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Writer's pictureConnor Kirkwood

Ask the AI: Top Ten Arabian Nights Cards

Updated: May 5


Juzam Djinn
Artist: Mark Tedin

Arabian Nights, Magic the Gathering's first expansion, contains some of the most powerful and iconic cards ever printed. Based on The Book of One Thousand and One Nights, Arabian Nights features many characters and settings from Middle Eastern folktales.


Despite thousands of MTG cards being printed after it, some of the cards from Arabian Nights continue to be the most powerful cards in the game. Meanwhile, some of the cards that were considered "broken" when they were first printed are now considered to be "power-crept" out of modern-day Magic games.


While some cards may immediately spring to mind when debating the most powerful Arabian Nights cards, it is challenging to nail down the top ten. That's why we're going to Ask the AI!



What are the ten most powerful Magic the Gathering cards printed in Arabian nights?



1. Library of Alexandria



Library of Alexandria is an exceptionally powerful Magic card due to its unparalleled ability to generate card advantage. It offers a unique advantage by allowing its controller to draw an additional card if they have exactly seven cards in hand. This ability effectively accelerates a player's access to resources and options, enabling them to maintain momentum and outpace opponents in card advantage.


 

2. Juzam Djinn



Juzam Djinn is revered as a powerful Magic card primarily due to its incredible efficiency in terms of power and mana cost. A 5/5 creature for only four mana represents an exceptional rate of power-to-cost ratio, making it a formidable threat on the battlefield. Its raw stats alone make it a force to be reckoned with, capable of applying significant pressure on opponents and swiftly ending games if left unchecked.


 

3. Bazaar of Baghdad



Bazaar of Baghdad stands as a powerful Magic card due to its unique and versatile card filtering capabilities. Bazaar of Baghdad provides players with the ability to draw two cards and discard three cards, effectively enabling rapid card filtering and selection. This ability is particularly potent in graveyard-centric strategies where filling the graveyard with specific cards or triggering graveyard-based effects is essential.


 

4. City of Brass



City of Brass is recognized as a powerful Magic card primarily due to its exceptional mana-fixing capabilities and flexibility. City of Brass provides players with access to any color of mana, making it invaluable in multicolored decks where mana consistency is crucial. Its ability to tap for mana of any color allows players to cast spells of diverse color requirements without being constrained by their mana base.


 

5. Drop of Honey



Drop of Honey is revered as a powerful Magic card due to its unique and efficient creature removal capabilities. Drop of Honey offers a recurring method of creature elimination by destroying the creature with the lowest power during the upkeep step. This ability provides continuous and widespread board control, allowing players to systematically dismantle opposing creature-based strategies while maintaining a presence on the battlefield.


 

6. Diamond Valley



Diamond Valley earns its status as a powerful Magic card due to its unique and versatile ability to provide life gain while also serving as a form of creature sacrifice. Diamond Valley allows its controller to sacrifice a creature in exchange for gaining life equal to the sacrificed creature's toughness. This ability offers flexibility in gameplay, enabling players to gain life when threatened while also leveraging their creatures strategically, whether for triggering death-related effects or circumventing opponent's removal spells.


 

7. Serendib Efreet



Serendib Efreet has earned its reputation as a powerful Magic card primarily due to its impressive power and toughness-to-mana cost ratio. As a 3/4 flying creature for only three mana, Serendib Efreet represents a significant threat on the battlefield, capable of applying pressure and disrupting opponents' game plans early in the game. Its evasion ability, coupled with its above-average stats, makes it a formidable attacker and defender alike.


 

8. Ali from Cairo



Ali from Cairo holds its power in its unique ability to shield its controller from losing the game due to damage while it remains on the battlefield. This defensive capability is particularly potent in decks aiming to stall or control the game's pace, offering a crucial layer of protection against direct damage spells, aggressive creature strategies, and other forms of damage-based win conditions.


 

9. Guardian Beast



Guardian Beast earns its reputation as a powerful Magic card due to its unique protective ability, offering potent defense for artifacts under its controller's control. As a 2/4 creature for four mana, Guardian Beast boasts respectable stats, but its true strength lies in its ability to grant artifact permanents indestructible, shielding them from destruction effects and ensuring their longevity on the battlefield. This ability not only safeguards valuable artifacts from targeted removal but also prevents opponents from disrupting artifact-based strategies or combos easily.


 

10. Erhnam Djinn



Erhnam Djinn commands its status as a powerful Magic card due to its efficient mana cost-to-power ratio and its relevance in aggressive strategies. As a 4/5 creature for four mana, Erhnam Djinn offers a formidable body that can quickly dominate the battlefield and pressure opponents. Its substantial toughness makes it resilient against many commonly played creatures, while its high power enables it to trade favorably in combat or apply significant pressure to opponents' life totals.


 


These cards, while not exhaustive, represent some of the most iconic and powerful cards from the Arabian Nights expansion. Their impact on Magic: The Gathering has been significant, and many of them remain sought after by collectors and players alike.


So what do you think? Are these the ten most powerful Arabian Nights cards? Let us know in the comments below!

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