While it’s been part of Magic for longer than most realize, the Mutant creature type is really starting to come into its own now. Thanks to Universes Beyond, and sets like Fallout and TMNT in particular, we’re starting to see a lot more Mutants being printed. Some of them are serious powerhouses, too, with applications in all manner of formats. For our money, these are the very best Mutants in MTG right now.
5 | Irma, Part-Time Mutant
Despite the sheer number of cards dedicated to the core Turtles in MTG TMNT, the best Mutants in the set actually come from other characters. Irma, Part-Time Mutant is a great example, offering one of the best, most flexible Clone effects we’ve ever seen.
While Irma’s combat-triggered cloning ability doesn’t work with enters triggers, it does let you benefit from attack triggers and abilities. Irma keeps its own name post-transformation as well, which means it can copy Commanders without fear, just like Spark Double.
Though Irma is definitely restrictive, being able to clone something new every turn is a big plus. It essentially gives new creatures you drop Haste, while doubling up on key abilities. Irma even creates infinite combat phases with Akki Battle Squad, provided you’re running Izzet colors.
4 | Rampaging Yao Gui
Fallout was the first time we got a real influx of Mutants in MTG, and Rampaging Yao Gui was undoubtedly the best of the bunch. This is one of the best mass destruction spells for artifacts and enchantments we’ve ever seen, and it comes on a reasonable body, to boot.
Even if you cast Rampaging Yao Gui for just three mana, you can take out as many artifact and enchantment tokens as you want. This lets you sweep all opposing Treasures, Foods, and Clues off the table, as well as artifact lands like Seat of the Synod. This utility persists as you pump more mana in, but you also get to take out actual cards as well, like Sol Ring and Rhystic Study.
With how crucial artifacts and enchantments are to the game plans of many Commander decks, an efficient answer like this is invaluable. It’s also trivial to hit that triple green cost these days, between mana dorks like Llanowar Elves and Badgermole Cub.
3 | Sliver Overlord
Sliver is one of the most enduringly popular creature types in Magic history, and Sliver Overlord is one of its very best Commanders. It’s also, it turns out, a Mutant; one of the earliest the game ever seen, in fact.
The card’s two abilities are brilliant Sliver support, too, giving you a huge range of options for just three mana. Tutoring up any Sliver on demand is massive in Commander, capable of finding the perfect answer on a whim. Whether you want to grab Manaweft Sliver for ramp, Harmonic Sliver to sweep up problem permanents, or Cloudshredder Sliver to combo off, it’s got you covered.
The Sliver Control Magic effect here is more niche, but it can have applications if built around. With cards like Amoeboid Changeling and Imagecrafter, you can turn opposing creatures into Slivers. This gives you an easy way to steal any creature on the cheap, even other Commanders. Throw all of this in with a reasonable body, and it’s easy to see why Sliver Overlord remains one of the top Sliver Commanders to this day.
2 | Super Shredder
It’s always a shame to see evil come out on top, but that’s exactly what happened in TMNT, with Super Shredder being one of the clear best cards in the set. Much like Moonshadow, this is a cheap, evasive creature that easily scales up into a real threat. Since it triggers when any permanent leaves play it’s incredibly flexible, letting you gain extra value from combat and Fetchlands as well as sacrifice loops.
This easy scalability makes Super Shredder an easy addition to many different Commander decks. It’s particularly good in lists like Ziatora, the Incinerator, which can Fling Shredder once it’s built up. It’s even proven capable of heading up decks itself, claiming some impressive early results in Duel Commander.
Beyond Commander, Super Shredder is also building up momentum in constructed Magic already. The card is seeing testing in a wide range of archetypes, from Dimir Midrange in Standard to Death’s Shadow in Modern. Whether it catches on or not remains to be seen, but these early forays alone are testament to its format-spanning power.
1 | Deadpool, Trading Card
Of all the mechanically-unique cards released through Secret Lair, Deadpool, Trading Card may be the most egregious. This is a genuinely game-changing card, bringing with it an effect never seen before in black-bordered Magic. On top of that it’s incredibly powerful, to boot, serving as a full-on staple in Rakdos decks in Duel Commander.
Because of Deadpool’s unique wording, it serves as a way to rob any creature of its text box, even one with Hexproof or Shroud. This lets you deal with problematic asymmetrical effects and activated abilities alike. The change persists even if Deadpool dies, too, so you can copy it with cards like Twinflame to neuter multiple threats on the cheap.
This ability is incredibly powerful because it’s essentially a two-for-one, lumbering your opponent with a liability while you gain an advantage. Even with the deep removal suites red and black have access to, this is still one of their best options for that reason. Considering how widely-played it is, this is one Mutant we’re really hoping to see reprinted in Marvel Super Heroes.
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