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By: JXClaytor, Joshua Claytor
May 15 2020 12:00pm
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State of the Program for May 15th, 2020
 
In the News

A new ban approaches:  Coming up on Monday, Brawl, Legacy and Vintage are expected to see cards leave the format.  I imagine that Lurrus of the Dream-Den is not long for Vintage and Legacy.  In addition I would imagine something like Winota, Joiner of Forces, Drannith Magistrate and Agent of Treachery to be struck down in Brawl.  As always, I am probably wrong.  Standard, Modern and Pioneer are dodging bans this time around.  You can see the tweet here.

CommandFest Online:  June 6th, ChannelFireball is bringing CommandFest home!  I don't have paper commander decks so this bums me out just a little bit. You can see the details here

Secret Lair Pushed Back:  Ultimate edition is getting pushed back until June 12th due to delays with production due to Covid-19

Super Qualifiers:  Scheduled through May 21st.

FNM at home:  This week is Historic Brawl! 

Playing with a Pandemic Survey:  This one seems to probe for play patterns as the lockdowns start to lift.  Check it out 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
May 27, 2020
Constructed Leagues End
June 24, 2020
Sealed Leagues End
June 25, 2020
Next B&R Announcement
Unknown
Theros: Beyond Death Redeem
Ends June 3, 2020
Ikoria Redemption
Starts May 13, 2020
Core Set 2021
Third Quarter 2020
Zendikar Rising
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:

Nothing special this week! 
 
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:

TIME (PT) SATURDAY SUNDAY
12:00 a.m.   Vintage Challenge
2:00 a.m. Pauper Challenge  
4:00 a.m. Legacy Challenge Modern Challenge
6:00 a.m. Standard Challenge Pioneer Challenge
8:00 a.m. Modern Challenge Legacy Challenge
10:00 a.m. Vintage Challenge Pauper Challenge
2:00 p.m. Pioneer Challenge Standard Challenge
 
 



Cutting Edge Tech

Last week I said the companion of the week would be Zirda, the Dawnwaker, and while it's not as broken as Lurrus of the Dream-Den, it does allow you to do some super broken things, much like Lurrus does.  In Standard and Pioneer, it makes cycling cards cheaper, which has helped lead to new decks in the formats.  In Modern and Legacy it makes combos easier to pull off by making activated abilities a bit cheaper.  You can see some of these new decks here! 

Standard
: Pretty sure that the cycling deck wants Lurrus, but Zirda isn't the worst companion to have here. 


Legacy:  I've played Magic since 1994, and it's 2020, and I still just have a very basic understanding of how Bomberman works.  I'm 100% sure I've posted an article on this very site that explained how it works, and I have just forgotten how it did.  I think it's something about sacing Lion's Eye Diamond and bringing it back with Auriok Salvagers to net 1 mana each activation and I reckon with Zirda, you net 2 now, but I don't know how the deck wins.

Modern: Zirda seems to want to be in combo shells, as Legacy and Modern have showed us here.


Pauper:  I love companions so much and I want to start a petition to make other creature's companions with errata.  Delver of Secrets would be dope as one, maybe with a restriction of only have spells in your deck. 

I don't know, I don't get paid to make cards, so it's probably way to good as a companion. 


Pioneer:  I asked Twitter if there was a cycling deck in Pioneer one day last weekend, and then went to mtggoldfish.com, and saw that there was indeed a cycling deck in Pioneer! 


Vintage: I don't think Lurrus is long for Vintage.  I have no idea how they are going to handle it in the format, but I look forward to seeing it's solution. 



