Modern is a huge format. Since October 2, 2003, Wizards of the Coast has been making set after set, and these 8,451 cards are nearly all legal for play in this format. That’s 11 years of Magic the Gathering legal in one format.

Luckily Wizards has done a great job managing the format’s banned list so that the metagme is about as diverse as possible. No matter what type of deck you enjoy playing, there is something for everyone in Modern--and that’s just the explored archetypes.

This summer I’ve thought a great deal about Modern because it is the PTQ format. To be more accurate, it’s the last PTQ format. Because our organized play is changing significantly, subconsciously there is more pressure for results. Thus, I’ve spent much of my time working on the format. Last week, I discussed an innovation in the format that is significant but not metagame altering. Junk Aristocrats, or Melira-Crats as I dubbed it, is just one example of exploring the depth of the format.

Through my work in the format I’ve noted some cards that are underplayed or not played at all. Today I want to share these ideas and set the hive mind to work processing the information. Modern PTQ season may be at an end, but Modern is a great format and it’s not going anywhere. So, without further ado, I present, the Top 10 cards you aren’t playing in Modern.

10. Path to Exile

[cardimage cardname='Path to Exile']

Now you may be saying, everyone knows that Path to Exile is second only to Swords to Plowshares in power level and everyone knows its potential. Those things may very well be true, but knowing a card is good doesn’t make everyone play it.

My basis for Path to Exile's inclusion stems from a conversation my friends and I were having about the format. The end of that conversation was that Path to Exile disrupted the theoretical strategy too much, but my friend replied, “what decks even play Path?”

I stopped and thought for a moment. Sure UWR plays it and G/W Hate Bears usually does too, but most of the major decks would never play this premium removal spell. I’ve played this catch-all removal spell in both Melira and Kiki Pod, but that’s not typical.

My point is that Path is obviously amazing. No one doubts how good it is like when it was first released. So, when you have white mana, make sure you are including this great spell.

On the note of Path to Exile, have you noticed what happened to its price after the Modern Event Deck hit the shelves? That’s right, not much. Even after seven printings, this Shards block uncommon is holding strong at $4. Players know it’s a staple even if it isn’t seeing as much play as it should and the price reflects it.

9. Voice of Resurgence

[cardimage cardname='Voice of Resurgence']

Here’s another card that does see some play in Modern but not nearly enough. My time playing Melira-Crats the past few weeks showed off the true power of Voice. Being able to sacrifice it and get an elemental token at your convenience is extremely powerful, but even without a consistent sacrifice outlet, Voice is a strong card that forces your opponent to change their game plan to playing on their own turn. It’s a hate bear of sorts and more decks could use a two-drop of this caliber.

Financially, Voice has a little bit more to dip in price but I would soon start trying to pick up a couple copies to hold onto for some long-term growth. It’s even better in eternal formats than in Standard so its long-term potential is certain. You may need to wait it out a bit to see a return though.

8. Ajani Goldmane

[cardimage cardname='Ajani Goldmane']

As one of the original planeswalkers, Ajani Goldmane is in a unique camp of cards that are balanced but generally a higher power level than we expect these days. If you don’t believe me, cast it one time in Modern and you’ll be convinced.

Every time I’ve cast this card, I won the game. I know that most players consider this guy to be just another casual powerhouse that you secretly drool at in trade binders. You want to trade for it because dealers buy it much higher than you think they should, but you don’t want to let the person you’re trading with know how much you really want it.

Back on topic, Ajani Goldmane is the real deal in Modern, especially in combination with the resurgent Lingering Souls. You don’t need to be churning out tokens for this lion to power out a victory though; just Gavony Townshipping your team plus vigilance is enough to put you in the drivers’ seat in most games.

This planeswalker should start seeing more play, even if it’s in the sideboard of Melira Pod. If you have white creatures and they want to attack, this version of Ajani can help you out.

7. Prophetic Flamespeaker

[cardimage cardname='Prophetic Flamespeaker']

Next up on the list is my favorite card in Journey into Nyx, Prophetic Flamespeaker. While he may be hard to play in Standard, in Modern and Legacy, where there are better cards at lower converted mana costs, Flamespeaker lights up the room.

There is no other card drawing engine remotely close to this guy in red and there are a number of homes for him to jump right into. I’m excited to try him out in decks like Burn and Jund, but I’m sure there are many other places he’d fit well. What about a more aggressive UWR deck for instance? This guy is good and he should definitely be top-eighting events. What the best deck for him in your opinion?

6. Leyline of the Void

[cardimage cardname='Leyline of the Void']

There are so many top tier cards in Modern that rely on the graveyard. Lingering Souls, Tarmogoyf, Past in Flames, Living End, Kitchen Finks and Snapcaster Mage barely scratch the surface of cards and strategies that rely on the graveyard to win games.

So where are all the Leyline of the Voids and Relic of Progenitus’s? What about Nihil Spellbomb even? More decks should come prepared with cards like this in their sideboard. No matter what deck you’re playing, there’s room for a little graveyard disruption.

