Weekly Winners 2024 - 06

Modern's impacting prices, and Commander cards are being snatched up for players' latest brews!

Like every week, just in time for FNM, I'll tell you about the Magic: the Gathering cards that'll be the talk of the town tonight! Come discuss this week's price movements with us on Discord.

Articles

• Harvey's The Problem With Serialized Magic Cards explores the unique challenges and market dynamics introduced by serialized cards in Magic, particularly focusing on their impact on collectibility and card values. The piece critically assesses the strategy behind serialized runs, their varying print numbers, and the implications of repeated serializations on the perceived value and uniqueness of cards.
• In New Cards for Commander from Murders at Karlov Manor, Steve takes players on a clue-hunting adventure, spotlighting underpriced gems in the latest set that promise to revolutionize Commander decks. With a sharp eye for value and strategic gameplay, this article is a goldmine for Commanders looking to outsmart their opponents with unexpected plays and budget-friendly power-ups, revealing how the newest cards might fit into or shake up the current meta.
• Matt's Top Picks For Murders at Karlov Manor dissects the set's potential game-changers, focusing on innovative cards and new land cycles that promise to redefine deck strategies. His analysis spotlights underpriced cards for speculative investment and assesses their long-term impact on various formats, making it an essential read for players looking to capitalize on the latest Magic release's opportunities.
• Does Magic: the Gathering Have a Waifu Tax? Max investigates the phenomenon of character-themed card art driving prices up, known as the "waifu tax," with a focus on anime-style artwork in the game. This article offers an insightful exploration into how aesthetics and fandom preferences can significantly influence card values, presenting a compelling read for collectors and players interested in the intersection of art and market dynamics in Magic.

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Onto the Weekly Winners!

#1 Seismic Assault $9.99 (+407%)

About 13 years ago (I think) there was a deck in Modern called Assault Loam or Swans Assault. Back then it played the combo Swans of Bryn Argoll and Seismic Assault where you try to get your Swans on the battlefield and keep flinging lands at it using the Seismic Assault, making you draw a bunch of cards. At some point you'll have so many cards, and thus lands, in your hand that you can start flinging them your opponent instead. But now we see a resurgence of Seismic Assault.

Temur Loam decks are doing pretty well in Modern at the moment, and while it also plays Seismic Assault, the synergy has changed somewhat. Wrenn and Six makes a lot of sense in this deck, since it works well in decks that generally have lands in the graveyard, and when you can fling those lands at your opponent, you'll most likely always have lands there. But a very interesting card we see appear is Slogurk, the Overslime which grows when a land is put into the graveyard. In this new Loam deck, we can quickly see the creature grow to huge proportions. Also, with the printing of Boseiju, Who Endures you can keep using the Channel ability by recurring it back to your hand. This can interact with your opponent's artifacts and enchantments, but also make their mana base more awkward by being able to target their nonbasic lands again and again.

In the end, this is a Midrange deck with some extra synergy mixed in. Besides this build, there are also builds that focus more around Tarmogoyf and Dragon's Rage Channeler.

But, we have to note that the spike reported in this article doesn't necessarily mean the card is less obtainable for players. Currently only the printing from Exodus with the original art and black border is the one being bought out. The other copies can still be had for under a dollar, yet we do see some movement on these prices too.

Seismic Assault	CardKingdom $2.99	TCGPlayer $9.99
Seismic Assault	CardKingdom $0.99	TCGPlayer $1.00
Seismic Assault	CardKingdom $0.99	TCGPlayer $0.75
Slogurk, the Overslime	CardKingdom $0.69	TCGPlayer $0.44

#2 Titanic Ultimatum $11.69 (+59%)

Who doesn't like big expensive spells? As you may remember, in Shards of Alara we received the first cycle of Ultimatums, each costing seven mana and having a powerful effect. Titanic Ultimatum is now, by far, the most expensive one from this set's cycle. Usually when a card stays this dormant for years, and then all of the sudden spikes, it means that there's some new tech or new synergy available.

In this case the card was mentioned as an upgrade to the Deadly Disguise commander precon from Commander: Murders at Karlov Manor. People also seem to want to include the card in new decks around Duskana, the Rage Mother, which can be found in the precon. Since Titanic Ultimatum pumps your team, gives them trample, lifelink, and first strike, it makes sense that this card wants to be played in decks that go wide. Playing this Ultimatum at the right time can win you the game if you have sufficient creatures to attack with.

$11.69$6.99

$1.66$1.49

So even before this spike it already was a somewhat popular card in Commander decks. For example, Rin and Seri, Inseparable, which was also reprinted in the Raining Cats and Dogs Secret Lair, which may also contribute to this card being more popular. Other commanders that may want to play Titanic Ultimatum are Rith, the Awakener, Aragorn, the Uniter, and Gahiji, Honored One

Titanic Ultimatum	CardKingdom $6.99	TCGPlayer $11.69
Titanic Ultimatum	CardKingdom $6.99	TCGPlayer $10.99
Rin and Seri, Inseparable	CardKingdom $24.99	TCGPlayer $28.15
Rin and Seri, Inseparable	CardKingdom $24.99	TCGPlayer $28.15
Titanic Ultimatum	CardKingdom $6.99	TCGPlayer $11.69

#3 Dolmen Gate $23.42 (+64%)

And finally a rare from Lorwyn that hasn't (really) been reprinted since. Dolmen Gate is an artifact for that makes sure that your attacking creatures are a little bit more safe. It's interesting to note that this card had it's all time high in February last year, and the current price is almost the same as back then. Last month you could still pick this card up for around $10.

While this card is colorless and could potentially fit in any deck, it stands to reason that it's only included in decks that want to attack. Popular commanders that want to play it are Grenzo, Havoc Raiser and Wulfgar of Icewind Dale. But a new commander has arisen that also is really interested in Dolmen Gate. That card is Anzrag, the Quake-Mole. 

$2.75$3.49

$4.26$3.49

Anzrag is trying to get you multiple combat steps, and having an artifact that prevents all damage dealt to your attacking creatures sounds pretty good when you get to attack multiple times. Especially when Anzrag's ability has been activated that turn, you get to attack again and again until your opponents have no creatures left to block with or until... you know... they're dead.

Dolmen Gate	CardKingdom $16.99	TCGPlayer $23.42
Dolmen Gate	CardKingdom $16.99	TCGPlayer $16.36

Cheap Pickups

Please note: for our 'record low' we consider the price of the card over the past seven years. Many cards were even cheaper (a) decade(s) ago. Also note: some cards are still going down, and might be even cheaper pickups next week.

Contest of Claws $2.60 - Moving up!

Contest of Claws has been identified by the MTGStocks Premium Penny Stocks feature as a card that has reached its bottom and is starting a consistent uptrend.

Bloodghast $3.73 - Slowly moving down

Archaeomancer's Map (Borderless) $7.00 - Stabilizing

Contest of Claws	CardKingdom $3.49	TCGPlayer $2.71
Bloodghast	CardKingdom $3.49	TCGPlayer $3.76
Archaeomancer's Map (Borderless)	CardKingdom $9.99	TCGPlayer $7.04