Hello everyone, and welcome back to another edition of my “Financial Values” article. In this article, I hope to steer you in the right direction concerning my thoughts on the good, bad, and ugly in Zendikar! Before we dip into a look at the singles, though, I wanted to talk about Zendikar: the Booster Box.
I’ve gotten into quite a lengthy, week-long discussion at www.mtgsalvation.com on this thread, and this is regarding the recent increase in booster box price for Magic cards during the preorder period. As you may have noticed, box prices are currently sitting at $99.99 – and by the time you read this article, they may go higher! (E-Bay low BIN is at $110, right now). Why the increase? Allow me to summarize my thoughts!
Magic is in a period of unprecedented growth. Grand Prix/Prerelease/PTQ/FNM attendances are significantly up from where they were a year ago. Rumors have it that Wizards sold out of an entire YEAR’S worth of M10 within two months (and are desperately trying to print product to keep up with demand). Set quality is up, Magic Online is a lot more stable (and is keeping more people playing), and Duels of the Planeswalkers exposed a lot of new people to the game.
Long story short, demand for Magic is up – and it is so sudden and sharp, that Wizards has yet to catch up production to demand. There is a long lead time between print run ordering, and distribution, and so it will likely take a couple of sets (either Worldwake, or the set afterwards) for Wizards to crank distribution numbers to meet demand. Until then – there are definite shortages of supply!
Some have said that Wizards is intentionally short-printing product, but I do not believe this, at all, to be the case. Initially (from distributors), the same amount of product was available for Zendikar as any previous base set of a block (Lorwyn, Shadowmoor, Shards of Alara). However, several factors keyed into retailer’s need to get ahold of product ASAP:
A) The shortage (and rise in price) of M10
B) The increased player base for Magic in general
C) The spoiling of Fetchlands
Mainly between these three factors, Zendikar began selling out at the distributor level. Distributors had to allocate product between accounts to make sure that everyone who wanted Zendikar got some amount of the product. Yes – there are shortages, but no – I do not think for a second that they are manufactured, as much as “Wizards has not caught their production capabilities up with the present demand on Magic”. In short, there is as much Zendikar printed as any other set, but the demand on it is a multiple higher than on previous sets! This is supported by our sales figures – our sales on Zendikar sealed product is a multiple higher than on previous sets like Shards or M10 or Lorwyn!
Prices are likely going to hit above the $100 mark, so above and beyond any advice I have about singles – if you need boxes for drafting, running events in your store, giving out as prizes, or getting as a present for someone (or you just want to buy boxes), BUY THEM NOW! Do not wait for the price to come down – it likely will not hit below 3-digits until after the Christmas season!
Okay, now let’s talk about the set itself! As always, the spoiler information in this article comes directly from our friends at MTGSalvation.com – all credit (or blame) for the spoiled cards goes to them! Most of the Rares and Mythics in this set were previewed through official channels, so chances are that the majority of these cards, if not all of them, are accurate!
Here’s how the article works:
In the first section, I list the Mythic Rares, alphabetically. I give our starting price, whether I think the card will go “UP” in value, “DOWN” in value, or the value will remain “STABLE.” I then give my thoughts about that particular card! In the second section, I discuss the rares. I the third section, I’ll give some brief thoughts about the Uncommons and Commons in this set that I have particularly strong feelings about (note: I might not talk about some obviously powerful commons and uncommons – just ones that I feel might be undervalued).
Got it? Good! Let’s go!
MYTHIC RARES
Chandra Ablaze – 4RR
Planeswalker – Chandra (Mythic Rare)
[+1]: Discard a card. If a red card is discarded this way, Chandra Ablaze deals 4 damage to target creature or player.
[-2]: Each player discards his or her hand, then draws three cards.
[-7]: Cast any number of target red instant and/or sorcery cards from your graveyard without paying their mana costs.
Loyalty = 5
Starting Price $7.50
Up, Down or Stable?: Up – to $10
Misc Thoughts: $10-$12 is where Mythic Planeswalkers seem to stabilize, if they are on the lower end of playability. Ajani Vengeant is an exception, because he was the release foil.
Eldrazi Monument – 5
Artifact (Mythic Rare)
Creatures you control get +1/+1, have flying, and are indestructible.
At the beginning of your upkeep, sacrifice a creature. If you can’t, sacrifice Eldrazi Monument.
Starting Price $2-$2.50
Up, Down or Stable?: Stable
Misc Thoughts: Similar to Akroma’s Memorial, but cheaper, but with a drawback. Will be good if a token deck emerges.
Eternity Vessel – 6
Artifact (Mythic Rare)
Eternity Vessel enters the battlefield with X charge counters on it, where X is your life total.
Landfall – Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control, you may have your life total become equal to the number of charge counters on Eternity Vessel.
Starting Price $1-$1.50
Up, Down or Stable?: Stable
Misc Thoughts: Bulk Mythic
Felidar Sovereign – 4WW
Creature – Cat Beast (Mythic Rare)
Vigilance, lifelink
At the beginning of your upkeep, if you have 40 or more life, you win the game.
4/6
Starting Price $1.50-$2
Up, Down or Stable?: Up
Misc Thoughts: The replacement for Test of Endurance in decks that wanted to run Test of Endurance, except now it’s on a big, beefy beater. Should have casual draw.
