JXClaytor's picture
By: JXClaytor, Joshua Claytor
Mar 06 2020 1:00pm
3
Login to post comments
2386 views


State of the Program for March 6th, 2020
 
In the News

Ban List News:   The Magic eSports Twitter account tweeted out that on March 9th, there will be a banned and restricted list update.  The one week warning was nice.  You can see the tweet here, it's pretty much what I wrote. 

Challenges are back on this weekend:  Regular format challenges are back this week. 

Mystery Booster WPN Edition:  This product releases next week to retail stores.  In place of the playtest cards, players will get a foil card per pack, and if you're interested in that, you can check out the list of possible foils here

Arena State of the Game:  Direct Messaging of friends is the improvement I care about, but a lot of neat things appear to be coming to Arena.  You can check out the list here
 

The Timeline

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
March 25, 2020
Constructed Leagues End
April 15, 2020
Sealed Leagues End
April 16, 2020
Next B&R Announcement
Unknown
Throne of Eldraine Redemption
Ends March 11, 2020
Theros: Beyond Death Redem
Starts February 12, 2020
Theros: Beyond Death
January 24, 2020
Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths
April 24, 2020
Core Set 2021
Zendikar Rising
Third Quarter 2020
Fourth Quarter 2020
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:

Limited PTQ - Saturday
Modern PTQ - Sunday
 
Magic Online Format Challenges
These are high stakes events that happen every weekend. They cost 25 Tix / 250 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:
 
Event Type
Start Time
Saturday 6:00 am PT
Saturday, 8:00 am PT 
Saturday, 10:00 am PT
Sunday 6:00 am PT
Sunday, 8:00 am PT
Sunday, 10:00 am PT

 


Cutting Edge Tech

Standard: Featuring the showcase challenge winners this week seemed like a no brainer, so make sure to enjoy the decks that won the big events on MTGO this week. 


Legacy:  I can't imagine this deck existing in the same form after Monday.  It seems to be played a lot, and with that it's winning a lot, but it also appears to be a really hard deck to interact against.


Modern: I don't know what to call this anymore.  It's easier then it was Scapeshift or Amulet of Vigor but this is just like thirty one lands and some ramp spells. 


PauperGhostly Flicker is a card that is still legal in Pauper, and I have no idea why that is. 


Pioneer:  I was talking to a friend about this deck over the week, and I have no idea why I can't beat it, but I sure can't.  Something about this deck just makes me stupid. It puts me on tilt to have Stasis Snare flashing out and getting my best card and then the possiblity of combo, it just makes me play differently. 


VintageMishra's Workshop is also still a thing and I have no idea why. 



 
Winner's Circle

The Winner's Circle is where I will recognize winners of the past events on MTGO. 

Showcase Challenge Winners

Legacy - WhiteFaces - Jeskai Breach
Modern - AvocadoToast - Titan
Pauper - saidin.raken - Familiar Flicker
Pioneer - Phil_Hellmuth - Mono White Heliod
Standard - llawtonss - Jund Food
Vintage - infant_no_1 - Shops

Other Event Winners

Around the Web

MTGOTraders YouTube:  Did you know that MTGOTraders.com has a YouTube page with videos added Monday, Wednesday and Friday?  Well if not, now you do, and you can find it here

Card Prices
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: Rankle, Master of Pranks fell off the list.  The Great Henge is back on.  Cavalier of Flame is back on the list as well.  Hydroid Krasis finally fell off the list this week. 

Standard Cards Price Last Week Change % Change
Brazen Borrower $48.95 $36.95 $12.00 32%
Korvold, Fae-Cursed King $8.42 $8.29 $0.13 2%
Questing Beast $7.85 $7.96 ($0.11) -1%
Alela, Artful Provocateur $8.11 $8.05 $0.06 1%
Chulane, Teller of Tales $6.75 $6.67 $0.08 1%
Fabled Passage $9.93 $8.39 $1.54 18%
Bonecrusher Giant $5.14 $6.15 ($1.01) -16%
Embercleave $6.54 $6.75 ($0.21) -3%
The Great Henge $5.11


