The Evolution of One
Hello fellow magic players, today I want to discuss how 1 mana creatures have evolved throughout the years. Starting from 1 mana 2/1 and eventually evolving into the powercreeped monstrosities we see today
In the beginning there was nothing, then Richard Garfield willed the multiverse into existance. He said “let there be creatures” and Benalish Hero was born. This creature had the totally not upside of having banding; banding did not make this much better than a 1/1 for 1. It just made it more confusing. However alongside the banding Hero a Birds of Paradise was also created. Such a card that has so much good mana dorkness that it is still played to this day in all formats that it is legal in. However the most aggressive one drop of its time was also printed in these early sets by the name of Savannah Lions a one mana 2/1 just destroyed a perfectly balanced equation and created the zoo archetype.
Zoo decks are notorious for playing one mana threats that are much more powerful than their cost. As this archetype developing we also see the printing of Kird Ape and eventually Wild Nacatl. All of which are amazing one mana creatures with sufficient upsides. They also play the next card I wish to talk about that brought the one mana manadork to a whole new extreme.
Noble Hierarch is a one mana creature that taps for mana and pumps any creature that attacks alone. This combination caused low to the ground zoo decks to overwhelm extended, block, and eventually modern to this very day. It also caused infect decks to become much more powerful alongside Glistener Elf.
Approaching modern times we see the printings of the most tempo driven cards. Siren Stormtamer controls standard with the mono blue flyers decks in standard alongside the spirits deck of the same time. Mausoleum Wanderer created such a cover in the disruptive capabilities of any annoying tempo deck that spirits destroyed modern for years after its printing.
Now Let us talk about Deaths Shadow a card that allowed zoo to become a deck again. Hurting yourself with a grixis or jund control shell to beat opponents down with 4/4s and up it an amazing deal. Without Fatal Push I would have had no hope for modern.
Nowadays standard has cards like Knight of the Ebon Legion aggressively being played in many black X decks. Modern has its own fair-share of one drops. Giver of Runes and Hexdrinker are both amazing cards printed in the modern supplemental set. Giving many archetypes new toys has at least saved modern for the time being, I am looking forward to seeing how it develops however as past this point it can go anywhere.
In conclusion, we have seen one drops go from one mana 2/1s to one mana 8/8’s and even into ever growing threats on any board state. Welcome to the game everyone… Welcome