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For those entrenched in the arcane arts of MTG, you’ll know that Magic: The Gathering is more than just a pastime, it’s a lifelong passion (ask Post Malone, he’ll tell you). In a game where each deck is a reflection of strategy, each card a portal into another dimension, and each duel an epic meeting of wits and wills, the pursuit of the best Magic The Gathering cards is of the utmost importance.
That’s right, for some Magic transcends the battlefield and becomes a pursuit of prestige, with the recent Post Malone Magic the Gathering purchase setting a precedent for the rocketing value of mtg card prices, but we’ll get into that later. As MTG prices continue their upward trajectory, we discover how cards become relics, coveted by collectors and commanding prices few would’ve predicted at the game’s inception back in 1993.
In this blog, we’ll take you through the storied history of the best MTG cards, exploring the 21 most expensive cards ever sold and uncovering their mystique in the world of rare MTG cards. At Aura Print, not only do we print playing cards, tarot cards, and playing card boxes but we're passionate about them, which is why we've compiled this epic list for like-minded enthusiasts. From the iconic and illusive Black Lotus to modern one-of-a-kind concept cards such as ‘The One Ring’, printed solely in Elvish, we will unravel the story behind these exceptional cards, their power, and their lure on those seeking the most expensive MTG card.
So, gather your mana, prepare your deck, and join us on our journey to discovering the most expensive card in MTG!
The Most Expensive MTG Cards (As of 2024 - Conversion Rate 0.8)
| MTG Card | USD | GBP |
| The One Ring | $2,640,000 | £2,112,903 |
| Black Lotus | $800,000 | £640,304 |
| Copy Artifact | $100,000 | £80,413 |
| Mox Sapphire | $50,000 | £40,206 |
| Mox Ruby | $47,000 | £37,794 |
| Blue Hurricane | $30,000 | £24,124 |
| Timewalk (Alpha) | $26,000 | £20,907 |
| Bazaar of Baghdad | $20,000 | £16,083 |
| Ancestral Recall (Alpha) | $20,000 | £16,083 |
| Timetwister (Alpha) | $20,000 | £16,083 |
| Mox Emerald | $20,000 | £16,083 |
| Mox Pearl | $19,000 | £15,278 |
| Mishra's Workshop | $13,000 | £10,454 |
| Mox Jet (Alpha) | $8,000 | £6,400 |
| Library of Alexandria | $8,000 | £6,433 |
| Time Vault | $7,000 | £5,629 |
| Underground Sea | $6,500 | £5,227 |
| Shivan Dragon | $5,000 | £4,021 |
| Chaos Orb | $4,000 | £3,217 |
| Tundra | $4,000 | £3,217 |
| Gaea's Cradle | $2,000 | £1,608 |
1. The One Ring - $2.64 Million
Behold The One Ring, a card of unrivaled prestige, inspired by the legendary Lord of the Rings, now holding the esteemed title of the most expensive Magic: The Gathering card ever sold. This extraordinary artifact, born from the realm of Middle-Earth and bestowed with remarkable abilities, defies all conventions, boasting a price tag that dwarfs even the mightiest treasures. As the newest Post Malone Magic The Gathering card, The One Ring has gained fame outside the world of MTG and LOTR, leaving Post Malone fans curious about the draw of this ‘playing card’.
When The One Ring graces the battlefield, a cataclysmic event unfolds – those who wield it gain the ultimate protection, an invulnerability that shields them from all things until the sawn of their next turn. However, such power comes at a dire cost, as with each passing day, those bound to the ring endure the relentless toll of their own life force. At the onset of every upkeep, they sacrifice a portion of their vitality, losing one life for every burden that bears down upon The One Ring. Yet, amidst the shadows, there remains a glimmer of hope, for those who dare harness its power can augment its might. By bestowing an additional burden upon the ring, they can draw upon its essence, gaining knowledge and strength.
The tale of The One Ring is a recent chapter in Magic’s storied history, as Wizards of the Coast unveiled this unparalleled creation in March 2023. A special version of the card was revealed, printed in Elvish as a unique “one of one” copy with Magic’s Tales of Middle Earth set. The announcement ignited a firestorm of excitement across the internet, akin to a real-life Willy Wonka’s Golden Ticket moment. Collectors grappled with the enigma of what the first-of-its-kind card might be worth, redefining the limits of card valuations.
