The overall value of a Magic set tends to be predictable and self-correcting during its first year. Booster box costs are static, and if they aren’t
printed to order, they might as well be. If the value of the singles goes too high, dealers will crack packs and increase the supply until prices drop. If
the value goes too low, people will stop buying boosters until the supply shrinks. It’s both logical and elegant.
As I said in my rundown of the Dragons of Tarkir mythic rares last week, I’m pretty bearish on most of
the high value cards in the set. If you couple that with the lack of high profile mana fixing-most large expansions these days tend to have a cycle of
$5-$10 lands-you end up with a ton of singles value that should be going somewhere.
It’s possible that Dragons of Tarkir ends up being a complete bust, of course, but even Dragon’s Maze had multiple $10-$20 mythics, a $40-$50 tier one
staple, and a bunch of shocklands. I expect Dragons of Tarkir to perform significantly better than that, but I feel like a good chunk of its value lies in
its rares, not its mythics. This is a set that I expect to have fairly broad value with a solid base of very playable cards, which means that we’re going
to be seeing some upward movement as people figure out which rares are the real deal and which are bulk rares in disguise. Can we break the code and figure
out which new cards are poised to dominate Standard? Let’s give it a shot.
White
Myth Realized – $3.99
In Magical Christmasland, Myth Realized is a cheaper copy of Tarmogoyf. Play it on turn 1, cast a million spells, and attack for a trillion damage. In
reality, we’re looking at a very situational one-drop that is absurd in the right deck at the right time and mediocre in most other situations. The fact
that Myth Realized can dodge wraths and build itself up in the lategame means that it will certainly see some play, perhaps even in Modern, but are we
looking at a four-of multi-deck multi-format staple? I strongly doubt that. Not being dead in the lategame is different from being a good draw in the
lategame, and Myth Realized really does need everything to go according to plan.
I understand why everyone is jazzed about Myth Realized. It’s one of the few cards in the set with $12-$15 upside, which makes a $4 buy-in really tempting.
I’m unwilling to buy in until I see more than one deck actually find a way to use this though. The bust potential is far too great.
Secure the Wastes – $3.99
Instant speed? Creature type-warrior? Sign me up. Secure the Wastes is a scalable Raise the Alarm that’s worse at two mana and better at every other spot
on the curve. The fact that these little guys can be pumped by the Khans of Tarkir chiefs is relevant, though I can see demand for this card extending
beyond one Standard deck. I’ve even heard some realistic talk about trying Secure the Wastes out in Modern W/B Tokens, though I’m not sure what you’d cut
there. $4 is pretty expensive for an untested Standard rare, but I like this more than most of the other cards in the set. I’m not buying a set on spec,
but I’d be all over Secure the Wastes at $4 if I wanted to play a deck that could utilize it at some point over the next couple of months. It’ll see play
as a two-of in a couple of decent decks at worst.
Anafenza, Kin-Tree Spirit – $2.99
I’m not impressed. The WW in Anafenza’s casting cost makes her an awkward play in a multicolored deck, and I doubt we’re going to see white-based devotion
at any point before this Standard environment rotates. If we do see a white aggro deck, I bet it’ll be centered around warriors-a qualification that
Anafenza lacks. Casual players might be interested, but the fact that Anafenza doesn’t trigger off tokens limits her desirability in those circles. You
have to somewhat respect a 2/2 for two with a relevant ability, but the time seems wrong for Anafenza to shine. I expect her to drop toward the $1 range
before long.
Arashin Foremost – $1.99
How many warriors will it take before we get a playable W/B aggro deck in Standard? I bet on it happening after Fate Reforged was released, and those
warrior cards still stand out as my biggest set review misses of the winter. At $2, there’s some upside with Arashin Foremost-this is a $4-$5 card as a
four-of in a good warriors deck. If that deck continues to stay on the sidelines though, Arashin Foremost should drop to a buck pretty quickly. Buy in if
you’re going to build warriors, and monitor the situation closely if you’re a speculator. If you opened one of these at the Prerelease, I’d hold onto it
for a week or two just to see if we’re finally going to see W/B on the big stage.
