The Best Steals and Deals From The Lost Caverns of Ixalan

Commander and Constructed all-stars at dollar prices.

Magic: The Gathering’s The Lost Caverns of Ixalan was released globally on November 17, 2023. The Lost Caverns of Ixalan takes players to the plane of Ixalan after the Phyrexian invasion failed. New Dinosaur, Merfolk, Vampire, and Pirate cards are plentiful in the recent Standard set. Exciting reprints and God creature cards also accompany Ixalan’s return.

Market Price: $13.33

Market Price: $16.56

Market Price: $20.51

Wizards of the Coast typically includes chase cards in a Standard set that players want to add to new or existing decks. Chase cards can sell for premium prices before and after a set’s release, like Ghalta, Stampede Tyrant, Roaming Throne, and Ojer Taq, Deepest Foundation. While not all cards in a set can be chase cards, many are playable in one or more Constructed formats. Furthermore, several playable cards in The Lost Caverns of Ixalan are available at budget-friendly prices. Let’s look at some of the best steals and steals from the Standard release.

#7 Resplendent Angel

The Lost Caverns of Ixalan, Mythic

A more angelic reprint in The Lost Caverns of Ixalan is Resplendent Angel. Previously printed in Core 2019, Resplendent Angel is a 3/3 flyer that creates a 4/4 white Angel creature token with flying and vigilance at the beginning of each end step if you gained five or more life this turn. Resplendent Angel’s activated ability can help you create a 4/4 white Angel creature token with flying and vigilance by giving itself +2/+2 and lifelink until the end of the turn for six mana.

Market Price: $34.96

Market Price: $9.71

Market Price: $10.70

Resplendent Angel is a staple presence in Pioneer’s Selesnya Angels. Another home for the card is in Angels and Lifelink-focused Commander decks led by Giada, Font of Hope, Avacyn, Angel of Hope, Rodolf Duskbringer, and Liesa, Shroud of Dusk. Demand for the Core 2019 version of Resplendent Angeldrove its average market price to almost $40 earlier in 2023. Thankfully, a regular version of Resplendent Angel from The Lost Caverns of Ixalan is readily available for around $3, a considerably lower price point.

#6 Growing Rites of Itlimoc

The Lost Caverns of Ixalan

DetailsPrice Graph

One of the notable reprints in The Lost Caverns of Ixalan is Growing Rites of Itlimoc. Initially printed in Ixalan, Growing Rites of Itlimoc is a three-mana Legendary enchantment that lets you look at the top four cards of your library, reveal up to one creature card from among them, and put it into your hand. Put the rest on the bottom of your library in any order. If you control four or more creatures, transform Growing Rites of Itlimoc into Itlimoc, Cradle of the Sun (or Gaea’s Cradle). 

Market Price: $25.35

Market Price: $763.06

Growing Rites of Itlimoc is a Commander inclusion in Kindred and tokens-themed decks capable of maximizing its front and backside abilities. Before The Lost Caverns of Ixalan, regular versions of Growing Rites of Itlimoc had an average market price of around $16. Players can now pick up copies of Growing Rites of Itlimoc from The Lost Caverns of Ixalan for about $4, an incredible 75% discount.

#5 The Restless Cycle

It may surprise you that multiple cards in the allied color Restless cycle from The Lost Caverns of Ixalan sell for 50 cents or less. Regular versions of Restless Prairie, Restless Reef, and Restless Vents have average market prices at or under 50 cents at the time of writing. Players will pay a little more for Restless Ridgeline and Restless Anchorage copies, but they are available for under $1. Each Restless Land features a different color pairing, creature type, and attack ability. Though all five have their uses in the right deck, Restless Reef and Restless Anchorage stand out the most.

Restless Reef

The Lost Caverns of Ixalan, Rare

Restless Reef is the Dimir option that can turn into a 4/4 shark with deathtouch. Attacking with Restless Reef will force a player to mill four cards from their library. Dimir Mill-centric Commanders like Captain N’ghathrod, Sidisi, Brood Tyrant, and Phenax, God of Deception may want to add Restless Reef to their ninety-nine. TCGplayer Infinite writer Drew Knapp recommends adding Restless Reef to a Commander strategy led by The Scarab God. Milling a player for four cards should produce one or more new targets for The Scarab God to copy into a 4/4 black Zombie creature token.

Restless Anchorage

The Lost Caverns of Ixalan, Rare

Restless Anchorage represents Azorius and is the most expensive of the cycle from The Lost Caverns of Ixalan for a good reason. Three mana turns Restless Anchorage into a 2/3 bird with flying, and when it attacks, you create a Map token. Astonishingly, you can target Restless Anchorage with the newly-created Map token to explore and add a +1/+1 counter. Several Standard and Pioneer decks have already added Restless Anchorage to their mana base. Restless Anchorage is seeing play in Standard’s Esper Midrange and Azorious Schooner. Pioneer players are utilizing Restless Anchorage in Azorious Control and Azorious Lotus Field.

