The Most Expensive Card From Every Magic: The Gathering Set – A Two-Year Update

Two years ago, we cataloged the most expensive cards from every Magic: The Gathering set. Since then, the trading card market has seen notable shifts, and this list has been updated to reflect those changes. Some cards remain steadfast as their set’s most valuable, while others have been replaced by challengers due to changing formats, demand, and reprints.

Let’s take a look at the current list and see what’s changed since the original breakdown.

Cards That Have Held Their Value

Certain cards have maintained their position as the most expensive in their sets, particularly staples from Magic’s earliest printings and high-impact cards in eternal formats:

• Alpha, Beta, Unlimited Edition – Black Lotus: No surprises here. It remains the pinnacle of collectible Magic cards.
• Arabian Nights – Bazaar of Baghdad: With its unique graveyard utility and limited print run, it continues to top the set.
• Legends – The Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale: A cornerstone of niche Commander and Legacy strategies, its value remains steady.

These cards owe their stability to a combination of low supply and enduring utility across various formats, ensuring consistent demand.

Significant Changes in Older Sets

While many cards in vintage sets have stayed at the top, some have seen shifts in their rankings:

• The Dark: Blood Moon has overtaken City of Shadows. Its utility in disrupting non-basic land strategies makes it a format staple, particularly in Modern and Legacy.
• Revised: Underground Sea now sits comfortably as the most valuable card, likely an oversight in the original list. Dual lands from this set remain in high demand for eternal formats like Legacy and Commander.

These updates reflect shifts in demand for competitive staples, even in the older sets.

Modern and Commander Trends

Moving into more recent sets, the influence of Commander and evolving competitive formats has led to some interesting updates:

• Innistrad: Parallel Lives has surpassed Liliana of the Veil as the most expensive card. The popularity of token-based strategies in Commander drives demand for this enchantment.
• Modern Horizons: Urza’s Saga has edged out Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer. Its ability to tutor and generate utility artifacts gives it a wide range of uses across formats.

Commander’s growth as Magic’s most popular format continues to influence card prices in sets from the past two decades.

Universes Beyond and Recent Releases

The introduction of Universes Beyond sets and recent expansions has brought new faces to the list:

• The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth: The One Ring is now the most expensive card from the set, benefiting from both its gameplay power and collector appeal.
• Doctor Who: Heroic Intervention tops the set. While not a new card, its inclusion here ensures continued relevance.

These sets show how crossovers and premium products are increasingly shaping Magic’s market.

Unexpected Price Spikes

Some cards have seen notable increases in value that were less predictable two years ago:

• Faerie Mastermind (March of the Machine): Initially under the radar, this card has climbed to $27, likely due to its popularity in constructed formats.
• Screaming Nemesis (Duskmourn: House of Horrors): Once a $5 pre-release card, its price now reflects its demand in aggressive Standard strategies.

These shifts often result from evolving deck-building trends and competitive success.

The Full List

Alpha – Black Lotus (No change)

Beta – Black Lotus (No change)

Unlimited Edition – Black Lotus (No change)

Arabian Nights – Bazaar of Baghdad (No change)

Antiquities – Mishra’s Workshop (No change)

Revised – Underground Sea (FIOP but it was prolly Undergound Sea)

Legends – The Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale (No change)

The Dark – Blood Moon (City of Shadows)

Fallen Empires – Rainbow Vale (No change)

Fourth Edition – Mana Vault (No change)

Ice Age – Necropotence (No change)

Chronicles – City of Brass (Concordant Crossroads)

Homelands – Didgeridoo (No change)

Alliances – Lake of the Dead (Force of Will)

Mirage – Lion’s Eye Diamond (No change)

Visions – Vampiric Tutor (No change)

Fifth Edition – Mana Vault (No change)

Portal – Sylvan Tutor (Personal Tutor)

Weatherlight – Null Rod (No change)

Tempest – Intuition (No change)

Stronghold – Mox Diamond (No change)

Exodus – City of Traitors (No change)

