Sarkhan for Courser/Caryatids?
Economics forum
Posted on March 23, 2015, 1:15 a.m. by alexthegreat38
I traded someone two normal Theros Sylvan Caryatids and a normal Courser of Kruphix for a Sarkhan Unbroken. Does this seem to be a good trade for the long-term? I know Courser and Caryatid will go down after they rotate out, but Caryatid will probably hold some of its value...does this seem like a bad trade in the long run?
If you need it for a deck, then I think think it's that bad a trade, but if your only metric is long term, then no this wasn't a very good deal.
Right now the Sylvan Caryatids and Courser of Kruphix are a few dollars over the value of a Sarkhan Unbroken. Yes, the Sylvan Caryatid and Courser of Kruphix are going to rotate, but Sarkhan Unbroken is also at its highest due to release prices. They are both going to slide in value over the next few months. The only way you make out is if Sarkhan Unbroken becomes a format staple, which is unlikely given its 3 color cost and its awkward placement against cards like Siege Rhino and Crackling Doom.
In the even longer term, Sylvan Caryatids and Courser of Kruphix see play in Modern. As a 5 mana planeswalker Sarkhan Unbroken is virtually assured to never see play in extended formats.
The two things Sarkhan Unbroken has going for it is that it's a mythic in the 3rd set, which tend to be opened is smaller numbers and keep the prices up a little higher than normal, and being dragon themed means its got a certain floor due to casual markets. But in general, I think you traded stable cards for a volatile one.
March 23, 2015 1:53 a.m.
Slycne Actually, the Draft for the next few months is going to be 1 Fate Reforged, 2 Dragons of Tarkir. So as far as draft packs opened at FNM's, it will see the same amount opened as Khans. Granted, boxes bought and opened are going to be less. But still, Sarkhan's price will suffer more than the last set in a block usually would.
March 23, 2015 2:04 a.m.
kyuuri117 True, strictly as a draft there's 100% more packs than say Dragon's Maze. However, I think Dragons of Tarkir is still likely to end up in a similar spot as most third sets with overall packs being opened given that we're sharply transitioning into Modern Masters 2015 and then Magic Origins over the next 4th months. Normally a 3rd set has about 3 months of draft time to itself, whereas Dragons of Tarkir will need to split that with Modern Masters 2015.
March 23, 2015 2:21 a.m.
Hjaltrohir says... #7
I would have held on those Courser of Kruphix and Sylvan Caryatids until Sarkhan goes down a bit in price from prerelease inflation.
March 23, 2015 2:57 a.m.
JakeHarlow says... #8
I estimate the new Sarkhan will settle between $12 and $18...Temur isn't very popular, but that could change due to Sarkhan Unbroken and some of the prospective "Temur Dragons" lists some folks have been talking about.
Hype prices says you made a fairly even trade, but that will change when things settle down. I think value-wise, you might have jumped the gun here, but by all means if that's what you wanted to do, good on you!
March 23, 2015 3:02 a.m.
alexthegreat38 says... #9
I'm using him for a Standard deck. It doesn't bother me that much since I probably wasn't going to run the Caryatids anywhere anyways, I was just wondering what you guys were thinking as far as the value. Thanks!
Steaditup says... #2
It depends on what you're going to use your cards for. Are you going to run Sarkhan in a standard deck? Try to make him work in modern? EDH? If you're looking for return on investment, it depends on how prevalent Sarkhan ends up being. Temur is not a common competitive wedge (compared to abzan, jeskai, jund etc at least) so a card that forces those colors (and forces dragon tribal) might not retain much value. However, if you've got a sweet Intet, the Dreamer dragon edh deck and sarkhan is the perfect fit, trade away.
March 23, 2015 1:21 a.m.