Sphere of Influence: January 10, 2025

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

As Foundations continues to make a splash, I thought it'd be worth calling out some cheap pick-ups for Commander - a mix of reprints and new cards already impacting the format. Take a look.

Liliana, Dreadhorde General

One of the best Planeswalkers in Commander received a much-needed reprint in Foundations, tanking its price from easy double digits to a meager $5 - lowering the financial barrier for entry to draw lots of cards and infuriate opponents. For those uninitiated…I know the card already reads pretty well, but it plays out even better than you'd expect.

Felidar Retreat

This card has received a number of reprints over the years, so its price has rarely left the $2-$3 range for any significant amount of time. Its reprint into Foundations cut the price in half, to $1, and should only elongate the low-cost trend, which is great news for anyone playing lands in their white Commander decks. (Would be weird if you didn't!)

Each mode on Felidar Retreat remains clutch throughout the game, whether it's refilling an empty board or beefing up a swole one for one final alpha push.

High Fae Trickster

Vedalken Orrery commanded a high price tag for far too long; mercifully, Wizards of the Coast has printed enough effects that enable flash to lower the price of them all.

High Fae Trickster is the newest inclusion and, perhaps, one of the best, because you can flash it in EOT and start going ham before folks can respond. Its $1.50 price tag is a steal.

Koma, World-Eater

While Koma, Cosmos Serpent gets all the attention in Commander, this new beastie from Foundations is on track to become a card you'd equally be terrified to see across the table. $2 is a steal for a card that will likely start rising as supply dwindles and Standard players start seeking a killer reanimation or big-mana target. Hell, ward 4 is practically hexproof.

Kiora, the Rising Tide

Given Commander's plethora of board wipes, it's not a huge lift to fill your graveyard with seven (or more) cards by mid-game, sometimes earlier. That's when Kiora turns into a straight-up beater that's hard to race at only three mana. Grab a few for $3 each for the fear factor alone.

Hindsight is 2024

Now that we're in the new year, I'm wondering what cards from 2024 you'd rank as your top picks for Commander. Any you think completely won the year? Any that were overhyped? Let me know!