The Magic: The Gathering phenomenon continues to gain momentum, highlighted by last week’s preorder launch for **Avatar: The Last Airbender** and rising anticipation ahead of the Spider-Man set debut next month. Notably, Edge of Eternities is already experiencing significant fluctuations in value.
In addition, this week sees a classic card and a new essential from the Foundations set gaining traction, while **Final Fantasy**’s **Vivi Ornitier** remains stubborn in value retention. Below, we outline this week’s notable crashers and climbers, utilizing data sourced from TCGPlayer.
New Foundation
We begin our analysis with a card that has become increasingly accessible: the Soulstone Sanctuary, a standout from last year’s Foundations set, which has effectively doubled in market value.
Functioning as a land that can transform into a 3/3 creature, its unique versatility lies in its ability to assume multiple creature types. This means that the removal spell **Shoot the Sheriff**, which typically targets a single type, fails to affect Soulstone Sanctuary, making it a strategic advantage in gameplay.
Next on our list is Masako the Humorless, a card printed in the **Champions of Kamigawa** set. As a low-cost creature that can be cast at instant speed via flash, Masako presents a strategic opportunity for players to keep their mana open while still enabling defensive maneuvers.
This newfound popularity can be attributed to her synergy with the new spacecraft card types in Edge of Eternities, allowing players to utilize their creatures offensively while preserving their ability to block.
In a separate development, the **Final Fantasy** character Vivi Ornitier is back in the spotlight. Although he previously faced a drop in value, he has seen a resurgence due to several competitive appearances, regaining market value to approximately $60. An ideal candidate for a **spellslinger deck**, Vivi remains a staple among competitive players.
Vivi’s effectiveness enhances considerably when paired with Agatha’s Soul Cauldron from **Wilds of Eldraine**, which holds a slight market value of around $55 despite its retail price hovering near $70.
Lastly, the recent release Winternight Stories from **Tarkir: Dragonstorm** is proving to be a valuable asset in facilitating the synergy with Vivi in decks, as it aids in sending him to the graveyard for subsequent play with Agatha’s ability to resurrect him as a creature. Currently priced around $2, it represents a potential undervaluation as market trends evolve.
Life Is A Stage
This printing is particularly suited for executing the lethal **Thespian’s Stage/Dark Depths** combo to summon a powerful 20/20 creature, increasing its desirability in competitive play.
Another card experiencing a downtrend is Icetill Explorer, which previously ranked among the set’s initial best-sellers. Now, its market value has fallen dramatically and I recommend it for inclusion in the **World Shaper** preconstructed deck, given its recent drop below the $20 mark, with further declines anticipated.
Also noteworthy is Tezzeret, Cruel Captain, whose value has plummeted from approximately $70 upon launch to just under $30, a trend that appears likely to persist.
Additionally, Uthros, Titanic Godcore has reached a low of $18.54, sharply declining from previous peaks around $40, taking into account its potential role as a strong endgame creature in blue decks.
We conclude this section with the noteworthy decline of Yuna, Hope of Spira, which has seen its value dip to approximately $10, with expectations for a continued decrease.
A Future Climber?
A card garnering attention among Commander deck strategists is Redirect Lighting. True to its name, it provides a means to redirect spells or abilities targeting one entity to another.
While it may not hold the same power as **Deflecting Swat**, its anticipated popularity as the year progresses is notable, especially considering the latter’s market value at around $50.
Moreover, a highlight of the week is the continuing appeal of the MTG x Final Fantasy precons bundle, which is currently available for $189.99 at Amazon, representing a $90 discount from the MSRP and the best price noted for this four-deck commander set.
At less than $50 per deck, it stands out, particularly since three of the four decks typically retail above this price point individually. **Final Fantasy 7**’s **Limit Break** remains a premium offering, currently priced at $72.50 on Amazon.
In addition to these highlights, Amazon has also launched one of the year’s best Magic: The Gathering deals, significantly reducing the price of the stylish MTG Aetherdrift Finish Line Bundle to $52.70 from its usual $79.99.
This limited-time offer is garnering substantial attention from the Magic community, as it marks a competitive price point significantly lower than previous sales levels, such as during a recent similar Amazon sale where it was recorded around $60.
Lloyd Coombes is an experienced freelancer in tech, gaming, and fitness seen at Polygon, Eurogamer, Macworld, TechRadar and many more. He’s a big fan of Magic: The Gathering and other collectible card games, much to his wife’s dismay.
