Sphere of Influence: June 20, 2025

Thoughtseize | Illustrated by Aleksi Briclot

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 Final Fantasy on shelves and in our hearts (and wallets), it felt appropriate to take a look at Pioneer, a format mentioned less often than Modern and Standard but just as ripe for an upheaval with all the new cards entering the pool. Here are some great finds for Pioneer (and beyond) worth picking up as the meta starts to shift:

Kroxa, Titan of Death's Hunger - $2.50

Phlage, Titan of Fire's Fury gets a lot of attention, but Kroxa (and Uro, Titan of Nature's Wrath) started the cycle off strong and has been dipping in price since achieving $40 in 2021. Today's value is its all-time low, and the card's muscle in Rakdos Midrange makes it a stellar and powerful pick-up.

United Battlefront - $0.50

I don't think we've even begun to scratch the surface on this Tarkir: Dragonstorm card just yet. Mono-white can grab a removal spell and a value piece, like Caretaker's Talent or The Restoration of Eiganjo, leading to major tempo shifts and allowing white to maintain a foothold in a format where more than 1/4 of the metagame is Red Deck Wins. This is the kind of card that scales into future sets quite well, as better targets get printed.

Mayhem Devil - $0.75

Few cards capitalize on sacrificing permanents better than Mayhem Devil, a straight-up Commander staple that shines in Pioneer Jund. This uncommon has only topped off at around $5 in its history, but its high ceiling means it's likely to remain in heavy rotation for some time wherever it's legal. Grab a playset while it's this cheap.

Thoughtseize - $6

As a proud Boomer Jund aficionado, I still can't believe Thoughtseize is less than $15, let alone less than $10. Power creep is real. Still, Wizards has yet to print a better competitive discard spell, so Thoughtseize is going to remain a perennial multi-format staple for the foreseeable future. Its $6 price is a steal.

Liliana of the Veil - $8

I admit, this entry is purely for selfish reasons, as walking down Boomer Jund memory lane has reminded me of the jaw-dropping moment I had around five years ago, returning to Magic after a few years' hiatus, upon learning that this formerly $100+ card had reached levels of unplayability in Modern. I'm psyched, then, that Dominaria United brought my forever Lili to Pauper, where it slots into a variety of Mono-Black Control decks and can be picked up for a relative song.

Fantasy Realized

I'm curious to know which Final Fantasy cards you've got your eye on for Pioneer, or any you've found to be way over-hyped. Let me know!