Radiant Purge – $1.49
Despite the fact that Siege Rhino is still the defining card of the metagame, Radiant Purge probably isn’t anything more than a sideboard card in today’s
Standard. $1.50 is about what those kinds of spells sell for, making this a fine buy if you need two or three copies for your list of 75. If we end up in a
world where Radiant Purge is a utility card in multiple maindecks, we’re looking at a $5-$6 spell here, but I don’t see that happening. This card is likely
going to stay in the $0.50-$2 range, especially if Battle for Zendikar doesn’t have too many gold cards in it.
Hidden Dragonslayer – $0.99
If W/B Warriors does become a deck, Hidden Dragonslayer has got to have a place in the sideboard at least, right? A 2/1 lifelinking warrior for 1W isn’t
anything to write home about, but it’s a respectable turn 2 play at the very least. The Megamorph requires a six mana investment, but it’s an uncounterable
instant speed flip that kills most of the major threats in Standard while leaving behind a 3/2 lifelinking beatstick. Against aggro, you block and gain two
life in the earlygame. Against control, you sit back and two-for-one your opponent. I think this guy is being underrated at $1, and it has some room to
grow. I’m buying a playset.
Bulk Rares:
Gleam of Authority, Profound Journey, Sunscorch Regent.
All three of these bulk rares have some casual upside over the long haul, but I doubt they’ll see any 60-card play.
Blue
Icefall Regent – $1.99
Five mana is a lot to ask of any Constructed-playable card, but Icefall Regent does compare favorably to former Standard staple Dungeon Geists. The Frost
Titan shield is quite relevant here, and the additional point of power is as well. If Standard becomes a format where big creatures start slamming into
each other, Icefall Regent will see play. If it’s a pile of warriors versus another pile of manifest creatures from Whisperwood Elemental, Icefall Regent
will stick to the sidelines. I’m not going to speculate on this right now, but if it drops to bulk over the summer I’ll be buying several dozen copies in
advance of Battle for Zendikar and the coming reign of the new Eldrazi titans.
Stratus Dancer – $1.99
Much like Hidden Dragonslayer, Stratus Dancer’s upside is pretty sweet. If your opponent doesn’t see this coming, you can use it to negate a removal spell
while blowing out a combat phase. That’s going to be pretty good in Limited, but I’m not convinced it’ll carry over to Standard play. Holding this up is
going to be the most obvious thing in the world, and a 2/1 flier for 1U is far worse than a 2/1 lifelinking warrior for 1W. If morph or manifest becomes
common enough in blue for this card to actually be sneaky, it might see some play. Otherwise, I feel like it’ll be heading toward bulk before long. I’ll
pass for now.
Mirror Mockery – $1.25
Mirror Mastery is probably a bulk rare, but I wanted to draw some attention to it because it’s kind of a unique little card. If you’ve got a creature with
a great enters-the-battlefield ability and you don’t mind attacking with it, this gets you another copy of the ability plus a few points of damage. Don’t
have a creature of your own but you’re facing down an opponent’s big threat? Drop this on their dragon or rhino and block with your token. Cards like
Mirror Mastery are often bulk rares, but that’s what we all thought about Splinter Twin at first too. This card is at least worth a second look in
Standard.
Living Lore – $0.99
Living Lore is also probably going to bulk before long, but I love the idea of an 8/8 for four that can re-cast a Dig Through Time for free. This is a dead
card enough of the time that I doubt it’ll see much serious play, but combo-based blue cards always give me pause. I doubt this can break anything in
Modern that Snapcaster can’t already do by himself, but the potential is certainly there. I’m going to buy a couple of foils-worst case, it’s Commander
trade fodder. Best case, someone breaks this in half and you make out big.
