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By: eddie112, Josh Rabbitt
Jul 23 2009 12:11pm
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Here we go again for another rendition of the new and improved Bazaar of Heath:  Featured this week....... Linked card pictures and everyones favorite big black fattie!

Steal of the week:

Tombstalker 2.00 This card kicks off what is more of a classic and extended focus this week.  I didn't plan this that way.  However, there are some really great bargains to be had in the classic and extended category right now.  Green black pox is going crazy in classic right now.  Not to mention he is the best win condition in any black based control deck.  I don't foresee anything out there right now that would use this guy in extended, but in classic he will be a very viable critter for a very long time, as well as when we hit the legacy split.

 

 

Keep in mind again, that this is NOT an article about budget cards.  It's an article about the getting cards when they are at a point where their value isn't at the peak.  It's also about picking up cards that will up the power level of any format/deck you will play in.  This card is THE staple for classic right now.  If anyone has an argument to the contrary on that first statement, I would love to hear it.  Yes, you can play classic without Force of Will.  But it cuts you off from a giant number of tier one decks.  It also has went down in price 15 dollars in the past few weeks.  Also, it may someday go down due to a reprint.  That could happen.  It also could sky rocket in value once online legacy is split from online classic, which will happen someday.  Either way, you win because you get to play with Force of Will.  This card is the only card on MTGO that i would ever say is worth paying the 60 bucks for.  Currently played in Countertop, Landstill, folk, thresh, and pretty much anything and everything that plays blue.  Does anyone disagree?  I waited when they were at 20, and it was the worst mistake I have made in regards to purchasing of cards! Force of Will  60

 

 

Counterbalance .75 This is the first uncommon to make my list, and it is one of my least favorite cards ever, as comboed with top it makes the game completely non interactive.  However, that being said it's a cheap cheap card for how strong it is.  Also, something to keep in mind, is that Coldsnap nix Ticket events wont fire dropping the price of this card even further.........as well.......... it's Coldsnap.  Any way you cut it, this card is a fantastic bargain.

 

 

How quickly the 30 dollar engineered explosives of last extended season are forgotten.  This card will be used just as much this coming year, so expect a big price spike here soon after extended kicks off.  This card is used in any control deck as a targeted mass removal spell ala pernicious deed and powder keg.  It can be worthwhile any deck playing 2 colors, but the more colors you play the more options it gives you. Engineered Explosives 15.00

 

Polluted Deltabloodstained mire flooded strandwindswept heathWooded foothills  6-7.00

Here I am a cheat again.  It is for ALL of the sac lands as you can see.  I really cant help myself, cheating is part of my nature....but i digress.  They are priced between 6 and 7 dollars right now.  Keep in mind that these are on their way out of extended, and could fall further in price.  However, I really don't think that will be the case.  This is another set of cards i think we will see jump in a huge way when legacy is introduced online.  These are simply some of the best lands ever printed.  You will get your play use out of these in casual alone.  You may want to risk waiting until extended rotates, but as a format extended is dead right now anyway, so I doubt you will see anymore movement.  Am I wrong?  Let me know what you think!

 

This card was brought to my attention last week, as a key component in oath as a card that could really sky rocket.  I am going to say that is a GREAT call, and if you are planning on playing oath come exodus on MTGO, you probably will never see these cheaper.  However outside of oath, the usefulness of this card is fairly limited.  Giving your opponent a critter every time you want to tap a land is usually a million times worse than taking a pain or what have you.  When exodus finally comes out, expect this card to skyrocket. Forbidden Orchard 2.90

 

 

Gifts Ungiven 2.00

Prediction here is that gifts is going to play a  role in extended this season.  Thats a best case.  Worst case, this card is functional as an intuition replacement in some decks.  It's a little more pricey, but sometimes can be that much better.  At 2 bucks i really doubt it will go any lower than it presently is.  That being said, if a blue extended deck playing this gets any traction it will go higher.

 

 

Ok this is it for my extended/classic cards this week, but I couldn't leave out my favorite bob.  This guy slices dices is and aggro machine, and is an all out exceptional card.  Zoo is dead in extended with the rotation of sac lands, but i could very well see a black aggro base deck taking it's place. Despite the thoughts of Rangers of Eos fetching Figures of Destiny and Savannah Lions. Dark Confidant 2.50

 

 

Ranger of Eos .50 Ranger of Eos into Savannah Lions you say?  I think so!  This card is such a beating in standard right now.  It is another one of these awesome cards from the all around awesome set that is shards. Any budget minded players should start their shopping list in shards block.  The rarity system is quite a benefit for those of you who don't like to spend a lot on the game.  Mythics on the other hand are another story.

