Top 10 Most Expensive MTG Cards From LOTR: Tales of Middle-earth

Even with The One Ring found, there’s plenty of treasure in the depths of Middle-earth.

Magic: The Gathering’s The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth is the latest Universes Beyond release from Wizards of the Coast. Tales of Middle-earth is a full-scale set legal in Modern, Legacy, Pauper, and Commander. An array of products accompany the set’s release, including Commander Precon Decks, Bundles, Jumpstart Boosters, Starter Kits, and the typical Draft, Set, and Collector Booster Box varieties.

Average market prices of cards from The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth changed rapidly between prerelease weekend and the set’s global release as players opened boosters looking for Serialized cards, the (now found) one-of-one The One Ring, and other desirable cards. Commander players continue to build decks around Tales of Middle-earth’s Sauron, the Dark Lord, Tom Bombadil, Shelob, Child of Ungoliant, and other Legendary creatures. Also, The One Ring, Delighted Halfling, and Orcish Bowmasters are already seeing play in competitive Modern and Legacy decks. Now that The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth is in players’ hands, let’s review the ten most expensive regular-version cards from the main set.

#10 Bilbo’s Ring

Bilbo’s Ring

Universes Beyond: The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth, Rare

Bilbo’s Ring is one of five Legendary artifact equipment cards in Tales of Middle-earth. Interestingly, Bilbo’s Ring equip cost is only one mana for Halflings and four mana for all other creature types. A creature equipped with Bilbo’s Ring gains hexproof and cannot be blocked during your turn. Additionally, whenever a creature equipped by Bilbo’s Ring attacks alone, you draw a card and lose one life.

According to Scryfall, there are 44 Halfling creature cards in MTG, 84% in The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth’s bse set, and Commander Precon Decks. Commander decks led by Halfling partners Frodo, Adventurous Hobbit // Sam, Loyal Attendant and Merry, Warden of Isengard // Pippin, Warden of Isengard can maximize the benefits Bilbo’s Ring provides. Swapping in a copy of Bilbo’s Ring in the Food and Fellowship Commander Precon Deck is a fine idea too. If you plan to build an equipment-themed deck led by Frodo, Sauron’s Bane, consider putting Bilbo’s Ring in the ninety-nine.

#9 Spiteful Banditry

Spiteful Banditry

Universes Beyond: The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth, Mythic

Spiteful Banditry is Tales of Middle-earth’s Red Enchantment version of The Meathook Massacre. For X and double-Red, Spiteful Banditry deals X damage to each creature when it enters the battlefield. As a once-per-turn bonus, you create a Treasure token whenever one or more creatures your opponents control die.

Market Price: $13.07

Market Price: $14.62

Spiteful Banditry has a similar effect to cards like Starstorm and Magmaquake. However, Spiteful Banditry differentiates itself from other red sweepers by providing residual Treasure tokens. Considering the ubiquitous nature of Treasure tokens, Spiteful Banditry is a possible board wipe upgrade in Commander decks led by Prosper, Tome-Bound, Magda, Brazen Outlaw, Korvold, Fae-Cursed King, and Ziatora, the Incinerator.

#8 Witch-king, Bringer of Ruin

Witch-king, Bringer of Ruin

Universes Beyond: The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth, Rare

Witch-king, Bringer of Ruin is a six-mana, Legendary Wraith Noble with an average market price of around $13 at the time of writing. The average market price of Witch-king, Bringer of Ruin is surprising given its stats and abilities. The Witch-king enters the battlefield as a flying 5/3 that forces the defending player to sacrifice a creature with the least power among creatures they control whenever it attacks.

Market Price: $10.01

A likely reason driving Witch-king, Bringer of Ruin’s price point is due to players building Commander decks led by Lord of the Nazgûl. According to EDHREC, Lord of the Nazgûl is the top Commander option from Tales of Middle-earth Commander Precon Decks. Witch-king, Bringer of Ruin, and other Mono-Black Wraith cards from Tales of middle-earth are outstanding inclusions in the ninety-nine of Lord of the Nazgûl.

#7 Gandalf the White

Gandalf the White

Universes Beyond: The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth, Mythic

The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth’s Gandalf the White is the most expensive Gandalf card from the main set. Gandalf the White flashes into play as a 4/5, enabling you to cast Legendary spells and artifact spells as though they had flash. Gandalf the White also possesses a second ability: “If a legendary permanent or an artifact entering or leaving the battlefield causes a triggered ability of a permanent you control to trigger, that ability triggers an additional time.”

Commander seems to be the best format for Gandalf the White to show off his abilities. Legends-themed Commander decks led by Jodah, the Unifier, Ratadrabik of Urborg, Dihada, Binder of Wills, or Sisay, Weatherlight Captain may want to include Gandalf the White. In particular, Ratadrabik of Urborg can utilize Gandalf the White to double its triggered ability to create a token copy of another Legendary creature.

#6 Nazgul (0335)

Nazgul (0335)

Universes Beyond: The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth

Nazgûl is the chase Mythic Uncommon from Tales of Middle-earth. Nazgul is a 1/2 Wraith Knight with deathtouch and an enters-the-battlefield ability that causes the Ring to tempt you. Additionally, whenever the Ring tempts you, put a +1/+1 counter on each Wraith you control, and you may run up to nine cards named Nazgûlin a deck.

Part of the reason for Nazgûl’s allure is the ability to run nine copies in a deck, each with unique artwork. Demand for obtaining all nine copies of Nazgul is high, considering Nazgûl (0355) has an average market price of around $13. The other eight versions of Nazgul carry average market prices ranging between $11-13. Each Nazgûl version has an equal chance of appearing in any Draft, Set, or Collector Booster, making it even more challenging to collect them all.

