Image courtesy of Scryfall.com
Price Trends and Collector Value for Cleaving Reaper
When you drop a rare from a mid-2020s expansion that combines bold fantasy themes with a nod to tribal synergy, you’re not just adding a card to your deck—you’re inviting a conversation about value, play pattern, and long-term collectability. Cleaving Reaper, a black mana–heavy creature from Kaldheim, sits at the intersection of nostalgia and modern gameplay. With its bold frame, a flavor-rich flavor text, and a unique recursion ability, it’s the kind of card that makes modern players pause and collectors nod in recognition. 🧙♂️🔥💎
Released on February 5, 2021, in the Khm (Kaldheim) set, Cleaving Reaper is a rare, creature—Angel Berserker—cast with a formidable 3BB mana cost. Its wings carry not just menace but a dual identity: it’s both an aerial threat and a stubborn engine for graveyard shenanigans. The card’s design leans into the elegant tension of black mana: you push pressure with flying and trample, then leverage the graveyard as a second battlefield. The result is a flexible piece that can tilt a game in the late stages, especially in decks that lean into reanimation or tribal echoes. 🎲⚔️
“I won't pollute my blade with your blood, demon. You'll die by your own axe!”
That line from its flavor text isn’t just flavor; it hints at its identity as a tragic, relentless force. Cleaving Reaper is all about trading a punishing, direct blow for long-term inevitability—an ethos that resonates with players who appreciate the darker corners of Black strategies. The card’s rarity—rare in a set that blended macro themes with practical tools—also informs its market vibe: not a frontline staple in every deck, but a coveted piece for players chasing specific synergy. 🧙♂️🔥💎
What drives price and collector value
- Rarity and print history: Cleaving Reaper is a rare from Kaldheim, with no foil listing in the provided data. Nonfoil status means the card remains accessible to a broad audience, but foil versions often cushion price spikes in the long run when scarce. Collectors who chase foil variants or signed prints may find additional value opportunities if future reprints or special sets ever include a foil treatment. ⚔️
- Deck utility and budget considerations: Its activated ability—pay 3 life to return the Reaper from your graveyard to your hand—rewards players who build around graveyard recursion and tribal synergies (Angels and Berserkers). In a casual or commander environment, that resilience often translates into persistent demand, even if it doesn’t dominate the metagame. The card’s mana cost and stats (5/3 with flying and trample) also contribute to its appeal in midrange builds. 🧙♂️
- Market data snapshot: Current price data for Cleaving Reaper show modest values in the low single-digit USD range (USD around 0.11; EUR around 0.15; TIX around 0.02). These figures reflect a product that’s affordable for most players, but not a high-volatility cornerstone. For collectors, it’s a candidate for a “watch” list rather than a guaranteed uptick, unless a reprint or a pop in tribal demand nudges it upward. 💎
- Prints, promos, and promotion history: The card’s set and finishes indicate limited premium pathways—no foil print in the provided data and a theme-pack association in previews—factors that temper explosive price moves and contribute to steady, modest growth over time. In the long arc of MTG collecting, these dynamics matter as prices drift with new formats and reprint cycles. 🎨
- Online demand signals: While its EDHREC rank sits relatively high in the “less commonly requested” tier (17875), that does not diminish itsStrategic value in the right shell. Penny and market trackers also reflect a niche, loyal audience rather than a broad, swelling demand. This combination often results in a stable, if unflashy, price trajectory. 🎲
Price trends in practice and what to expect
For players eyeing Cleaving Reaper as a potential pickup, the short-term horizon tends to favor steady, modest appreciation rather than dramatic spikes. Its value is tethered to broader market conditions for Kaldheim cards, the pace of reprint announcements, and the health of black-tribal and graveyard-centric archetypes in various formats. If a future expansion or special set gives more love to Angels or Berserkers—especially with reprint opportunities—its market could inch upward. Conversely, a reprint in a high-visibility set would likely pull price back toward ground level, given its current non-foil, budget-friendly status. 🔥
From a collector’s standpoint, the appeal rests less in rarity alone and more in the card’s narrative fit and artwork. Victor Adame Minguez’s illustration, with its dark, atmospheric mood, lends a certain aura that collectors value—especially when paired with a playable card in a popular commander or casual rogues deck. The set’s aesthetic and flavor, with its Norse-inspired mythos, can make Cleaving Reaper a tasteful centerpiece in a shelf of black-border artifacts. 🎨
Practical guidance for builders and buyers
- Consider Cleaving Reaper in decks that leverage graveyard recursion. Its ability rewards players who sequence an Angel or Berserker ETB (enter the battlefield) thoughtfully, turning a single hit into repeated access from the grave. 🧙♂️
- Balance its lifeloss cost with other life-gain or protective elements; the payoff is a hand position that redefines the late game. In multi-player formats like Commander, the card’s resilience can become a negotiation pivot. ⚔️
- Keep an eye on reprint cycles and special releases. If a foil or alternate art print arrives, the market may shift—potentially lifting interest and affecting nonfoil prices. For now, Cleaving Reaper remains an affordable, playable piece with a touch of collector allure. 💎
- For budget-minded players, the card’s low USD value makes it a low-risk inclusion to test tribal synergies or graveyard loops without a large financial commitment. 🎲
Art, lore, and the collector’s eye
Beyond the mechanics, Cleaving Reaper is a card that invites discussion about MTG’s artistry and world-building. The contrast of a lethal, winged warrior with the elegance of a Viking-inspired Berserker frame is a reminder that MTG designs can be both artful and tactical. Collectors who value print provenance, frame era, and the backstory of a card’s lore often place a premium on this kind of piece, even when the market price stays modest. The interplay of theme and function makes Cleaving Reaper a satisfying addition to a personal collection—especially for players who relish black’s interplay with life as a resource. 🧙♂️💎🎨
As you consider adding Cleaving Reaper to your list, think not just about the number on the price tag but the stories it tells on the battlefield and on the shelf. A rare pull from Kaldheim with a flavorful arc and a usable graveyard hook can be a quiet, enduring favorite in your collection—and a reliable option for some late-game drama. If you’re exploring ways to give your black-heavy list a little extra bite, this Angel Berserker is worth a closer look. 🔥