Sphere of Influence: September 12, 2025

Slickshot Show-Off | Illustrated by Augusto Quirino

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

Modern is about to be rocked by the upcoming Spider-Man set. Or, maybe not, since the majority of the cards aren't really causing much Modern buzz. The Soul Stone in Commander? Obviously. But for now, the Modern fervor is tempered. Still, it's worth grabbing some cards from different sets in case you want to build a Modern deck with or without Spider-Man. Here are some selections:

Harbinger of the Seas - $5

This blue sideboard staple gets more powerful as Wizards prints better nonbasic lands into the format, a trend that certainly won't subside anytime soon. Plus, Harbinger can hose Tron and Amulet strategies pretty effortlessly. It's well worth grabbing a few Harbingers for the value they'll offer over time.

Blood Moon - $10

'Tis the season to be hateful… with the popularity of Harbinger of the Seas, it's easy to forget that Blood Moon has been pushing opponents entirely out of games since the release of The Dark. This $10 price is a very achievable one for a card that will continue seeing playability until an actual blood moon swallows our planet whole. In fact, some Boros Energy lists are running it in the main deck!

Teferi, Time Raveler - $5.50

It's hard to believe that this card used to be a Modern super-staple that was run in almost every single deck. The meta has sufficiently shifted, it seems. Pick up a few of these in case you want to brew a bit in Modern or hose your opponents in Commander.

Slickshot Show-Off - $7

This new-ish burn and prowess staple was fetching at least a double digit price since release, so it's refreshing to see its value settling more towards a realistic amount. It's still unclear what future those decks will hold, but a playset of Slickshots is never a bad thing to have on-hand.

Yawgmoth, Thran Physician - $15

I've never seen this card priced so cheaply. It's beyond a powerhouse in Commander and has stood the test of time as a centerpiece of many Modern decks, including a new Chord of Calling toolbox variant. Pick up at least one, if not more, while cheap supplies last!

Spidey Sense

What are your feelings on the upcoming Spider-Man set? Do you think it will have a huge impact in Modern? Let me know!