If you read my article last week about the power of uncommons, then you know how important having these in your collection can be. The ability to pick up sweet uncommons that many players don’t care about can be a boon to you in your trading. Last week I introduced the concept, and this week I’m going to give you guys a list (in video form!) of the ten uncommons I think are worth picking up for the post-Alara Standard world.
With the Zendikar block largely already out of draft rotation, and M11 going the same way when Scars of Mirrodin comes around in October, now is the time to pick up these uncommons that are either valuable to casual or EDH players or poised to see play after the rotation. Most of these cards make for much better trade bait than anything else. Dealers might not want to buy these from you at a good price, but players in need will certainly make you very favorable trades to pick these up.
Without further ado – the countdown!
Thanks for watching, let me know if you guys enjoy the video presentation or prefer written articles.
Thanks,
Corbin Hosler
@Chosler88 on Twitter
Just wanted to make a little addendum about some cards not on here:
Tectonic Edge – The Edge is a known quantity, and therefore the opportunity cost is lower. It's good to have, but it's not going to move much more than it already has. And it's unlikely to see play in any other formats, unlike Wall of Omens, which I think can be a player in Extended.
Voltaic Key – I don't think Wizards is going to do anything to really break the key in Standard, and most Vintage players already have their keys.
Is there any chance of someone posting these as a list for those of us unable to watch video whilst slacking at work?
Thanks in advance
I disagree with Combust being on there. BSA isn't really going to be as prevalent or as threatening as it used to be. I'm still on the fence about Autumn's Veil though.
Agreed on the first comment, Tectonic Edge seems like it has been forgotten here.
Not mentioning bestial menace seems criminal as well as leatherback baloth which both can be accelerated into monument ftw also constructive feedback shouldn't be deleted
One of the factors I considered while making this list is how many archetypes a card could fit in to. Something like the Menace or Baloth will only see play in one deck, if it sees play there, so the chances of the price moving much are unlikely. Even niche rares that are built around like Pyromancer Ascension haven't moved much in price, so niche uncommon are even less likely to do so.
That was my reasoning, anyway. The fun part about these types of things is we'll get to see if that was a prescient decision or not in just a few months.
To honor this article I traded a foil Dauntless Escort and a foil Rampant Growth for 4 Combust, 3 Tectonic Edge, 2 Joraga Treespeaker and 1 Crystal Ball.
Also I like written articles more, can´t watch videos at work.
@Richard I'll post the list here and hope no one looks at the comments before the video:
10. Pelakka Wurm
9. Oust
8. Goblin Ruinblaster
7. Joraga Treespeaker
6. Combust
5. Autumn's Veil
4. Everflowing Chalice
3. Condemn
2. Crystal Ball
1. Wall of Omens
i'll take the written article every day please
My only critique about the video was that it sounded like you were reading off a sheet of paper and it sounded like a chore to do so. I guess its the first video on here and you'll get better and make it more interesting to listen too when you get a better hang of it. Just something to look out for in the future.
The information provided was awesome though, I'm a big fan of Autumn's Veil. Just seeing how powerful it is in sideboards for limited has convinced me.
@urzassedatives
Think about the veil like a one mana counterspell. Seems pretty good right? sometimes…
As long as BSA is played, combust will be a great answer. Though it will be kind of a bummer when your U/W opponent sides out their MD angels when you're siding in combusts. I think the reason its so high on the list is Corbin's prediction that U/W will be one of the decks to watch out for immediately after the rotation.
+1 to written articles. Good try with the video, but this isn't the right format for it.
Great article though!
"Do you know where your crystal ball's are at?"…. lol kid jokes aside I always had high hope that pelakka wurm would get a little attention. Good article, keep em coming!
I won't what?!?!?! I guess I'll never know…
"Get them now and you won't -"
I won't what?! What?! It cut off at the end ahhhhhHHH!
I just realized what you guys are talking about, that's quite the cliffhanger, eh? Something must have messed up in the transition to YouTube, so I'll finish the sentence for you.
"You won't be sorry."
Hope that helps!
I liked the video but you seemed to have little enthusiasm, maybe I'm just used to Evan Erwin's hyper voice, anyways, Thanks again for the vid!
Hey Corbin, I'm the guy you traded with for the Jace last week. Nice article, looking forward to reading more here.
This article is pretty interesting to me, given that I'm new (well… returning after many years, but for all intents and purposes, new.) to the MTG scene. Frankly, I don't know the cards in Standard very well yet, especially those from the Zendikar block. I had someone trying to trade me for a Pelakka wurm playset a few days ago, offering up several rares, and I thought 'what the hell?'. Well, now I know!