Sphere of Influence: May 9, 2025

Welcome to Sphere of Influence, a pre-FNM look at some potential movers and shakers that are worth picking up before their prices increase.

The relatively recent banned and restricted announcement hasn't kept Modern down. Here are some cheap pick-ups for that format that slot into some of the more popular archetypes:

Scion of Draco - $4

Zoo players would be doing themselves a disservice by leaving Scion off their lists. The card comes down fairly easily and provides very relevant keywords to your creatures in addition to being, usually, a two-mana flying 4/4. The mana base for Domain varieties can be quite expensive already, and a few Scions can guarantee you'll certainly be getting your money's worth.

Mutagenic Growth - $1

With so few printings, Mutagenic Growth has ebbed and flowed in price, settling around a buck likely due to limited playability at the moment. Still, where there's prowess, specifically Monastery Swiftspear, Growth thrives as a must-have, and this is a great price at which to pick up a playset.

Boggart Trawler - $1.50

This card is a free-roll in Orzhov Death & Taxes, serving as a land or some all-important main deck graveyard hate against Dimir, among others. In Commander, it's even better as an alternative/addition to Bojuka Bog, already a staple. There's no way it maintains its cheap price over time, especially given the fact that MDFCs aren't an every-set phenomenon. Get enough for both Modern and Commander now, while you can.

Detective's Phoenix - $1

Here's another card with uses across multiple formats: in Commander, particularly in Voltron strategies, being able to pay for its bestow is fairly easy, and, in Modern, Detective's Phoenix sticks around after removal spells to get in damage with its evasive body. These sorts of multi-use toolbox cards tend to grow more popular with time, and I wouldn't be surprised if the Phoenix hit $10 at some point within the next year.

Glaring Fleshraker - $1

Good lord, this card puts in work. With virtually zero requirement to stray from the established Eldrazi gameplan, Fleshraker ramps you, deals damage, and can come down as early as turn two. Pretty much every other Eldrazi is becoming more expensive by the day, and I have no reason to believe this one won't be any different.

Modern Way of Life

What decks have you been sleeving up for Modern? Not that the set has been fully previewed yet, but are there any Final Fantasy cards you have your eye on for future modern decks? Let me know!