Mythic rare cards are the rarest cards in Magic The Gathering. To justify a card receiving Mythic treatment, it typically does something unique. Sometimes, these unique abilities are extremely powerful, and, as we will see below, they can be underwhelming. During spoiler season for a new set, the mythics are highly anticipated, but I remember many times in the past when I’ve seen a new mythic and thought, “That’s it?” Some mythics are too over-costed or have abilities that, in practice, are disappointing.

1. Torrent Elemental

This card may seem like a draft all-star, possibly even a standard all-star, with an intimidating ability and flying. Unfortunately, this card kind of doesn’t do anything of real significance. It is only a 3/5, so it is very poor pressure applied to your opponent. That is a minimum of 7 turns for it to deal lethal damage to your opponent. It has no way to protect itself. The ability to return from exile is incidental and generally quite meaningless. While it is unlikely to be blocked, it applies the same amount of life total pressure as a Delver of Secrets that has flipped for 5x the price.

2. Soul of New Phyrexia

I fell victim to this card when I was a much younger Magic player. Giving all of your permanents indestructible for only 5 mana looks amazing. Being able to do it again from your graveyard also looks great. The truth is that this is a 6 mana 5/5 with trample that does nothing on arrival. Getting anything out of it requires you to dedicate leaving 5 mana up every single turn for the rest of the game, however. It does nothing if you are forced to sacrifice your permanents or if they are exiled. Your opponents will most likely ignore it until they are annoyed enough by you saving 5 mana to save your 6/6 every turn cycle.

3. Avacyn’s Memorial

Avacyn herself was a good card in the past, so why not half of her card text on an artifact? Certainly, this can’t be that bad. You have paid 8 mana to give only other legendary permanents indestructible. The card itself does not apply pressure to your opponents’ life totals or offer an alternative win condition. Magic has better ways to give permanents indestructible for cheaper and more consistently. Over the years, the ability to exile artifacts has increased.  You can also just cast Moonshaker Cavalry for 8 mana instead, buff up the board you’re trying to protect, and win the game.

4. Deadbridge Chant

An easy card to read and think, “Oh, this does something for me throughout the entire course of the game. How can this possibly be bad?” Part one: It is a 6 mana enchantment that mills you for 10 on entering the battlefield. The milling does not continue; it is only a one-time effect. The second line of text is ruined by the “at random” text. Magic has far more consistent ways to take advantage of your graveyard than this.

5. Mox Tantalite

Moxen are almost always extremely powerful cards. They are some of Magic the Gathering’s most powerful artifacts, with 5 of them taking up slots in the Power 9. Mox Opal was banned in Modern for years, and its unbanning resulted in the ban of Underworld Breach. Mox Diamond, Chrome Mox, and Mox Amber are other examples of powerful and game-altering moxen. Nox Tantalite is one of, if not the worst, mox to be printed. It is impossible to cast outright unless you Cascade or Discover into it, and so you are forced to Suspend it for 0. This means you have to wait three turns to get your mox. At the earliest, this is a Turn 4 mana rock.