State of the Program for August 13th, 2021
Temur Cube: It's been up for a couple of days on MTGO, but you can read about it and see the cardlist here.
Modern Horizons 2: This news is from last time. Draft and Sealed leagues are back and are scheduled to run until September 9th, when Innistrad: Midnight Hunt comes to MTGO. Also the four limited premier events are switching from Forgotten Realms to Modern Horizons 2 based formats.
Super Qualifiers: Saturday is for Limited, while Sunday's is for Modern.
This is a list of things we have been promised, or we just want to see coming back. Another good source for dates and times is the
calendar and the weekly blog, while the best source for known bugs is the bug blog which appears sporadically on MTGO.com. Not listed, but important: Wizards offers either one or two online MCQs each weekend, with qualifiers for limited MCQs running the days immediately prior to the MCQ.
Upcoming Events
|
Dates
|
Scheduled Downtimes
|
September 8th, 2021 |
Constructed Leagues End
|
Ends September 7th, 2021
|
Sealed Leagues End
|
Ends September 8th, 2021 |
Next B&R
|
Unknown
|
D&D Redemption
|
Begins August 11, 2021
|
|
|
2018 Magic Online Championship Series and other events
Complete details, including schedule, rules, and which online events qualify you for which online or paper events is
here. In addition, Wizards will be offering these special formats:
August 11th: Ellie Rice's
Temur Cube
August 18th: Ryan Saxe's
Classic Cube
August 25th: Legacy Cube Featuring Adventures in the Forgotten Realms
Magic Online Format Challenges
These are high stakes events that happen every weekend. They cost 30 Tix / 300 play points, and last a number of rounds based on participation (assume 5-8), plus a single elimination Top 8. Details, including prize payouts, are
here. Start times are:
Standard: Sometimes when you're doing an incredibly poor job of being adult on an early Thursday morning, you get to be awake when what looks like an incredibly fun deck cross your twitter feed. This Orzhov snow deck by
Charizard_James Rutherford was retweeted by Robert Taylor around 3 am, which was just about the time I was digging in headfirst into a bowl of ice cream. Following Robert is great, because not only do you get to see some sweet lists, but you also get concise breakdowns of events on MTGMelee. Anyways, this Orzhov list looks to learn in the early game and take advantage of Blood on the Snow
to clear the board and bring back something neat. James was kind enough to tweet a deck tracker for the matchups, and made a video for it, which you can see here.
Historic: While Jumpstart Historic Horizons is taking a few more weeks to come out, we are still playing with a dead format. I'm not excited to have so many Modern cards added to the format, and am even less excited for the digital only ones, I just wish Wizards of the Coast would figure out the purpose of Arena and stick to it, but it doesn't really matter what I want, because what I want out of digital Magic is just a nicer looking MTGO. Besides I am not the target audience for Arena, and I am okay with that. Anyways, here is a Dragons list from the last deck dump. It has
Tiamat
in it.
Legacy: I take a week off, don't pay any attention at all to Magic, and suddenly Minotaur tribal is in Legacy? I need to
Didgeridoo
myself a favor and see how much fun it is play this deck myself right?
Modern:
Hardened Scales is a fun artifact based aggro deck that hits hard and fast. It takes full advantage of some of the toys from Modern Horizons 2 gave us, but maybe it misses
Mox Opal
just a bit still?
Pauper: It's nice to see the
Inside Out
combo deck still kinda doing work in Pauper, despite well, everything about the format.
Pioneer: Is it really bad if we do a second Dragon deck this week?
The Winner's Circle is where I will recognize winners of the past events on MTGO.