Profaner of the Dead – $0.49
No one is talking about this guy, but are we sure he’s a bulk rare? We’re in a metagame where Hordeling Outburst, Raise the Alarm, and Monastery Mentor all
see play. Even just sacrificing the Profaner to himself cleans up every token on the battlefield, breaking open an aggro mirror or buying a control deck a
ton of time. I’m not sure how good it is to bounce a bunch of manifested cards from a Mastery of the Unseen, but if you’re winning the game that turn, why
not? I expect Profaner of the Dead to find a home as a two-of or three-of in at least one deck. Not a high value card, maybe, but not a bulk rare. Buy a
set at $0.50 each.
Bulk Rares:
Dragonlord’s Prerogative, Blessed Reincarnation, Illusory Gains.
Black
Sidisi, Undead Vizier – $4.99
I wouldn’t be surprised if Sidisi, Undead Vizier sees more play than her mythic form from Khans of Tarkir. Not only does this slide right into a Whip of
Erebos shell, potentially making that deck viable again, but she’s an ideal five-drop in a midrange deck. Sidisi’s 4/6 deathtouch body can block a Siege
Rhino and survive while also threatening to attack for a non-trivial amount of damage. Her Exploit ability will make her a virtual two-for-one most of the
time, allowing you to sac a trivial creature in order to grab some lategame power. You can even sac her to her own ability if you draw Sidisi on an empty
board and need something different to turn the game around.
Value-wise, Sidisi’s casual and Commander value should keep her in the $2 range at least. Beyond that, it’ll depend on how many different decks can use
this effect in Standard. If it’s just one, the $5 price will be spot on. If it’s two or more, we’d be looking at an $8+ price tag. Based on that, the $5
pre-order price feels spot on to me. Buy if you need a couple of personal copies, but hold off otherwise.
Damnable Pact – $1.99
Board stalls are all the rage these days, and Damnable Pact is pretty good in those types of situations. Have five or six mana? Refill your hand at minimal
cost. Have ten or twelve mana at your disposal? Burn out your opponent and laugh. My big worry about this card? Sorcery speed card draw kind of sucks.
Tapping out to re-fill your hand while taking damage and not affecting the board isn’t going to help most of the time, making this a lategame two-of at
best. Unless I’m completely misevaluating things, $2 seems like the most this card can realistically be worth going forward. Stay away for now.
Corpseweft – $0.99
Someone is already hard at work trying to break this card. Three mana is pretty steep for a combo piece that doesn’t immediately break the game open, but
if you’ve got a graveyard engine going, you can split the game wide open in pretty short order. Don’t forget: You can just choose to exile one creature at
a time to make a pile of 2/2 zombies and overwhelm your opponent that way if you want to.
Corpseweft is pretty clunky, and it needs the right deck to function, so I wouldn’t be shocked if this drops to bulk before it finds the right home. I’ll
be buying a small stack of them at bulk rare prices if I get the chance because I expect someone to find a way to make this work eventually. As with most
of the slower burn cards on this list, it’s fine to grab a set now if you want them. Heck, grab a second one on spec too. This card might take a while to
pay off, but I suspect that it eventually will.
Blood-Chin Fanatic – $0.99
A 3/3 for three that doesn’t do anything by itself is barely playable in Limited, but Blood-Chin Fanatic can do a pretty good Gray Merchant of Asphodel
impression in the lategame if you have enough warriors in your deck. Fanatic probably isn’t good enough as a straight value creature, but if you’re
intending to throw a small handful of warriors at your opponent to deal them that last eight damage in one shot? This is your man.
Best case, Blood-Chin Fanatic is a three-of in one tribal deck. That’d put the price in the $3-$4 range. Warriors already has a ton of possible three-drops
though, and it’s not even real deck yet. This has some potential if it falls to bulk, but that’d be it.
