Weekly Winners 2022 - 47

We see some stuff moving, and this week we found two cards that have done so because of Legacy, and several because of Commander. This week we had to bundle a few cards together since they went up for the exact same reason, so while I have still chosen three cards to focus on, I had to show off some other spikes as well. Interesting week, and for the cards that have gone up through Legacy, I am especially interested in how these prices will move in the future.

Like every week, just in time for FNM, I'll now tell you about the cards that will be the talk of the town tonight! Come discuss this week's price movements with us on Discord and Reddit.

 

Where Are They Now?

Last week Ryan started writing a new series called "Where Are They Now?" which is a series born because of popular demand. As you are reading the current article, we talk every week about which cards have gone up, but users have been asking what happens after the spike. This brand new series will focus on cards that have been discussed in this month a year prior. Which cards retained their value and which card dwindled down after their initial spike? Go read Ryan's explanation! The first iteration can be found at https://www.mtgstocks.com/news/4031-where-are-they-now-november.

If you think you can write articles about Magic finance as well, we have a Write for Us! form. Or if you want to receive an e-mail in your inbox when a new article is published you can enable it in your e-mail preferences and/or join the Discord.

 

#1 Seasoned Dungeoneer $9.49 (+562%)

 

Let's start with discussing two cards at the same time, because both Seasoned Dungeoneer and White Plume Adventurer (chart below) have shot up the past week. Both of these rares are from the Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate set and they have been making waves on MTGO in Legacy. Both of these cards will let you take "the initiative" when they enter the battlefield. So when I first saw this card showing up in decks, my first course of action was to look up what this is and what it does. "The initiative" is somewhat similar to "the Monarch", but also not quite the same.

 

When a player takes the initiative, they will retain the initiative until another player's creature deals combat damage to them, at which point the creature's controller takes the initiative. Whenever a player takes the initiative, or at the beginning of your upkeep where you have the initiative, that player ventures into Undercity. There are some nuances here with other dungeons, but those are not really relevant now.

The thing with Undercity is that it immediately lets you search up a basic land, and the next turn lets you buff a creature. If that creature is your White Plume Adventurer you have a 5/5 with pseudo-vigilance because of its second ability that lets you untap it in each opponent's upkeep. Now you have both a strong blocker and a clock going. When you would buff your Seasoned Dungeoneer you have a 5/6 that can give itself protection from creatures and then it explores. This is another significant threat and clock that needs to be dealt with as soon as possible. Assuming you have chosen "Secret Entrance" and then "Forge" in Undercity, your next turn could be "Trap!" where you get to drain your opponent of 5 life. These two cards are played in a shell with sol-lands, Chalice of the Void, and Thalia, Guardian of Thraben to slow your opponent down, get your threats in play, and finish them before they can deal with everything. If you want to see such a deck in action, I would recommend watching this video over at ThrabenU.

But, and this is something to remember, what we all already know: Legacy does not drive prices and the format is dead! /s

Seasoned Dungeoneer	CardKingdom $0.59	TCGPlayer $5.89
White Plume Adventurer	CardKingdom $2.49	TCGPlayer $9.49
Seasoned Dungeoneer (Extended Art)	CardKingdom $1.79	TCGPlayer $8.94
White Plume Adventurer (Extended Art)	CardKingdom $3.49	TCGPlayer $11.74

 

#2 Cryptothrall $9.25 (+363%)

 

This rare from Warhammer 40K can be found in the Necron Dynasties commander deck and has quickly become popular. This 4-mana 3/3 gives all other artifact creatures hexproof, and who does not hate their creatures being removed by those pesky opponents? This creature will make sure that the other creatures are a little bit more safe.

Cryptothrall quickly found its way in other decks from Warhammer 40K and the Necron Dynasties deck like Imotekh the Stormlord, Szarekh, the Silent King, and Illuminor Szeras for example. But now we have The Brothers' War set, which revolves a lot around artifacts, and thus making this card a popular include. For example, this card is a good upgrade to the Urza's Alliance commander deck, but is also quickly finding its way into decks in Urza, Chief Artificer, Liberator, Urza's Battlethopter, and Mishra, Tamer of Mak Fawa decks. People suspect that many cards from the Warhammer 40K decks are harder to reprint, since they are often strictly bound to the Warhammer 40K universe. And Cryptothrall here is no exception. These cards could become scarce pretty quickly.

And while we are discussing multiple cards at the same time, let us also take a look at Arcum Dagsson which is going up for similar reasons. This card went up with 99% to about $15 because of the popularity of artifacts in The Brothers' War.

 

Cryptothrall (Surge Foil)		TCGPlayer $7.45
Cryptothrall	CardKingdom $4.99	TCGPlayer $9.25
Arcum Dagsson	CardKingdom $7.49	TCGPlayer $12.95
Arcum Dagsson	CardKingdom $7.49	TCGPlayer $15.00

 

#3 Mental Note $3.48 (+195%)

 

And last, but not least, we have a common from Judgment that has never been reprinted since, meaning this card is already over 20 years old. Last September, there was a banned & restricted announcement about Pauper. Four cards that give the initiative (where have I heard of that before?) were banned since they were dominating the format. Since these cards were banned the share of Dimir Terror and Kuldotha Red increased, which are able to apply early pressure and get advantage while the opponent is struggling to deal with the threats.

Now that these decks are becoming more popular, we see more people wanting to play these decks and trying to get their hands on the cards. Since the printing of Tolarian Terror this deck could really start going. It uses Mental Note, along with Thought Scour and Consider, to fill the graveyard to get these big threats out. Since Mental Note was printed so long ago without any reprints, you can imagine it is by far one of the more scarcer cards found in the deck.

Mental Note
Judgment	CardKingdom $1.49	TCGPlayer $3.48

 

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.

 

Unmask $4.48 - Moving up!

 

Unmask has been identified by the MTGStocks Premium Penny Stocks feature as a card that has reached its bottom and is starting a consistent uptrend.

 

Warrior's Oath $5.71 - Slowly moving down

 

Lithoform Engine $7.25 - Slowly moving down

 

Lithoform Engine	CardKingdom $8.99	TCGPlayer $7.49
Warrior's Oath	CardKingdom $8.49	TCGPlayer $5.71