MTG YouTuber PleasantKenobi reflected on the staggering price, comparing it to the acquisition of a unique artist proof Black Lotus, also by Post Malone for $800,000. His initial estimation was conservative, suggesting a value between $50,000 to $100,000. However, The One Ring blew all other MTGs out of the water then Post Malone snapped it up for more than $2 million, to the astonishment of the wider MTG community. This can be attributed to the fact that The One Ring transcends traditional card values; it is a serialized Magic card, a singular manifestation of unprecedented creativity. Its ingenious association with the collectible realm of LOTR has extended an invitation to collectors far beyond the Magic universe, uniting them in the celebration of an extraordinary creation.
2. Black Lotus – Up to $800,000
If you’ve made it this far in our list, chances are this is the card you’ve been waiting for. Boasting a staggering price that has reached a staggering $800,000, this vast price chasm compared to the third card in our list, which sold for a mere $100,000, only serves to underscore the unrivaled rarity and power of Black Lotus.
At the price tag suggests, Black Lotus is no ordinary card; it’s a mono artifact, playable only once, and wields an astonishing ability to instantly infuse the players mana pool with three mana of any single colour. This incredible effect bypasses the need to tap lands or gather resources, enabling players to cast potent spells at lightening speed.
Dating back to Magic’s competitive origins, Black Lotus made it’s debut in Alpha’s 1993 printing. Celebrated for its scarcity, with an estimated 1,100 copies in existence, and unmatched power, the card offers a shortcut to casting formidable spells.
However, such unrivaled might led to its banishment from tournament play. Its unique capability to be played without needing any mana, along with its capacity to generate three mana of any colour, can disrupt the game’s balance, allowing players to cast spells at a pace beyond convention. After a lone appearance in the 1994 MTG championships, it was banned, becoming a relic of unbridled potential.
In recent times, Black Lotus has achieved a newfound fame and value. Rapper Post Malone acquired a rare signed Black Lotus card for $800,000, setting a record for the most expensive MTG card purchase at the time, later outdoing himself with number 1 in our list…
3. Copy Artifact – Up to $100,000
The third most treasured relic in our quest to discover the most expensive Magic The Gathering card is Copy Artifact, reaching enormous heights of $100,000 in collectors circles. This spellbinding enchantment, bearing a modest cost of just two mana, holds the power to forge a duplicate of any artifact it chooses to mimic, an ability as straightforward as the name suggests.
Copy Artifact possesses a unique cardplay mechanism – upon casting it, you may select any artifact currently in play to replicate. The enchantment then transforms itself into an exact duplicate of the chosen artifact, bearing the same characteristic and abilities. It assumes the identity of both an artifact and an enchantment, becoming an artifact-enchantment, subject to any effects that effect permanent type.
The versatility of this card is a hallmark, offering players the freedom to adapt to a changing battlefield by replicating artifacts that suit their needs. This ability has grown in power as the Magic: The Gathering universe has introduced an ever-expanding array of artifacts. The card’s pricing history is a fascinating journey, characterised by significant fluctuations before surging past the remarkable $100,000 milestone.
One intriguing aspect of ‘Copy Artifact’ is its presence on the Reserved List – a selection of cards whose printings are strictly limited, ensuring their rarity in Magic: The Gathering. As a result, Copy Artifact stands as both a symbol of its time and an enduring treasure that captures the imaginations of collectors and players alike.
4. Mox Sapphire – Up to $50,000
Mox Sapphire is undoubtably the cornerstone of mana acceleration, bearing a cost of zero for its wielder, yet bestowing upon them a precious blue mana in its return. This grants the cards possessor a significant competitive edge, and can be played as many times as they appear in one’s hand, creating a widening chasm of power between those who possess them and those who do not. In the crucible of competition, Mox Sapphire from the original Alpha printing became and indispensable tool for players aspiring to victory, hence the hefty price tag.
