When I walked the floor of Grand Prix Toronto a month ago, I saw that Blood Moon was prominently listed at the top of a dealer’s displayed buylist board, and I again saw the same thing at Grand Prix Atlantic City. It’s likely that I noticed this at all because I have been holding around a dozen Blood Moon I intend to part with.

After further investigation on mtg.gg, I found the spread on the various editions of Blood Moon (The Dark, Chronicles, 8th Edition, 9th Edition, Modern Masters) was quite low, even under 10% for the best buyers. With Modern season now upon us, and with cyclical demand from players increasing prices, I reasoned that dealers were preparing for the upcoming season by aggressively moving into Modern positions. Blood Moon has risen steadily in the last month, growing around 25-30% across the various printings.

The best Modern targets going forward are those not included in Modern Masters 2015. While reprinted cards fall in price, those not reprinted will certainly rise, potentially significantly.

Consider that risk of reprint in MM2015 held the prices of many cards down. When it was announced that the new set would include cards up to New Phyrexia, newer cards, like Snapcaster Mage and Liliana of the Veil, grew in price accordingly. When the final MM2015 spoiler was revealed, all of the cards that could have been included became primed for a rise in price. An obvious example, Serum Visions, saw an immediate price increase. As time goes on, this effect will take hold on more and more cards.

If MM2015 increases the popularity of Modern and demand for Modern cards, then these non-reprinted cards will become even more valuable over time. With Modern season beginning in earnest this weekend, now is a great time to get in on Modern positions before they grow more expensive.

While there will be Modern PTQs on Magic Online until mid-July, and Modern Grand Prix in Copenhagen and Singapore in June, I expect that the peak of the American Modern financial season is nearly upon us--Grand Prix Charlotte on the weekend of June 14th.

This event is building off the hype of MM2015, and it’s likely to draw thousands of players. There will be card-buying frenzy in the days leading to the event, and at event itself, dealers and traders will surely demand high prices for their format staples.

Today I’ll share some cards that I have had my eye on, cards that were not reprinted in MM2015, that are sure to be Modern players, and likely strong financial positions, going forward to GP Charlotte and beyond. These cards have seen recent upward movement that I expect will continue in the days leading to GP Charlotte.

G/R Urzatron is a very powerful Modern deck, and it is particularly well positioned in this metagame, which is being overtaken by creature decks, including those using Collected Company. The G/R Urzatron archetype had additional exposure last weekend in the Modern week of the Standard Super League, where Owen Turtenwald used a version with four Ugin, the Spirit Dragon to win the week.

I expect that G/R Urzatron will be a strong and popular choice at GP Charlotte and throughout the Modern season, and its cards are good financial targets.

The Urzatron lands themselves are of particular interest. While these have seen multiple printings, they maintain a strong price and are primed for growth. While the 9th Edition paper printing of Urza's Tower has grown over 30% in the last week, I look towards Magic Online for the most striking example of potential for Urzatron lands.

The online price of the 8th and 9th Edition printings of these lands has doubled in price over the last week. For example, the 9th Edition Urza's Tower has grown from 0.3 to 0.6 tix. Older printings have also grown in price, the Masters Edition IV Urza's Tower growing 25% from 1.6 to 2 tix.

I predict that the paper price of Urzatron lands will rise further, and we could reasonably expect to see $5 Urza's Towers in the future.

Another strong play from the Modern Urzatron deck is Grove of the Burnwillows. A staple four-of that was not reprinted, it’s sure to rise, and it has applications in other decks.

I point to the online price, which has grown from under 12 tix the first of May to over 27 tix the first of June. The paper price was in a steady decline from its peak of $47 in April of 2014 to a low of under $36 in early May. It has since began a slow growth up to over $37, and I expect it could reach $50 or more this Summer.

BGx-based Rock decks are a major factor in any and every Modern metagame, and its staple cards are surefire financial plays. Two options stand out, on opposite ends of the spectrum.

The first is Twilight Mire, which sits at $32. The price is high, but with no reprint imminent, the filter lands are primed for a price bump, and this is the best of the bunch in terms of top-tier Modern play.

The price, which peaked at $37 at the end of the last Modern season in September, will likely grow past $40 this season. Online, Mystic Gate has grown over 20% in the last month from 3.7 tix to 4.5 tix, which could signal future paper growth. I am bullish on all filter lands.

Another land not getting enough attention is Treetop Village, which plays a part in nearly every BGx Rock deck in Modern. The online price of the 10th Edition printing has grown by a third in the last week, from 0.6 to 0.8 tix. The paper price, which was $1.5 in mid-February, is up to over $2, and I expect it will grow higher still.

On the topic of uncommon plays, I am a big fan of Eternal Witness. With Den Protector likely the best card in Standard, it’s important to take another look at an even more efficient card. It’s gaining popularity in Modern alongside Collected Company, which alone is enough to bump the price, but I expect we’ll be seeing more of it in this archetype and others going forward.

Timely Reinforcements is another card I have my eye on. It's a premier Modern sideboard card that will be excellent against a format with Zoo decks on the rise. This card was barely over $1 when April began, but here in June, it’s approaching $3. I wouldn’t be surprise to see this crack $5 by fall.

What cards are on your Modern radar?

Cheers,
Adam