 
Winner's Circle

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

Challenge Winners

Saturday Legacy - TKC55 - Bant Snow
Saturday Modern - AvacadoToast - Lurrus Jund
Saturday Pauper - Leobertucci - Mono Black Control
Saturday Pioneer - wordy333 - Abzan Rally
Saturday Standard -  kthanakit - Azorius Yorion
Saturday Vintage - ziofrancone

Sunday Legacy - silviawataru - Grixis Delver
Sunday Modern - Saviall - Green Tron
Sunday Pauper - Gabc - Affinity
Sunday Pioneer - RCMerriam - Abzan Rally
Sunday Standard - DeepFryer - Boros Cycling
Sunday Vintage - Ownforlife

Other Event Winners

Sealed Super Qualifier - bistromathtician and Poppi
Sealed MOCS - C_E.L
Sealed MOCS - Gerardo94
Modern Super Qualifier - In5ano and Slatorade
Sealed Super Qualifier - GoDennison and Moforino 
Pioneer Super Qualifier - TheSaberVault and MindOfAKid

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:

Standard Cards Price Last Week Change % Change
Brazen Borrower $20.97 $21.97 ($1.00) -5%
Korvold, Fae-Cursed King $5.65 $5.59 $0.06 1%
Questing Beast $5.68 $6.10 ($0.42) -7%
Alela, Artful Provocateur $6.24 $6.19 $0.05 1%
Chulane, Teller of Tales $5.24 $5.25 ($0.01) 0%
Fabled Passage $13.52 $12.04 $1.48 12%
Bonecrusher Giant $7.02 $5.60 $1.42 25%
The Great Henge $5.37 $5.77 ($0.40) -7%
Assassin's Trophy $8.69 $8.90 ($0.21) -2%
Fiend Artisan $23.65 $16.98 $6.67 39%
Vivien, Monsters' Advocate $6.36


Lurrus of the Dream Den $3.95 $6.65 ($2.70) -41%
Kinnan, Bonder Prodigy $5.60 $6.52 ($0.92) -14%
General Kudro of Drannith $6.78 $8.42 ($1.64) -19%
Lukka, Coppercoat Outcast $18.03 $19.43 ($1.40) -7%
Chandra, Awakened Inferno $12.63 $11.19 $1.44 13%
Leyline of the Void $7.40 $6.60 $0.80 12%
Vivien, Arkbow Ranger $8.28 $9.81 ($1.53) -16%
Yarok, the Desecrated $5.67 $5.29 $0.38 7%
Cavalier of Flame $5.83 $6.98 ($1.15) -16%
Lotus Field $7.23 $11.26 ($4.03) -36%
Kaya, Orzhov Usurper $5.69 $5.37 $0.32 6%
Uro, Titan of Nature's Wrath $55.24 $53.89 $1.35 3%
Heliod, Sun-Crowned $7.57 $7.90 ($0.33) -4%
Kroxa, Titan of Death's Hunger $17.10 $19.56 ($2.46) -13%
Klothys, God of Destiny $6.25 $5.66 $0.59 10%
Teferi, Time Raveler $46.28 $53.74 ($7.46) -14%
Finale of Devastation $15.83 $13.24 $2.59 20%
Karn, the Great Creator $26.83 $21.41 $5.42 25%
Dreadhorde Arcanist $14.24 $15.10 ($0.86) -6%
Blast Zone $12.97 $12.96 $0.01 0%
Niv-Mizzet Reborn $5.04 $5.16 ($0.12) -2%
Modern Staples:

