TMNT spoiler season is finally here, and there’s a lot to look forward to. This flavorful set features a wealth of cool designs, both in the main set and Commander precons. Additionally, there’s a new bonus sheet that gives players the opportunity to open some sweet reprints in their boosters.
While we’ve only gotten a glimpse at a few of the bonus sheet cards, the initial wave of reprints appears to be quite strong. We already knew about the printing of Doubling Season, and now there are a bunch of newly spoiled options to share.
Ashcoat of the Shadow Swarm
Of all the bonus sheet cards revealed thus far, none are more appealing than Ashcoat of the Shadow Swarm. Reskinned as Splinter of the Shadows, this legend is a premium addition to any Rat Commander deck. Between its ability to make your squad absolutely massive and its ability to resurrect Rats every turn cycle, Ashcoat packs a big punch.
Where Ashcoat really gets its value from, however, is its absurd price tag. With no reprints to speak of and its only printing coming in a Jumpstart product, Ashcoat sits at over $79. Luckily, there’s a good chance these bonus sheet variants end up selling for less money, too. Given that iconic staples like Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle dropped significantly in price after earning an MTG Avatar bonus sheet reprint, there’s reason to believe these TMNT cards will follow suit.
Plague of Vermin
Interestingly, Ashcoat isn’t the only Rat-themed card to receive a first-time reprint in the TMNT bonus sheet. Plague of Vermin is finally receiving a new variant of its own, too. With each player starting at 40 life in Commander, Plague of Vermin has the potential to make a boatload of tokens. With any way to break the symmetry, such as a mass pump effect, this card can easily take over a game.
Given that the card was printed back in Shadowmoor, it isn’t too surprising that it holds a $23 price tag. Hopefully, following this reprint, the sorcery becomes more affordable.
Waves of Aggression
In EDH, there are a variety of different cards that grant you extra combat steps, and Wave of Aggression is a strong example. Five mana may be a lot to pay for one extra combat, but its Retrace ability pulls a lot of weight here. With enough lands at your disposal, you may be able to take an extra combat turn after turn.
The decks that most want this effect are those centered around Commanders with potent attack triggers. Legends like Velomachus Lorehold and Othari, Sun’s Glory, for example, make for perfect homes for Waves of Aggression.
The main thing holding this sorcery back in terms of seeing more EDH play is its color identity. Many of the best archetypes for extra combat cards are mono-red or Gruul, hence why Waves of Aggression sees play in less than 10,000 decks according to EDHREC.
Even without making a big impact in EDH, Waves of Aggression has maintained a hefty price tag largely due to the lack of reprints. This is also the first time this sorcery has received any kind of reprint since debuting in Eventide in 2008. As such, this alternate art, borderless card is a great choice for a reprint.
Shadowspear
Since its first printing in Theros Beyond Death, Shadowspear has emerged as one of the best pieces of equipment in competitive Magic. This is largely due to its synergy with Urza’s Saga. Not only can the enchantment reliably tutor up Shadowspear, but this equipment turns your big Constructs into Trampling Lifelinkers. Being able to force opposing permanents to lose Hexproof and Indestructible is also a nice touch against God Commanders.
All of this utility has helped the card remain quite expensive. Shadowspear barely falls short of $40 in its cheapest near-mint form.
All Will Be One
Continuing the trend of pricy cards that are worthy of reprints, All Will Be One definitely fits the mold. Counters is a very popular archetype in EDH, and this enchantment is an extremely strong payoff for consistently distributing counters across your board. Whether you focus on a +1/+1 counter theme with Shalai and Hallar or a -1/-1 counter theme with The Scorpion God, being able to keep opposing creatures and Planeswalkers in check while you develop your board is a big deal.
While All Will Be One has received a Secret Lair reprint, this will be the card’s first non-foil reprint since Phyrexia: All Will Be One. Considering that traditional main set copies sit at $30, this is another strong choice for a reprint.
Trouble in Pairs
Trouble in Pairs is yet another staple earning a reprint in the TMNT bonus sheet. This enchantment is an EDH staple that nearly every white deck would be happy to play. In a multiplayer setting, this enchantment is capable of drawing you a handful of cards every single turn cycle that it sticks around. If Trouble in Pairs isn’t drawing you cards, it means your opponents aren’t doing too much either. Whether you draw tons of cards or restrict your opponents, Trouble in Pairs will always put you ahead.
Following its removal from the Game Changers list in April of last year, this card’s demand and value rose. Now, it sits at roughly $30, making it a premium reprint choice.
Undercity Sewers
The printing of the Surveil lands in Murders at Karlov Manor was a game-changer for Fetch Land formats. Being able to search one of these lands at will and smooth out your draws is a huge luxury for consistency.
Undercity Sewers is no exception, as the land continues to make waves in Modern Reanimator, Legacy Dimir Tempo, and beyond. Add on its impact in EDH, and it’s no wonder the rare is worth $21.
Underworld Breach
Underworld Breach is a card with incredible competitive applications. This is the closest card to Yagmoth’s Will that has received a modern-day printing, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that it completely dominated nearly every format it touched.
Since its printing, the enchantment has been banned in Pioneer, Modern, and Legacy, while also being added to the Game Changers list in Commander. Due to this, Underworld Breach currently sees most of its play in cEDH. When combined with the power of Brain Freeze and free sources of mana like Lion’s Eye Diamond, winning the game becomes trivial.
As powerful as the card is, though, its multitude of bannings and its appearance in Mystery Booster 2 have lowered its price tag over time. At this point, players can pick up non-foil Theros Beyond Death copies for $13.
Brainstorm
The all-powerful Brainstorm is another highly competitive powerhouse that’s earning a TMNT bonus sheet reprint, and the art is absolutely beautiful. Despite remaining one of the best cards in Legacy for many years, Brainstorm remains legal and one of the best cards in the format. Its synergy with Fetchlands already makes it one of the best cantrips ever printed, and now players can even use it to transform Tamiyo, Inquisitive Student immediately. Interestingly, though, Brainstorm is restricted in Vintage and not legal in more modern Constructed formats, so its applications are a bit narrow.
Thanks to being reprinted 46 times up till now, Brainstorm’s price point is nothing special. This isn’t even the first time Brainstorm has appeared on a bonus sheet, either, since it showed up in the Strixhaven Mystical Archives and Final Fantasy: Through the Ages. Final Fantasy bonus sheet copies are available for under $1, so expect something similar for this new printing.
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