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 (Oath of the Gatewatch, 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.
Zendikar Expeditions
| Name | Change for 12/16 to 1/20 |
Change for 1/13 to 1/20 |
Price for 1/20 | Price for 1/13 | Price for 1/06 | Price for 12/30 | Price for 12/16 |
Set Summary
All the Expeditions are on TCGPlayer. The values of the Oath of Gatewatch ones are little lower than expected, but not terribly off. They will go down for a little then go back up. |
|||
| Scalding Tarn | $2.43 | $0.42 | $320.42 | $320.00 | $312.81 | $315.33 | $317.99 | ||||
| Wasteland | - | $1.73 | $285.00 | $283.27 | - | - | - | ||||
| Misty Rainforest | $25.90 | $2.01 | $275.99 | $278.00 | $294.08 | $255.00 | $250.09 | ||||
| Polluted Delta | $5.97 | $3.63 | $264.95 | $268.58 | $267.55 | $282.82 | $258.98 | ||||
| Flooded Strand | $13.92 | $0.06 | $212.93 | $212.87 | $210.99 | $211.55 | $199.01 | ||||
| Verdant Catacombs | $23.40 | $2.77 | $206.15 | $203.38 | $219.98 | $202.33 | $182.75 | ||||
| Eye of Ugin | - | $0.00 | $190.57 | $190.57 | - | - | - | ||||
| Wooded Foothills | $15.64 | $0.02 | $139.95 | $139.97 | $140.05 | $122.99 | $124.31 | ||||
| Horizon Canopy | - | $20.03 | $134.52 | $154.55 | - | - | - | ||||
| Ancient Tomb | - | $21.00 | $130.99 | $109.99 | - | - | - | ||||
| Bloodstained Mire | $3.65 | $0.93 | $125.96 | $126.89 | $133.49 | $141.71 | $129.61 | ||||
| Windswept Heath | $0.44 | $1.03 | $125.53 | $124.50 | $127.00 | $134.50 | $125.97 | ||||
| Steam Vents | $9.07 | $14.29 | $121.00 | $135.29 | $120.00 | $119.99 | $111.93 | ||||
| Arid Mesa | $1.89 | $0.56 | $119.39 | $119.95 | $119.99 | $120.33 | $117.50 | ||||
| Marsh Flats | $10.02 | $1.03 | $117.50 | $118.53 | $112.70 | $108.22 | $107.48 | ||||
| Twilight Mire | - | $15.64 | $110.00 | $94.36 | - | - | - | ||||
| Cascade Bluffs | - | $6.99 | $109.99 | $103.00 | - | - | - | ||||
| Strip Mine | - | $6.07 | $103.92 | $97.85 | - | - | - | ||||
| Flooded Grove | - | $0.45 | $97.40 | $97.85 | - | - | - | ||||
| Godless Shrine | $19.47 | $3.51 | $93.95 | $90.44 | $89.35 | $79.66 | $74.48 | ||||
| Mystic Gate | - | $1.93 | $93.50 | $95.43 | - | - | - | ||||
| Sunken Ruins | - | $3.90 | $89.99 | $93.89 | - | - | - | ||||
| Dust Bowl | - | $16.52 | $87.99 | $71.47 | - | - | - | ||||
| Forbidden Orchard | - | - | $87.99 | - | - | - | - | ||||
| Mana Confluence | - | - | $87.99 | - | - | - | - | ||||
| Overgrown Tomb | $8.00 | $2.00 | $87.97 | $89.97 | $87.97 | $83.77 | $79.97 | ||||
| Fetid Heath | - | $5.59 | $85.24 | $90.83 | - | - | - | ||||
| Hallowed Fountain | $3.74 | $4.42 | $81.42 | $77.00 | $80.45 | $82.39 | $77.68 | ||||
| Breeding Pool | $8.05 | $0.27 | $80.26 | $79.99 | $80.00 | $74.97 | $72.21 | ||||
| Watery Grave | $2.54 | $0.04 | $79.95 | $79.99 | $79.33 | $81.96 | $77.41 | ||||
| Stomping Ground | $6.59 | $2.80 | $79.00 | $76.20 | $72.48 | $78.96 | $72.41 | ||||
| Kor Haven | - | $10.51 | $78.99 | $68.48 | - | - | - | ||||
| Sacred Foundry | $7.75 | $1.08 | $77.11 | $78.19 | $76.00 | $73.84 | $69.36 | ||||
