Core Sets were abandoned by Wizards of the Coast four years ago. But this year they're back and ready to show new players what it feels like to play Magic: The Gathering.
Core Set 2019 features 314 cards, including six planeswalker types and lots of reprints. Some of the reprinted cards are super exciting, as many players have been begging for those to appear again in Standard format. So be prepared for some surprises and a few new but really powerful cards as well.
If you are interested in investing into Core Set 2019, but not sure which cards to buy or sell, then follow our guide for the most expensive cards in MtG.
Nicol Bolas, the Ravager
- Current price: $31.59
This Nicol Bolas planeswalker is a particularly powerful one. But first, you must flip it in order to be able to use its incredibly strong abilities. And that's the weaker spot of this card.
If you cast it on turn four, there is a big chance that your opponent will be able to deal with it before you get to seven mana. So the only out is to cast it when you have eleven mana and transform it right away.
As of now it stands at a price of over 30 bucks, but it will dwindle. Still, it will stay at the top of the priciest Core Set 2019 cards, just don't buy it now. Wait for a couple of weeks, and then you can invest freely.
Tezzeret, Artifice Master
- Current price: $23.87
The first and the last abilities on this planeswalker are really nice, but the second ability is what will make this card sell really well. Just think about it -- you can draw two cards each turn without losing any points of loyalty. That's absolutely ridiculous!
This will see play in both Standard and Modern formats, and is going to be on the level of Karn, Scion of Urza that proved to be an excellent planeswalker from Dominaria.
Watch this one go up in price as soon as it hits the tables of the first Constructed events.
Liliana, Untouched by Death
- Current price: $9.15
This planeswalker together with the new reprinted zombie lord Death Baron can do a lot of damage in a zombie tribal deck. Last year mono-black zombie decks were particularly strong, one of which even won the Pro Tour Amonkhet.
Some of those decks had super strong zombies, which rotated out of Standard, but Core Set 2019 has brought a couple of new spells that could perfectly fit the good ol' archetype.
Currently, the price of Liliana, Untouched by Death isn't that high, but this could easily change as soon as it proves that zombies are still very much "alive."
Resplendent Angel
- Current price: $17.37
This angel and Dominaria's Lyra Dawnbringer make up an excellent couple. Think of it as an Angelic Accord attached to a pretty solid body, and all that is only for three mana.
As for Modern, then Soul Sisters and Trostani archetypes will benefit greatly from this undercosted angel. In any case, the initial price already speaks for itself, so there is no need to mention how powerful this card actually is.
The Standard will most likely see it in control decks that use white mana, or in mono-white angel tribal decks with Shalai, Voice of Plenty.
Ajani, Adversary of Tyrants
- Current price: $12.12
The new Ajani planeswalker isn't just good in cat tribal decks, but also in any other archetype that runs Walking Ballista, and especially in Winding Constrictor types of decks.
The second ability can be well utilized in Esper Control lists that run Glint-Sleeve Siphoner, which could be returned from the graveyard and potentially buffed as a means of protection form that pesky Goblin Chainwhirler.
Most likely the price tag on Ajani, Adversary of Tyrants won't change much. It's a really neat card, but requires a very specific deck for it to shine.
Sarkhan, Fireblood
- Current price: $12.13
Dragon tribe seems to be the most prominent one in Core Set 2019, and thus the Sarkhan planeswalker appearance is no surprise at all. This Sarkhan planeswalker is also the cheapest one to appear yet -- only three mana for his casting cost.
His second ability is particularly interesting and very much similar to Chandra's, except you can cast only dragons with it, which isn't a bad deal at all in an all-dragons deck.
The only problem with this card is that we will lose a ton of red ragons during the Standard rotation this Fall, so it will most definitely fall in price by that time.
Arcades, the Strategist
- Current price: $8.68
Arcades is one of the most unusual mythic cards in Core Set 2019. It won't find place in Standard, but Modern has lots of great Wall creatures that could be easily turned into massive threats with the help of Arcades.
But even then it probably won't be competitive enough for it to be viable. So the only really good place for Arcades is EDH format. Of course, it doesn't guarantee the immense popularity of the card, so it's hard to say in what direction that price will go. Let's just wait and see!
Scapeshift
- Current price: $15.21
The original Scapeshift only ever existed in one set -- Morningtide. So this makes it the very first reprint to a surprise of many Magic: The Gathering players.
The card is a staple of Modern Titanshift archetype and now it can be played in Standard as well. It can be well paired with Tatyova, Benthic Druid, which will result in explosive turns that can draw you as many cards as you want.
The reprint also means that the card will automatically fall in price, but it still holds up pretty well at the range of 15 to 20 dollars.
Chromium, the Mutable
- Current price: $9.51
Here is another contender for the finisher in Esper Control decks in Standard. It is super versatile and evasive, and probably will be really hard to deal with. The transformation trigger costs no mana, which makes it super convenient.
Modern Dredge players would also be happy to get this going on turn seven with its free discard ability. So this is a really neat design from Wizards of the Coast, and it's nice to see a non-red dragon in the set, too.
The foiled versions of Chromium will sell like hot cakes -- that art just looks amazing!
Crucible of Worlds
- Current price: $21.87
Crucible of Worlds and Scapeshift in Standard? The world makes no sense anymore! Just kidding -- it's actually really exciting to see such powerful and unique cards get reprinted in a Core Set.
This will make Standard extremely fun format for the next couple of years... and also quite expensive. The original copies of Crucible got as far as $70 per copy. This one is currently holding at $20, but will pretty soon jump as well.
Get it now and quickly, as the price will stabilize at around 40 to 50 dollars. If there is one good investment in Core Set 2019, then it's definitely Crucible of Worlds.
Alpine Moon
- Current price: $3.45
It looks like Wizards of the Coast are trying really hard to get away from the Tron archetype by releasing more and more land-hate cards, such as Damping Sphere in Dominaria, and now Alpine Moon in Core Set 2019.
This one, however, functions more like Pithing Needle and specifies which exact land it wants to shut off. This could be a really fine tool in the right hands, and it looks like people will be playing this in all Modern decks -- a format that relies heavily on land abilities in general.
While Damping Sphere didn't prove to be better than Blood Moon, this card may have a better chance.
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This list is not a definitive one, but it should help you invest more safely into the cards from Core Set 2019. Be sure to follow all the upcoming events and see for yourself how the above-mentioned cards perform, and then make a decision. And for all things Magic: The Gathering stay tuned to GameSkinny!
Published: Jul 3, 2018 08:35 am