Plan mana rocks and cost reducers to keep pace
The mid level is just a better speed bump than the 1/3 and while not exciting is a better use of mana than nothing
Still, I think the reasonable floor of a 3-mana 2/3 and the very high ceiling of Goblin Lord that can act as removal or reach is a pretty nice card
So yes, Etali, Primal Conqueror is an extremely good pay off in the command zone for decks that win with Food Chain, if you can keep casting a creature such as Squee, the Immortal from exile to generate 10 million mana or something
There is a mono-black heavily played dork that will put a -1/-1 counter on your thing to activate the good stuff named Yawgmoth, Thran Physician
If youre building a deck thats all about casting creatures, Beast Whisperer, a four-mana 2/3 creature, is going to be incredible for you