| Blood Crypt | $11.08 | $5.74 | $76.99 | $71.25 | $69.66 | $69.32 | $65.91 | ||||
| Fire-Lit Thicket | - | $3.50 | $74.97 | $71.47 | - | - | - | ||||
| Temple Garden | $3.87 | $0.14 | $72.00 | $72.14 | $76.97 | $81.65 | $75.87 | ||||
| Rugged Prairie | - | $1.51 | $69.99 | $68.48 | - | - | - | ||||
| Graven Cairns | - | $7.50 | $69.42 | $61.92 | - | - | - | ||||
| Wooded Bastion | - | $1.34 | $56.99 | $58.33 | - | - | - | ||||
| Tectonic Edge | - | $8.62 | $54.99 | $46.37 | - | - | - | ||||
| Sunken Hollow | $0.79 | $1.58 | $54.94 | $53.36 | $53.44 | $56.99 | $55.73 | ||||
| Prairie Stream | $0.52 | $1.53 | $54.24 | $52.71 | $55.37 | $54.16 | $54.76 | ||||
| Cinder Glade | $5.16 | $0.72 | $49.25 | $49.97 | $48.68 | $48.69 | $44.09 | ||||
| Canopy Vista | $0.69 | $0.26 | $48.68 | $48.42 | $47.65 | $49.54 | $49.37 | ||||
| Smoldering Marsh | $3.00 | $0.66 | $45.99 | $45.33 | $44.95 | $45.00 | $42.99 |
Oath of the Gatewatch
| Name | Change for 12/16 to 1/20 |
Change for 1/13 to 1/20 |
Price for 1/20 | Price for 1/13 | Price for 1/06 | Price for 12/30 | Price for 12/16 |
Set Summary
The set is decent, but not great for a small set. Thought-Knit Seer has climbed to the top rare in the set and Kozliek's Return is the highest mythic. Kozliek's Return is a tad overhyped right now. It is a good card and worth around $20, but not $25 until it proves itself in Modern.
The Kraken token is pleased to see her Invitational card Crush of Tentacles going up in value. |
|||
| Kozilek's Return | - | $6.70 | $22.00 | $15.30 | - | - | - | ||||
| Nissa, Voice of Zendikar | - | $0.34 | $19.81 | $19.47 | - | - | - | ||||
| Kozilek, the Great Distortion | - | $3.35 | $18.66 | $15.31 | - | - | - | ||||
| Thought-Knot Seer | - | $7.86 | $15.11 | $7.25 | - | - | - | ||||
| Chandra, Flamecaller | $1.06 | $11.78 | $12.84 | ||||||||
| Mirrorpool | - | $1.14 | $8.12 | $6.98 | - | - | - | ||||
| World Breaker | - | $4.24 | $7.83 | $3.59 | - | - | - | ||||
| Reality Smasher | - | $2.49 | $7.41 | $4.92 | - | - | - | ||||
| Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet | - | $1.06 | $6.95 | $8.01 | - | - | - | ||||
| Linvala, the Preserver | - | $1.36 | $6.39 | $7.75 | - | - | - | ||||
| Oath of Nissa | - | $0.09 | $6.26 | $6.35 | - | - | - | ||||
| Matter Reshaper | - | $1.06 | $6.06 | $7.12 | - | - | - | ||||
| Eldrazi Displacer | - | $0.31 | $4.94 | $5.25 | - | - | - | ||||
| Wandering Fumarole | - | $0.19 | $3.26 | $3.45 | - | - | - | ||||
| Hissing Quagmire | - | $0.36 | $2.99 | $3.35 | - | - | - | ||||
| Crush of Tentacles | - | - | $2.93 | - | - | - | - | ||||
| Inverter of Truth | - | $1.02 | $2.81 | $3.83 | - | - | - | ||||
| Goblin Dark-Dwellers | - | $0.15 | $2.75 | $2.60 | - | - | - | ||||
| Sea Gate Wreckage | - | $0.31 | $2.55 | $2.86 | - | - | - | ||||
| Sylvan Advocate | - | $0.57 | $2.52 | $3.09 | - | - | - | ||||
| Sphinx of the Final Word | - | $0.25 | $2.49 | $2.74 | - | - | - | ||||
| Needle Spires | - | $0.37 | $2.38 | $2.75 | - | - | - |
Battle for Zendikar
| Name | Change for 12/16 to 1/20 |
Change for 1/13 to 1/20 |