Iona, Shield of Emeria – 6WWW
Legendary Creature – Angel (Mythic Rare)
Flying
As Iona, Shield of Emeria enters the battlefield, choose a color.
Your opponents can’t cast spells of the chosen color.
7/7
Starting Price $4-$6
Up, Down or Stable?: Stable
Misc Thoughts: One of the best “free” creatures (Reanimation, Oath of Druids) ever printed. There’s talk of Tooth and Nail re-emerging as a force in Extended thanks to Iona + Painter’s Servant. Keep an eye on that combination.
Kalitas, Bloodchief of Ghet – 5BB
Legendary Creature – Vampire Warrior (Mythic Rare)
BBB, Tap: Destroy target creature. If that creature is put into a graveyard this way, put a black Vampire creature token onto the battlefield. Its power is equal to that creature’s power and its toughness is equal to that creature’s toughness.
5/5
Starting Price $1.50-$2.50
Up, Down or Stable?: Up
Misc Thoughts: Vampires are super-hot with casual player right now, and Wizards is really trying to push the tribe. This is comparable to Visara the Dreadful and Avatar of Woe, and should settle in the $3-$4 range.
Lorthos, the Tidemaker – 5UUU
Legendary Creature – Octopus (Mythic Rare)
Whenever Lorthos, the Tidemaker attacks, you may pay {8}. If you do, tap up to eight target permanents. Those permanents don’t untap during their controllers’ next untap steps.
8/8
Starting Price $1-$1.50
Up, Down or Stable?: Stable
Misc Thoughts: Bulk Mythic
Lotus Cobra – 1G
Creature – Snake (Mythic Rare)
Landfall – Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control, you may add one mana of any color to your mana pool.
2/1
Starting Price $25
Up, Down or Stable?: Up, then Down, then Up
Misc Thoughts: Likely you’ve already read about Lotus Cobra and you’ve formed your own opinions. Some (like BDM and Mike Flores) think this is the second coming of broken. Others have compared it to an overhyped Bloom Tender. There doesn’t seem to be a lot of middle ground, and far be it from me to tell you the ending value of the most hyped card in the set! I will say this: I’ve found that the most hyped “Tournament” card in the set rarely hold value from release, in the short term. I see Lotus Cobra hitting $30 as people grab it for immediate use, and then see it dropping to the $20ish range as people aren’t so hot to get it anymore. If it’s good, it’ll climb back up, but I do believe there will be a period where it takes a little dip in value, as people try out other cards in the set. Unless you need them for a tournament ASAP, give it a couple of weeks after release, and then pick these up.
Mindbreak Trap – 2UU
Instant – Trap (Mythic Rare)
If an opponent cast three or more spells this turn, you may pay {0} rather than pay Mindbreak Trap’s mana cost.
Exile any number of target spells.
Starting Price $10-$11
Up, Down or Stable?: Down
Misc Thoughts: This is already $5 higher than our starting price (with less than a day into the set release), but in Standard, you’re rarely going to get the Trap ability on this card – and is this really worth as much as a Cryptic Command? It’s good, but more in the $5-$7.50 range of good than double (triple) that, IMHO.
Nissa Revane – 2GG
Planeswalker – Nissa (Mythic Rare)
[+1]: Search your library for a card named Nissa’s Chosen and put it onto the battlefield. Then shuffle your library.
[+1]: You gain 2 life for each Elf you control.
[-7]: Search your library for any number of Elf creature cards and put them onto the battlefield. Then shuffle your library.
Loyalty = 2
Starting Price $9-$10
Up, Down or Stable?: Stable
Misc Thoughts: Casual players love elves, and this goes straight in that deck. Should retain value regardless of tournament viability.
Ob Nixilis, the Fallen – 3BB
Legendary Creature – Demon (Mythic Rare)
Landfall – Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control, you may have target player lose 3 life. If you do, put three +1/+1 counters on Ob Nixilis, the Fallen.
3/3
Starting Price $5-$6
Up, Down or Stable?: Up
Misc Thoughts: Ob Nixilis is my pick for the most undervalued card in this set. He’s a finisher in any deck that can get to BB mana on turn 5, combos well with all the land acceleration in Standard (or search, in the case of fetches), and can kill an opponent without ever swinging. The bonus to growth is just that – a bonus – to a guy who can come down on turn six, and then bolt the opponent for six with a fetch land’s assistance. I see a bright future for Ob Nixilis, and I would put his abilities for ending the game on par with Baneslayer Angel, for decks that lean more towards Black. Baneslayer plays a much better defense (because of Lifelink and first strike), but Ob Nixilis is an offensive juggernaut. Get these now, if you have to order any single in the set before they go up in price!
Obsidian Fireheart – 1RRR
Creature – Elemental (Mythic Rare)
1RR: Put a blaze counter on target land without a blaze counter on it. Lands with blaze counters on them have “At the beginning of your upkeep, this land deals 1 damage to you”. (The land continues to burn even after Obsidian Fireheart leaves the battlefield.)
4/4
Starting Price: $3
Up, Down or Stable?: Up, slightly
Misc Thoughts: Might see tournament play, as a 4/4 for 4 in Red with an upside ability.
Rampaging Baloths — 4GG
Creature – Beast (Mythic Rare)
Trample
Landfall – Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control, you may put a 4/4 green Beast creature token onto the battlefield.