#5 Last March of the Ents

Last March of the Ents

Universes Beyond: The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth, Mythic

Last March of the Ents is a Mythic Rare from Tales of Middle-earth with an average market price of $12. Last March of the Ents’ hefty casting cost provides enormous value by providing an opportunity to draw cards equal to the greatest toughness among creatures you control and then allowing you to put any number of creatures in your hand onto the battlefield. Thankfully, your opponents cannot counter Last March of the Ents when you cast it.

#4 Delighted Halfling

Delighted Halfling

Universes Beyond: The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth

Tales of Middle-earth’s Delighted Halfling is the set’s third-most expensive card. Delighted Halfling’s average market price of around $18fits as a one-mana 1/2 that taps for colorless mana or one mana of any color to cast a Legendary spell that cannot get countered. Modern players are trying out Delighted Halfling in Golgari Yawgmoth and Four-Color Omnath decks. Commander players are also excited for Delighted Halfling, the most popular Commander deck inclusion from Tales of Middle-earth on EDHREC. Don’t be surprised to see more Delighted Halflings on the battlefield in the coming weeks.

#3 Sauron, the Dark Lord

Sauron, the Dark Lord

Universes Beyond: The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth, Mythic

Sauron, the Dark Lord is an intimidating Avatar Horror with an average market price of $13. Part of Sauron, the Dark Lord’s demand is probably due to his potential as a Grixis commander. Casting Sauron, the Dark Lord for six mana provides a 7/6 with a multitude of abilities listed below:

Ward – Sacrifice a Legendary artifact or Legendary creature.
Whenever an opponent casts a spell, amass Orcs 1.
Whenever an Army you control deals combat damage to a player, the Ring tempts you.
Whenever the Ring tempts you, you may discard your hand. If you do, draw four cards.

Your opponents will have a tough time targeting Sauron, the Dark Lord, with spot removal unless they want to sacrifice their Commander, another legendary creature, or possibly The One Ring. Furthermore, you can build an Orcs Army and push it through combat to refill your hand with four cards. Leaving Sauron, the Dark Lord on your battlefield may be fruitful for you, but not your opponents.

#2 Orcish Bowmasters

Orcish Bowmasters

Universes Beyond: The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth, Rare

With an average market price of around $35, Orcish Bowmasters is the second-most expensive card in Tales of Middle-earth. Orcish Bowmasters is a 1/1 Orc Archer with flash and a potent ability for two mana. Upon entering the battlefield, and whenever an opponent cards a card except for the first one they draw during each draw step, Orcish Bowmasters deals one damage to any target, and then you amass Orc 1.

Market Price: $26.06

Market Price: $31.19

During The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth spoiler season, there were conversations within the MTG community if Orcish Bowmasters’ power level deserved a banning in Commander. While Orcish Bowmasters did not receive a premature ban, it is ruling the battlefield already. Orcish Bowmasters is a good counter against Commander staples like Rhystic Study, Mystical Remora, Esper Sentinel, and Brainstorm. Also, casting Peer into the Abyss with Orcish Bowmasters under your control will likely eliminate an opponent.

Outside of Commander, Orcish Bowmasters sees play in Legacy’s Dimir Death’s Shadow and other Sultai builds. Modern players are experimenting with Orcish Bowmasters in Rakdos Scam and Golgari Yagmoth. It will be interesting to see what other decks successfully integrate Orcish Bowmasters going forward.

#1 The One Ring

The One Ring

Universes Beyond: The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth, Mythic

The One Ring is The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth’s most expensive card. Four mana provides an indestructible artifact that protects you from everything until your next turn and acts as a card draw engine with a minor life loss drawback. Tapping The One Ring adds a burden counter and draws you a card for each burden counter on it. At the beginning of your upkeep, you lose life equal to the number of burden counters on The One Ring.

Since The One Ring is colorless, it can slot into almost any deck across Modern, Legacy, and Commander. In regards to Modern, two players won recent Magic: The Gathering Online Modern Challenges with two different decks containing three copies of The One Ring, with Jeskai Breach being the latest strategy to become tempted by the Ring:

Modern

Jeskai Breach

Market Price:$1,053.90

Maindeck, 60 cards

Sortsort deckCreature (10)

4Emry, Lurker of the Loch
1Haywire Mite
4Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer
1Thassa’s Oracle

Planeswalker (2)

2Teferi, Time Raveler

Sorcery (4)

4Expressive Iteration

Instant (4)

4Unholy Heat

Artifact (14)

1Aether Spellbomb
2Grinding Station
4Mishra’s Bauble
3Mox Amber
1Springleaf Drum
3The One Ring

Enchantment (4)

4Underworld Breach

Land (22)

1Breeding Pool
4Flooded Strand
1Hallowed Fountain
1Island
1Otawara, Soaring City
1Sacred Foundry
4Scalding Tarn
2Spirebluff Canal
3Steam Vents
4Urza’s Saga

Sideboard (15)

2Engineered Explosives
2Fury
2Prismatic Ending
1Shadowspear
4Spell Pierce
1Teferi, Time Raveler
1Tormod’s Crypt
2Wear // Tear//

Commander players are adding The One Ring to a multitude of decks. Blue mages can use The One Ring as a two-card combo enabler with Mind Over Matter to draw your entire deck. Additionally, the One Ring can protect you from everything each turn with Emry, Lurker of the Loch, and an artifact sacrifice outlet on your battlefield. The opportunity to draw multiple cards each turn with minimal life loss is undeniably powerful, especially with a plan to bounce, flicker, or sacrifice The One Ring if it becomes an enormous burden.