Challenge Winners
Saturday Legacy - Not Reported
Saturday Modern - starfall - Hammertime
Saturday Pauper - Oscar_Franco - Dimir Control
Saturday Pioneer - DarkestMage - Azorius Ensoul
Saturday Standard - rastaf - Gruul Adventures
Saturday Vintage - Showcase Challenge
Sunday Legacy - Showcase Challenge
Sunday Modern - Voltzwagon - Living End
Sunday Pauper - Misplacedginger - Dimir Control
Sunday Pioneer - Chefen - Bant Spirits
Sunday Standard - Rooney56 - Naya Adventures
Sunday Vintage - Tsubasa_Cat
Other Event Winners
Legacy Showcase - nathansteuer - Izzet Delver
Vintage Showcase - Ozymandias
Note: all my prices come from the fine folks at
MTGOTraders.com. These are retail prices, and generally the price of the lowest priced, actively traded version. (Prices for some rare promo versions are not updated when not in stock, so I skip those.) You can get these cards at
MTGOTraders.com web store, or from their bots: MTGOTradersBot(#) (they have bots 1-10), CardCaddy and CardWareHouse, or sell cards to MTGOTradersBuyBot(#) (they have buybots 1-4). I have bought cards from MTGOTraders for a decade and a half now, and have never been overcharged or disappointed.
Standard Staples: A lot of cards from Forgotten Realms came on the list after my week away.
Standard Cards |
Price |
Last Week |
Change |
% Change |
Demilich |
$20.01 |
$21.62 |
($1.61) |
-7% |
The Book of Exalted Deeds |
$9.40 |
$9.40 |
$0.00 |
0% |
Acererak the Archlich |
$14.87 |
$11.49 |
$3.38 |
29% |
Tasha's Hideous Laughter |
$13.14 |
$8.23 |
$4.91 |
60% |
Iymrith, Desert Doom |
$5.08 |
$4.85 |
$0.23 |
5% |
Minsc, Beloved Ranger |
$7.80 |
|
|
|
Ebondeath, Dracolich |
$6.46 |
|
|
|
Old Gnawbone |
$6.38 |
|
|
|
Tiamat |
$5.32 |
|
|
|
Xanathar, Guild Kingpin |
$5.26 |
|
|
|
Brazen Borrower |
$29.97 |
$28.27 |
$1.70 |
6% |
Bonecrusher Giant |
$7.99 |
$7.37 |
$0.62 |
8% |
Korvold, Fae-Cursed King |
$10.08 |
$5.62 |
$4.46 |
79% |
Lurrus of the Dream Den |
$15.60 |
$12.85 |
$2.75 |
21% |
Shark Typhoon |
$6.37 |
$7.45 |
($1.08) |
-14% |
Raugrin Triome |
$6.20 |
$5.42 |
$0.78 |
14% |
Valki, God of Lies |
$23.72 |
$47.63 |
($23.91) |
-50% |
Vorinclex, Monstrous Raider |
$4.35 |
$6.82 |
($2.47) |
-36% |
Goldspan Dragon |
$9.64 |
$10.04 |
($0.40) |
-4% |
Alrund's Epiphany |
$2.91 |
$6.23 |
($3.32) |
-53% |
Koma, Cosmos Serpent |
$4.34 |
$5.46 |
($1.12) |
-21% |
Halvar, God of Battle |
$3.38 |
$6.33 |
($2.95) |
-47% |
Stormwing Entity |
$1.82 |
$4.29 |
($2.47) |
-58% |
Prismari Command |
$23.29 |
$14.44 |
$8.85 |
61% |
Magma Opus |
$7.16 |
$7.09 |
$0.07 |
1% |
Professor Onyx |
$8.34 |
$7.96 |
$0.38 |
5% |
Velomachus Lorehold |
$13.93 |
$12.90 |
$1.03 |
8% |
Beledros Witherbloom |
$6.40 |
$6.18 |
$0.22 |
4% |
Extus, Oriq Overlord |
$7.42 |
$7.17 |
$0.25 |
3% |
Galazeth Prismari |
$5.73 |
$5.64 |
$0.09 |
2% |
Kroxa, Titan of Death's Hunger |
7.07 |
6.33 |
$0.74 |
12% |
Scourge of the Skyclaves |
$11.13 |
$15.14 |
($4.01) |
-26% |
Skyclave Apparition |
$15.72 |
$20.46 |
($4.74) |
-23% |
Modern Staples:
Eternal Staples:
Pioneer Staples: The Pioneer list might have grown by a card, but that might also be negated by one card falling under the limit.
Standard Legal Sets: This table tracks the cost of a single copy of every card in each Standard legal set, plus Treasure Chests and the current booster pack. I’ll keep tracking these because they are interesting (at least to me). This is being kept as a small tribute to Pete!
