Now the tabletop release is gone, it’s time to look at what’s valuable in the set and what isn’t. With Adventures in the Forgotten Realms, the value of the set seems reasonable but has a high ceiling. Firstly, this is the first crossover Magic effort with more coming under the Universes Beyond banner. Extending this, there will be a demand not only with Magic players, but with D&D players to pick up cards of their favorite creatures and characters. There is a bigger audience for the set, which is sure to promote demand throughout the set’s life.
Adventures in the Forgotten Realms offers more than a play experience, it provides a collectible experience and one that could see some application in a typical session of D&D. With that, there a handful of cards creeping up due to these reasons, and because of their usage in popular formats such as Commander.
Werewolf Pack Leader
Since the release of Innistrad: Midnight Hunt, various Werewolf cards are beginning to rise in price due to the tribe support in the set. One of those cards is
Werewolf Pack Leader
Werewolf Pack Leader
Pack tactics — Whenever this creature attacks, if you attacked with creatures with total power 6 or greater this combat, draw a card.
{3}{G}: Until end of turn, this creature has base power and toughness 5/3, gains trample, and isn't a Human.
, an aggressively costed Werewolf that offers card draw.
The card can also become a Human as a 5/3 if you want to get really aggressive. You see the Human Werewolf feature in Standard Gruul Werewolves and Mono-Green Aggro since it’s decently costed and gains all the benefits that other Werewolf cards may offer. Even with Innistrad: Crimson Vow coming, expect to see the card feature heavily in Standard with the more Werewolf cards printed.
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Hall of Storm Giants
With the release of Adventures in the Forgotten Realms, a new cycle of mono-colored creature lands was printed. Out of the cycle,
Hall of Storm Giants
Hall of Storm Giants
If you control two or more other lands, this land enters tapped.
{T}: Add {U}.
{5}{U}: Until end of turn, this land becomes a 7/7 blue Giant creature with ward {3}. It's still a land. (Whenever it becomes the target of a spell or ability an opponent controls, counter it unless that player pays {3}.)
sees the most play as an almost hexproof 7/7 is an amazing threat to have access to. You see it Standard, but also beginning to appear in Modern in Blue-based Control shells as it’s a win condition.
Also, the land comes in untapped if you have one land or less in play which makes it decent in the early game. Even in Commander, the card can put in some serious damage unless your opponent is willing to trade three mana to remove it. Expect to see this cycle feature in Standard for as long as they are legal with usage in Pioneer and Modern too.
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Inferno of the Star Mounts
Throughout Standard’s history, we often see a big Red Dragon make a notable presence in the format, cards such as Glorbringer and Stormbreath Dragon all have seen success at the hands of competitive players in the past.
Inferno of the Star Mounts
Inferno of the Star Mounts
This spell can't be countered.
Flying, haste
{R}: Inferno of the Star Mounts gets +1/+0 until end of turn. When its power becomes 20 this way, it deals 20 damage to any target.
may be the next to continue that legacy in constructed formats.
For six mana, you get an uncounterable, evasive and hasty creature that is sure to demand an answer the second it enters play. It also offers a firebreathing ability which is sure to ask questions in a pod of Commander. With Standard rotation on the horizon,
Inferno of the Star Mounts
Inferno of the Star Mounts
This spell can't be countered.
Flying, haste
{R}: Inferno of the Star Mounts gets +1/+0 until end of turn. When its power becomes 20 this way, it deals 20 damage to any target.
is one to keep an eye out for. There could be a Red Treasure list featuring
Goldspan Dragon
Goldspan Dragon
Flying, haste
Whenever this creature attacks or becomes the target of a spell, create a Treasure token.
Treasures you control have "{T}, Sacrifice this artifact: Add two mana of any one color."
, or adding Blue for
Galazeth Prismari
Galazeth Prismari
Flying
When Galazeth Prismari enters, create a Treasure token.
Artifacts you control have "{T}: Add one mana of any color. Spend this mana only to cast an instant or sorcery spell."
. Either way, expect to see cards become in demand due to the upcoming rotation.
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Ebondeath, Dracolich
Carrying on the Mythic cycle of Dragons is Ebondeath, Dracolich which offers a sacrifice outlet for Commander. By using cards such as
Grave Pact
Grave Pact
Whenever a creature you control dies, each other player sacrifices a creature of their choice.
, Ashnod’s Altar, and Butcher of Malakir you should be able to keep most of your opponents from being able to maintain a board state. You won’t be able to loop with those permanents and there are cheaper creatures you can use instead, but doing this a couple of times may be enough for the table to scoop.
Another thing about these D&D-themed cards is that they are desirable amongst D&D collectors. They may not be inherently powerful cards, but offer enough individuality that MTG and D&D fans will be after these. Lastly, the Zombie Dragon does come with Flash allowing you to use the card as a blocker in a pinch. It’s nothing fancy but it’s at least flavorful to compliment the D&D universe.
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Acererak the Archlich
Acererak the Archlich
Acererak the Archlich
When Acererak enters, if you haven't completed Tomb of Annihilation, return Acererak to its owner's hand and venture into the dungeon.
Whenever Acererak attacks, for each opponent, you create a 2/2 black Zombie creature token unless that player sacrifices a creature of their choice.
is one of the most famous end-bosses in all of the D&D lore. Found in the Tomb of Horrors, the Zombie Wizard is a Lich of immense power, who lives in a sanctum protected from intruders. In the realm of MTG, the card is pretty good and offers plenty of combo potential.
