New Horizons - Ravnica Remastered

Gotta Get Back

Ravnica Remastered marks the third release in the revisiting of iconic planes, following in the footsteps of Time Spiral: Remastered and Dominaria Remastered. This chapter provides a nostalgic journey through some of the greatest hits encountered on Ravnica and has generated greater interest than the previous two combined. Ravnica Remastered is tailored for play within the draft environment and serves as a convenient way to obtain Retro Frame cards, thus enhancing its overall appeal.

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The heightened interest in this product can be attributed to several factors, namely the combination of nostalgia and the higher quality cards featured in the Ravnica sets. Adding to the allure for both players and collectors is the introduction of serialized cards into the Remastered series. A select offering of 64 serialized Retro Framed rares and mythics, found in just 1% of boosters, will be available. Noteworthy is the strategic inclusion of certain cards within Collector Boosters to ensure minimal impact on the limited environment, preserving the integrity of the draft experience. Examples of this on either side of the power scale are Thespian's Stage and Supreme Verdict. Overall, the Ravnica Remastered set captivates both players and collectors alike while catering to a wide range of playstyles and preferences.

Retro Shock, Take 2

Shocklands provided many players with their first real taste of power when it came to deck creation or upgrades. Being fetchable, these lands are highly sought after for their versatility, providing two colors of mana, and often maintaining reasonable prices. They see extensive play in various formats, especially Modern, Pioneer, EDH, and CEDH.

With the release of Ravnica Remastered, all 10 Shocklands are each receiving three new prints. Focusing on the pricing of the regular art versions rather than the Retro Frame or the Anime Borderless variants, it may be a strategic move to pick them up promptly after the set launches. Reexamining the graphs from Guilds of Ravnica and Ravnica Allegiance, taking Watery Grave as an example, it had a steady market price of $7-8 before climbing back up two months post-release. Meanwhile, Breeding Pool had a sharper price increase from an average of $8 at release to $30 a year and a half later. While color pairings influence demand, the general trend remains consistent—this cycle of lands tends to be most affordable shortly after release.

Upshifting and Scarcity

The upshifting of certain cards from rare to mythic in the Ravnica Remastered reprints has created a glaring issue, notably exemplified by Cyclonic Rift. The effect of this will see an inflation of price leading to less accessibility for players. Originally printed in Return to Ravnica, Cyclonic Rift recently experienced a price drop from $40 to $30 following the Commander Masters reprint in August. The decision to upshift to mythic, as opposed to it remaining at rare as with previous reprints, will contribute to a reduced supply of the card. Given its widespread play in EDH and iconic status, this is considered a chase card in any of its printings.

Another noteworthy case is Bruvac the Grandiloquent, which has limited printings in Jumpstart and The List. Bruvac's average price of $33 comes from scarcity rather than sheer power. The niche ability to double any milling done to opponents makes this card sought after for a specific strategy, making it more of a build-around card than a versatile inclusion. While the price should decrease over time as more copies circulate the market, those who obtain it and don't require it for their decks might consider selling it promptly to avoid potential depreciation.

Hubris

Dark Confidant, affectionately known as Bob, has experienced a drastic decline in value, echoing the fate of Tarmogoyf, which has been much discussed on this site. Back in Gatecrash (my introduction to Magic), Dark Confidant was coming to its pinnacle of power, finding popularity in Modern Jund and reaching an impressive $84 average. 

This card was truly a force to be reckoned with and often dictated the flow and outcomes of games. Now, as a mere shadow of its former glory, it has dwindled to an average price ranging from $10 to $14, depending on the printing.

While Dark Confidant remains one of the more financially appealing mythics to open, there seems to be no bright future ahead for its value. Even with Retro Frame variants, the typical trend suggests a post-release nosedive in price, either matching the normal version or, in many cases, being marginally cheaper. Similar to Bruvac, the prudent approach might be to sell it as soon as possible, considering the diminishing potential in future pricing.

Remastered and Restructured

Continuing the Remastered set cycle and potentially paving the way for serialized cards in Innistrad Remastered, the latest journey to Ravnica has garnered mostly positive feedback. The set offers an enforced limited environment, various style options, and significant reprints that impact prices across multiple formats. As long as there is ample availability and the pricing remains reasonable, this release is expected to be well-received.

With the arrival of the new year, there will be a slew of new products to explore together. The upcoming year promises more experimental sets and additional IPs to the game. For all the excitement and the latest updates, be sure to stay tuned to my bi-weekly series.

Join me again next time as we take a retrospective look at the New Horizons article series of 2023.

Further Reading:

Cheap Pickups for Commander Singleton Rule-Breakers