Over the years, one of the best ways for slower decks to stabilize versus hyperaggressive strategies has been to gain life. From old-school Modern sideboard tools such as Kor Firewalker to newer multi-format staples like Beza, the Bounding Spring, gaining life can put a wrench in your red aggro opponent’s plans.
Of course, assertive red decks will often try to counteract opposing sources of life gain with cards that prevent life gain in the first place. Cards like Rampaging Ferocidon and Roiling Vortex can be backbreaking for many decks to see across the table.
Speaking of which, Roiling Vortex has spiked significantly in price over the last few weeks. Roiling Vortex may be in a long line of cards that spiked due to Duskmourn Commander synergies.
The Spike
- Mana Value: 1R
- Rarity: Rare
- MTG Sets: Zendikar Rising
- Card Text: At the beginning of each player’s upkeep, Roiling Vortex deals 1 damage to them. Whenever a player casts a spell, if no mana was spent to cast that spell, Roiling Vortex deals 5 damage to that player. R: Your opponents can’t gain life this turn.
Back on September 10th, non-foil, near mint copies of Roiling Vortex held a price tag of roughly $1.34, according to TCGPlayer market price history. This is pretty consistent with how the price has been since all the way back in April. From September 11th onward, though, that number has kept trending upward.
On September 21st, the card had reached a market price of over $3. By September 25th, that number was over $5. As of yesterday, Roiling Vortex sits at $6.36 in non-foil, near mint form. This means that Roiling Vortex has gone up in price by about 375% in the last three weeks, which is very significant. If recent price spikes to other cards have been any indication, there’s likely a clear explanation for this.
Read More: Dominaria United Card Spikes 400% Due to Duskmourn Synergy
Another Toy for Valgavoth
- Mana Value: 2BR
- Rarity: Mythic Rare
- Stats: 4/4
- MTG Sets: Duskmourn Commander
- Card Text: Flying. Ward- Pay 2 life. Whenever an opponent loses life for the first time during each of their turns, put a +1/+1 counter on Valgavoth, Harrower of Souls and draw a card.
Recently, we’ve discussed two other damage-dealing red cards that have substantially risen in price over a similar time frame. Both Zo-Zu the Punisher and Chandra, Awakened Inferno have seen 300%+ price spikes recently, and they both combo perfectly with Valgavoth, Harrower of Souls. Valgavoth rewards you whenever your opponents lose life during each of their turns. Meanwhile, Zo-Zu and Chandra can easily deal damage to your opponents one at a time.
Roiling Vortex is yet another elite addition to a Valgavoth deck. Not only does it ping each opponent during their upkeep, but it can also prevent your opponents from gaining life and trying to crawl back into the game. Valgavoth is undoubtedly a strong and popular Commander option right out of the gate. It wouldn’t surprise me if more cards in a similar vein start ballooning in price all the same. If you’re fortunate enough to have a bunch of Roiling Vortexes lying around, you’re certainly in luck now!
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