Source transparency: This Digest item is based primarily on reporting from MTG Rocks. TMF summarizes and interprets the news; original reporting remains credited and linked.
Baleful Strix has seen a sharp secondary-market increase after becoming legal in Pauper through The Zeta Set. MTG Rocks reports that near-mint Final Fantasy copies, available for roughly $0.90 only days earlier, had reached a cheapest listed price of $6.05 at the time of publication. That represents an increase of approximately 544%.
The report connects the jump directly to interest from Pauper players following Wizards' change to the set's format legality. MTG Rocks counted 435 near-mint copies of the Final Fantasy printing sold on September 4 alone. The article highlights Dimir Faeries and Affinity as immediate homes for the artifact creature, while its established Commander demand provides an additional base of interest.
The movement was not limited to the least expensive printing. According to the same report, the foil Bloomburrow Special Guests version had moved above $17, the Secret Lair Rainbow Foil was around $25 after shipping, and several older versions were listed near $13.
The increase remains highly speculative. Wizards has indicated that Baleful Strix will be watched closely in Pauper, with the next banned and restricted update scheduled for October 12. A future ban, additional supply, or weaker-than-expected tournament results could reverse part of the increase. Players should therefore treat the current prices as a volatile response to new-format demand rather than an established long-term level.
The report connects the jump directly to interest from Pauper players following Wizards' change to the set's format legality. MTG Rocks counted 435 near-mint copies of the Final Fantasy printing sold on September 4 alone. The article highlights Dimir Faeries and Affinity as immediate homes for the artifact creature, while its established Commander demand provides an additional base of interest.
The movement was not limited to the least expensive printing. According to the same report, the foil Bloomburrow Special Guests version had moved above $17, the Secret Lair Rainbow Foil was around $25 after shipping, and several older versions were listed near $13.
The increase remains highly speculative. Wizards has indicated that Baleful Strix will be watched closely in Pauper, with the next banned and restricted update scheduled for October 12. A future ban, additional supply, or weaker-than-expected tournament results could reverse part of the increase. Players should therefore treat the current prices as a volatile response to new-format demand rather than an established long-term level.
Original source: Potent Artifact Bird Spikes 544% Thanks to New Format Legality ↗MTG Rocks