In a game like Magic: The Gathering there are likely more cards that are ignored than those being played thanks to the META. Anything that isn't favored in the META typically gets ignored for being suboptimal or weak and creatures or monsters take the brunt of this player base mentality.
But like any ignored underdog, some of these creatures are actually more than meets the eye. They are powerful enough to affect the META and even allow players to snag some wins-- if only they're given a chance. There are tons of those creatures but for the sake brevity, here are 10 of them that some players ought to reconsider including in their decks.
GLADECOVER SCOUT
One of the biggest problems with relying on creatures in any format of MTG is removal of any kind. These can wreck strategies and whole decks. That's also one of the reasons why hexproof is powerful-- supposedly on big creatures. However, smaller hexproof creatures like Gladecover Scout are often ignored.
The thing is, they can actually win games by themselves in the right deck. That deck would be an Enchantment Bogles. Not many players can counter Gladecover Scout and the only reliable way to remove it is with a turn 1 Thoughtseize or a turn 4 board wipe. Too bad Gladecover Scout can and will close out the game as early as turn 3 with the right enchantments.
GIVER OF RUNES
One card that often doesn't see play in formats like Modern is Giver of Runes. It's an unremarkable 1/1 with a tap ability that gives protection to any creature from any color or colorless cards.
It's a great way to prevent interaction from any targeted card effect. Giver of Runes also fills in so many roles and is a turn 1 play, making it good creature insurance. Two of these can even become immortal blockers and stall the opponent.
VEXING DEVIL
While red deck wins is a viable and prevalent build for those looking to just win or are on a budget, they often overlook creatures like Vexing Devil. It's a one-mana and four power creature that can be removed by the opponent but will deal four damage if they decide to.
It's practically a one-mana, four-damage card. What's more, it can trigger and help cast bigger creatures like Chandra's Incinerator especially if the opponent chooses to take 4 damage instead of letting Vexing Devil stay on the field.
HUSHBRINGER
A lot of decks in the Standard format rely too much on creatures going in and out of the battlefield to win. Cards like Uro, Titan of Nature's Wrath or plenty of creatures from META decks like Rakdos Sacrifice can ruin anyone's day.
The solution can be rather simple, however. A two-mana white flyer named Hushbringer can shut these other creatures up and nullify their existence by silencing creature abilities when they enter or exit the battlefield. This does make it a removal magnet, so get those Selfless Saviors and Alseids ready.
AJANI'S PRIDEMATE
A few years ago, Ajani's Pridemate is a staple of a deck called Soul Sisters in Modern. Nowadays, that deck has fallen out of meta in the said format due to the metric ton of removal introduced. Still, with the resurgence of lifegain strategies introduced in Core Set 2021, Ajani's Pridemate is looking good.
The two-mana 2/2 that gains a counter every time lifegain happens can be a menace on the battlefield. It can quickly grow into a huge creature and finish a game. If it does get removed, at the very least, it's not the main threat-- just something that synergizes too well with lifegain.
BOMAT COURIER
Any red deck player will know that once they run out of cards and haven't won yet, then they're usually on their way to losing. Oddly enough, however, creatures like Bomat Courier still don't see much play in mono-red despite its huge potential for card draw.
It can be a turn 1 play too with haste and can easily turn the tide of battle once a red player starts running out of cards in their hand. Still, it does force red players to think a bit like their deck is blue or a control one so it's understandable why some players ignore this creature.
YAROK'S FENLURKER
Yarok's Fenlurker doesn't seem remarkable at first glance. A 1/1 for two black mana that can make an opponent discard looks nothing special. Not to mention the +1/+1 ability is a little pathetic and underwhelming.
Still, in the right deck, such as an 8-Rack in Pioneer that focuses on discard, this one's a must-have. Not only does it hasten the victory of 8-Rack decks but it can also serve as sacrifice fodder for 8-Rack staples such as Rankle, Master of Pranks or other awesome cheap black removals.
LLANOWAR ELVES
Llanowar Elves is not weak in the eyes of the players who use it, of course. The reason why it's here is that the opponents tend to ignore it. It's a green ramp card through and through and can quicken the process of unleashing behemoths or nasty planeswalkers by turn 4.
Then the opponents will be left scratching their heads asking how did that happen. The solution is simple: take out Llanowar Elves early why a mass sweeping -1/-1 or red burn sweepers. In any case, stop ignoring those Llanowar Elves before they bring their big daddies out.
ADANTO VANGUARD
Cheap indestructible creatures are hard to come by in MTG, that's why Adanto Vanguard is special no matter how deterring its cost can be. It's a 1/1 for two mana but gets +2/+0 when attacking but the cake is being able to pay 4 life to make it indestructible for a turn.
This is golden in a format like Pioneer and makes Adanto Vanguard a self-reliant and self-sustaining creature. Throw in some enchantments and it can close out some games or just make it an immortal blocker and regain back that 4 life (easy for a white deck).
PELT COLLECTOR
Pelt Collector, like Llanowar Elves doesn't look weak in the eyes of people who use it. People who play against it, however, tend to ignore it as well in favor of taking out bigger and meaner green stompy threats.
That can prove to be a mistake, Pelt Collector can easily become huge in a deck with a good mana curve and can get trample easily. Pair it with Vexing Devil in a Gruul aggro deck and watch it wreck more expensive decks in as little as three to four turns. As always, never ignore the small and seemingly weak creatures in MTG, especially in aggro decks.