Which Magic Cards Have Value?

If you own Magic: The Gathering cards, you've certainly wondered: which cards are really valuable? Some cards are worth a few cents, while others can reach thousands of euros.

€50K+

Alpha Black Lotus

€800

average Dual Land

foil premium

Factors That Determine a Magic Card's Value

🎲 1. Rarity

Rarity is a basic indicator of a card's potential value:

⚪ Commons (C)

€0.01 - €0.50 generally. Except exceptions like Alpha Lightning Bolt worth €100+

🔵 Uncommons (U)

€0.10 - €2 on average. Some heavily played utility cards worth more.

🟡 Rares (R)

€0.50 - €50 depending on demand. High variability based on competitive utility.

🟠 Mythics (M)

€5 - €100+. Planeswalkers and legendary creatures dominate.

⚠️ Important exception: A common card heavily played in competition can be worth much more than a rarely used mythic!

🏆 2. Competitive Play

Cards played in tournaments have high demand and therefore higher value:

Standard and Pioneer: Recent cards from current meta decks
Modern: Powerful cards from the last 20 years
Legacy and Vintage: Very powerful old cards, often very expensive
Commander: Popular multiplayer format, growing demand

📅 3. Edition and Age

Magic's first editions have special value:

🏛️ Historic editions:

Alpha, Beta, Unlimited: 1993, first editions - Exceptional value
Revised: First white border, still affordable
Arabian Nights, Antiquities, Legends: Original sought-after expansions
Modern editions: Value based on playability

📦 4. Condition

A card's condition significantly influences its value:

Near Mint (NM)

New condition = maximum value. This is the price reference.

Slightly Played (SP)

Light wear. Price reduced by 10 to 20%.

Moderately Played (MP)

Visible wear. Price reduced by 30 to 50%.

Heavily Played (HP)

Very worn. Price reduced by 50 to 80%.

✨ 5. Special Treatment

Certain card versions have premium value:

Foil: Generally 2x to 5x normal price
Borderless: Full-page artwork highly sought
Extended art: Versions with extended artwork
Showcase: Special artistic treatments
Textured foil: Textured foils, very rare and expensive

Categories of Valuable Cards

🌍 Dual Lands

Original Dual Lands

Underground Sea, Volcanic Island... €200 to €800 each in Revised.

Fetch Lands

Scalding Tarn, Misty Rainforest... €15 to €100 depending on edition.

Shock Lands

Steam Vents, Breeding Pool... €10 to €40, heavily played in Modern.

Triomes

3-color lands from Ikoria. €15 to €30, essential in Commander.

🦸 Powerful Planeswalkers

Jace, the Mind Sculptor: €40 to €80 - One of the most iconic
Liliana of the Veil: €50 to €90 - Modern and Legacy staple
Wrenn and Six: €60 to €100 - Dominant in eternal formats

💀 Eternal Format Staples

Force of Will: €80 to €150 - The ultimate counterspell
Mox Opal: €150 to €200 - Artifact acceleration
Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer: €60 to €100 - Modern menace

👑 Collector Cards

💎 Power Nine: Black Lotus, the 5 Moxes, Time Walk, Ancestral Recall, Timetwister. These 9 cards are Magic's rarest and most valuable, with values from €1,000 to €50,000+ depending on condition and edition.

How to Identify Valuable Cards?

Check the rarity symbol: Gold (mythic) or silver (rare) = value potential
Identify the edition: Old symbol = potentially more valuable
Search the name: Use Cardmarket or scan with MTG Trade
Examine treatments: Foil, borderless, showcase = higher value

Value Surprises

⚠️ Watch for hidden gems:

Old commons: Alpha Lightning Bolt = €100+
Original versions: Old editions worth more than reprints
Basic lands: Alpha/Beta basics can be worth €20+
Special promos: Judge Promos and event versions

Monitor Your Collection with MTG Trade

Manually identifying valuable cards in a large collection is tedious. MTG Trade automates this process:

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Values updated daily from marketplaces.

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Get notified when a card gains value.

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Discover Your Collection's Hidden Value

You might own hundreds of euros worth of cards without knowing. Old stored cards, inherited cards, or cards you thought worthless can hold pleasant surprises.

With MTG Trade, instantly discover your collection's hidden treasures. Complete evaluation takes less than 10 minutes.