5. Phyrexian Revoker

[cardimage cardname='Phyrexian Revoker']

Linvala, Keeper of Silence is one of the best cards to tutor for in Birthing Pod decks. She is a staple and shuts down a huge number of strategies all on her own. Phyrexian Revoker is a colorless example of this effect that any deck can play. I could see Pod playing both of these cards because Chord of Calling is much easier to pull off with an x of two than four. Even Suppression Field could see play in the right metagame because this effect is so potent.

This little 2/1 for two is one of the cards I expect to rise in price from M15. Sitting at around a dollar, you can’t go wrong with this guy. Once Khans Standard is here it will be too late to get your cheap copies, so if you want in on this spec, the time is now. I wouldn’t recommend buying in cash because there are lots of copies in trade binders and bulk boxes but that time won’t last long. I expect this hate bear to break three dollars in the fall, maybe more if the format demand it.

4. Darkblast

[cardimage cardname='Darkblast']

No one argues the power level of Orzhov Pontiff in Melira Pod because there are so many great one-toughness creatures in Modern, and a tutorable way to deal with them wins games. Similarly, Darkblast should be seeing play in Modern because it kills all the same creatures.

The great thing about Darkblast is that anytime you want to draw an extra copy of it, you can just dredge it back to your hand. You can even kill two-toughness creatures with it if you cast it during your upkeep and then again in your main phase. There is so much utility with this instant that once you start playing with it, you won’t stop.

Many decks don’t need tons of removal spells. There are so many great options out there and that’s why Darkblast gets overlooked. In a deck like GB Rock though, this card has the perfect home. It fills the void left by Lightning Bolt as well as any card that’s not Lightning Bolt can.

3. Leyline of Sanctity

[cardimage cardname='Leyline of Sanctity']

Every Modern tournament you attend, there will be some number of Burn players. Before this past weekend when my friend won a PTQ with Burn, I did not give it enough credit. Sure I’ve lost to it before at a GP, but I didn’t think it was good enough to win or even top-eight an event. I was wrong. Don’t make the same mistake I did and undervalue the competitiveness of this deck.

If they can’t target you with their burn spells they basically can’t win the game. The great thing about this special enchantment is that it’s potent against more than one deck. Storm and Ad Nauseam both hate the card and often can’t win while its in play. Believe it or not, UWR struggles a bit to beat this card as well. Often their game plan is to burn you out. That’s not an option if this enchantment is in play.

I’m still surprised every time I see that $20 price tag on this card. Sure it’s good and it hoses lots of combo strategies, but I would never expect it to cost so much money. This is the type of card I expect to be undervalued but sadly it isn’t.

2. Temples

The power of scry is undeniable. Players are splashing off-color scry lands in Standard to smooth out their draws. While I wouldn’t go that far, they should be seeing more than the zero play they are currently. Temple of Epiphany specifically comes to mind as a way to bring even more consistency to Splinter Twin decks and just like in Standard, Temple of Malady would be sweet in G/B Rock decks. Who knows how much the scry lands will impact Modern, but the answer is more than they are now.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve been hoarding these lands in preparation for the Fall. They are a major player in Standard and I doubt even tri-lands will impact their level of play. When (not if) they start seeing play in Modern, their price tag should increase even more.

1. Pack Rat

[cardimage cardname='Pack Rat']

The pack daddy and destroyer of all things Standard is poised and ready to take Modern by storm. The ability to win the game with a single card is powerful no matter how slow it is. Being able to turn your situationally powerful spells into other threats is oppressively good. We all know how good Pack Rat is, but it’s as good in Modern as it is in Standard, maybe better.

How could it be better? In Modern there are fewer answers. Nearly every deck has no outs once you make the second rat. There are a few solutions, but many decks fold to this card.

If it’s better in Modern than in Standard, what decks should start playing it? First of all, it seems great alongside Tarmogoyf and Scavenging Ooze in G/B Rock. Second, it’s already seeing some play in Faeries next to Bitterblossom. We are talking about comparing Pack Rat with best finishers ever printed. That’s a strong statement, but regardless of its validity, Pack Rat is coming for you at the next Modern event. You’ve been warned.

If Pack Rat is the next threat to impact Modern, $2 seems incredibly low for it. If Pack Rat dips any lower than its current price, I’ll be buying in big time and you should too. It’s no mythic and the event deck did cripple its previous price, but it will recover. When everyone you know is selling their Pack Rats, start gobbling them up. You’ll thank me later.

Chapin mentioned Training Grounds as a good combo with Pack Rat. If there is any chatter about that card at all, I expect it to spike quickly but you'll have a short window most likely to profit from so keep your eyes open.

Well that’s it for this weeks Top 10. Hope you enjoyed the competitive and financial information. If you have questions or comments about my picks, feel free to post in the comments. Are there other cards that should be seeing play in Modern that I didn’t mention here? Post those below as well.

Until Next Time,

Unleash the Force!

Mike Lanigan
MtgJedi on Twitter
Jedicouncilman23@gmail.com