Bulk Rares:
Deathbringer Regent, Foul Renewal, Hedonist’s Trove, Pitiless Horde, Silumgar Assassin.
Red
Thunderbreak Regent – $4.99
If there is going to be anything approaching a dragon tribal deck in Standard, Thunderbreak Regent is going to be the reason why. As it is, G/R Monsters is
going to take a long, hard look at running four of these alongside Stormbreath Dragon. A 4/4 flier for four is already a fine deal, but the three damage is
going to ensure that even an Utter End or Abzan Charm to this things’ face will get you some value. It might even be worth a look on the top end of an
aggro curve to provide reach alongside evasive power.
I’m not buying Thunderbreak Regent at $5 though, because almost all of the upside is baked out. That said, I love this card as a long-term sleeper if it
doesn’t make an impact right away. Polukranos and Stormbreath Dragon are both going to rotate out in the fall, and this card might see a surge in
popularity once it doesn’t have to compete against those creatures anymore. Keep an eye on this one over the summer if it doesn’t start to dominate
Standard right away.
Zurgo Bellstriker – $2.99
I’m not sure warrior decks are going to end up in red, but I still wouldn’t be surprised if Tarkir’s very own Biff Tannen sees a bunch of Standard play
regardless. 2/X’s for R have been pretty good historically, and this seems better than Firedrinker Satyr to me thanks to his Dash ability. We’re looking at
a $1 card if Zurgo doesn’t catch on right away, and a $5 card if he does, so I’m hesitant to recommend a buy. Grab a set if you play Mono-Red Aggro, but
stay away for now otherwise.
Ire Shaman – $1.99
Ire Shaman is stupidly annoying to block, and it’ll cause some havoc even in its two-drop form. At four mana, you’re going to get a very useful attacker
and a decent draw some percentage of the time. I love cards like this in my aggro decks – drop it on turn 2, and you’ve got a fine beater. Draw it
lategame, and you get a respectable body and a free draw. Sign me up!
Financially, this is in the same camp as Zurgo Bellstriker except that your buy-in is a dollar cheaper. If you’re a red player, grab a set now. Otherwise,
hang out a bit and see if it catches on.
Dragon Tempest – $1.99
This effect will only be worth a card in a dragon tribal deck. There might be a Standard deck out there that could use it, but it’s probably not going to
be very good or popular. Commander demand should help keep the foil price above bulk, but if this card is going to stay above $0.50, it’s going to be
thanks to 60-card casual demand-the second ability on here stacks pretty nicely. This card should drop to bulk, but it could have a nice casual rebound at
some point.
Commune With Lava – $1.99
It’s hard not to look at Commune With Lava and drool over the best case scenario. Slam this during your opponent’s turn, flip three or four burn spells,
and win the game in short order. Commune With Lava scales well after a certain point, but it doesn’t do much unless you’re sinking five or six mana into it
at least. Does a red deck want to commit to that? And if so, do they want to run more than one or two copies? Even if Commune With Lava does see Standard
play, $2 seems like its ceiling. Stay away.
Bulk Rares:
Berserkers’ Onslaught, Crater Elemental, Volcanic Vision.
Green
Collected Company – $4.99
Collected Company is my favorite card in the set, but that doesn’t mean it’s actually good. The combo potential here is legitimate, but you need to
dedicate your entire deck to abusing it if you’re going in this direction. Not sure what I’m talking about? Well, Congregation at Dawn just saw a major
spike due to its interaction with Collected Company: Congregation at end of turn to find Melira, Kitchen Finks, and Viscera Seer. Untap, draw Seer, play
Seer, play Collected Company, and win the game. Granted, this combo isn’t as good as Birthing Pod was or Splinter Twin still is-heck, I’m not sure it’s as
good as Gifts Ungiven plus Unburial Rites. That doesn’t mean people won’t be itching to try it out in Modern though, and demand should be strong for a few
weeks at least, as people try to make this deck happen.