Arclight Phoenix $5.30 $5.31 ($0.01) 0%
Assassin's Trophy $6.00 $5.80 $0.20 3%
Chandra, Awakened Inferno $18.05 $17.94 $0.11 1%
Sorin, Imperious Bloodlord $5.54 $7.03 ($1.49) -21%
Leyline of the Void $11.71 $9.79 $1.92 20%
Vivien, Arkbow Ranger $32.44 $20.71 $11.73 57%
Ajani, Strength of the Pride $7.01 $6.93 $0.08 1%
Cavalier of Thorns $7.20 $8.12 ($0.92) -11%
Lotus Field $5.24 $6.67 ($1.43) -21%
Cavalier of Flame $5.11


Deputy of Detention $7.58 $9.43 ($1.85) -20%
Kaya, Orzhov Usurper $5.43 $5.70 ($0.27) -5%
Uro, Titan of Nature's Wrath $49.10 $48.11 $0.99 2%
Heliod, Sun-Crowned $18.18 $13.51 $4.67 35%
Kroxa, Titan of Death's Hunger $15.68 $13.77 $1.91 14%
Ox of Agonas $5.05 $5.17 ($0.12) -2%
Teferi, Time Raveler $59.52 $56.48 $3.04 5%
Finale of Devastation $11.02 $10.93 $0.09 1%
Karn, the Great Creator $28.99 $20.03 $8.96 45%
Dreadhorde Arcanist $13.64 $13.30 $0.34 3%
Blast Zone $14.11 $12.22 $1.89 15%
Gideon Blackblade $6.45 $7.57 ($1.12) -15%
Niv-Mizzet Reborn $16.88 $19.50 ($2.62) -13%
Jace, Wielder of Mysteries $9.21 $9.90 ($0.69) -7%
Nissa, Who Shakes the World $9.35


Modern StaplesWrenn and Six has climbed above 100 again.  That's neat.  Amulet of Vigor fell off the list this week.

Modern Cards Price Last Week Change % Change
Grinding Station $8.65 $22.03 ($13.38) -61%
Engineered Explosives $11.37 $9.97 $1.40 14%
Cavern of Souls $13.89 $11.14 $2.75 25%
Noble Hierarch $5.73 $5.33 $0.40 8%
Mishra's Bauble $36.78 $35.69 $1.09 3%
Aether Vial $7.45 $7.11 $0.34 5%
Trinisphere $8.26 $6.46 $1.80 28%
Once Upon a Time $10.97 $15.06 ($4.09) -27%
Horizon Canopy $7.87 $10.96 ($3.09) -28%
Tarmogoyf $7.58 $7.39 $0.19 3%
Magus of the Moon $6.17 $6.55 ($0.38) -6%
Liliana of the Veil $17.27 $16.38 $0.89 5%
Snapcaster Mage $3.15 $5.42 ($2.27) -42%
Polluted Delta $6.18 $7.17 ($0.99) -14%
Wooded Foothills $4.42 $4.46 ($0.04) -1%
Flooded Strand $4.00 $4.31 ($0.31) -7%
Bloodstained Mire $3.27 $4.44 ($1.17) -26%
Windswept Heath $2.94 $2.91 $0.03 1%
Thoughtseize $16.58 $15.90 $0.68 4%
Field of the Dead $7.47 $6.42 $1.05 16%
Force of Negation $65.20 $65.44 ($0.24) 0%
Wrenn and Six $101.13 $92.33 $8.80 10%
Prismatic Vista $18.43 $18.63 ($0.20) -1%
Sunbaked Canyon $17.58 $15.32 $2.26 15%
Seasoned Pyromancer $24.90 $26.53 ($1.63) -6%
Fiery Islet $12.71 $12.06 $0.65 5%
Urza, Lord High Artificer $19.70 $20.47 ($0.77) -4%
Hexdrinker $6.68 $6.45 $0.23 4%
Plague Engineer $20.64 $23.97 ($3.33) -14%
Force of Vigor $22.70 $22.02 $0.68 3%
Collector Ouphe $13.02 $11.13 $1.89 17%
Nurturing Peatland $9.39 $9.04 $0.35 4%
Ice-Fang Coatl $29.02 $23.99 $5.03 21%
Giver of Runes $7.97 $8.21 ($0.24) -3%
Ranger-Captain of Eos $10.57 $9.59 $0.98 10%
Yawgmoth, Thran Physician $8.86 $8.27 $0.59 7%
Echo of Eons $5.16 $4.87 $0.29 6%
Waterlogged Grove $5.79 $6.08 ($0.29) -5%
Archmage's Charm $5.48 $6.11 ($0.63) -10%
Chalice of the Void $13.65 $11.77 $1.88 16%
Karn Liberated $7.90 $8.02 ($0.12) -1%
Surgical Extraction $12.38 $12.65 ($0.27) -2%
Emrakul, the Aeons Torn $5.08 $5.02 $0.06 1%
Ensnaring Bridge $8.55 $8.29 $0.26 3%
Gemstone Mine $10.69 $11.92 ($1.23) -10%
Jace, the Mind Sculptor $15.78 $14.63 $1.15 8%
Scalding Tarn $10.91 $14.08 ($3.17) -23%
Verdant Catacombs $11.11 $9.99 $1.12 11%
Misty Rainforest $11.32 $12.87 ($1.55) -12%
Arid Mesa $3.14 $3.36 ($0.22) -7%
Marsh Flats $2.55 $2.37 $0.18 8%
Eternal StaplesSneak Attack came off the list this week. 

