More Commander Staples From Foundations
Power Comes Cheap
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.
Welcome to 2025! Now that
Leyline Axe
While unable to be used as a combat trick, I find Leyline Axe to share many similarities to
I wouldn’t be surprised if this card started appearing in Voltron lists that already run Embercleave and things like
It’s a steal at $2 and only going to rise as it continues permeating the format.
STATUS: New Voltron Equipment staple
| Leyline Axe | ||
| Leyline Axe (Borderless) | ||
| Leyline Axe (Extended Art) |
High Fae Trickster
A few new cards have taken up the flash mantle, and while they all have their places, none could compete with the colorless nature of Vedalken Orrery or
High Fae Trickster is the best of the rest we’ve received so far due to having flash itself and unlocking the ability to take a wild turn of your own at the end of someone else’s turn with less of a chance to be interrupted. The card also makes a hell of an attacker in a pinch. Well worth $2.
STATUS: New blue flash go-to
| High Fae Trickster | ||
| High Fae Trickster (Extended Art) | ||
| High Fae Trickster (Borderless) |
Pol Jamaar, Illusionist (Anime)
This $2 card from
Cards like this typically spike once they’re out of rotation and generally hold value regardless - just look at something like
Kindred decks: get ready to draw cards!
STATUS: New Kindred staple
| Pol Jamaar, Illusionist (Anime) |
Fumulus, the Infestation (Anime)
I don’t think this card needs any other Insects, Leeches, Slugs, or Worms to make it good. The tokens it produces arrive even if an opponent sacrifices a creature, and the tokens join itself in triggering the card’s second ability.
$2 is a small price to pay to upgrade any mono-black or Golgari deck with an Aristocrats piece that grows by itself.
STATUS: Potential Aristocrats powerhouse
| Fumulus, the Infestation (Anime) |
Jump Shot
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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.