Over the course of 2025, a boatload of new MTG powerhouses were printed that shook up nearly every format. Most sets brought at least one multi-format staple to the table, and some cards even proved to be banworthy right out of the gates.
As we reflect on all the ways MTG evolved over the last year, it’s only right that we highlight the cards that did the most to define 2025. Notably, for diversity’s sake, we’ll specifically be focusing on new printings rather than potent reprints. With the new year right around the corner, here are the best new MTG cards of 2025.
#5 | Stock Up
After the release of Aetherdrift, it didn’t take long for players to quickly realize just how incredible Stock Up was on rate. Much like Dig Through Time, part of what makes Stock Up so strong is that it lets you look at so many cards. In this case, you don’t even have to go through the effort of fueling your graveyard.
With this in mind, Stock Up has a lot more appeal than most traditional card advantage spells that commonly show up in control shells. This sorcery’s ability to churn through your library makes it a premium inclusion in blue combo decks across most Constructed formats. From Simic Omniscience in Standard to Bant Scapeshift in Pioneer, Stock Up plays a crucial role in digging for missing pieces of the puzzle.
The card even shows up consistently in Eternal formats, making a splash in Legacy Show and Tell and Vintage Paradoxical Outcome shells. Thanks to the power of Ancient Tomb or various Moxen, it’s trivial to cast Stock Up ahead of schedule and set up an elite follow-up turn. Don’t let the uncommon rarity fool you; Stock Up is a bonafide MTG all-star that should continue to showcase its value for the foreseeable future.
#4 | Quantum Riddler
During Edge of Eternities spoiler season, Quantum Riddler didn’t receive quite as much hype as some other powerhouses in 2025. Yet, the card quickly revolutionized the Modern landscape.
Thanks to its efficient Warp ability, players have the luxury of cheating the card into play, then blinking it out with cards like Phelia, Exuberant Shepherd. Not only will you get to draw extra cards in the exchange, but you also get to keep your beefy flier long term. Both Jeskai and Esper Blink decks make up a pillar of the Modern format, and they don’t look like they’re going anywhere at the moment.
Even beyond its abusable Warp ability, however, Quantum Riddler has plenty of value just as a big card advantage machine in Standard. It’s an excellent grindy tool for Izzet decks of all shapes and sizes. Players may not be able to pair it with Proft’s Eidetic Memory anymore, but that hasn’t prevented it from being a core element of Izzet Looting. Expect Quantum Riddler to maintain its level of dominance moving into 2026.
#3 | Badgermole Cub
The newest card of the bunch, Badgermole Cub, has taken the Magic world by storm. Its versatility makes it a premium inclusion in green decks of different themes across a multitude of formats. It demands an answer right away, otherwise you risk falling super far behind in short order.
In current Standard, Cub perfectly sets up Ouroboroid decks by both accelerating you towards the potent four-drop and helping you go wide. Its value as a ramp element makes it a natural fit for Mono-Green Devotion decks in Pioneer, which have seen a bit of a resurgence since the release of MTG Avatar.
Thanks to creating multiple bodies while improving efficiency, Badgermole Cub also plays a large role in both Yawgmoth and Legacy Cradle decks. Between all of these uses, it’s clear that Badgermole Cub is one of the best green cards printed in some time.
#2 | Cori-Steel Cutter
The moment Cori-Steel Cutter was previewed, there was plenty of speculation among players that the card would be good. After all, the card is not only hard to deal with, but it also threatens to take over the game by itself. Plus, even if your opponent has an answer, it doesn’t take much to set up a window where you create a token before your opponent can mess with the equipment.
Even with all of these factors going in Cutter’s favor, the card still managed to exceed expectations. Prowess decks in Standard, Pioneer, and Modern all grew in popularity substantially, as they now had an elite option that excels versus single-target removal. The existence of strong free spells like Mishra’s Bauble only makes the card more reliable in Modern and Legacy, too. Cutter certainly deserved its ban in Standard, and it looked like it had the potential to be the best card of the year up until MTG Final Fantasy rolled along.
#1 | Vivi Ornitier
Of all the broken designs printed in 2025, none were more infuriating than Vivi Ornitier. Even though Vivi doesn’t actually see a ton of Constructed play now that it’s banned in Standard, the damage it did while it was legal was outrageous.
At first, the card appeared to be just a simple upgrade to Izzet Prowess. After that deck’s dominance at Pro Tour Final Fantasy prompted bans to Cutter and Monstrous Rage, players almost immediately turned towards the new hotness: Izzet Cauldron. As it turns out, being able to exile Vivi with Agatha’s Soul Cauldron gave Izzet a completely new combo-centric identity.
Izzet Cauldron would go on to completely dominate nearly every tournament for over three more months before Vivi finally ate a ban. Its long reign gave rise to tons of complaints among the players, ultimately prompting Wizards to change their ban philosophy moving forward.
At this point, the card makes its biggest mark in cEDH, though it’s far from problematic in that environment. Regardless, no other card in 2025 was more riddled with controversy and completely ruined a format quite like Vivi, so it’s only fair that the card earns the title of best new card of 2025.
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