6/6
Starting Price $2-$2.50
Up, Down or Stable?: Stable
Misc Thoughts: PRERELEASE CARD – should remain about where it is right now.
Sorin Markov – 3BBB
Planeswalker – Sorin (Mythic Rare)
[+2]: Sorin Markov deals 2 damage to target creature or player and you gain 2 life.
[-3]: Target opponent’s life total becomes 10.
[-7]: You control target player’s next turn.
Loyalty = 4
Starting Price $9-$10
Up, Down or Stable?: Up
Misc Thoughts: Zendikar was designed with a multiplayer slant in mind, and Sorin Markov is one such card. In EDH (which a lot of peeps are playing these days), he’s a huge nuke the second he hits the table. If Mono-Black Control makes a comeback, this would be a way to stabilize the board (Think Ajani Vengeant’s second ability as a +2 each turn)
Warren Instigator – RR
Creature – Goblin Berserker (Mythic Rare)
Double Strike
Whenever Warren Instigator deals damage to an opponent, you may put a Goblin creature card from your hand onto the battlefield.
1/1
Starting Price $9-$10
Up, Down or Stable?: Down, then Up
Misc Thoughts: Initially, people will see that Warren Instigator is no Goblin Lackey. You really don’t need him as a turn-slow Lackey in Vintage/Legacy, and there aren’t enough goblins (yet) to make him broken in Extended or Standard. HOWEVER, there are enough Goblins to make him playable – and with the +2/+0 ETB common red land, you have a 3/1 double-striker on turn 3 (attacking) with RR to back up for burn, plus the potential to drop a Siege-Gang Commander for free (even if your deck doesn’t have a big goblin slant). Also, he’s around for SEVEN years in Extended, and goblins are a heavily, heavily supported tribe. The chances that Warren Instigator will be a higher-level tournament card is great – but just not yet. The price will likely dip on these slightly in the short-term, but in the long term (which is only as long as the next expansion, which is sure to have goblins!), I Think the price will break the current $10 mark.
RARES
Archive Trap – 3UU
Instant – Trap (Rare)
If an opponent searched his or her library this turn, you may pay {0} rather than pay Archive Trap’s mana cost.
Target opponent puts the top thirteen cards of his or her library into his or her graveyard.
Starting Price $4
Up, Down or Stable?: Up
Misc Thoughts: Reeks of Glimpse the Unthinkable to me – someone will crack a fetchland and get milled. Cool for casual players, who really, really love mill cards.
Archmage Ascension – 2U
Enchantment (Rare)
At the beginning of each end step, if you drew two or more cards this turn, you may put a quest counter on Archmage Ascension.
As long as Archmage Ascension has six or more quest counters on it, if you would draw a card, you may instead search your library for a card, put that card into your hand, then shuffle your library.
Starting Price $.50
Up, Down or Stable?: Stable
Misc Thoughts: Junky. Takes too much to get this going.
Arid Mesa
Land (Rare)
Tap, Pay 1 life, Sacrifice Arid Mesa: Search your library for a Mountain or Plains card and put it onto the battlefield. Then shuffle your library.
Starting Price $15
Up, Down or Stable?: Stablish
Misc Thoughts: Fetchlands should hover in the $15-$20 range for the next six months, because the fresh Standard season (highlighted by several $5000 StarCityGames.com tournaments!) feeds directly into the Extended PTQ Season – and every competitive player will need to have at least some number of the new fetches. As it happens, the Blue ones are the ones likely to retain highest value, and the others should be in the $12-$15 range. I don’t see them being anything less than gold though – fetches are proven, and needed, in every competitive Magic format from Vintage to Block.
Armament Master – WW
Creature – Kor Soldier (Rare)
Other Kor creatures you control get +2/+2 for each Equipment attached to Armament Master.
2/2
Starting Price $1
Up, Down or Stable?: Stable
Misc Thoughts: It doesn’t boost itself, so it’s really too much effort to make this guy work. There are better Crusade effects to use right now, like Ajani Goldmane or Honor of the Pure.
Bala Ged Thief – 3B
Creature – Human Rogue Ally (Rare)
Whenever Bala Ged Thief or another Ally enters the battlefield under your control, target player reveals a number of cards from his or her hand equal to the number of Allies you control. You choose one of them. That player discards that card.
2/2
Starting Price $0.50
Up, Down or Stable?: Stable
Misc Thoughts: I really hope Wizards does more with Allies in the next set, because they seem like bad Slivers to me in this one.
Beastmaster Ascension – 2G
Enchantment (Rare)
Whenever a creature you control attacks, you may put a quest counter on Beastmaster Ascension.
As long as Beastmaster Ascension has seven or more quest counters on it, creatures you control get +5/+5
Starting Price $1
Up, Down or Stable?: Up
Misc Thoughts: Up, but not by a lot. Plays well in token decks… but would you rather just Overrun?
Blade of the Bloodchief – 1
Artifact – Equipment (Rare)
Whenever a creature is put into a graveyard from the battlefield, put a +1/+1 counter on equipped creature. If equipped creature is a Vampire, put two +1/+1 counters on it instead.
Equip — 1
Starting Price $1
Up, Down or Stable?: Stable
Misc Thoughts: Vampire cards are hot, and rare equipment (that is marginal) usually ends up around $1. Trade these away for anything you can use, if someone wants them for a vampire deck.
