Too Good for Legacy
Originally printed in Modern Horizons 2, this little monkey would often run away with the game off of the back of free counterspells and removal, as well as his absurd card advantage and ramp package, all for the price of 1 red mana.
Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer
This legacy deck is named after a card from Innistrad that transforms into a 3/2 insect with flying.
Delver (Delver of Secrets/Insectile Aberration)
His verdict is always guilty. His sentence is always death.
Butcher of Malakir
This creature land, which received a From the Vault printing that looked indistinguishable from a basic forest at a glance, inspired a rules change that requires players to keep lands that are also creatures separate from their other lands.
Dryad Arbor
This common from Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle Earth was too strong of a threat when brought back to the battlefield with cards like Reanimate and Animate Dead.
Troll of Khazad-dûm
This deck, found most often in Legacy and Modern, is named after the two things that are considered to be certain in everyone's life.
Death & Taxes
"After Auntie brushed the soot from her eyes, she discovered something wonderful: the fire had turned the goat into something that smelled delicious."
-A tale of Auntie Grub
Tarfire
This rule, which made players lose life equal to the amount of unspent mana in their mana pool at the end of each phase, was removed with the release of Magic 2010, but added as a static ability to Yurlock of Scorch Thrash in Commander Legends nearly 10 years later.
"Mana Burn"
This "free" instant from New Phyrexia, which is either banned or restricted in nearly every format it would be legal in, saw play in nearly every single deck in the format because the best counter to someone playing this card was, more often than not, itself.
Mental Misstep
This deck has seen success in nearly every format on account of its cheap creatures and burn spells, as well as its cheap price tag compared to other decks.
Red Deck Wins (RDW)
No one knew who invented it. No one knew its purpose. All anyone knew was they didn't like being anywhere near it.
Vexing Bauble
One of the ten companions from Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths, this elemental fox allowed you to activate any abilities that aren't mana abilities for up to two generic mana less.
Zirda, the Dawnmaker
This archetype leverages the use of land tutors like Expedition Map in order to put three specific lands in play that tap for more mana than they normally would when played individually. This allows the player to cast big spells several turns ahead of curve, which are often designed to win the game entirely on their own.
Tron (UrzaTron)
"Weren't you ever taught that it's rude to interrupt?"
Force of Will
Often a part of some combo deck involving your library being empty, the designers of this card never expected players to not run basic lands in their deck.
Hermit Druit
According to Riley Knight, the originator of this archetype, he named the deck after a deep-fried pizza dish that he was eating while making edits to his list. It leveraged cards like Stone Rain to ensure that your opponent has fewer lands in play than you, thus allowing you to cast more spells and overwhelm the board.
Ponza
Squeez bounced up and down. "I sees a horsey, an' a piggy, an' a—"
"If you don't shut up," hissed Mirri, "you'll see a kidney and a spleeny."
Aluren