Top Picks for Lost Caverns of Ixalan Commander Singles

Fin, Claw, Fang, Sword

Commander: The Lost Caverns of Ixalan stands as another of this year’s EDH releases that’s expected to leave a limited impact on both the game and financial landscapes.

Following the deck-building philosophy of incorporating 1-2 meaningful cards and 98 bulk slots, only a handful of cards within the product merit a mention. Thematically, the decks revisit the kindred rivalries of the original Ixalan block, with each faction squared against the other, promising a potentially balanced game of EDH right out of the box.

This release also encountered a rocky start in terms of availability. Commander decks were not readily accessible during the prerelease week, and ongoing supply issues with online retailers have persisted. One particular deck, Veloci-ramp-tor, appears to be the most affected by scarcity-based inflation. This deck has experienced heightened demand online and in physical retail, potentially due to the release of additional cards from Universes Beyond: Jurassic World Collection or the inflated interest in new Dinosaur-themed cards. To this day, it remains in low stock across the major retail sites.

I Know a Guy…

Black Market Connections emerges as the best reprint in the Ahoy Mateys deck, as well as the entire product. This is a well-deserved reprint boasting in-game value and significant monetary appeal. Originally printed in Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate with an average price of $30 before the reprint, the new version is beginning to trend upward, aiming to reach the original in the $20 mark. Considering its status as an EDH staple, the card enjoys consistent popularity and demand, with a lack of interest or playability in other eternal formats. Barring another major reprint, the price is expected to stabilize around this point.

The trajectory of Toxic Deluge, a card with a comparable amount of reprints, offers an interesting perspective. Reprinted in the Commander: The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth product and the Commander Masters set, its continued demand as removal in other formats justified these reprints. Similarly, Black Market Connections may potentially find its way into upcoming sets. For instance, in the February release of Murders at Karlov Manor, one could speculate on a Dimir-based art for the card.

Black Market Connections	CardKingdom $21.99	TCGPlayer $17.97
Black Market Connections	CardKingdom $21.99	TCGPlayer $20.41
Black Market Connections (Extended Art)	CardKingdom $22.99	TCGPlayer $27.72

Death and Evasion

Exploring some smaller-ticket items from the reprint section, we begin with Pitiless Plunderer. This is another card originating from the Ixalan block which avoided reprints until now, contributing to price inflation. Original copies were averaging around $11, having descended from an all-time high of $15. With the Special Guests printing and its appearance in the Commander deck, Pitiless Plunderer is now approaching the $6.75 mark. Being a non-restricted engine piece makes it a valuable inclusion in the 99 of many Commander decks. In my own collection, this serves as a staple in Minthara, Merciless Soul, and Prossh, Skyraider of Kher.

Another strong reprint present is Akroma's Will, one of the better cards to come from Commander Legends. This card has demonstrated a somewhat fluctuating price trend over the past few months, reaching a recent high of $21 and then settling around $15 before the new print in the Commander deck brought it down to $13. While the potential for reprints is high, given the numerous Commander-matters cards receiving reprints in products each year, Akroma's Will may not be a top priority for future reprints. However, it could follow the same fate as Flawless Maneuver, seeing multiple printings until its price eventually crashes.

Pitiless Plunderer	CardKingdom $6.49	TCGPlayer $6.76
Pitiless Plunderer	CardKingdom $6.49	TCGPlayer $8.00
Pitiless Plunderer (Borderless)	CardKingdom $8.99	TCGPlayer $11.94
Akroma's Will	CardKingdom $9.99	TCGPlayer $12.95
Akroma's Will	CardKingdom $16.99	TCGPlayer $14.22
Akroma's Will (Extended Art)	CardKingdom $24.99	TCGPlayer $27.00

Edgar at Home

Some of the most powerful and expensive cards in MTG leverage game mechanics to create advantages. For example, Sheoldred, the Apocalypse deals with drawing cards, which is a nearly unavoidable occurrence in each game. Other cards may focus on upkeep, different phases, or general things happening on the battlefield. Some, like cards with Eminence, don't even need to be cast to provide a benefit. Drawing a comparison to Eminence is crucial here, as the Charismatic Conqueror is the second coming of Edgar Markov, but with extra steps.

While there might be a slight exaggeration in the above comparison, the hype surrounding Charismatic Conqueror is well-founded, as its ascent is likely to continue in the foreseeable future. Having doubled in price over the past week and currently averaging $22, Charismatic Conqueror injects an element of control and profit to the battlefield. It easily slots into any deck playing white and introduces more strategic choices for your opponents. While not as oppressive as Blind Obedience, the benefit of netting creatures is something that can be exploited against other token/treasure game strategies.

Charismatic Conqueror	CardKingdom $14.99	TCGPlayer $22.10
Charismatic Conqueror (Extended Art)	CardKingdom $14.99	TCGPlayer $16.98

When 2% Of Cards Are 78% Of the Value

Other notable reprints in Commander: Lost Caverns of Ixalan include cards like Branching Evolution, experiencing its first reprint outside of Jumpstart with an average of $9. Exquisite Blood, which last saw a significant dip in June of 2022, currently averages around $17 for new copies. However, this one is likely to rebound and align with previous prints closer to the $25-$30 range.

Despite being a welcomed return to the rivalry that made the Ixalan block great, Commander: Lost Caverns of Ixalan falls short when compared to other Commander decks released this year. It fails to provide anything unique and quickly fades into obscurity.

Branching Evolution	CardKingdom $8.99	TCGPlayer $8.87
Branching Evolution	CardKingdom $13.99	TCGPlayer $12.24
Exquisite Blood	CardKingdom $14.99	TCGPlayer $17.25

My advice on this product would be to consider picking up the Blood Rites deck and get some money back on the two value cards. Beyond that, the product lacks any long-term appeal, and the other 98 cards barely hold any significant value. While this assessment might sound harsh, it reflects the often cruel reality of sets and products being released in a market that's currently at an all-time high.

Join me in the next installment of New Horizons, where we bundle up for Secretversary 2023.

Further reading:

How the Lost Caverns of Ixalan Delays Have Affected the Market