(All figures in this article are taken from the actual Auction House Sold Data provided by Hex Ent., comparing the average price of each card between November 14th – December 10th with the average price between December 11th – January 6th. Before any analysis, outliers were filtered out using IQR*1.5 rule.)

The release of Shattered Destiny brought about much change to the values of Shards of Fate cards. Unsurprisingly, most cards (81 out of 130 Rares and Legendaries) lost value as players tried to liquidate their older cards to purchase the shiny new ones, either to improve their existing decks or explore uncharted deck-building territories.

12,003 Set 1 Rares sold in the 27 days leading to the Shattered Destiny release compared to 10,722 during the 27 days post-release. Legendaries sold actually increased from 2,221 to 2,396 for the same periods. Average price of Legendaries dropped from $3.53 to $2.96 (-16%) while the Rares proved to be more resilient, only dropping from $0.77 to $0.73 (-5%).

Let’s take a closer look at the highest Winners and Losers and the potential reasons behind the changes.

Top 10 Winners

1) Ritualist of the Spring Litter : $1.14 to $1.36 + $0.22 (+19%)

Ritualist of the Spring Litter was a big enabler and a true staple card in the Set 1 Shin’hare deck. If they weren’t popular enough before, the price increase shows they are even more popular now with Shattered Destiny. With powerful additions like Wakizashi Ambusher, Bucktooth Roshi, and the one and only Monsuun, Shogun of Winda’jin, superbunnies.deck is now a reality!

2) Eurig the Robomancer : $0.48 to $0.68 + $0.20 (+41%)

Eurig was the ultimate Robot-maker in Shards of Fate but the parts with which to build around him were missing. Now the potent resource engines like Forge of Cadoc and Scraptech Brawler as well as Legendary powerhouses like Reese the Crustcrawler and Tectonic Megahulk have joined him to perhaps carry Dwarf/Robots into Tier 1-deck territory. If it comes even close to happening, expect it to increase even further and stabilize around $1.2-$1.6.

3) Sabotage : $0.47 to $0.62 + $0.15 (+31%)

It’s no secret that Sabotage’s surge in popularity and price increase is due to the release of everyone favorite agent: Agent of M.O.L.E. Who can say no to placing hundreds of Booby Traps into the opponent’s deck and watching him inch closer to his death with each card drawn.

4) Kindling Skarn : $0.55 to $0.68 + $0.13 (+23%)

Kindling Skarn’s main appearance in Set 1 constructed meta was in the hyper-aggressive R/W Troll Feast deck. Its increase in popularity is likely due to the explosiveness of that very deck being taken to a higher level with the additions of Goremaster, Crackilng Bolt and Crackling Sprout.

5) Demented Demolisher : $0.32 to $0.45 + $0.13 (+39%)

It’s hard to explain how the Demented Demolisher managed to dig himself out of the junk rare pile it was placed in since its nerf in the early Alpha days. Perhaps there is a surge in Replicator’s Gambit combo decks where the Demolisher’s expensive deck thinning can be put to good use.

6) Briarpatch Conjuror : $0.66 to $0.79 + $0.13 (+19%)

Swarming your opponent with a bunch of Briar Legions was a fun little Draft strategy in the Set1Set1Set1 format. Getting there with Briarpatch Conjurors in constructed was equally fun although much less potent. Shattered Destiny’s Briarpatch obviously takes the deck even further, as is reflected in the Conjuror’s price resurgence.

7) Gore Feast of Kog’Tepetl : $0.98 to $1.10 + $0.12 (+12%)

Gore Feast here, Gore Feast there, Gore Feast is still everywhere. Its price increase is likely due to the fact that the Gore Feasts within the Orc Starter decks that come with new accounts are no longer tradable. Expect its price to continue the steady increase until it finds its true value – probably around the $1.6-$1.8 level.

8) Ragefire : $1.83 to $1.93 + $0.10 (+6%)

Ragefire has always been wavering between $2.20 and $1.60 as its inability to make an impact on the constructed meta is countered by the combination of fan-favorite Burn and Escalation mechanics. This % change is just too low for even myself to attempt drawing any conclusions.

9) Replicator’s Gambit : $0.95 to $1.05 + $0.10 (+10%)

Gambit combo decks are as popular as ever and with the addition of Archon of Nulzann to the pool of good Gambit targets, who knows what the great deckbuilders of our time have in store for us…Expect it to hold its value in the long term.

10) Hideous Conversion : $0.61 to $0.71 + $0.10 (+29%)

One of the only resource engines from Shards of Fate, Hideous Conversion was best used to sac. lots of Shin’hare for a big Life Siphon or Eye of Creation. Once in a while, it comes out of junk rare level when it sees use in an unusual combo only to go back once the phase has passed. Recently that combo is with Azurefate Sorceress + Wrathwood Master Moss to create a one-turn kill. It’s fairly hard to set up however and I wouldn’t read too much into this price increase.

Honorable Mention: Lord Adam, the Powerful : $0.34 to $0.43 + $0.09 (+27%)

Is the Triumvirate finally for real? Are Humans taking over the meta? Should you rush to complete your Lord Adam, the Powerful playset?? Sadly, no. This is another card that comes out of the AH price floor, flexes his tiny muscles, then dips back down into the neglected, forgotten wasteland of junk.

