This isn’t the big obvious yes you might be thinking it is. 

It’s extremely likely to do well, as a mega mega crossover with the most recognizable characters on the planet, and the card selection is juiced to boot!

However, aside from the IP and the limited-run nature of the drop, we need to look at the cards and figure some things out. 

So let’s look at the five drops, the characters, the cards, and the reprints, and make some decisions.

For each of the cards in a drop, I’m listing the EDHREC inclusion rate, as well as two prices: the cheapest version (usually a basic frame nonfoil) and the most expensive (could be serialized, mega-rare, or from the Alpha release!) so that we have a basis for where the card prices should land. 

The five characters themselves normally would not be super expensive. We’ve got data to back that up: None of the unique legends from Street Fighter or Stranger Things are particularly expensive, and aside from Rick, Steadfast Leader, the same is true for The Walking Dead. The Doctor Who: Regeneration drop has a set of expensive legends, which is probably due to a low quantity sold at the time. 

However, Marvel IP is in a galaxy of its own, eclipsed only by Disney in terms of the characters and their marketing. Plus, everyone who wanted a Dr. Who could get one, and this set of Secret Lairs is likely to sell out ridiculously fast. So while other special legends haven’t been super expensive, this is likely to be a big outlier.

All indications are that even if the cards were terrible, this would still sell amazingly well, but the card selection is definitely chosen to help move this product. Let’s get to the drops, in order of probable value in a year. As a bonus, I’ll give a longshot spec for each commander. We’ve talked about many of these on MTG Fast Finance, as well as the Discord, so we’ll see if it gets there.

Wolverine, Best There Is

Berserk (14,000 decks, $20 for the cheapest and $500+ for the most expensive)

Rite of Passage (7300 decks, $5 to $20)

Rhythm of the Wild (239k decks, $3 to $10)

The Ozolith (160k decks, $33 to $450) 

I am a Gruul enthusiast and quite frankly, this drop is everything you might want. Wolvie himself does it all, and I can’t wait to build this deck. You want to attack, to deal damage, and kick a lot of butt. I am truly impressed at the card selection here: Rite of Passage works great with the fight spells you’ll add to the deck, Berserk is nullified by his regeneration, Ozolith is great in case of exile spells, and then Rhythm of the Wild, one of the best feelings in Magic is landing this early.

Even the cheap versions of these add up to $58, and this will be at least a $15 version of Rhythm of the Wild in a year. It’s stuffed with value, fantastic art, iconic character. Winner all around and if you don’t have the spare funds to buy everything, just get a couple of this drop.

Bonus Spec: Mage Slayer ($1 to $7) – There’s only one frame/art, and the pack foil is the only way to get a shiny. I think some people have already bought cheaper foils, but this does exactly what you’d want in a Wolverine deck–gut the other players quickly and effectively.

Captain America, First Avenger

Sigarda’s Aid (74k decks, $7 to $11)

Flawless Maneuver (206k decks, $9 to $16)

In the Trenches (7500 decks, 50¢ to $1.50)

Sword of War and Peace (28k decks, $8 to $80)

Three awesome cards and a random In The Trenches still make for a great drop. Why there’s an anthem to go with a Voltron Equipment-focused Commander I’ll never know. Aid is exactly what this deck wants, Flawless is exactly that, and the Sword (as a Shield!) is a great addition. The flavor is top-notch, and we’ve already seen a few cards pop off in anticipation of Cap’s arrival.

I think the straightforward nature of the Commander plus the right accessory cards make for a very good drop that will sell out quick, and should profit.

Bonus Spec: The Reality Chip ($2 to $8) – Blue equipment needs to be pretty great, and while there’s a lot of enablers in RW for the archetype, this equipment gives lots of card advantage if it sticks around. Plus, it’s gotten zero reprints, so when the deck starts getting built, this should be trending upwards.

Storm, Force of Nature

Lightning Bolt (242k decks, $1 to $600)

Jeska’s Will (398k decks, $20 to $90)

Ice Storm (374 decks!, $8 to $300)

Manamorphose (22k decks, $4 to $30)

Storm is terrifying, a must-kill threat who can wreck a table in a bunch of different ways. Giving one spell storm is thematic, and the four spells that come in her Drop are all excellent things you’d love to cast more than once in a turn. Jeska’s Will is super expensive in its FEA version and this should end up being a very pricey version of that card. 

Remember that the sequence has to go something like: spells in first main-combat-deal damage-next spell has storm. So it’s not just that she hits and the game ends, but when they cast some foolishness ad get in, then cast Time Warp for three extra turns, well, it’ll feel like the game is over.

Bonus Spec: Storm-Kiln Artist ($1 to $3) – There’s a lot of ways to build this deck, but when you want to storm off, the Artist is there to give discounts and make your turns that much more powerful.

Black Panther, Wakandan King

Secure the Wastes (54k decks, $1 to $10)

Primal Vigor (61k decks, $7 to $14)

Heroic Intervention (648k decks!!, $10 to $25)

Karn’s Bastion (237k decks, $1 to $4)

I genuinely didn’t know that the Bastion was in so many decks! This is a great variation on the +1/+1 theme, where the lands build up counters and then when you’re ready, move them over and break some face. Primal Vigor applies to everyone, don’t forget, and Heroic Intervention is the staple of staples. Everything that’s good with the counter themes will be good here. 

Bonus Spec: Kutzil, Malamet Exemplar (bulk to $1) – There’s no shortage of things that help a Selesnya deck win with counters and doubling and whatnot, but this Cat can get you that warm, safe feeling of being able to do what you want on your turn AND get you an extra card in combat. I don’t know if people will adopt this tech, but they should.

Iron Man, Titan of Innovation

Galvanic Blast (12k decks, $1 to $8)

Commander’s Plate (113k decks, $33 to $60)

Sol Ring (3,982,665 decks and counting, $1 to $1400)

Inventors’ Fair (183k decks, $15 to $60)

The Plate was in the Angels deck, which is why the special version is so pricey, and this one should be impressively priced too. This Sol Ring should be at least $10 too, and this is the first special printing of Inventors’ Fair. All told, there’s a lot to like here and this should appreciate nicely. Plus, this is another commander who tells you exactly what to do, and you ought to listen.

Bonus Spec: Esoteric Duplicator ($2 to $8) – If you’re sacrificing artifacts left and right, you need a way to get some value from the process, and for two mana, you’ll never lose your place in the chain. Please note that you get to do this even if you sacrifice a token, so you can keep giving Tony the same thing over and over again.

This Drop also comes with a bonus: every $200 spent gets you a copy of this Arcane Signet, and that’s a lovely addition if you’re already planning to drop a big chunk of change. Even with these being $40 nonfoil and $50 foil drops, you’re looking at a set of five (the presumed max per account) getting you a Signet. The bundles will likely be where more value can be had, and if you can’t afford to buy both foil and nonfoil, go for the foils first. 

Happy hunting!

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.