Welcome to the Magic Market Index. This article series documents the price changes of cards in print. This article will track how cards go from release to its time out of Standard, and as long as deemed necessary for non-Standard sets, as well as offer insight into what cards to invest in and what to ignore. The Magic market is a dangerous place, and this article is here to help guide players and speculators through the murky waters to greater returns.
This article will be updated once a week on Wednesdays. This will give time to let the market adapt to changes in the meta and the market, as well as being late enough in the week that it is not completely unreliable prior to going into the Magic: the Gathering weekend events.
Currently, this article series is tracking Khans of Tarkir Block (Khans of Tarkir, Fate Reforged, and Dragons of Tarkir), Magic Origins, and Battle for Zendikar Block (Battle for Zendikar, Zendikar Expeditions). There are no current plans to track any promo sets or other non-set releases. If it can be opened in a pack, it will be covered.
A few things about the market before getting to the values and analysis. Sets in Standard follow a standard pattern in terms of value, in that they start out high during the prerelease and the first week or two of its release. Some cards spike during the first Star City Games Open Series, the first tournament that is Standard-legal and showcases several pros' work at breaking the set. Then comes the Pro Tour if it is Standard, which shows the results of the many of the best players in Magic deciding on the best. Both of these tournaments will rise certain cards, and the rest of the set will lower due to three factors. Magic: the Gathering Online set redemptions, Limited play, and product being opened for non-limited play. The market gets flooded and prices go down. This continues until a few weeks after the next set starts this cycle, and then the previous set starts rising in value and continue until the a few weeks before the set starts to rotate when only cards that see play in non-rotating formats will drop in value. This means the best time to invest is after the Pro Tour, but before the next set comes out. The worst times are at the beginning and end of its time in Standard and when the set stops being played in Limited.
Another aspect is always invest in dual lands as soon as possible. Having a good manabase will always serve a player better than having the "best" card in the set. Invest in dual lands, then desired cards, and then speculation. Also, when speculating, realize that demand is more important than profit margin. Having 200 copies of a card that spikes is not immediate value, as one has to unload that value. Stores will only buy so many of a card that spikes. Lastly, if a card spikes, that is not a sign that one should immediately buy in. Sometimes the card is a flash in the pan and crashes in value. Look at a card and determine if the card has both potential to be playable and rise.
With that, it is time to discuss the price changes and what to look at.
Battle for Zendikar
| Name |
Change for 10/14 to 11/11 |
Change for 11/04 to 11/11 |
Price for 11/11 | Price for 11/04 | Price for 10/28 | Price for 10/21 | Price for 10/14 |
Set Summary
Battle for Zendikar is a combination of three bad circumstances. The set has little to offer older formats, has been opened a lot, and is barely affecting Standard. Yes, there is the Aristocrats decks, but outside of that, almost no new decks are forged. The decks that were good last Standard are still the dominant decks. The creation of the tango lands is probably the most meaningful impact in this set for Standard. |
