The most expensive MTG cards released in 2024

The year 2024 was a banner year for Magic: The Gathering collectors. While the year wasn't short of controversy over some of its more interesting limited releases (like various Secret Lair Drops), Wizards of the Coast released a plethora of great cards for collectors.

This list is chock-full of some incredibly valuable cards that debuted in 2024, almost all of which come from Collector Boosters, the extremely expensive booster packs made for devoted collectors (and investors). Grab your wallet and read on to discover the most profitable MTG cards of the past year.

The card prices shown are all from TCGPlayer's market price history over the last calendar year and may vary over time.

10

Rakdos, Patron of Chaos (Rainbow Foil serialized) – Murders at Karlov Manor

Market price: $699.99

Rakdos, the famous Demon creature that gives its name to MTG's black/red color scheme. He received new printings in consecutive sets in the form of Rakdos, Patron of Chaos in Murders at Karlov Manor and Rakdos, the Muscle in Outlaws of Thunder Junction.

The Karlov Manor mythic rare is the one joining the list, specifically its serialized version found in the Murders at Karlov Manor collector booster packs with a double rainbow foil version of the card's Ravnica City treatment. Only 250 copies of these serialized cards were printed, so it's no wonder this card goes for nearly $700 on the secondary market.

9

Cleopatra, Pharaoh in Exile (serialized in Greek) – Universes Beyond: Assassin's Creed

Market price: $699.99

One of the least hyped sets among MTG fans in 2024 was the release of Universes Beyond: Assassin's Creed in the summer of 2024. While it may not have caused much of a stir among MTG fans and collectors, collectible boosters they housed some intriguing cards with spectacular artistic treatments.

Notably, the Assassin's Creed set featured real-life historical figures, such as Leonardo da Vinci, Socrates, and, on this card, Cleopatra, all of whom have been featured in Assassin's Creed games over the years. Furthermore, these cards were all printed in their respective “native” languages; therefore, this serialized Cleopatra was printed exclusively in Greek.

8

Niv-Mizzet, Guildpact (Rainbow Foil serialized) – Murders at Karlov Manor

Market price: $726.21

The Firemind himself, Niv-Mizzet, is a beloved character throughout Magic's history (and a legendary WUBRG card) who is at the center of various storylines across the plane of Ravnica, including during the events that took place for the Murders at Karlov Manor.

Just like the Rakdos card before it, this double rainbow foil only saw 250 cards printed in total, making it one of the most notable Chase cards from the first MTG set released in 2024.

7

Steam Vents (Retro Frame serialized) – Ravnica remastered

Market price: $891.50

From one Ravnica set to another, Ravnica Remastered was a compilation released in 2024 that saw notable reprints of some of the most famous and popular cards from Magic's past. The only condition was that they were part of sets that included Ravnica, including cards from the original Ravnica block, the Return to Ravnica block, and the (unofficial) Guilds of Ravnica block.

Not surprisingly, the Chase card at the top of that set is one of the beloved “shocklands” that provide two colors of mana and signal you for two if you want them to come in untapped. In this case, it's the shockland Izzet (blue/red) leading the charge in its serialized retro frame version – a stunning card that's worthy of its sky-high price.

6

Teysa, opulent oligarch (Rainbow Foil serialized) – Murders at Karlov Manor

Market price: $897.50

The most valuable card in a Standard-legal set in 2024 is this double-rainbow serialized version of Teysa, opulent oligarch from Murders at Karlov Manor, priced just under a staggering $900.

With interesting abilities, stunning art, and only 250 copies in existence, it's no wonder that this rare Murders at Karlov Manor hunt is the most valuable card in the set. Yet, it's still not expensive enough to crack the top five.

5

Leonardo da Vinci (serialized in Italian) – Universes beyond: Assassin's Creed

Market price: $899.95

Worth nearly $200 more than the second most valuable card in Universes Beyond: Assassin's Creed is an MTG card featuring one of history's most important artists, inventors, and Renaissance men: Leonardo da Vinci.

If you had told MTG creator Richard Garfield in 1993 that the game he invented would have a card resembling the painter of the Mona Lisa in 30 years, he wouldn't have believed you. But that's the direction the game has gone. 2024. It's quite curious, and the fact that this card is printed exclusively in Italian as a serialized version means that it will always have been a hunting card for collectors.

4

Mana Vault – Secret Lair Launch (Fallout: Vault Boy)

Market price: $1,053.03

The most valuable card from a Secret Lair Drop in 2024 comes courtesy of one of the best drops of 2024: the release of Fallout: Vault Boy, which was part of April's 2024 Equinox Superdrop.

Released alongside the Universes Beyond: Fallout set, this little drop contained noteworthy Stax pieces like the Trinisphere and Sphere of Resistance, but the drop's ultra-rare bonus card is the one that holds a price tag above $1,000. As one of the best mana rocks of all time in MTG, it's no wonder this unique card holds so much value.

3

Kozilek, the broken reality (Borderless serialized) – Modern Horizons 3

Market price: $1,523.40

The three most valuable cards of 2024 – by far – come from one of the most powerful, if not the most powerful, sets released during the year: Modern Horizons 3. Modern Horizons sets are known for pushing the limits of what Magic cards can do that, and the third set in this series was no exception.

There were only three cards that received serialized releases in the set, and all three were borderless versions of three new Eldrazi titans. The first three start with a stunning release from Kozilek, the Broken Reality that tips the scales with a price tag above $1,500.

2

Emrakul, Brave New World (Borderless Serialized) – Modern Horizons 3

Market price: $2,100.00

Emrakul, the World Anew narrowly misses out on first place with a price well above $2,000. This is a fascinating card that can be tricked into play much earlier than expected, thanks to the presence of the madness rare keyword. It can be cast instead of discarding a card from your hand for just six colorless mana.

While this Emrakul is not as powerful as, say, Emrakul, the Torn Aeons or Emrakul, the Promised End, it is still an Emraku. As one of the most fearsome creatures in MTG history, it commands a huge price on the secondary market.

1

Ulamog, the Contaminator (Borderless Serialized) – Modern Horizons 3

Market price: $2,199.99

The best new Eldrazi titan printed in Modern Horizons 3 was Ulamog, the Contaminator, who can grow to gigantic size depending on the deck you're playing against. He also gets the very powerful annihilator keyword, which forces your enemy to sacrifice permanents based on the number of +1/+1 counters on Ulamog.

Just like Kozilek and Emrakul, only 250 copies of these spectacularly illustrated borderless cards were made, and since these are Eldrazi titans, it makes perfect sense that they are all worth thousands of copies. Not bad for pieces of cardboard!