The Ferrett always used to get on my case about how everyone wanted to know what to trade for in the new sets, and that I should be the one to tell them. Since Ted has taken over many of the responsibilities, the Ferrett has been MIA… I’m pretty sure he is still affiliated with StarCityGames.com, but maybe he is just locked in a closet somewhere and the key got lost. Honestly Ferrett, pop up to say hi at least once in a while… [Irony, thy name is Heiss. – Knut]
As with all preview articles, I am not going to be 100% right. I don’t even want to claim to be 80% right. I am going through my old preview articles right now to find funny cards that I recommended to trade for to prove this point… Apparently I was on the money with Onslaught, with the worst of my picks being Read the Runes, a card that never lived up to its true potential… oh, and Hystrodon.
Oh wait – I found my top 10 rares to trade for in Mirrodin article… looks like only 3 of my top 10 were actually worth trading for. Some of the more notable flops were Mass Hysteria and Shared Fate… even Timesifter made the cut.
So take this advice with a grain of salt. I might be 90% right, or I might be 20% right, the point is, first impressions are what gives cards their initial value, so if you trade for a lemon, you will still have a little time to jump ship and sell it. Even Shared Fate was going for $5 for a good month and a half after Mirrodin was released.
Without Further Ado – the list (card texts from mtgnews.com):
Auriok Champion – WW
Creature – Human Cleric
Protection from Red and from Black.
Whenever another creature comes into play, you may gain 1 life.
“Her will shall banish the shadows. Her might shall punish the lawless. Her beauty shall restore the light.” – Ushanti, leonin seer
1/1
Illus. Michael Sutfin
3/165
Rare
This is a Constructed playable rare. Solid. Worth at least five bucks.
Beacon of Immortality – 5W
Instant
Double target player’s life total. Shuffle Beacon of Immortality into its owner’s library.
The cave floods with light. A thousand rays shine forth and meld into one.
Illus. Rob Alexander
6/165
Rare
This card has Johnny written all over it. Any card that says”Double” subliminally says”Bling.” This might not be a big seller, but people will like it. I think it’s better than Pulse of the Fields, personally.
Bringer of the White Dawn – 7WW
Creature – Bringer
You may pay WUBRG rather than pay Bringer of the White Dawn’s mana cost.
Trample
At the beginning of your upkeep, you may put target artifact card in your graveyard into play.
5/5
Rare
This might get played in constructed, it’s hard to tell. All I know is that if Avatar of Woe is worth a bundle, this card should be too.
Steelshaper’s Gift – W
Sorcery
Search your library for an equipment card, reveal that card, and put it into your hand. Then shuffle your library.
Some blades seek their own weilders.
Illus. Tim Hildebrandt
19/165
Uncommon
You might want to pick up a few of these, they might be like Wing Shards or Smothers.
Beacon of Tomorrows – 6UU
Sorcery
Target player takes an extra turn after this one. Shuffle Beacon of Tomorrows into its owner’s library.
To look into its light is to meet the gaze of history.
Illus. Jeremy Jarvis
Rare
Okay, this card is worth money for several reasons. Some of those reasons are Time Walking, Beaconing, and being an obvious combo piece. In general it is bad to trade for combo pieces until the combo deck emerges, but I doubt there will not be a combo based around this card.
Bringer of the Black Dawn – 7BB
Creature – Bringer
You may pay WUBRG rather than pay Bringer of the Black Dawn’s mana cost.
Trample
At the beginning of your upkeep, you may pay 2 life. If you do, search your library for a card, then shuffle your library and put that card on top of it.
5/5
Illus. Carl Critchlow
43/165
Rare
See the White Bringer for description. This might be more Constructed playable.
Mephidross Vampire – 4BB
Creature – Vampire
Flying
Each creature you control is a vampire in addition to other creature types and has”Whenever this creature deals damage to a creature, put a +1/+1 counter on it.”
3/4
Rare
Timmay! Timmay Timmay Timmay! Oh, and Vampire lovers everywhere. Finally we can build a real Vampire deck. Probably not to most expensive rare around, but it will get pulled out of your binder.
Relentless Rats – 1BB
Creature – Rats
Relentless Rats gets +1/+1 for each other creature in play named Relentless Rats.
A deck can have any number of cards named Relentless Rats.
2/2
Illus. Thomas M. Baxa
58/165
Uncommon
This card has an artificially inflated price just because you can play sixty instead of four.
Bringer of the Green Dawn – 7GG
Creature – Bringer
You may pay WUBRG rather than pay Bringer of the Green Dawn’s mana cost.
Trample
At the beginning of your upkeep, put a 3/3 green Beast creature token into play.
5/5
Rare
You know about this already. See the other bringers.
Joiner Adept –
Creature – Elf Druid
Lands you control have”[Tap]: Add one mana of any color to your mana pool.”
A talented apprentice makes all things.
The master makes all things possible.
2/1
Illus. Christopher Rush
89/165
Rare
One of the best rares in the set that I have seen. This is a premium rare in my book.
Clearwater Goblet – 5
Artifact
Sunburst
At the beginning of your upkeep, you may gain life equal to the number of charge counters on Clearwater Goblet.
Rare
Possibly a very good Constructed playable card, but then again it might just be another Timesifter. You might want to wait on trading for this one.
Eon Hub – 5
Artifact
Each player Skips their upkeep step.
Rare
Same as the Clearwater Goblet. Seems good not having to pay for Stasis though.
Guardian Idol – 2
Artifact
Guardian Idol comes into play tapped.
T: Add to your mana pool.
2: Guardian Idol becomes a 2/2 artifact creature until end of turn.
Illus. Edward P. Beard, Jr.
Uncommon
This card is fantastic. Trade for it because its going to be in your deck.
Staff of Domination – 3
Artifact
1: Untap Staff of Domination.
2,T: You gain 1 life.
3,T: Untap target creature.
4,T: Tap target creature.
5,T: Draw a card.
Illus. Ben Thompson
156?/165
Rare
This card is basically the universal Engine. It should go in every combo deck outside of Desire. There will almost certainly be a combo deck after Fifth Dawn, so this is a safe trade.
Vedalken Shackles – 2
Artifact
You may choose not to untap Vedalken Shackles during your untap step.
2,T : Gain control of target creature with power is less than or equal to the number of islands you control as long as Vedalken Shackles stays tapped.
Illus. Mark Zug
164/165
Rare
This makes Islands playable again. Thanks Aaron! This will likely be one of the better creature control cards available for Blue.
Honorable mention: Etched Oracle – the card is very good and the art is fantastic!
There you have it! Keep in mind this list is made from a spoiler (and not a full one at that) so things may change. In my Mirrodin top 10, I recommended trading for Lumengrid Augur, but that’s because its activation did not have a mana cost on the spoiler. Things change, so beware!
Trade safe, have fun, and smash face!