mtg shards of alara cards and white onto the battlefield. MtG Shards of Alara Rare

Not only can you hold up countermagic to freeze the boardstate, but you can sink excess mana into scry effects, immediately increasing the power of your board rather than needing to first spend a turn drawing cards, then casting them and then eventually being able to attack

From shards and splinters I call forth my living horde. Molimo, maro-sorcerer Illustrated by Greg Staples Standard Not Legal Alchemy Not Legal Pioneer Not Legal Historic Not Legal Modern Not Legal Brawl Not Legal Legacy Legal Comp

Until end of turn, this creature becomes a Plant with base power and toughness 0/8

I don't think you need me to elaborate more as to why this is considered a staple even today