Blood Tribute – 4BB
Sorcery (Rare)
Kicker – Tap an untapped Vampire you control.
Target player loses half his or her life, rounded up. If Blood Tribute was kicked, you gain life equal to the life lost this way.
Starting Price $0.50
Up, Down or Stable?: Stable
Misc Thoughts: Bulk rare. Yes, it’s cute with Sanguine Bond. No, it’s not going to happen in tournament play.
Bloodchief Ascension – B
Enchantment (Rare)
At the beginning of each player’s end step, if an opponent lost 2 or more life this turn, you may put a quest counter on Bloodchief Ascension.
Whenever a card is put into an opponent’s graveyard from anywhere, if Bloodchief Ascension has three or more quest counters on it, you may have that player lose 2 life. If you do, you gain 2 life.
Starting Price: $3 (All over the place)
Up, Down or Stable?: Up
Misc Thoughts: I’ve spoken to quite a few people, including those in-house at StarCityGames.com, who think that this card is the second coming. On the up side, it triggers on both turns (so you can attack, get a counter, pass turn, Bolt your opponent, get a counter, and have it active by your next turn). Early game, it can be soul-crushing. Late game – could be a dead draw, but might break board parity. I see this as a reverse The Rack (which was bad early and better late), except with the ability to keep you in the game if you’re racing aggro on aggro. I’d pick up a set of these in case they get really hot, since they are splashable in any deck that runs Black.
Bloodghast – BB
Creature – Vampire Spirit (Rare)
Bloodghast can’t block.
Bloodghast has haste as long as an opponent has 10 life or less.
Landfall – Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control, you may return Bloodghast from your graveyard to the battlefield.
2/1
Starting Price $4
Up, Down or Stable?: Up
Misc Thoughts: Has great aggro appeal, almost never goes away, triggers in multiples (one land returns multiple Bloodghast), and works fantastically in Dredge alongside (or instead of) Ichorid. I see these guys being solid for both use in aggro and combo, and in more than just one format.
Celestial Mantle – 3WWW
Enchantment – Aura (Rare)
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature gets +3/+3.
Whenever enchanted creature deals combat damage to a player, double its controller’s life total.
Starting Price $0.50
Up, Down or Stable?: Stable
Misc Thoughts: It does say double (much like Beacon of Immortality), but enchant creatures are generally weak. Bulk, trade these off.
Conqueror’s Pledge – 2WWW
Sorcery (Rare)
Kicker {6}
Put six 1/1 white Kor Soldier creature tokens onto the battlefield. If Conqueror’s Pledge was kicked, put twelve 1/1 white Kor Soldier creature tokens onto the battlefield instead.
Starting Price $1.00
Up, Down or Stable?: Up
Misc Thoughts: This compares very favorably to Cloudgoat Ranger – for five mana, you end up with six power worth of creatures (except as 6x 1/1 instead of 1x 3/3 and 3x 1/1). This has both advantages (Ajani pumps them for more) and disadvantages (zero creatures survive Volcanic Fallout, instead of a 3/3). However, the fact that is compares to Cloudgoat Ranger makes me feel that Conqueror’s Pledge is presently being very undervalued, and should end up in more the $3-$4 range, at the least. Pick these up now – people are comparing this to the wrong card (Martial Coup) and not the right one (Cloudgoat Ranger).
Cosi’s Trickster – U
Creature – Merfolk (Rare)
Whenever an opponent shuffles his or her library, you may put a +1/+1 counter on Cosi’s Trickster.
1/1
Starting Price $2
Up, Down or Stable?: Stable
Misc Thoughts: Foil versions will go for a lot to Legacy players, where this guy is a shoo-in for fish decks (in fact, he might be one of the best one-drops possible on the play for that deck!). Otherwise, kind of easy to play around in newer formats.
Crypt of Agadeem
Land (Rare)
Crypt of Agadeem enters the battlefield tapped.
Tap: Add B to your mana pool.
2, Tap: Add B to your mana pool for each black creature card in your graveyard.
Starting Price $1-$1.50
Up, Down or Stable?: Stable or Up
Misc Thoughts: A card like Crypt of Agadeem will either be really good, or stink. They are trading very cheap right now, so I’d advise picking them up, in the off chance they fuel some ridiculous combo deck. You’ll only be down a few bucks if they flop, versus being down $20 for a playset if they end up being good.
Day of Judgment – 2WW
Sorcery (Rare)
Destroy all creatures.
Starting Price $12.50
Up, Down or Stable?: Up
Misc Thoughts: Store Promo for Buying Boxes at Physical Locations! Also, every Wrath effect, at the Wrath cost, ends up being in the $15 range (or higher, Damnation) when they are the premier board sweeper in Standard. Every player will need four of these for competitive play, and casual players will appreciate Wrath of Gods #5-#8. I wouldn’t be surprised if these ended up hitting the $20 range before Extended season comes up.
Devout Lightcaster – WWW
Creature – Kor Cleric (Rare)
Protection from black
When Devout Lightcaster enters the battlefield, exile target black permanent.
2/2
Starting Price $1
Up, Down or Stable?: Stable
Misc Thoughts: Is this better than Celestial Purge as a board card? Likely not, because triple-Black is a lot to ask out of a card. I’d compare this to something like Major Teroh, which is a $1ish bulk rare.
