Recent Sleeper Hits and a Cheap Reprint for Commander

17 Sep
by Steve Heisler

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 Duskmourn: House of Horror. Well, maybe not so hard to believe at this point—will it ever be possible to keep even a single deck up-to-date? Probably not, though adding the following cards to your decks will, at least, keep you a mere few steps behind the curve. Check out these two newbies and one high-power classic.

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 Universes Beyond: Assassin's Creed, a set that will likely never again see the light of day.

STATUS: white staple-in-the-making

Tax Collector
Tax Collector (Foil Etched)

Scavenger's Talent

Many of the “Talent” cards from Bloomburrow are making a big splash. Caretaker's Talent, Innkeeper's Talent, and Artist's Talent are undeniable bangers that have instantly become staples in synergistic decks. I’m here to advocate for Scavenger’s Talent as a graveyard deck staple, even if it hasn’t gotten as much buzz as its Talent-ed brethren.

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 Meren of Clan Nel Toth once a turn. That’s a lot of relevant text on an initial one-mana investment that can be paid for over the course of many turns. Pick one up for $3 before the rest of the community catches on.

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 Magic 2012 (M12), Commander 2014, and a small appearance in Archenemy: Nicol Bolas. Prices have dipped since appearing in Commander Masters and Outlaws of Thunder Junction: The Big Score, and you can now pick one up for only $5.

There’s no way the card remains at this price point for long, especially as cEDH continues to grow. Look at Myrel, Shield of Argive, which handles all of Grand Abolisher’s duties with a strong token-maker stapled on. The card has settled at around $20 with no signs of wavering. Even Dragonlord Dromoka is at $12, and that card’s pretty overpriced if you only want a Silence. Grand Abolisher costs fewer mana, and while it doesn’t receive the extra flourishes provided by Myrel or Dromoka, they’re hardly necessary when you can go off on your turn unencumbered.

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:

How to Price Non-Playable Magic Cards

Steve Heisler
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.


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