Effect-o-pedia
Core Set 2021
Limited formats will generally involve the same common gameplay effects which show up again and again. Use this guide to find out what common effects are in - and not in! - this format.
Board Wipes Bounce Counterspells Discard Disenchant Falter Fog Haste Life Gain Mana Fixing Mana Ramp Mass Pump Ping Mill Mind Control Threaten
Core Set 2021 Mechanics/Themes
Board Wipes
Effects that can kill all creatures on the battlefield.
No true board wipes are in Core Set 2021 outside of Ugin - an 8-drop Mythic Rare.
Besides Ugin, these board wipes all destroy based on toughness - either 1 or 2.
Bounce
Effects that return cards to their owners hand.
Tempo is a huge decider for M21 games, so bounce is a valuable effect.
Counterspells
Effects that can counter your spells.
Counterspells in M21 are somewhat rare. Watch out for Lofty Denial!
Discard
Effects that can force you discard cards from your hand.
Bad Deal is a bad deal. Mind Rot is present in the format, but it is not a good strategy due to the aggressive nature of M21.
Disenchant
Effects that destroy artifacts or enchantments.
There are several free ways to destroy artifact and enchantments, so beware.
Falter
Effects that make it so multiple creatures temporarily cannot block.
Despite M21's aggressive nature, there are no real falter effects. Destructive Tampering is usually not worth a maindeck slot.
Fog
Effects that prevent combat damage for multiple or all creatures.
No cards in this format have this effect!
Haste
Effects that can grant haste to creatures, or creatures that have haste.
Despite being an aggressive format, most creatures do not have haste.
Life Gain
Gaining life!
Anointed Chorister
Aven Gagglemaster
Baneslayer Angel
Basri's Acolyte
Faith's Fetters
Mangara, the Diplomat
Revitalize
Speaker of the Heavens
Alchemist's Gift
Archfiend's Vessel
Blood Glutton
Gloom Sower
Sanctum of Stone Fangs
Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose
Witch's Cauldron
Canopy Stalker
Life Goes On
Sporeweb Weaver
Trufflesnout
Conclave Mentor
Indulging Patrician
Mazemind Tome
Life gain is a theme of Orzhov, so there are quite a few effects.
Mana Fixing
Effects that fix for colors.
Cultivate
Sanctum of Fruitful Harvest
Chromatic Orrery
Meteorite
Prismite
Solemn Simulacrum
Bloodfell Caves
Blossoming Sands
Dismal Backwater
Fabled Passage
Jungle Hollow
Rugged Highlands
Scoured Barrens
Swiftwater Cliffs
Temple of Epiphany
Temple of Malady
Temple of Mystery
Temple of Silence
Temple of Triumph
Thornwood Falls
Tranquil Cove
Wind-Scarred Crag
Fixing is possible in M21, but the format is fairly aggressive.
All ten gain dual lands sometimes replace a basic land in packs.
Mana Ramp
Effects that ramp mana.
Ramp is usually not a common strategy in M21, which is fairly aggressive.
Llanowar Visionary is a top pick on its own.
Mass Pump
Effects that pump all of a player's creatures.
There is no overrun type effect in M21.
While mass pump is not supported, there is a +1/+1 counter theme and a Prowess theme - so watch out!
Ping
Effects that can kill creatures with 1 toughness.
There are a couple - but not many - free ping effects, so watch out for your X/1 creatures. Skeleton Archer is quite playable maindecks!
Mill
Effects that can mill your opponent's deck.
Even though Teferi's Tutelage is the only true mill card, it is an engine all on its own... beware!
Mind Control
Effects that steal your permanents, permanently.
Enthralling Hold can be a blowout - watch out!
Threaten
Effects that steal your creatures temporarily and grant them haste.
Most formats have this effect at common, but M21 only has one at uncommon.
Core Set 2021 Mechanics/Themes
Theme: 4+ Power
4+ Power Payoffs
4+ power creatures has some synergistic payoffs in Red-Green.
Theme: Card Draw
Card Draw Payoffs
Teferi's Ageless Insight
Teferi's Tutelage
Tolarian Kraken
Tome Anima
Burlfist Oak
Gnarled Sage
Jolrael, Mwonvuli Recluse
Lorescale Coatl
Card Draw Enablers
Defiant Strike
Mangara, the Diplomat
Revitalize
Barrin, Tolarian Archmage
Frantic Inventory
Ghostly Pilferer
Jeskai Elder
Library Larcenist
Opt
Rain of Revelation
Read the Tides
Rousing Read
Sanctum of Calm Waters
Sublime Epiphany
Teferi, Master of Time
Teferi's Protege
Teferi's Tutelage
Tide Skimmer
Bad Deal
Crypt Lurker
Liliana's Standard Bearer
Silversmote Ghoul
Village Rites
Witch's Cauldron
Crash Through
Kinetic Augur
Thrill of Possibility
Llanowar Visionary
Portcullis Vine
Setessan Training
Track Down
Obsessive Stitcher
Mazemind Tome
Skyscanner
Solemn Simulacrum
Several payoffs exist for drawing more than one card in a turn.
Theme: +1/+1 Counters
+1/+1 Counter Payoffs
Basri's Lieutenant
Light of Promise
Tempered Veteran
Hobblefiend
Spellgorger Weird
Drowsing Tyrannodon
Invigorating Surge
Pridemalkin
Wildwood Scourge
Conclave Mentor
+1/+1 Counter Enablers
Payoffs for +1/+1 counters exist in White-Green.
Theme: Lifegain
Lifegain Payoffs
Griffin Aerie
Light of Promise
Speaker of the Heavens
Sanguine Indulgence
Silversmote Ghoul
Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose
Indulging Patrician
Lifegain Enablers
Anointed Chorister
Aven Gagglemaster
Baneslayer Angel
Basri's Acolyte
Faith's Fetters
Mangara, the Diplomat
Revitalize
Speaker of the Heavens
Alchemist's Gift
Archfiend's Vessel
Blood Glutton
Gloom Sower
Hooded Blightfang
Sanctum of Stone Fangs
Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose
Witch's Cauldron
Canopy Stalker
Life Goes On
Scavenging Ooze
Sporeweb Weaver
Trufflesnout
Conclave Mentor
Indulging Patrician
Niambi, Esteemed Speaker
Mazemind Tome
Bloodfell Caves
Blossoming Sands
Dismal Backwater
Jungle Hollow
Radiant Fountain
Rugged Highlands
Scoured Barrens
Swiftwater Cliffs
Thornwood Falls
Tranquil Cove
Wind-Scarred Crag
Payoffs for gaining 3+ life in at urn exist in White-Black.
Theme: Non-Combat Damage
Non-Combat Damage Payoffs
Non-Combat Damage Enablers
Payoffs for non-combat damage exist in Red.
Theme: Sacrifice
Sacrifice Payoffs
Sacrifice Enablers
Sacrifice effects exist in Black-Red.
Theme: Spells
Spell Payoffs
Spell payoffs for instants/sorceries exist in Blue-Red.