At long last, all of the cards in Phyrexia: All Will Be One have been released. Considering the set officially launched on February 10th, it’s safe to say this process has taken longer than usual. The reason for this uncommon occurrence is the highly anticipated Bundle: Compleat Edition, which exclusively includes Oil Slick Raised Foils. Due to their unique look, these cards were anticipated to be hugely expensive. At one point, prices even soared to around $250 for just one of these cards! Since then, however, the product has actually launched, and prices have crashed significantly.
Now that the dust has settled around the Bundle: Compleat Edition, we can finally look at Phyrexia: All Will Be One in its entirety. Subsequently, it’s high time that we finally go over the top 10 most expensive cards in the set. So, without any further ado, let’s do just that!
Actually, first things first, we’ve got to lay down a few ground rules. Within this list, we’ll only be looking at the basic versions of each card from Phyrexia: All Will Be One. This is due to the litany of unique art and foil treatments, which would otherwise cause this list to just be four cards. Additionally, the Concept Praetor cards, which can be found in Phyrexia: All Will Be One Draft Boosters, won’t be making this list. Now that all that is out of the way, one with the list.
10 – Jace, the Perfected Mind | $6.78
Kicking off our list is the fairly unassuming Jace, the Perfected Mind. Coming in at under the $7 mark, the latest Jace is hardly a breakout staple, but it is seeing play. Predominantly, Jace, the Perfected Mind has found their home within Mill decks within Modern. Played alongside powerful spells such as Archive Trap and Tasha’s Hideous Laughter Jace is surprisingly powerful. Thanks to their -2 ability, Jace, the Perfected Mind not only whittles down your opponent’s library but also draws you three cards (when used in a mill shell). Alternatively, for four mana, Jace can mill fifteen cards, which is obviously pretty devastating.
Ultimately, while Mill decks can be a lot of fun to pilot and no fun to play against, Dimir Mill is a playable archetype in Modern. Upon Jace’s release, the deck even saw a massive boost in play and win rate thanks to Jace’s release. Unfortunately, recent tournament results suggest that this archetype is heavily underperforming currently. Due to this, there’s not a huge demand for Jace, the Perfected Mind on the secondary market. So much so, we wouldn’t be surprised to see this card’s price slump somewhat in the future.
9 – Phyrexian Obliterator | $7.52
Phyrexian Obliterator is the only reprint from Phyrexia: All Will Be One to make this list. Considering the original card costs roughly $30, its presence here is unsurprising. What is a surprise, however, is just how low down Phyrexian Obliterator sits on this list. Costing just $7.52, according to TCGplayer’s market price, it appears this reprint has satiated demand and then some. Despite being significantly cheaper than the original New Phyrexia printing, there’s no doubting Phyrexian Obliterator power. An absolute menace to get rid of without exile effects, thanks to its sacrifice ability, Phyrexian Obliterator sees a decent amount of play in Commander. Since the card is also legal is Standard for the time being, it’s also making waves there too. This is despite its rather steep four-black mana casting cost.
8 – All Will Be One | $8.06
As the namesake card of the set, it feels right that All Will Be One has made this list. That being said, however, it’s also rather strange All Will Be One made this list since it’s not tremendously popular. Predominantly played in a variety of Commander decks All Will Be One is a seriously powerful card within counter-oriented decks. Allowing players to control the board with frightening efficiency, this card is a natural inclusion to any deck that can enable it. The Tyranid Swarm Warhammer 40,000 Commander deck, for instance, is an obvious home for All Will Be One. If that wasn’t good enough, All Will Be One is also part of a two-card infinite combo! If anything, it’s a surprise that All Will Be One isn’t worth more than $8.06 right now!
7 – Venerated Rotpriest | $8.08
By quite some margin, Venerated Rotpriest is the only rare card to earn a spot on this list. As adorable as the next most expensive card Skrelv, Defector Mite is, this is ultimately unsurprising. After all, Venerated Rotpriest is one of, if not the, best rare cards in the entire set. Played within a smattering of Standard, Modern, and Commander decks, Venerated Rotpriest can be an absolute menace. Not only does Venerated Rotpriest protect all your creatures through the threat of Poison counters, but it’s also strong offensively. Look no further than the exceedingly aggressive Toxic Storm Modern deck for evidence of that. Should this card have been a mythic rarity card, we expect the price of Venerated Rotpriest would be absolutely obscene. Thankfully, in this reality, they’re only rare, costing just $8.08.
6 – Ichormoon Gauntlet | $10.38
More so than any other card in the entirety of Phyrexia: All Will Be One, Ichormoon Gauntlet feels like it serves one solitary purpose. The card is practically custom-made for the beloved Commander archetype; Superfriends. Making use of as many Planeswalkers as sensible, this card is an obvious fit for the deck. After all, what’s not to love about giving your Planeswalkers extra abilities, especially one that reads Proliferate. As if that wasn’t enough already, with thirteen Planeswalkers in play, Ichormoon Gauntlet allows you to take infinite turns. While Ichormoon Gauntlet is undoubtedly an incredibly powerful card in the right deck, the Superfriends archetype isn’t tremendously popular. Subsequently, the card is only worth around $10.38 on average.
