Premodern Staples: The Most Played Cards
Which cards actually turn up in Premodern tournament decks, counted from the 77 decklists in this archive and the 20 archetypes tracked here. Maindecks and sideboards are counted separately, because they answer different questions: a card in half the sideboards is a hate card, not a format staple.
A card is listed once it appears in at least 3 decks. Average copies matters as much as the percentage: a card averaging 4.0 is an automatic playset, while one averaging under 2.0 is a one-of or two-of that many decks simply want access to.
Maindeck staples (151 cards)
| Card | Decks | Share | Avg. copies | Archetypes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duress | 27 of 77 | 35% | 3.6 | 8 of 20 |
| Mishra's Factory | 23 of 77 | 30% | 3.7 | 3 of 20 |
| City of Brass | 21 of 77 | 27% | 3.0 | 1 of 20 |
| Swords to Plowshares | 21 of 77 | 27% | 4.0 | 8 of 20 |
| Cabal Therapy | 20 of 77 | 26% | 3.3 | 5 of 20 |
| Lightning Bolt | 19 of 77 | 25% | 3.9 | 2 of 20 |
| Wasteland | 19 of 77 | 25% | 3.2 | 5 of 20 |
| Gemstone Mine | 17 of 77 | 22% | 3.3 | 1 of 20 |
| Smother | 17 of 77 | 22% | 1.9 | 4 of 20 |
| Wooded Foothills | 17 of 77 | 22% | 3.3 | 1 of 20 |
| Flooded Strand | 16 of 77 | 21% | 3.4 | 4 of 20 |
| Dark Ritual | 15 of 77 | 19% | 3.9 | 5 of 20 |
| Phyrexian Furnace | 15 of 77 | 19% | 2.0 | 4 of 20 |
| Sylvan Library | 15 of 77 | 19% | 2.3 | 1 of 20 |
| Diabolic Edict | 14 of 77 | 18% | 1.3 | 0 of 20 |
| Fact or Fiction | 14 of 77 | 18% | 2.6 | 4 of 20 |
| Counterspell | 13 of 77 | 17% | 3.7 | 5 of 20 |
| Cursed Scroll | 13 of 77 | 17% | 1.6 | 2 of 20 |
| Grim Lavamancer | 13 of 77 | 17% | 2.5 | 1 of 20 |
| Mana Leak | 13 of 77 | 17% | 2.8 | 3 of 20 |
| Bloodstained Mire | 12 of 77 | 16% | 3.2 | 0 of 20 |
| Dust Bowl | 12 of 77 | 16% | 1.4 | 0 of 20 |
| Exalted Angel | 12 of 77 | 16% | 3.3 | 5 of 20 |
| Meddling Mage | 12 of 77 | 16% | 4.0 | 4 of 20 |
| Rishadan Port | 12 of 77 | 16% | 3.4 | 3 of 20 |
| Call of the Herd | 11 of 77 | 14% | 3.7 | 1 of 20 |
| Reflecting Pool | 11 of 77 | 14% | 2.5 | 0 of 20 |
| Yavimaya Coast | 11 of 77 | 14% | 2.7 | 1 of 20 |
| Decree of Justice | 10 of 77 | 13% | 2.3 | 3 of 20 |
| Graveborn Muse | 10 of 77 | 13% | 1.7 | 4 of 20 |
| Mogg Fanatic | 10 of 77 | 13% | 3.9 | 2 of 20 |
| Powder Keg | 10 of 77 | 13% | 2.5 | 4 of 20 |
| Withered Wretch | 10 of 77 | 13% | 3.4 | 4 of 20 |
| Adarkar Wastes | 9 of 77 | 12% | 2.7 | 2 of 20 |
| Fire // Ice | 9 of 77 | 12% | 2.7 | 1 of 20 |
| Impulse | 9 of 77 | 12% | 3.4 | 5 of 20 |
| Incinerate | 9 of 77 | 12% | 3.3 | 1 of 20 |
| Llanowar Wastes | 9 of 77 | 12% | 3.1 | 1 of 20 |
| Skeletal Scrying | 9 of 77 | 12% | 1.8 | 0 of 20 |
| Treetop Village | 9 of 77 | 12% | 2.9 | 2 of 20 |
| Vindicate | 9 of 77 | 12% | 2.6 | 2 of 20 |
