Are Assassins the Next Big Creature Type in Magic?

Last month, our Safe Bets were Waifus and stickers. This month will be a little less abstract. 

Ramses, Assassin Lord

With Universes Beyond: Assassin's Creed around the corner, it’s safe to expect a slew of new cards that either are Assassins or benefit from the Assassin creature type. This means Ramses, Assassin Lord will both gain new support and be an excellent inclusion in the 99 of other Assassin strategies.

At MagicCon: Chicago, Ezio, Blade of Vengeance was previewed, which could be an example of support that Ramses, Assassin Lord needs to thrive as a commander. Even more excitingly, they also previewed Ezio Auditore da Firenze, which features its own ability to remove players from the game while allowing for a five-color shell. 

In 2022, when Mari, the Killing Quill was released in Commander: Streets of New Capenna, Scarblade Elite rose to $15.99. Today, Scarblade Elite has a market price of $2.13 with only one printing. Most of the principles that caused Scarblade Elite to spike in 2022 exist today with Ramses, Assassin Lord. 

Ramses, Assassin Lord	CardKingdom $0.69	TCGPlayer $0.81
Ramses, Assassin Lord (Foil Etched)	CardKingdom	TCGPlayer $1.34

Incinerator of the Guilty

Balefire Dragon is not a good card. Once upon a time, it was “good in Commander.” At one point it was good enough in Commander to justify a $30 price tag. Today it’s still good enough to see play in 3% of Commander decks and hovers around $10. Seven mana to not immediately impact the board is a steep cost to pay. Especially compared to something like Ancient Copper Dragon that is one mana cheaper and can actually end the game if it deals damage. 

Incinerator of the Guilty is the Balefire Dragon power creep has given us. Everything Balefire Dragon can do, Incinerator of the Guilty can do for one less mana and $8.50 less. In addition to flying, Incinerator of the Guilty also has trample to ensure it connects. The amount of damage it deals is also significantly easier to control, whether you want to do more to kill what Balefire couldn't, or if you want to do less for some political reason. Incinerator of the Guilty is not the budget Balefire Dragon, but an upgrade in every way.

Incinerator of the Guilty	CardKingdom $0.99	TCGPlayer $1.79
Incinerator of the Guilty (Showcase)	CardKingdom $0.99	TCGPlayer $1.03

Puresteel Paladin

With its recent reprint in the Universes Beyond: Fallout Commander decks, Puresteel Paladin is available from under $1 to about $2, depending on your art preference. Puresteel Paladin is a must in any Equipment-based Commander strategy, as well as being a key card in the Modern Hammer Time deck. With recent bannings, Hammer Time might see an uptick in playability. 

At this time last year, Puresteel Paladin was approaching $10. Since then we’ve seen two quick reprints and a down tick in playability. This has led to an all-time low price of a card that plays a key role in Equipment strategies across multiple formats. 

Puresteel Paladin	CardKingdom $2.99	TCGPlayer $2.35
Puresteel Paladin	CardKingdom $0.79	TCGPlayer $0.81
Ash, Destined Survivor	CardKingdom	TCGPlayer $16.74
Puresteel Paladin (Borderless)	CardKingdom $3.99	TCGPlayer $2.82

Thanks for tuning in again this month. And until next time, bet safe and be safe. 

Further Reading:

Commander Staples From Fallout