By: Houston Whitehead
Though the majority of the MTG community seems to be in an uproar about the amount of value placed in Modern Masters 2015, profit can still be accumulated. As with many sets, cracking cardboard lottery tickets to push out those last few proxies in your Modern deck is not a road worth traveling. In fact, I wouldn’t take a road at all. I want to sit in a lawn chair off the beaten path with sunscreen on my nose and wait for the tidal wave of Modern Masters 2015 singles to wreck the complacent prices that have become accepted as part of a Modern player’s life.
The Twist
Normally, a Financial Five article will cover five new cards from an upcoming release I deem to possess profitable potential. Since Modern Masters 2015 contains 100% reprints, we already know many of the roles it plays or decks lists play four copies.
We all know…
…reprints bring prices down (unless you’re Tarmogoyf).
…format staple prices will recover over time (proven by the first Modern Masters).
…Modern will never be as cheap as you want it to be.
So this time on Financial Five, we’re going to discuss five cards worth picking up at the bottom of their financial decent that also have the most potential to recover over time.
Cryptic Command (TCG Mid $41)
From four copies in the UWR Control deck down to a double copy in Splinter Twin variants, it’s the Swiss army knife every blue player loves and everyone else hates. The top shelf $60 price tag was simply out of reach for anyone wanting to dip their toes into Modern with being forced to play the handful of budget aggro decks. During the early months of 2014 (six months after the Modern Master release) Cryptic sat at an understandable $25. I think the 2015 print will bring it back to that desirable price and slowly start to creep back up as early as the Origins release. Pick up $25 or under.
Karn Liberated (TCG Mid $36)
Starting at $50, Karn has already taken a couple steps down but I don’t think he’s done yet. Though he honestly only sees competitive play in TRON variants, I think Commander players will have a large influence on recovering his price. Though the recovery will be slower than Modern staples, like Cryptic Command or Noble Hierarch, I think he will land $25 or under and creep up in the long run. Pick up $25 or under.
Splinter Twin (TCG Mid $21)
Love it, hate it, or still want it banned, we have to respect the power of Splinter Twin. Over the last year this card alone has spawned so many variants you’d have to go to college to count that high. It’s the definition of a format staple and a worthy reprint. Twin’s price wasn’t out of control yet but was clearly teetering on the edge. I expect the bottom price to land around $10 and stay close to it for the next year. Pick up $10 or under.
Spellskite (TCG Mid $21)
This little 0/4 has been the chief of Splinter Twin’s security detail for close to three years. It’s won over a slot in Modern and Legacy Infect lists and, more importantly, can take a bolt. Though Spellskite’s price has been increasing faster than Meandering Towershell, I still feel a $10 price tag should be the lowest it will go before heading back up. Pick up $25 $10 or under and your future sideboards will thank you.
Noble Hierarch (TCG Mid $41)
Let’s be honest, this price was getting WAY out of hand. I doubt Modern Masters 2015 will drop Noble low enough to satisfy every Modern player, but she sees too much competitive play to fall into a $10 range. I honestly feel $30 will be a reasonable price to go in at. You could get greedy and wait for a lower bottom but it won’t take long for the price to ascend quickly after hitting the bottom. Its existence in Infect, Zoo, and a variety of Junk (Abzan) decks will welcome all those looking to investing in Modern therefore keeping her demand high. If supply can’t keep up with all the new Modern players she might be back at $50 before you know it. Pick up $30 or under.
Wrap Up
I’m excited for the Modern Masters 2015 Limited format but don’t feel popping open $10 lottery tickets have enough to reward me financially. I think attacking trade binders and single cases is the best way to unlock those decks you have been wanting to pilot. I’m still thankful for the Modern Masters series Wizards of the Coast is printing though. Las Vegas weekend is going to be one for the record books.
If you’re attending Grand Prix Las Vegas and want to meet, hit me up on Twitter.
As always thanks for reading