Weekly Winners (29)

17 Jul
by Peter

Now Magic: Origins is out, we can start brewing with the new toys we've got! This can have its effect on card prices, but we have not seen huge changes yet, but I expect them to be on the horizon. Coming October, 4 sets will rotate out of standard, and that means a lot of change!

But now, once again,  I present you the cards that will be the talk of the town tonight.

 

Want to join or follow the discussion? Check out this week's Reddit Thread

 

 #1 Thopter Spy Network +267.4% ($3.60) 

Thopter Spy Network

This week, Thopter Spy Network rose from obscurity into the spotlights. Not because it is the best Thopter themed card out there, but simply because it was undervalued leading up to the release of Origins. Just like with every release, people start with brewing decks right away when they see the spoilers coming out. 

And Thopters are interesting to a large number of people. And, in the wake of all that brewing, Thopter Spy Network got noticed. Once it lands, you get a free Thopter each turn, and huge card advantage when those pesky kites (or other artifact creatures) do damage. It even feels like it could be Modern viable, but 2UU is pretty steep for what it does, compared to other choices you can make instead. So it will probably won't make it. 

But in Standard however, Thopter Spy Network could claim a place as a card that will seal the fate of your opponent when you already have a (slight) advantage. Don't expect this card to be played as a 4-off in any deck. I have found three Thopter brews for standard you might want to take a look at:

U/R Thopter Midrange: Thopters, Burn and some huge body support. 
Please note: the OP of the thread tested with Thopter Spy Network and has chosen to cut it. But, others put it back on the table.

R/U Thopter Legion: One-dimensional Thopter approach

U/R Thopter Devotion: Holds the middle ground between the Midrange and Legion brews.

 

#2 Living End +106.6% ($13.10) 

Living End

Living End is the card that gives the Modern 'Living End' deck its name. The best recent result for the deck is Andreas Jönsson's 16th place at the Grand Prix in Copenhagen. With a TCG mid of $491.98, Living End is a low-budget choice if you want to enter Modern.

You can call the spike of Living End a price correction, $5+ for a key card in a Modern deck that can top 16 a Grand Prix is cheap. But you could also see it as another card in a long line of Modern cards that got bought out. It's sudden spike and swift fall are characteristic of a buyout.
 

#3 Languish +57.6% ($12.18) 

Languish

With its $12+ price tag, Languish is #8 in the top 10 most expensive cards in Origins. Just one place below Goblin Piledriver and one above Chandra, Fire of Kaladesh.

Face it. Languish is solid removal. It favors the player that gets 5/5+ bodies on the field first. It can 'reset' the games against decks with 4/4- creatures, and I also love that art and flavor text. But, it is pretty hard to really take advantage of Languish since -4/-4 is pretty rough. But, brews like this focus on putting X/5 creatures on the table. And even there, Languish is in the sideboard.

 

Cheap Pickups

 

Savannah

Savannah

 

Flooded Strand

Flooded Strand

 

Cryptic Command

Cryptic Command

 

 True-Name Nemesis

True-Name Nemesis

 

Stomping Ground

Stomping Ground

 

Brimaz, King of Oreskos

Brimaz, King of Oreskos

 

Sea Drake

Sea Drake

 

 Stifle

Stifle

 

 

Want to help me out? Pitch me a tweet when you see something interesting @MTGPeter

 


More from Peter:

Weekly Winners 2021 - 36

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Like every week, just in time for (digital) FNM, I'll now tell you about the cards that will be the talk of the (digital) town tonight!

Catalyst Stone Daybreak Ranger Oboro, Palace in the Clouds

Weekly Winners 2021 - 13

This week we saw a lot of interesting movement. Most of it caused by Strixhaven spoilers, but the old frame fetchlands spiked as well.

Like every week, just in time for (digital) FNM, I'll now tell you about the cards that will be the talk of the (digital) town tonight!

Deserted Temple Mox Tantalite Windswept Heath

Weekly Winners 2021 - 12

For the first time since the COVID pandemic hit, our interest page looks like normal for a change! Many (huge) spikes from different sets and eras. I choose to see this as an omen of better times ahead!

Like every week, just in time for (digital) FNM, I'll now tell you about the cards that will be the talk of the (digital) town tonight!

Chain of Smog Illumination Magma Sliver

Weekly Winners 2021 - 10

Somewhat of an odd week. Not really any spikes that has one really obvious or notable reason and of course still a lot of older cards moving up.

Like every week, just in time for (digital) FNM, I'll now tell you about the cards that will be the talk of the (digital) town tonight!

Selective Memory Pearl Medallion Zombie Master

Weekly Winners 2021 - 08

The most interesting week in a long, long time! Maybe I'm a but biased due to my love for Legacy, but this week that format is the biggest driving factor behind the three weekly winners.

Like every week, just in time for (digital) FNM, I'll now tell you about the cards that will be the talk of the (digital) town tonight!

Ethereal Forager Stifle Allosaurus Shepherd

Weekly Winners 2021 - 07

An interesting week, again driven by old card speculation and EDH. But we also have a special edition of Cheap Pickups, with a new way to look at cards that are (still) cheap pickups, but might go up later.

Like every week, just in time for (digital) FNM, I'll now tell you about the cards that will be the talk of the (digital) town tonight!

Shivan Dragon Sapphire Medallion Elvish Champion

Weekly Winners 2021 - 05

A strange and eventful week in the world of finance. Where you'd expect tons of cards to spike due to new brews, we mainly see a new hausse of reserved list cards being bought out. And also non-reserved list cards that happen to be MTG classics.

Like every week, just in time for (digital) FNM, I'll now tell you about the cards that will be the talk of the (digital) town tonight!

Bad Moon Death Cloud Elvish Champion

Weekly Winners 2021 - 04

Kaldheim is ready for release! The coming weeks will be filled with new brews, gameplay and strategy. This week marks the end of this spoiler season, with some interesting movers to report on.

Like every week, just in time for (digital) FNM, I'll now tell you about the cards that will be the talk of the (digital) town tonight!

Desolation Tergrid, God of Fright Coordinated Assault

Weekly Winners 2021 - 02

Kaldheim spoilers are full speed upon us! There has been no shortage of products or spoilers over the past months, but some good old Magic distraction is very welcome!

Like every week, just in time for (digital) FNM, I'll now tell you about the cards that will be the talk of the (digital) town tonight!

Rhys the Exiled Pox Ashnod\'s Altar

Weekly Winners 2021 - 01

After the Kaldheim leaks, the official spoilers have now begun! And one spoiler in particular makes its mark on the Weekly Winners.

Like every week, just in time for (digital) FNM, I'll now tell you about the cards that will be the talk of the (digital) town tonight!

Magus of the Vineyard Into the North Kaervek the Merciless