The Five Most Valuable Hybrid Mana Spells in Magic
Whether you’re excited for hybrid mana because of the return to Lorwyn, the potential rules change in Commander, or both, one thing’s for sure: the market on hybrid mana spells sure is bustling right now.
So, what are the most expensive ones out there? Let’s take a look!
Sygg, River Cutthroat
Kicking things off is a long-time favorite of Merfolk-typal decks in Commander, Sygg, River Cutthroat. A 1/3 legendary Merfolk Rogue for two hybrid blue-black mana, Sygg allows its controller to draw a card each end step, provided an opponent lost at least three life that turn.
Sygg, like many other of the cards on our list that can be paid for with wholly one type of mana or another (here, blue or black), is seeing increased attention thanks to the potential rules change regarding color identity and hybrid mana in Commander. Long story short, the proposal is that each instance of hybrid mana could be counted as either of its colors for color identity purposes.
So, if that change ends up happening, Sygg here could be played in blue decks, black decks, or both. That would open up Sygg to plenty more decks – Merfolk-centric or not – where it would serve as a cost-effective card advantage engine.
| Sygg, River Cutthroat | ||
| Sygg, River Cutthroat |
Helm of the Ghastlord
Next up is another Dimir hybrid spell – albeit one that loves to be played alongside other Dimir spells – Helm of the Ghastlord.
At four mana, this Aura enchantment grants enchanted creature +1/+1 and “Whenever this creature deals damage to an opponent, draw a card,” if that creature is blue. If that creature is black, Helm of the Ghastlord grants it +1/+1 and “Whenever this creature deals damage to an opponent, that player discards a card.
Helm of the Ghastlord is already a great card to slam onto any Dimir creature out there, but that overlooks the combo potential that this card also brings with it. The blue-dependent effect here is the same text as
| Helm of the Ghastlord |
Indoraptor, the Perfect Hybrid (Borderless)
Coming up at number three is a card that, while powerful, also benefits substantially from the limited availability it had as a specialty release within Lost Caverns of Ixalan set and Collector Booster packs: Indoraptor, the Perfect Hybrid.
A 3/1 legendary Dinosaur Mutant for three mana, Indoraptor here has menace and bloodthirst X, meaning that it enters with a number of +1/+1 counters on it equal to the amount of damage dealt to your opponents this turn. Last but not least, whenever Indoraptor is dealt damage, pick an opponent at random, and Indoraptor deals damage to that player equal to its power unless that player sacrifices a nontoken creature.
Indoraptor is an aggressive threat that slots particularly well alongside the self-damage theme from Ixalan’s Dinosaurs, and opening up Indoraptor to more decks (the rules change would allow it to be played as a Gruul or Rakdos card, whereas currently it’s stuck as a Jund card) would allow it to be pretty easily played in the preexisting Naya Dinosaurs archetype that has cemented itself in Commander.
| Indoraptor, the Perfect Hybrid (Borderless) |
Waves of Aggression
Waves of Aggression, the second most expensive card on our list, is both a powerful card and a pretty unique one – when cast as a mono-white spell, it’s the only way that color has access to an unrestricted extra combat step, aside from
For five mana – three generic and two red-white hybrid – Waves of Aggression is a sorcery that untaps all creatures that attacked this turn, then grants an additional combat phase (followed by an additional main phase). Additionally, Waves of Aggression has retrace, meaning it can be cast from your graveyard by discarding a land card in addition to the other costs.
Waves of Aggression has always been a popular pick for aggressive Boros decks in Commander, but the real excitement around it these days is the possibility of mono-white getting an extra combat step. The card has definitely earned some speculation behind its price tag, so we’ll see how long that lasts.
| Waves of Aggression |
The Fourteenth Doctor
Last but not least, Magic’s most expensive hybrid mana spell is also among its most recent: The Fourteenth Doctor.
Unlike the rest of our list, The Fourteenth Doctor is currently priced thanks to the full color identity it can benefit from. This card is a pretty popular Commander (one with decent competitive potential, too), and having access to four colors is a rare commodity these days.
Couple that with its limited release as a Secret Lair-only card, and you have all the ingredients of a popular and expensive Magic card.
| The Fourteenth Doctor |
Wrap Up
Magic’s return to Lorwyn in the upcoming
Keep an eye out on the hybrid world; you never know which one might jump up.
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Harvey McGuinness
Harvey McGuinness is a student at Johns Hopkins University who has been playing Magic since the release of Return to Ravnica. After spending a few years in the Legacy arena bouncing between Miracles and other blue-white control shells, he now spends his time enjoying Magic through CEDH games and understanding the finance perspective. He also writes for the Commander's Herald.