 

 

Mini Tithe on a 2/2 first striking body.  Honestly the price on this guy straight up shocks me.   I understand that Tithe is in a much much rarer set.  I understand that tithe is better.  But Tithe costs 8 bucks.   I'm also pretty sure you cant play tithe in standard.  Bottom line is this guy is a stud.  Pick some up for casual, standard, and probably in extended in the deck I was sort of laying out above. Knight of the White Orchid .30

 

Knight of the Reliquary .50 This guy could make a play for the buy of the week.  He is a very solid creature in multiple formats.  First, he thins your deck usually by 2 a turn (pop a land for a sac land sac the land get a 2nd land).  That interaction alone makes him 4/4. It's true that the sac lands are rotating out of extended.  However, I think there still can be a loam deck with the alara block sacs as a base.  Lets here some feedback on this guy?  Am I crazy or am I right? 

 That will do it for this week!  Look for me again next week, as I already have a bunch of cards in mind, and I'll be watching prices all the time.  I love the comments, please leave constructive complaints, blatant insults, and love notes below.  PS a picture for my avatar is coming soon.  Pirate hat not included.

 

 

 

 

 

16 Comments

I love this series of by Quagmire11 (not verified) at Thu, 07/23/2009 - 16:34
Quagmire11's picture

I love this series of article. Keep them coming.

Another few cards that I feel are undervalued are

Master of Etherium at 2.00 they can be massive 3 drops
Banefire at 1.90 - uncounterable burn that's unpreventable...has won many a games
Auriok Champion at 2.75, such a difficult card to get rid of and always pays you back in life gain
Kataki, War's Wage - 5.00 - One of my favourite anti-artifact cards that just wreaks havoc if not removed.

Cheers

thanks by eddie112 at Thu, 07/23/2009 - 20:17
eddie112's picture

I'll keep doing them as long as people keep enjoying them, and heath has low prices

Awsome... by xXWarIsPeaceXx (not verified) at Fri, 07/24/2009 - 00:49
xXWarIsPeaceXx's picture

Completely agree - tombstalker is a bomb, and loves low curve controllish decks in ext/class.

You costing me money though - gots to hit up heath for cards I was ignoring, every time this article comes out ;) props.

hmmm by Paul Leicht at Fri, 07/24/2009 - 02:00
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Gifts is broken. I don't currently have the tix for it or Id consider buying a set. Forbidden Orchard has a home in certain combo decks. I played against one the other day involving the enchant that deals 2 to creatures as they are played and another that makes you sac a land when a creature dies and Dingus Staff which deals damage to the dome when a creature dies. I stopped the combo with Creeping Molds and Counters but it was not an easy game. So it does have some playability in Classic though I believe it is a bit to slow to really do anything in tourney. It is tourney play that drives prices up right?

The knights do seem very cheap. Knight of the Reliquary has a lot of potential in Bant/Naya as a cheap monster/thinner. It's draw back is that it doesn't have haste, and is vulnerable to removal (like any man) and can be infinitely blocked. Some of that can be fixed but I suspect that is the reason it sits in the Bargain bin. Knight of the White Orchid is semi useful. The main problem is that they are situationally good and can't be used to get one plains if you are screwed. They are good in mono white or heavy white builds but the WW cost makes them hard to play in other decks.

Ranger of Eos is a bit more surprising as it is a quite versatile fetcher. I am certain he will rise eventually in status. Same for DC but DC's drawback is scary. Anything that locks him down makes him a lose condition. I am surprised his price is that high really. 2.5 is borderline expensive.

i like the concept of this by LOurs at Fri, 07/24/2009 - 04:27
LOurs's picture
4

i like the concept of this serie as it is very useful for any player joining mtg/specific formats & it is also a good basis to discuss about mtg's staples. Plus i like how it looks.
Some comments about the cards of this article :