Price for 1/20 | Price for 1/13 | Price for 1/06 | Price for 12/30 | Price for 12/16 |
Set Summary
Battle for Zendikar is gaining some value, but still mostly falling. This is part of the natural pattern, and will be low until Shadows over Innistrad comes out. Once that set comes out, then it will be safer to see if the set was bad or just competing against one of the better blocks in Magic. |
|||
| Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger | $14.48 | $4.04 | $29.03 | $24.99 | $21.06 | $16.45 | $14.55 | ||||
| Gideon, Ally of Zendikar | $3.52 | $0.66 | $22.00 | $22.66 | $23.00 | $23.65 | $25.52 | ||||
| Oblivion Sower | $4.02 | $0.14 | $8.61 | $8.75 | $7.00 | $4.75 | $4.59 | ||||
| Drana, Liberator of Malakir | $0.05 | $0.00 | $7.20 | $7.20 | $7.30 | $7.22 | $7.25 | ||||
| Ob Nixilis Reignited | $0.54 | $0.08 | $6.31 | $6.39 | $6.44 | $6.50 | $6.85 | ||||
| Kiora, Master of the Depths | $0.34 | $0.05 | $4.55 | $4.60 | $4.64 | $4.74 | $4.89 | ||||
| Dragonmaster Outcast | $0.60 | $0.13 | $4.15 | $4.28 | $4.38 | $4.44 | $4.75 | ||||
| Shambling Vent | $0.24 | $0.04 | $4.14 | $4.18 | $4.19 | $4.15 | $4.38 | ||||
| Sunken Hollow | $0.72 | $0.14 | $3.99 | $4.13 | $4.21 | $4.28 | $4.71 | ||||
| Cinder Glade | $0.42 | $0.03 | $3.72 | $3.75 | $3.80 | $3.86 | $4.14 | ||||
| Undergrowth Champion | $0.49 | $0.03 | $3.66 | $3.69 | $3.79 | $3.84 | $4.15 | ||||
| Canopy Vista | $0.63 | $0.09 | $3.62 | $3.71 | $3.84 | $3.93 | $4.25 | ||||
| Prairie Stream | $0.75 | $0.11 | $3.50 | $3.61 | $3.80 | $3.87 | $4.25 | ||||
| Smoldering Marsh | $0.25 | $0.01 | $3.08 | $3.09 | $3.11 | $3.09 | $3.33 | ||||
| Wasteland Strangler | - | $0.02 | $3.01 | $2.99 | $2.71 | - | - | ||||
| Void Winnower | $0.54 | $0.10 | $2.95 | $2.85 | $2.62 | $2.50 | $2.41 | ||||
| Painful Truths | - | $0.02 | $2.71 | $2.73 | $2.76 | $2.74 | - | ||||
| Part the Waterveil | $0.28 | $0.00 | $2.28 | $2.28 | $2.24 | $2.14 | $2.00 | ||||
| Omnath, Locus of Rage | $0.01 | $0.03 | $2.25 | $2.22 | $2.19 | $2.18 | $2.24 |
Magic Origins
| Name | Change for 12/16 to 1/20 |
Change for 1/13 to 1/20 |
Price for 1/20 | Price for 1/13 | Price for 1/06 | Price for 12/30 | Price for 12/16 |
Set Summary
Chandra should be proud her parents made it on the list as well as being one of the hottest cards in Standard and Modern. Pia and Kiran Nalaar are good value and strong in non-aggro red decks. |
|||
| Jace, Vryn's Prodigy | $2.21 | $0.56 | $64.38 | $64.94 | $64.32 | $64.24 | $62.17 | ||||
| Nissa, Vastwood Seer | $2.09 | $0.84 | $18.15 | $18.99 | $19.26 | $19.94 | $20.24 | ||||
| Liliana, Heretical Healer | $2.06 | $0.24 | $16.78 | $17.02 | $17.56 | $17.85 | $18.84 | ||||
| Hangarback Walker | $2.01 | $0.51 | $10.48 | $10.99 | $11.75 | $12.10 | $12.49 | ||||
| Chandra, Fire of Kaladesh | $0.23 | $0.05 | $7.00 | $7.05 | $6.99 | $7.12 | $7.23 | ||||
| Archangel of Tithes | $0.20 | $0.00 | $5.75 | $5.75 | $5.93 | $5.86 | $5.95 | ||||
| Abbot of Keral Keep | $0.39 | $0.02 | $5.73 | $5.75 | $5.81 | $5.89 | $6.12 | ||||
