Locations
We're back with another entry in the Critters Series. Today we'll be going over some of the best flying critters, which I've narrowed down to Bats and Birds. Quite frankly, I couldn't think of any other flying Magic creature types that would qualify as critters. I considered Drakes, but they just didn't seem very crittery. I knew I wanted some Owls, but those are birds! So actually, I think Bats and Birds cover it...
Let's begin!
Aclazotz, Deepest Betrayal
Aclazotz is a relatively new flying critter, but he's definitely made a name for himself in both Standard and Cube formats, with even a smattering of Pioneer play. I feel like once you've made an appearance in the Pioneer Rakdos deck, that's when you've really made it.
I think all of the Lost Caverns of Ixalan gods are pretty cool, but Aclazotz is among the few that is actually good enough to see play in the competitive formats! He also turns into a land and makes other bats, which are basically just bonus critters.
Aven Mindcensor
I remember when Aven Mindcensor was first printed in Future Sight, 18 years ago in 2007, with the edgy Future Sight frame. (Good lord, man. If you were born the year Aven Mindcensor was printed, you'll be graduating high school soon if you haven't already.) People kind of lost their minds, because there had never been a card that messed with deck manipulation this effectively. It was also an aggressively cost beater with flash that could nug the greatest of tutors or fetch lands. Now it mostly sees play in formats like cEDH.
Baleful Strix
Baleful Strix is one of my absolute favorite creatures ever. I remember a time when I thought the supplemental Commander products that came out each year were so cool, and there were two cards I always hoped found their way into Modern: Baleful Strix and Shardless Agent. Unfortunately, only Shardless Agent has made the jump to Modern so far, but I hold out hope that Baleful Strix will one day join. I'm not even sure it would see much play, but it's just such a well-rounded bird that I've always been fond of it. Besides, owls are cool and it has like 15 different printings.
Birds of Paradise
If Birds of Paradise isn't the best Green one-drop of all time, it's definitely in the Top 3, and I would be hard pressed to name the other two creatures ahead of it. Some classics are just hard to beat, and Birds definitely falls into that category.
If I had to think of the best, classic one-mana cards in every color, I would choose Swords to Plowshares, Ancestral Recall, Dark Ritual, Lightning Bolt, and Birds of Paradise. Which is funny, because it goes to show how bad the White and Green offerings in the "three for one mana" cycle were by comparison (Healing Salve and Giant Growth).
Gilded Goose
Gilded Goose does a really good Birds of Paradise impression, and while it's not quite there, it's still very good. The ability to make versatile food tokens with unspent mana in the late game gives the Goose a bit of an advantage when it comes to its long term value. The second point of toughness and the fact that it makes artifacts, which are useful for numerous strategies, definitely makes the goose one of the best birds in the game.
Ledger Shredder
Ledger Shredder, or Ledgy as he's affectionately been named (you know, not officially...just by me), is a pretty great bird. Triggering regardless of which player is casting the spells is a pretty consistent way to loot through your deck, while occasionally embiggening the bird while you're at it. Ledger Shredder is an all-star in Pioneer and sees play in one of the best decks in the format: Arclight Phoenix! Being able to help get those Phoenixes into the graveyard is one of the best uses you can ask for when looting.
Speaking of which, why aren't Phoenixes birds? Are they birds? According to the internet, they are indeed birds! I guess we'll just have to do a "Best Phoenixes" list soon.
Nadu, Winged Wisdom
Nadu is definitely a card that was just so oversaturated when it was first printed that I'm absolutely exhausted by it. But unfortunately, we still have to discuss it when the need arises, especially considering the card was so powerful it was banned in Modern and it's still seeing play in Legacy. Nadu was also banned in Commander, so we can't even really discuss its applications there (not that that's my area of expertise anyway, mind you).
Either way, I don't feel sorry for the bird wizard. It clearly just flew too close to the sun on borrowed wing...ed wisdom, or something. Besides, the Legacy deck it occupies is quite popular now, and plays a lot like Cephalid Breakfast (Google that if you don't know what it is, youngins).
Squadron Hawk
Squadron Hawk is a legend. It single-handedly defined multiple control decks, with names such as Caw-Blade and Caw-Go, and other such decks with the word caw in the name. Squadron Hawk was not only a fantastic source of card advantage, allowing you to draw one additional bird or all three, but having a consistent stream of creatures to attach different Swords to (like Sword of War and Peace or Sword of Feast and Famine) was where it really shined. Those decks also had cards like Jace, the Mind Sculptor for players to put back their extra copies of the Hawk in exchange for new cards, only to search them back up with another Hawk! Truly amazing times.
Storm Crow
Just kidding.
Or am I?
Anyway, thanks for reading and I'll catch ya next time!
Frank Lepore