Beyond that, Reddit user /u/Mango_Punch did some math on Collected Company
hit rates in an aggro/value build. You only need to have 24 creatures with CMC three or less before your double hit rate jumps to about 80%. This Pat Cox Modern Zoo deck from early January runs 22 of them
already. Does that deck have room for a four-drop instant? I’m not sure, but it has to be at least worth considering, right?
There isn’t any real middle ground for Collected Company. It’s either going to be a $10-$12 multi-format staple, or it’s going to be a bulk rare. I’m not
buying at $5 because the risk is too high, but there’s a very real possibility that this ends up being the marquee card in the set.
Assault Formation – $2.49
Assault Formation is cute, but its ability isn’t worth an entire card. Do you really need to be attacking with your Sylvan Caryatids and doubling the power
of your Coursers of Kruphix? Certainly not at the price of a two-drop enchantment. Future bulk rare with some long-term casual potential.
Avatar of the Resolute – $2.49
Wait, really? We get Garruk’s Companions with multiple kinds of upside now? Throwing three abilities on an already above-curve card is a great way to
ensure that something is going to see play in Standard, and I doubt we go the next year and a half without seeing multiple decks where Avatar of the
Resolute is featured as a four-of. This card does require you to play heavy green though, and it does need to be paired with Fleecemane Lion or something
if you want to unlock its true potential. I expect it to hit $5 at some point while it’s Standard legal, but I’m not sure if that will be next month or
next year.
Den Protector – $1.99
Eternal Witnesses are better in formats without delve, but the versatility of this should still make it playable in Standard. Its pseudo-evasion isn’t that
good, but it does exist, and investing five mana over several turns for a 3/2 witness that is unblockable some amount of the time feels playable to me,
especially since it can be cast as an on-curve two-drop against aggro. People are underrating this card because it isn’t as good as Eternal Witness, but it
can still be a format staple at 75% strength. I’m in for a playset on spec at $2 each.
Surrak, the Hunt Caller – $1.99
Formidable seems like it’s going to be hard to activate most of the time, but Surrak doesn’t need much help. He’s already bringing five power to the
table-all you need is a three-power creature or a couple of tokens and you’re good to go. Playing and attacking with Surrak on turn 3 or 4 isn’t going to
be that hard. Even if that doesn’t work out for you, having this guy on the table changes the math for your opponent considerably. Most dragons just aren’t
that scary, but dragons with haste? That’s a different story. If we head toward a more battlecruiser-Magic Standard, Surrak should find a place in it. I
could see him stabilizing in the $4-$5 range, and if you’re a G/R or Temur tempo player, I’d grab a couple of these at $2 just in case.
Bulk Rares:
Foe-Razer Regent, Obscuring Aether, Sunbringer’s Touch.
Multicolored
Ojutai’s Command – $5.99
First off, Ojutai’s Command is the Buy-a-Box promo for Dragons of Tarkir. Shamanic Revelation aside, the Buy-a-Box card usually ends up as a staple in
Standard. More likely than not, Ojutai’s Command did some work in the Future Future League. We shouldn’t dismiss that.
I’m still not sure that Ojutai’s Command is a card you want to be playing with though. Versatility is well and good, but you still want your Commands to be
doing things that your deck is going to want at some point. Let’s take a look at Cryptic Command’s four modes:
· Counter target spell: This is the best thing a control deck can do when ahead or stable on board. This ability is worth a card and three mana by itself.
· Return target permanent to its owner’s hand: This mode works best to regain tempo when behind. This ability is worth a card and two mana by itself.
· Tap all creatures your opponents control: This either buys you a turn against an aggro deck or lets you alpha strike. This ability is worth a card and
two mana by itself.
· Draw a card: All control decks want to do this all the time. Cycling generally costs about two mana.