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| Gideon, Ally of Zendikar | $0.24 | $1.46 | $35.76 | $37.22 | $39.99 | $41.03 | $36.00 | ||||
| Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger | $1.75 | $0.32 | $14.24 | $13.92 | $13.34 | $14.99 | $15.99 | ||||
| Drana, Liberator of Malakir | $7.41 | $1.48 | $10.58 | $12.06 | $13.34 | $15.39 | $17.99 | ||||
| Ob Nixilis Reignited | $5.98 | $0.90 | $9.00 | $9.90 | $10.94 | $12.97 | $14.98 | ||||
| Sunken Hollow | $2.49 | $0.73 | $6.27 | $7.00 | $7.57 | $8.13 | $8.76 | ||||
| Kiora, Master of the Depths | $4.84 | $0.67 | $6.16 | $6.83 | $7.69 | $9.03 | $11.00 | ||||
| Undergrowth Champion | $6.61 | $0.82 | $6.12 | $6.94 | $7.99 | $10.10 | $12.73 | ||||
| Dragonmaster Outcast | $1.05 | $0.37 | $6.05 | $6.42 | $6.65 | $6.71 | $5.00 | ||||
| Oblivion Sower | $0.15 | $0.22 | $5.77 | $5.99 | $6.50 | $6.95 | $5.92 | ||||
| Prairie Stream | $2.31 | $0.41 | $5.75 | $6.16 | $6.76 | $7.49 | $8.06 | ||||
| Canopy Vista | $2.55 | $0.46 | $5.43 | $5.89 | $6.45 | $7.00 | $7.98 | ||||
| Cinder Glade | $1.96 | $0.46 | $5.33 | $5.79 | $6.23 | $6.87 | $7.29 | ||||
| Shambling Vent | $1.32 | $0.37 | $5.33 | $5.70 | $6.01 | $6.54 | $6.65 | ||||
| Smoldering Marsh | $1.68 | $0.18 | $4.32 | $4.50 | $4.95 | $5.41 | $6.00 | ||||
| Omnath, Locus of Rage | $1.39 | $0.10 | $2.73 | $2.83 | $3.02 | $3.49 | $4.12 | ||||
| Ruinous Path | $2.46 | $0.37 | $2.65 | $3.02 | $3.56 | $4.32 | $5.11 | ||||
| Void Winnower | $1.16 | $0.20 | $2.59 | $2.79 | $3.00 | $3.43 | $3.75 | ||||
| Quarantine Field | $1.15 | $0.08 | $2.50 | $2.58 | $2.84 | $3.22 | $3.65 | ||||
| Radiant Flames | $0.08 | $0.25 | $2.50 | $2.75 | $3.00 | $3.09 | $2.58 | ||||
| Greenwarden of Murasa | $1.96 | $0.24 | $2.29 | $2.53 | $2.81 | $3.49 | $4.25 | ||||
| Lumbering Falls | $1.64 | $0.25 | $2.26 | $2.51 | $2.79 | $3.22 | $3.90 | ||||
| Scatter to the Winds | $1.31 | $0.36 | $2.03 | $2.39 | $2.75 | $3.15 | $3.34 |
Zendikar Expeditions
| Name |
Change for 10/14 to 11/11 |
Change for 11/04 to 11/11 |
Price for 11/11 | Price for 11/04 | Price for 10/28 | Price for 10/21 | Price for 10/14 |
Set Summary
Well, the fall of the Zendikar Expeditions prices did not last. Question is will the rise of the value of Expeditions drive more people to buy boxes of Battle for Zendikar? That is not a question if it is good for Battle for Zendikar, because simply it is not. Battle for Zendikar's market is already suffering really badly from all the packs opened and is hoping for packs to stop getting opened. |
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| Scalding Tarn | $10.40 | $11.41 | $240.00 | $228.59 | $227.83 | $239.48 | $250.40 | ||||
| Misty Rainforest | $5.05 | $5.70 | $219.94 | $214.24 | $201.87 | $219.48 | $224.99 | ||||
| Polluted Delta | $10.63 | $9.01 | $219.36 | $210.35 | $204.60 | $224.44 | $229.99 | ||||
| Flooded Strand | $31.16 | $0.13 | $183.83 | $183.96 | $188.44 | $209.93 | $214.99 | ||||
| Verdant Catacombs | $2.74 | $8.58 | $162.46 | $153.88 | $150.05 | $150.00 | $159.72 | ||||
| Bloodstained Mire | $1.79 | $4.40 | $115.00 | $110.60 | $109.99 | $111.24 | $113.21 | ||||
| Arid Mesa | $10.38 | $2.96 | $108.61 | $105.65 | $101.44 | $107.92 | $118.99 | ||||
| Windswept Heath | $3.79 | $1.46 | $100.20 | $98.74 | $99.24 | $100.00 | $103.99 | ||||
| Steam Vents | $14.89 | $0.46 | $99.51 | $99.97 | $100.44 | $108.99 | $114.40 | ||||