As such, the card is seeing fringe play in Legacy in
Aluren
Aluren
Any player may cast creature spells with mana value 3 or less without paying their mana costs and as though they had flash.
as you are able to Venture and complete dungeons, especially Lost Mine of Phandelver. By venturing through the Lost of Mine of Phandelver, you are able to venture to the Dark Pool room which drains the opponent for one life – rinse and repeat until the opponent has no more life. You can use the combination in Commander too, and there are ways to find either cards since you’re in black, which offers the best tutor suite available.
Read More: The 10 Best Commanders From Innistrad: Midnight Hunt
Ranger Class
You may be familiar with
Ranger Class
Ranger Class
(Gain the next level as a sorcery to add its ability.)
When this Class enters, create a 2/2 green Wolf creature token.
{1}{G}: Level 2
Whenever you attack, put a +1/+1 counter on target attacking creature.
{3}{G}: Level 3
You may look at the top card of your library any time.
You may cast creature spells from the top of your library.
in Limited where it’s one of the best rares you can play. Outside of Limited, the card sees plenty of play in Standard as it’s able to offer so much value for little mana investment.
The Class Enchantment is heavily featured in Standard Mono-Green Aggro which is one of the best answers to Izzet Epiphany at present. You are able to create Tokens, add counters to creatures, and cast creature cards from the top of your library. The Class Enchantment cards see little play outside of Standard, but they’re a fantastic design space and sure to remain playable until they rotate out next year.
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Demilich
It was one of the most hyped cards during Adventures in the Forgotten Realms preview season, and it’s easy to see why. Since its release, Demilich is making its presence known in eternal constructed formats such as Modern and Legacy. It’s even cropping up in MTG Arena’s Historic format in
Arclight Phoenix
Arclight Phoenix
Flying, haste
At the beginning of combat on your turn, if you've cast three or more instant and sorcery spells this turn, return this card from your graveyard to the battlefield.
builds since you already run a high density of instant and sorceries.
You’ll want to run the Skeleton Wizard in dedicated
Arclight Phoenix
Arclight Phoenix
Flying, haste
At the beginning of combat on your turn, if you've cast three or more instant and sorcery spells this turn, return this card from your graveyard to the battlefield.
lists in Modern (or Historic) since both creatures care about casting a myriad of spells in a turn. The ability to recast Demilich from the graveyard encourages a resilient gameplan, and the ability to re-cast spells from your graveyard when it attacks. With that, expect the price of Demilich to rise when more cheap and powerful spells come into older formats. Since it’s not Legendary, many players will be after the full set of Demilich since you’ll want to cast the creature as regular as possible in a game of MTG.
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Tiamat
Tiamat
Tiamat
Flying
When Tiamat enters, if you cast it, search your library for up to five Dragon cards not named Tiamat that each have different names, reveal them, put them into your hand, then shuffle.
is a seven-mana Dragon God who will be a strong contender to lead a Dragon tribal Commander deck. When cast,
Tiamat
Tiamat
Flying
When Tiamat enters, if you cast it, search your library for up to five Dragon cards not named Tiamat that each have different names, reveal them, put them into your hand, then shuffle.
can find up to five Dragon cards that each has a different name and put into your hand. What makes
Tiamat
Tiamat
Flying
When Tiamat enters, if you cast it, search your library for up to five Dragon cards not named Tiamat that each have different names, reveal them, put them into your hand, then shuffle.
a powerful option is the ability to tutor up particular Dragons for certain situations. Want to stop players interacting on your turn? Grab Dragonlord Dromoka. Want token generation? Grab Beledros Witherbloom. The options are endless, and Tiamat works wonderfully alongside an
Omniscience
Omniscience
You may cast spells from your hand without paying their mana costs.
to put those Dragons into play for free.
With that in mind, expect
Tiamat
Tiamat
Flying
When Tiamat enters, if you cast it, search your library for up to five Dragon cards not named Tiamat that each have different names, reveal them, put them into your hand, then shuffle.
to rise up in price the longer Adventures in the Forgotten Realms is around. Tribal is a popular archetype within Commander, and there are plenty of Dragon players that will want to add the Dragon God to their existing lists.
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Lolth, Spider Queen
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."
may not be the most powerful of cards to come from Adventures in the Forgotten Realms, but it’s sure to be one of the most flavorful from the set.
While the Goddess doesn’t immediately impact the board when she enters, what she offers is incremental value. Enough to provide card draw and a stream of threats to protect her as the game progresses. The ultimate isn’t anything to shy away at either, although expect to see that final ability appear more in Commander than Standard. Lolth will offer decent monetary value as she’s a well-loved character within the D&D lore, and there will be players who will want to collect the cards of their favorite characters.
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Old Gnawbone
Another great target to find off Tiamat’s cast ability is Old Gnawbone. For seven mana, you get a Dragon that rewards you with treasure for every time a creature attacks and the amount of damage dealt. Seeing Green getting a huge treasure payoff may seem weird, but Old Gnawbone slots into plenty
You can pair Old Gnawbone with either
Goldspan Dragon
Goldspan Dragon
Flying, haste
Whenever this creature attacks or becomes the target of a spell, create a Treasure token.
Treasures you control have "{T}, Sacrifice this artifact: Add two mana of any one color."
to double your treasures or go infinite with Aggravated Assault. Or, you can even use it alongside Modern Horizon 2‘s
Academy Manufactor
Academy Manufactor
If you would create a Clue, Food, or Treasure token, instead create one of each.
to receive Clue and Food tokens for your efforts too. Expect Old Gnawbone to go up in value as the set ages due to the unique ability in a color that rarely sees dedicated treasure support.
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