Every year, more and more expensive MTG promos and chase cards make their way out of the woodwork. From serialized cards to foils with unique treatments, every new set nowadays has something for players to chase.
Like many sets before, Secrets of Strixhaven features a seralized headliner card, and it’s already getting a ton of attention. Bounties for the most expensive cards in this set are already being set, defining the value of Magic’s newest chase cards.
Immediate Value
Yesterday, in preparation for presales, TokyoMTG revealed a bounty for Secrets of Strixhaven’s serialized headliner Emeritus of Ideation. With an asking price of 600,000 Yen, this bounty equates to $3,796.74 at the time of writing. Obviously, this is a large sum of money, but it’s important to remember that there are only 500 copies in existence.
In addition to the headliner card, TokyoMTG also announced a bounty for a Japanese promo variant of The Eternal Wanderer for 200,000 Yen, or $1265.58. Exclusive to Japan, these promos can be found in select Commander protector cases given to those who purchase Play or Collector boosters. With 2,000 copies available, it’s not too surprising that the asking price is high.
If these ultra rare collectibles weren’t enough, Hareruya has revealed their bounties for the new Secrets of Strixhaven Silver Scroll chase cards. While they naturally vary from card to card, Force of Will, the highest bounty, commands a price of 280,000 Yen, or $1771.81. Despite these sky-high prices, some players believe that the Secrets of Strixhaven Silver Scroll cards are currently overinflated, and are excited to sell their cards.
That, however, is not the case for the Emeritus of Ideation’s bounty, with many thinking that the card is worth more. Based on past precedent for serialized cards, this may not actually be the case.
An Interesting Development
When looking back at previous sales for in-universe serialized headliners, this bounty for Emeritus of Ideation seems fair. Edgar Markov, the first MTG serialized headliner, recently sold for $2,425 and $3,222.45 back on April 4th. Similarly, Bitterbloom Bearer, the most recent serialized headliner, sold for $2,550 and $2,750 on April 15th and April 8th, respectively. This story continues with the serialized Praetors from March of the Machines, with Jin-Gtaxias being listed for $2000, and Sheoldred going for $3100. Considering all this, if anything, Emeritus of Ideations seems overpriced.
While Emeritus of Ideation is expensive compared to other Headliners, there have been some recent chase cards that were way more expensive. For example, the serialized Traveling Chocobo from MTG Final Fantasy has routinely sold for $50,000+. In addition to some obvious Universes Beyond tax, however, a golden Traveling Chocobo is significantly rarer than Emeritus of Ideation. With only 77 copies available, finding a Golden Traveling Chocobo is a near-impossible feat. These serialized cards, in other words, are in completely different price brackets. Thanks to this, it’s very possible that players may have overestimated just how valuable serialized MTG cards are.
Considering the sales of other in-universe serialized headliners, it seems unlikely that Emeritus of Ideation will stray far beyond the $3,000 mark. Nonetheless, cards this rare always sell for what collectors are willing to pay, which isn’t always easy to predict. Thanks to this, it’ll be interesting to see how TokyoMTG’s offer compares to sales elsewhere in the coming months.
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