| Wrath of God | 9 of 77 | 12% | 2.2 | 3 of 20 |
| Birds of Paradise | 8 of 77 | 10% | 3.9 | 0 of 20 |
| Disenchant | 8 of 77 | 10% | 1.9 | 2 of 20 |
| Karplusan Forest | 8 of 77 | 10% | 3.1 | 0 of 20 |
| Snuff Out | 8 of 77 | 10% | 1.6 | 1 of 20 |
| Underground River | 8 of 77 | 10% | 2.5 | 1 of 20 |
| Undiscovered Paradise | 8 of 77 | 10% | 2.0 | 0 of 20 |
| Caves of Koilos | 7 of 77 | 9% | 3.0 | 0 of 20 |
| Dromar's Cavern | 7 of 77 | 9% | 1.0 | 0 of 20 |
| Polluted Delta | 7 of 77 | 9% | 3.3 | 2 of 20 |
| Seal of Fire | 7 of 77 | 9% | 3.1 | 0 of 20 |
| Winter Orb | 7 of 77 | 9% | 2.9 | 0 of 20 |
| Accumulated Knowledge | 6 of 77 | 8% | 4.0 | 1 of 20 |
| Ancient Tomb | 6 of 77 | 8% | 2.7 | 1 of 20 |
| City of Traitors | 6 of 77 | 8% | 2.8 | 0 of 20 |
| Gaea's Blessing | 6 of 77 | 8% | 2.2 | 1 of 20 |
| Lotus Petal | 6 of 77 | 8% | 3.5 | 1 of 20 |
| Miscalculation | 6 of 77 | 8% | 1.8 | 0 of 20 |
| Mother of Runes | 6 of 77 | 8% | 3.2 | 2 of 20 |
| Mox Diamond | 6 of 77 | 8% | 3.0 | 1 of 20 |
| Naturalize | 6 of 77 | 8% | 2.0 | 5 of 20 |
| Phantom Nishoba | 6 of 77 | 8% | 2.5 | 1 of 20 |
| Ravenous Rats | 6 of 77 | 8% | 4.0 | 2 of 20 |
| Shadowmage Infiltrator | 6 of 77 | 8% | 3.7 | 1 of 20 |
| Windswept Heath | 6 of 77 | 8% | 2.7 | 0 of 20 |
| Barbarian Ring | 5 of 77 | 6% | 1.4 | 0 of 20 |
| Black Vise | 5 of 77 | 6% | 3.4 | 0 of 20 |
| Carnophage | 5 of 77 | 6% | 4.0 | 1 of 20 |
| Faerie Conclave | 5 of 77 | 6% | 2.4 | 0 of 20 |
| Hypnotic Specter | 5 of 77 | 6% | 4.0 | 2 of 20 |
| Krosan Tusker | 5 of 77 | 6% | 2.2 | 0 of 20 |
| Masticore | 5 of 77 | 6% | 1.2 | 2 of 20 |
| Pernicious Deed | 5 of 77 | 6% | 2.8 | 1 of 20 |
| Portent | 5 of 77 | 6% | 3.4 | 1 of 20 |
| Prohibit | 5 of 77 | 6% | 1.2 | 0 of 20 |
| Rancor | 5 of 77 | 6% | 2.0 | 0 of 20 |
| Ravenous Baloth | 5 of 77 | 6% | 2.4 | 1 of 20 |
| Sarcomancy | 5 of 77 | 6% | 4.0 | 1 of 20 |
| Shivan Reef | 5 of 77 | 6% | 3.2 | 0 of 20 |
| Squee, Goblin Nabob | 5 of 77 | 6% | 1.0 | 1 of 20 |
| Survival of the Fittest | 5 of 77 | 6% | 3.6 | 2 of 20 |
| Wild Mongrel | 5 of 77 | 6% | 3.4 | 1 of 20 |
| Akroma, Angel of Wrath | 4 of 77 | 5% | 2.8 | 1 of 20 |
| Anger | 4 of 77 | 5% | 1.0 | 0 of 20 |
| Blastoderm | 4 of 77 | 5% | 3.5 | 0 of 20 |
| Brushland | 4 of 77 | 5% | 1.5 | 0 of 20 |
| Capsize | 4 of 77 | 5% | 1.0 | 0 of 20 |
| Deranged Hermit | 4 of 77 | 5% | 1.5 | 1 of 20 |
| Earthquake | 4 of 77 | 5% | 2.0 | 0 of 20 |
| Fireblast | 4 of 77 | 5% | 3.8 | 1 of 20 |
| Firebolt | 4 of 77 | 5% | 2.2 | 1 of 20 |
| Funeral Charm | 4 of 77 | 5% | 2.8 | 0 of 20 |
| Grand Coliseum | 4 of 77 | 5% | 3.0 | 0 of 20 |
| Grinning Demon | 4 of 77 | 5% | 1.8 | 0 of 20 |
| Kor Haven | 4 of 77 | 5% | 1.0 | 0 of 20 |
| Phyrexian Arena | 4 of 77 | 5% | 2.0 | 2 of 20 |
