Hammie’s The State of the Program for January 13rd
This series is an ongoing tribute to Erik “Hamtastic” Friborg.
News and Discussion Items:
Dark Ascension!: We know more about the format. For example, we know this:
Command the Night
The plane of Innistrad has fallen into a deep night. The horrible beings that fill the world have risen to power as the careful balance and tenuous power of Humans has failed in the absence of Avacyn. As the monsters overrun humanities defenses, despair reigns and all hope seems lost.
That quote is from the info packet included with my preview card.
Yes – my preview card. But I can’t show you until Tuesday.
Damn!
This time, we really, really, really have got a good card. I don’t have to do backflips to explain how some 4/5 flying cat with a marginal bonus, but which costs more than a Titan, is somehow relevant outside of limited. This time the card is relevant for limited, but it’s main impact will be on several constructed formats.
Several. Constructed. Formats.
I can say that this card will have an impact on decks that have repeatedly 4-0ed in Block, Standard and Classic, and probably Legacy as well.
And that’s all I can say until Tuesday.
The Dark Ascension previews are in full swing. I am intrigued by Undying – the reverse-Persist that puts +1/+1 counters on creatures that die and return. The combination of Persist and Undying seems interesting. So far, the best I have is
Antler Skulkin to repeatedly give something with Undying Persist, plus (Ashnod’s Altar) to sac the creature and power the Antler Skulkin. That just breaks even, but you could repeat it indefinitely, then remove any number of libraries from the game with
Bitter Ordeal. I doubt this is tournament viable, since Ashnod’s Altar is only legal in Classic and Legacy, but it could be fun in casual multiplayer.
Set looks like fun.
Magic Online Pro Tour Qualifiers: Avacyn Restored in Barcelona. Check out the details for the upcoming
Magic Online PTQ season, including increased prize support. PTQ events begin January 14 and will be Modern format constructed events.
Weekly Blog: In other news
from the blog, we will have an extended downtime on January 18
th. MTGO will be down, as will the mothership and all Wizards websites. The downtime begins
early – 3am PST. No word on how long it will last.
Tournaments:
Thursday Night Magic Online (TNMO) for the upcoming week (January 19
th ): M12 Sealed. The TNMO card for January has been announced: alternative art
Glistener Elf.
Nothing new on the PRE front this week.
Let’s look at the Constructed Tournaments breakdown for the week of January 4th through January 10th. 146 constructed events fired this week. Solid numbers. Modern is back – amazing what a PTQ season can do. Pauper is doing well as always, and both Classic and Legacy rang the bell a few times.
|
Format
|
Fired
|
Format
|
Fired
|
|
Standard
|
47
|
Standard Singleton
|
0
|
|
Pauper
|
34
|
Kaleidoscope
|
0
|
|
Innistrad Block Const.
|
23
|
100–card Singleton
|
0
|
|
Classic
|
5
|
Modern
|
33
|
|
Legacy
|
4
|
Extended
|
0
|
FYI: I got the number fired from the list of results,
here.
Cutting Edge Tech:
Standard: Standard is getting a little inbred at the moment. The most recent big event was the SCG Open in Atlanta. The Top 8 had a lot of UW decks, plus one Wolf Run Ramp and one Grixis control. The winning deck was Charles Gindy’s Delver Blade deck.
Modern: Modern is booming, as we get ready for the next PTQ season. Modern is firing a lot of online events. A number of decks appear viable, but this archetype seems to keep cropping up. If you want to play Modern, you should playtest this matchup.
Innistrad Block Constructed: ISD Constructed is still going strong. Events have been firing right and left. Here’s something I have not seen before, and which might be pretty inexpensive. No Mythics.
Legacy: Legacy is back. SCG had a Legacy open in Atlanta, and several Daily Events fired. The SCG Top 8 is interesting: UW Stoneblade, RUG Tempo, Bant Stoneblade, Zoo, Naya Stoneblade, Goblins, Naya Stoneblade and White Weenie. The rest of the Top 16 included Affinity, Dredge, Reanimator, and a pair of Pox decks. Some classics in this mix, including Goblins. If people can play antiques like the Red Menace and POX alongside Stoneblade decks, the format must be healthy.
Classic is still firing events, but the news this week is
the Classic Championships. The winning deck was a fairly standard Oath of Druids deck. Second place was an affinity build, and third was xcorpio with a merfolk deck. The next several decks were a variety of Delver builds, followed up by a Dredge build. Check it out.