Top 10 Losers

1) Mastery of Time : $7.57 to $5.67 – $1.90 (-25%)

Wow. Who predicted that the biggest winner of the previous Market Watch would be the biggest loser this time around? Not I. Mastery of Time kept its value for a long time before this major dip, even after it fell out of favor in the top Mono-Sapphire Control decks. Is this a temporary flop or permanent devaluation? Only time – and whether it makes a comeback to top constructed play – will tell.

2) Angel of Dawn : $11.45 to $9.99 – $1.46 (-13%)

The Angel of Dawn has been decreasing in value with the decreasing popularity of the once-dominant Blood/Diamond mid-range deck. Not only is this deck still good after Shattered Destiny, but the Angel also has a home in the emerging Tier 1 Diamond Sapphire Control deck. Expect its price to go back up and stay there.

3) Vampire King : $11.35 to $10.20 – $1.15 (-10%)

Vampire King is another victim of the Blood/Diamond deck’s fall in popularity. However, I predict Vampire King’s decline to be just as brief as Angel of Dawn’s. Mono-Blood, where the Vampire thrives, is a strong Tier 1 deck that can now also play a faster game thanks to the inclusion of Darkspire troops – with the new Darkspire Tyrant at its head.

4) Fist of Briggadon : $3.24 to $2.31 – $0.93 (-29%)

Having never been part of the top constructed meta since Alpha, Fist of Briggadon surprisingly hung in there for a long long time. With Shattered Destiny’s release and its continuing absence from the scene, people seem to have finally given up on the big guy. Don’t expect its value to go back up unless Big Green becomes a thing (I wouldn’t hold my breath).

5) The Ancestors’ Chosen : $3.17 to $2.38 – $0.79 (-25%)

This is the lowest we’ve seen The Ancestors’ Chosen since the rise in popularity of Mono-Sapphire Control. Still an auto 4-of in that Tier 1 deck post Shattered Destiny, I expect it to go back up to the $3.2-$3.4 price level it belongs in. Make sure to complete your playset if you ever catch it low; this is too unique a troop not hold its value in the long term.

6) Pack Raptor : $3.60 to $2.88 – $0.72 (-20%)

Pack Raptor has been fluctuating between $3.6 and $2.8 for the entire existence of the Auction House. My guess is that it’s such a fan-favorite card (the 3rd most sold Legendary card after Angel of Dawn and Vampire King) that everyone’s sheer will of trying to make the Raptor deck work is preventing its price to plunge into lower tiers – which would match its actual power-level. So have we finally given up? Not as long as there’s reason to keep faith: in Savage Lord we trust!

7) Eternal Guardian : $2.82 to $2.10 – $0.72 (-25%)

So Shattered Destiny arrived with all the hype and promises that artifacts would be a thing. Is Eternal Guardian featured in any competitive deck these days? The answer is a big no. Not only that, but Eye of Creation decks are still not competitive. Two very good reasons not to expect its price resurgence anytime soon.

8) Extinction : $3.66 to $2.99 – $0.67 (-26%)

The ultimate mass removal, the king of all staple cards, THE card that we must all have in mind when building a new deck has taken an huge hit with the new set’s arrival. Yes, there are now many good answers to this format-dominating behemoth. From Hopeheart Unicorn to Wrathwood Master Moss to Verdict of the Ancient Kings to Army of the Arcane Cinders to Monsuun, every shard can now go toe-to-toe with Extinction and ‘live’ to tell the tale. But Extinction isn’t done. Not nearly. Expect it to quickly bounce back and remain- at the very least – around the $3.80-$4.20 range.

9) Eldritch Dreamer : $2.50 to $1.84 – $0.66 (-26%)

Eldritch Dreamer has been steadily losing value ever since it’s lost its spot to Archmage Wrenlock in most top Mono-Sapphire decks played competitively. This is too big a decline however, as it still remains a very flexible mid-range troop with the ever -so-valuable Major socket that might still see top play in the near future. I expect it to get back to and stabilize at the $2.40-$2.80 range.

10) Argus, Herald of Doom : $2.39 to $1.75 – $0.64 (-27%)

Another expensive artifact troop that has no place in the current meta, Argus’s price drop is no revelation. I expect to stabilize around $1.90-$2.00 and move back up to $2.40 only if it’s seen on the sideboard of multiple top control decks.

Dishonorable Mention: Crown of the Primals : $1.70 to $1.15 – $0.55 (-33%)

An odd card that has failed to make a place for itself in any semi-competitive deck, Crown of the Primals was this month’s biggest loser in terms of %. The huge decline shows that not much has changed with Shattered Destiny and people don’t believe it will ever be useful.

Dishonorable Mention: Crash of Beasts : $1.77 to $1.20 – $0.57 (-32%)

With the new set, the Tu Pact deck where Crash of Beasts was shining bright like an Emerald seems to be a thing of the past. However, this would still see play in most Wild/X control decks so I wouldn’t label the crash of the Crash as permanent just yet…