Electropotence – 2R
Enchantment (Rare)
Whenever a creature enters the battlefield under your control, you may pay {2}{R}. If you do, that creature deals damage equal to its power to target creature or player.
Starting Price $0.50
Up, Down or Stable?: Stable
Misc Thoughts: Seems like a bulk rare, but also a one-sided Pandemonium (which is a solid $2-$4 casual staple). Internal thoughts at SCG seem to think that R2 as an activation makes this unplayable – even if Kenny Adams is dropping a Greater Gargadon on your dome.
Elemental Appeal – RRRR
Sorcery (Rare)
Kicker — 5
Put a 7/1 red Elemental creature token with trample and haste onto the battlefield. Exile it at the beginning of the next end step. If Elemental Appeal was kicked, that creature gets +7/+0 until end of turn.
Starting Price $1-$1.50
Up, Down or Stable?: Up
Misc Thoughts: It’s worse than Blistering Firecat (playing it as a 2/2 morph was crucial, at times), but are there a critical mass of Ball Lightning effects in Standard now, between this, the Zektar Shrine Expedition, Ball Lightning, burn spells, and more burn spells? Even though you might never kick this – there might be enough burn in Standard right now that the addition of the ones in this set push the archetype over the top.
Emeria, The Sky Ruin
Land (Rare)
Emeria, the Sky Ruin enters the battlefield tapped.
At the beginning of your upkeep, if you control seven or more Plains, you may return target creature card from your graveyard to the battlefield.
Tap: Add W to your mana pool.
Starting Price $2-$2.50
Up, Down or Stable?: Up
Misc Thoughts: Should hit the $4 mark, to compliment Debtors’ Knell. Having an uncounterable win condition in a control deck (or additional win conditions for your Martyr of Sands deck) is a strong incentive – and this should be very popular with the casual players.
Emeria Angel – 2WW
Creature – Angel (Rare)
Flying
Landfall: Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control, you may put a 1/1 white Bird creature token with flying into the battlefield.
3/3
Starting Price $2.50-$3
Up, Down or Stable?: Up
Misc Thoughts: GAME DAY PROMO, FOR TOP 8 PRIZE. Opinions are split on Emeria Angel. I happen to think she doesn’t make the cut in Standard, but others in-house really like her. Either way, she’s an angel with an affordable mana cost, largish body, and popular special ability (though I’m surprised she makes Birds instead of Spirits), so casual players should help Emeria Angel hold value – and that’s who you should trade these to.
Gigantiform – 3GG
Enchantment – Aura (Rare)
Kicker – 4
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature is 8/8 and has trample.
When Gigantiform enters the battlefield, if it was kicked, you may search your library for a card named Gigantiform, put it onto the battlefield, then shuffle your library.
Starting Price $0.50
Up, Down or Stable?: Stable
Misc Thoughts: Bulk Rare
Goblin Guide – R
Creature – Goblin Scout (Rare)
Haste
Whenever Goblin Guide attacks, defending player reveals the top card of his or her library. If it’s a land card, that player puts it into his or her hand.
2/2
Starting Price $3-$4
Up, Down or Stable?: Up
Misc Thoughts: This thing is a nuts aggro tool – and often when you’re on the play, your opponent is going to drop their 8th card into the bin. There’s only around a 40% chance of triggering a land draw – and if you attack with multiples and miss a land, you get free information (the top card of their deck), and 0% chance of seeing the next card. This guy will be played in every format, and is the break-out aggro creature of the set (not Warren Instigator). If you like swinging, get four of these now – chance are they will hit the $7.50 range quickly.
Grappling Hook – 4
Artifact – Equipment (Rare)
Equipped creature has double strike.
Whenever equipped creature attacks, you may have target creature block it if able.
Equip – 4
Starting Price $0.50
Up, Down or Stable?: Stable
Misc Thoughts: Total bulk rare.
Guul Draz Specter – 2BB
Creature – Specter (Rare)
Flying
Guul Draz Specter gets +3/+3 as long as an opponent has no cards in hand.
Whenever Guul Draz Specter deals combat damage to a player, that player discards a card.
2/2
Starting Price $0.50
Up, Down or Stable?: Stable
Misc Thoughts: The Hypnotic Specter effect has not been one used that often to great success, to the point where virtually no one is actually playing Hypnotic Specter (which is superior to this guy!). Bulk rare.
Halo Hunter – 2BBB
Creature – Demon (Rare)
Intimidate
When Halo Hunter enters the battlefield, destroy target Angel.
6/3
Starting Price $0.50
Up, Down or Stable?: Up to about $1
Misc Thoughts: Will be very popular with casual players looking to kill their opponent’s angel decks – which are also a popular deck type! Yes, it doesn’t kill Baneslayer Angel – but would you really play a 5-mana creature-type specific Nekrataal in Standard anyhow?
Hellkite Charger – 4RR
Creature – Dragon (Rare)
Flying, haste
Whenever Hellkite Charger attacks, you may pay 5RR. If you do, untap all creatures you control and after this phase, there is an additional combat phase.