Portal Second Age – Norwood Priestess (No change)

Urza’s Saga – Gaea’s Cradle (No change)

Anthologies – Strip Mine (NIIOP)

Urza’s Legacy – Grim Monolith (No change)

Sixth Edition – Vampiric Tutor (No change)

Portal Three Kingdoms – Imperial Seal (No change)

Urza’s Destiny – Metalworker (No change)

Starter 1999 – Grim Tutor (NIIOP)

Mercadian Masques – Rishadan Port (No change)

Nemesis – Parallax Wave (Tangle Wire)

Prophecy – Rhystic Study (No change)

Invasion – Phyrexian Altar (No change)

Planeshift – Diabolic Intent (No change)

Seventh Edition – Final Fortune (Elvish Champion)

Apocalypse – Pernicious Deed (Phyrexian Arena)

Odyssey – Entomb (No change)

Torment – Cabal Coffers (No change)

Judgment – Sylvan Safekeeper (Test of Endurance)

Onslaught – Polluted Delta (No change)

Legions – Seedborn Muse (Synapse Sliver)

Scourge – Sliver Overlord (No change)

Eighth Edition – Grave Pact (No change)

Mirrodin – Chrome Mox (No change)

Darksteel – Sword of Fire and Ice (No change)

Fifth Dawn – Crucible of Worlds (No change)

Champions of Kamigawa – Minamo, School at Water’s Edge (Boseiju, Who Shelters All)

Betrayers of Kamigawa – Goryo’s Vengeance (Ink-Eyes, Servant of Oni)

Saviors of Kamigawa – Oboro, Palace in the Clouds (No change)

Ninth Edition – Coat of Arms (Grave Pact)

Ravnica: City of Guilds – Doubling Season (No change)

Guildpact – Steam Vents (No change)

Dissension – Breeding Pool (Blood Crypt)

Coldsnap – Soul Spike (Thrumming Stone)

Time Spiral – Gemstone Caverns (No change)

Planar Chaos – Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth (No change)

Future Sight – Sliver Legion (Tarmogoyf)

Tenth Edition – Goblin King (Crucible of Worlds)

Lorwyn – Timber Protector (Thorn of Amethyst)

Morningtide – Scapeshift (Bitterblossom)

Shadowmoor – Painter’s Servant (No change)

Eventide – Bloom Tender (No change)

Shards of Alara – Tezzeret the Seeker (No change)

Conflux – Noble Hierarch (Child of Alara)

Alara Reborn – Time Sieve (Wargate)

Magic 2010 – Coat of Arms (No change)

Planechase – Darksteel Forge (NIIOP)

Zendikar – Arid Mesa (Scalding Tarn)

Worldwake – Eye of Ugin (Jace, the Mind Sculptor)

Rise of the Eldrazi – Kozilek, Butcher of Truth (Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre)

Archenemy – Reanimate (NIIOP)

Magic 2011 – Serra Ascendant (No change)

Scars of Mirrodin – Mox Opal (No change)

Mirrodin Besieged – Blightsteel Colossus (No change)

New Phyrexia – Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite (Phyrexian Obliterator)

Commander 2011 – Aura Shards (NIIOP)

Magic 2012 – Sorin Markov (FIOP)

Innistrad – Parallel Lives (Liliana of the Veil)

Dark Ascension – Mikaeus, the Unhallowed (No change)

Avacyn Restored – Cavern of Souls (No change)

Planechase 2012 – Sakashima’s Student (NIIOP)

Magic 2013 – Akroma’s Memorial (Liliana of the Dark Realms)

Return to Ravnica – Cyclonic Rift (No change)

Gatecrash – Sacred Foundry (Breeding Pool)

Dragon’s Maze – Maze’s End (No change)

Modern Masters – Doubling Season (No change)

Magic 2014 – Darksteel Forge (Archangel of Thune)

Theros – Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx (No change)

Commander 2013 – Goblin Sharpshooter (NIIOP)

