Enabling the Heavy Hitters

Welcome to Through the Lens, where my aim is to help you extract the most value possible from your collection. Today I’ll be discussing Dinosaurs - more specifically, a few of their enablers. First and foremost, I recommend going through your bulk and locating every card that says the word "Dinosaur" on it.  

There’s been a lot of spice previewed recently that has reignited interest in our fossilized friends, so I won’t waste your time. Let’s get into it. 

Gishath, Sun's Avatar is big game; we all know that. The card has steadily risen over the past four months, and more so of late thanks to previews from the upcoming The Lost Caverns of Ixalan and the recent Universes Beyond: Doctor Who release. Gishath is fairly popular, ranking #22 on EDHREC’s list of top commanders, which makes it a prime target to build around, especially for casual players (like me). So, stuffing our Gishath deck with Dinosaurs seems prudent, but these big bodies won’t cast themselves. Certainly not for cheap. 

Otepec Huntmaster

With just a single printing to its name, Otepec Huntmaster is the prime example of what to watch out for when evaluating bulk cards in your collection. Sitting currently at around $0.70, Otepec Huntmaster has seen steady growth over the past year or so, with its foil version spiking over the last six months. 

There’s a lot of relevant text on this card. Not only is it a mini-Eye of Ugin for dinos on a tiny body, it can tap to give a Dinosaur haste, which is nothing to scoff at in a format where untapping with powerful creatures can feel like an impossible task. Of note, the Huntmaster is certainly capable of eating a targeted removal spell, which is decent enough in its own right. 

If Otepec Huntmaster manages to dodge a reprint in the upcoming Lost Caverns of Ixalan and its Commander decks, I can see its stock continuing to rise. Dig out what copies you might have lying around if you haven’t already.

Dinos and Merfolk and Pirates, Oh My! (Also Vampires)

Knight of the Stampede

Another enabler with only a single printing, Knight of the Stampede exists solely in the realm of do I get to untap with this or not? “Dinosaur spells you cast cost two generic less to cast” is a line of text that can lead to some degenerate plays. It isn’t the cheapest mana dork to cast, and it might be just about the least-threatening creature at that MV, but it does have four defense. That’s not nothing. 

At a blistering $0.30 cents, the non-foil version of Knight of the Stampede has seen a glacial, albeit steady, increase over the past year, while its foil counterpart has followed the trajectory of Otepec Huntmaster. But this is a card that, again, if able to dodge a reprint, might very well see a sharper increase in price over the next few months. 

Kinjalli's Caller

What can be said about Kinjalli’s Caller that hasn’t already been mentioned above? Once more, with a sole printing to its name, this is another card to pull, or at least set aside to evaluate with time. And though it’s on the cheaper side, around $0.25, it’s a card that sells regularly. And surprise, the foil version has spiked in tandem with its two cousins above, which makes Kinjalli's Caller an excellent target if/when it avoids a reprint. 

Honorable Mention - Majestic Heliopterus

 

Majestic Heliopterus won’t help you cast your Dinosaurs, but it will help you make them fly. A single printing with a niche, targeted effect, and a steady increase in price (both foil and non-foil) over the past year makes this card one to look out for. And at its lower price point, especially in foil, an interesting vehicle for those of us who like to spec.  

Otepec Huntmaster	CardKingdom $1.49	TCGPlayer $1.09
Knight of the Stampede	CardKingdom $0.49	TCGPlayer $0.39
Kinjalli's Caller	CardKingdom $0.35	TCGPlayer $0.25
Majestic Heliopterus	CardKingdom $0.49	TCGPlayer $0.39

In Closing 

Hopefully you’ve picked up on what to look out for when combing through bulk. We aren’t moving mountains at these prices, but we are squeezing what value we can from our collection. For many, that’s what it's all about. History tells us these cards will be reprinted at some point, especially if the next major release is sure to have a lot of Dinosaurs. Still, these are cards that specifically care about, and enable, Dinosaurs only; they aren’t exactly ubiquitous. As always though, tread lightly when speccing, especially with foils.  

Thank you for reading, and continue to check out MTGStocks’ Weekly Winners to stay on top of what cards are moving. This can help you dig out potential winners from your bulk. 

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