| Wooded Foothills | $2.13 | $3.05 | $97.72 | $94.67 | $94.49 | $99.74 | $99.85 | ||||
| Marsh Flats | $9.15 | $1.89 | $95.80 | $97.69 | $100.00 | $99.99 | $104.95 | ||||
| Hallowed Fountain | $9.72 | $1.60 | $76.27 | $77.87 | $79.23 | $81.61 | $85.99 | ||||
| Watery Grave | $5.97 | $1.01 | $73.98 | $74.99 | $75.10 | $77.94 | $79.95 | ||||
| Breeding Pool | $6.52 | $0.30 | $73.44 | $73.14 | $74.53 | $78.49 | $79.96 | ||||
| Overgrown Tomb | $5.22 | $2.04 | $72.00 | $69.96 | $73.00 | $73.99 | $77.22 | ||||
| Stomping Ground | $8.25 | $0.24 | $71.24 | $71.00 | $72.87 | $75.00 | $79.49 | ||||
| Godless Shrine | $5.04 | $2.09 | $69.95 | $67.86 | $70.50 | $73.36 | $74.99 | ||||
| Sacred Foundry | $10.22 | $1.95 | $63.75 | $65.70 | $66.28 | $69.95 | $73.97 | ||||
| Blood Crypt | $3.83 | $1.22 | $61.13 | $59.91 | $59.76 | $61.24 | $64.96 | ||||
| Sunken Hollow | $7.92 | $0.39 | $59.93 | $59.54 | $54.99 | $57.23 | $52.01 | ||||
| Prairie Stream | $3.40 | $0.49 | $58.40 | $58.89 | $58.89 | $55.24 | $55.00 | ||||
| Temple Garden | $3.03 | $0.97 | $57.97 | $57.00 | $56.99 | $58.75 | $61.00 | ||||
| Canopy Vista | $0.93 | $0.12 | $48.84 | $48.96 | $49.93 | $49.96 | $49.77 | ||||
| Smoldering Marsh | $0.06 | $0.00 | $44.95 | $44.95 | $44.98 | $44.96 | $45.01 | ||||
| Cinder Glade | $3.68 | $2.01 | $42.99 | $45.00 | $44.94 | $46.40 | $46.67 |
Magic Origins
| Name |
Change for 10/14 to 11/11 |
Change for 11/04 to 11/11 |
Price for 11/11 | Price for 11/04 | Price for 10/28 | Price for 10/21 | Price for 10/14 |
Set Summary
Jace is cooling off after running blue hot. Remember, blue flames are hotter than red flames... |
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| Jace, Vryn's Prodigy | $3.61 | $3.97 | $69.99 | $73.96 | $73.15 | $74.98 | $73.60 | ||||
| Nissa, Vastwood Seer | $0.74 | $0.98 | $24.96 | $25.94 | $26.02 | $25.30 | $24.22 | ||||
| Liliana, Heretical Healer | $7.48 | $0.99 | $23.98 | $24.97 | $25.18 | $24.98 | $16.50 | ||||
| Hangarback Walker | $0.20 | $0.26 | $14.05 | $14.31 | $14.58 | $14.73 | $14.25 | ||||
| Chandra, Fire of Kaladesh | $0.06 | $0.06 | $7.94 | $8.00 | $8.08 | $8.23 | $8.00 | ||||
| Abbot of Keral Keep | $0.04 | $0.19 | $7.29 | $7.48 | $7.50 | $7.49 | $7.25 | ||||
| Archangel of Tithes | $0.40 | $0.20 | $6.25 | $6.45 | $6.47 | $6.73 | $6.65 | ||||
| Kytheon, Hero of Akros | $1.21 | $0.13 | $5.81 | $5.94 | $6.13 | $6.58 | $7.02 | ||||
| Exquisite Firecraft | $1.23 | $0.40 | $4.59 | $4.99 | $5.25 | $5.55 | $5.82 | ||||
| Languish | $0.25 | $0.09 | $3.80 | $3.89 | $3.96 | $3.99 | $4.05 | ||||
| Managorger Hydra | $0.18 | $0.03 | $3.22 | $3.25 | $3.29 | $3.25 | $3.04 | ||||
| Alhammarret's Archive | $0.27 | $0.03 | $3.00 | $3.03 | $3.15 | $3.25 | $3.27 | ||||
| Day's Undoing | $0.84 | $0.15 | $2.95 | $3.10 | $3.34 | $3.51 | $3.79 | ||||
| Sword of the Animist | $0.30 | $0.07 | $2.69 | $2.76 | $2.87 | $2.95 | $2.99 | ||||
| Goblin Piledriver | $0.80 | $0.20 | $2.63 | $2.83 | $2.99 | $3.23 | $3.43 | ||||
| Starfield of Nyx | $0.59 | $0.09 | $2.53 | $2.62 | $2.66 | $2.85 | $3.12 | ||||
| Pyromancer's Goggles | $0.71 | $0.10 | $2.39 | $2.49 | $2.59 | $2.82 | $3.10 | ||||
| Demonic Pact | $0.67 | $0.23 | $2.26 | $2.49 | $2.60 | $2.74 | $2.93 | ||||
| Woodland Bellower | $0.69 | $0.12 | $2.18 | $2.30 | $2.43 | $2.65 | $2.87 |
Dragons of Tarkir
| Name |
Change for 10/14 to 11/11 |
Change for 11/04 to 11/11 |
Price for 11/11 | Price for 11/04 | Price for 10/28 | Price for 10/21 | Price for 10/14 |
Set Summary