The rarity of this card is further enhanced by its association with the Power Nine – a set of 9 iconic cards celebrated for their game-altering prowess. PSA, the renowned card grading organization, has examined 18 examples of this card, granting them all a near-perfect PSA-9 designation. Notably, none have ever attained the elusive PSA 10 GEM MINT status, adding to the mystique surrounding this card.
The Mox cycle, to which Mox Sapphire belongs, represents a fusion of power and rarity, allowing the players to transcend the conventional one-land-per-rule turn rule and accelerate their access to potent spells. The card’s influence is far-reaching, prompting its exclusion from certain formats. Mox Sapphire is currently banned in Commander and Legacy, while in Vintage, it is restricted to a single copy per deck.
5. Mox Ruby – Up to $47,000
Welcome to the top 5! First, we have Mox Ruby, known to fetch values of up to $47,000 within collectors circles, and for good reason.
This spellbinding artifact, resplendent in its crimson hue, beckons with the promise of power and mana. Mox Ruby is a beacon of mana acceleration, allowing its possessor to harness the essence of red mana simply by tapping it. This singular act adds a red mana to the holders mana pool, a resource that can fuel a multitude of spells and strategies. The ability to tap ‘Mox Ruby’ as an interrupt ensures swift access to this vital resource, making it a valuable asset in the heat of battle.
The story of Mox Ruby extends beyond the boundaries of the MTG card game. In the world of Inscryption, it takes on a new form as a Magick card in Act II and the finale, and it can be exchanged with The Trader in Magnificus’ Tower. As a Mox card, it holds a unique place, immune to sacrifice while on the board.
Mox Ruby’s influence on the game’s dynamics led to its restriction in January 1994, a testament to the cheap and powerful acceleration it provides. Alongside Mox Sapphire, it remains a cherished relic among collectors, a symbol of Magic’s allure and it’s ever-increasing MTG card values.
6. Blue Hurricane – Up to $30,000
Known to command astonishing prices up to $30,000 among collectors, Blue Hurricane was born amongst the chaos of misprints in the Summer Magic set and conjures a violent storm that unleashes destruction upon the creatures of the air and all who dare to stand beneath it.
This card carries an awe-inspiring power – its X value determines the magnitude of the tempest it summons. It deals X damage to each creature with flying, levelling the playing field for those without the benefit of wings, and also inflicts damage upon each player, striking all with equal fury.
But Blue Hurricane is no ordinary card, which is why it's so widely revered in MTG circles. This misprinted version of the card possesses a blue card frame instead of the customary green, an anomaly that sets it apart from its counterparts. Summer Magic, never formally released, became the stuff of legend as a few cases, totalling a mere 160 booster boxes, were accidentally shipped to the UK, transforming the card into a scarce and sought-after treasure. With only a handful of known copies – estimated at 10-12 – Blue Hurricane occupies a unique space in the world of Magic collectables.
7. Time Walk (Alpha) – Up to $26,000
Time Walk (Alpha), a rare sorcery and one of the legendary “Power 9” cards, has been known to reach heights of $26,000 in collector circles.
The premise of Time Walk is elegant in its simplicity – by paying a mere colourless and blue mana, you can seize an extra turn, a gift that allows you to transcend the constraints of time itself. This single spell, resplendent in its blue aura, has the potential to reshape the course of the entire game, granting the holder of this card a distinct advantage.
Such unaffected access to the power of Time Walk comes at a price, though. The potency of this card lies in its cost-effectiveness, enabling you to achieve significant progress during the early stages of a game or exploit the brief window of opportunity to summon a formidable creature, bypassing its summoning sickness. The card's capacity to disrupt the balance of the game has led to its banishment from numerous formats, including Commander and Legacy, while in Vintage, the card is limited to a single copy per deck.
8. Bazaar of Baghdad – Up to $20,000
At number 8 in our list, we have Bazaar of Baghdad, often fetching staggering prices reaching as high as $20,000 in the hands of collectors. This unique land, born from the Arabian Nights expansion, offers a glimpse into the bustling trade and lore of its namesake.
