While everyone is panicking about set reviews and speculating on pre-orders, we’re in a position to look back at cards that worked, cards that didn’t, and what the future might hold, particularly with a reprint set, a core set that will likely be full of reprints, and new set rotation.
The Good
Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth – Everyone knew that this EDH staple would drop when it was printed again, but no one expected it to bounce back so soon. If there is another dip in price that brings it close to the $5 mark, I would snap buy these but I think that time is over. The out of standard price is high and apparently M15 sold much less than expected, so supply isn’t as massive as the fetch lands. The one thing to consider is that there was a FTV printing, but I still think this card will stabilize around $15.
Verdict: Exit 60% now to lock profits if bought in at $5 or less. The rest, hold to see if post-rotation spikes the price.
Master of Waves – While I was messing around with mono-blue aggro devotion, I picked up two players for $4 a card. This card is spiking purely out of anticipation, every knew that for mono-U to work best, we needed a UUU cmc card and it looks like we got it in DTK.
With standard as diverse a format as it is, I doubt we’ll see Blue Domination again. The Merfolk modern price looks to be around $5, so I’m exiting my small position and keeping a playset just in case I want to play a deck that doesn’t need dual lands.
Verdict: Sell into the hype.
See The Unwritten – When this card was $2.50, I was talking to someone on QS about sepccing on this and we both came to the conclusion that it was a solid pick up. I never pulled the trigger on it and now I’m salty as hell.
The good news is that this card is rising and has multiple functions. It fills the graveyard for delve and other potential gy mechanics and it cheats one or two creatures onto the field for 6 mana in a color where ramp is prevalent. It’s not far fetched to play this on turn 4 and get one or two beast incarnates on the field. Especially with an Eldrazi set looming where this card will still be in standard, the opportunities for this look good.
Did I mention it’s a mythic? Yes, it’s in the most opened set of all time, but as soon as people stop drafting KTK, I feel like this can crack at least $8.
Verdict: Buy in.
The Bad
Icy Blast: This card is perfect in Temur or UG decks and it’s actually undercosted for the fact that you’ll usually be playing it in ramp colors anyway and it’s an instant. I went deep on this and it’s actually a little frustrating that it hasn’t caught on. However, all is not lost yet. If Mono-U actually catches on, we could see a playset of these being played and powered by Shrine to Nykthos to aid in blowouts. Basically, we’re hoping for these to rise to about $1 each. These are buylisting for 8 cents, so I have a standing buy for all icy blasts in my LGS at 12 cents.
Verdict: Hold. If you can grab some super cheap as throw ins during trades, do so.
Sultai Ascendency – The card is a scry/mill 2 each turn for 3 in one of the top color combos. The issue? There is already so much that you want to do on turn 3 other than drop a dead card on the board. Tri-color in cubes is hard to organize making this card borderline worthless. If Tasigur or Sidisi catch on in EDH, than this card will jump a bit, but there are a few issues with this. Normal S.A. foils are overcosted as it is at $1+ already. Second, there was a foil promo that was given out that is selling at around 40 cents.
Verdict: Pass. This card seems borderline worthless and it’s in an EDH color that only has two commanders, neither of them a tiny leader. If you bulk buy junk and you get a few of these, you can put them in your “compost box” and check on them every few months, otherwise fuck this card.
Questionable Plays
Mutagenic Growth – I’m not sure what I was thinking when I grabbed a bunch of these for 65 cents each. Maybe I’m hoping it’ll be the next big thing and go up to a dollar even though it’s a common. I’m throwing these in the compost box and hoping that everyone throws these in their modern decks.
Verdict: Burn your money for more value
Rattleclaw Mystic – Aggressive mana dork for G. Unfortunately, no hexproof means it wont completely take Sylvian Caryatid’s slot post-rotation. However, Temur and Abzan aggro will find this guy helps both ramp and apply pressure for cheap. Not only that, it also helps for further mana fixing making your land much more stabilized. It’s stabilized at $1.50 but I can see this crashing if Bird of Paradise is reprinted in Magic: Origins. If BoP is NOT in M:O and there aren’t any other dorks and the price for Mystic is still under $2, I’d grab some, especially if there is a Mystic into See the Unwritten into Eldrazi combo later.
Verdict: Wait. Too much risk to buy in now.
Monastery Siege – The blue siege of the cycle looks good for a grindy control deck. It takes the place of military intelligence that had been finding it’s way in mono-U decks, it synergizes well with Thassa and it help you control your opponent’s resource management by making all their spells overcosted. At 69 cents, this card can definitely take off and hit the $2 range if it catches on in both mono-U and/or UB Control.
Verdict: Looks good enough that I’d pick up a few playsets.
Interesting Notes:
– Battlefield Thaumaturge – This card is heavily wanted on PucaTrade but none are moving and the price keeps jumping from mid 30 cents to 50 cents and back down. It helps with mana but along with the conditional hexproof, I don’t see it being that playable. Found it interested that it was so highly desired and none are being sold.
– All KTK uncommons are at or near their peak price, with the exception of Murderous Cut. I’m curious as to whether it will see a resurgence back to about a dollar after Hero’s Downfall, Bile Blight and Drown In Sorrow rotate out, but I still think 60 cents is too expensive a buy in. If it drops under 40 cents, I say go for it.
– A full set redemption of KTK from MTGO is about $95 included taxes and shipping in the United States. A full set would normally cost $190, retail. Including shipping costs, selling the set would most likely net a profit of around $50 in the current market. I’m unsure as to whether it’s worth the effort for $50.
– A full foil set redemption will run about $230 and retails for over $500. If you have the bank roll, this may be the bet to make. You can unload most of them (Clan leaders, planswalkers, etc.) and hold the Seige Rhino and foil fetches. These 6 cards themselves are worth the redemption and all of them being modern staples all but ensures that they wont plummet in price.
The Outlaw's Den 