Bugs:
Fact or Fiction is still bugged online. The caster ends up choosing what goes in each pile. The workaround in Classic matches is to simply tell your opponent what the split should be, and the caster splits it that way. Not perfect, but Classic players are a decent bunch, and don’t abuse that bug. More dangerous: (Painter’s Servant) is also bugged, and that bug crashes games in ways that even a restart won’t fix. Basically, one player gets booted from the tournament – and it appears to be at random. Sometimes the player with Painter’s Servant gets booted, sometimes the opponent.
Card Prices:
Notes: All my prices come from
MTGOTraders.com. For cards that are available in multiple sets, I am quoting the most recent set’s price. Thus, the price I’m quoting for Primeval Titan is from M12. If I list a card as out of stock, don’t assume you can’t buy it.
MTGOTraders stocks their Bots first, so the MTGOTradersBot1, MTGOTradersBot2, MTGOTradersBot3, or MTGOTradersBot4 often have the cards in stock even when the online store is out. Now, on to prices.
Standard prices are fluctuating. The format is heavily UW, so Sword of War and Peace is insanely popular.
|
Standard & Block Cards
|
Price
|
In Stock?
|
Last Week
|
Change
|
|
|
$ 21.10
|
Y
|
$ 19.29
|
+ $ 1.81
|
|
|
$ 10.26
|
Y
|
$ 8.89
|
+ $ 1.37
|
|
|
$ 19.04
|
Y
|
$ 17.20
|
+ $ 1.84
|
|
|
$ 17.45
|
Y
|
$ 15.58
|
+ $ 1.67
|
|
|
$ 5.00
|
Y
|
$ 4.00
|
+ $ 1.00
|
|
|
$ 1.49
|
Y
|
$ 1.96
|
- $ 0.47
|
|
|
$ 15.61
|
Y
|
$ 16.67
|
- $ 1.06
|
|
|
$ 1.76
|
Y
|
$ 1.80
|
- $ 0.04
|
|
|
$ 10.59
|
Y
|
$ 10.98
|
- $ 0.39
|
|
|
$ 14.10
|
Y
|
$ 14.37
|
- $ 0.27
|
|
|
$ 12.30
|
Y
|
$ 12.31
|
- $ 0.01
|
|
|
$ 10.42
|
Y
|
$ 11.87
|
- $ 1.45
|
|
|
$ 14.33
|
Y
|
$ 14.91
|
- $ 0.58
|
|
|
$ 11.86
|
Y
|
$ 12.63
|
- $ 0.77
|
|
|
$ 5.68
|
Y
|
$ 4.41
|
+ $ 1.27
|
|
|
$ 21.79
|
Y
|
$ 19.89
|
+ $ 1.90
|
|
|
$ 26.23
|
Y
|
$ 27.26
|
- $ 1.03
|
|
|
$ 38.08
|
Y
|
$ 33.55
|
+ $ 4.53
|
|
|
$ 9.23
|
Y
|
$ 8.96
|
+ $ 0.27
|
|
|
$ 12.43
|
Y
|
$ 15.00
|
- $ 2.57
|
|
|
$ 14.55
|
Y
|
$ 15.71
|
- $ 1.16
|
|
|
$ 17.96
|
Y
|
$ 17.96
|
---
|
|
|
$ 18.51
|
Y
|
$ 21.22
|
- $ 2.71
|
|
|
$ 17.06
|
Y
|
$ 18.05
|
- $ 0.99
|
|
|
$ 6.70
|
Y
|
$ 6.26
|
+ $ 0.44
|
|
|
$ 9.23
|
Y
|
$ 9.09
|
- $ 0.14
|
Modern prices are in flux, but cards are rising, then recovering a bit, then rising again in cycles. That trend should continue as we get into PTQ season. If you are going to play Modern, and have not done so already, I would get your Ravnica shocklands and Zendikar fetchlands now.
|
Modern Cards
|
Price
|
In Stock?
