Commander is Magic’s most beloved format—but the MTG Reserved List makes some of its most iconic cards prohibitively expensive. Whether you’re building a casual deck or entering cEDH, many Reserved List staples are simply out of reach… unless you’re proxying.
In this guide, we’ll highlight the Top 25 Reserved List cards for Commander, explain why they’re powerful, give playability ratings, and offer proxy/budget tips for each.
🌟 Why These 25 Cards?
- Commander Viability: These cards appear frequently in EDHREC, cEDH decks, or high-powered casual pods.
- Impact: Each card has either a unique effect, extreme power level, or is otherwise irreplaceable.
- Availability: All are on the official Reserved List and won’t be reprinted—ever.
👉 Full Reserved List from Wizards
🧙 Top 25 Reserved List Cards in Commander
| Rank | Card Name | EDH Role | Current Price | Proxy Tip |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gaea’s Cradle | Green ramp engine | $900–$1,100 | ✔️ Proxy it from Abyss Proxy Shop |
| 2 | Wheel of Fortune | Red card draw/disruption | $500–$700 | ✔️ Strong proxy need |
| 3 | Dual Lands (All 10) | Best mana fixing | $350–$800 each | ✔️ Highly proxyable |
| 4 | Mox Diamond | Fast mana for any deck | $500–$700 | ✔️ Key for cEDH |
| 5 | Lion’s Eye Diamond | Storm/combo enabler | $300–$500 | ✔️ Proxy strongly advised |
| 6 | Survival of the Fittest | Creature combo tutor | $200–$350 | ✔️ Nearly irreplaceable |
| 7 | The Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale | Anti-creature land | $3,000–$5,000 | ✔️ Must-proxy territory |
| 8 | Grim Monolith | Combo and fast mana | $250–$400 | ✔️ Proxy for competitive play |
| 9 | Time Spiral | Draw-7 and untap lands | $150–$250 | ❓ Good alternative: Echo of Eons |
| 10 | Earthcraft | Infinite combos w/ token generators | $300–$400 | ✔️ Casual combo tool |
| 11 | Intuition | Tutor piles, especially in blue | $100–$150 | ❓ Budget: Fact or Fiction |
| 12 | Yawgmoth’s Will | Black recursion powerhouse | $300–$500 | ✔️ Legacy-level power |
| 13 | Tolarian Academy | Artifact storm engine | $500–$800 | ✔️ Proxy, banned in Legacy |
| 14 | Recurring Nightmare | Sac/recur value engine | $120–$180 | ❓ Good alternative: Mikaeus the Unhallowed |
| 15 | Aluren | Combo w/ creatures | $100–$150 | ✔️ Proxy if running Cavern Harpy loop |
| 16 | Replenish | Mass enchantment recursion | $120–$200 | ❓ Budget: Open the Vaults |
| 17 | Null Rod | Anti-artifact hate | $80–$140 | ❓ Use real card if possible |
| 18 | Argothian Enchantress | Enchantress core | $150–$250 | ✔️ Proxy or try Sythis |
| 19 | Dream Halls | Combo enabler in spellslinger | $80–$120 | ❓ Budget: Omniscience variants |
| 20 | Metalworker | Artifact ramp | $200–$300 | ✔️ Needed for Kozilek/Urza |
| 21 | Academy Rector | Cheat enchantments into play | $250–$400 | ✔️ High-impact for casual/competitive |
| 22 | Volrath’s Stronghold | Repeatable creature recursion | $200–$300 | ❓ Play if recursion theme |
| 23 | Sliver Queen | 5-color commander staple | $400–$600 | ✔️ Proxy or run Sliver Hivelord |
| 24 | Phyrexian Tower | Sac outlet and ramp | $200–$300 | ❓ Try High Market or Woe Strider |
| 25 | Mishra’s Workshop | Artifact ramp engine | $3,500+ | ✔️ Proxy-only card for 99% of players |
💰 Trends & Finance Snapshot (2025)
- According to MTGStocks, Reserved List EDH staples have appreciated 10–30% year-over-year since 2020.
- Cards like Gaea’s Cradle and Tabernacle have doubled in value since 2021.
- Commander usage directly correlates to price spikes, especially when new synergies appear.
Magic finance tip: Buy Reserved List cards only if you plan to hold long-term or collect. Otherwise, high-quality proxies are more cost-effective and practical.
🧪 Proxying Reserved List Cards: A Practical Solution
Most EDH players accept proxies, especially for Reserved List cards with absurd prices. Use these rules of thumb:
| Use Case | Proxy Acceptance |
|---|---|
| Casual pods | 👍 Common & welcome |
| Precon upgrades | 👍 Great place to test RL staples |
| cEDH tables | 👍 Accepted with playtest quality |
| LGS tournaments | 👎 Usually not allowed |
| MTGO/Arena | ❌ RL cards not reprinted digitally |
🔗 Abyss Proxy Shop offers:
- Tournament-quality proxies of Gaea’s Cradle, Duals, LED, etc.
- Durable cardstock and sharp design.
- Great for Commander and casual play.
🧠 Final Thoughts
The Reserved List locks some of Commander’s best tools behind collector walls—but players are finding workarounds. Whether you’re tuning a cEDH deck or building your first Enchantress brew, these 25 cards represent the pinnacle of what Magic once offered.
But you don’t need to spend $10,000 to play powerful, flavorful EDH.
🎴 Try a few proxies, test some brews, and keep the focus on what Commander’s about: fun, creativity, and connection.
👉 Browse the most popular Reserved List proxies here: Abyss Proxy Shop – Commander Staples