5 – Vraska, Betrayal’s Sting | $10.56
Thanks to their trio of powerful abilities, it’s not hard to see why Vraska, Betrayal’s Sting made the list of the most expensive cards in Phyrexia: All Will Be One. Offering card draw, removal, and a somewhat expensive, win condition, Vraska, Betrayal’s Sting does it all. Due to this, Vraska, Betrayal’s Sting is an obvious inclusion to many decks that are intent on winning. Jund Midrange Standard decks, for instance, yep, Vraska’s a good fit. The same goes for Commander decks helmed by any of the many Atraxas; Vraska is just a good fit! While undeniably a powerful card, however, Vraska, Betrayal’s Sting isn’t exactly going to change the world. Thanks to this, they won’t break the bank either, coming in at just over the $10 mark for a basic copy.
4 – Atraxa, Grand Unifier | $18.87
Despite being a follow-up to the most popular Commander of all time, Atraxa, Grand Unifier is surprisingly absent from the format. While they certainly get played, according to EDHREC, it’s nowhere near the level that Atraxa, Praetors’ Voice does. Thankfully for Atraxa fans, however, Atraxa, Grand Unifier is notable for more than just teasing the upcoming Battle cards. By the numbers, Atraxa, Grand Unifier sees the most play in various five-color Standard decks. Alongside this, they’ve also quickly become a staple within Legacy and Vintage reanimator decks, further driving up the card’s value. The card also sees some Modern play in Elemental Control decks. Currently, basic copies of Atraxa, Grand Unifier sell for around $18.87. Following the launch of Battle cards in March of the Machine, however, this price may climb that much higher.
3 – Sword of Forge and Frontier | $21.31
Continuing the cycle 13 years in the making, MTG players were understandably excited about the Sword of Forge and Frontier. Providing protection from Red and Green, as well as a powerful exile effect, this highly anticipated sword certainly doesn’t disappoint. While obviously a versatile tool in numerous Commander decks, the Sword of Forge and Frontier is primarily played in Pioneer. Finding its home within Gruul Vehicles and White Weenie decks, this iconic sword will likely be around for the long haul. Similarly to the other Swords of X and Y, this may lead to the Sword of Forge and Frontier’s value increasing over time. For now, however, a market price of $21.31 certainly isn’t to be scoffed at.
2 – Mondrak, Glory Dominus | $28.77
Glory, glory ᵈᵒᵐᶦⁿᵘˢ what, a hell of a way to double tokens. Frequently referred to as “Anointed Procession on a stick,” it’s easy to see why Mondrak, Glory Dominus is popular. Providing incredible value, especially in lengthy Commander games, Mondrak, Glory Dominus is an obvious inclusion in any token-centric deck. As a creature, technically, Mondrak, Glory Dominus isn’t quite as good as Anointed Procession since they’re more subject to removal. While this would explain the $17 gulf in price between the two cards, Mondrak isn’t useless. Thanks to their ability to gain Indestructible via sacrificing creatures or artifacts, Mondrak can have some serious staying power.
1 – Elesh Norn, Mother of Machines | $30.30
Unsurprisingly, the card that was so good it was almost banned in Commander before the set’s release tops this list. In case you’ve somehow missed all the drama, as the subheading reveals, this card is Elesh Norn, Mother of Machines. Boasting a devastating pair of abilities that speed you up while slowing opponents, Elesh Norn is nothing short of oppressive. Essentially being Panharmonicon on a stick, but turned up to 11, Elesh Norn, Mother of Machines, can completely take over games.
Considering their power, unsurprisingly, Elesh Norn, Mother of Machines isn’t only being played in Commander. Alongside occasionally appearing within four-color Omnath Modern decks, Elesh Norn is also making waves in Standard. Thanks to this demand, Elesh Norn, Mother of Machines is easily the most expensive card in the set, as its $30.30 average price tag proves. This already expensive price, however, only scratches the surface.
0 – Elesh Norn, Mother of Machines (Again) | $165.66
Considering we only said this list would be ten cards long, you might be surprised to see Elesh Norn, Mother of Machines on here again. Ultimately, however, the myriad of different art and foil variants in Phyrexia: All Will Be One, are simply too expensive to ignore. In fact, we could easily populate an entire list with just Step and Compleat cards, since they’re seriously valuable. Subsequently, Elesh Norn is back to claim the top spot twice in a row. After all, they’re more than deserving of the crown. In fact, if it weren’t for Sheoldred, the Apocalypse’s Concept Preator art, the different versions of Elesh Norn would be the set’s five most expensive cards.
Topping the chats for Phyrexia: All Will Be One is Junji Ito’s rendition of the Commander favorite in the Step-and-Compleat foil treatment. Found only within Collector Boosters, there’s no question that this card is the most lucrative chase card from the set. This is evidenced by its price alone, which clocks in at an outstanding $165.66 on average. Remarkably, this immense price doesn’t even appear to be a momentary peak, as the card has hovered around the $170 range for a month now. How much that price will change in the future, however, remains to be seen.
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