Jumpstart sets are often a bit of a lame duck within the vast world of MTG. As a new player-focused product, these supplemental sets often have little appeal for enfranchised players. Offering simple themes and typically weak cards, it’s no wonder we don’t get major Jumpstart releases yearly.
Foundations Jumpstart, however, is a bit of a different story. Not only does the new-player-focus make sense, but it’s also got some Commander darlings too. Offering interesting new Commanders and new toys for established archetypes, this set may be a surprising hit. It certainly seems to be from a financial standpoint, at least.
Currently, only pre-sale prices for Foundations Jumpstart are available, but nevertheless, some cards are seriously expensive. As such, you’ll want to keep your eyes open when cracking Foundations Jumpstart packs. Now, without any further ado, here are the most expensive MTG cards in Foundations Jumpstart.
Scythecat Cub
Price: $27
- Mana Value: 1G
- Rarity: Rare
- Card Type: Creature — Cat
- Stats: 2/2
- Card Text: Trample
Landfall — Whenever a land you control enters, put a +1/+1 counter on target creature you control. If this is the second time this ability has resolved this turn, double the number of +1/+1 counters on that creature instead.
Like each of the cards on this list, Scythecat Cub isn’t all too easy to get ahold of. Only appearing in two of the possible 46 Jumpstart Booster themes, this adorable cat could be quite scarce. This, of course, will depend on how much Foundations Jumpstart is opened by players and collectors alike, however.
For now, few copies of Scythecat Cub are available, but there’s a lot of interest in this new Landfall-supporting cat. Essentially, Scythecat Cub is just a better version of Territorial Scythecat in the vast majority of decks. While you can only activate its ability twice per turn, at best, there’s no comparison in terms of power and utility provided.
Territorial Scythecat is just a pretty mediocre threat that can scale itself over time. Within Landfall decks, it doesn’t typically find a home within the 99 since there are better bombs and engines. Scythecat Cub, on the other hand, is cheaper, can buff your other creatures, and even double their power.
Beyond just fitting inside Landfall-based decks, this also makes Scythecat Cub the perfect addition to +1/+1 counter-focused lists. Even if you’re not exploiting Landfall triggers, a cheeky Evolving Wilds can suddenly double a creature’s strength. Even Cat decks may well be eying up Scythecat Cub to gain value from otherwise wasted land draws.
Taeko, the Patient Avalanche
Price: $28
- Mana Value: 3U
- Rarity: Mythic
- Card Type: Legendary Creature — Turtle Ninja
- Stats: 4/5
- Card Text: Taeko, the Patient Avalanche enters tapped.
Whenever another creature you control leaves the battlefield, if it didn’t die, scry 1 and put a +1/+1 counter on Taeko.
Whenever Taeko attacks, you may pay (U/B). When you do, target attacking creature can’t be blocked this turn.
Like many Foundations Jumpstart cards, Taeko, the Patient Avalanche can only be found with this fetching anime art. Currently, it’s unclear what this will do to their price in the long run. Typically, anime-art variants of cards have been rather lucrative, but when that’s the only option? Well… We’ll just have to wait and see.
What we do know, for now, is that Taeko, the Patient Avalanche is rather very expensive at the moment. Much of this price is likely down to how they only appear in one Foundations Jumpstart Booster theme. That said, they’ve also got a very compelling ability that will work wonders in any Ninja Typal commander deck.
Specifically, Taeko, the Patient Avalanche synergizes with the Ninjutsu mechanic, which allows you to bounce creatures back to your hand. In theory, they’d also work in a deck that cares about flickering creatures for maximum value, but the Ninja type makes their intended home clear. In this setting, Taeko will help to sculpt your draws while also allowing you to sneak through other creatures.
Currently, Taeko, the Patient Avalanche seems like a decent addition to the 99 of Ninja Typal decks, but not much more. Thanks to their Dimir color identity they could helm a deck, but Yuriko, the Tiger’s Shadow is very tough competition. Even if Taeko is just a new support piece, their rarity could keep their price fairly high for a good while yet.
Evereth, Viceroy of Plunder
Price: $29
- Mana Value: 2B
- Rarity: Rare
- Card Type: Legendary Creature — Vampire Soldier
- Stats: 2/2
- Card Text: Flying
Sacrifice another creature or artifact: Put a +1/+1 counter on Evereth, Viceroy of Plunder. If the sacrificed permanent was a Treasure, Evereth gains lifelink until end of turn. Activate only as a sorcery.
When Evereth dies, you may pay 1(B/R). When you do, Evereth deals damage equal to its power to each opponent.