| Reanimate | 4 of 77 | 5% | 4.0 | 1 of 20 |
| Rotlung Reanimator | 4 of 77 | 5% | 4.0 | 2 of 20 |
| Sulfuric Vortex | 4 of 77 | 5% | 2.5 | 1 of 20 |
| Terminate | 4 of 77 | 5% | 2.2 | 0 of 20 |
| Treva's Ruins | 4 of 77 | 5% | 1.0 | 0 of 20 |
| Tsabo's Web | 4 of 77 | 5% | 1.0 | 4 of 20 |
| Wall of Blossoms | 4 of 77 | 5% | 3.8 | 1 of 20 |
| Wretched Anurid | 4 of 77 | 5% | 3.5 | 0 of 20 |
| Absorb | 3 of 77 | 4% | 1.3 | 0 of 20 |
| Arrogant Wurm | 3 of 77 | 4% | 3.7 | 1 of 20 |
| Bane of the Living | 3 of 77 | 4% | 2.3 | 0 of 20 |
| Basking Rootwalla | 3 of 77 | 4% | 4.0 | 1 of 20 |
| Black Knight | 3 of 77 | 4% | 2.0 | 0 of 20 |
| Careful Study | 3 of 77 | 4% | 4.0 | 2 of 20 |
| Chainer's Edict | 3 of 77 | 4% | 1.0 | 0 of 20 |
| Coastal Tower | 3 of 77 | 4% | 1.0 | 0 of 20 |
| Darigaaz's Caldera | 3 of 77 | 4% | 2.0 | 0 of 20 |
| Drain Life | 3 of 77 | 4% | 1.7 | 0 of 20 |
| Exhume | 3 of 77 | 4% | 4.0 | 1 of 20 |
| Flash of Insight | 3 of 77 | 4% | 1.0 | 1 of 20 |
| Genesis | 3 of 77 | 4% | 1.0 | 0 of 20 |
| Gerrard's Verdict | 3 of 77 | 4% | 4.0 | 1 of 20 |
| Ghitu Encampment | 3 of 77 | 4% | 2.7 | 0 of 20 |
| Goblin Piledriver | 3 of 77 | 4% | 4.0 | 1 of 20 |
| Goblin Sharpshooter | 3 of 77 | 4% | 1.0 | 1 of 20 |
| Innocent Blood | 3 of 77 | 4% | 2.7 | 0 of 20 |
| Karn, Silver Golem | 3 of 77 | 4% | 1.3 | 0 of 20 |
| Knight of Stromgald | 3 of 77 | 4% | 2.7 | 0 of 20 |
| Life // Death | 3 of 77 | 4% | 2.7 | 0 of 20 |
| Lightning Angel | 3 of 77 | 4% | 4.0 | 1 of 20 |
| Mind Stone | 3 of 77 | 4% | 4.0 | 0 of 20 |
| Nantuko Vigilante | 3 of 77 | 4% | 1.0 | 0 of 20 |
| Nevinyrral's Disk | 3 of 77 | 4% | 3.7 | 0 of 20 |
| Pillage | 3 of 77 | 4% | 4.0 | 1 of 20 |
| Plaguebearer | 3 of 77 | 4% | 1.7 | 1 of 20 |
| Psychatog | 3 of 77 | 4% | 2.3 | 1 of 20 |
| Putrid Imp | 3 of 77 | 4% | 4.0 | 1 of 20 |
| Ray of Revelation | 3 of 77 | 4% | 1.3 | 1 of 20 |
| Recurring Nightmare | 3 of 77 | 4% | 1.3 | 1 of 20 |
| Rorix Bladewing | 3 of 77 | 4% | 1.3 | 0 of 20 |
| Sickening Dreams | 3 of 77 | 4% | 1.7 | 2 of 20 |
| Silent Specter | 3 of 77 | 4% | 1.0 | 1 of 20 |
| Sphere of Resistance | 3 of 77 | 4% | 4.0 | 1 of 20 |
| Stone Rain | 3 of 77 | 4% | 3.7 | 0 of 20 |
| Sulfurous Springs | 3 of 77 | 4% | 2.3 | 0 of 20 |
| Sylvan Safekeeper | 3 of 77 | 4% | 1.7 | 0 of 20 |
| Tangle Wire | 3 of 77 | 4% | 4.0 | 1 of 20 |
| Thawing Glaciers | 3 of 77 | 4% | 1.3 | 1 of 20 |
| The Rack | 3 of 77 | 4% | 2.3 | 0 of 20 |
| Thornscape Battlemage | 3 of 77 | 4% | 1.0 | 0 of 20 |
| Thran Dynamo | 3 of 77 | 4% | 4.0 | 0 of 20 |
| Unearth | 3 of 77 | 4% | 2.0 | 0 of 20 |
| Volrath's Stronghold | 3 of 77 | 4% | 1.0 | 1 of 20 |
| Weathered Wayfarer | 3 of 77 | 4% | 3.0 | 0 of 20 |
Sideboard staples (53 cards)
