For a little bit of everything, I'd recommend checking out the Illumineer's Trove for $50, which comes with a card storage box, six card dividers, eight booster packs, six damage-counter dice, and a lore counter
Also, using cards to prevent monsters from attacking can prevent keyword ability monsters from dealing damage to the opponent
I remember in some of the anime they had fish, and other sea creatures - like at festival stalls or at meal times
Kaito, Dancing Shadow has an interesting ability to use two loyalty abilities in a single turn
The design process on a set of Magic cards starts in the Exploratory Stage where game designers, artists, and writers at Wizards of the Coast throw ideas at the wall for around a month and see what sticks