1. Kormus Bell
Last Month’s Standing: 27 ▲
Kormus Bell bounces back up to the top spot this month on the heat index. This card’s Oracle text ensures that swamps are black creatures and can benefit from buffs such as Bad Moon. Not only is this card spicy in any deck, it also is a Singleton powerhouse, giving you the opportunity to establish creature dominance in numbers with few answers by the opponent.
JUNE 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. Indestructible Aura
Last Month’s Standing: N/A
People are now quickly discovering that Indestructible Aura is a great combat trick and one that cannot be blue blasted or red blasted. This card takes the number two spot strictly on surprise factor. Incidentally, it is probably the best example of a flavor fail since it does not prevent destroy effects, nor is it an aura.
3. Stone Calendar
Last Month’s Standing: 12 ▲
Stone Calendar moves up to number three from number 12 last month. Although the benefit is small, the fact that the effect is cumulative can quickly improve any deck, especially a deck running copy artifact. Several Titania’s Song decks have started to include this as a top and beater.
4. Ichneumon Druid
Last Month’s Standing: 38 ▲
Ichneumon Druid is still a relatively unknown card by many Magic players. Although a bit over-costed, its unique ability definitely puts pressure on counter magic as it ensures the opponent will take damage if they cast too many instants in one turn.
5. Ali from Cairo
Last Month’s Standing: 2 ▼
Ali from Cairo continues to dominate the top spots. Dipping down from second place last month to fifth, players do not generally expect to play against this card. Some people often forget that he is not a legend, and seeing more than one of him on the battlefield is quite the problem without mass removal.
The Lords of Atlanta's Heat Index
Card play‑frequency chart
| This Mo. | Last Mo. | 2 Mo. Ago | Wks | Card Edition |
Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 27 | 15 | 14 | Kormus Bell ▲ ABU |
1 |
| 2 | N/A | N/A | 3 | Indestructible Aura ● Legends |
2 |
| 3 | 12 | 9 | 5 | Stone Calendar ▲ The Dark |
2 |
| 4 | 38 | N/A | 2 | Ichneumon Druid ▲ Legends |
4 |
| 5 | 2 | 5 | 18 | Ali From Cairo ▼ Arabian Nights |
2 |
| 6 | 25 | 25 | 14 | Evil Eye of Orms-by-Gore ▲ Legends |
6 |
| 7 | 18 | 14 | 16 | Personal Incarnation ▲ ABU |
7 |
| 8 | 6 | 16 | 7 | Worms of the Earth ▼ The Dark |
6 |
| 9 | 16 | 19 | 9 | Righteousness ▲ ABU |
9 |
| 10 | N/A | N/A | 1 | Season of the Witch ● The Dark |
10 |
| 11 | 6 | 12 | 7 | Takklemaggot ▼ Legends |
5 |
| 12 | 1 | 7 | 5 | Land Equilibrium ▼ Legends |
1 |
| 13 | 10 | 22 | 8 | Argivian Archeologist ▼ Antiquities |
10 |
| 14 | 3 | 2 | 12 | Sword of the Ages ▼ Legends |
2 |
| 15 | 14 | 50 | 9 | Bottle of Suleiman ▼ Arabian Nights |
14 |
| 16 | N/A | N/A | 1 | Farrel's Mantle ● Fallen Empires |
16 |
| 17 | 15 | 26 | 7 | Hell's Caretaker ▼ Legends |
15 |
| 18 | N/A | N/A | 1 | Reincarnation ● Legends |
18 |
| 19 | 8 | 14 | 5 | Arena ▼ Promos |
8 |
| 20 | 4 | 13 | 3 | Dwarven Catapult ▼ Fallen Empires |
4 |
| 21 | 39 | 49 | 8 | Juxtapose ▲ Legends |
22 |
| 22 | 19 | 1 | 10 | Enchantment Alteration ▼ Legends |
1 |
| 23 | 21 | N/A | 2 | City of Shadows ▼ The Dark |
21 |
| 24 | 13 | 30 | 3 | Smoke ▼ ABU |
13 |
| 25 | 11 | N/A | 2 | Forethought Amulet ▼ Legends |
11 |
| 26 | 44 | 26 | 6 | Ifh-Biff Efreet ▲ Arabian Nights |
26 |
| 27 | 33 | 48 | 3 | Rabid Wombat ▲ Legends |
27 |
| 28 | N/A | N/A | 1 | Lesser Werewolf ● Legends |
28 |
| 29 | 20 | 7 | 17 | Gaea's Liege ▼ ABU |
7 |
| 30 | 35 | 40 | 3 | Raging River ▲ ABU |
30 |
| 31 | N/A | N/A | 1 | Manabarbs ● ABU |
31 |
| 32 | N/A | N/A | 3 | Fungal Bloom ● Fallen Empires |
32 |
| 33 | 41 | 22 | 3 | Banshee ▲ The Dark |
22 |
| 34 | 22 | 10 | 6 | Martyr's Cry ▼ The Dark |
10 |
| 35 | 7 | 3 | 13 | Knowledge Vault ▼ Legends |
1 |
| 36 | 16 | 2 | 12 | Gauntlets of Chaos ▼ Legends |
2 |
| 37 | N/A | N/A | 1 | Hazezon Tamar ● Legends |
37 |
| 38 | N/A | N/A | 1 | Yawgmoth Demon ● Antiquities |
38 |
| 39 | 32 | N/A | 6 | Ashnod's Alter ▼ Antiquities |
14 |
| 40 | N/A | N/A | 1 | Disharmony ● Legends |
40 |
| 41 | 28 | 49 | 3 | Pyramids ▼ Arabian Nights |
28 |
| 42 | 47 | 50 | 3 | Planar Gate ▲ Legends |
42 |
| 43 | 49 | N/A | 3 | Energy Tap ▲ Legends |
3 |
| 44 | 17 | 17 | 8 | Primordial Ooze ▼ Legends |
17 |
| 45 | 34 | 12 | 13 | Living Plane ▼ Legends |
1 |
| 46 | N/A | N/A | 6 | Elephant Graveyard ● Arabian Nights |
22 |
| 47 | 29 | 4 | 22 | Illusionary Mask ▼ ABU |
2 |
| 48 | 48 | N/A | 2 | Master of the Hunt – Legends |
48 |
| 49 | N/A | N/A | 1 | Powerleech ● Antiquities |
1 |
| 50 | N/A | N/A | 3 | Martyrs of Korlis ● Antiquities |
37 |