Weekly Winners 2021 - 09

This week another week where most prices are being driving from casual Commander play. Of course there have been a lot of old and reserved list cards showing up in the Interests the past week, but except known reasons there is not much use to discuss them. So let's dive into the cards that do have some reason to move price-wise!

Like every week, just in time for (digital) FNM, I'll now tell you about the cards that will be the talk of the (digital) town tonight!

 

#1 Essence Flux $3.33 (+446%)

 

Another week, another Orvar, the All-Form spike! Essence Flux sees play in these Commander decks. What's more fun than to flicker a creature with an ETB effect in response to removal, making a copy in the process? I have a hard time coming up with an answer to that question myself! And even when you don't have Orvar on the battlefield, flickering your creature can be worth it for only for an ETB trigger or to save it from removal. Because this is a versatile effect, we don't only see the card being played in Orvar decks. It also seems to be a popular card in (for example) Brago, King Eternal, Ranar the Ever-Watchful, and Yarok, the Desecrated Commander decks.

One thing to keep in mind is that the Jumpstart printing is somewhat more rare because of limited printing, but the Shadows over Innistrad printing is only about $1. Essence Flux's price from SoI is a lot cheaper, but is also on its way up. If you want to play it, it may be worth it to pick up a few copies for your decks. However, this price will come crashing down as soon as it gets a reprint.

 

Essence Flux	CardKingdom $0.79	TCGPlayer $1.02
Brago, King Eternal	CardKingdom $2.49	TCGPlayer $4.74
Yarok, the Desecrated	CardKingdom $11.99	TCGPlayer $11.26
Essence Flux	CardKingdom $0.99	TCGPlayer $3.33
Ranar the Ever-Watchful	CardKingdom $1.49	TCGPlayer $0.99
Orvar, the All-Form	CardKingdom $9.99	TCGPlayer $6.32

 

#2 Samurai of the Pale Curtain $5.75 (+387%)

 

I was happily surprised to see a card from Champions of Kamigawa show up in the interests. We do not see them often, and especially not the samurai cards. However, Samurai of the Pale Curtain went up! Is it because of his Bushido ability? No. And I'm pretty sure the newer players among us have never heard of it before.

The reason for the spike is actually hidden in the previous winner as well. It is a new commander from Commander: Kaldheim: Ranar the Ever-Watchful. When both are on the battlefield, and a permanent leaves the battlefield it will be exiled instead because of Samurai of the Pale Curtain. Whenever that happens Ranar creates a 1/1 white spirit creature token with flying.

 

 

Samurai of the Pale Curtain	CardKingdom $1.49	TCGPlayer $5.75
Ranar the Ever-Watchful	CardKingdom $1.49	TCGPlayer $0.99

 

 

#3 Cabal Coffers $85.99 (+7.5%)

 

Sure, 7.5% in the past week isn't that shocking, but what is shocking is that Cabal Coffers is going towards $100. It seems to be currently trending up and without a reprint this will keep going up. It's a really powerful land, especially when paired with Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth.

The uptrend is mainly because of Commander demand. We see it pop up in, for example, Tergrid, God of Fright and K'rrik, Son of Yawgmoth decks where it is a viable ramping strategy. As soon as you have at least 5 lands (4 swamps and Cabal Coffers) it will net you ramping, but it can also be used as filter land. Tapping two lands (or mana rocks) that generate generic mana you can convert this to (assuming you have swamps).

 

Cabal Coffers	CardKingdom $89.99	TCGPlayer $85.99
Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth	CardKingdom $24.99	TCGPlayer $35.25
Tergrid, God of Fright	CardKingdom $6.99	TCGPlayer $5.54

 

#4 Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre $99.95 (+47%)

 

Ulamog has been showing up in the interests for several times now in the past few weeks but just keeps low enough to make it unto the Weekly Winners. However, it felt right to mentions this card to show that is has been going up for some time. The lowest print of this card is Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre from Ultimate Masters and is "only" $67.49, but is also trending up.

Again, this is mainly because of Commander demand. It is included in Kozilek, the Great Distortion, The Gitrog Monster, and Esika, God of the Tree commander decks. However the card also sees some fringe play in modern.

 

 

Cheap Pickups

Please note: for our 'record low' we consider the price of the card over the past 7 years. Many cards have been even cheaper (a) decade(s) ago. Also note: some cards are still going down, and might be even cheaper pickups next week.

 

True-Name Nemesis $8.65 - Trending down slowly because of reprint

 

Rings of Brighthearth $5.49 - Trending down slowly

 

Forsaken Monument $5.00 - Trending down slowly

 

True-Name Nemesis	CardKingdom $10.99	TCGPlayer $8.65
Forsaken Monument	CardKingdom $8.49	TCGPlayer $5.00
Rings of Brighthearth	CardKingdom $4.99	TCGPlayer $5.49