Where Are They Now? - March 2023
Hello again everybody, and thanks for coming to MTGStocks for all your questions about Magic finance. Every week on Weekly Winners our faithful leader Arjen brings to your attention the top three cards showing financial growth in the course of that week, highlighting the “why” of each card’s rise in price. A year later I come along and let you know which cards really didn’t stand the test of time. Here are my picks for the yearly losers!
Manabond $26.44-$9.60
Don’t get me wrong, Manabond is a fantastic card for playing in Landfall decks, but the problem is it’s pretty much ONLY good in Landfall decks. Yes it has some wiggle room into simple ramp decks, but let's face it, though it does it well, the card only does one thing, and that’s help you get land on the field. The decline in the number of Landfall decks being played in the last year, and Wizards seemingly wandering away from the archetype in that same time frame, are what has led this card to be well in the red of last year's price. It still sits pretty at just about ten dollars though, so if you want to pick it up before another set gives us creatures that pump as land enters, I’d say that now is the time!
Ranger-Captain of Eos $36-$30.27
Apparently our Arjen was doing well in his picks for this week one year ago, because our biggest loser from this one still sits at $30 dollars! Some of the cards he picked held lesser dollar values when he wrote the article, but the biggest percentage of loss comes from this 3/3 tutor/blockade/creature. With amazing abilities and a cheap mana cost this one definitely held well, while still losing the most. The decrease in its price is due in part to the rapidly cheapening mana cost of creatures for the same archetype that do enough of the same thing that this one's hold on the sky-high prices has slackened, but never let go all together. Pick this up today if you want to add a card that has definite staying power to your collection.
Wandering Mage $19.69-$2.17
Arjen really said it best last year with this short entry on our list; this card was the target of a buyout, while at the same time holding some relevance to an upcoming set,
Hidetsugu Consumes All $12.21-$2.65
Last year this card was definitely the talk of every black/red player's town, but time has pushed it a little further back. Its ability to clear small boards, then graveyards, then return as a creature, was something to behold, but ultimately having to realistically wait at least five turns to get out a 3/3 creature is what led to this card's relegation to sideboard-only status. It doesn’t get more simple than that, play it for the front but only ever rely on luck with the back. If your opponent can’t get rid of a telegraphed 3/3 by turn five or six, they deserve the loss! While still a great cheap pickup, I have to say rest in peace Hidetsugu Consumes All, we barely knew ye.
| Hidetsugu Consumes All | ||
| Ranger-Captain of Eos | ||
| Manabond | ||
| Wandering Mage |
That’s this month look at last year's biggest losers from the monetary heights. If you want to grab up any of these cards for your own collection, feel free to use the links we have provided. And remember that if you seek greater detail or a wider knowledge of card selection in our site, just sign up for Premium. The perks are great and you’ll have a much larger range of motion to pivot in an ever-changing card market. I hope you all enjoy this, and I’ll see you again next month!
Ryan Cole lives in Canton, Ohio with his new wife Julia. He began playing magic in 1995 with cards he bought with money he found odd jobs for, just to play the game. At 35 he is happy at home and living as full a life as is possible. He is starting a career in freelance writing and works as a cook while he pursues that dream.
