Sphere of Influence: November 15, 2024

Welcome to Sphere of Influence, a pre-FNM look at some potential movers and shakers that are worth picking up before their prices increase.

Foundations laid the ground work for Commander by introducing some new all-around staples, like Bloodthirsty Conqueror, as well as offering some most-excellent reprints to drive down prices. Here are a few of the latter that I love to see:

Liliana, Dreadhorde General

Now’s the time to snatch up one of the best planeswalkers available in Commander. Liliana, Dreadhorde General draws cards, kills creatures, makes tokens, and generally kicks ass (even if her ultimate isn’t the Tragic Arrogance I wish it was) - so much so, that her six-mana investment feels like pocket change. The only downside to this card was its price, which was well into the double digits until this Foundations reprint brought her down to $6, and falling.

Omniscience

Time to cast your entire deck for the low, low price of zero additional mana and a mere $3, which is a steal considering how powerful Omniscience remains after all these years. I also vastly prefer this card to the vile Expropriate as a mono-blue finisher. Pick this one up while supply’s high.

Spinner of Souls

Not a reprint per se, but it appears that Wizards of the Coast printed Evolutionary Leap, a card I wish was stronger, onto an aggressively costed creature to play more like Grim Haruspex, and the result seems like a banger already. Hell, unlike Evolutionary Leap, Spinner of Souls can block flying creatures - a nice-to-have you won’t know you miss until you can’t draw it. Grab one for $1; or, wait a week if you’d like because the card’s well on its way to becoming a bulk rare.

Muldrotha, the Gravetide

This commander rides the Sultai value train all the way to the end of the line by extracting card advantage from the graveyard. It’s not surprising that Muldrotha is the most popular Sultai commander according to EDHREC, and now you, too, can hop aboard for only a $1 fare, down from nearly double digits. At that price, it may be worth grabbing one in the off chance you decide to build the deck down the line.

Heraldic Banner

After its original printing in Throne of Eldraine, this unassuming uncommon fetched a price of roughly $3-$4 - which isn’t surprising considering how many uses this card has in Commander. It’s a mana rock producing colored mana and a cheap anthem for typal decks that can’t easily find one. (I use it in my Minn, Wily Illusionist deck to cheat out larger permanents.) After this printing in Foundations, I fully expect the card to fall to usual uncommon prices; and, heck, you can probably grab a discarded one at the next draft night you attend.

Banner Reprints

Any other reprinted cards in Foundations you’re looking forward to picking up? How bout any of the Jumpstart: Foundations cards, even the new ones - any look spicy? Let us know!