Key Highlights
- Speculation about upcoming changes to the Commander ban list is driving up card prices.
- Several cards are experiencing significant spikes in value, including Primeval Titan and Golos, Tireless Pilgrim.
- The banning of Mana Crypt was highly controversial and led to major changes in the Commander community.
- Sylvan Primordial remains a feared card due to its powerful enters ability that can disrupt multiple opponents’ strategies.
The Speculation Game: Card Prices Skyrocket with Commander Ban List Changes
You might think this is new, but the card market in Magic: The Gathering has always been a speculative frenzy. When whispers of upcoming ban list changes start swirling, players and collectors get jittery. This time around, it’s no different.
Primeval Titan: A Familiar Face with a New Price Tag
Primeval Titan, the giant green land that has been on the Commander ban list for ages due to its ability to create Valakut triggers, is now nearly quintupling in price. The modern player base is well aware of how this card can end games quickly and messily with Dark Depths + Thespian’s Stage or Cabal Coffers + Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth. Even without combos, it’s a premium green top-end that makes any deck more exciting.
Golos, Tireless Pilgrim: The Infamous 5-Color Commander
Remember Golos? This powerhouse commander was banned alongside Mana Crypt and Jeweled Lotus due to its infinite mana capabilities. Its banning caused a major controversy as the Commander Advisory Committee fell apart, handing authority back to Wizards of the Coast (WotC).
Golos pays for half the commander tax, making it impossible to remove with just one land drop recast. The life loss is now considered insignificant compared to the benefits it brings.
Dockside Extortionist: The Goblin that Frustrated Many
Dockside Extortionist was another infamous card in Commander, known for creating huge surges of mana and storing it as Treasure. It can go infinite with Devoted Druid and was banned alongside Mana Crypt due to its ritual capabilities. Its banning was controversial, leading to major shifts in how the community viewed card bans.
Sylvan Primordial: A Card Too Scary to Unban
Sylvan Primordial’s enters ability is a nightmare for opponents who have lands targeted by this card. It can destroy random lands and even Oblivion Ring-like cards, providing a huge mana advantage. Banned with Mana Crypt and Jeweled Lotus, the backlash from players led to major changes in how Commander was handled.
Mana Crypt: The Most Broken Card Ever
The most broken card ever printed, Mana Crypt is especially effective in Commander where players have life to spare. It can be cast for just 1 life on turn 1 with Rhystic Study, making it similar to Griselbrand. Its banning was controversial and led to a major shake-up of the ban list.
Biorhythm: The Safest Unban
Biorhythm might be the safest unban among the cards spiking in price. Though expensive, it can cut players’ life totals from 40 to single digits with ease and potentially win games if combined with a board wipe. However, its power level is still high, making it a game changer.
Jeweled Lotus: A Card with Merit for Unban Consideration
Similar to Biorhythm, Jeweled Lotus has some merit as an unban candidate. The CFP discussed the trio of Dockside Extortionist, Jeweled Lotus, and Mana Crypt last year, saying they would be most likely to unban if any came off the ban list. However, it’s important to note that this was purely for addressing player curiosity.
The Speculation Continues
With all these cards spiking in price due to speculation about upcoming changes, the Commander community is on edge. The real shake-up will come when the CFP actually makes their decisions. Until then, players and collectors alike are left wondering which cards will be unbaned and which will stay.
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