Sphere of Influence: March 28, 2025

Steve Heisler • March 28, 2025

Sphere of Influence 3.28.25

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

The writing is on the wall, as well as the ground: Underworld Breach

may not be long for the current Modern meta. It serves as the centerpiece of a resilient combo deck featuring Grinding Station
, Emry, Lurker of the Loch
 and the one-two punch of Mox Amber
 and Mox Opal
 to mill your entire deck and win with a Thassa's Oracle
 or similar somesuch.

The deck rules, and one of its architects, my dear friend Jesse Robkin, recently piloted it to claim a spot on the Pro Tour.

A Modern B&R announcement is forthcoming later this month, but in the meantime, here are a few cards to pick up for your non-Breach deck that are relatively affordable in this moment:

Cultivator Colossus
 - $4

Innistrad Remastered has driven down the price of this most excellent land engine - a relatively new inclusion in Amulet Titan lists as a secondary way to pump a bunch of lands onto the field. Previously, though, its price was higher than it needed to be and out of reach of most players. Amulet of Vigor

enthusiasts should pick one up now on the cheap-ish.

Summoner's Pact
 - $2.50

Speaking of Amulet Titan, this "free" tutor will only improve its standing in the meta as strong green creatures keep getting printed, and a recent appearance in Mystery Booster 2 has introduced a significant price dip. A playset of this versatile Amulet Titan auto-include has never been more within reach, and you can guarantee it'll become more of a premium card as the price of Green Sun's Zenith

continues its trend upwards.

Goblin Bombardment
 - $2.50

I don't think we've seen the last of Goblin Bombardment, as the banning of Amped Raptor

didn't kill the Boros Energy archetype and it remains a popular deck choice.

Even setting Modern aside, the card rocks in Commander as a free sac outlet with the ability to deal damage to opponents directly or easily snipe off utility creatures for the low, low price of some measly tokens. This is one of the best sac outlets in the format.

Aether Vial
 - $4

Death & Taxes is as inevitable an archetype as death and taxes are certainties in everyone's life, and the archetype is receiving a boost from the printing of Ketramose, the New Dawn

and Overlord of the Balemurk
.

While many of these recent decks opt to forego Aether Vial, there's no denying the power of flashing in a Flickerwisp

at the end of an opponent's turn, and I'd be surprised if we never see Vial again.

Bonus: the cheapest version is currently the pretty sweet printing in Mystery Booster 2 with the Future Sight border.

Doorkeeper Thrull
 - $2

WOTC is always experimenting with Torpor Orb

creatures, though they may have printed the best one in Karlov Manor in Doorkeeper Thrull. And, with the prevalence of blink effects in Modern (see: above), this card's stock is only going to rise.

Grab a playset and bring the hate!

Breach of Trust

What do y'all think is going to be announced next week? Will any other cards get the axe besides Underworld Breach? Is Breach itself safe? Let me know!