Eternal Format Cards Price Last Week Change % Change
Dark Depths $6.49 $6.27 $0.22 4%
Oko, Thief of Crowns $19.21 $17.92 $1.29 7%
City of Traitors $18.03 $15.47 $2.56 17%
Monastery Mentor $13.59 $13.38 $0.21 2%
Force of Will $34.93 $36.31 ($1.38) -4%
Land Tax $7.47 $7.30 $0.17 2%
Unmask $9.41 $8.21 $1.20 15%
Misdirection $8.81 $8.69 $0.12 1%
Entomb $6.49 $5.18 $1.31 25%
Orim's Chant $6.25 $5.03 $1.22 24%
True-Name Nemesis $5.21 $5.35 ($0.14) -3%
Yuriko, the Tiger's Shadow $19.73 $21.67 ($1.94) -9%
Mox Diamond $17.44 $13.96 $3.48 25%
Altar of Dementia $6.13 $6.53 ($0.40) -6%
Grindstone $11.67 $11.34 $0.33 3%
Wasteland $20.61 $17.05 $3.56 21%
Ancient Tomb $12.69 $10.65 $2.04 19%
Lotus Petal $17.16 $15.47 $1.69 11%
Earthcraft $7.47 $7.31 $0.16 2%
Academy Rector $6.05 $6.01 $0.04 1%
Grim Monolith $14.26 $8.87 $5.39 61%
Exploration $17.57 $17.50 $0.07 0%
Gaea's Cradle $10.97 $10.93 $0.04 0%
Carpet of Flowers $6.03 $6.80 ($0.77) -11%
Gilded Drake $6.56 $5.93 $0.63 11%
Time Spiral $6.24 $6.07 $0.17 3%
Black Lotus $5.75 $5.96 ($0.21) -4%
Volcanic Island $8.27 $7.40 $0.87 12%
Underground Sea $8.82 $7.51 $1.31 17%
Sol Ring $10.52 $10.39 $0.13 1%
Null Rod $8.48 $7.66 $0.82 11%
Pioneer Staples:  Not a ton of stuff happening this week, but that might be due to the upcoming ban stuff.

Pioneer Cards Price Last Time Change % Change
Walking Ballista $10.83 $11.50 ($0.67) -6%
Soul-Scar Mage $8.46 $7.36 $1.10 15%
Liliana's Influence $9.10 $9.10 $0.00 0%
Gideon of the Trials $6.02 $7.17 ($1.15) -16%
Gideon, Ally of Zendikar $8.12 $7.82 $0.30 4%
Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger $6.89 $5.99 $0.90 15%
Kolaghan's Command $4.43 $5.08 ($0.65) -13%
Collected Company $15.23 $14.32 $0.91 6%
Liliana, the Last Hope $12.07 $12.11 ($0.04) 0%
Collective Brutality $8.56 $8.88 ($0.32) -4%
Emrakul, the Promised End $9.54 $10.92 ($1.38) -13%
Spell Queller $3.78 $5.31 ($1.53) -29%
Breeding Pool $6.21 $6.69 ($0.48) -7%
Stomping Ground $2.76 $2.32 $0.44 19%
Godless Shrine $2.46 $2.21 $0.25 11%
Sacred Foundry $0.51 $0.45 $0.06 13%
Watery Grave $1.02 $1.17 ($0.15) -13%
Mana Confluence $9.22 $11.05 ($1.83) -17%
Eidolon of the Great Revel $9.39 $8.26 $1.13 14%
Chandra, Torch of Defiance $6.95 $6.69 $0.26 4%
Botanical Sanctum $5.87 $8.31 ($2.44) -29%
Scavenging Ooze $7.55 $7.35 $0.20 3%
Mutavault $14.08 $14.56 ($0.48) -3%
Goblin Rabblemaster $5.79 $7.64 ($1.85) -24%
Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet $11.00 $11.29 ($0.29) -3%
Thought-Knot Seer $6.48 $8.44 ($1.96) -23%
Jace, Vryn's Prodigy $14.54 $13.49 $1.05 8%
Rest in Peace $10.54 $9.49 $1.05 11%
Supreme Verdict $4.47 $5.46 ($0.99) -18%
Hallowed Fountain $1.44 $1.42 $0.02 1%
Steam Vents $1.73 $1.49 $0.24 16%
Blood Crypt $1.13 $1.09 $0.04 4%
Overgrown Tomb $1.07 $0.95 $0.12 13%
Temple Garden $1.61 $1.12 $0.49 44%
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!

