The Top Ten Masters Edition 3 Commons to Play in Limited

While it may be one's rare or uncommon bomb that often stands out, it is the commons that make up the backbone of any successful limited deck - and Masters Edition 3 is no exception.

Ghostly Visit makes this list despite the "nonblack" clause in it's game text. In a format such as limited where creatures are so important, the ability to destroy an opponent's biggest threat is a necessity.

Blue brings two great commons to the draft table, the first being Remove Soul. If destroying a creature is good, then ensuring that it never comes into play in the first place is better, right?

Brilliant Plan also takes up a spot on this list, as card advantage is what wins many games. With only one blue in each of their costs, both Remove Soul and Brilliant plan can be splashed into any deck.

Green has several strong commons in ME3, however three particular cards stand out. Hunting Cheetah is the best creature with a converted mana cost of three in the entire set. In a format where the average converted mana cost of one's spells is above four, Hunting Cheetah's ability is very relevant. It is not unusual to have it's ability trigger, allowing one to not only not miss any of their land drops, but allowing them to dig deeper into ones deck and increase the probability of drawing a business spell.

Slashing Tiger is the best common creature in the set, as it can take down any other played common, short of a Sir Shandlar of Eberyn. Even Meng Huo's Horde, another highly drafted common creature in ME3, will not stand in Slashing Tiger's way when it attacks.

Giant Growth also makes this list. A successful combat trick involving Giant Growth will generally break the game in one's favor. It effectively reads "destroy target creature" when used correctly.

Red's commons are relatively week in ME3. While Chain Lightning may be great in a constructed deck, Fire Ambush is superior to it in limited due to the fact that an opponent can not bounce it back one of your creatures or your face.

Misfortune's Gain, while very slow as a sorcery costing four mana, makes this list because it can destroy any creature in the format. Unlike Ghostly Visit, Misfortune's Gain is not limited to targeting nonblack creatures.

Anyone who has played in ME3 limited knows that Horsemanship is an ability that defines the format. Both white's Shu Elite Companions and black's Wei Elitie Companions share the highest power and toughness for common creatures with Horsemanship as 3/3's. While an opponent may play a Shu Cavalry or Wu Elite Cavalry a turn or two earlier than one can play either of the companions, they will not stand up to them.

Horsemanship is a very popular deck in limited, and if one decides not to pick it, they would still be well advised to run either of the Companions if they are on color so that they may stand up to decks employing the Horsemanship strategy.

Disagree with these choices? Comment with your top ten Masters Edition 3 common choices and explain why.

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