Nostalgia Waves Lift Obelisk of Naya Prices

In TCG ·

Obelisk of Naya art from Shards of Alara

Image courtesy of Scryfall.com

How nostalgia waves shape the price journey of a tri-color artifact

Nostalgia in the Magic: The Gathering market isn’t a rumor you whisper to a match—it's a measurable force 🧙‍♂️. When fans who drafted with a card during its first decade of glory circle back to it years later, they bring stories, memories, and a willingness to invest a little more for a tangible reminder of that time. Obelisk of Naya—an artifact from Shards of Alara that taps to add red, green, or white mana—has become a neat case study in how those waves ebb and flow in price. Its tri-color vibe, compact 3-mana cost, and dependable Modern and Commander presence make it a magnet for collectors chasing that “back-in-the-day” rush while still playing today 🔥.

Released in 2008 as part of the Shards of Alara block, Obelisk of Naya is a three-mana artifact with a straightforward but surprisingly versatile ability: {T}: Add {R}, {G}, or {W}. On the surface, that’s a color-fixing artifact—not flashy, not flashy-spectacular, but elegantly practical. In a world where three-color decks (Naya, Jeskai, and friends alike) crave reliable access to splashes, this iconic piece quietly tethers a lot of mana options to a single tap. The card’s identity is clean: a common from a pivotal shard-centered set, printed in a time when tri-color deckbuilding mattered more than ever. The art by Steve Prescott, the black border, and the flavor text—“Centuries have passed since the plane shattered, yet the obelisks of each shard faithfully serve their long-forgotten purpose”—all contribute to a mood that fans remember fondly and collectors tend to chase with a grin 😄.

  • Set: Shards of Alara (ALA)
  • Mana cost: 3
  • Type: Artifact
  • Produced mana: Green, Red, or White (G, R, W)
  • Color identity: G, R, W
  • Rarity: Common
  • Flavor text: “Centuries have passed since the plane shattered, yet the obelisks of each shard faithfully serve their long-forgotten purpose.”
  • Legalities (popular formats): Modern-legal in non-foil, with foil versions prized by collectors

What makes this card a living piece of nostalgia is how it bridges past and present play. It’s not a legendary rare or a flashy planeswalker; it’s a dependable mana source that helps tri-color decks keep their lines open. The triad of mana it can produce resonates with decks that chase the Naya identity—the earthy feel of green, the bold spark of red, and the disciplined clarity of white. The card’s standing as a common with foil and non-foil variants also means it’s accessible to newer players while still catching the eye of seasoned collectors who remember its original day in the sun 🌞.

From a market perspective, the numbers tell a restrained but telling story. On Scryfall, you’ll see figures like approximately USD 0.25 for non-foil copies and around USD 0.46 for foil copies, with European pricing hovering in a similar small-range band. Those values aren’t the stuff of dramatic legends, but they do reflect a subtle uplift—the kind of trend you notice when a card is deeply embedded in nostalgia, but not scarce enough to ignite an all-out speculative frenzy. It’s a gentle, steady climb that mirrors fans returning to their playgroups, trading desks, and Commander tables with warm memories and modest impulses to reacquire a small piece of their early magic 💎.

So why does this card rise a little in price when nostalgia waves roll in? First, nostalgia tends to push demand for “practical nostalgia” cards—things you can actually use in decks while still feeling like a nod to a favorite era. Obelisk of Naya earns its keep in casual and Commander circles thanks to its three-color flexibility and the fact that it doesn’t require a heavy investment to slot into a board state. Second, supply dynamics matter: as a common from a popular set, it’s widely available, but steady demand means copies that surface in foil form or pristine condition get a lift, especially from players who want a shiny centerpiece for a display or a sealed product they’re arranging in a personal archive 📦.

For collectors, a card like this is a reminder that design tends to age with grace. The obelisk’s equilibrium between power and restraint—a clean tap for mana that doesn’t lock you into a rigid color plan—feels timeless. The art, the lore, and the tactile pleasure of owning a card from a core moment in the Shards of Alara era all contribute to a narrative that keeps being retold at kitchen tables and online galleries alike. It’s not a blockbuster price spike, but it’s a dependable, characterful rise—the kind that makes people grin when they see a foil version peeking out of a binder or a sleeve with a little fanfare in the margins ⚔️🎨.

As you watch the market, you’ll also notice cross-promotional threads weaving through the hobby. For fans who enjoy the tri-color energy in their decks, a practical, modern accessory can feel thematically aligned, even if it’s not a card itself. This is where a product like a sturdy phone case with a card holder—offering impact resistance and polycarbonate durability—becomes an elegant, real-world nod to the triad of colors that Obelisk of Naya embodies. If you’re organizing a game night or a convention haul, the synergy between nostalgic MTG aesthetics and practical everyday gear feels particularly satisfying 🧙‍♂️💎.

Whether you’re a veteran commander who recalls the first brave raids with a multicolor mana base in tow, or a newer player who’s hearing the legend through friends, Obelisk of Naya remains a steady, approachable piece of the tri-color puzzle. Nostalgia waves may be modest, but they’re persistent—quietly nudging prices upward while keeping the card within reach for the broader community of players who love the history and the gameplay in equal measure 🔥.

Phone Case with Card Holder — Impact Resistant Polycarbonate

More from our network