Modern Cards Price Last Week Change % Change
Engineered Explosives $14.36 $13.98 $0.38 3%
Auriok Champion $7.23 $6.29 $0.94 15%
Cavern of Souls $21.62 $18.37 $3.25 18%
Noble Hierarch $7.66 $7.89 ($0.23) -3%
Mishra's Bauble $42.49 $49.70 ($7.21) -15%
Grafdigger's Cage $8.51 $8.39 $0.12 1%
Aether Vial $11.67 $9.39 $2.28 24%
Trinisphere $7.33 $4.77 $2.56 54%
Horizon Canopy $15.91 $16.23 ($0.32) -2%
Tarmogoyf $8.77 $8.15 $0.62 8%
Magus of the Moon $7.84 $7.09 $0.75 11%
Pact of Negation $5.99 $5.00 $0.99 20%
Liliana of the Veil $12.89 $10.87 $2.02 19%
Snapcaster Mage $4.68 $6.18 ($1.50) -24%
Polluted Delta $8.38 $6.92 $1.46 21%
Wooded Foothills $8.10 $7.19 $0.91 13%
Flooded Strand $4.80 $3.99 $0.81 20%
Bloodstained Mire $6.32 $4.88 $1.44 30%
Windswept Heath $6.08 $4.35 $1.73 40%
Thoughtseize $15.13 $13.22 $1.91 14%
Field of the Dead $16.24 $10.73 $5.51 51%
Force of Negation $62.22 $59.03 $3.19 5%
Wrenn and Six $74.01 $72.92 $1.09 1%
Prismatic Vista $12.62 $11.31 $1.31 12%
Sunbaked Canyon $13.91 $12.63 $1.28 10%
Seasoned Pyromancer $28.30 $22.27 $6.03 27%
Fiery Islet $6.66 $7.87 ($1.21) -15%
Urza, Lord High Artificer $15.37 $17.62 ($2.25) -13%
Hexdrinker $8.84 $10.23 ($1.39) -14%
Plague Engineer $9.52 $9.86 ($0.34) -3%
Force of Vigor $9.40 $8.69 $0.71 8%
Collector Ouphe $8.23 $8.07 $0.16 2%
Nurturing Peatland $6.77 $7.07 ($0.30) -4%
Ice-Fang Coatl $17.66 $18.61 ($0.95) -5%
Giver of Runes $5.87 $5.73 $0.14 2%
Ranger-Captain of Eos $6.59 $6.56 $0.03 0%
Waterlogged Grove $5.18 $5.01 $0.17 3%
Chalice of the Void $10.93 $9.41 $1.52 16%
Karn Liberated $7.30 $6.12 $1.18 19%
Surgical Extraction $8.79 $7.80 $0.99 13%
Dismember $4.76 $5.04 ($0.28) -6%
Phyrexian Obliterator $5.81 $5.49 $0.32 6%
Kozilek, Butcher of Truth $6.11 $5.81 $0.30 5%
Emrakul, the Aeons Torn $5.75 $5.68 $0.07 1%
Wurmcoil Engine $5.61


Ensnaring Bridge $7.98 $7.23 $0.75 10%
Gemstone Mine $12.71 $13.01 ($0.30) -2%
Jace, the Mind Sculptor $15.34 $14.05 $1.29 9%
Scalding Tarn $15.41 $15.16 $0.25 2%
Verdant Catacombs $17.06 $16.90 $0.16 1%
Misty Rainforest $18.33 $16.73 $1.60 10%
Arid Mesa $4.75 $4.94 ($0.19) -4%
Marsh Flats $3.05 $3.54 ($0.49) -14%
Eternal Staples

Eternal Format Cards Price Last Week Change % Change
Dark Depths $7.03 $5.13 $1.90 37%
Counterbalance $7.03


Oko, Thief of Crowns $16.12 $15.00 $1.12 7%
City of Traitors $35.79 $37.01 ($1.22) -3%
Sphere of Resistance $5.99 $5.86 $0.13 2%
Monastery Mentor $6.53 $7.68 ($1.15) -15%
Force of Will $41.72 $35.55 $6.17 17%
Elvish Spirit Guide $7.83 $8.34 ($0.51) -6%
Karakas $10.27 $10.35 ($0.08) -1%
The Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale $22.85 $24.72 ($1.87) -8%
Land Tax $18.92 $18.34 $0.58 3%
Demonic Tutor $8.97 $8.65 $0.32 4%
Mishra's Workshop $5.93 $6.13 ($0.20) -3%
Unmask $9.84 $9.70 $0.14 1%
Misdirection $18.17 $16.94 $1.23 7%
Chrome Mox $5.12 $5.22 ($0.10) -2%
Entomb $11.78 $11.91 ($0.13) -1%
Yuriko, the Tiger's Shadow $19.09 $14.57 $4.52 31%
Mox Opal $7.70 $7.20 $0.50 7%
Mox Diamond $23.42 $24.26 ($0.84) -3%
Grindstone $17.13 $16.21 $0.92 6%
Wasteland $23.94 $30.83 ($6.89) -22%
Ancient Tomb $16.72 $18.18 ($1.46) -8%
Lotus Petal $18.34 $25.80 ($7.46) -29%
Earthcraft $10.08 $9.78 $0.30 3%
Academy Rector $12.06 $11.80 $0.26 2%
Grim Monolith $34.60 $39.04 ($4.44) -11%
Exploration $18.98 $17.19 $1.79 10%
Gaea's Cradle $22.87 $22.04 $0.83 4%
Carpet of Flowers $11.32 $12.70 ($1.38) -11%
Gilded Drake $14.04 $14.29 ($0.25) -2%
Show and Tell $7.91 $7.37 $0.54 7%
Black Lotus $5.82 $4.88 $0.94 19%
Tropical Island $8.78 $10.17 ($1.39) -14%
Volcanic Island $10.82 $8.76 $2.06 24%
Underground Sea $12.11 $11.51 $0.60 5%
Sol Ring $14.01 $13.58 $0.43 3%
Null Rod $22.47 $22.39 $0.08 0%
Doomsday $8.24 $8.23 $0.01 0%
Mindbreak Trap $10.07 $11.19 ($1.12) -10%
Pioneer Staples:  The best enchantment ever printed, Demonic Pact has finally made the list. 