I think the last time I did this table, there is a really good chance that I added in the Commander stuff from Kaldheim into its numbers as well. I can't really explain the set losing 40 dollars outside of that. Of course I did notice that
Valki, God of Lies
dropped $23.91, so maybe I didn't mess up!
Complete Set |
Price |
Last Week |
Change |
% Change |
Forgotten Realms |
$160.19 |
$146.40 |
$13.79 |
9% |
Forgotten Realms Booster Pack |
$3.29 |
$3.35 |
($0.06) |
-2% |
Core Set 2021 |
$41.65 |
$43.79 |
($2.14) |
-5% |
Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths |
$48.73 |
$45.81 |
$2.92 |
6% |
Kaldheim |
$122.67 |
$165.07 |
($42.40) |
-26% |
Strixhaven: School of Mages |
$135.33 |
$122.56 |
$12.77 |
10% |
Theros Beyond Death |
$74.11 |
$74.26 |
($0.15) |
0% |
Throne of Eldraine |
$115.41 |
$117.49 |
($2.08) |
-2% |
Treasure Chest |
$2.41 |
$2.56 |
($0.15) |
-6% |
Zendikar Rising |
$103.05 |
$95.13 |
$7.92 |
8% |
The following is a list of all the non-foil, non-promo cards on MTGO that retail for more than $25 per card. These are the big ticket items in the world of MTGO. The list is interesting, at the least. This is interesting to me because a lot of these cards have been reprinted more than once, and they are still commanding a high price.
Black Lotus |
1E |
Rare |
172.35 |
Cavern of Souls |
UBT |
Mythic |
114.32 |
Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer |
MH2 |
Mythic |
113.91 |
Karakas |
UBT |
Mythic |
107.31 |
Mox Jet |
1E |
Rare |
94.69 |
Liliana of the Veil |
UBT |
Mythic |
91.88 |
Snapcaster Mage |
UBT |
Mythic |
91.24 |
Ancestral Recall |
1E |
Rare |
78.72 |
Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth |
UBT |
Mythic |
77.5 |
Force of Negation |
MH1 |
Rare |
72.89 |
Mox Sapphire |
1E |
Rare |
67.45 |
Endurance |
MH2 |
Mythic |
67.38 |
Mox Emerald |
1E |
Rare |
66.16 |
Time Walk |
1E |
Rare |
64.33 |
Wrenn and Six |
MH1 |
Mythic |
62.46 |
Force of Vigor |
MH1 |
Rare |
52.34 |
Dark Depths |
UBT |
Mythic |
51.32 |
Purple-Crystal Crab |
PZ2 |
Common |
50.18 |
Force of Will |
MED |
Rare |
49.71 |
Demonic Tutor |
UBT |
Mythic |
49.07 |
Mox Pearl |
1E |
Rare |
48.7 |
Wasteland |
EXP |
Mythic |
46.23 |
Jace, the Mind Sculptor |
MS4 |
Mythic |
45.97 |
Dauthi Voidwalker |
MH2 |
Rare |
44.6 |
Urza's Saga |
MH2 |
Rare |
43.07 |
Mox Ruby |
1E |
Rare |
42.93 |
Karn Liberated |
UBT |
Mythic |
41.91 |
Teferi, Time Raveler |
WAR |
Rare |
40.88 |
Hullbreacher |
CMR |
Rare |
40.81 |
Ignoble Hierarch |
MH2 |
Rare |
40.64 |
Heavenly Qilin |
PZ2 |
Common |
40.34 |
Gaea's Cradle |
UZ |
Rare |
39.86 |
Engineered Explosives |
UMA |
Rare |
39.28 |
Chalice of the Void |
A25 |
Mythic |
38.49 |
Mox Diamond |
TPR |
Mythic |
37.85 |
Mishra's Bauble |
IMA |
Uncommon |
37.52 |
Liliana, the Last Hope |
MS4 |
Mythic |
37.26 |
Chalice of the Void |
TSR |
Bonus |
37.01 |
Mishra's Bauble |
2XM |
Uncommon |
36.92 |
Chalice of the Void |
MS2 |
Bonus |
36.67 |
Engineered Explosives |
MMA |
Rare |
36.5 |
Noble Hierarch |
UBT |