5/5
Starting Price $1
Up, Down or Stable?: Slightly up, to maybe $1.50-$2
Misc Thoughts: Compares favorably to Rorix Bladewing or Volcanic Dragon – but honesty you’ll probably not get to live the dream of attack, untap, attack/Relentless Assault. I think you’d rather have Broodmate Dragon in this slot – or burn/Elemental Affinity.
Kabira Evangel – 2W
Creature – Human Cleric Ally (Rare)
Whenever Kabira Evangel or another Ally enters the battlefield under your control, you may choose a color. If you do, Allies you control gain protection from the chosen color until end of turn.
2/3
Starting Price $0.50
Up, Down or Stable?: Stable
Misc Thoughts: If an ally deck emerges thanks to the next set, this allows for an alpha-strike against the opponent’s team. Otherwise, this guy would have been a lot better if he had flash.
Kazuul Warlord – 4R
Creature – Minotaur Warrior Ally (Rare)
Whenever Kazuul Warlord or another Ally enters the battlefield under your control, you may put a +1/+1 counter on each Ally creature you control.
3/3
Starting Price $1
Up, Down or Stable?: Stable
Misc Thoughts: The ally lord for those who are into such a thing. Again, I don’t see Allies making much of a Constructed splash.
Lavaball Trap – 6RR
Instant – Trap (Rare)
If an opponent had two or more lands enter the battlefield under his or her control this turn, you may pay 3RR rather than pay Lavaball Trap’s mana cost.
Destroy two target lands. Lavaball Trap deals 4 damage to each creature.
Starting Price $0.50
Up, Down or Stable?: Stable
Misc Thoughts: So easy to play around – once your opponent gets to five mana, you crack your fetch lands on their turn. Trade these off.
Lullmage Mentor – 1UU
Creature – Merfolk Wizard (Rare)
Whenever a spell or ability you control counters a spell, you may put a 1/1 blue Merfolk creature token onto the battlefield.
Tap seven untapped Merfolk you control: Counter target spell.
2/2
Starting Price $0.75-$1
Up, Down or Stable?: Stable
Misc Thoughts: Will be popular with casual players, but there need to be more Merfolk out there. Where was this with Summon the School around?
Luminarch Ascension – 1W
Enchantment (Rare)
At the beginning of each opponent’s end step, if you didn’t lose life this turn, you may put a quest counter on Luminarch Ascension.
1W: Put a 4/4 white Angel creature token with flying onto the battlefield. Activate this ability only if Luminarch Ascension has four or more quest counters on it.
Starting Price $2-$2.50
Up, Down or Stable?: Up
Misc Thoughts: Another big sleeper card in this set. This may be one of the most broken multi-player cards ever printed – if you’re playing in a five-player game, congratulations! Since this triggers at the end of EVERY opponent’s turn, chances are you’re going to be cranking out angels starting on your third turn! This is also cheap enough that if you are playing control-on-control (in Standard, say), you can drop this on turn 2, and start piling out 3-4 angels a turn in short order. Underrated, and would not be surprised to see this hit over $5 quickly.
Magosi, the Waterveil
Land (Rare)
Magosi, the Waterveil enters the battlefield tapped.
T: Add U to your mana pool.
U, Tap: Put an eon counter on Magosi, the Waterveil. Skip your next turn.
Tap, Remove an eon counter from Magosi, the Waterveil and return it to its owners hand: Take an extra turn after this one.
Starting Price $1-$2
Up, Down or Stable?: Stable
Misc Thoughts: Ken Adams (our other main pricing guy at SCG) thinks this may be a big sleeper card for control on control – if your opponent does nothing late-game (turn 12 or so), you pop this, and then untap and go for broke – if they counter your first opening salvo, chances are that you’ll be able to untap, and then wreck them. Otherwise, this is a “Fixed” Time Vault, for whatever a “Fixed” Time Vault should be worth.
Malakir Bloodwitch – 3BB
Creature – Vampire Shaman (Rare)
Flying, protection from white
When Malakir Bloodwitch enters the battlefield, each opponent loses life equal to the number of Vampires you control. You gain life equal to the life lost this way.
4/4
Starting Price $1.50
Up, Down or Stable?: Up
Misc Thoughts: Stops Baneslayer Angel, fits the most popular tribe going right now, and is shooting up in price. I started these at $1.50 today, and have had to raise the price several times since.
Marsh Flats
Land (Rare)
Tap, Pay 1 life, Sacrifice Marsh Flats: Search your library for a Plains or Swamp card and put it onto the battlefield. Then shuffle your library.
Starting Price $15
Up, Down or Stable?: Stable
Misc Thoughts: See Arid Mesa. Not much to say about that wasn’t said there.
Misty Rainforest
Land (Rare)
Tap, Pay 1 life, Sacrifice Misty Rainforest: Search your library for a Forest or Island card and put it onto the battlefield. Then shuffle your library.
Starting Price $15-$20
Up, Down or Stable?: Stable
Misc Thoughts: It’s the Polluted Delta of the new fetch lands, thanks to Threshold decks in Legacy. This will be a tick higher than the other fetchlands available in Standard/Extended.
Oracle of Mul Daya – 3G
Creature – Elf Shaman (Rare)
You may play an additional land on each of your turns.
Play with the top card of your library revealed.
You may play the top card of your library if it’s a land card.
2/2
Starting Price $1.50-$2
Up, Down or Stable?: Stable
Misc Thoughts: Casual appeal, and probably a bit fragile for serious tournament play.
