It’s been seven months since the Fallout release, and that’s the right timeframe for evaluating the set for longer-term gains. We aren’t going to get any sudden surges of product, nothing additional on the horizon, and we know that Fallout isn’t on the agenda for 2025 Universes Beyond. So we’re going to take a look at cards popular in Commander, compare the use rates, the prices, and see what’s worth buying.
The most unique versions of Fallout cards are in Surge foil, either Pip-Boy frame or FEA. However, they are not the same rarity at all. Looking back at the Mana Math of Fallout, I broke down the drop rates and found that the Surge foil Pip-Boy frames are 1 in 390 Collector Boosters, and the Surge foil Extended-Art cards are 1 in 126 Collector Boosters. Generally speaking, the Surge FEA cards are more expensive than the regular frame Surge foils, even though the regular frame versions are harder (about 1/294) to find.
The distribution of Fallout (Commander decks and Collector Boosters only) has really impacted the number of decks running these cards. The top Fallout card on EDHREC has only half the numbers of the top Bloomburrow card, and that’s all due to how we get the cards, the availability due to draft, and all those related factors. Please remember that EDHREC is a good data point, but it’s not all-inclusive and there’s lots of players who don’t ever upload their decklists.
These cards are all listed by their EDHREC rank, with most popular first. Additionally, several of these have been mentioned as specs on cast or in our Discord.
Farewell (276k decks, $15 to $55) – This is the only reprint I want to talk about today, the rest of these cards are brand-new. The Vault Boy subset of reprints are all good cards, but this version of Farewell is going to be very hard to top. I’ve bought a couple playsets of the regular foils at $15, and I feel quite confident in these long-term. The Surge foil version can be had for just over $50, and given the tiny quantity available, there’s a very good chance that these spike in the next year or so. Farewell is going to get regular reprintings, it’s already a super-staple, but this version with this art is flavorful, fun, and hard to reprint with this IP.
Lands (25-35,000 decks, 25¢ to $4) – I didn’t realize it until I looked this set up, but these cards have already been reprinted four times! Each of the Commander precons since (BLB, DSK, MKM and OTJ) have included these lands, at least is the color pair is in the sets. The UG has four reprints, the UB just two, as an example.
What really catches my attention is that there’s blessed few cards that premiered in a Universes Beyond set but went on to get reprints, especially multiple reprints within months of their premiere. (More research is coming, as is a future article) The foil versions are only from the original Fallout packs, so if these lands stay popular we might see the foils pop off. I’d be hesitant to spec on them, though, because there’s just so many good options for lands.
Nuka-Cola Vending Machine (30k, $17 to $80) – The other card I want to mention today with Vault Boy art, this is amazing with Food and Treasure, two themes that Wizards has really leaned into. Don’t be afraid of this officially being an uncommon, especially for the sweet version, because the most basic version is already $17 and inching upwards.
Codsworth, Handy Helper (22k, $5 to $13) – Codsworth does two fantastic things for Aura/Equipment decks, and adds a Ward 2 on top of that. When Captain America starts showing up on EDHREC, I expect this to be one of the first additions and Codsworth’s price should tick upwards as people start building the deck.
Silver Shroud Costume (21k, $5 to $50) – Surprisingly popular, but one turn of protection and then you can get unblockable. Shroud and Equipment are generally a nonbo, but this is a great combination to give a save and then give a useful bonus. People are already adding this at a good clip.
Radstorm (21k, $3 to $25) – The long-term outlook on this is great, especially because proliferate works in a wide variety of decks. Additionally, the Pip-Boy frame in foil or in Surge foil, they look phenomenal and are a lot of fun to have in your deck.
Atomize (21k, $3 to $25) – Another card with awesome Pip-Boy art, I especially like the Surge foils here. It’s easy for this to be a removal spell with big bonuses, and it’s not hard to imagine the Surges jumping up.
Nuclear Fallout (19k, $2 to $30) – If you’re a mill deck, this ought to be in the deck. Creepy art is a bonus, as is lots of milling, and again the Surge foils are very reasonably priced for how difficult it was to pull that combination of frame and foiling.
Diamond City (14k, $1 to $5) – Only available in Extended Art, so there’s no sweet Pip-Boy frame to be had, this is golden in a proliferate deck. Add extra shield counters, and be able to move those counters for a very low price, I’m surprised that this is as cheap as it is. Original Atraxa is one of the most popular commanders of all time, but this being a colorless land is a real drawback too.
Securitron Squadron (11k, $1 to $16) – Token themes are spoiled for cards that help make tokens better. There’s so many to choose from, it’s really difficult to say which are the best. This card is indeed one of the best. For 1W, each token comes in with a counter. For 4W, you get a 2/2, a 4/4, and future tokens get two counters! It scales, and while it’s fragile, being a creature, the art is great and the price is fantastic.
Inventory Management (11k, $1 to $20) – Here, I think the art being so faithful is kind of a downside. This is exactly the view you get in a Fallout game, and we could have had someone swapping from small knife to slinging a MIRV Fat Man. The card is fantastic, and should be in any Equipment deck with RW colors, including future Captain America decks.
Cliff (@WordOfCommander) has been writing for MTGPrice since 2013, and is an eager Commander player, Draft enthusiast, and Cube fanatic. A high school science teacher by day, he’s also the official substitute teacher of the MTG Fast Finance podcast. If you’re ever at a GP and you see a giant flashing ‘CUBE DRAFT’ sign, go over, say hi, and be ready to draft.