Commander 2014, in my opinion, is not worth the price as it is now. (~$40 per deck)
Long time followers of the blog will know I will usually do a "First Look" article for almost every new expansion set. However, due to my commitment in studies and my other workload, I could not take enough time off to do any amount of research for this new product.
I am still rushing out this article over the weekend, around in time for the release; but, it's not going to be anything like how my normal "First Look" articles will be like. Any case, back to business. As I mentioned, what I can say for now is this; Commander 2014 is NOT worth the price it is being tagged at the moment.
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| Range of $35 to $45... Almost completely out of stock.. Really?! (7th Nov 2014) [www.starcitygames.com] |
Okay, so why am I saying this? In comparison to Commander 2011, the first print, we know that it is significantly a larger print run and with such a larger print runs, reprinted EDH staples is not going to tank in the price; Foils are exception of course.
Now, with more going around in circulation, the means that the chance for it to see price spike or rise is going to be in Eternal Formats, actually, just Legacy itself. Remember True Name Nemesis? Yea, I'm sure we all do.
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| Ohh.. this going to be fun in EDH! Oh wait.... |
So if history is going to repeat itself, so what cards are going to see legacy play? This is definitely the first question we are asking ourselves.
I was looking around the web and many are looking at the price of the pre-constructed deck and dismantling it into its components for value. On this point, many are arguing that the Red and White ones are the best valued ones. Well, kinda. Looking at SCG prices above and the known reprints in the decklists, we can draw a statement that it would most likely be so.
However, don't forget the larger print runs; second wave of prints etc. Do you really think the prices will tank after that? sure, at the moment now the cards will see some value, but once the print runs hit the second wave, we have to re-evaluate the questions asked.
Thirdly, It is a smart move to print mono-coloured EDH, so it actually caters to more relevance to the other multi-coloured decks currently out there in terms of staples and the demands. Then again, look at what is actually going to be played and used. Staples in the new CMD 2014 is sure going to see play and well, are gonna be grabbed up, the other cards which, however new, are going to compete for deck slots against deck ideas to actually see any chance of price increment.
"Lieutenant" is going to be more useful in Voltron decks or decks that is going to see its commander most of the time; it's not going to be useful in decks like Child of Alara going for superfriends strategy or my version of Ghave, Guru of Spores, which can actually work without the commander.
I'm not going to use the Offerings cycle in 1v1 matches...
Get the idea?
Nevertheless, I'm still going for the tradition; Here are my Top 10 picks for Commander 2014. Note that this list will only feature new cards in the top 10. Again, not in any order!
If you haven't noticed by now, my top 10 picks are merely by appeal in art or flavor. It is by no means that those are the best 10 cards in terms of power or value. It's merely just the top cards that caught my eye or my desire to want it for whatever reason.
My Top 10 Picks!
My Top 10 Picks!
10: Arcane Lighthouse
Okay, show of hands... Who hates shroud, Hexproof in EDH when its NOT on your own creatures? I have a friend playing a Voltron Bruna EDH which can end up having a 20/20 double strike, shroud, etc... I hate it cos not many of us in the playgroup can deal it. I also don't like Geist or Jenara with Hexproof as a commander.
Remember the times where Swiftfoot Boots and Lightning Greaves is the most headache artifacts to deal with? Well, here we are. A good answer for just 2 mana!
9: Commander's Sphere
In EDH, mana rocks and ramps are never enough. What's even better is that this can actually draw you a card if needed. I can go on about how good this card actually is as a mana ramp, but I think I'll leave it as it is. More hints? it gives a ramp + draw. period. Find me a card that does that for ANY deck colour identities.
8: Containment Priest
"This is a very good card that may actually see Legacy play" ~ The internet people.
While I don't disagree, I really would want to ask Legacy players what relevance does this card do in your meta. I don't play legacy so I'll leave the statement as it is await for your comments.
Looking at the EDH format point of view, it's really strong in the sense is that it stops Quicksilver Amulet and Tooth and Nail kind of cards which cheats creatures into play. Reanimators will also suffer because of this girl.
This card is one of the cards that makes the white decks are currently the more pricy ones with the red matching it.
Speaking of the Red deck...
7: Dualcaster Mage
In EDH, anything that copies something is always relevant. Now imagine this copying well, a ramp spell or and land destruction spell, yea you get the picture..
6: Freyalise, Llanowar's Fury
Do you know how insane this card is in a heavy green deck? In fact, she is really insane in any green deck! Her +2 gives you a Llanowar Elves, -2 is a naturalize and -6 is well... remember Regal Force? In fact, it looks as though she is made to be suited well into a heavy green deck to supply ramp, removal and card draw! I love this card!
5: Intellectual Offering
I'm not really a fan of Offering spells, but politically speaking, this is a good tool to manipulate opponents into "allies" to conspire against well, the remaining poor dudes.. I like this one especially as it is essentially a draw spell + untap everything. It may seem odd at first, but to me, it really has its applicability.
4: Masterwork of Ingenuity
To me, this card has a heck load of use in EDH and Legacy. It copies any Equipment! That Umezawa's Jitte! Batterskull!
Even in EDH, the boots suddenly seem a lot more appealing to you eh? It's a good card that will see some form of play in Legacy and in EDH. However, I don't expect to see it breaking any formats soon.
3: Tyrant's Familiar
As a dragon card, this card does what it meant to do. An expensive spell with a huge P/T and it flies and has haste! "Lieutenant" makes it stronger and honestly without it, there are better dragons out there.
While I like this card for the art and the flavour text. It seems kind of weird that for a dragon, it's tamed if you get my drift...
2: Wave of Vitriol
Hoho... This board-wipe is surely going to screw a lot of people playing the tons of non-basic lands and stuff... Because the keyword here is sacrifice, "Indestructible" keywords can be thrown out of the window! I think I have found my favourite mass removal after Merciless Eviction. That being said, more foil basic lands!
1: Necromantic Selection
In terms of flavour, effect and artwork, I really like this card. It's steep in the casting cost, but imagine the board-state at 7 mana. Destroy everything and then return a creature back. Most of the time it sets your opponents back for 1-2 turns, but if you played right, it's enough to turn the tide around if it isn't going to your favour. To me this card will see its impact for the more casual groups and not really for the competitive ones. Heck, EDH is in the first place, meant to be a casual format...
To wrap up, I'd figure that unless you are in a rush or need to get the cards as soon as possible, I really don't think it is a need to get them now. I'll wait for the prices to settle down before making my purchases. Reprints like Wurmcoil Engine will definitely take a hit in the prices and right now, it will see decline. I won't risk to jump in to buy them now. A personal judgment will be to wait for the second wave before deciding what to jump into.
A mistake I made was to buy Mind Seize last year, hoping that the price will go up. However, when Wizards announced a change in the structure of print, giving 2 Mind Seize + 3 other random of the remaining, it killed the price. Furthermore, True Name Nemesis didn't hold its $50 price tag for long.
Basically the point would be that if you are confident in moving the cards fast for that quick buck, go ahead and get the Red and White decks. If not, hold back for this one. Fate Reforged is coming out soon; or just get more Shocklands or Abrupt Decays.
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