Oran-Rief, the Vastwood
Land (Rare)
Oran-Rief, the Vastwood enters the battlefield tapped.
Tap: Add G to your mana pool.
Tap: Put a +1/+1 counter on each green creature that entered the battlefield this turn.
Starting Price $1-$1.50
Up, Down or Stable?: Up
Misc Thoughts: White is the color that gets a lot of token creatures, but A) You can play this in multiples, and B) it works well early and late game. Should hit the $2.50-$3 mark, and hover around there.
Predatory Urge – 3G
Enchantment – Aura (Rare)
Enchant creature.
Enchanted creature has “Tap: This creature deals damage equal to its power to target creature. That creature deals damage equal to its power to this creature.”
Starting Price $0.50
Up, Down or Stable?: Stable
Misc Thoughts: Bulk Rare
Pyromancer Ascension – 1R
Enchantment (Rare)
Whenever you cast an instant or sorcery spell that has the same name as a card in your graveyard, you may put a quest counter on Pyromancer Ascension.
Whenever you cast an instant or sorcery spell while Pyromancer Ascension has two or more quest counters on it, you may copy that spell. You may choose new targets for that copy.
Starting Price $1
Up, Down or Stable?: Stable
Misc Thoughts: Might be worth picking up a playset, as this is exactly the Spellbinder’s Helix type of card that the Japanese end up breaking with some ridiculous deck.
Rite Of Replication – 2UU
Sorcery (Rare)
Kicker – 5
Put a token that is a copy of target creature onto the battlefield. If Rite Of Replication was kicked, instead put five of those tokens onto the battlefield.
Starting Price $1
Up, Down or Stable?: Stable
Misc Thoughts: It’s essentially Clone, but one that targets (so it can’t fight Great Sable Stag).
Roil Elemental – 3UUU
Creature – Elemental (Rare)
Flying
Landfall – Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control, you may gain control of target creature for as long as you control Roil Elemental.
3/2
Starting Price $1
Up, Down or Stable?: Stable
Misc Thoughts: So, so fragile. While Sower of Temptation was a sleeper card that I recommended picking up, this is a Sower that costs two more mana, and doesn’t do anything when it itself comes into play. Seems like a bad rare, and one you should trade off.
Sadistic Sacrament – BBB
Sorcery (Rare)
Kicker – 7
Search target player’s library for up to three cards, exile them, then that player shuffles his or her library. If Sadistic Sacrament was kicked, instead search that player’s library for up to fifteen cards, exile them, then that player shuffles his of her library.
Starting Price $1-$1.50
Up, Down or Stable?: Stable
Misc Thoughts: I’d pick up the foil ones of these to trade to Vintage and Legacy players – the ability to Ritual/Cap for three is very powerful, and one that can outright cripple many Vintage/Legacy combo decks (even better than the sometimes-played Extract or Jester’s Cap). Also will be handy in Extended for fighting combo decks, but more of a sideboard card.
Scalding Tarn
Land (Rare)
Tap, Pay 1 life, Sacrifice Scalding Tarn: Search your library for a Island or Mountain card and put it onto the battlefield. Then shuffle your library.
Starting Price $15-$17.50
Up, Down or Stable?: Stable
Misc Thoughts: The Flooded Strand/Wooded Foothills of the set, meaning that it will be the second-most valuable fetchland of this cycle.
Scute Mob – G
Creature – Insect (Rare)
At the beginning of your upkeep, if you control five or more lands, put four +1/+1 counters on Scute Mob.
1/1
Starting Price $4
Up, Down or Stable?: Down
Misc Thoughts: I’ve already had to uptick the price slightly to $5 due to rate of sales, but I think that this is the overrated card of this set, much like Bloodhall Ooze. It’s a 1/1 that dies if you can’t keep it alive until the next turn – see Hungry Spriggan and Bloodhall Ooze and Wake Thrasher. The only upside to this card is that it combos extremely well with Ranger of Eos. Still – double Wild Nacatl seems like a better fetch, if only because it’s harder to kill 2x 3/3 then 2x 1/1’s.
Sea Gate Loremaster – 4U
Creature – Merfolk Wizard Ally (Rare)
Tap: Draw a card for each Ally you control.
1/3
Starting Price $0.50
Up, Down or Stable?: Stable
Misc Thoughts: Junky. Insert humorous remark here.
Sphinx of Jwar Isle – 4UU
Creature – Sphinx (Rare)
Flying, shroud
You may look at the top card of your library.(You may do this at any time)
5/5
Starting Price: $1.50-$2
Up, Down or Stable?: Down
Misc Thoughts: Will likely end up as a $1 rare. It’s a big, dumb blue flyer. See Zephid, but adjusted for modern-day power creep on creatures.
Sphinx of Lost Truths – 3UU
Creature – Sphinx (Rare)
Kicker — 1U
Flying
When Sphinx of Lost Truths enters the battlefield, draw three cards. Then if it wasn’t kicked, discard three cards.
3/5
Starting Price $1.00
Up, Down or Stable?: Stable
Misc Thoughts: I see this as much more of a likely choice for play in Blue decks than Sphinx of Jwar Isle, because Sphinx of Lost Truths at least gets you to your better cards. In addition, this is strictly better than Cephalid Broker for Dredge decks that ran Cephlid Broker, so foil copies of this card will go for a premium to Eternal Dredge players.