Bazaar of Baghdad presents a tantalizing proposition to its wielder – tap it to draw two cards from your library, but in return, you must promptly discard three cards from your hand into your graveyard. There is a sense of urgency to this exchange, for no spells can be cast between the act of drawing and the subsequent discarding.
In Vintage play, Bazaar of Baghdad stands as a cornerstone, a must-have in the opening hand of decks built around the Dredge strategy. Even at a mulligan to one, Bazaar of Baghdad has the power to tilt the scales in Drenge’s favour, with cards like Fatestitcher enabling multiple activations from the same Bazaar, hastening the dredging process towards the ideal mix of cards in the graveyard.
However, the power of this card extends beyond its gameplay. It is a card shrouded in scarcity due to its origins in Arabian Nights, released in the early days of Magic before the game’s popularity soared. The limited print run of cards from this era, coupled with the card’s exceptional utility, has propelled its price to astronomical heights, proving that this card is a testament to the enduring appeal of Magic: The Gathering.
9. Ancestral Recall (Alpha) – Up to $20,000
The 9th most revered treasure on our list, often commanding up to $20,000, is Ancestral Recall (Alpha). For a mere single blue mana, this card presents a choice that can reshape the course of a battle. With its first mode, you may draw three cards, a bounty of knowledge that flows effortlessly into your grasp. Alternatively, you could opt for its second mode, compelling an opponent to draw three cards – a rarely chosen path, given its generous cost to you and your foe.
The allure of Ancestral Recall lies in its extraordinary efficiency, providing a wealth of card advantage with minimal investment. The ability to draw three cards without any drawback revolutionised the game, allowing decks to achieve unprecedented speed and consistency. Such power prompted its removal from core sets after the Unlimited Edition. Over time, it was banned in all formats except Vintage, where its game-altering influence was tempered by restriction to a single copy per deck.
10. Timetwister (Alpha) – Up to $20,000
This extraordinary spell, requiring three mana, wields the power to reshape the very fabric of time. When cast, it permits its holder to shuffle their hand, graveyard, and library together into a harmonious whole and then grants the gift of drawing seven fresh cards. However, the twist lies in its name – your opponent must partake in this temporal dance as well, mirroring the actions you’ve taken.
Timetwister is a spell of unparalleled potency, allowing you not only to replenish your hand but also reset the game’s tempo without altering the physical state of the battlefield. Its place on the revered Reserved List further cements its rarity and prestige among collectors, hence the hefty $20,000 price tag. While it may once have been regarded as the underdog among the power nine, the advent of the Commander format transformed its status. As the sole member of the Power Nine allowed to partake in Commander, Timetwister has found a new lease on life, becoming one of the most playable rare cards in the format.
11. Mox Emerald – Up to $20,000
With prices for this card soaring to the remarkable heights of $20,000, when we talk about the most expensive magic card, this one is certainly up there. This artifact, resplendent in its emerald glory, bestows upon its possessor the ability to harness a single green mana, a potent resource for spells and strategies alike. Its unique nature allows it to be tapped as an interrupt, ensuring that its mana can be accessed at a moment’s notice.
The ‘Mox’ cycle, to which Mox Emerald belongs, stands as a testament to the formidable power that these artifacts bring to the game. These wonderous creations essentially circumvent the traditional one-land-per-turn rule, granting players the ability to accelerate their mana production dramatically. The advantage enables the swift casting of powerful spells ahead of the curve, often turning the tide of battles in an instant. The rarity and collectability of ‘Mox’ cards further contribute to their mystique, with Mox Emerald being no exception.
Such is the power of Mox Emerald that it has been deemed too influential for certain formats. It currently stands banned in Commander and Legacy, while in Vintage, it is restricted to one copy per deck. This restriction is a testament to the enduring impact of Mox cards on the Magic: The Gathering landscape, where their scarcity and immense power continue to captivate collectors and players alike.
12. Mox Pearl – Up to $19,000
This incredible $19K artifact bestows upon its wielder the power to summon a single white mana, providing a swift and vital resource for their spells and strategies. The ability to tap this artifact as an interrupt further enhances its utility, allowing for immediate access to its mana.
