MTG: High Value Cards in Tales of Middle-earth (That Aren’t the One of One)
In a land of jewels made from stars and iron that glistens like the sun, it makes sense some of the cards would be worth some cash.
The highly anticipated Lord of the Rings Magic set is finally out in full circulation. Because of the One Ring, this set has proven to be one of the most popular of all time. The cards and new mechanics are catapulting previous mid-tier decks and strategies into the higher meta. Collectors will also find many cards of decent worth, especially in the box topper reprints.
(Note: The prices for Magic cards are always in flux, so these are ranked based on the time of writing.)
Gandalf the White
An Elesh Norn adjacent ability for legends and artifacts, Gandalf is a powerful force multiplier for artifact and legend decks. Aside from that, he also lets them come in at flesh speed, meaning you’ll get to trap your opponents with powerful abilities. As such, Gandalf sits right around $11.50 for both his foil and non-foil form. While that doesn’t seem astronomical, the fact that that’s the low end is telling.
Last March of the Ents
Ah yes, just what Green needs: card advantage and creature cheating. The Last March of the Ents was a turning point in the war for Middle-earth, and both the art and effect of this card capture the moment beautifully. Fangorn and his fellow ents look down on the doomed citadel of the wizard Saruman, ready to deliver harsh justice, just as your massive beaters will deliver justice you your opponents. Currently selling for around $9.75, this is a good budget piece for a high-toughness creature deck. For extra punch, add some blue to make sure your hand is as full as possible.
Spiteful Bounty
Typical red shenanigans here, big damage and some Treasure. Spiteful Banditry is a fun piece of burn that rewards you for taking out your opponent’s creatures, and in commander, you could net a ton of utility. At a $10 price point, it isn’t a bad investment for a burn deck, and with the burn synergy, this will hopefully continue to increase in value.
Delighted Halfling
Mana sources are the bread and butter of green decks, and the Delighted Halfling is a fine one. Going down the same path as most of the rest of this set benefits your legendary spells. When you use the mana it produces to cast a legendary spell, it skirts around counters, the bane of every caster’s existence. Rightfully, it sits at a cool $11 price, not too high, but still a decent collector’s piece, especially for a standard rare.
Aragon, the Uniter (Borderless)
The perfect commander from the new set, this four-color variant of Aragorn rewards you for playing all his colors. Whether you want to make some Soldier tokens, filter your deck, throw out damage, or buff your creatures, Aragorn can do it all. Plus, he looks incredible in every variant (though the Borderless is especially cool). At a $16 average, he’s one of the priciest cards in the set currently, even after the price saturation the hunt for the Ring has caused. No doubt his price will steadily grow as time goes on.
Orcish Bowmasters
One of the heaviest hitters in the new set, Orcish Bowmasters has shaken up the game ever since it premiered. It punishes a few of the most powerful EDH staples and makes card advantage a disadvantage instead. As such, its $30 median cost makes sense. Even in the saturated world of the One Ring, this is a card that everyone wants.
What cards are you looking for?
