How Rare is Jeweled Lotus? An In-Depth Look at this Commander Staple
The question of how rare Jeweled Lotus is isn’t as straightforward as it might seem. While not possessing the same mystique and scarcity as a Black Lotus, its position within the Magic: The Gathering (MTG) ecosystem makes it a highly sought-after card with a distinct level of rarity. In short, Jeweled Lotus isn’t considered extremely rare like Alpha Black Lotus, but it is a high-demand, valuable card with several rare variants that further boost its collectibility and rarity within the game. Its rarity is more about the specific versions and the context of how it’s obtained, rather than a simple print-run figure.
Understanding Jeweled Lotus Rarity
Unlike cards printed in standard sets that have consistent and widespread availability, Jeweled Lotus has had a more curated print history. First introduced in Commander Legends in 2020, it immediately became a powerful staple for Commander decks, leading to significant demand. The base version of Jeweled Lotus, while not incredibly rare in the same vein as older cards, is still a rare card found in booster packs. Its desirability makes it valuable, meaning it’s less common to find available for trade or sale at lower prices.
However, the true picture of its rarity lies in the alternative versions and printings. With the release of Commander Masters, Jeweled Lotus saw its first genuine reprint, alongside several new and sought-after treatments. These variants, like the foil-etched and Frame Break Borderless versions, are considerably rarer than the original printing. The foil-etched treatment was exclusive to a special slot in collector boosters, adding a layer of scarcity due to its limited availability. The Frame Break Borderless treatment was also a chase card, making it even more difficult to acquire. Furthermore, the chance of pulling a foil-etched version from a collector booster was estimated at around 30% of the foil rare slot and getting the FEA version was said to be once every two collector booster BOXES. The mythic versions are even rarer in that instance.
This means that while a normal Jeweled Lotus might be considered a rare card readily available on the secondary market, the special treatments and foil versions are much harder to find, thereby significantly increasing their rarity and value.
Rarity Factors
Here’s a breakdown of the factors contributing to Jeweled Lotus’s perceived rarity:
- Initial Print Run: Its original printing in Commander Legends was not a standard, mass-produced run.
- Commander Demand: Its power and utility in Commander format fuel high demand, leading to lower availability in trade.
- Special Treatments: The availability of foil-etched and Frame Break Borderless versions in Commander Masters and beyond significantly boost the rarity and collectibility of those specific versions.
- Collector Booster Exclusive: The foil-etched versions are primarily found within Collector Boosters, which are more expensive and have fewer available slots.
- Pull Rates: As mentioned above, the pull rates of the foil-etched versions, especially the mythic ones, are low, further contributing to their rarity.
Jeweled Lotus: 15 Frequently Asked Questions
To further clarify the nuances surrounding Jeweled Lotus, here are 15 frequently asked questions, addressing its functionality, value, and comparisons to other notable cards:
1. What is Jeweled Lotus and why is it so popular?
Jeweled Lotus is a zero-mana artifact that you can sacrifice to add three mana of any one color, specifically to cast your commander. It’s popular because it allows for incredibly fast starts in Commander games, making it an extremely valuable card in the format.
2. Is Jeweled Lotus the same as Black Lotus?
No, they are not the same. While both are zero-mana artifacts that can be sacrificed for three mana of a chosen color, Black Lotus can be used to produce mana for any spell, while Jeweled Lotus can only be used to cast your commander. Black Lotus is far more powerful and valuable being on the reserve list.
3. Was Jeweled Lotus reprinted in Commander Masters?
Yes, Jeweled Lotus received its first official reprint in Commander Masters, with new variants including the foil-etched and Frame Break Borderless treatments.
4. How does Jeweled Lotus work with colorless commanders?
Jeweled Lotus works with colorless commanders, allowing you to use the generated mana to cast commanders with colorless costs, like Kozilek, the Great Distortion.
5. Is Jeweled Lotus a mana ability?
Yes, Jeweled Lotus has a mana ability, meaning it can be activated and immediately produce mana without waiting for priority to pass, allowing quick mana plays.
6. How many versions of Jeweled Lotus are there?
There are multiple versions of Jeweled Lotus including the original printing from Commander Legends, the standard version from Commander Masters, foil versions, foil-etched versions, and Frame Break Borderless versions.
7. Is Jeweled Lotus good for all commanders?
While useful, Jeweled Lotus is not equally good for all commanders. Some commanders, with mana costs of 3 or more, benefit more from the initial mana boost, whereas others may be more efficient without it. It works best with higher costing commanders.
8. When was Jeweled Lotus first released?
Jeweled Lotus was first released in the Commander Legends set in 2020.
9. What is the estimated price of Jeweled Lotus?
The price varies widely depending on the version. A standard version can be around $30-$40, while foil-etched or Frame Break Borderless versions are far more valuable, sometimes reaching into the hundreds of dollars, depending on condition and demand.
10. Why is Black Lotus so rare and expensive?
Black Lotus is incredibly rare and expensive due to its status on the Reserved List, meaning it will never be reprinted. Its power and age, being a part of Magic’s earliest sets like Alpha, make it one of the most sought-after cards in the game. It has sold for over half a million dollars at auction.
11. What is the difference between a regular and a foil-etched Jeweled Lotus?
A regular version of the Jeweled Lotus will have the normal foil treatment. The foil-etched treatment is a rarer version with a unique foiling pattern, only available within Collector Boosters. These tend to be rarer and more expensive.
12. Are Unfinity cards legal in Commander?
Some cards from the Unfinity set are legal in Commander. Cards with the familiar oval holofoil stamp are legal in eternal formats, while those with an acorn-shaped stamp are not. Urza’s Fun House is an example of a card that is not legal due to the acorn stamp.
13. What are the different colors of Lotus flowers?
While lotus flowers can be various colors, in the real world, they commonly come in white, pink, blue, purple, or yellow. However, in MTG, the Jeweled Lotus is an artifact and is not based on the colors of lotus flowers.
14. Can you use Jeweled Lotus to pay for a colorless cost in your commander’s mana?
Yes, you can use the mana from Jeweled Lotus to help pay for colorless mana requirements in your commander’s cost, such as the {8} portion of a card like Kozilek, the Great Distortion.
15. How can you acquire a foil-etched Jeweled Lotus?
Foil-etched Jeweled Lotus cards are found within Collector Boosters of sets that contain them, or you can purchase them on the secondary market. Given their rarity, expect to pay a premium.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Jeweled Lotus is a relatively rare and highly valued card in MTG, particularly within the Commander format. Its rarity is further defined by the specific treatments and versions, making it a card that many collectors and players seek to obtain. While it’s not on par with the extreme rarity of a Black Lotus, its impact on gameplay and its limited print history make it a notable card within the game, and something that is worth keeping an eye out for. The foil-etched and borderless versions significantly elevate its rarity and value, making a chase card for many enthusiasts.