Clarion Ultimatum Price: How Card Condition Affects MTG Value

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Clarion Ultimatum Price: How Card Condition Affects MTG Value

MTG collectors and strategists alike know that a card’s worth is more than its mana cost or its flashy ability. The condition of a card — from the crisp sheen of a minty copy to the worn edges of a heavily played (HP) specimen — can swing price swings as dramatically as a well-timed mana surge. Clarion Ultimatum, a rare from Shards of Alara with a striking multicolored identity (G/U/W), offers a perfect case study. Its seven-mana cost, GGUWWWW, and its powerful tutor-like effect can make it a centerpiece in Modern and, more warmly, in multi-player formats like Commander. But the real market pulse for this card beats strongest when we talk about condition. 🧙‍♂️🔥

First, a quick refresh on the card itself: Clarion Ultimatum is aRare sorcery from Shards of Alara (ALA). Its mana cost is {G}{G}{W}{W}{W}{U}{U}, a rare blend that demands both raw green acceleration and precise white-blue control. The effect reads: Choose five permanents you control. For each of those permanents, you may search your library for a card with the same name as that permanent. Put those cards onto the battlefield tapped, then shuffle. The flavor text, “Be worthy of a single blessing, and many more will follow,” hints at the hopeful, multi-permanent play patterns that can emerge in Commander circles. This makes the card a delight for players who enjoy value-rich plays and the rhythm of five-for-five synergy. Its rarity and set-in-time printing (Shards of Alara) contribute to its collectability, alongside the nostalgia factor for players who remember the pre-FOIL era of tri-color shards. 🎨

Pricing data from current market aggregators shows a baseline that’s heavily influenced by condition. A non-foil Clarion Ultimatum hovers around the low dollars in USD — for example, around $0.34 in recent listings — with foil versions commanding a modest premium, often around $0.70–$0.75 USD. In euro terms, non-foil copies sit near €0.21 and foil versions closer to €0.72. While these figures reflect recent snapshots, the underlying trend remains clear: the mint condition, with pristine centering and sharp corners, tends to fetch the best prices, and the premium for foil copies persists even for a rare from a mid-2000s era. For budget-minded players, even a well-kept non-foil copy can be a solid value in a Commander deck that wants the multi-color utility and the grab-bag feel of a late-tribal revisit. 💎⚔️

“Choose five permanents you control. For each of those permanents, you may search your library for a card with the same name as that permanent. Put those cards onto the battlefield tapped, then shuffle.” — Clarion Ultimatum’s very own design philosophy is about replication, tempo, and turning a handful of resources into a sweeping board presence. The card’s text invites care with its timing and board state, but it also invites a certain crowd-pleasing spectacle when you can fetch multiple copies of a key permanent to flood the battlefield. In terms of price, that spectacle translates into enduring interest among collectors who chase not just power but the story and era behind a Shards of Alara card. 🧙‍♂️

Different play environments emphasize condition in different ways. In paper MTG, graded or authentic-first-condition cards carry significant overhead in both cost and risk: players weigh centering, edge wear, corner damage, and surface scratches against the thrill of playing a rare that once defined a game-night moment. In contrast, MTGO and other digital representations aren’t affected by physical wear, so purely digital valuations ignore condition. This divergence is a reminder that “condition” is a human-market variable as much as a card’s mechanical capability. For Clarion Ultimatum, that means the strongest price anchor remains the card’s rarity, its multicolor identity, and the enduring appetite among Modern and Commander players who relish the potential to reassemble a field with a single colossal sorcery. 🧙‍♂️🎲

From a collector’s lens, condition also interacts with the card’s age and the printing realities of 2008. Clarion Ultimatum’s artwork by Michael Komarck remains a draw for fans of the era’s rich, painterly style. The card’s various printings (foil and non-foil) add another layer to pricing dynamics: foil versions tend to command a premium, though the delta can be modest for a card with limited demand outside of multi-colored deck themes. A pristine, well-centered foil copy often resonates with players who value both playability and display-worthy presentation — a pleasing combination for desk setups and display shelves alike. And yes, a well-preserved copy can be a conversation starter when paired with a stylish surface accessory, like the Custom Neon Desk Mouse Pad featured in our cross-promotional CTA below. 🧙‍♂️💎

For deck builders, the practical upshot is straightforward: condition matters, but the card’s function remains compelling regardless of its exact price tier. Clarion Ultimatum thrives in decks that can leverage a five-permanent fetch into a rapid field rebuild or even a surprising finisher, especially if you can turn your own board into a multi-card advantage engine. In formats where tutors and fetch effects are prized, a high-condition copy helps maintain both your confidence and your collection’s long-term value. When it comes to condition, a good rule of thumb is to protect the card in a sleeve and binder that respects its age, while not letting it stagnate in a climate that punishes humidity or rough handling. And if you happen to be price-checking mid-game, remember that condition’s impact is most visible in the trade market and resale value, not in-play power. 🧙‍♂️🔥

What affects price by condition

• Mint/Near Mint (NM): best balance of price and playability; smallest amount of wear; highest resale value.
• Lightly Played (LP): minor flaws tolerated by most collectors; price dips modestly from NM, but still robust for a rare.
• Moderately Played (MP): more noticeable wear; price declines, yet the card remains a dependable Commander pick.
• Heavily Played (HP): pronounced edge wear or surface flaws; price drop can be significant for long-term collectors.
• Damaged/Lightly Damaged: damage that affects readability or centering can severely impact value, often far below NM levels.

As you weigh whether to upgrade your Clarion Ultimatum, consider how your local meta and the broader market influence nudges in price. If you’re eyeing modern, legacy, or eternal play, a crisp copy — foil or non-foil — remains your best bet for a strong return on investment should you decide to trade up or upgrade your collection. And for the practical side of gaming life, a clean play surface and reliable accessories can help you focus on sequencing the ultimate five-permanent play, not the glare of a scuffed card stock. 🧙‍♂️🎨

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