Sphere of Influence: July 18, 2025

Brightglass Gearhulk | Illustrated by José Parodi

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 Edge of Eternities previews in full effect, it felt like the right time to revisit the last few sets and unearth a few more Commander gems that can be snagged on the cheap. Here they are:

Dragonfire Blade - $1

With the only exception being colorless decks (a rarity, if ever there was one), Dragonfire Blade holds utility against every commander available. Even Kenrith, the Returned King piles of goodstuff likely runs Swords to Plowshares or Chaos Warp, from which this blade offers protection. At its worst, the card's reduced equip cost isn't that bad, either, considering you'll likely pay three mana or less. This is a blade with serious potential.

Brightglass Gearhulk - $3

This Ranger of Eos descendant represents a significant upgrade for its ability to grab artifacts or enchantments in addition to a one-mana creature, like Soul Warden. Speculators agreed, and Brightglass was fetching a double-digit price for a few months after the release of Aetherdrift. Good news for you and bad news for those finance folks: Brightglass is pretty cheap these days. Grab one for your Selesnya++ weenie decks.

Reluctant Role Model - $0.25

I've tested this card extensively and can report that it's fabulous. When it comes down early, it can gather a few counters and scale into the midgame fairly easily, especially when you start with the flying counter; later on, it can come down and serve as redundancy for or as a cheaper alternative to The Ozolith. This card punches well above its weight.

The Regalia - $1

There are few colorless ramp sources that straight-up drop lands onto the battlefield, so The Regalia arrives among rare company. It requires a bit of set-up, but not to the point where the card is unplayable. Four mana is steep but is offset by haste, crew 1, and the fact that it can grab any land, not just basic ones. I'd expect this one to stick around for a while.

Crystal Barricade - $1

Leave it to Foundations to bring back the Wall as a legitimately playable creature. The protection this one provides is more niche than generally useful—Blasphemous Act will do nothing but most other board wipes will still take effect—but in a deck like one helmed by God-Eternal Oketra, where cheap creatures are necessary but the specifics are vague, you could do a lot worse.

Edge of Tomorrow

Who's excited for Edge? Which cards have you seen so far that you're excited to try? Let me know!