|
Last Week
|
Change
|
|
|
$ 26.94
|
Y
|
$ 24.17
|
+ $ 2.23
|
|
|
$ 12.32
|
Y
|
$ 12.50
|
- $ 0.18
|
|
|
$ 25.40
|
Y
|
$ 21.18
|
+ $ 4.32
|
|
|
$ 37.63
|
Y
|
$ 40.68
|
- $ 3.05
|
|
(Scalding Tarn)
|
$ 6.42
|
Y
|
$ 7.08
|
- $ 0.66
|
|
|
$ 5.28
|
Y
|
$ 5.37
|
- $ 0.09
|
|
|
$ 13.49
|
Y
|
$ 14.19
|
- $ 0.70
|
|
|
$ 23.19
|
Y
|
$ 21.75
|
+ $ 1.44
|
|
|
$ 13.72
|
Y
|
$ 14.63
|
- $ 0.91
|
|
|
$ 7.00
|
Y
|
$ 7.43
|
- $ 0.43
|
|
|
$ 82.50
|
Y
|
$ 82.00
|
+ $ 0.50
|
|
|
$ 21.17
|
Y
|
$ 19.00
|
+ $ 2.17
|
|
|
$ 6.78
|
Y
|
$ 4.82
|
+ $ 1.96
|
|
|
$ 22.06
|
Y
|
$ 23.00
|
- $ 0.94
|
|
|
$ 22.29
|
Y
|
$ 21.39
|
+ $ 0.90
|
|
|
$ 13.22
|
Y
|
$ 13.57
|
- $ 0.35
|
|
|
$ 28.17
|
Y
|
$ 24.26
|
+ $ 3.89
|
Legacy prices are pretty much stagnant. Force of Will has given back a bit of its big jump last week. Scavenging Ooze is hovering close to the purchase price of the commander deck it appears in. Buy it and get the rest of the deck for free.
|
Legacy Cards
|
Price
|
In Stock?
|
Last Week
|
Change
|
|
|
$ 112.04
|
Y
|
$ 122.34
|
- $ 10.30
|
|
|
$ 31.12
|
Y
|
$ 31.12
|
---
|
|
|
$ 72.09
|
Y
|
$ 72.09
|
---
|
|
|
$ 26.99
|
Y
|
$ 26.99
|
---
|
|
|
$ 39.25
|
Y
|
$ 38.00
|
+ $ 1.25
|
|
|
$ 31.98
|
Y
|
$ 31.98
|
---
|
|
|
$ 29.94
|
Y
|
$ 29.29
|
+ $ 0.70
|
|
|
$ 19.88
|
Y
|
$ 20.25
|
- $ 0.37
|
|
|
$ 12.38
|
Y
|
$ 13.84
|
- $ 1.46
|
|
|
$ 36.77
|
Y
|
$ 36.77
|
---
|
|
|
$ 39.22
|
Y
|
$ 39.22
|
---
|
|
(Tower of the Magistrate)
|
$ 6.63
|
Y
|
$ 7.00
|
- $ 0.37
|
|
|
$ 7.77
|
Y
|
$ 7.39
|
+ $ 0.38
|
|
|
$ 2.56
|
Y
|
$ 2.56
|
---
|
|
|
$ 18.05
|
Y
|
$ 20.25
|
- $ 2.20
|
Note: cards which are staples in both Legacy and Classic may appear in either list. If you don’t see a card in one list, check the other.
Classic prices are unsteady. A few are moving around – and those that did not find a home in a Tier One deck are taking a hit. We may see more volatility after the Classic Champs next week, especially if people sell off their decks.
|
Classic Cards
|
Price
|
In Stock?
|
Last Week
|
Change
|
|
|
$ 107.41
|
Y
|
$ 102.60
|
+ $ 4.81
|
|
|
$ 17.59
|
Y
|
$ 17.94
|
- $ 0.35
|
|
|
$ 10.70
|
Y
|
$ 10.70
|
---
|
|
|
$ 10.22
|
Y
|
$ 10.22
|
---
|
|
|
$ 15.56
|
Y
|
$ 17.32
|
- $ 1.76
|
|
|
$ 19.25
|
Y
|
$ 19.25
|
---
|
|
|
$ 10.58
|
Y
|
$ 10.81
|
- $ 0.23
|
|
|
$ 7.97
|
Y
|
$ 7.97
|
---
|
|
|
$ 35.80
|
Y
|
$ 32.86
|
+ $ 2.94
|
|
|
$ 40.22
|
Y
|
$ 40.22
|
---
|
|
|
$ 2.92
|
Y
|
$ 3.03
|
- $ 0.11
|
|
|
$ 9.66
|
Y
|
$ 9.66
|
---
|
|
|
$ 19.94
|
Y
|
$ 20.96
|
- $ 1.02
|
The Top Ten:
Here’s this week’s list of the top ten most expensive non-foil, non-promo cards on MTGO. The Top 8 are unchanged, although a few have dropped in price.
