Sphere of Influence: April 4, 2025

Steve Heisler • April 4, 2025

Sphere of Influence 4.4.25

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

With Tarkir: Dragonstorm only days away from release, it felt like the right time to revisit Aetherdrift and identify a few cheap and powerful cards that fit well into Commander - both reprints and new cards alike. Here's a few that will satisfy your need for (budget) speed.

Bloodghast
 - $0.50

For very little investment, Bloodghast ignites any graveyard-based EDH deck by enabling all sorts of reanimator shenanigans that may or may not include Skullclamp

(though they certainly should).

Like its brethren Gravecrawler

, what was once a card that fetched at least $10 can be yours for a song thanks to a significant reprint that includes some ghoulish alternate art. It's well worth grabbing a playset in case dredge returns to the Modern meta, too.

District Mascot
 - $0.50

While this cute pup doesn't offer anything that different from what we already have in Steelbane Hydra

, the effect on this one is cheaper and can also be teed up by Saddling with a lowly single power. I can see this card reaching $3-$4 with the proper amount of scarcity, and it slots into most green creature-based decks pretty easily. Nab at least one.

Bulwark Ox
 - $0.50

This straightforward card, like District Mascot, doesn't offer anything flashy; but what it does, it does well. I like that it offers hexproof and indestructible, as well, as it seems like many cards are opting for one or the other, but not both anymore. Plus, that "Saddle 1" requirement is pretty easy to hit.

March of the World Ooze
 - $2.50

Here we have a card that isn't too explosive on its own, but holds the potential to do some pretty degenerate things while it's flooding the board with more tokens. Turning the creatures into 6/6s is significant and can be pretty strong in a color known for its 0/0 creatures holding +1/+1 counters (see above). At mythic, March of the World Ooze may not remain cheap for long.

Demonic Junker
 - $0.50

This Vehicle doesn't work in every deck, but when there are artifacts aplenty, you can secure a significant tempo swing for a single black pip with the option to beef up the Vehicle itself at the cost of a dinky token. Hell, even seven mana to kill three strong threats isn't too bad a rate! Give it a try and see for yourself.

Drift Away

Before we leave Aetherdrift, I'd be curious to know which cards have stood out so far and what you're still looking to sleeve up.

Until next time, happy prerelease to those who celebrate!