Summary
Special Guests cards inMagic: The Gatheringrepresent a new ‘bonus sheet’ for Magic’s expansion sets that replace ‘The List.’ In contrast to ‘The List,’ which simply provided notable reprints in their original form as bonus cards in packs, Special Guests cards have brand-new artwork and feature some highly impactful cards from Magic’s past.
The Special Guests bonus sheet debuted in 2023’s The Lost Caverns of Ixalan set, and each successive release has featured several Special Guests cards featuring iconic lands, artifacts, enchantments and creatures throughout MTG’s history. So what Special Guests cards are the best to hit when cracking open packs? Read on to find the most valuable examples.
The card prices quoted all come fromTCGPlayer’s Market Price History over the past calendar year (unless noted) and may fluctuate over time.
10Underworld Breach – The Lost Caverns Of Ixalan
Market Price: $21.75
A beloved combo piece in Modern – and so powerful that it’s banned in Pioneer, Legacy and Explorer – Underworld Breach was first printed in Theros: Beyond Death in 2020, and this Special Guests version marks the first reprint of the card since it debuted.
The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Special Guests sheet actually featured far more cards than all successive Special Guests releases have thereafter (24) and also was the only Special Guests sheet to feature both rare and uncommon cards; all the following ones gave the cards the mythic rare rarity, no matter what their original rarities were.
9Akroma’s Memorial – Foundations
Market Price: $22.47
Originally printed in Future Sight, this legendary artifact bestows the keyword abilities that Akroma, Angel of Wrath from the Legions set had onto all your creatures – making them incredibly powerful beaters no matter what their power and toughness is.
This version of the card marks the first new, non-Secret Lair artwork in the card’s history, and this card’s stained-glass style is certainly an eye-catching one – perhaps leading to this card’s over-$20 price point.
8Damnation – Duskmourn: House Of Horror
Market Price: $22.77
The only card from the Duskmourn: House of Horror Special Guests sheet is a true banger: Damnation was originally printed in Planar Chaos as a color-shifted, black version of Magic’s original board wipe: Wrath of God (which is still one of the best board wipes of all time).
As it features the truly terrifying artwork ofDuskmourn’s ‘big bad’ Valgavoth, it’s no wonder this Duskmourn Special Guests card is worth over $20 on the secondary market.
7Stoneforge Mystic – Outlaws Of Thunder Junction
Market Price: $24.79
While Outlaws of Thunder Junction’s setting didn’t receive rave reviews – it was deemed rather thin and trope-filled by fans – the same cannot be said for the set’s Special Guests bonus sheet.
The first of three cards from the set’s Special Guests cards found herein is Stoneforge Mystic, a beloved equipment-themed card that can tutor up any equipment from your deck when it enters. It was originally printed in Worldwake back in 2010 - even that version of the card is worth over $17 - showcasing this Kor Artificer’s impressive staying power.
6Sylvan Tutor – Bloomburrow
Market Price: $27.70
The delightful cover art for Bloomburrow Collector Booster Boxes is this powerful green tutor that was first printed in Portal and has actually only seen three reprints – one of which is an ultra-rare Judges Gift Card from 2020.
This gorgeous Special Guests version showcases striking artwork from longtime MTG artist Scott M. Fischer with two mages – a frog and a racoon – combining forces to defend Valley, the bucolic home of Bloomburrow’s critters.
5Scapeshift – Outlaws Of Thunder Junction
Market Price: $28.54
A remarkably powerful tool for landfall decks is this green sorcery that was originally released all the way back in 2008’s Morningtide expansion. Due to this card’s extreme scarcity – only three total printings, including this one – it’s not shocking to see it among the most valuable Special Guests cards.
With breathtakingly beautiful artwork from Joseph Meehan, this card is surely the best-looking version of Scapeshift, and Commander combo players would be glad to have a copy of this in their land shenanigans combo deck.
4Sword Of Fire And Ice – Bloomburrow
Market Price: $31.12
Most of the Special Guests cards from Bloomburrow feature absolutely adorable artwork – as does the entire set – and this reprinted sword equipment is no exception.
It was originally printed way back in 2004’s Darksteel expansion, and that version of the card actually fetches a higher price - $39 vs. $31 - likely due to the novelty of being over 20 years old. However, the Darksteel version doesn’t show an otter transmuting a fish skeleton into a magic sword like this one does.
3Prismatic Vista – Outlaws Of Thunder Junction
Market Price: $34.29
Evolving Wilds and Terramorphic Expanse are major staples in theCommander formatdue to their low rarity and frequent reprints – but the fact that your land comes into play tapped sure is a bummer.
Enter Prismatic Vista! For the low, low cost of one life, you’re able to get that basic land you searched for into play untapped – letting you start cooking up some juicy synergies before you can say ‘mana screw.’ This card has only been printed three times, so it’s no wonder this Special Guests version’s price point is approaching $35.
Market Price: $41.41
Field of the Dead was surely a design mistake, as the card was rather swiftly banned in multiple formats after it was released in Core Set 2020. Being able to amass a huge army of Zombie tokens by simply playing lands and using cards that flicker lands or allow you to play extra lands was simply too much to handle.
However, the card is still legal in Commander, and this Special Guests version from Murders at Karlov Manor – the only card from that set found here – was only the second-ever printing of this rage-inducing nonbasic land, hence its over $40 price tag.
1Mana Crypt (#0017a) – The Lost Caverns Of Ixalan
Market Price: $3,496.55 (viaPriceCharting)
That’s right, the most valuable Special Guests card can be purchased for the paltry sum of over $3,500 (or over that thanks to sales tax). Why is this card from The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Special Guests so valuable? For one thing, it’s a Mana Crypt, which is already among the most highly sought-aftermana rocksin MTG.
Secondly, it combines at least three of the monochrome ‘cosmium ink’ variants of Lost Caverns’ Mana Crypt (red, green and yellow) into one spectacular card. Admittedly, all the ‘cosmium ink’ varieties of this card would’ve made the list, with the red version topping out at over $2,000, but it still doesn’t hold a candle to this gorgeous multicolored one.
