Summary
Being the longest-running trading card games means thatMagic: The Gatheringhas had plenty of rare cards released over the years. For any collector, it’s a dream to own a card that can pay for an entire mortgage with its value alone.
With a scene as beloved as MTG, there’s bound to be plenty of valuable cards to boast about owning. Some of the highest-valued cards tend to be promo cards that are released at various events across the globe. From retro classics to modern masterpieces, there is no shortage of wallet-burning promo cards in the world of MTG.
All cards on this list have been ordered according to their average market price onTCGPlayer.This does, however, mean that these prices are a rough estimate of how much each card is worth, but they can be seen selling for much more or less.
10Swords To Plowshares (Serialized Secret Lair Drop Promo, 713) – $818.22
Playable And Serialized
With valor and justice, Sword To Plowshares is a trusty card that can answer nearly any threat with ease. This card is able to stab its way through any creature and exile them, making it a powerful tool in many decks. There are tons of reprints of Swords To Plowshares because of its popularity, but none have gotten close to the value or the splendor of this promo one.
Unlike many other cards, we actually know exactly how many have been produced of this promo thanks to each card being serialized on the right of the card with only 295 made. The price of this card does vary depending on the serial number, but any copy is still worth an entire pay check.
9Island - Guru (Guru Lands Promo) – $999.99
Teaching The Ways Of Magic
This nostalgic promo card is an iconic part of MTG’s history that many classic fans wish they got back in 1999. This is an exclusive land card that is the perfect collection piece for any fan collecting retro MTG cards as it connects to the history of the game through the long-gone yet not forgotten Guru program.
The Guru program was a short-lived yet fun thing run by Wizards of the Coast in which players could become Gurus and teach new players how to play the game in order to earn points. These could be redeemed for one of five color-themed exclusive Guru Land cards. The Guru cards may not look like much to the average fan, but to legacy players these are some of the coolest promos you can own.
8Mutavault (Champs Promo, 12) – $1,179.95
A Card That Can Become An Investment
This promo version of Mutavault is a detailed version of a popular card with extended art featured exclusively on this promo, and it is stunning. Many fans look back fondly on Mutavault and this promo is the most desired version of the card due to its limited print and beautiful extended art that allows Fred Fields' original artwork to become even more striking.
Mutavault is an extremely versatile land that has gotten many prints over the years, but they all fall flat compared to this one because of the extended art. What it does is that it can actually change into a creature at any time and provide aggression that is able to synergize super well with a wide range of decks.
7Survival Of The Fittest (Judge Promo G09, 4) – $1,199.99
Hunting Down A Copy Will Cost You Your Life…
The alternate art on this promo version of Survival of the Fittest is breathtakingly detailed and, from just a glance, you may tell this card is expensive for more than just its rarity. What catches your eye with this art is the sinister nature of the wild animals alongside the equally wild and ready-to-kill person beside them.
With a low print number and art as beautiful as this, Survival of the Fittest is one of the most desired judge promos. It is also quite iconic in the competitive scene, once being a beloved card in many Commander decks, but unfortunately this magnificent print was exclusive to 2009s tournaments only for judges, which made it incredibly limited.
6Wheel Of Fortune (Judge Promo G10, 7) – $1,470.47
Selling For A Fortune
Judge promos are some of the most scarce cards in all of MTG as the only way to obtain them is by being an official judge in the Judge Gift Program. Regular players have no chance to obtain these and if you are a fan of MTG you have to decide if you want to play the game or be a judge for others, as usually you cannot do both.
Being distributed in 2010, this Wheel of Fortune promo was one of the eight available judge promo cards for that year that stuck out for its beautiful alternate art. Considering that this card won’t be reprinted ever again due to being on the Reserved List, this promo is and will always be the most desired version.
5Sauron, The Dark Lord (Pro Tour Promo, 301) – $2,200.00
The One Card To Rule Them All
The greatest evil makes for one of the greatest promo cards in this Sauron, the Dark Lord card. Being the main antagonist of The Lord of the Rings, this card brings great power to rival that of any other creature. This brilliant promo print features detailed original art by Anton Solovianchyk and could only be obtained by being in the top of the Regional Championships in 2023.
The Pro Tour and Regional Championship events have giant prize pools, but even if you don’t walk home with much, any promo cards you get will be a prize of their own in due time. In just a few years, this card has already risen to become one of the most desired and valuable promo cards, and it will only go up more as time passes.
4Gandalf The White (Pro Tour Promo, 299) – $2,200.00
A Wizard Is Never Late, Nor Is He Cheap
With how hyped and overwhelmingly popularThe Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earthset was, it’s no surprise that one of the most iconic characters from J. R. R. Tolkien’s works got a promo card and, of course, everyone and their parents wanted it. This Gandalf the White promo would be expensive even if it was widely available, but only the best of the best were able to get their hands on it.
The Pro Tour promos can be some of the most valuable due to their limited prints, but only those who do well in the tournaments can receive one. Wizards of The Coast are quite generous with how many of these they gave out, but since the tournament had over a thousand participants, you would have to be able to make it there and back again and do quite well.
3Gaea’s Cradle (Judge Promo, 321) – $2,363.49
An Iconic Card With A Powerful Legacy
This vintage promo has been a card that many collectors wish they could own, but with the price ever-increasing, it gets harder each day. Gaea’s Cradle is an iconic land that is valuable even in its regular print fromUrza’s Saga.It is known as one of the strongest land cards of all time and so an exclusive foil version given out in limited quantities in 1993 is of course worth a ton.
This promo version of the card features the same art as the set version but now in foil and with the Wizards of the Coast star at the bottom. Being a Judge promo means it was only distributed to any official judges at supported MTG tournaments in 1993. Adding together how classic this card is and its rarity and legacy, it’s no surprise it is as expensive as it is.
2Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer (Secret Lair Showdown Promo, 2) – $2.899.99
The Perfect Way To Make A Promo
The Secret Lair Showdown is an event held at MagicCon each year (now named Secret Lair Spectacular) that has players all across the convention competing in a tournament to earn various Secret Lair Drops and prizes, including exclusive promo cards such as this absolutely stunning Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer card.
Unlike any other print of this card, this one has such a distinct and memorable artstyle that makes it the best one by far. The borderless pop art-like style by NIARK1 with a lineless and color-filled environment is just excellent, and it captures your eyes with ease. There are alot of promos that feel very underwhelming considering their rarity, but this one really feels super special because of the art.
1Dragon’s Rage Channeler (Retro Frame, Eternal Weekend 2023 Promo) – $3,000
Red Retro Raging
The highlight of playing a card game competitively tends to be the chance of winning exclusive promo cards and this Dragon’s Rage Channeler is a prize no one could be mad about. Very few were able to get their hands on this fantastic retro promo card as it was only given out to the top eight of theLegacycompetition at Eternal Weekend 2023 in North America.
Alot of promo cards have no current listings, so TCG Player and other sites have no market data. While the cards listed here are valuable, there will be even more rare and valuable cards that pop up for sale occasionally.
Retro framed cards will always be some of the best-looking cards because of nostalgia alone, but they are also just fantastic because of how good the retro MTG cards look. The borderless and extended art cards found in modern sets look beautiful don’t get us wrong, but nothing can beat the sheer classy and defined look of a retro-framed card.