> Tombstalker : it is a bomb, not less. It is so useful that i am surprised it is not more expansive. I ould argue also it is a very good Plan B in control/combo decks MD or SB (as it was into necrospike archetype).
> FoW / fetch lands : simply absolutly required to play classic/eternal format.
> Counterbalance : the best control tool currently available.
> EE : i would only add to your comment how awesome this removal engine is with academy ruins ...
> Forbidden Orchard : take it now ! Oath would be released in december ... did you remember what happend to pillar of parun when kscope was lauched ... ?
> Gift : awesome card even if it is difficult to pay its mana cost in classic with the tool currently available. But it is the basis of many awesome control deck from ext to vintage.
> Dark conf : it is a fantastaic and one of the best card advantage engine.
> Ranger of eos : its ability is attractive, but i dont know if it could be played in classic however because of its CMC. That being said, the card is cheap so why not ?
> Knight of the WS : an interesting card i agree. Its first strike ability makes this card playable. But i still prefer tithe ... and land tax as well
> Knight of reliquary : Yes ! So cheap and a very good guy ! take it, now or later, it will be really useful and a big beater !

thanks by eddie112 at Fri, 07/24/2009 - 09:33
eddie112's picture

Now comments to your comments :P

Good call with ee and ruins, cant believe i did not throw it on there! Ranger and Knight are more for standard/extended play. Ranger costing 4 and being a dood, I dont think he'll see classic play, maybe legacy after a split? However you are right about him being cheap. WW is going to be a viable strat in standard in about a week. In extended I fully expect it to replace zoo once we lose our beloved sac lands.

stalker in extended by menace13 at Fri, 07/24/2009 - 06:20
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i see tomby there getting a revival of sorts in extended....duress,thoughtsieze,gifts ..trinketstalker anyone?

Remember that the loss of by StealthBadger (not verified) at Fri, 07/24/2009 - 07:05
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Remember that the loss of fetchlands in extended means that decks will not be able to just splash a colour of 1 land. Therefore, I wouldn't expect engineered explosives to get back up to 30 tix, as you're not going to be able to access 3-4 colours as easily. In fact, i'm not sure the price on that one will rise at all.

I will be searching out sets of KotR and Gifts ungiven if i can find them at these prices. I reckon I'll be able to sell them on come extended season, at a decent profit. Not so sure about confidant, I think the naya colours will have aggro locked up in extended for a while, what with nacatl and stuff..

http://www.mtgotraders.com/st by hamtastic at Fri, 07/24/2009 - 09:50
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http://www.mtgotraders.com/store/CHK_Gifts_Ungiven.html

There are 27 of them at these prices (2 tix) :)

Great article Eddie!

thanks by eddie112 at Fri, 07/24/2009 - 10:54
eddie112's picture

I'm trolling the site looking for your state of the program. I get grumpy when it's not up in the morning!

It's still morning! I'll by JXClaytor at Fri, 07/24/2009 - 11:06
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It's still morning! I'll have it up before noon.

Horray! It's up. I was by eddie112 at Fri, 07/24/2009 - 12:31
eddie112's picture

Horray! It's up. I was getting ready to brandish my pitchfork.

Actually, the loss of by StealthBadger (not verified) at Fri, 07/24/2009 - 08:00
StealthBadger's picture

Actually, the loss of fetchlands and cycling lands in extended means that KotR might not be worth much, unless it shows up in classic somewhere. I'll still get a set, as it's cool.

I think ranger of eos, gifts ungiven and maybe forbidden orchard are the cards with the potential to gain you lots of tickets here. Out of interest, how much did pillar of the paruns rise to when kaleidoscope started up?

"how much did pillar of the by LOurs at Fri, 07/24/2009 - 08:12
LOurs's picture

"how much did pillar of the paruns rise to when kaleidoscope started up?"

pillar was around 1 tix and climb to 5 the first week ...and now the price at mtgotraders is around 8,5 ! (it is the current price on the market currently)

Knight and fetches by eddie112 at Fri, 07/24/2009 - 08:55
eddie112's picture

I would be suprised if we dont see alara block fetch lands in extended this year. Color me crazy, but i think it will happen, which is the knights reason for inclusion. EE will be used in u/b and g/b control decks regardless to kill things like jitte and goyf.

You mean the panoramas??? by StealthBadger (not verified) at Fri, 07/24/2009 - 11:19
StealthBadger's picture

You mean the panoramas??? Seriously?!?! If that happens, I will gladly consume an item of headgear of your choice!

I agree that EE will still see play, but I don't think it will be as universal as previous extended seasons, so I doubt it'll get back up towards 30 tickets.