Despite initial expectations that The Hobbit was underpowered, the set has been consistently proving itself since its release. Not only have some new cards managed to put up strong results, but the set’s Commanders have proven to be a hoot, too. While this has already been enough to cause a range of price spikes, multiple competitive formats are thriving, further boosting demand.
Thanks to these avenues combined, there’s been a lot of interest in Tyvar, the Pummeler, recently. With decks across multiple formats having picked it up, this desparked Planeswalker is seeing a significant price spike. In just one month, prices are up 204%, and they might not stop there.
MTG Tyvar, the Pummeler
Released as part of Duskmourn: House of Horror, Tyvar, the Pummeler is a surprisingly capable finisher for green-aligned decks. So long as you have some mana to spare and one big creature, you can give your entire board a substantial buff. Even without the best-case scenario, doubling the stats of a wide board can easily lead to a game-ending swing.
Thanks to this power, Tyvar, the Pummeler has proven popular in Commander since its release, largely within Elf Typal decks. Considering this archetype specializes in going wide, and that Tyvar is an Elf, too, it’s practically a match made in heaven. This archetype just got some powerful new support, too, in the form of Thranduil, the Elvenking.
Beyond increasing demand for Elf Typal cards across the board, this Thranduil has direct synergy with Tyvar. By keeping Tyvar’s activated ability around, even if it gets removed, you can always have access to a potent finisher. Thanks to this, Thranduil is now responsible for over 2,750 decks out of the around 50,000 decks using Tyvar in Commander.
As if this wasn’t enough to push the price of Tyvar up, this card is also commonly found in Modern’s Devoted Druid Combo decks. Thanks to Tyvar creating infinite mana with Devoted Druid and Leyline of Abundance, the card functions as a win condition, pumping your board infinitely. That said, while Tyvar is a consistent game-ender in this setup, it’s hardly the only win condition the deck has.
Even if Tyvar, the Pummeler isn’t the sole reason why Devoted Druid Combo decks are winning, this card is still undeniably powerful. Now that demand is coming from multiple angles, too, it’s starting to get rather expensive as well.
Pumping Up Prices
While Tyvar, the Pummeler hasn’t been a budget MTG card for a few months, it was a surprisingly cost-effective win condition. Back in late July, for instance, you could pick up a copy for just $3.60, which didn’t seem too outrageous. As supply has dwindled thanks to the new waves of demand, however, prices have shot up.
Currently, if you want to pick up a copy of Tyvar, the Pummeler, a near-mint example will set you back $10.97, including shipping. While this marks a 204% price spike in one month, just a few sales could push it even higher. With the next near-mint listing pushing closer to $12, and prices only increasing after that, Tyvar seems far from done.
Thankfully, if you’re in the market for a copy of Tyvar, the Pummeler, there is a cheaper option available. Currently, near-mint copies of Tyvar’s showcase treatment are selling for $8.02, including shipping. With a lightly played example available for $7.23 as well, there are some slight savings to be found.
A Strong Staple
While nothing is certain in the world of MTG finance, Tyvar, the Pummeler does look rather stable. Even if the Devoted Druid Combo deck ends up getting hosed in Modern, Commander demand can easily prop Tyvar up. Given that it can perform in a wide array of Commander archetypes, too, its popularity is bound to grow in time.
Even if MTG players don’t adopt Tyvar as a win condition, Elf Typal is bound to get more support eventually. When this happens, Tyvar is likely to see another surge in demand, since it’s so perfect for this archetype. Provided it doesn’t get reprinted, the current price could end up looking like a fond yet distant memory.
Sadly, since it’s impossible to predict whether or when a reprint might happen, we can only wait and see. In the short term, it’ll be particularly prudent to watch Modern to see how the Devoted Druid deck develops there. Should it keep performing as it has, don’t be surprised if Tyvar ends up getting even more expensive before long.
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