Born of the Gods – Brimaz, King of Oreskos (Xenagos, God of Revels)

Journey into Nyx – Mana Confluence (No change)

Conspiracy – Exploration (No change)

Magic 2015 – Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth (No change)

Khans of Tarkir – Polluted Delta (No change)

Commander 2014 – Cyclonic Rift (NIIOP)

Fate Reforged – Ugin, the Spirit Dragon (Temporal Trespass)

Dragons of Tarkir – Sarkhan Unbroken (No change)

Modern Masters 2015 – Mox Opal (Kozilek, Butcher of Truth)

Magic Origins – Starfield of Nyx (Archangel of Tithes)

Battle for Zendikar – Void Winnower (Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger)

Commander 2015 – Pathbreaker Ibex (NIIOP)

Oath of the Gatewatch – Kalitas, Traitor of Ghet (No change)

Shadows over Innistrad – Cryptolith Rite (Thing in the Ice)

Eternal Masters – Chrome Mox (Mana Crypt)

Eldritch Moon – Emrakul, the Promised End (No change)

Conspiracy: Take the Crown – Burgeoning (Recruiter of the Guard)

Kaladesh – Inventor’s Fair (Spirebluff Canal)

Commander 2016 – Tymna the Weaver (NIIOP)

Planechase Anthology – Sakashima’s Student (NIIOP)

Aether Revolt – Heroic Intervention (No change)

Modern Masters 2017 – Cavern of Souls (Liliana of the Veil)

Amonkhet – Anointed Procession (No change)

Commander Anthology – Pathbreaker Ibex (NIIOP)

Archenemy: Nicol Bolas – Oran-Rief Hydra (NIIOP)

Hour of Devastation – Torment of Hailfire (The Scarab God)

Commander 2017 – Edgar Markov (NIIOP)

Ixalan – Revel in Riches (Growing Rites of Itlimoc)

Iconic Masters – Avacyn, Angel of Hope (Mana Drain)

Rivals of Ixalan – The Immortal Sun (No change)

Masters 25 – Chalice of the Void (No change)

Dominaria – Mox Amber (No change)

Commander Anthology Volume 2 – Atraxa, Praetors’ Voice (NIIOP)

Battlebond – Doubling Season (No change)

Core Set 2019 – Crucible of Worlds (Resplendent Angel)

Commander 2018 – Nylea’s Colossus (NIIOP)

Guilds of Ravnica – Sacred Foundry (No change)

Ultimate Masters – Ancient Tomb (Liliana of the Veil)

Ravnica Allegiance – Smothering Tithe (No change)

War of the Spark – Finale of Devastation (No change)

Modern Horizons – Force of Negation (Wrenn and Six)

Core Set 2020 – Field of the Dead (No change)

Commander 2019 – Dockstide Extortionist (No change)

Throne of Eldraine – The Great Henge (No change)

Mystery Booster – Mana Crypt (NIIOP)

Theros Beyond Death – Nyxbloom Ancient (Kroxa, Titan of Death’s Hunger)

Commander 2020 – Deflecting Swat (NIIOP)

Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths – The Ozolith (No change)

Core Set 2021 – Chromatic Orrery (Terror of the Peaks)

Jumpstart – Rhystic Study (No change)

Double Masters – Chrome Mox (Mana Crypt)

Zendikar Rising – Sea Gate Restoration (No change)

Zendikar Rising Commander – Emeria Shepherd (NIIOP)

Commander Legends – Vampiric Tutor (Jeweled Lotus)

Kaldheim – Vorinclex, Monstrous Raider (No change)

Kaldheim Commander – Eerie Interlude (NIIOP)

Time Spiral Remastered – Sliver Legion (Chalice of the Void)

Strixhaven: School of Mages – Archmage Emeritus (Beledros Witherbloom)

Commander 2021 – Gyome, Master Chef (NIIOP)

Modern Horizons 2 – Urza’s Saga (Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer)

Adventures in the Forgotten Realms – Old Gnawbone (No change)