Mythic |
36.4 |
Engineered Explosives |
UBT |
Mythic |
36.38 |
Omnath, Locus of Creation |
ZNR |
Mythic |
36.17 |
Mishra's Bauble |
CSP |
Uncommon |
36.11 |
Engineered Explosives |
MS2 |
Bonus |
35.98 |
Chalice of the Void |
MMA |
Rare |
35.97 |
Engineered Explosives |
5DN |
Rare |
35.72 |
Chalice of the Void |
MRD |
Rare |
35.55 |
Engineered Explosives |
2XM |
Rare |
35.45 |
Karn, the Great Creator |
WAR |
Rare |
35.38 |
Jeska's Will |
CMR |
Rare |
35.32 |
Wasteland |
ZNE |
Mythic |
35.23 |
Force of Will |
MS3 |
Mythic |
34.82 |
Force of Will |
EMA |
Mythic |
34.27 |
Force of Will |
2XM |
Mythic |
33.58 |
Cavern of Souls |
UMA |
Mythic |
33.42 |
Murktide Regent |
MH2 |
Mythic |
33.23 |
Force of Will |
VMA |
Rare |
32.57 |
Allosaurus Shepherd |
JMP |
Mythic |
32.5 |
Celestial Colonnade |
UBT |
Mythic |
32.47 |
Earthshaking Si |
PZ2 |
Common |
31.71 |
Marisi, Breaker of the Coil |
C19 |
Mythic |
31.64 |
Kozilek, Butcher of Truth |
UBT |
Mythic |
31.27 |
Retrofitter Foundry |
PZ2 |
Rare |
31.12 |
Wasteland |
TE |
Uncommon |
31.12 |
Verdant Catacombs |
EXP |
Mythic |
31.1 |
Lotus Petal |
MS2 |
Bonus |
31.1 |
Platinum Emperion |
UBT |
Mythic |
30.5 |
Timetwister |
1E |
Rare |
30.22 |
Brazen Borrower |
ELD |
Mythic |
29.97 |
Wasteland |
TPR |
Rare |
29.97 |
Lotus Petal |
TE |
Common |
29.42 |
Mana Vault |
UBT |
Mythic |
29.26 |
Lotus Petal |
TPR |
Uncommon |
29.05 |
Teferi, Hero of Dominaria |
MS4 |
Mythic |
28.28 |
Scalding Tarn |
EXP |
Mythic |
27.96 |
Reanimate |
UBT |
Mythic |
27.86 |
Fulminator Mage |
UBT |
Mythic |
27.4 |
Creeping Tar Pit |
UBT |
Mythic |
26.76 |
Verdant Catacombs |
MH2 |
Rare |
26.68 |
Flooded Strand |
ZNE |
Mythic |
26.6 |
Wasteland |
EMA |
Rare |
26.58 |
Mox Diamond |
ST |
Rare |
25.86 |
Bitterblossom |
UBT |
Mythic |
25.68 |
Wooded Foothills |
ZNE |
Mythic |
25.18 |
Carpet of Flowers |
UZ |
Uncommon |
25.12 |
The big number is the retail price of a playset (4 copies) of every card available on MTGO. Assuming you bought the least expensive versions available, the cost of owning a playset of every card on MTGO is approximately a number that I cannot figure out still. I have actually asked Pete to do this for me, because Open Office is weird, and I have no idea what I am doing, and I am pretty close to just being a dog in a labcoat.
Nevermind, ignore all of that, Pete got it done for me, because he is just the dang best. The big number this week is $25,695. Last week, despite me not writing anything, Pete got it done, because he is the actual best, it was $26,417. Down $722, but not down bad.
I have basically lost all control and my sleeping patterns have gotten out of hand. I woke up to finish this article at 10 am on Friday morning, and the next thing I know I'm still in bed and it's 2 in the afternoon. That is why it and the rest of Friday's content went up late! It is not like I am doing anything important while I am not sleeping, I am just not sleeping.
This series is an ongoing tribute to Erik “Hamtastic” Friborg.