Dragons of Tarkir is the best performing set in a down tick of the Standard market. If there is a desire to crack packs for value, this is the set to do it. Several of the valuable cards see play in Modern, and there are plenty of valuable uncommons. |
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| Dragonlord Ojutai | $4.69 | $1.40 | $24.80 | $26.20 | $27.50 | $28.13 | $29.49 | ||||
| Deathmist Raptor | $0.39 | $0.77 | $21.59 | $22.36 | $22.83 | $23.04 | $21.98 | ||||
| Atarka's Command | $0.06 | $0.41 | $14.94 | $15.35 | $15.59 | $15.64 | $14.88 | ||||
| Den Protector | $0.81 | $0.94 | $14.88 | $15.82 | $16.19 | $16.00 | $15.69 | ||||
| Kolaghan's Command | $1.46 | $0.03 | $12.53 | $12.50 | $12.71 | $12.49 | $11.07 | ||||
| Dragonlord Atarka | $0.51 | $1.25 | $10.72 | $9.47 | $9.26 | $10.82 | $10.21 | ||||
| Narset Transcendent | $0.77 | $1.35 | $9.44 | $10.79 | $10.81 | $9.00 | $8.67 | ||||
| Dragonlord Dromoka | $0.62 | $0.10 | $9.00 | $9.10 | $9.19 | $9.22 | $8.38 | ||||
| Collected Company | $0.91 | $0.08 | $8.08 | $8.00 | $8.13 | $8.78 | $8.99 | ||||
| Shaman of Forgotten Ways | $0.42 | $0.40 | $7.58 | $7.98 | $8.05 | $8.10 | $8.00 | ||||
| Dromoka's Command | $0.22 | $0.25 | $7.47 | $7.72 | $7.94 | $7.99 | $7.25 | ||||
| Sarkhan Unbroken | $0.17 | $0.05 | $6.94 | $6.99 | $7.00 | $7.14 | $7.11 | ||||
| Thunderbreak Regent | $0.60 | $0.18 | $5.95 | $6.13 | $6.29 | $6.23 | $5.35 | ||||
| Dragonlord Silumgar | $0.19 | $0.12 | $5.00 | $5.12 | $5.13 | $5.25 | $5.19 | ||||
| Zurgo Bellstriker | $0.80 | $0.02 | $4.47 | $4.49 | $4.59 | $4.49 | $3.67 | ||||
| Ojutai's Command | $1.01 | $0.11 | $4.38 | $4.49 | $4.57 | $4.66 | $3.37 | ||||
| Secure the Wastes | $1.69 | $0.17 | $4.28 | $4.11 | $3.87 | $3.02 | $2.59 | ||||
| Dragonlord Kolaghan | $0.14 | $0.06 | $3.71 | $3.77 | $3.80 | $3.76 | $3.57 | ||||
| Haven of the Spirit Dragon | $0.45 | $0.18 | $3.25 | $3.43 | $3.51 | $3.68 | $3.70 | ||||
| Dragon Whisperer | $0.26 | $0.01 | $2.99 | $3.00 | $3.18 | $3.32 | $3.25 | ||||
| Hidden Dragonslayer | - | $0.20 | $2.80 | $3.00 | $3.00 | $2.83 | - | ||||
| Silkwrap | - | $0.10 | $2.35 | $2.25 | - | - | - | ||||
| Descent of Dragons | $0.08 | $0.02 | $2.07 | $2.09 | $2.09 | $2.15 | $2.15 |
Fate Reforged
| Name |
Change for 10/14 to 11/11 |
Change for 11/04 to 11/11 |
Price for 11/11 | Price for 11/04 | Price for 10/28 | Price for 10/21 | Price for 10/14 |
Set Summary
Ugin is taking off. That's the spirit, Ugin! The Eldrazi Ramp deck is a thing and Ugin is the other win condition in that deck as well as just a great finisher in the Control decks. Taisgur should move up a little soon, along with Warden of the First Tree. |
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| Ugin, the Spirit Dragon | $8.39 | $4.88 | $35.71 | $30.83 | $28.31 | $27.95 | $27.32 | ||||
| Monastery Mentor | $0.28 | $0.18 | $16.43 | $16.61 | $16.60 | $16.43 | $16.15 | ||||
| Soulfire Grand Master | $2.14 | $0.23 | $11.27 | $11.50 | $11.49 | $10.99 | $9.13 | ||||
| Tasigur, the Golden Fang | $1.23 | $0.00 | $3.99 | $3.99 | $4.10 | $4.56 | $5.22 | ||||
| Warden of the First Tree | $0.30 | $0.03 | $3.71 | $3.74 | $2.98 | $3.39 | $3.41 | ||||
| Wild Slash | - | $0.17 | $2.58 | $2.75 | $2.79 | $2.44 | - | ||||
| Brutal Hordechief | $0.12 | $0.00 | $2.50 | $2.50 | $2.49 | $2.46 | $2.38 | ||||
| Whisperwood Elemental | $1.53 | $0.39 | $2.34 | $2.73 | $3.80 | $3.77 | $3.87 |
Khans of Tarkir
| Name |
Change for 10/14 to 11/11 |
Change for 11/04 to 11/11 |
Price for 11/11 | Price for 11/04 | Price for 10/28 | Price for 10/21 | Price for 10/14 |
Set Summary
