Setting out to write a top ten list for Bloomburrow was an unusual experience. While I don't think the set is over powered by any means, I kept finding more and more cards that I wanted to add to the list. At one point, I could have easily made this a top 20. And I think that's because the cards in Bloomburrow feel extremely balanced across the board. I do think the aggro decks have the best synergy thanks to a host of powerful 1-drops in the set, but individual cards feel fair, balanced, and interchangeable.

Number Ten

Since the rise of Commander, the best creatures printed have tended toward being Legends. But, hear me out. Standard is still loaded with value creatures. Giving you opponent a card is a steep drawback, but there are enough cards that will give you a card back in value, or more. The Calamity Beasts especially are some of the better non-Legendary creatures we've had in awhile. I can't wait to try this with Hostile Investigator.

Number Nine

The ultimate, "Anything you can do, I can do better!" card. I'll admit, I misread this at first, thinking you can only copy something with mana value equal to X, but it is worded in a manner that you count the blue mana in it's cost as well. Just a fun, versatile card that should see play.

Number Eight

This turtle looks a lot like Cavalier of Thorns to me! You should be able to build your deck to maximize the turtle without compromising it to settle for creatures that aren't playable. Preacher of the Schism. Sheoldred, the Apocalypse. Sentinel of the Nameless City. All of these are already seeing play, and all of them in conjunction with the turtle could make a new form of ramp deck.

Number Seven

My pick for the best of the Paws cards. If nothing else this probably works as a board wipe, as not many decks can sacrifice 5 creatures and have a board presence remaining. But, I think the most common use will be to sacrifice three creatures and then use the two paws ability to draw. Even if you only draw 1-2 cards after wiping the board, this can be backbreaking in mid-range mirrors. It even has the potential to outright win the game if your deck leans heavily on creatures and fills the graveyard.

Number Six

After three years of its time in the sun, we said goodbye to Bloodtithe Harvester, only for a newer, hotter version to walk through the door. This will be absolutely amazing in Lizard decks, but the +1/+1 ability is relevant for any deck that can get creatures in for combat damage.

Number Five

A creature with a playable power/toughness that makes an innocuous looking piece of carboard when it Enters has been a staple of standard for the last few years. Vinereap goes one better and makes another piece of cardboard when it dies. This will fuel Forage decks, but don't be surprised to see it pop up in other Golgari decks.

Number Four

This feels like a Flametongue Kavu/Mulldrifter split card stapled onto a reasonable body. Three Stun counters is a long time to lock down your opponents best creature, and having the flexibility to use it to play this is a "Suspend" creature that draws you two cards immediately makes this one of the more versatile offering in the set.

Number Three

This card will be one of the pillars of Standard, even if it ends up seeing play mostly as a sideboard card. The Lynx fights the traditional way of combatting aggressive Red decks, keeping your opponent from using life gain to get out of burn range, it prevents damage reduction strategies, and it even comes down to take a chomp at their life total as well. This will exist as a hard limit to the amount of non-basic lands you can play and it may push three or four colored decks to the periphery of the format.

Number Two

One of the most slam dunk sideboard cards printed in years. It just happens to be good enough to see main deck action too. It's rare you play a game where you're up on every resource, so this almost always gets some value. Even if you are ahead in ever metric, a 4/5 is a perfectly acceptable body to widen your lead. I expect this to see tons of play, and we'll probably be utterly sick of it when it finally rotates out of the format.

Number One

The Little Lizard That Could. This card will see play across the board. This is a ridiculous 1-drop. It's good in aggro decks, effectively "attacking" as a 2-power creature on turn one as long as you make land drops. If the ground gets mucked up, it gets around needing the combat step to deal damage. It's a combo card too, and I wouldn't be surprised if Aftermath Analyst decks continue to see play at the top tables. It's the perfect card for Crime decks, and combined with Freestrider Lookout especially, gives Crime decks a consistent way to fuel the ability. I wouldn't be surprised if it turns up in older formats as well. And all of this is just taking it into account as a 1-drop! It's literally twice as good as a 3-drop! I already have 2-3 decks in mind for this little guy.

I'm excited to try out these cards, and a ton of others in Bloomburrow. The set looks like it's going to reward brewers with a creative and fun environment!

You can find more of my musings on twitter @travishall456

And you should check out other takes on Bloomburrow's top cards here:

• Top Ten Cards from Bloomburrow #1 - Abe Sargent
• The Top Five Cards For Each Color in Bloomburrow - Ali Aintrazi