| Card | Decks | Share | Avg. copies | Archetypes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tormod's Crypt | 33 of 77 | 43% | 1.9 | 11 of 20 |
| Engineered Plague | 32 of 77 | 42% | 2.9 | 7 of 20 |
| Phyrexian Furnace | 24 of 77 | 31% | 1.6 | 4 of 20 |
| Red Elemental Blast | 21 of 77 | 27% | 2.0 | 3 of 20 |
| Pyroblast | 19 of 77 | 25% | 2.2 | 3 of 20 |
| Naturalize | 18 of 77 | 23% | 2.1 | 5 of 20 |
| Annul | 13 of 77 | 17% | 2.7 | 6 of 20 |
| Dystopia | 13 of 77 | 17% | 2.7 | 4 of 20 |
| Pyroclasm | 13 of 77 | 17% | 2.0 | 2 of 20 |
| Perish | 12 of 77 | 16% | 1.3 | 1 of 20 |
| Tranquil Domain | 12 of 77 | 16% | 1.8 | 2 of 20 |
| Tsabo's Web | 12 of 77 | 16% | 1.5 | 4 of 20 |
| Gloom | 11 of 77 | 14% | 2.6 | 3 of 20 |
| Hydroblast | 11 of 77 | 14% | 2.4 | 6 of 20 |
| Blue Elemental Blast | 10 of 77 | 13% | 2.5 | 5 of 20 |
| Circle of Protection: Red | 10 of 77 | 13% | 1.6 | 4 of 20 |
| Overload | 9 of 77 | 12% | 2.6 | 0 of 20 |
| Seal of Cleansing | 9 of 77 | 12% | 2.0 | 5 of 20 |
| Disenchant | 8 of 77 | 10% | 1.5 | 2 of 20 |
| Powder Keg | 8 of 77 | 10% | 1.5 | 4 of 20 |
| Warmth | 8 of 77 | 10% | 1.8 | 4 of 20 |
| Aura of Silence | 7 of 77 | 9% | 1.1 | 2 of 20 |
| Diabolic Edict | 6 of 77 | 8% | 1.0 | 0 of 20 |
| Duress | 6 of 77 | 8% | 2.5 | 8 of 20 |
| Ray of Revelation | 6 of 77 | 8% | 1.3 | 1 of 20 |
| Smother | 6 of 77 | 8% | 1.2 | 4 of 20 |
| Anarchy | 5 of 77 | 6% | 1.6 | 0 of 20 |
| Cursed Totem | 5 of 77 | 6% | 1.4 | 2 of 20 |
| Infest | 5 of 77 | 6% | 1.4 | 0 of 20 |
| Sacred Ground | 5 of 77 | 6% | 1.4 | 2 of 20 |
| Cleansing Meditation | 4 of 77 | 5% | 1.0 | 1 of 20 |
| Enlightened Tutor | 4 of 77 | 5% | 1.0 | 1 of 20 |
| Ensnaring Bridge | 4 of 77 | 5% | 3.2 | 0 of 20 |
| Haunting Echoes | 4 of 77 | 5% | 1.5 | 1 of 20 |
| Oath of Druids | 4 of 77 | 5% | 3.8 | 2 of 20 |
| Price of Progress | 4 of 77 | 5% | 2.2 | 1 of 20 |
| Ravenous Baloth | 4 of 77 | 5% | 1.2 | 1 of 20 |
| Snuff Out | 4 of 77 | 5% | 2.2 | 1 of 20 |
| Spinning Darkness | 4 of 77 | 5% | 1.8 | 1 of 20 |
| Cabal Therapy | 3 of 77 | 4% | 2.0 | 5 of 20 |
| Compost | 3 of 77 | 4% | 1.3 | 1 of 20 |
| Crumble | 3 of 77 | 4% | 1.3 | 0 of 20 |
| Cursed Scroll | 3 of 77 | 4% | 2.0 | 2 of 20 |
| Earthquake | 3 of 77 | 4% | 1.7 | 0 of 20 |
| Envelop | 3 of 77 | 4% | 1.3 | 0 of 20 |
| Goblin Sharpshooter | 3 of 77 | 4% | 1.0 | 1 of 20 |
| Hull Breach | 3 of 77 | 4% | 1.3 | 0 of 20 |
| Misdirection | 3 of 77 | 4% | 3.3 | 0 of 20 |
| Mogg Salvage | 3 of 77 | 4% | 1.3 | 0 of 20 |
| Null Rod | 3 of 77 | 4% | 2.0 | 1 of 20 |
| Rejuvenation Chamber | 3 of 77 | 4% | 2.7 | 0 of 20 |
| Sphere of Law | 3 of 77 | 4% | 1.7 | 2 of 20 |
| Wrath of God | 3 of 77 | 4% | 1.0 | 3 of 20 |
Every card links to its own page with printing, price and the decks that play it. See also the full Premodern card list and the metagame tier list.
