By James Chillcott (@MTGCritic)

7 Winners of the Week

A month after the release of Modern Masters 2015 we find ourselves in one of the most frenzied periods of MTGFinance in recent memory. Despite the perception that MM2 was intended to reduce the cost of Modern cards, the true end result was to spike a plethora of cards that weren’t included in the set. 

1. Lantern of Insight (Fifth Dawn, Uncommon): $2.00 to $4.99 (+150%)

The Lantern of Insight deck came out of nowhere to Top 16 GP Charlotte, was immediately dismissed as random, and then gave everyone pause as top pros started chiming in that it seemed to be a legitimate Tier 2 contender in Modern. Without an Ensnaring Bridge on the table, the deck doesn’t do much, but it actually wins games by locking opponents out of their win conditions via top deck control. The deck needs another top table appearance to earn another spike, and it’s pretty unlikely many of us were sitting on copies in anticipation, but it might be worth a trip to your bulk bins anyway to mine a few free dollars.

Verdict: Sell/Trade

Format(s): Modern

2. Nettle Sentinel (Eventide, Common): $3.18 to $1.64 (+94%)

Elves just won GP Charlotte, and put another copy in the Top 4. The long time Legacy contender is freshly sexy in Modern on the back of Collected Company helping it to overwhelm or combo out opponents. As a key 4-of common from an older set, it’s no surprise that Nettle Sentinel is seeing some growth. If you have some lying around, feel free to out them as $4-5 is likely the peak price for the time being.

Format(s): Modern/Legacy

Verdict: Sell

3. Nourishing Shoal (Betrayers of Kamigawa, Rare): $7.99 to $15.48  (+94%)

Another fresh twist on an existing deck is the most recent Goryo’s Vengeance/Through the Breach/Griselbrand combo iteration. In this version the pilot discards a Worldspine Wurm or a Borborygmos to add further fuel to the Griselbrand engine and keep drawing cards. To be clear this brings the total spike up to about 3000% since this card was 50 cents up until just lately. Another great reason to check back stock but otherwise I’d steer clear for now.

Format(s): Modern

Verdict: Sell/Trade

4. Ancient Stirrings (ROE, Uncommon): $2.00 to $3.49 (+75%)

Red-Green Tron is another recent Modern tournament winner, so it follows that this 4-of would be enjoying a spike. The various tron decks have demonstrated time and again that they are one of the most consistent ramp strategies in the format, but I wouldn’t expect this banner uncommon to go much past $5 since it has no other home in the format.

Format(s): Modern

Verdict: Sell/Trade

5. Dictate of Erebos (M15, Rare): $.89 to $1.40 (+57%)

I’ve got a few sets of Japanese foils of this card tucked away from when it’s base price inevitably hits $4-5. It has the slimmest of chances of finding a home in some random Modern deck down the road, but mostly this is an outsider play on it’s casual/EDH playability. It found a home in a winning MTGO deck lately as a 1-2 of in Black/Green, but I don’t expect to see it rise much more before it rotates out, when it should be back in the $.50 to $1 range.

Format(s): Modern

Verdict: Hold/Trade

6. Glimmervoid (Mirrodin, Rare): $12.49 to $18.99

Affinity continues to be the Tier 1 Modern deck that never seems to win a tournament. With Glimmervoid and Arcbound Ravager last printed in Modern Masters 2013, and the deck still performing adequately, it figures that both of these archetype staples would be gaining. I figure this card has at least another $5 to gain, so I’m not in a hurry to out mine just yet.

Format(s): Modern

Verdict: Hold

7. Melira, Sylvok Outcast (New Phyrexia, Rare): $2.39 to $3.52 (+47%)

When Birthing Pod was banned, this combo enabler’s price took a nosedive, but with Collected Company reinvigorating the toolbox style of creature combo decks, she’s seeing a resurgence. With continued use, she can see further gains, so I intend to hold until $5-6 at least.

 

3 Top Losers of the Week

1. Shorecrasher Elemental (DTK, Mythic): $2.82 to $2.38 (-16%)

Those hoping for a resurgence of the blue devotion strategy in Standard have been disappointed as mid-range strategies revolving around Den Protector and Deathmist Raptor dominate the metagame. I’ve already got a few sets tucked away and will likely acquire more if it drops below $2, a fairly tasty price for a mythic rare with potential in casual and an outside chance at Modern down the road.

Format(s): Modern/Tiny Leaders/Casual

Verdict: Buy below $2

2. Dragonlord Silumgar (DTK, Mythic): $10.63 to $9.32 (-12%)

Silumgar has hit peak supply and as a card usually only played as a 1-2 of in a single deck, it’s slipping a bit along with other Standard staples. Price oscillation is likely to be within a fairly tight range so hold or trade/sell out as your needs require.

Verdict: Hold

3. Den Protector: $9.07 to $8.08 (-11%)

Make no mistake. This price shift has nothing to do with card power or play levels, and everything to do with the usual summer doldrums for Standard cards and the intense focus on the Modern format lately.  If it manages to fall below $5 there may be an opportunity, but otherwise, look to trade out during peaking interest this fall.

Verdict: Hold

James Chillcott is the CEO of ShelfLife.net, The Future of Collecting, Senior Partner at Advoca, a designer, adventurer, toy fanatic and an avid Magic player and collector since 1994.

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