Emperial Seal...?

[g0nz02]

Why on earth is this card worth so much money, when it's exactly the same as Vampiric Tutor? I don't play T1, so could someone please clue me in?

[Roberto Clemente]

It's rarer by far. It's also not exactly the same, it's worse, but so far it's not restricted as far as I know, so in that sense it's far better than vampiric.

[Rhino408]

actually roberto it was immediately restricted along with personal tutor after they declared portal would be legal come october of this year. It's called Imperial Seal and it's #2rarest card in P3K behind Zodiac Dragon. I think it's more of a collectors card rather than serious t1.

[Avalancer]

actually roberto it was immediately restricted along with personal tutor after they declared portal would be legal come october of this year. It's called Imperial Seal and it's #2rarest card in P3K behind Zodiac Dragon. I think it's more of a collectors card rather than serious t1.Actually, it's currently unrestricted, as it is not yet legal. It's highly expected to be immediately restricted when it "rotates" in, and if it's not, then there's something seriously wrong.

As for its value, it is, as the previous posters stated, simply rare. P3K (the set it was printed in) was printed in severely short supply and even nigh-unplayable cards from it fetch ~$200 (see Zodiac Dragon). Add the fact that this is actually tournament-worthy, and you have a recipe for high price.

[Son of Satan]

Actually, it's currently unrestricted, as it is not yet legal. It's highly expected to be immediately restricted when it "rotates" in, and if it's not, then there's something seriously wrong.

You're wrong Avalancher. It will be immediently restricted as soon as it becomes legal. Read this page as proof. http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dci/announce/dci20050301a Scroll down and you'll see that it clearly states in that link that it will be restricted as soon as the card is legal in October.

[Rhino408]

Yeah I mean when I say October and restricted I think I would mean to say come October when it's legal it's restricted.

Please do not correct me without further investigation. Not to be rude or disrespectful with that comment at all.

[Avalancer]

The following changes are expected to be in the October 1, 2005 update to the Banned and Restricted Lists:The article says that it will probably be resticted. While it's almost certianly going to be, it is indeed currently unrestricted.

Not that it's even relevant - its rarity causes its price, not its legality.

[Son of Satan]

The article says that it will probably be resticted. While it's almost certianly going to be, it is indeed currently unrestricted.

Not that it's even relevant - its rarity causes its price, not its legality.

Avalancer, dont be such a wise @ss. "Expected" to be restricted usually means around 99.9% of the time. You have to be a complete moron not to realize that a card already on the restricted list does basicly the same thing. Why on earth will they not restrict it then? Have a little common sense.

And I also know for a fact that imperial seal is highly playable and is priced expensively becuase of its playability. Rarity does have a factor in it's price but it's playability probably doubles the amount that it would usually be priced at.

[Rhino408]

the announcement was made on scg that it's going to be restricted when it becomes legal(along with personaly tutor)

also yes the playability factor(even though i think it's crap) makes it now 175 or so. It was like a 2 dollar worthless collector's card until BLAM announcement and now it's 175. Also I think p3k stopped printing so there is a limited amount of English ones.

[Son of Satan]

also yes the playability factor(even though i think it's crap) makes it now 175 or so. It was like a 2 dollar worthless collector's card until BLAM announcement and now it's 175. Also I think p3k stopped printing so there is a limited amount of English ones.

It's not really crap when you consider that Tendril decks along with Desire based decks have an extra tutor at it's disposal. Mystical, Demonic, Vampiric, and now Imperial Seal, makes TPS that much better and more consistent.

Now black has 3 tutors instead of 2 that it could work with. Another card worth mentioning is Grim Tutor. This particular card isn't currently set to be in the restricted list but in time it will be. There's a huge debate going on in TMD about this card's impact on Type 1. Already being better than Death Wish, Grim Tutor will replace it in Long.dec, a deck that will have 8 tutors at its disposal making it extremely consistent and also warranting a spot in the restricted list after ppl start winning tourneys with it. First turn, Dark Ritual, Grim Tutor, and search for a Black Lotus is usually game in a broken Type 1 deck that utilizes efficient draw cards such as Chromatic Sphere, Night's Whisper and other random brokenness such as Ancestral Recall.

[policehq]

With the release of the new tutors, I don't really think Imperial Seal will see much play. Juzam Djinn probably hasn't made a significant top 8 appearance in years, and it is still costing up to $150 a piece.

As far as Grim Tutor goes, I think that there are two types of Tendrils decks right now: ones packed with tutors and ones packed with "Draw-7" spells. In my experience, the more tutors you pack, the less bombs you can pack, and really the game comes down to whether or not you can resolve Yawgmoth's Will. Draw-7 Tendrils decks also have their risks, like giving Stifles, Orim's Chants, or counters to the opponent, but I believe they provide more consistency and more threats. If a Draw-7 Tendrils deck scrubs out and runs out of things to do, it can recover much more easily than a deck with a tutor in hand ready to fetch Black Lotus, Ancestral Recall, or Yawgmoth's Will.

Barry

[Greven]

actually roberto it was immediately restricted along with personal tutor after they declared portal would be legal come october of this year. It's called Imperial Seal and it's #2rarest card in P3K behind Zodiac Dragon. I think it's more of a collectors card rather than serious t1.

Are you kidding me? Vampiric Tutor at sorcery speed is still ridiculously good, and it will see LOTS of Type 1 play, everybody can quote me on that. It basically lets you play two Vampirics in Type 1 now, which is a big boost to combo decks, and actually really any deck with any significant amount of black in it at all.

Also, don't forget about Grim Tutor from Starter:
Grim Tutor Sorcery 1BB
Search your library for a card and put it into your hand. You lose 3 life.

This one will see play too, but not as much widespread as the Seal, which is obviously better. It's still a good card though, and will see play in some combo decks.

And Avalancher, legality has a LOT to do with card values. If Black Lotus was unrestricted, it would be worth at least twice what it is now, because everyone would want four and there's only a certain number in existence; they would be harder to come along because people wouldn't just be satisfied with one.

Basically, any restricted card right now would be worth more if it was unrestricted, as that makes the card more playable, and therefore more sought after by players. If you need examples just look at Mishra's Workshop and Beserk, their values skyrocketed when they became unrestricted.

[Son of Satan]

Also, don't forget about Grim Tutor from Starter:
Grim Tutor Sorcery 1BB
Search your library for a card and put it into your hand. You lose 3 life.

Scroll up dawg I've already mentioned like 99% of the stuff u said. Now its getting repetitive but thanx anyways for ur feedback. :)