If you ask us, Evereth, Viceroy of Plunder is one of the best new Commanders from Foundations Jumpstart. Right now, they’re easily also one of the most expensive Foundations Jumpstart cards too, which is no surprise. Offering a free sacrifice outlet from the Command zone, Evereth is a very exciting new option for the fan-favorite Aristocrats archetype.
Currently, the go-to Commander for an Aristocrats deck tends to be Teysa Karlov, who is admittedly a great choice. Alternatively, if we’re keeping things Rakdos, Juri, Master of the Revue is the fan favorite. While both of these cards are good, offering increased value when sacrificing creatures, they don’t facilitate any sacrificing shenanigans.
This is where Evereth, Viceroy of Plunder steps in to give the archetype a serious boost. Instead of needing to find a card like Warren Soultrader or Phyrexian Altar, you’ll always have an engine available. Sure, this engine might not provide the most value in the world, but having it as a constant option is invaluable.
To solidify their position as a fantastic new option for Aristocrats decks, Evereth, Viceroy of Plunder is also rather threatening. Using their sacrifice ability can scale them rather quickly and then you can kill them off too for widespread damage. Should you get an infinite sacrifice loop going, Evereth can theoretically clear a table very quickly.
Aphelia, Viper Whisperer
Price: $31
- Mana Value: 1B
- Rarity: Mythic
- Card Type: Legendary Creature — Gorgon Assassin
- Stats: 1/3
- Card Text: Deathtouch
Whenever Aphelia attacks, you may pay 1(B/G). If you do, create a 1/1 black Snake creature token with deathtouch.
4B: Until end of turn, whenever one or more Gorgons and/or Snakes you control deal combat damage to a player, that player loses half their life, rounded up.
Neither Gorgons nor Snakes are the most popular typal archetypes in MTG but Aphelia, Viper Whisperer’s price might make you think otherwise. Only appearing in one Foundations Jumpstart theme, Aphelia is bound to be fairly rare, which should keep their price high. Whether or not it will stay at this surprising premium, for long, however, remains to be seen.
Despite supporting two somewhat lackluster typal themes, Aphelia, Viper Whisperer is nonetheless a simple yet deadly threat. With one ability Aphelia creates Snakes, and with her other ability, she kills you with them. Technically, this will be a slow death over time, halving an opponent’s life total with each hit.
This slow burn might not seem too impressive on the surface, but it’s easy to break this effect and create deadly one-hit kills. The current favorite way to do this is Bloodletter of Aclazotz. Should you play these cards together on curve, you could even manage a turn five kill with no ramp. Throw in some mana rocks and a few more snakes, and your opponents will have a lot to worry about.
While Aphelia, Viper Whisperer has some new fun flare, don’t be surprised if they end up tumbling down this list. Even with their rarity as a mythic, Snakes and Gorgons are hardly popular in the grand scheme of Commander. Similarly, while fun “loses half their life” effects aren’t really a build-around theme, so Aphelia may struggle to find a home.
Rev, Tithe Extractor
Price: $40
- Mana Value: 3B
- Rarity: Rare
- Card Type: Legendary Creature — Human Rogue
- Stats: 3/3
- Card Text: Whenever you attack, target creature gains deathtouch until end of turn.
Whenever one or more creatures you control deal combat damage to a player, create a Treasure token, then look at the top card of that player’s library and exile it face down. You may cast that card for as long as it remains exiled. (A Treasure token is an artifact with “{T}, Sacrifice this artifact: Add one mana of any color.
Currently, Rev, Tithe Extractor is the most expensive MTG Foundations Jumpstart card and it’s not even close. Recent sales on TCGplayer have pushed as high as $49.97, which is insane for a Jumpstart rare. It seems the limited supply of Rev has really pushed her price up as listings now start at around $111!
Currently, no one has been so bold as to pay this immensely inflated price tag, but it nonetheless shows demand. Looking at Rev, Tithe Extractor closely, it’s no wonder that MTG players want to add her to their decks. Essentially, Rev makes all your other creatures do their best Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer impression which looks seriously strong.
As unique as her ability is, Rev, Tithe Extractor doesn’t make for the best Commander. Thanks to her mono black color identity, you don’t get many card-stealing synergies to play with. Subsequently, Rev is better placed within existing theft-focused decks, such as those helmed by Gonti, Canny Acquisitor.
Despite this somewhat limited use case, Rev, Tithe Extractor is still a true powerhouse of an MTG card. Even outside of theft-themed decks, she will do real work just sitting around on the battlefield. She doesn’t need to attack or really do anything herself, just sit there glamorously and provide consistent value.
Given their power there is a real chance that Rev, Tithe Extractor is the most popular new Jumpstart Foundations card. This doesn’t mean that they’re going to be the most expensive Jumpstart Foundations card, mind you. Once more supply hits online retailers, there’s a good chance her price will fall to a more reasonable level.