The fetchlands are dropping, which is probably associated with the overall drop in Standard. |
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| Polluted Delta | $0.49 | $0.62 | $25.30 | $25.92 | $26.47 | $26.51 | $24.81 | ||||
| Flooded Strand | $2.12 | $0.89 | $23.01 | $23.90 | $24.00 | $24.11 | $20.89 | ||||
| Wooded Foothills | $3.25 | $0.81 | $23.00 | $23.81 | $23.99 | $23.95 | $19.75 | ||||
| Bloodstained Mire | $3.97 | $0.20 | $21.17 | $21.37 | $21.95 | $21.04 | $17.20 | ||||
| Windswept Heath | $0.26 | $0.10 | $14.06 | $14.16 | $14.25 | $14.03 | $13.80 | ||||
| Sorin, Solemn Visitor | $0.94 | $0.01 | $9.93 | $9.92 | $9.69 | $9.29 | $8.99 | ||||
| Anafenza, the Foremost | $0.13 | $0.27 | $7.98 | $8.25 | $8.52 | $8.54 | $7.85 | ||||
| Wingmate Roc | $1.18 | $0.16 | $6.13 | $6.29 | $6.42 | $6.97 | $4.95 | ||||
| Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker | $0.11 | $0.12 | $5.12 | $5.24 | $5.48 | $5.59 | $5.23 | ||||
| Dig Through Time | $0.73 | $0.25 | $4.47 | $4.72 | $4.91 | $5.09 | $5.20 | ||||
| See the Unwritten | $2.83 | $0.58 | $3.64 | $4.22 | $4.88 | $5.50 | $6.47 | ||||
| Siege Rhino | $0.08 | $0.13 | $3.58 | $3.71 | $3.80 | $3.93 | $3.66 | ||||
| Hardened Scales | $1.80 | $0.54 | $3.45 | $3.99 | $4.18 | $4.92 | $5.25 | ||||
| Monastery Swiftspear | $0.17 | $0.13 | $3.33 | $3.46 | $3.52 | $3.60 | $3.50 | ||||
| Crackling Doom | - | $0.29 | $3.00 | $3.29 | $3.48 | $3.59 | - | ||||
| Bloodsoaked Champion | - | $0.17 | $2.95 | $3.12 | $3.13 | $3.26 | - | ||||
| Mantis Rider | $0.24 | $0.21 | $2.49 | $2.70 | $2.87 | $3.01 | $2.25 | ||||
| Clever Impersonator | $0.13 | $0.03 | $2.42 | $2.45 | $2.50 | $2.58 | $2.55 | ||||
| Rattleclaw Mystic | $0.47 | $0.20 | $2.40 | $2.60 | $2.70 | $2.84 | $2.87 |
Overall Summary
Standard overall is on the down tick, which is mostly because everyone is looking forward to the next set, and it is the holiday season, so money is being spent on other non-card things. The market will be in a slump like this until the format shakes up with a radical new deck or a new set entering the market.
Cards to Watch
Warden of the First Tree (3.71): This card could easily go up a few more dollars as it see play in almost every G/W deck, and G/W/x decks seem to be on the rise, most notably Abzan.
Cards to Avoid
Risen Executioner (1.91): These is a strong chance that there will be Zombies in Shadows over Innistrad, but there is serious doubt at this moment that will be a dedicated Zombie tribal deck like there was during the first Innistrad block. Avoid this right now, and wait closer to the spoilers to start investing in this card. If there looks like a tribal Zombie deck, this card could see play, although it is doubtful even in that situation.
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Posted Nov 15, 2015-
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Posted Nov 15, 2015-
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Posted Nov 15, 2015Ohhh, thanks! I didn't realize that.
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Posted Nov 12, 2015-
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Posted Nov 12, 2015I think a two to three dollar increase is possible. It is a card to watch. Cards from other products that seem as much play as Warden are increasing, like Siege Rhino, Windswept Heath, and Hangarback Walker (in this case, not dropped much). It could be other factor in those cards increase, but it is worth noting because previously Warden only saw play in Abzan Aggro and now it sees play in almost every G/W/x deck.