Recent Sleeper Hits and a Cheap Reprint for Commander
Tax Season
Welcome back for another History, Restapled, a Commander-focused column that attempts to validate a newer card’s status as a staple by looking at how cards that are similar, synergistic, or competing have fared in the past financially.
Hard to believe it’s almost time to start talking about
Tax Collector
Good lord, this card is stronger than it looks. For only two mana, you can tax at least 1-2 mana per player per turn cycle this card is out, especially early in the game. Or, wait until near the end and detain your opponents’ biggest threat in a way that gets around indestructible—by that late in the game, you probably only need one big turn to pull out ahead.
Tax Collector is an uncommon that carries the typical uncommon price of merely a few pennies. So, while there’s likely no rush to pick up an IRS agent right now, the card appeared in
STATUS: white staple-in-the-making
| Tax Collector | ||
| Tax Collector (Foil Etched) |
Scavenger's Talent
Many of the “Talent” cards from
I was skeptical, too, when I first read the word “Food” in its Level 1 text box. Even with zero other Food synergy, Scavenger’s Talent does everything you’d want to do in a graveyard deck. It provides permanents when things die, mills you when permanents are sacrificed (not just Foods) and reanimates creatures a lá
STATUS: black graveyard staple
| Scavenger's Talent |
Grand Abolisher
Not a new card, but worth mentioning due to its dramatic price decrease…
Personally, I find interaction, especially during my turn, to be the best part of playing Commander. It’s clear not everyone agrees, though, as Grand Abolisher was almost a $35 card when it had only been printed in
There’s no way the card remains at this price point for long, especially as cEDH continues to grow. Look at
STATUS: high-power staple, cheaper
| Grand Abolisher | ||
| Grand Abolisher (Showcase) | ||
| Grand Abolisher (Borderless) |
Impending Doom
The new “Impending” mechanic from Duskmourn looks busted. At first, I thought it was a different version of Suspend, but I was wrong since you get the ETB effect as you wait. Plus, board wipes lose much of their luster when enchantments sit around without their creature-ness for a few turns. What do you all think? Which cards do you believe are going to become super staples? Let me know!
Further Reading:
Steve Heisler
Steve Heisler is a writer and pop culture journalist covering comedy, games, television, film and the tech industry. His work has been published in Rolling Stone, GQ, Variety, The AV Club, Fast Company and the Chicago Sun-Times. He began collecting Magic cards during Fourth Edition and plays Commander and Modern primarily. He also enjoys tennis, the Dark Souls family of video games and supporting live comedy. He lives in Chicago with his cat, Rosie.