We're taking a two-week holiday break and will be back with new stuff on Monday, January 3, 2011. Until then, please enjoy our favorite Arcanas of 2010. This article originally ran August 11, 2010.
Gilder Bairn | Art by Nils Hamm
So cute. I'd gladly adopt that little guy. Maybe trade him for my dog.
He's wearing a frog-suit and ... is that a tail? Did he just place a glowing mushroom on a turtle? Simply adorable.
Gilder Bairn appears in many casual decks, because of the unique counter-doubling ability. Double your planeswalker loyalty counters? No problem. Give all your elves a bump by doubling Joraga Warcaller's +1/+1 counters? Sure. Don't have enough red mana to get Kargan Dragonlord to level 8 fast enough? Gilder Bairn to the rescue! Doubling not your thing? Why not triple your counters with Doubling Season also in play?
I'm not the only one with a soft spot for this delightful ouphe; Noel deCordova is tickled by Gilder Bairn and has featured the card in his From the Lab column repeatedly—as often as he can, I suspect. Similarly smitten, I sneak him into article images I design as frequently as possible, perhaps in some instances you may have overlooked.
Here we see our forest-decorating friend gazing at an Braid of Fire.
From the Lab | Golden Rules
Looking on as a scholar finds some Magic cards in a forest with the help of his hook-flashlight.
From the Lab | Feed Forward
Held suspended in time, erupting with trample-laden red mana, and sharing the spotlight with a powerful shapeshifter.
From the Lab | Golden Rules
Collaborator in the land-destroying fury of a legendary Kamigawa spirit.
From the Lab | Golden Rules
Peering at a lovely, winged, mana-producing elven babe.
From the Lab | Golden Rules
Taking a swim with a wizard-loving merfolk and an attractive siren.
From the Lab | 2010: A Magic Odyssey
Wielding the power of ultimate knowledge.
From the Lab | Feed Forward
Helping you achieve excess in your quest for Eternity Vessel.
From the Lab | The Fall of Land
Finders, keepers—a Lorwyn boggart collects Gildy’s leave-behinds, and Gilder Bairn as elf in a green-white wheel of perpetual goodness.
From the Lab | Feed Forward
Part of the Selesnya army and riding a charging elephant.
Serious Fun | You Are Not Prepared!
Last, as drumstick, bola-throwing enthusiast, and arrow.
From the Lab | 28 Days Later
To be continued...