Rotation is coming, and many of Standard's top creatures are about to be exiled from the format. Thragtusk, Huntmaster of the Fells, Restoration Angel, and Thundermaw Hellkite are just some of today’s top cards on the way out. Not all of Standard's top creatures are rotating, and some will remain relevant in the new metagame. A lot will depend on the cards in Theros and what decks dominate in the new Standard environment. Past results are indicative of future performance, however, and it stands to reason that, as deck-builders do their thing, they’ll look to include proven cards wherever possible. In this article, I’ll identify the top ten creatures from the current metagame that are surviving rotation and evaluate their prospects for the future.

I ranked creatures by the percent of major tournament Top 16 decks they were included in since Standard last rotated back in October 2012. I adjusted this percentage for the number of tournaments in which the card was legal. Boros Reckoner’s rank, for example, is based only on decks and tournaments since Gatecrash was released. Here are the top ten rotation survivors.

Scavenging Ooze

Scavenging Ooze has made the rounds since its reprinting in Magic 2014 Core Set, appearing in almost every green deck. It has been particularly important in Jund Midrange, where it serves as yet another answer-plus-threat and helps tamp down Reanimator. Where does the top creature of Standard fall when Innistrad and its graveyard-matters theme rotates? It's tough to say, and the future of Ooze is a bit murky.

Block Constructed is often a bellwether for the coming Standard environment and worth keeping in mind when evaluating these cards. The only major archetype playing green in that format is Selesnya Aggro. There is some stiff competition at the 2-drop slot in the deck, with Voice of Resurgence and Gyre Sage. Scavenging Ooze’s case will hinge on whether there is a strong need to exile specific cards from an opponent’s graveyard in the metagame. I suspect there won’t be and the Ooze will fall out of favor.

Prognosis: Not good

Voice of Resurgence

Voice of Resurgence has seen play in and has proven its worth in, well, most everything playing green and white in Standard. It is a 100% four-of in the Selesnya Aggro Block Constructed deck. Pillar of Flame, the best answer to it, is also rotating. Really, the only thing that might temper its playability is if green takes a back seat in the new metagame.

Prognosis: Extremely good

Lifebane Zombie

The current format has a lot of high-value targets for Lifebane Zombie's enter-the-battlefield ability. Some of the biggest, including Thragtusk, Restoration Angel, Geist of Saint Traft, and Huntmaster of the Fells, are rotating. Continued playability will depend on the green and/or white creature threats of the new metagame. Voice of Resurgence and Boros Reckoner aren't going anywhere, but they will frequently beat Lifebane Zombie to the battlefield.

Prognosis: Questionable. Depends heavily on Theros and the new metagame. It could be a sideboard card, at minimum, depending on the threats that need answering.

Boros Reckoner

Boros Reckoner has been a popular threat—and mini-combo piece—in many decks since Gatecrash was released. The rotation of Blasphemous Act and Harvest Pyre end the current combo, but the card is still a 3/3 for 3 mana with two powerful abilities. It is currently a player in Block Constructed and is included in 100% of both the super-aggressive Mono-Red and more midrange B/R/W decks.

Prognosis: Very good. The card is too powerful not to find a home in the new Standard.

Elvish Mystic

This one is pretty straightforward. If there is a ramp deck—or a more midrange deck looking to play threats early—it'll be green and include Elvish Mystic. Theros might bring us some new and exciting mana dork, but if we've learned anything in recent years, it's that six to eight 1-drop mana producers can be successful.

Prognosis: Good

Obzedat, Ghost Council

Obzedat also falls into the too-good-not-to-see-play category as long as there is a competitive deck that supports its color requirements. There probably will be if Block Constructed is any indicator. Obzedat has seen significant play in the B/R/W decks, alongside Boros Reckoner, and Esper Control decks.

Prognosis: Very good

Ghor-Clan Rampager

It’s a powerful card for any aggressive deck playing red and green, and there have been plenty of those since Gatecrash. There is no R/G deck in Block Constructed, so future rampaging will be based on what archetypes rise to the surface of the new metagame. There are certainly plenty of powerful Gruul-colored spells in the Return to Ravnica block, and some more intriguing options have been revealed in Theros. I would not bet against R/G aggro decks being front-and-center in the new metagame.

Prognosis: Very good

Angel of Serenity

A veteran of Reanimator, Angel of Serenity's playability will suffer without Unburial Rites. It is too expensive to hardcast in a metagame as quick as the one today. Theros will either need to slow things down considerably or provide a new way to cheat expensive threats into play.

Prognosis: Not good

Deathrite Shaman

Deathrite Shaman has seen plenty of play in Standard, primarily in Reanimator strategies, in which you gain value from all the cards that are dumped into your graveyard. There will still be tools to stock the graveyard in the new Standard, but there won’t be a strong reason to do so without Unburial Rites.

Prognosis: Not good

Sin Collector

Prognosis: Good

In summary, six of the top ten creatures of the current Standard environment have a good chance of finding homes after rotation. Their abilities are proven and flexible and fit into common deck strategies. Competitive players have experience playing all of these cards, which provides an incentive to work them into new strategies.