Sphere of Influence: September 4th, 2026

Archdruid's Charm | by Liiga Smilshkalne

We're squarely in the middle ground between The Hobbit and Reality Fracture, which means that a good number of cards are being shaken up right now. With that in mind, let's take a look at four singles that could start rising in price and playability, all thanks to the cards from recent sets hitting our favorite formats.

Join me, Tyler 'Savesya' Bucks, as we jump into another edition of Sphere of Influence!

Bolt Bend - $4

With the popularity of three different Smaugs growing day by day, Bolt Bend has found a new home in thousands of brews. Spending only one mana to divert a removal spell away from you is an amazing rate! Plus, it was printed at uncommon in Foundations, so if you opened a lot of packs from that set, you may have a few of these hidden in your bulk. Now may be the time to trade this card in for value since we're seeing an uptick of powerful red legends being built around these days.

Archdruid's Charm - $10

While red may be having a moment, green is right there with it. Archdruid's Charm offers up three incredibly powerful modes, but has been hard to include in decks because of that mana cost. However, if you're in a mono-colored deck, you shouldn't have too much trouble resolving this one. I particularly like it in a deck lead by Beorn the Fierce since it can help ramp out Bears, get them into fights, and even remove a troublesome artifact or enchantment if you need it; that's a lot of strong effects all in one textbox.

Approach of the Second Sun - $6.50

On a recent edition of Sphere of Influence, I talked about Whtz, the Bibliophile, a new commander that works perfectly with Battle of Wits. While that enchantment is the wincon of choice for this Homunculus, many players are also turning to Approach of the Second Sun to help close out their games. Since these decks are filled with ways to draw a lot of cards, winning with this sorcery becomes far less unlikely that it may seem. Don't be surprised if this one continues to grow in price as the weeks go on.

Quirion Ranger - $2

Our final card for today is Quirion Ranger, which is an unassuming combo-enabler. It has helped plenty of players create infinite mana, and it just got even better thanks to Thranduil, the Elvenking. If the Ranger happens to end up in your graveyard, this Elf legend can utilize its activated ability for itself, so this may continue to grow in value as more players look to combo off thanks to this new Sultai Noble.

Until Next Time

There you have it, four cards that could start rising in price and playability as the weeks go on. If you have a few of these sitting in your collection, now might be the time to trade them in for value, especially with Reality Fracture on the horizon.

I'll be back next week to highlight even more great singles, but until then, I'll be looking through my bulk bins for Bolt Bend and Quirion Ranger, so wish me luck!