Llanowar Elves can immediately replace the mana used to cast it, for example
Honorable Mention #1 (#13 Overall) - Biophagus This two-drop 1/3 can tap for any color of mana to use for anything, so it's already better than the smaller and defender Sylvan Caryatid
Control Nymris, Oona's Trickster | Illustration by Johannes Voss Commander (1) Battle (1) Creature (26) Academy Loremaster Snapcaster Mage Quickling Blacklance Paragon Cunning Nightbonder Spectral Adversary Wavebreak Hippocamp Opposition Agent Slitherwisp Vendilion Clique Tishana's Tidebinder Brazen Borrower Nimble Obstructionist Ebondeath, Dracolich Crafty Cutpurse Notion Thief Ulamog's Nullifier Voracious Greatshark Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir Thryx, the Sudden Storm Dream Eater Lochmere Serpent Callidus Assassin Torrential Gearhulk Hullbreaker Horror Elder Deep-Fiend Instant (25) March of Swirling Mist Mystical Tutor Brainstorm Consider Dark Ritual Drown in the Loch Run Away Together Cyclonic Rift Mission Briefing Narset's Reversal Counterspell Dimir Charm Go for the Throat Tainted Indulgence Filter Out Dihada's Ploy Silundi Vision Ancient Excavation Deadly Rollick Rewind Mystical Teachings Aetherspouts Mystic Confluence Nexus of Fate Dig Through Time Artifact (9) Sol Ring Scroll Rack Arcane Signet Dimir Signet Talisman of Dominance Sapphire Medallion Thaumatic Compass Fellwar Stone Commander's Sphere Land (37) Exotic Orchard Command Tower Myriad Landscape Evolving Wilds Reliquary Tower Temple of the False God Otawara, Soaring City Castle Vantress Shipwreck Marsh Jwar Isle Refuge Clearwater Pathway Darkwater Catacombs Dimir Aqueduct Temple of Deceit Sunken Hollow Restless Reef Creeping Tar Pit Sunken Ruins Choked Estuary Swamp x8 Island x10 Control is a reactive macro-archetype that wants to operate at instant speed and respond to what your opponents are doing
The art and mechanics of each work together to convey the idea that these are the same creatures, undergoing a horrifying transformation into monsters on the battlefield right before our eyes
Mudflat Village A black-mana-generating Land that fits well into the colors wealth of reanimation effects
Throw in some graveyard artifact retrieval like a Goblin Welder, Argivian Archeologist or Open the Vaults, and you can get them all back
