It’s Christmas time and we all know that means it’s the time of year where you both get and give presents and gifts. We all enjoy getting gifts on the holidays and we also know which friends and family bring the best gifts. Today’s theme will be budget creatures that bring gifts.

Creature “gifts” come in many types but my absolute favorite are ones with come into play abilities. Not only do they bring abilities to the battle field they also do so as a surprise. Creatures in your hand cannot be targeted by spells or effects and are also hard for your opponent to prepare against. They wait in ambush for the right moment to spring the trap and offer you card advantage.

Nekrataal

This guy is one of my favorites of all time. As a true assassin he waits for the right moment to strike, killing any non-black, non-artifact creature as he comes into play. Not only does this creature bring death to your kitchen table, he can also offer moderate attacks as well as first strike damage. A real value for only four mana.

Flickerwisp

This guy is the true gift giver of Christmas. For 3 mana, you summon a 3/1 flyer that allows you to “re-gift” another gift giving creature you have already played this game.

Coiling Oracle

I typically don’t talk much about multicolored cards but this one deserves a mention. This green/blue creature comes into play for 2 mana and gives you either a card in hand or a untapped land into play. That’s unbeatable early game card advantage and that’s why this creature is gold in more ways then one.

Elvish Visionary

The Visionary, as well as multiple other creatures like Wall of Omens net you an additional draw as well as a blocker or sometimes an attacker. Drawing more cards is only bad when your deck is empty so enjoy having these good gift givers at your next Christmas duel.

Winged Coatl

Yes, I did it again. Another multicolored creature. But let’s get serious. This creature might as well say “destroy target attacking creature,” and for it’s casing cost that’s even hard to beat in white. However, this creature stays difficult to work with considering it’s multicolored nature.

Nightshade Peddler

I’m not sure about you but in my kitchen table games deathtouch is king. Nightshade Peddler comes into play and offers a buddy of his deathtouch and well as receives the ability in return. A first striker with deathtouch? Trample and deathtouch? Reach and deathtouch? This guy is a great budget gift giver.

Eternal Witness

When this green creature comes into play she brings you what you value most, spells you have already lost. For three mana you not only get a 2/1 green creature, you also get to pick a spell from your graveyard and put it in your hand to recast later.

Mistblade Shinobi

What is more annoying than having to play a creature a second time? Having to play a creature a second time and taking one damage. That’s where Mistblade Shinobi comes in. Granted, this creature is not the typical “comes into play” creature but with some early skill and finesse he may as well be. Ninjitsu also offers you the same replay value as Flickerwisp from earlier does for other gift giving abilities. Honorable mention also go to Ninja of the Deep Hours, Okiba-Gang Shinobi and Throat Slitter.

I would love to hear about some of your favorite gift giving creatures. Leave your favorite “comes into play” ability creatures in the comments below, tweet me https://twitter.com/TheAiokii or follow conversation about budget Magic on reddit at http://www.reddit.com/r/budgetdecks/

I’ll see you all Christmas day with another installment of The Planeswalker’s Apprentice.