Not every Magic card is an instant winner.  When we open boosters, many get pushed aside quickly to see if we scored a Damnation or something equally flashy.  The remainder of these cards get filed, or dumped away in some unholy storage ground for the un-playable and un-sellable.  Now and again it is good to look through those old cards to see if maybe we missed something.  Some cards need another opportunity to show us their true value.  Here are some examples of good cards that may need a second, or third look before tossing in a deck.

this could be gold!

Canker Abomination is one of the better four mana creatures in Standard.  Submarined by it’s contemporary Hatchlings, Canker sees little play in my game world.  After taking time to assess this nasty I have no idea why that is.  The most important trick here is letting Canker be all it can be, meaning avoiding those ugly -1/-1 counters.  Green allows me to play it before my opponent can drop any creatures, while black can take care of them before Canker hits the board.  If there is no avoiding the negative counters, then they can be used to my advantage with cards like Quillspike.  Llanowar mana acceleration into a turn two Quillspike will have me attacking with two serious fatties on my fourth turn.

that little speck is your opponent

Speaking of fatties, they don’t get much fatter than Cosmic Larva.  A forgotten card from Fifth Dawn, a forgettable expansion, Cosmic Larva is a game changing if not exactly versatile card.  Perhaps the most bang for your buck in the history of Red creatures.  However, there is that little land sacrificing issue I need to get around.  Giving it haste will give me all the benefit of a 7/6 trampler before I have any land risking decisions to make.  Luckily endowing creatures with haste has never been easier.  Crimson Wisps does the job without losing card advantage and Sootstoke Kindler’s ability can be recycled.  Here the optimal combo involves another elemental shaman.  The Inner-Flame Acolyte.  Evoking the Acolyte gives me a nine damage sledge-hammer at a bargain basement price.  If I can squeeze Double Cleave into the mix it’s lights out.

Of course not every buried treasure is a creature card.  Some of these bargains simply make your creatures better.  Obsidian Battle Axe is a perfect example.  This is a specialized card to be sure, and probably not worth adding unless you’re playing a heavy dose of warrior cards.  How serendipitous then, that WotC makes this creature class easy to come by.  Getting the Axe out as early as possible is the first concern, after that my only goal is to fire buffed goons at my enemy until he folds.  A black/red mix should provide ample ammunition.   Using Scuzzback Marauders and Goblin Deathraiders with OBA gives me trample for maximum damage.  Also, my Axe gives unearthed cards like Viscera Dragger some added kick.  Any Brighthearth Bannerets will speed up the deck while adding to the theme.  A perfect spare-parts deck ready to compete with the grown-ups.

never bury the hatchet. . . er, axe

Necrogenesis is the last of my second chance cards in this series.  It is also one of the more complicated to use.  At it’s most powerful Necro is both a chump-blocker token factory and a reanimation monkey wrench.  The perfect anti-Reveillark/Demigod of Revenge card that works equally well against any recovery deck.  Removal is the first key to this card, and black is the master of sending creatures to the graveyard.  For a psuedo-machine gun effect I can use Deathspore Thallid to fuel Necro, providing me fresh saprolings to sacrifice in turn.  Green can turn my unassuming tokens into a formidable army.  Not to mention, with such a glut of blockers my more offensive creatures can attack with impunity.

Often I am so locked in on getting that perfect card for some deck, I ignore a good fit for another.   That is why I like to comb my collection every few months looking for these under-appreciated dynamos.  MTG collections are the muse that inspires us to tinker and create.  That inspiration is wasted sitting there in that currogated prison.  So don’t be afraid to take a second look, you’ll be glad you did.

Like this article? Try these:

1. Back in Black – Adventures in MTGO
2. Spell Timing and Phase Management
3. Adding Removal
4. Spike’s Corner: A Worldwake Deck Idea
5. Best Practice – A Healer’s Guide