Alright, now let’s see what Ojutai’s Command gives us:
· Return target creature card with CMC two or less from your graveyard to the battlefield: We’re not playing in a Standard environment with Merfolk Looter
or Augur of Bolas, so this mode is only going to have targets if you’re playing an aggro/tempo deck or running a third color for something like Sylvan
Caryatid. This ability is worth a card and would normally cost about two mana but wouldn’t see any Constructed play.
· Gain 4 life: This is only going to matter when it’s the difference between living or dying against an aggro or burn opponent. Not bad, but it’s not going
to buy you a full turn. This is worth about half a card and one mana.
· Counter target creature spell: Negate sees a good amount of play, but Essence Scatter is a little more niche. Even still, it’s a solid ability that’s
worth a card and two mana.
· Draw a card: Again, this is about a two mana ability.
If you’re playing Ojutai’s Command, it’s going to read “2WU: Counter target creature spell. Draw a card.” about 90% of the time. That card probably
wouldn’t see much play. It probably wouldn’t even be rare. Are people really that excited about gaining four life and/or ambushing someone with a two-drop
in white and blue? I could see this card as a potential two-of in some kind of Jeskai tempo deck, but that’s a $2-$3 rare, not a $6 one. Trade these away.
Atarka’s Command – $4.99
Another Command? Awesome! Let’s check the abilities:
· Your opponents can’t gain life this turn: It’ll shut down part of a Siege Rhino activation or a Sphinx’s Revelation in Modern, but that’s only worth
about one mana and half a card.
· Three damage to each opponent: Now we’re talking! Lava Spike is playable and is worth one mana and one card.
· You may put a land card from your hand onto the battlefield: Half an Explore is worth one mana and about half of a card. Even still, there are times when
this is significantly more useful than that.
· Creatures you control get +1/+1 and reach until end of turn: This one isn’t bad either. It’s worth one mana and a full card at instant speed. I also like
that this can be used as an alpha strike or defensively in order to take down a couple of evasive attackers.
Most of the time, this card is going to read “R/G: Creatures you control get +1/+1 until end of turn. Deal 3 damage to your opponent.” That’s a playable
card in an aggressive deck, and the other abilities are also pretty solid. If Atarka’s Command was R/W instead of R/G, we’d be in business for sure. As is,
I’m not sure R/G decks are going to be aggressive enough in Standard to take advantage of this. I’m staying away for now, but I like it as a long-term
Modern spec buy if it drops down toward $1-$2. It could see some play there as well.
Silumgar’s Command – $3.99
Five mana is a ton for a Command, so these modes had all better be good:
· Counter target noncreature spell: Negate is a solid Standard playable. It’s worth two mana and a card.
· Return target permanent to its owner’s hand: It’s another piece of the Cryptic Command puzzle! Worth a card and two to three mana.
· Target creature gets -3/-3 until end of turn: Last Gasp saw play in Standard at two mana and a card. Bile Blight sees play now at BB.
· Destroy target planeswalker: We haven’t had a card that’s done this before. Hero’s Downfall is much better and more versatile at 1BB, so this would
probably cost about two mana and a card but wouldn’t see Standard play.
Atarka’s Command gives you very little versatility, but you don’t have to pay a premium for it-the card is undercosted for what it does. Cryptic Command
gives you infinite versatility while also being undercosted. Silumgar’s Command goes in the opposite direction-none of these abilities combine to be worth
3UB, but this is the most versatile of the new Commands by far, and it’s the only one where all four abilities will see a roughly equivalent amount of
play. Is that worth the additional colorless mana? My gut reaction is that this will find a home somewhere. Countering a spell while killing a planeswalker
is brutal against control decks, and bouncing a permanent while killing a creature is solid against aggro. Silumgar’s Command is clunky, but it gives you
so many options. I see this settling in the $5-$6 range as a three-of or four-of in a top tier U/B Control shell.
Kolaghan’s Command – $2.99
Our first three-mana Command! How good is it?
· Return target creature card from your graveyard to your hand: Raise Dead is theoretically worth one mana and a card, but it’s no tournament powerhouse.