Pioneer Cards Price Last Time Change % Change
Walking Ballista $15.63 $16.12 ($0.49) -3%
Metallic Mimic $5.72 $5.45 $0.27 5%
Soul-Scar Mage $10.53 $8.89 $1.64 18%
Liliana's Influence $8.93 $8.93 $0.00 0%
Gideon of the Trials $5.31


Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger $7.77 $6.42 $1.35 21%
Brimaz, King of Oreskos $5.56 $5.13 $0.43 8%
Collected Company $9.21 $9.52 ($0.31) -3%
Kolaghan's Command $5.66 $6.09 ($0.43) -7%
Liliana, the Last Hope $8.20 $6.68 $1.52 23%
Collective Brutality $12.45 $9.77 $2.68 27%
Emrakul, the Promised End $5.30 $5.45 ($0.15) -3%
Breeding Pool $4.44 $4.38 $0.06 1%
Stomping Ground $4.34 $4.11 $0.23 6%
Godless Shrine $2.77 $2.79 ($0.02) -1%
Sacred Foundry $2.50 $2.23 $0.27 12%
Watery Grave $1.20 $1.05 $0.15 14%
Mana Confluence $8.60 $8.99 ($0.39) -4%
Eidolon of the Great Revel $11.05 $10.02 $1.03 10%
Chandra, Torch of Defiance $5.43 $4.69 $0.74 16%
Scavenging Ooze $9.51 $8.84 $0.67 8%
Mutavault $5.14 $5.19 ($0.05) -1%
Thought-Knot Seer $9.53 $7.66 $1.87 24%
Jace, Vryn's Prodigy $12.92 $13.08 ($0.16) -1%
Demonic Pact $5.05


Rest in Peace $8.76 $6.75 $2.01 30%
Supreme Verdict $5.79 $5.37 $0.42 8%
Hallowed Fountain $2.87 $3.26 ($0.39) -12%
Steam Vents $2.31 $2.28 $0.03 1%
Blood Crypt $2.20 $2.57 ($0.37) -14%
Overgrown Tomb $1.30 $1.10 $0.20 18%
Abrupt Decay $5.81 $9.09 ($3.28) -36%
Temple Garden $1.60 $1.33 $0.27 20%
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 $206.50 $200.58 $5.92 3%
Guilds of Ravnica $51.65 $52.92 ($1.27) -2%
Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths $110.16 $109.65 $0.51 0%
Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths Booster $3.28 $3.23 $0.05 2%
Modern Horizons $334.91 $324.14 $10.77 3%
Ravnica Allegiances $59.30 $61.45 ($2.15) -3%
Theros Beyond Death $128.46 $128.65 ($0.19) 0%
Throne of Eldraine $136.79 $133.61 $3.18 2%
Treasure Chest $2.30 $2.24 $0.06 3%
War of the Spark $171.59 $174.09 ($2.50) -1%

The Good Stuff
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 $25,450.  Last week it was $25,095.  We've got another increase, this time of 355.  Super cool!
In Closing

Some events on mtgmelee.com, some more Animal Crossing, not much really happened this week, I just floated, and that's not really a good thing I guess.  Looking forward to CapeFearGames FNM on mtgmelee tonight!

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