The worth of a card is not necessarily in its monetary value, as each and every card can help one in any given situation, depending on what needs to be done. Mostly, it is for collectibility reasons that certain Magic: The Gathering cards can become so expensive. Rarity is also a factor, especially when certain cards go out of print.
There are always people willing to spend good money on collectible merchandise because for some collecting is about acquiring trophies. With most modern high-bid card selling taking place on the internet, the following list was compiled from the statistics on eBay using the ‘completed listing’ filter.
10 Mox Pearl
The Mox gems are a group of five cards that are legendary for a few reasons. Firstly, because they are insanely overpowered, and have been since they were created in 1993. All five of the original Mox gens have been banned from every single format in the game’s history, except one. The card game industry tends to shift a lot, but some restrictions stay the same from when they were implemented. A Mox Pearl card (Beta Edition) was sold for $11,000 USD on October 3rd, 2020.
9 Mox Ruby
In terms of gameplay, the Mox gems are considered immensely powerful because multiple can be played on the same turn for a sudden surge of mana that could give one massive advantage. Each different gem corresponds to a different color of mana, so if a player had a rainbow deck with all five, they could unleash an unpredictable, and powerful, strategy of their choice. A Mox Ruby (Beta Edition) was sold for $11,500 USD on October 3rd, 2020.
8 Intuition
Blue decks are known for having many Instants, and some can be confounding. Intuition is one that puts a decision into one’s opponent’s hands, so using this card effectively will require an understanding of the enemy’s psyche. Though, it can be argued this is true in some regard with all card games, on or offline. This is also a card on the Reserved List, meaning that it is one of the cards that will never be printed again in order to preserve the value of existing cards. One of these from the Tempest Edition was sold for $11,900 USD on October 27, 2020.
7 Mox Sapphire
The Mox gems are valued highly in gameplay and in regards to real-world currency. It feels appropriate for gems to be valued, which further adds to the mystique this group of cards holds over MTG fans everywhere.
A box full of collectible cards including them would be equivalent to a treasure chest full of precious gems. A Mox Sapphire (Beta Edition) was sold for $12,100 USD on September 28th, 2020.
6 Timetwister
Another from the Reserved List, this card is almost as chaotic as it is rare. It gives a player a way to put cards from their graveyard back into their deck, possibly recovering important cards, and then lets them draw a new hand of seven fresh ones, perfect for if one has more mana than useful cards prior to playing Timetwister. As it does the same for the opponent, it can also be used to ruin their current strategy. One of these (Beta Edition) was sold for $13,600 USD on October 27th, 2020.
5 Mox Jet
Currently, the highest-selling card of the Mox Gems, this one depicting a jet-black gem is the epitome of subtle, yet mighty, elegance. The “Mox” portion refers to the term “Moxie”, meaning ‘full of energy’. This is an indication that these gems were meant to provide a great flow of mana to one when needed. Such a stark vibrance is not something one forgets easily. A Mox Jet (Beta Edition) was sold for $13,866 USD on September 28th, 2020.
4 Underground Sea
One of the better Land cards, this one can be treated as both a swamp or island, depending on what one needs at the time of tapping. A versatile card with a lovely illustration would make this a prize for any collector.
Most don’t think of Land cards when they ponder upon the rarest and most expensive MTG cards, but this beautiful vista proves that nature can be as impressive as any Artifact, Sorcery, or Instant. An Underground Sea card (Beta Edition) was sold for $15,000 USD on October 8th, 2020.
3 Ancestral Recall
This low-cost Instant can be used in any situation where one would want more cards. There are not many strategies that involve forcing an opponent to draw cards, but it is not unheard of. Blue cards, in general, tend to be highly valued for their efficiency and average low cost to play. Picking up three cards by spending one mana is always a great trade. An Ancestral Recall card (Beta Edition) was sold for $15,000 USD on September 30th, 2020.
2 Time Walk
This is currently the most expensive blue card ever sold. In fact, it is the most expensive card of any dedicated color. When one considers how broken its effect is, they will understand why. A player granting themselves another turn is close to divine power, especially for such a low mana cost. A Time Walk card (Alpha Edition) was sold for $19,188 USD on August 27th, 2020.
1 Black Lotus
The legendary Black Lotus has been the most expensive MTG card for a while, though its price fluctuates with the market. With the ability to draw forth a burst of mana, it can shift the tide in any battle. All of the cards on this list, save Intuition and Underground Sea, are from a group of cards known as Power 9. These are cards that have only been printed in 1993 and 1994 for the Alpha, Beta, and Unlimited sets and are considered some of the most powerful cards in the history of Magic: The Gathering. A Black Lotus card (Beta Edition) was sold for a whopping $26,500 USD on August 27th, 2020.
NEXT: The 10 Most Expensive Magic: The Gathering Cards (& How Much They’re Going For)