· Target player discards a card: Raven’s Crime is the gold standard here I suppose, and that one’s got retrace. Again, this is worth about one mana and
some large fraction of a card.
· Destroy target artifact: This ability is very good at one mana–unplayable at two.
· Deal 2 damage to target creature of player: This is well worth one mana and one card.
Kolaghan’s Command is at a pretty good intersection of versatility and cost. You’re paying an extra mana beyond the value of each ability no matter what,
but all four modes are quite relevant. You’re going to be dealing two damage to something most of the time, but instant speed discard, returning a
creature, and/or blowing up an artifact can all be extremely high impact plays. If there’s a R/B deck to be built out there, it will play this card. I’ll
be snapping them up if they drop toward bulk, and I’d be fine paying current retail if I thought I could build a deck that could abuse this.
Dromoka’s Command – $2.99
This was the cheapest Command by a full dollar for a while, which I just don’t understand. Take a look:
· Prevent all damage target instant or sorcery spell would deal this turn: situational, certainly, but a blowout in the right setting. Great against red
out of a sideboard. Worth a card and a mana.
· Target player sacrifices an enchantment: Outstanding in the current metagame where Mastery of the Unseen is wreaking havoc and the Theros gods are still
a thing. Erase sees a bunch of play. Would see play at one card and one mana.
· Put a +1/+1 counter on target creature: Interacts well with Avatar of the Resolute, affects the board during combat but sticks around. Worth a card and a
mana.
· Target creature you control fights target creature you don’t control: Removal? Yes, please! We know this costs one mana and one card, but the fact that
it stacks well with the +1/+1 counter shouldn’t be overlooked.
Dromoka’s Command doesn’t give any discounts-it costs two mana and all of the modes are worth about one mana each-but it provides more versatility than the
other Commands that don’t charge a versatility premium. You’re going to fight with a creature most of the time, but the other three modes are all going to
be useful often enough. I wouldn’t rank Dromoka’s Command as the best in a vacuum, but it feels like the clear winner to me in the current metagame. Siege
Rhino isn’t going anywhere, and G/W Devotion will find uses for this as well. Dromoka’s Command should at least be a sideboard card in two or three tier
one decks, and there’s a shot it’ll see maindeck play as well. It might even see some play in Modern. I’m buying a set at $3, and I wouldn’t be shocked if
it was the most expensive Command by early April.
Bulk Rares:
Arashin Sovereign, Boltwing Marauder, Harbinger of the Hunt, Necromaster Dragon, Pristine Skywise.
Land
Haven of the Spirit Dragon – $2.99
Haven of the Spirit Dragon will probably drop as low as a buck or 75 cents before casual demand props it back toward the $2-$3 range. It could see a small
amount of Standard play if the right deck were to come along, but I don’t think that would do much to the price. At $3, I’m staying away for now.
This Week’s Trends
– Someone decided to buy out Night of Souls’ Betrayal last week. It did show up in a few sideboards as an anti-Infect, Twin, and Affinity card, so the new
price will likely somewhat stick. It jumped to $6 briefly before dropping back to $3-$4, and that’s the value I expect it to maintain for the foreseeable
future.
– Snapcaster Mage finally broke $50! Did you get your copies before the spike? The card should be stable through the Modern Masters release at least-as the
reprinted cards drop in price, the other necessary cards needed to build the top decks will be stagnant or will rise a little. It’s fine to sell now if you
want, but you should have a nice long window for it.
– Still trending up in Standard: Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver, Whisperwood Elemental, Thassa, God of the Sea, Master of Waves, Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx, See the
Unwritten, Outpost Siege, Mastery of the Unseen, and Genesis Hydra. Most of these spikes are tapering off though, and the market is relatively quiet as we
await the impact of the new set. Dragons of Tarkir looks like it’s going to shake things up in a major way, and I can’t wait to see what happens!