The allure of the ‘Mox’ cards lies in their unparalleled capacity to accelerate the player’s mana production. In the grand tapestry of MTG, having more mana than one’s opponent is often the key to victory, and the Mox series offers a means to achieve this goal rapidly. Unlike traditional mana-producing cards like ‘Rampant Growth’, Mox cards are not only faster but also free to use, ensuring the players don’t sacrifice precious turns to deploy them. Additionally, each Mox card contributes to a player’s storm count, a crucial factor in certain spell-heavy strategies.
13. Mishra’s Workshop – Up to $13,000
This remarkable land holds the power to channel three colourless mana directly into the players' mana pool, with one unique caveat – this mania is exclusively earmarked for the casting of artifacts. This focused purpose benefits Mishra, who, unlike his brother, honed his mind with singular determination, though his journey was fraught with tumultuous lessons under the tutelage of Tocasia. Is this worth the $13K price tag? Let’s find out.
Originating in the Antiques expansion, a pivotal 100-card set released in March of 1994. Remarkably, it initially escaped restriction upon debut, becoming an integral part of Vintage play. However, the mystery deepened when, on June 13, 1994, the DCI restricted only Mishra’s Workshop, while other cards from the set remained untouched. This decision led to the temporary disappearance of the card from competitive play.
Over the years, Mishra’s Workshop has sparked polarizing debates among Magic players, as its power comes with unique challenges. Critics argue that Workshop decks lack the skill-intensive finesse seen in other archetypes and are often overly reliant on drawing Mishra’s Workshop for consistency. Their vulnerability to silver bullet tactics, such as ‘Energy Flux’ and ‘Hurky’s Recall’, has further fueled the debate. However, it remains an iconic card, beloved by collectors and enthusiasts who appreciate its historical significance and enduring mystique in the ever-evolving landscape of Magic: The Gathering.
14. Mox Jet (Alpha) – Up to $8,000
This exquisite $10,000 artifact grants you the power to harness the essence of black mana, allowing its player to add a single black mana to their mana pool. The ability to tap this artifact as an interrupt grants instant access to its dark power, making it an indispensable asset in the heat of battle.
Mox Jet stands as a testament to the formidable might of its Moxen brethren, known for their extraordinary power. However, its potency comes at a high cost, leading to its banishment from the Commander and Legacy formats, where its influence could disrupt the delicate balance of the game. In Vintage, it is restricted, limited to a single copy per deck, as its unbridled power can easily shape the outcome of a game.
15. Library of Alexandria – Up to $8,000
In the hallowed halls of the Library of Alexandria, this unassuming land card holds many secrets, offering two potent abilities and making it deserving of its occasional $8K price tag. By tapping this card, its player can harvest a single colourless mana, or, if their hand contains exactly seven cards, the player may unlock its true potential and draw a card directly from their card library.
The Library of Alexandria has achieved near-mythical status among players and collectors for its unparalleled advantage, a power so immense that it has earned itself banishment from the Commander format, and rightly so as some argue. The restriction comes as no surprise, as its presence would make it an almost universal inclusion in decks, akin to the ubiquitous Sol Ring. While Sol Ring’s mana acceleration can be formidable, the ‘Library’ stands apart, serving as a wellspring of colourless mana or a font of knowledge when you need it most.
16. Time Vault – Up to $7,000
Introducing Time Vault, an MTG with the power to defy the fabric of time itself, earning itself a price tag of $7,000 and a place amongst the best Magic The Gathering cards. By tapping Time Vault, the card player can grasp an additional turn after their current one. There is a catch, though. Time Vault refuses to untap itself through conventional means during the untap phase; to break its temporal shackles, its player must be willing to forfeit a turn.
The history of Time Vault is a labyrinth of power-level errata, resulting in periods where its turn-skipping effect replaced any conventional method of untapping it. During these years, it danced on the precipice of being functionally useless, concealing its true potential. Beneath its seemingly straightforward premise lies a mechanism of unparalleled power – the ability to seize infinite turns and render opponents helpless. This led to the card being banned in most formats, except for Vintage, where it is rightly restricted to prevent the format from being completely dominated by its time-bending prowess.
