by Johnny Cycles, December 14th, 2025
Hello! I’m Johnny Cycles and here are the top Modern cards from 2025 by set!
Rather watch than read?
Aetherdrift
4. The Verges – they see less play in Modern than in Standard and Pioneer, but one or two can be found in a variety of decks.
3. Stock Up – played in some Control and Combo decks.
2. Dredger’s Insight – a 4-of in the new Yawgmoth deck.
1. Ketramose, the New Dawn – terrorized Modern for a few months before falling out of favor in most decks.
Tarkir: Dragonstorm
6. Magmatic Hellkite – not just in my Dragons in Modern decks, I promise! It was a 4-of in a 5-color Midrange deck that 5-0 a league.
5. Clarion Conqueror – another Dragon I’ve played a bunch this year, it has a home in a few sideboards to bring in against Affinity and Hammertime.
4. Fade from History – a sideboard card found in Amulet Titan decks.
3. Voice of Victory – a few copies have a home in Boros Energy decks.
2. Ugin, Eye of the Storms – a new finisher for Eldrazi Tron, you can also see it in action in my Dragonback Assault deck!
1. Cori-Steel Cutter – another card that has terrorized Modern since its release, Cori-Steel Cutter sees play in Izzet Prowess decks mostly.
Final Fantasy
3. Tifa Lockhart – you can find it in my Mono Green Landfall deck winning a game on turn 3, but it’s made an appearance in other Modern decks, as well.
2. Vivi Ornitier – banned in Standard, this Wizard saw a little play in Modern before most people moved on.
1. Fire Magic – can be found in the sideboard of some Storm decks.
Edge of Eternities
6. Cosmogoyf – a fun, janky card that has seen some brews built around it.
5. Consult the Star Charts – a new staple in the various Control decks that never really leave any format.
4. Icetill Explorer – a new addition to Amulet Titan decks, you can also see it in action in Pioneer in my Dragonback Assault deck!
3. Weapons Manufacturing – I built a variety of Affinity decks around this new 2-mana enchantment, but it quickly caught on with other Affinity players as a powerful new tool to burn opponents out without relying on combat.
2. Pinnacle Emissary – a new staple for Affinity decks.
1. Quantum Riddler – played in seemingly every deck that can, this mythic Sphinx shows the power of the new warp mechanic as well as Pinnacle Emissary.
Spider-Man
2. Spider-Punk – not much to pick from, to be honest. I played this card in the Magda Changeling deck a got from a viewer. If you haven’t watched that deck in action, let me tell you, it is so much fun and very competitive!
1. Heroes’ Hangout – can be found in the sideboard of some Storm decks.
Avatar: The Last Airbender
4. The Legend of Roku – can be found in the sideboard of some Boros Energy decks.
3. Wan Shi Tong, Librarian – is played in Jeskai Blink, Azorius Control, and an updated version of the Bird Tribal deck a viewer sent me. Stay tuned for the game play!
2. Phoenix Fleet Airship – a super fun grindy card that can be found in a variety of B/X sacrifice decks.
1. Badgermole Cub – a 4-of in the new Yawgmoth decks, it also can be found in a variety of other brews. The ceiling for this card has yet to be reached.
It may be wishful thinking on my part, but it appears that Wizards’ foray outside the Multiverse of Magic has not impacted Modern as much as the traditional sets have. I think this is a good thing.
What do you think? Have I missed anything? Let me know in the comments, and thanks for reading and watching!
