Each of New Capenna’s crime families is appealing to different players. And while players are using cards from each family in various Magic formats, as far as the bosses of each family go, they mostly had Commander appeal. In fact, upon the release of Streets of New Capenna, none of family bosses majorly impacted constructed formats until Raffine, Scheming Seer, broke into Standard. Now, its price is on the move.
Raffine, Scheming Seer
At the start of May, Raffine (regular art) was about $1.50. It rose to about $6.00 toward the end of last week. And over the weekend, Raffine, Scheming Seer, continued to rise in price and is now about $8.00.
The showcase version is now approaching $15.00 as there are only 28 listings left on TCGPlayer. And the Gilded Foil version of Raffine is now the most expensive Gilded Foil in the set, coming in at almost $80.00!
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Why Did Prices Rise?
People have begun to understand the power of the new mechanic, connive. It’s basically the same thing as “looting” (drawing and discarding a card) but it has the benefit of potentially buffing your creature with +1/+1 counters.
This is why
Ledger Shredder
Ledger Shredder
Flying
Whenever a player casts their second spell each turn, this creature connives. (Draw a card, then discard a card. If you discarded a nonland card, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature.)
rose in price last week. And it’s why the price of Raffine, Scheming Seer, closely followed suit.
In addition, Raffine rose in price is because of its growing popularity in Standard, where four copies of the Sphinx Demon are used in Esper Midrange. Let’s check out the deck:
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What Decks Use Raffine?
Esper Midrange takes some of the concepts of Mono-White Aggro decks, but goes a bit bigger with its strategy. It still plays aggressive creatures like
Luminarch Aspirant
Luminarch Aspirant
At the beginning of combat on your turn, put a +1/+1 counter on target creature you control.
and the new
Tenacious Underdog
Tenacious Underdog
Blitz—{2}{B}{B}, Pay 2 life. (If you cast this spell for its blitz cost, it gains haste and "When this creature dies, draw a card." Sacrifice it at the beginning of the next end step.)
You may cast this card from your graveyard using its blitz ability.
. And Raffine, Scheming Seer, can pump their stats further.
But Esper Midrange also plays a package of planeswalkers including
Kaito Shizuki
Kaito Shizuki
At the beginning of your end step, if Kaito entered this turn, he phases out.
+1: Draw a card. Then discard a card unless you attacked this turn.
−2: Create a 1/1 blue Ninja creature token with "This token can't be blocked."
−7: You get an emblem with "Whenever a creature you control deals combat damage to a player, search your library for a blue or black creature card, put it onto the battlefield, then shuffle."
,
Lolth, Spider Queen
Lolth, Spider Queen
Whenever a creature you control dies, put a loyalty counter on Lolth.
0: You draw a card and you lose 1 life.
−3: Create two 2/1 black Spider creature tokens with reach and menace.
−8: You get an emblem with "Whenever an opponent is dealt combat damage by one or more creatures you control, if that player lost less than 8 life this turn, they lose life equal to the difference."
, and
The Wandering Emperor
The Wandering Emperor
Flash
As long as The Wandering Emperor entered this turn, you may activate her loyalty abilities any time you could cast an instant.
+1: Put a +1/+1 counter on up to one target creature. It gains first strike until end of turn.
−1: Create a 2/2 white Samurai creature token with vigilance.
−2: Exile target tapped creature. You gain 2 life.
, as sticky threats to accrue value over several turns.
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