The Most Valuable From The Vault Cards In Magic: The Gathering

Magic: The Gathering began to cater to collectors of the beloved card game more starting in the late 2000s by debuting the From the Vault series, which featured limited-release collections of notable cards from Magic’s history.

This product type lasted until 2017 when it was replaced by the Signature Spellbook series, which lasted until 2020 before it was replaced by Commander Collections. Since then, Secret Lair Drops and Collector Booster Packs have become the go-to products for MTG collectors, but these 10 cards released in the From the Vault series are the most valuable from that small grouping.

The card prices quoted all come from TCGPlayer‘s Market Price History over the past calendar year and may fluctuate over time.

10

Kokusho, the Evening Star – From the Vault: Dragons

Market Price: $36.46

One of the most notable elements of From the Vault cards was their unusual, singular foiling process, which included printing on card stock that was twice as thick and then being covered with a special varnish. This made the cards noticeably heavier, shinier and stiffer than standard foils.

This foiling method is striking across the entire From the Vault series, but especially so on this black legendary Dragon Spirit creature that was originally printed as part of a colored series of Dragons in Champions of Kamigawa. A Commander classic, it’s not surprising to see a legendary Dragon kick us off.

9

Glacial Chasm – From the Vault: Realms

Market Price: $37.10

From the Vault: Realms focused on iconic lands throughout MTG’s history, and many of them have seen very few reprints. For example, Glacial Chasm was originally printed in Ice Age and has only ever seen one reprint: This one from the land-focused From the Vault set.

Glacial Chasm is a wacky land by today’s standards, as it doesn’t provide any mana for you, and it also pings you for two life for every age counter on it via its cumulative upkeep abilities (far from one of the best upkeep effects ever). However, it does prevent all damage that would be dealt to you, which is quite the trade-off.

8

Sensei’s Divining Top – From the Vault: Exiled

Market Price: $38.31

The card list in From the Vault: Exiled featured various cards from Magic’s past that had been banned for one reason or another. While some cards that were printed in this set remain “problematic faves,” such as Skullclamp, Necropotence, and Berserk, others might make mages scratch their head and wonder why they were ever thought to be too powerful, such as Serendib Efreet, Kird Ape and Gifts Ungiven.

Sensei’s Divining Top, originally printed in Champions of Kamigawa (shockingly as an uncommon), is a useful “durdling” tool that can stack your deck, draw you cards and stymie an opponent’s milling strategies all in one.

7

Strip Mine – From the Vault: Exiled

Market Price: $39.31

Another amazing land from Magic’s past, Strip Mine was an obvious choice to be banned, as it could destroy any land in play for the low, low cost of… tapping it and sacrificing it. An obviously overpowered effect, it’s no wonder that this card has seen so few reprints.

This From the Vault: Exiled version of Strip Mine features the striking foiling method of the series, and also marks one of the only three reprints of Strip Mine since the nonbasic land was printed in 1998’s Anthologies.

6

Memory Jar – From the Vault: Relics

Market Price: $39.87

From the Vault: Relics specialized in some of the most impactful artifacts from Magic’s history, and Memory Jar certainly qualifies. This card was broken upon its release – so much so that it was retroactively added to the previous ban list that was released by Wizards of the Coast before the set that spawned it (Urza’s Legacy) debuted.

Being able to force your opponent to discard their hands (often triggering life loss via the enchantment Megrim) and giving you more tools to play with, is still quite a strong ability. This problematic card has not been reprinted since this version was released in 2010.

5

Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre – From the Vault: Legends

Market Price: $46.73

Only one of two cards found here that’s not from the Realms, Exiled or Relics From the Vault sets, this version of Ulamog was the first one ever printed, originally in Rise of the Eldrazi in 2010, though it returned the next year as part of this From the Vault release.

A word salad of broken abilities and effects, this Ulamog, along with his Eldrazi brethren Emrakul and Kozilek, set the stage for three of the strongest characters, canonically, in MTG history. The combination of annihilator 4, indestructibility, and destroying a permanent on casting (not entering) makes Ulamog a terror to deal with.

4

Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth – From the Vault: Realms

Market Price: $50.58

A Commander format staple, Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth has only seen printings in compilation sets such as Ultimate Masters and Time Spiral Remastered (save for base set Magic 2015) as well as in the land-themed From the Vault: Realms from 2012.

This printing from Realms featured the beautiful special foiling method that was unique to From the Vault sets. As a card, the ability to turn all other lands into Swamps can be quite useful in a variety of scenarios and is generally an interesting effect. The novelty plus the scarcity of this card give it a price tag over $50.

3

Lotus Petal – From the Vault: Exiled

Market Price: $74.26

Now we’re getting to the big guns. Lotus Petal, originally printed as a lowly common (!) back in 1997’s Tempest set, the card has become a combo piece across a variety of formats – where it’s legal, of course – and the card retains an impressive price point no matter what printing is sought.

Of course, one of the most valuable printings of this one-use, mana-ramping artifact is via From the Vault: Exiled, where the modern card frame and unusual foiling method push this card’s market value close to $75 – not bad for zero mana.

2

Ancient Tomb – From the Vault: Realms

Market Price: $102.12

The last card featured herein from the land-focused From the Vault: Realms is not a surprising inclusion. Ancient Tomb has long been one of the premier mana-ramping cards across all of Magic, though it has become something of a Commander staple – as two life for two mana is an absolute bargain when you start with 40 life.

This printing of the card was its first since it debuted in the Tempest set in 1997, so the novelty factor of that plus the supreme scarcity of From the Vault cards means this card’s price point hovers above $100.

1

Mox Diamond – From the Vault: Relics

Market Price: $858.32

This is the “grail” in the From the Vault series of cards, and with good reason. With only one other printing of this card from its original set, Stronghold, this card features a more modern card frame as well as brand-new art from fan-favorite Volkan Baga.

Moxen are always hot tickets among MTG collectors, and the supreme scarcity of this card – and its From the Vault printing in particular – means this card will set you back close to $1000 if you’re looking for one in terrific condition.