Image courtesy of Scryfall.com
Price trends, collector value, and the blue control mindset with Annex
Blue fans, assemble. Annex is one of those little blue curiosities from a time when players experimented with permission, tempo, and the strange joy of land interactions. This Ninth Edition enchantment—an aura with the classic blue precision—lets you enchant a land as you cast it, and then you control that land. In practice, Annex becomes a subtle power play: you steal access to a useful land from your opponent, while simultaneously solidifying your own mana base. It’s not flashy like a bomb rare, but in the right Commander table it can tilt resource dynamics in your favor with surgical efficiency 🧙♂️🔥. The card’s charm rests as much in its design as in its lore-friendly flavor line: “You should see how small the map is.” That cheeky line hints at the long game of mana denial and land control that blue can lean on when the board gets crowded with legendary creatures and land-fetch shenanigans ⚔️🎨. To understand Annex’s current value, it helps to anchor its details in the card’s stock profile. Annex is an Enchantment — Aura with a mana cost of 2UU, a total mana value of 4. It’s blue through and through, identified as a blue color identity and classified as an uncommon in Ninth Edition. Its printing in Ninth Edition marks a reframe of the card in a core-set era, with the set itself released in 2005. John Avon’s artwork adds a classic, oceanic vibe that blue decks cherish, while the border and frame heark back to a time when the color pie in Commander was still discovering its full tempo-weapon potential ⛵💎. The card was printed as a nonfoil, nonpromo piece in Ninth Edition, with the typical cardmarket and TCGPlayer footprints you’d expect for a blue aura. Here’s a quick card profile to anchor the discussion: - Name: Annex - Mana cost: 2UU - Type: Enchantment — Aura - Text: Enchant land (Target a land as you cast this. This card enters attached to that land.) You control enchanted land. - Colors: Blue - Rarity: Uncommon - Set: Ninth Edition (core) - Artist: John Avon - Flavor text: You should see how small the map is. - Legal in: Commander, Legacy, and Vintage; modern play is limited, but the card’s Commander utility is the crown jewel of its value. - Prices (approximate snapshot): USD 0.28, EUR 0.15, Tix 0.03 - Print status: Reprint in Ninth Edition (nonfoil in this print run) For collectors and players keeping a pulse on price trajectories, Annex sits in a category that tends to drift gently rather than spike dramatically. Its Ninth Edition reprint contributes to a wider supply, tempering supply-side scarcity that often drives price spikes in older, high-demand sets. In casual Commander circles, a card like Annex is prized for its reliability more than its rarity; you aren’t chasing a mythic bond with it, but you’re investing in a consistent tempo tool that can be the difference between a stalled creature-based board and a well-oiled blue control plan 🧙♂️. The current USD price around a quarter or so makes Annex approachable for new players who want a taste of “land theft” without breaking the bank, while veteran collectors can appreciate the art, the set history, and the aura of nostalgia that Ninth Edition carries ⚔️. From a collector’s perspective, the value lies as much in the combination of art, rarity, and nostalgia as in the raw playability. Annex’s uncommons from Ninth Edition aren’t the hardest to find, but they aren’t as plentiful as certain common staples either. Price stability is often tied to how many copies exist in nonfoil form, how many players are actively seeking to upgrade their blue control lines in Commander, and whether modern reprint chatter resurfaces in collector forums. The card market’s ebbs and flows will echo the broader tides of blue control synergy: cards that enable land-based control or tempo wins tend to hold steady value if they remain useful in multiple formats and popular Commander archetypes. For now, Annex sits in a space where collectors can enjoy a steady, modest appreciation as long as it remains a recognizable piece of a well-loved blue deck in casual multiplayer play 🧩🔥. If you’re thinking about decks, Annex rewards a player who values planful mana development and “land-stealing” interaction. Imagine pairing Annex with islands and fetchers that untap or bounce lands, or with counterspells that buy you time while you secure a couple of deep land drops. The synergy is less about raw power and more about long-game misdirection: you tilt the table toward your blue control strategy by converting an opponent’s resource into your own—quite satisfying in a format where political theater and tempo often decide the game. And yes, it’s perfectly reasonable to include Annex in a deck that wants to control the battlefield while the other tables bicker over future land drops 🧙♂️. If you’re considering what this means for your collection or investment strategy, a few practical notes help. First, price snapshots show Annex at an approachable price point today, but with any reprint chatter or popular demand in Commander, you can expect gradual upward pressure on the nonfoil print, especially if supply tightens in particular regions. Second, the card’s nonfoil status keeps entry costs lower, which is ideal for budget-minded players who still want to maintain a blue-enchantment section in their binder. Third, collectors should consider the accompanying art and the lore around Ninth Edition’s design philosophy; Avon's work, with its maritime mood, remains a strong selling point for fans who savor that era of MTG art. And if you’re ever tempted to stack prices with fancy foils, remember Annex’s current foil status: in this particular printing, the foil rarity isn’t applicable, so patience and careful market watching become your best allies 🛡️. Product integration note: for readers who shop with an eye toward complementary gear and accessories, a small but practical cross-promotional nudge lands naturally here. A reliable, visually appealing phone case—such as the Clear Silicone Phone Case designed for slim, open-port access—offers a practical way to celebrate the hobby outside the game table. It’s a gentle nod to the analog moments when you crack open a deck-box, slide Annex into the binder, and slip your phone into a protective shell ready for tournament day or casual play. The product link below is a neat fit for readers who enjoy both the game and the everyday gadgets that keep their hobby running smoothly. Clear Silicone Phone Case - Slim, Durable, Open Port DesignQuick profile for collectors and commanders
- Color identity: Blue
- Mana cost: 2UU
- Type: Enchantment — Aura
- Rarity: Uncommon
- Set: Ninth Edition (core)
- Text: Enchant land (Target a land as you cast this. This card enters attached to that land.) You control enchanted land.
- Flavor: You should see how small the map is.
- Art: John Avon
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