Complete Set Price Last Week Change % Change
Core Set 2020 $216.10 $203.48 $12.62 6%
Guilds of Ravnica $49.44 $48.19 $1.25 3%
Modern Horizons $440.64 $430.13 $10.51 2%
Ravnica Allegiances $61.34 $64.08 ($2.74) -4%
Theros Beyond Death $136.83 $132.92 $3.91 3%
Theros Beyond Death Booster $3.32 $3.31 $0.01 0%
Throne of Eldraine $184.32 $179.43 $4.89 3%
Treasure Chest $2.09 $2.11 ($0.02) -1%
War of the Spark $211.26 $198.53 $12.73 6%


The Good Stuff
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 186.82
Wrenn and Six MH1 Mythic 101.13
Mox Emerald 1E Rare 81.63
Karn Liberated UBT Mythic 80.81
Snapcaster Mage UBT Mythic 69.75
Mox Jet 1E Rare 67.18
Ancestral Recall 1E Rare 65.56
Force of Negation MH1 Rare 65.2
Mox Sapphire 1E Rare 63.89
Teferi. Time Raveler WAR Rare 59.52
Liliana of the Veil UBT Mythic 55.02
Mox Pearl 1E Rare 50.99
Uro. Titan of Nature's Wrath THB Mythic 49.1
Brazen Borrower ELD Mythic 48.95
Lord Windgrace PZ2 Mythic 48.77
Dark Depths V16 Mythic 48.41
Time Walk 1E Rare 46.34
Unmask V16 Mythic 46.24
Mox Ruby 1E Rare 44.03
Noble Hierarch UBT Mythic 43.83
Dark Depths UBT Mythic 42.08
Jace. the Mind Sculptor MS4 Mythic 41.58
Cavern of Souls UBT Mythic 38.04
Mishra's Bauble IMA Uncommon 37.05
Mishra's Bauble CSP Uncommon 36.78
Force of Will MED Rare 34.93
Liliana. the Last Hope MS4 Mythic 34.92
Vivien. Arkbow Ranger M20 Mythic 32.44
Mana Confluence EXP Mythic 31.7
Karakas UBT Mythic 29.84
Tuvasa the Sunlit PZ2 Mythic 29.23
Ice-Fang Coatl MH1 Rare 29.02
Karn. the Great Creator WAR Rare 28.99
Celestial Colonnade UBT Mythic 28.43
Timetwister 1E Rare 27.64
Tarmogoyf UBT Mythic 26.82
Teferi. Hero of Dominaria MS4 Mythic 25.7
Brudiclad. Telchor Engineer PZ2 Mythic 25.24
Ancient Tomb UBT Mythic 25.19
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.

Never mind, ignore all of that, Pete got it done for me, because he is just the dang best. The big number this week is $21,600.  Last week it was $20,815.  Looks like we have a gain of 785. 
 
In Closing

Prices were done on Wednesday, while I was watching old Pokemon episodes. I have been watching the reboot of the series, subbed for right now, because the American version is still on Alola stuff, but I am really digging it.  After Ash won it would have been hard to go to Galar and tell the same story that had been told since the beginning of the anime.  The new one is a lot of fun, and you should check it out if you have a chance.

This series is an ongoing tribute to Erik “Hamtastic” Friborg.