Some players need to have their decks showcase the coolest pieces of art that Wizards gives them the option of using. Despite many MTG decks simply using the cheapest variants on the market, these decks are usually full of full-art foiled-out goodness that can make any MTG opponent gasp in admiration.
Occasionally, these premium artworks will strike a chord with the larger community, causing multiple MTG players to have some interest in them. In these cases, since the variants of the card are rarer than usual, prices do not hesitate to spike. That is what appears to have happened with this rare variant of a Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth Face Commander.
Sauron, Lord of the Rings
Sauron, Lord of the Rings is the Face Commander of one of the best MTG Precon decks in history. Hosts of Mordor is one of the best Precons right out of the box, equipped to take down most casual Commander decks by preying on the nature of the format itself. While this deck takes a long time to get rolling, once it gets over the hump, it is very difficult to take down without an instant win condition. The deck definitely has an inevitability factor that will beat many Commander decks aimed at snowballing board-based value.
Sauron, Lord of the Rings can do a lot. Not only does this creature create a gigantic board, but Sauron also reanimates a creature. This is a one-card army that can keep coming back after it dies. In exchange, the card’s mana value is disastrous. Hence, it really only sees play in Commander.
Sauron, Lord of the Rings, in its cheapest variant, is not at all expensive. This is a Face Commander that isn’t a popular addition to 99s of other decks, which means that there is a ton of supply and not a lot of demand. The Showcase Scroll version of the card, however, is a different story.
Released exclusively in the Lord of the Rings Special Edition Collector Booster Packs, Showcase Scrolls aren’t everyone’s cup of tea. The bizarre black bordering of the artwork leaves something to be desired, but these treatments are rather rare, which brings with it a unique clientele. Sauron, in particular, seems to be a rather popular commodity.
The Spike
Sauron, Lord of the Rings in its Showcase Scroll variant has seen a spike that began around the last few weeks of August. Worth about $2 at the time in foil, the card has since spiked to around $5, but prices are increasing quickly. Nonfoil prices seem to be much slower to climb.
At the time of writing, the cheapest Sauron, Lord of the Rings in Showcase Scroll available on TCGplayer goes for about $17, suggesting that a buyout may be taking place. Foils are even worse, demanding well over $30 at the moment. Sales themselves, however, have not jumped up like this.
If you’re interested in this, our recommendation is to be picky about the price you get this card at. There’s a good chance that, with some searching, you can find a rather good deal on it. We don’t think you should be paying over $10 for this under any circumstances unless the card continues to spike.
The good news is that if you just want a copy of Sauron, Lord of the Rings for your Commander deck, and the art doesn’t matter, you can just pick up the Face Commander variant for a buck.
