Weekly Winners (47)

This week Legacy rings the bell once again. We've seen some interesting price jumps on cards discussed in this column before: Cursecatcher, Griselbrand and True-Name Nemesis. But for all you non-legacy players, I've thrown in two other interesting cards this week: Avacyn, Angel of Hope and Palinchron.

Find out now which cards will be the talk of the town tonight.

#1 Cursecatcher (+47,1% | $9)

Cursecatcher is up another +47% this week and seems unstoppable. But that's not entirely true. The past three days Cursecatcher's stable at $9. Two weeks ago I discussed this card too, at that time (11/9) it was +15% | $6. So if you jumped onto the bandwagon then, you've made a good choice. 

The reason Cursecatcher has increased in price has no link yet with that other weekly winner: True-Name Nemesis. Yes, they are both merfolk, but True-Name Nemesis is not played in any Merfolk decks (yet). Maybe you've seen the Timeshifted version of Lord of Atlantis in this week's interests, but that's only a price glitch. No other reprints of the lord have changed in price. 

My view on Cursecatcher is that the bandwagon effect is pushing it's price through the roof. There is no visible or logical reason that Cursecatcher is increasing in price. The amount of Merfolk-decks with top 8 finished is low. And the card is not featured in any other decks that have won popularity over the past few weeks.

I expect this card to start dropping in price slowly over the coming weeks.

#2 True-Name Nemesis (+22.4% | $45) ALL TIME HIGH

It's been up, down, and now it's up again. The story of True-Name Nemesis is becoming more and more interesting every week. During the spoiler season of Commander 2013, the card started out at $45 but dropped in price soon after the actual release of the set. Traders, players and speculators have been watching the card from a distance, like it had to prove it's worth before people were ready to put down $180 for a playset (or $90, because most decks run only 2). 

True-Name Nemesis was run in SCG Dallas top-8 decks and that pushed it's price and popularity up a notch. But after Grand Prix D.C's winning deck featured the card as well the price was quickly back up to $45.

Above all, True-Name Nemesis is a 3/1, unblockable and (essentially) hexproof creature that also has protection from everything the opponent has. Including creatures the opponent controls. A versatile tool that puts an almost unstoppable clock on the board. True-Name Nemesis is with it's 1UU mana cost a bit overpriced for most Legacy tempo decks, and that's why you see it in UW control decks most of the time.

In Patriot True-Name Nemesis takes it's place as a fifth of sixth copy of Delver of Secrets, changing it's gameplan even more to putting down a 3-powered creature, while keeping the opponent of your back with counterspells and targeted removal. 

Legacy is a fast, but also an extremely balanced and broad format. And there is more than one way to get rid of True-Name Nemesis once you face it in battle. Emrakul, the Aeons Torn's annihilator trigger does not target the opponent. Supreme Verdict and Terminus do the trick as well. And not to forget: that one card that keeps all Legacy decks in check: Force of Will. 

*UPDATE*: Check this article for more ways to deal with True-Name Nemesis

 

#3 Griselbrand (+13,5% | $14)

Griselbrand's price and popularity have been going up and down since june 2012 (and before). It's a Legacy staple and every Sneak & Show deck runs 4 of this guy. It's good against tribal decks, against control decks and against combo decks. You want to resolve a spell? Well I don't think so, let me draw 7 and find a counterspell for you. 

Sneak & Show decks have been performing well in large tournaments the last few months. Including a #2 finish at GP D.C. And with True-Name Nemesis the story is simple: it's a cool card, and everyone want to have four copies.

 

#4 Avacyn, Angel of Hope ($16.73) ALL TIME HIGH

Forget Griselbrand: it might be $14, but there is always a bigger fish: Avacyn, Angel of Hope. And only for it's casual value. In EDH or (multiplayer) casual, dropping a Avacyn, Angel of Hope makes you nearly invincible. Sadly, I'm not to familiar with EDH to know if it's any good in that format, but I have seen decks running it as a general. Please shoot me a message @MTGPeter or on Reddit if you care to explain!

 

#5 Palinchron ($8.50) ALL TIME HIGH

I'm truly delighted to see Palinchron is at it's all time high! I had it in my deck when I just started out playing Magic. A 4/5 flying, for free! And for 2UU you can save it from removal!

Currently, Palinchron is hot because it combos with Riku of Two Reflections. It's simple, with Riku in play, cast your Palinchron, untap 7 lands, pay UG, put a copy into play, untap 7 lands, pay UG, and so on. Infinite Palinchrons. Nice!