Natural Order and
Wasteland have fallen off the chart. The Natural Order decks are not as popular in Legacy anymore, and the Tempest sealed events dumped a lot more Wastelands into the system.
|
Most Expensive Cards
|
Price
|
Set
|
Last Week
|
|
|
$ 112.04
|
MED I
|
# 1
|
|
|
$ 107.41
|
Mirage
|
# 2
|
|
|
$ 82.50
|
Future Sight
|
# 3
|
|
|
$ 72.09
|
Apocalypse
|
# 4
|
|
|
$ 41.27
|
Nemesis
|
# 6
|
|
|
$ 40.22
|
Weatherlight
|
# 7
|
|
|
$ 39.25
|
Worldwake
|
#10
|
|
|
$ 39.22
|
Apocalypse
|
# 9
|
|
|
$ 38.27
|
Dissension
|
# 8
|
|
(RishadanPort)
|
$ 38.15
|
Masques
|
# 5
|
Here’s another list, this time of the most expensive foils on MTGO.
|
Most Expensive Cards
|
Rarity |
Set |
Price
|
|
Force of Will (premium)
|
R
|
MED
|
$250.00
|
|
Lion's Eye Diamond (premium)
|
R
|
Mirage
|
$214.85
|
|
Tangle Wire (premium)
|
R
|
Nemesis
|
$175.00
|
|
RishadanPort (premium)
|
R
|
Masques
|
$160.00
|
|
Tarmogoyf (premium)
|
R
|
Future Sight
|
$156.75
|
|
Metalworker (premium)
|
R
|
Urza's Destiny
|
$150.00
|
|
Vampiric Tutor (premium)
|
R
|
Visions
|
$125.30
|
|
Null Rod (premium)
|
R
|
Weatherlight
|
$125.00
|
|
Vindicate (premium)
|
R
|
Apocalypse
|
$113.85
|
|
Mana Drain (premium)
|
R
|
MED 3
|
$110.00
|
|
Vindicate (premium)
|
R
|
promo
|
$102.60
|
|
Pernicious Deed (premium)
|
R
|
Apocalypse
|
$100.00
|
|
Underground Sea (premium)
|
R
|
MED 2
|
$89.70
|
|
Pernicious Deed (premium)
|
R
|
promo
|
$85.00
|
|
Wasteland (premium)
|
U
|
promo
|
$83.95
|
|
UndergroundSea (premium)
|
R
|
MED 4
|
$81.00
|
|
Natural Order (premium)
|
R
|
Vision
|
$79.95
|
|
Tundra (premium)
|
R
|
MED 2
|
$71.55
|
|
Tundra (premium)
|
R
|
MED 4
|
$70.45
|
|
Orim's Chant (premium)
|
R
|
Planeshift
|
$70.00
|
Weekly Highlights:
None. Too much work: I haven’t played a single game online all week.
PRJ
“one million words” on MTGO.
7 Comments
What's the deal with Scavenging Ooze? I mean, I get that's a great card, a cheap creature, easily tutorable, that doubles as graveyard hate. But that price is getting nuts, it's the highest priced creature in the game after Tarmogoyf. I wonder how much it would cost if it was just a rare in a regular set. That should make WotC think about these alternative distributions (as precon decks) for new cards. They need to reprint them in some form, or they just create artificial high costs for the sake of nothing. (And I'm especially pissed because Ooze is one of my favorite tribes, but the hell I spend planeswalker tix for that!)
You could also look at it as, "buy a ooze, get a commander precon free"
Or "spend $30 in the store, get 30+x tickets" (via selling off the cards in the precon as singles)
Hey Pete, love the expensive foils list: classic players can't get enough. I did notice that you have some of the 32-of promo foils on that list, but that is is missin Yawgmoth's Will (the most expensive of the promos). I'm guessing this is because Traders has not updated it's price in a million years, but I would love to see it on there.
color me curious, i have been hawking the preveiws pretty hard, and havent seen any thing that is remotely playable besides Thalia, which i think is not good enough for the hate bear decks.
whiffy
Seriously.
A couple years back, I told Heath to give my preview card to Hammie and AJ on the podcast. I wanted to help boost their listenership. Since then, we have passed previews around at times. This time, I seriously considered throwing our preview card to you or the YSO crew, because the card is absolutely a Classic staple. In the end, I could not give it away, because it is just insane.
Don't bother looking for that classic must have card elsewhere. I have it.
I can't wait until Tuesday.
It may not be good enough to make hate bears competitive with the busted decks but it's effect has been amazing for me in testing, thorn of amethyst and glowrider just shut down a large number of classic decks. It's a strict upgrade or additional sphere effect for the hatebears, again it's proably not quite enough but it's getting there, having first strike is pretty darn sweet in classic as well with all the snappies, confidants, mutavaults and delvers running around trying to trade with your ground pounders.