
- Rarity: Uncommon
- Birthdate: October 2010
- Birthplace: Scars of Mirrodin
- Reason for Nomination: Because it kills the things Nekrataal can't touch.
> GO TO THE BALLOTS <
Category D: Outstanding Mono-Red ETB Creature, CMC 4
The nominees are:
1. 
- Name: Avalanche Riders
- Rarity: Uncommon
- Birthdate: February 1999
- Birthplace: Urza's Legacy
- Reason for Nomination: Because it's easy-to-fetch, easy-to-abuse, non-conditional land destruction. And it also immediately swings for 2.
2. 
- Name: Fanatic of Mogis
- Rarity: Uncommon
- Birthdate: September 2013
- Birthplace: Theros
- Reason for Nomination: Because it makes all those red symbols hurt. Again.
3. 
- Name: Flametongue Kavu
- Rarity: Uncommon
- Birthdate: February 2001
- Birthplace: Planeshift
- Reason for Nomination: Because it's one of the most reliable, most experienced killers in the business.
4. 
- Name: Goblin Ringleader
- Rarity: Uncommon
- Birthdate: June 2001
- Birthplace: Apocalypse
- Reason for Nomination: Because it's the Goblins' refiller.
5. 
- Name: Keldon Champion
- Rarity: Uncommon
- Birthdate: June 1999
- Birthplace: Urza's Destiny
- Reason for Nomination: Because it's a concentrate of damage.
6. 
- Name: Lightning Crafter
- Rarity: Rare
- Birthdate: February 2008
- Birthplace: Morningtide
- Reason for Nomination: Because it's Kiki-Jiki's favorite double-act partner.
7. 
- Name: Volcano Hellion
- Rarity: Rare
- Birthdate: February 2007
- Birthplace: Planar Chaos
- Reason for Nomination: Because it's just delightfully weird.
> GO TO THE BALLOTS <
Category E: Outstanding Mono-Green ETB Creature, CMC 4
The nominees are:
1. 
- Name: Cytoplast Root-Kin
- Rarity: Rare
- Birthdate: May 2006
- Birthplace: Dissension
- Reason for Nomination: Because its range of action extends more and more at each new set.
2. 
- Name: Kozilek's Predator
- Rarity: Common
- Birthdate: April 2010
- Birthplace: Rise of the Eldrazi
- Reason for Nomination: Because three-for-one is a pretty nice deal, especially when there's free mana involved.
3. 
- Name: Masked Admirers
- Rarity: Rare
- Birthdate: October 2007
- Birthplace: Lorwyn
- Reason for Nomination: Because the best card-drawing ETB is one that you can repeat later.
4. 
- Name: Obstinate Baloth
- Rarity: Rare
- Birthdate: July 2010
- Birthplace: Magic 2011
- Reason for Nomination: Because it's still the most effective way to fight both burn and discard. And a pretty good beater, too.
5. 
- Name: Patagia Viper
- Rarity: Uncommon
- Birthdate: May 2006
- Birthplace: Dissension
- Reason for Nomination: Because flying snakes are so very Simic.
6. 
- Name: Sylvan Messenger
- Rarity: Uncommon
- Birthdate: June 2001
- Birthplace: Apocalypse
- Reason for Nomination: Because it's the Ringleader's pointy-eared counterpart.
7. 
- Name: Timbermare
- Rarity: Rare
- Birthdate: February 2007
- Birthplace: Planar Chaos
- Reason for Nomination: Because it's a Thundermare that does its trick two turns earlier.
> GO TO THE BALLOTS <
Category F: Outstanding Colorless/Multicolored ETB Creature, CMC 4
The nominees are:
1. 
- Name: Solemn Simulacrum
- Rarity: Rare
- Birthdate: October 2003
- Birthplace: Mirrodin
- Reason for Nomination: Because it's the sad robot! (And the only colorless nominee).
2. 
- Name: Flame-Kin Zealot
- Rarity: Uncommon
- Birthdate: October 2005
- Birthplace: Ravnica: City of Guilds
- Reason for Nomination: Because it's one of the haste-enablers of choice in endgame combos. Ask Protean Hulk.
3. 
- Name: Ghost Council of Orzhova
- Rarity: Rare
- Birthdate: February 2006
- Birthplace: Guildpact
- Reason for Nomination: Because it might not be Obzedat, but it's still cheaper to cast. And provides a sacrifice outlet.
4. 
- Name: Huntmaster of the Fells
- Rarity: Mythic Rare
- Birthdate: February 2012
- Birthplace: Dark Ascension
- Reason for Nomination: Because it's two ETB creatures in one!
5. 
- Name: Loxodon Hierarch
- Rarity: Rare
- Birthdate: October 2005
- Birthplace: Ravnica: City of Guilds
- Reason for Nomination: Because it had a long and glorious career, before Obstinate Baloth was printed.
6. 
- Name: Murderous Redcap
- Rarity: Uncommon
- Birthdate: May 2008
- Birthplace: Shadowmoor
- Reason for Nomination: Because there's a good chance it won't enter the battlefield just once. Or twice.
7. 
- Name: Mystic Snake
- Rarity: Rare
- Birthdate: June 2001
- Birthplace: Apocalypse
- Reason for Nomination: Because it's one of the best counterspells ever designed.
Time to cast your vote!
You can first review specific profiles here: White, Blue, Black, Red, Green, Colorless/Multicolored
And the winners are...!
Outstanding Blue Fast Drawing: Gush!
Runner-up: Compulsive Research
Outstanding Blue Midrange Drawing: Deep Analysis!
Runner-up: Tezzeret's Gambit
Outstanding Blue Big Drawing: Blue Sun's Zenith!
Runner-up: Stroke of Genius
Outstanding Blue Conditional Drawing: Rush of Knowledge!
Runner-ups: Distant Melody, Recurring Insight
Outstanding Black Drawing: Sign in Blood!
Runner-up: Promise of Power
Outstanding Green Drawing: Harmonize!
Runner-up: Momentous Fall
Outstanding Multicolored Drawing: Urban Evolution
Runner-up: Blast of Genius
Most Voted Card: Deep Analysis!
Runner-up: Harmonize
CONGRATULATIONS!
Check the complete statistics
3 Comments
Tx- I Love these thing, especially because it offen reinvent
forgotten treasures :-) still I miss a not forgotten one: vendilion clique?
VC is CMC 3.
Oh man, better let go of drinks...sy, for that unqulified note.