That Number One Spot - 7/24/2009

Hello, and welcome to the first piece in a weekly series I'm calling “The Number One Spot” each week, I'll discuss a different card that runs with a converted mana cost of one. Why am I doing this? What's so special about little one drops? Why not talk about the cards that are currently massive bombs in standard. Well, at the end of the day you may win with those massive bombs, but it all comes down to the cards you play in your first few turns (primarily turn one) that let you drop those massive win cards. The one spot is the meat and potatoes of a deck list. If you don't run anything in it and your deck, much like a human body, isn't getting the protein and carbs it needs and is most likely lagging behind because of it. So as much as I love giving praise to those massive win cards, I have to show some love to the guys that let it happen. Here we go!

This week I would like to kick the series off by talking about a personal favorite. A little bugger printed at common in Eventide that has led me to the winning of numerous games, Nip Gwyllion. She may not look like much, but in the kind environment of a B/W life gain deck she can really put a hurting on someone. I've had games where I drop her turn one, turn two she gets an Edge of the Divinity (becoming a 4/4), and all of a sudden there's an eight point swing between life totals. You set this hag loose, maybe another one or two of her, and you have a very effective lifelinking force to be reckoned with.

And what bomb of a win card does she feed? The one and only Divinity of Pride! If you've dropped our little friend turn one, and even if you haven't given her an Edge or another lifelinking friend, then when it comes time to drop that Divinity of Pride you have a nice lifelinking 8/8 flier. How's that for a meat and potatoes one drop?

Even better, she doesn't have to run in just the B/W decks. Nip makes a great addition to the mono White life gain movement. Soul wardens help round out that deck, but now you can play some aggro in swinging with a Gwyllion that's carrying Holy Strength. She isn't quite as effective, but it gives you an attacker that can handle a Volcanic Fallout. The same goes for any deck involving Black and aggro, an Unholy Strength puts your nip up to the 3/2 mark where she can do some serious damage.

So keep this not-so-lovely lady in mind while she's still chilling in Standard, I promise you won't regret it.