Take January 2013, right in the middle of the the previous "most expensive Standard" at Pro Tour Gatecrash
Creativity: Express your creativity by incorporating unique designs that stand out in tournaments or casual play
+1: Until your next turn, you may cast creature spells as though they had flash, and each creature you control enters with an additional +1/+1 counter on it
Paired with its ability to dodge being targeted or destroyed by opposing effects by replacing itself with "Azure-Eyes Silver Dragon", "Spirit Dragon" is probably one of the most troublesome cards for "Performapal", and Pendulum Decks as a whole, to deal with
You can only use each effect of "Flying Mary, the Wandering Ghost Ship" once per turn
Just before Cleffas release, most games were decided on the first turn, either by a turn 1 win or from the player going first being able to play a myriad of cards that essentially left the other player empty-handed