Kaladesh Masterpieces

It seems that the Zendikar expeditions were quite successful so now we are doing it again in Kaladesh.

Kaladesh Masterpieces will be coveted cards such as Sword of Fire and Ice and Mana Crypt. They will be found in new-art, foil-only versions at a rate of roughly 1 out of every 144 boosters. I think that is the same rate as the expeditions. Almost all of the Masterpieces are reprints.

So why does Wizards do this? Three reasons.

#1: Putting part of the box value in these expensive chase cards in order to reduce the cost of Standard (it does make sense if you think hard about it).
#2: Getting old cards out there. A Modern Masters every other year is not enough. Wizards need to reduce the value of your bot collection in several ways and this is one of the better.
#3:  Another way to bling your deck (yeah, that's what they said)

And it seems that Wizards, in fact, have succeeded in achieving these three goals. Zendikar Expeditions were a hit so now we are doing it again. It works.

Here is a full list of the Masterpieces (they are all artifacts naturally):

Aether Vial
Cataclysmic Gearhulk
Champion's Helm
Chromatic Lantern
Chrome Mox
Cloudstone Curio
Combustible Gearhulk
Crucible of Worlds
Gauntlet of Power
Hangarback Walker
Lightning Greaves
Lotus Petal
Mana Crypt
Mana Vault
Mind's Eye
Mox Opal
Noxious Gearhulk
Rings of Brighthearth
Scroll Rack
Sculping Steel
Sol Ring
Solemn Simulacrum
Static Orb
Steel Overseer
Sword of Feast and Famine
Sword of Fire and Ice
Sword of Light and Shadow
Torrential Gearhulk
Verdorous Gearhulk

On another note, the set looks sweet so far. I was not around during Scars of Mirrodin but my experience from Mirrodin tells me that drafting an artifact set is great fun. I might be doing my first limited leagues soon.

Full announcement by Wizards here: http://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/making-magic/masterpiece-series-2016-09-12

Get your Battle for Zendikar Expeditions now

We all know that MTGO foils look horrible and that they command a lower price than regular cards some of the time, but even then I have gone deep into the Battle for Zendikat Expeditions that form the base of the Modern mana base.

Battle for Zendikar block is no longer the latest cool drafting format. None of these lands are no longer playable in Standard. This means that supply is at a peak and demand is at a low.

There are two types of expeditions that are very interesting to me; Shockland and the ONS Fetchlands.


Shocklands
Shockland prices have not yet come out of the hole the reprint in RTR block dug for them. Have no doubt, without a second reprint they surely will.

When they do I would rather have the full-art EXP versions than the Ravnica blocks versions.

Here is a comparison showing EXP Watery Grave holding its value while GTC Watery Grave is still dropping.

Watery Grave EXP
http://www.mtggoldfish.com/price/Zendikar+Expeditions:Foil/Watery+Grave#online

Watery Grave GTC
http://www.mtggoldfish.com/price/Gatecrash/Watery+Grave#online

Fetchlands
I am not touching the ZEN Fetchlands (Arid Mesa, Scalding Tarn, Misty Rainforest, Marsh Flats and Verdant Catacombs) with a ten foot pole at this point due to risk of reprint. If these are reprinted they stand to lose 75-90% of their value instantaneously.

So to be really clear here I am talking about only the original ONS/KTK Fetchlands; Flooded Strand, Polluted Delta, Bloodstained Mire, Wooded Foothills and Windswept Heath.

Here is an example of a KTK Fetchland taking off while the EXP has not yet really gone up that much.

I think all the EXP allied Fetchlands are excellent buys right now.

Wooded Foothills EXP
http://www.mtggoldfish.com/price/Zendikar+Expeditions:Foil/Wooded+Foothills#online

Wooded Foothills KTK
http://www.mtggoldfish.com/price/Khans+of+Tarkir/Wooded+Foothills#online


As with any MTG Finance advice, use your own judgment and please remember to never invest too heavily in any single thing on MTGO and use only money you can afford to lose.