Forgotten Realms Commander – Klauth, Unrivaled Ancient (NIIOP)

Innistrad: Midnight Hunt – The Meathook Massacre (No change)

Midnight Hunt Commander – Wilhelt, the Rotcleaver (NIIOP)

Innistrad: Crimson Vow – Toxril, the Corrosive (Chandra, Dressed to Kill)

Crimson Vow Commander – Molten Echoes (NIIOP)

Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty – Boseiju, Who Endures (The Wandering Emperor)

Neon Dynasty Commander – Drumbellower (NIIOP)

Streets of New Capenna – Halo Fountain (Ledger Shredder)

New Capenna Commander – Damning Verdict (NIIOP)

Battle for Baldur’s Gate – Ancient Copper Dragon (No change)

Double Masters 2022 – Imperial Seal (No change)

Dominaria United – Sheoldred, the Apocalypse

Dominaria United Commander – Greensleves, Maro-Sorcerer

Warhammer 40K – Ghyrson Starn, Kelermorph

The Brother’s War – Portal to Phyrexia

Brother’s War Commander – Urza’s Workshop

Starter Commander Decks – Archfiend of Depravity

Jumpstart 2022 – Ashcoat of the Shadow Swarm

Dominaria Remastered – Force of Will

Phyrexia: All Will Be One – Mondrak, Glory Dominus

All Will Be One Commander – Clever Concealment

March of the Machine – Faerie Mastermind

March of the Machine Commander – Nesting Dovehawk

March of the Machine: The Aftermath – Nissa, Resurgent Animist

The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle Earth – The One Ring

Tales of Middle Earth Commander – Swan Song

Commander Masters – The Great Henge

Wilds of Eldraine – Agatha’s Soul Cauldron

Wilds of Eldraine Commander – Throne of Eldraine

Doctor Who – Heroic Intervention

The Lost Caverns of Ixalan – Bloodletter of Aclazotz

Lost Caverns of Ixalan Commander – Exquisite Blood

Ravnica Remastered – Cyclonic Rift

Murders at Karlov Manor – Delney, Streetwise Lookout

Karlov Manor Commander – Trouble in Pairs

Fallout – Nuka-Cola Vending Machine

Outlaws of Thunder Junction – Bristly Bill, Spine Sower

Thunder Junction Commander – Ancient Greenwarden

Modern Horizons 3 – Ocelot Pride

Modern Horizons 3 Commander – Talon Gates of Madara

Assassin’s Creed – Sword of Feast and Famine

Mystery Booster 2 – Urza, Lord High Artificer

Bloomburrow – Three Tree City

Bloomburrow Commander – Alchemist’s Talent

Duskmourn: House of Horrors – Screaming Nemesis

Duskmourn Commander – Metamorphosis Fanatic

Foundations – Bloodthirsty Conqueror

Foundations Jumpstart – Rev, Tithe Extractor

The Data: What’s Changed?

Here’s a quick summary of the updates:

• 53 sets have new most-expensive cards.
• 81 sets saw no change.
• Cards like Black Lotus and Chrome Mox retain their dominance across multiple sets.

The stability in some sets and the shifts in others reflect Magic’s dual nature as both a collectible and a game with constantly evolving strategies.

Community Feedback and Observations

The updated list has sparked plenty of conversation among Magic fans. Players noted:

• Price Differences by Region: Cards like Bazaar of Baghdad and Library of Alexandria sometimes trade places depending on local markets.
• Unexpected Climbers: Cards like Faerie Mastermind and Screaming Nemesis highlight how quickly prices can shift in response to gameplay trends.

The community’s feedback adds depth to the story of these cards and the forces shaping their value.

Conclusion

Two years after the original list, the most expensive cards from each Magic set offer insight into both the game’s history and its evolving meta. While some classics maintain their positions, others have been replaced by rising stars due to shifts in format demands or new product releases. For collectors and players alike, these changes provide an interesting snapshot of Magic’s dynamic market.