Last updated on November 11, 2024
Marneus Calgar | Illustration by Slawomir Maniak
Pushed by growing popularity and scarcity, foil copies of Marneus Calgar from Magic's Warhammer 40K crossover have seen a 660% price increase since last Friday in US markets, according to MTGStocks.
And the Ultramarines' Chapter Master seems to be raising an army: even the price of Astartes Warrior tokens that Marneus Calgar generates has spiked.
Even some WH40K reprints have risen in price despite being widely available in other sets.
The Warhammer Reliquary Tower surge foil version’s price soared 100% since last week and now sells for around $16, even when most versions from other Magic sets are worth $2 or less. That makes the WH4OK version one of the most expensive by far, second only to some Secret Lair printings.
Hitting Like a Hammer
Magic's Universes Beyond crossover with the WH40K franchise has also produced some of the most successful command zone dwellers. As of now, Be'lakor, the Dark Master, Magus Lucea Kane, and Marneus Calgar all rank around the #60 – #70 most popular commanders in genera according to EDHRec.
When looking at specific commander color identities Be'lakor, the Dark Master is the top #3 most popular Grixis commander; Magus Lucea Kane comes in third for Temur commanders; and Marneus Calgar is the 7th most-played Esper commander.
And none of them is Warhammer‘s top commander!
That would be Ghyrson Starn, Kelermorph, who makes it to #24 as most popular commander in the game, and specifically the #1 Izzet commander – beating none other than good ol' Niv-Mizzet, Parun!
Yet, as of right now, it's Marneus Calgar the one spiking in price.
Why?
The First Shall Be Last
For starters, Marneus Calgars have become scarce.
Forces of the Imperium, the Warhammer 40K Commander Precon that has Marneus Calgar as its secondary commander, is as of right now out of stock both on Amazon and on Card Kingdom:
Forces of the Imperium is still sold in Europe via Cardmarket, but at steadily higher prices – currently 50% more than three weeks ago:
While popularity plus scarcity is the perfect storm for higher prices, there may also be another factor: judging by Amazon's ratings, Forces of the Imperium was the least popular of all four Warhammer 40K precons. It also has the and lowest and almost the fewest reviews, suggesting fewer copies were sold overall.
As recently as September, redditors advised against buying it (when it was priced around $90), as it was considered the weakest of the WH40K bunch.
The Lord Defender of Greater Ultramar seems to have taken those comments somewhat personally: with Forces of the Imperium out of stock in the US and his own price rising, Marneus Calgar can be called cheap no longer!
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