| Kytheon, Hero of Akros | $0.01 | $0.00 | $4.99 | $4.99 | $4.97 | $4.90 | $4.98 | ||||
| Pia and Kiran Nalaar | - | $2.48 | $4.78 | $2.30 | - | - | - | ||||
| Alhammarret's Archive | $0.25 | $0.02 | $3.23 | $3.21 | $3.04 | $2.99 | $2.98 | ||||
| Managorger Hydra | $0.03 | $0.02 | $2.93 | $2.95 | $2.99 | $2.98 | $2.96 | ||||
| Languish | $0.28 | $0.03 | $2.71 | $2.74 | $2.84 | $2.85 | $2.99 | ||||
| Day's Undoing | $0.06 | $0.02 | $2.52 | $2.50 | $2.48 | $2.45 | $2.46 | ||||
| Exquisite Firecraft | $0.54 | $0.08 | $2.41 | $2.49 | $2.54 | $2.61 | $2.95 | ||||
| Starfield of Nyx | $0.09 | $0.03 | $2.26 | $2.29 | $2.30 | $2.28 | $2.35 | ||||
| Goblin Piledriver | $0.06 | $0.04 | $2.10 | $2.06 | $2.04 | $2.03 | $2.04 | ||||
| Pyromancer's Goggles | $0.03 | $0.03 | $2.03 | $2.00 | $2.01 | $2.02 | $2.06 | ||||
| Infinite Obliteration | - | - | $2.02 | - | - | - | - | ||||
| Sword of the Animist | $0.03 | $0.01 | $2.00 | $2.01 | $2.06 | $2.03 | $2.03 |
Dragons of Tarkir
| Name | Change for 12/16 to 1/20 |
Change for 1/13 to 1/20 |
Price for 1/20 | Price for 1/13 | Price for 1/06 | Price for 12/30 | Price for 12/16 |
Set Summary
This set is gaining in value, but it is low compared to what it could be. The two red Commands are the highlight of the set, with the Dragonlords, Thunderbreak Regent, and the uncommons being the rest. |
|||
| Dragonlord Ojutai | $1.05 | $0.13 | $16.04 | $16.17 | $16.44 | $16.67 | $17.09 | ||||
| Kolaghan's Command | $1.80 | $0.76 | $15.00 | $14.24 | $13.27 | $13.01 | $13.20 | ||||
| Atarka's Command | $0.84 | $0.10 | $13.10 | $13.00 | $13.00 | $12.75 | $12.26 | ||||
| Deathmist Raptor | $5.23 | $1.28 | $10.71 | $11.99 | $12.82 | $13.52 | $15.94 | ||||
| Den Protector | $2.38 | $0.48 | $9.97 | $10.45 | $10.96 | $11.58 | $12.35 | ||||
| Dragonlord Atarka | $0.70 | $0.18 | $9.27 | $9.45 | $9.52 | $9.55 | $9.97 | ||||
| Narset Transcendent | $0.08 | $0.01 | $8.90 | $8.89 | $8.79 | $8.77 | $8.98 | ||||
| Collected Company | $0.50 | $0.45 | $8.50 | $8.05 | $7.99 | $7.99 | $8.00 | ||||
| Dragonlord Dromoka | $0.32 | $0.13 | $7.67 | $7.80 | $7.84 | $7.90 | $7.99 | ||||
| Sarkhan Unbroken | $0.08 | $0.03 | $6.22 | $6.25 | $6.25 | $6.16 | $6.30 | ||||
| Dragonlord Silumgar | $0.22 | $0.07 | $5.20 | $5.13 | $4.99 | $4.99 | $4.98 | ||||
| Dromoka's Command | $1.50 | $0.19 | $4.49 | $4.68 | $4.99 | $5.34 | $5.99 | ||||
| Secure the Wastes | $0.21 | $0.12 | $4.44 | $4.32 | $4.29 | $4.19 | $4.23 | ||||
| Thunderbreak Regent | $0.74 | $0.14 | $4.21 | $4.35 | $4.39 | $4.40 | $4.95 | ||||
| Shaman of Forgotten Ways | $0.86 | $0.16 | $3.84 | $4.00 | $4.16 | $4.46 | $4.70 | ||||
| Dragonlord Kolaghan | $0.02 | $0.01 | $3.51 | $3.50 | $3.52 | $3.51 | $3.53 | ||||
| Zurgo Bellstriker | $0.20 | $0.06 | $3.39 | $3.45 | $3.42 | $3.45 | $3.59 | ||||
| Ojutai's Command | $0.44 | $0.07 | $2.56 | $2.63 | $2.75 | $2.84 | $3.00 | ||||
| Haven of the Spirit Dragon | $0.22 | $0.07 | $2.53 | $2.60 | $2.61 | $2.63 | $2.75 | ||||
| Dragon Whisperer | $0.23 | $0.07 | $2.25 | $2.32 | $2.36 | $2.40 | $2.48 | ||||
| Descent of Dragons | - | - | $2.00 | - | - | - | - |
