Sphere of Influence: July 4, 2025

Shinryu, Transcendent Rival | Illustrated by Alexander Mokhov

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

Happy 4th to those who acknowledge it! Hope everyone is enjoying some well-deserved time off sorting your collections and sleeving up cards for new Commander decks, just as our Founding Commanders intended. What better way to celebrate your freedom than to line your binders with some fabulous and affordable Final Fantasy cards?

Zenos yae Galvus - $0.50

This one takes a bit of setup to make work, but the payoff is unlike almost anything in Magic's history. Zenos represents a moderate board wipe at the cost of saving an opponent's creature from destruction, though you can always choose a creature that wasn't going to die anyways. The temporary respite you grant the opponent's creature sets the stage for a huge blowout when, at instant speed, you can put that creature out if its misery and flip Zenos into Shinryu, Transcendent Rival just as you eliminate one of your opponents, winning you the game on the spot. Is this line of play relegated only to Magical Christmasland? Perhaps. But oh, what a feeling when it happens, and the board wipe attached to Zenos is decent on its own.

Freya Crescent - $0.25

Mana dorks are a dime a dozen in green but rarely venture out of the color, especially in red. Freya breaks the mold as a one-mana red producer so long as you're only casting Equipment cards, not a big ask for red Commander decks, particularly in Boros. Not to mention, Freya wears Equipment well by providing evasion during your turn. An Embercleave never felt so good or came down so cheaply.

Triple Triad - $0.50

Wizards has enhanced Stolen Strategy by allowing you to cast some of the exiled cards for free in exchange for an additional red pip. Yes, that card wasn't very playable in Commander due to its lack of speed, but it was always a heck of a lot of fun, something Triple Triad brings to the table. You never really know what you're going to flip, and if your deck happens to run a lot of high mana value cards, those flips can turn into a heck of a lot of profit.

Esper Origins - $1

As a two-mana "Surveil 2" that can be cast for its flashback cost, Esper Origins is already a decent choice, albeit not a very mana-efficient one, but the fact that it flips into a 4/4 creature that draws a card, provides some mana, and tosses in a mini-anthem to close out the game makes Esper Origins a card to watch, moving forward. These sorts of Commander cards tend to linger on people's decklists.

Clive's Hideaway - $0.50

The fact that this land enters untapped means you can cast the hideaway spell right away, which is unique among hideaway lands up until now. Its ability to tap for mana after it's played makes this a utility land that's much more likely to be included in random Commander decks with even a small handful of legendary creatures. Pick this one up before it rises to a few dollars, if not more.

The Fourth be With You

Any exciting MTG-related plans for the long weekend? Let me know! Hope everyone has a relaxing and safe time.