1. Land Equilibrium

Last Month’s Standing: 7 ▲

Continuing to rise in the standings, Land Equilibrium now holds the top spot this month for spiciest card. Although players hate to see it in play against them, no one can deny the spiciness that this card brings to the table. Supplemented by cards, such as Mana Vortex, Armageddon, and even Llanowar Elves, this card continues to find its way into new spicy decks.

MAY 2026

The Heat Index is a monthly index compiling spicy old school cards as determined by the Lords of Atlanta. These are cards that have seen recent play, cards that consistently show up in spicy decks, or cards that should be considered for more play.

2. Ali from Cairo

Last Month’s Standing: 5 ▲

A veteran to the heat index list, this card has been on or near the top spot for over a year and a half. Although not frequently on the tournament scene, it definitely spices things up and forces opponents to reconsider their initial game plan. Expect this card to continue its dominance in the near future.

3. Sword of the Ages

Last Month’s Standing: 2 ▼

Slipping down one spot to number three is Sword of the Ages. Always a Spicy inclusion to any deck, this card allows you to win the game in one turn. Some players have even gone so far as to include Rust in their sideboard to counteract its effect.

4. Dwarven Catapult

Last Month’s Standing: 13 ▲

In what seems like a meteoric rise this card has taken over the number four spot in only two months. This removal spell is frequently under-used and allows you to kill creatures at instant speed assuming you have enough mana to go around.

5. Takklemaggot

Last Month’s Standing: 6 ▲

Creeping up to the top five spiciest card is Takklemaggot. This can really get out of hand as a creature removal card and can pay dividends late game as well once there are no more creatures left alive. You don’t want to be the last one to lose a creature.