Summoning Trap – 4GG
Instant – Trap (Rare)
If a creature you cast this turn was countered by a spell or ability an opponent controlled, you may pay 0 rather than pay Summoning Trap’s casting cost.
Look at the top seven cards of your library. You may put a creature card from among them onto the battlefield. Put the rest on the bottom of your library in any order.
Starting Price $1.25-$1.50
Up, Down or Stable?: Up
Misc Thoughts: Another big sleeper card in this set. Compares favorably to Aethermage’s Touch, Dramatic Entrance – and unlike those cards, it does NOT have built in card disadvantage! Against control, hitting them with an instant-speed threat at End of Turn is good, because chances are you can hit something in your Green Ramp deck that is worth a threat (Broodmate Dragon, 8/8 Trampling dude, Baneslayer Angel), and seven cards is a lot to look at. And heck – every now and then you’ll hit the trap cost, and get a free fattie!
Terra Stomper – 3GGG
Creature – Beast (Rare)
Terra Stomper can’t be countered.
Trample
8/8
Starting Price $1
Up, Down or Stable?: Up
Misc Thoughts: I think that this guy may end up being the ramp finisher of choice, beyond Broodmate Dragon. It just punishes the heck out of control – either they Doom Blade/Path it, or they die quickly and painfully. Should hit the $2 mark.
Turntimber Ranger – 3GG
Creature – Elf Scout Ally (Rare)
Whenever Turntimber Ranger or another Ally enters the battlefield under your control, you may put a 2/2 green Wolf creature token onto the battlefield. If you do, put a +1/+1 counter on Turntimber Ranger.
2/2
Starting Price $1
Up, Down or Stable?: Stable, with upside potential.
Misc Thoughts: If allies get better, this guy will be a must-have. It’s a 3/3 and a 2/2 for five, in-and-of itself, which isn’t fantastic compared to other guys who make tokens – but isn’t that bad either. Probably worth trading for these while they are cheap.
Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle
Land (Rare)
Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle enters the battlefield tapped.
Whenever a Mountain enters the battlefield under your control, if you control at least five other Mountains, you may have Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle deal 3 damage to target creature or player.
Tap: Add R to your mana pool.
Starting Price $1.50-$2
Up, Down or Stable?: Up
Misc Thoughts: RELEASE FOIL. Instant kill in Extended with Scapeshift. Undervalued presently – I think the Red Burn deck has a lot of legs, and this will see play in that deck. I see this hitting the $3-$4 range, release version notwithstanding.
Verdant Catacombs
Land (Rare)
{T}, Pay 1 life, Sacrifice Verdant Catacombs: Search your library for a Swamp or Forest card and put it onto the battlefield. Then shuffle your library.
Starting Price $15
Up, Down or Stable?: Stable
Misc Thoughts: See Arid Mesa
World Queller – 3WW
Creature – Avatar (Rare)
At the beginning of your upkeep, you may choose a card type. If you do, each player sacrifices a permanent of that type.
4/4
Starting Price $1-$1.50
Up, Down or Stable?: Up
Misc Thoughts: I think that this is also an underrated card right now, because it can never hurt you unless you want it to – an it’s also one of the only cards in years that can consistently lock down a manabase. If your opponent can’t deal with it when it comes down, you can Abyss lands one-a-turn for the rest of the game. Otherwise, it kills artifacts, Planeswalkers, and enchantments like nobody’s business, before you even start touching creatures. Molder Slug was huge in Mirrodin block, and this is essentially a Molder Slug for EVERY card type! I see this hitting the $4-$5 mark.
UNCOMMONS AND COMMONS
Brave the Elements (UNCOMMON) : A great replacement for Forge[/author]-Tender”]Burrenton [author name="Forge"]Forge[/author]-Tender for decks that wanted to have that effect. I would go as far as to say that it is almost as good as Forge-Tender.
Vampire Hexmage (UNCOMMON) : Combos incredibly well with Dark Depths, allowing you to pump out a 20/20 creature on turn two in Extended AND Legacy AND Vintage (Urborg + Dark Depths = win). Backed up by Thoughtseize and Duress, this deck looks like it’ll have legs in that format. Foils of this guy are going to go for a lot!
Blood Seeker (COMMON) : Reverse Soul Warden is a very powerful effect – I think this guy will end up getting a bunch of constructed play in Standard.
Into the Roil (COMMON) : This is two of the good parts of Cryptic Command – draw a card and bounce. Consider that before dismissing this card as “Limited bounce spell #1843.”
Steppe Lynx (COMMON) : Seems like it could be quite a beating compared to things like Isamaru, as you can reliably build your deck to start playing 2 lands a turn with fetches if you’re so inclined. I think this is a very good argument for base-White in Extended Zoo.
Zendikar looks to be a relatively strong set, punctuated by a few sure-fire higher dollar cards. It’s not as strong for singles as M10 was (although it does have higher-dollar cards – just fewer mid-range rares), and the basic lands (which will always be in demand from this set) help buoy the value of packs of Zendikar!
As always, please chime in with your thoughts in the forums – and have a great prerelease, wherever you may be going!
Ben Bleiweiss
General Manager of Acquisitions, StarCityGames.com