Summary
- Magic: The Gathering cards from the Alpha Set have become extremely valuable, with even common cards worth several thousand dollars.
- Some of the rarest and most valuable cards, such as the Shichifukujin Dragon and the 1996 World Champion, are considered priceless and not for sale.
- Dual lands like Taiga and Tundra are highly sought-after and can sell for thousands of dollars, providing versatility and power to decks that use multiple card colors.
Magic: The Gathering debuted on Aug. 5, 1993, with what is known as the Alpha set. The cards in this set have become extremely sought-after over the years, with many worth thousands of dollars in today’s market. If only we knew then what we know now about these early sets; even some of the common cards in the Alpha Set are now worth several thousands of dollars.
The second printing of the Alpha set in Sept. Of 1993, called the Beta set, even has cards worth thousands of dollars. Below is a list of the rarest and most valuable Magic: The Gathering cards and what they are worth today. The card prices here are for mint/near-mint card conditions.
Updated January 11, 2025 by Benjamin Joe: When it comes to MTG, there's almost no end to the amount of rare and valuable cards to collect. With each new release, there are new chase cards for players to collect. Not only that but as time goes on, the value of cards tends to increase.
While this isn't guaranteed, there are plenty of cards that have done nothing but increase in value as time has gone on. This update is going to adjust the rough price estimates to help ensure that they are in line with today's values. Also, two new entries will be added to the list.
1 The Tabernacle At Pendrell Vale
Great Against Creature-Heavy Decks
- Estimated Value: $2,400
The Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale forces players to pay an upkeep cost of one colorless mana per creature. This is in addition to any existing upkeep cost. This is a good card, but one that requires being used in a specially-prepared deck - preferably a deck loaded with sorcery and instant cards for dealing damage, as opposed to lots of creatures.
This card first appeared in the Magic Legends booster pack and is easily the most expensive card in the series. No other card in Magic Legends is valued at over $1,000, but The Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale's value is well over $2,000.
Price Range:
Viewing completed sales on eBay shows the value of Magic Legends set the value of The Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale at about $2,580.
2 Bayou
One Of The Dual Lands From The Alpha Set
- Estimated Value: $2,280
The dual land cards will always be sought after; this is especially true when talking about the dual lands from the original Alpha Set. Bayou gives the player a black or green mana when tapped, just like all the dual lands cards, which give one of two colored mana.
It is rare for a deck to use only one color; it can be done, but it's more difficult to construct a viable mono-color deck than multi-colored decks. This is because there are great cards of every color The Alpha dual lands will always remain among the most valuable Magic cards.
Price Range:
Viewing completed sales on eBay shows this card selling for about $2,280.
3 Wheel Of Fortune
For When The Opponent's Hand Is Better
- Estimated Value: $3,700
Wheel of Fortune has to be played at the right time to be more beneficial than punitive for the user. When this sorcery card is cast, both players must discard their hands and draw seven new cards. Obviously, this necessitates playing this card with as few cards in hand as possible, while hoping your opponent is holding at least five cards in theirs.
Another great time to use this is against a friend using one of their standard decks. In situations like this, there is a much better chance of being able to correctly guess which cards the opponent is holding.
Price Range:
Viewing completed sales on eBay shows this card going for about $3,700.
4 Library Of Alexandria
A Powerful Land Card
- Estimated Value: $1,000 - $1,500
There are plenty of valuable land cards in MTG and Library Of Alexandra is one of them. This card is from the set Arabian Nights. Since it was only printed for this set, it's a pretty hard card to come by. Not only that, but it is immensely powerful. Out of all the cards in Arabian Nights, Library Of Alexandria is among the most valuable cards out there.
While it's not as valuable as many of the other entries on this list, it still fetches a respectable price.
Price Range:
Collectors lucky enough to have a copy of this card can expect to sell it on the low end for around $1,000. However, the card has been known to hit prices as high as $1,500.
5 Juzam Djinn
Not As Powerful As It Used To Be. But It's Still Valuable
- Estimated Value: $1,200 - $2,000
Juzam Djinn is another valuable card from Arabian Nights. Juzam Djinn used to rank among the best creatures in the game. While things have changed over the years, this particular card is still a favorite among many long-term players. Since it was so iconic during MTG's early days, it's easy to see why it's been able to maintain a lot of its value.
Similar to the previous entry, this card was only featured in Arabian Nights. This has helped to increase its overall rarity.
Price Range:
While it has gone down in value over the years, this card can still be sold for a pretty penny. Collectors can get anywhere in the region of $1,200 and £2,000 for this one.
6 Shichifukujin Dragon
There's Only One Shichifukujin Dragon
- Estimated Value: Priceless
This card is beyond rare, it's unique. The Shichifukujin Dragon was a promo card made for the grand opening of the Duelists' Convocation International Tournament Center in Tokyo, Japan. There is only one Shichifukujin Dragon card. As the saying goes, if there are still two left they are valuable, if there's only one it is priceless.
The card itself still resides in Japan and is not for sale. It is unlikely to ever be put on the auction block. Magic: The Gathering players will just have to live with the fact there will always be one card they can never own.
Price Range:
Since there's only one, and it's not for sale, a price is almost impossible to assign this card. It is priceless.
7 1996 World Champion
A Unique Commemorative Card
- Estimated Value: Priceless
This is another unique Magic card that was created to commemorate an important event in the card game's history, the 1996 World Championship. The power of this card is completely overblown; it is clear from the power this card is not meant for play. The 1996 World Champion card summons a creature with a power and toughness equal to the opponent's remaining life.
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The power of this card also allows the owner to search their library for it and place it on top. Once this card enters play a duel would probably be over in a turn or two.
Price Range:
As with the Shichifukujin Dragon, this is a unique card, so it is hard to label it anything other than priceless. This card isn't even listed in price charting lists.
8 Royal Assassin
Kill An Opponent's Creature Before It Can Deal Damage
- Estimated Value: $1,000 - $1,700
This insidious card can kill any tapped creature. This is beyond useful when the opponent sends a powerful creature forward. The Royal Assassin's power even prevents the target creature from dealing damage since it is discarded before the Combat Damage Step is resolved.
This isn't the most valuable Magic card, but it has retained its value for five years - leading up to 2023. However, there's no need to spend thousands for this card with so many cheaper reprints available.
Price Range:
A Royal Assassin from the Alpha Set typically sells for about $1,000, but the price charting shows it at $1,700 in value.
9 Mind Twist
Disrupt The Opponent's Strategy
- Estimated Value: $1,250
This is an interesting card that forces the opponent to discard cards from their hand. This is done at random; which prevents the player from hanging onto a card they were hoping to play soon. The opponent must discard one card per black mana used.
Cards like Mind Twist can win games. They can also end friendships if used a little too much, or if glee is exhibited while playing the card from the hand.
Price Range:
The Price Charting lists the value of an Alpha set Mind Twist at $2,000. Viewing completed sales on eBay shows this card going for slightly over $1,250 on average.
10 Birds Of Paradise
Free Colorless Mana When Tapped
- Estimated Value: $1,900
Birds of Paradise is as useful during a duel as it is valuable. Perhaps this is why this card was available (reprinted) and included in nearly every Core Set. Naturally, the earlier printings are the most valuable. Once a turn, this card can produce one mana of any color for the player.
Being able to produce one mana of any color allows for a more varied deck, without having to put in a bunch of lands to power a couple of cards.
Price Range:
An Alpha copy of Birds of Paradise averages around $1,900 in value on eBay. A copy from the Unlimited set sells for several hundred dollars. Recent reprints sell for under $10.