Fate Reforged
| Name | Change for 12/16 to 1/20 | Change for \1/13 to 1/20 | Price for 1/20 | Price for 1/13 | Price for 1/06 | Price for 12/30 | Price for 12/16 |
Set Summary
Monastery Mentor may be the card that sees the most play outside of Standard in this set. Ugin, the Spirit Dragon will be the top card of this set for as long as Tron is a deck in Modern. |
|||
| Ugin, the Spirit Dragon | $0.45 | $1.09 | $42.74 | $43.83 | $43.85 | $43.58 | $42.29 | ||||
| Monastery Mentor | $4.46 | $1.04 | $21.03 | $19.99 | $18.81 | $17.50 | $16.57 | ||||
| Soulfire Grand Master | $0.76 | $0.18 | $9.00 | $9.18 | $9.26 | $9.47 | $9.76 | ||||
| Tasigur, the Golden Fang | $0.04 | $0.02 | $3.52 | $3.50 | $3.49 | $3.50 | $3.56 | ||||
| Warden of the First Tree | $0.38 | $0.09 | $2.91 | $3.00 | $3.06 | $3.17 | $3.29 | ||||
| Brutal Hordechief | $0.09 | $0.05 | $2.24 | $2.29 | $2.30 | $2.28 | $2.33 |
Khans of Tarkir
| Name | Change for 12/16 to 1/20 |
Change for 1/13 to 1/20 |
Price for 1/20 | Price for 1/13 | Price for 1/06 | Price for 12/30 | Price for 12/16 |
Set Summary
The fetchlands fell more than anticipated, but not more than they could have. This is more to do with the proximity of rotating out and the mass climb they did rather than a loss of value. Demand went down while supply stayed the same, thus price went down. |
|||
| Polluted Delta | $1.38 | $0.25 | $20.74 | $20.99 | $21.06 | $21.42 | $22.12 | ||||
| Flooded Strand | $0.70 | $0.12 | $19.48 | $19.36 | $19.50 | $19.55 | $20.18 | ||||
| Wooded Foothills | $0.53 | $0.38 | $19.47 | $19.85 | $19.83 | $19.79 | $20.00 | ||||
| Bloodstained Mire | $0.29 | $0.18 | $19.17 | $18.99 | $18.99 | $18.98 | $19.46 | ||||
| Windswept Heath | $0.05 | $0.06 | $12.94 | $13.00 | $12.99 | $12.99 | $12.99 | ||||
| Sorin, Solemn Visitor | $0.43 | $0.06 | $8.06 | $8.00 | $8.07 | $8.07 | $8.49 | ||||
| Anafenza, the Foremost | $0.97 | $0.16 | $4.83 | $4.99 | $5.19 | $5.36 | $5.80 | ||||
| Sarkhan, the Dragonspeaker | $0.47 | $0.12 | $3.32 | $3.44 | $3.32 | $3.52 | $3.79 | ||||
| Wingmate Roc | $1.26 | $0.25 | $2.84 | $3.09 | $3.50 | $3.55 | $4.10 | ||||
| Monastery Swiftspear | $0.09 | $0.07 | $2.61 | $2.54 | $2.54 | $2.55 | $2.70 | ||||
| Siege Rhino | $0.40 | $0.00 | $2.36 | $2.36 | $2.49 | $2.55 | $2.76 | ||||
| Dig Through Time | $0.56 | $0.13 | $2.31 | $2.44 | $2.44 | $2.54 | $2.87 | ||||
| Clever Impersonator | $0.00 | $0.00 | $2.25 | $2.25 | $2.25 | $2.25 | $2.25 |
Overall Summary
Hopefully your prereleases went well and lot of value was pulled and fun was had. The set will be cracked soon with Limited and box openings hoping for an Expedition. Good luck to all, and time to watch SCG to see what the players have noticed that has gone unnoticed here on the Magic Market Index.
Cards to Watch
Ghostfire Blade: This card could see a spike if colorless decks become a thing.
Cards to Avoid
The entirety of Oath of the Gatewatch. The set is at its peak right now, so outside of the cards that seem like good candidates to spike, avoid investing now in the set.
Comments