#4 Ojer Pakpatiq, Deepest Epoch

The Lost Caverns of Ixalan, Mythic

Ojer Pakpatiq, Deepest Epoch could be the sleeper Mythic Rare of The Lost Caverns of Ixalan. Four mana provides a Legendary 4/3 flyer God that bestows rebound to every instant spell cast from your hand. Even after death, Ojer, Pakpatiq, Deepest Epoch can return to the battlefield by removing three time counters from their transformed backside. Ojer Pakpatiq, Deepest Epoch’s ability limitation is not a burden when paired with specific strategies and cards. Orvar, the All-Form’s ability triggers any time you cast an instant or sorcery spell, including from your hand. Targeting instants with a cantrip effect like Shadow Rift and Leap is incredible to rebound with Orvar, the All-Form, and Ojer Pakpatiq on your battlefield. Ultimately, drawing two cards and creating two permanent tokens for one blue mana is stellar.

Shu Yun, the Silent Tempest is another Commander who plays a plethora of instants that draw cards. Shu Yun wants to trigger prowess and his double strike ability by casting spells with rebound to keep stacking commander damage. Ojer Pakpatiq can make Slip Through Space, Expedite, and Defiant Strike even more deadly for Shu Yun. Rebounding Brute Force, Flare of Faith, or Brute Strength with Ojer, Pakpatiq, Deepest Epoch can also set up back-to-back turns of lethal Commander damage for your opponents. Players may need to discover more synergies with Ojer Pakpatiq to push its price point higher than $2, but the card has potential.  

#3 Inti, Seneschal of the Sun

The Lost Caverns of Ixalan, Rare

Inti, Seneschal of the Sun is a 2/2 Red Legendary Human Knight with a clever discard ability. You may discard a card whenever you attack with Inti, Seneschal of the Sun under your control. When you do, you can place a +1/+1 counter on an attacking creature, and it gains trample until the end of the turn. Also, whenever you discard one or more cards, you exile the top card of your library and may play that card until your next end step.

Players are beginning to experiment with Inti, Seneschal of the Sun in various Red Standard and Pioneer archetypes, especially with the unbanning of Smuggler’s Copter in Pioneer. Although Inti, Seneschal of the Sun may shine best in a Madness-themed Commander deck. Commanders such as Asmoranomardicadaistinaculdacar and Anje Falkenrath can use Inti, Seneschal of the Sun’s abilities to execute their game plan. Inti also synergies with several cards found in the ninety-nine of Madness-themed decks like Insatiable Gorgers, Surly Badgersaur, and Brass’s Tunnel-Grinder. Players are starting to catch on to Inti, Seneschal of the Sun’s usefulness, considering its average market price has trended upward post-release. 

#2 Molten Collapse

The Lost Caverns of Ixalan, Rare

Move over Dreadbore; players now have the option to play Molten Collapse. Power creep allowed players to destroy a creature or planeswalker or the choice to destroy a noncreature, nonland permanent for one mana or less. If a permanent entered your graveyard from anywhere before casting Molten Collapse, you can destroy two permanents. Any deck playing a copy of Dreadbore may want to swap it with Molten Collapse instead. Rakdos Midrange in Modern, Legacy, and Pioneer are already trying out Molten Collapse within their 75. Commander players can use Molten Collapse to destroy plenty of creatures, Sol Rings, Land Taxes, and Mystic Remoras. It is striking that Molten Collapse’s average market price is less than $2 per copy, considering its versatility across Magic formats.

#1 Warden of the Inner Sky

The Lost Caverns of Ixalan, Rare

Warden of the Inner Sky is a one-mana, 1/2 Human Soldier. Interestingly, Warden of the Inner Sky possesses an ability that gives itself a +1/+1 counter and lets you scry one by tapping three other creatures and/or artifacts you control at sorcery speed. In addition, if Warden of the Inner Sky receives flying and vigilance if it has three +1/+1 counters. 

Giving Warden of the Inner Sky enough counters to soar over opponents is ideal, but receiving a +1/+1 counter by tapping three creatures and/or artifacts can be challenging. However, crewing Subterranean Schooner to explore and get a +1/+1 counter is relatively easy in Standard. Furthermore, a one-mana white creature like Warden of the Inner Sky is a fantastic inclusion in Pioneer’s Boros Convoke. Venerated Loxodon has the added benefit of granting Warden of the Inner Sky a +1/+1 counter, too. Warden of the Inner Sky provides a lot of utility for $1 per copy.