17. Underground Sea – Up to $6,500
Underground Sea is not merely a piece of expensive land; it’s part of the highly sought-after dual land cycle, a collection of ten lands, each representing a unique mana colour pairing. This card has commanded as much as $6,500 at auction, proving a stand-out due to its remarkable versatility, effortlessly providing access to either Black or Blue mana with no drawbacks, a rare feat in the world of modern MTG lands.
What sets this card apart and continues to drive its price upward is the absence of any downside in its use, unlike contemporary multi-colour lands that often come with restrictions. Adding to its allure, ‘Underground Sea’ finds itself on the revered reserved list, solidifying its rarity and increasing its desirability among collectors. The origins of this card trace back to the early days of MTG, with print runs naturally smaller than those of modern, more in-demand sets. Dual lands like Underground Sea were a rare sight in their day, making them exceedingly scarce today, fueling collectors’ urge to get their hands on a mint version of this card.
18. Shivan Dragon – Up to $5,000
With staggering price tags reaching as high as $5,000, the fiery might of Shivan Dragon is here to cement itself amongst the highest MTG card prices. Shivan Dragon is not only renowned for its innate power but also for its bloodthirsty disposition on the battlefield, gaining +1/+0 until the end of a turn.
Yet, Shivan Dragon owes much of its exceptional value to its origins. Hailing from the Alpha set, one of the earliest releases in the MTG universe, it carries the weight of MTG history with it. While a few copies of this card may exist, their authenticity and lineage are distinguishable from those originating in the Alpha set, adding rarity and prestige that sends this card’s price soaring beyond the rest.
19. Chaos Orb – Up to $4,000
Just like Tundra, Chaos Orb has been known to fetch as much as $4,000 in the collectors market, cementing its status as one of the most expensive cards in magic the gathering. Unlike Tundra, however, Chaos Orb is set apart by its unique gameplay mechanics, with players who choose to employ Chaos Orb in their play forced to drop the card from a height of at least one foot above the table, rather than simply placing the card. If the card successfully executes at least one flip before landing flat, it spells destruction for any tokens it touches, destroying Chaos Orb itself. Remarkably, Chaos Orb’s playstyle has led to its banishment from competitive play, as it introduces a physical action requirement that not all players can master and raises concerns about the card movement before and after activation.
In MTG lore, there’s even a legendary story of a player winning a tournament by tearing a Chaos Orb card into pieces, ingeniously using it to destroy all of the opponent’s permanents, an act that inspired the creation of ‘Chaos Confetti’.
20. Tundra – Up to $4,000
The 20th most expensive mtg card is Tundra, commanding as much as $4,000 in collector’s circles. This dual land, an inclusion in many top-tier decks, possesses a unique duality, serving as both an island and a plains simultaneously. It dances on the edge of versatility, impacted by spells that affect either of its land types. Remarkably though, any attempt to destroy or alter one of these land types leads to the same fate for Tundra, making it something of a double edged sword.
Tundra’s legacy dates back to its debut in the Limited Edition Alpha set, and collectors have the chance to acquire one of ten distinct variations.
21. Gaea’s Cradle – Up to $2,000
With its remarkable ability to generate mana for its holder, Gaea’s Cradle is a prized gem within the Magic: The Gathering universe. Introduced in Urza’s Saga in 1998, this legendary land card has become a cornerstone of countless formidable decks throughout MTG history. In pristine condition, it has been known to sell for as much as $2,000, and with its current TCG market price hovering at around $1,000, it’s evident that while this card remains a treasure, the market is certainly changing.
Notably, Gaea’s Cradle is part of the reserved list, further cementing its rarity. In competition, this card shines in Legacy Elves decks, where it plays a pivotal role in producing an astonishing amount of green mana for game-changing plays, setting the card’s holder in great stead for the game ahead.
The influence of this card extends beyond Legacy though, making appearances in Vintage and EDH decks as well. In legacy, this card is thought to appear in approximately 9% of registered decks, meanwhile, in Vintage, it graces around 6% of decks and finds itself in around 5% of EDH decks. This colourless rare card, with a relatively modest initial print run of approximately 340,000 copies, continues to be a symbol of Magic’s enduring legacy and its capacity to inspire collectors and players simultaneously.
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