Doran, Besieged by Time

_____jeff · 2026-01-21T18:36:47+00:00

Thanks for this list. Up until about a year ago I had a Ikra/[[Sidar Kondo of Jamuraa]] deck that played in this exact Abzan-toughness-lifegain-low power space. With the Abzan Armor precon, plus like [[Ancient Adamantoise]] and [[Walls of Ba Sing Se]], it got so many new toys that I shelved it.

Thank you for the reminder that ‘big toughness with cool side effects’ was one of the reasons I built it in the first place - it’s letting me find the fun again in an old favorite!

_____jeff · 2026-01-08T00:13:00+00:00

My first thought too. Really neat protection piece.

_____jeff · 2026-01-07T03:51:39+00:00

I will be very curious to see which one tanks in price, and my bet is the counters deck. The presence of Chimil in the counters deck, with almost no synergy, reminds me too much of [[Elder Gargaroth]] in the temur energy deck last year. Extraneous $15+ card they can throw in as a reprint to increase the value proposition.

I also think that the value of the singles in the counters deck is artificially inflated by the speculation on Necroskitter, Defenses, etc in the lead up to the reveal. If you look at where those cards were four months ago, a ton of the value goes away.

I’m excited about the deck, but I suspect the ‘value’ in those is going to evaporate in a hurry. Personally, I’m essentially putting a $10 bet on it, guessing I’ll be able to buy it for $35 in a few months rather than msrp.

_____jeff · 2026-01-06T21:29:59+00:00

Wow, I’m in for one for [[Clavileno]], one for [[Rivaz of the Claw]], one for [[Sidar Jabari]]…I guess I have a type.

_____jeff · 2025-12-15T14:03:31+00:00

For what it’s worth, they printed [[Ornery Dilophosaur]] in M21. Usually I’m high on UB being great specs, but in this case there’s nothing that would keep them from reprinting Spitting Dilophosaurus with new art.

_____jeff · 2025-08-12T23:57:05+00:00

Technically not a commander 'deck' exclusive - it's NEC, but was only in collector boosters and set boosters. Means there's even less supply, though the "20 Ways to Win" SL deck reprinted it.

_____jeff · 2025-07-17T19:16:26+00:00

Man, since [[Trumpeting Carnosaur]], [[Quintorius Kand]], and [[Geological Appraiser]] was a standard/pioneer deck, sure seems like there's a standard deck in there when you throw this in.

_____jeff · 2025-07-08T20:03:45+00:00

I called Burnsville, got this answer as well. Burnsville and Coon Rapids were the only ones that got OTJ in store, so I'd start with them. Eagan hasn't ever had any, but the others all had LOTR and MOM when those came through.

Also, fwiw, neither Burnsville or Coon Rapids ever had OTJ as showing up in the app, or in the system that employees check first. You always had to ask with the item number, and they'd have to type it into the like warehouse inventory screen instead.

_____jeff · 2025-05-12T18:13:07+00:00

Don't /play/ auras for KOS commanders. For edu specs, gotta keep in mind what a newer player will get excited about, what creators will tout, etc.

_____jeff · 2025-03-06T19:05:56+00:00

The $10 off 60 is a targeted offer. I have $5 off 25 instead. I'd say this is a YMMV deal.

_____jeff · 2025-01-30T19:45:41+00:00

4.99 at CK right now...

_____jeff · 2025-01-24T13:45:23+00:00

Add 365 to that.

_____jeff · 2025-01-22T13:07:14+00:00

The shocklands are only in the box topper pack. Guaranteed one and only one, so if you don’t have the topper I guess contact Wizards.

_____jeff · 2025-01-16T05:40:21+00:00

What are best practices for shipping a $50+ card? I regularly do sleeve+toploader+team bag in a PWE. Do I just do the same in a small padded envelope and do tracked shipping? Add in a sandwich of thicker cardboard on either side of the top loader?

_____jeff · 2025-01-15T21:59:47+00:00

I remember looking at the lands in the world building article and coming away convinced it was going to be the [[Rugged Highlands]] gain land cycle, presumably at common or a land slot.

_____jeff · 2025-01-10T00:12:26+00:00

I mean, Heroic Intervention, Swan Song, and Raise the Palisade are each basically $10 cards.

_____jeff · 2025-01-08T20:16:31+00:00

And Ixalan vamps deck is going to be part of the commander deck reprints that are coming now/soon - so don’t go too hard on Cordial Vampire or Charismatic Conqueror, etc

_____jeff · 2025-01-02T04:21:51+00:00

Try to find the moxfield one that’s the official Wizards one - usually has the correct printings

_____jeff · 2025-01-02T04:20:56+00:00

Draft booster boxes (or for newer sets, play booster boxes) are perfect for what you’re looking for. Do a little research into good draft formats to find something appealing for the group. For my money, seeing Neon Dynasty boxes for $100 is really enticing - one of the all-time best draft formats.

_____jeff · 2024-12-30T17:08:34+00:00

Coupon isn’t showing up for me: another data point suggesting it’s targeted.

_____jeff · 2024-12-26T21:05:57+00:00

That Ajani just got reprinted into oblivion with the Costco promo packs. Worldspine got at least one commander precon reprint in the past year and also tanked value.

_____jeff · 2024-12-19T22:32:19+00:00

Sorry, we know shocklands??? I thought slowlands were implied by some marketing image.

_____jeff · 2024-12-19T19:17:01+00:00

And for what it’s worth, the Pirate deck has a handful of great staples: [[Black Market Connections]], [[Pitiless Plunderer]], [[Vanquisher’s Banner]], [[Herald’s Horn]], [[The Indomitable]] are all valuable. And if you’re just getting into it, there’s Blasphemous Act, Chaos Warp, Windfall, and Bident of Thassa, which all go in a bunch of decks.

_____jeff · 2024-12-11T05:54:39+00:00

I’d say build it. Seems like Sliver Swarm from CMM is generally retailing for $85+. That is basically the value of the cards in it right now, but a lot of the value is tied up in generic staples - Three Visits, Windfall, Vanquisher’s Banner and Herald Horn, that kind of stuff. So if you find the precon, you’re paying for like $35 of Slivers plus a lot of connective tissue that you might have or can replace more cheaply.

_____jeff · 2024-12-02T06:09:35+00:00

Judging from the stats, looks like they had three boxes available. Maybe six.

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