Weekly Winners 2020 - 14

The Ikoria spoilers are bringing joy and movement to the MTG Finance market. All three winners are Ikoria-related.

Like every week, just in time for (digital) FNM, I'll now tell you about the cards that will be the talk of the (digital) town tonight!

 

#1 Solemnity $5.00 (+218.47%)

 

Ah yes! It's spoiler time again. That's always a recipe for moves on the Magic market and this week is no different. Our #1 winner is a Hour of Devastation rare with a rare ability to prevent players and creatures from getting counters. Back in '17 when it was spoiled itself, Solemnity was quite overhyped. With a first listing of $5.99 is dropped down to $2 and later to $1.

But today it's back at $5 and there seems to be a lot of room to grow for this card. And the way abilities/keywords work in the newest set is the reason behind this.

Check out Grimdancer for instance. Instead of 'giving a creature trample', as an effect (until end of turn), in Ikoria, spells put ability counters on creatures. And just like any other counters, those creatures then have that ability permanently, unless they are removed.

How cool would it be to be able to prevent those counters from being distributed? Well, that's where Solemnity can help you out. Since it is not standard legal, it will probably see sideboard play in Pioneer. But only when the cards from Ikoria prove to be good enough for constructed play. And by the first looks of it, they might!

Depending on the power level, Legacy and Modern could also join the party, but that's just speculation at this point. It all depends on the other cards that get printed. But when it happens, expect Solemnity to jump some more in value.

Also keep an eye on other cards that manipulate counters. Here are a few to watch for in the coming weeks:

• Aether Snap ($0.78)
• Clockspinning ($0.35)
• Ferropede ($0.25)
• Medicine Runner ($0.17)
• Price of Betrayal ($0.24)
• Thrull Parasite ($0.33)
• Leech Bonder ($0.26)
• Soul Diviner ($0.35)
• Power Conduit ($0.90)

Solemnity
Hour of Devastation	CardKingdom $2.99	TCGPlayer $5.00

 

#2 Fluctuator $13.34 (+147.50%)

 

Good old Fluctuator is up in price once again! It was one of those cards I was really puzzled and disappointed about when I got it as the rare in my Urza's Saga. Why is this good? How would I use this? Why is this crappy card a rare anyway? Why did I get this instead of a card like Child of Gaea? I couldn't use it and couldn't trade it away since nobody was interested in it.

Today I'm happy with that particular copy of Fluctuator, as it sits in my binder, still fresh from the pack, knowing better about its power level and uses. And if I wanted, I could trade it in for 26 copies of Child of Gaea. I'll pass.

Every time cards that have cycling printed on them Fluctuator increases in price. And this week is no different. Check out Void Beckoner for instance. This is a good example of how cycling works in Ikoria. You can cycle the creature, draw a card and put its ability on another creature. To be honest, that seems the only way Void Beckoner is going to be used.

Fluctuator	CardKingdom $4.49	TCGPlayer $13.34
Void Beckoner	CardKingdom $0.25	TCGPlayer $5.38

 

#3 Skullbriar, the Walking Grave $5.13 (+25.12%)

 

Ikoria spoilers score 3 out of 3, as our third winner is related to it as well. Skullbriar, the Walking Grave has gained some value because of its relevant second ability. As it moves to your command zone, it keeps the counters it has. Before this week, that would most probably be the +1/+1 counters it generated. But since the latest spoilers, Skullbriar, the Walking Grave can keep all kinds of counters it has. Including those with keywords.

That could prove to be a nice strategy for EDH and if it works out well, it might push Skullbriar, the Walking Grave to new heights in value.

 

Cheap Pickups

Please note: for our 'record low' we consider the price of the card over the past 7 years. Many cards have been even cheaper (a) decade(s) ago. Also note: some cards are still going down, and might be even cheaper pickups next week.

 

Firestorm $6.68 - (RL) Record low and going down

 

Elspeth, Knight-Errant $12 - Record low and going down

 

Grove of the Burnwillows $11.11 - Record low and going down

 

Elspeth, Knight-Errant	CardKingdom $12.99	TCGPlayer $12.00
Grove of the Burnwillows	CardKingdom $7.99	TCGPlayer $11.11
Firestorm	CardKingdom $4.49	TCGPlayer $5.46