Image courtesy of Scryfall.com
Collector vs Regular Edition Value: a look at Infectious Bloodlust in modern collecting
In the world of MTG collects, a card’s value isn’t just about its mana cost or its in-game power. It’s a dance between rarity, print history, and how many players actually want to unlock its potential in their decks. Infectious Bloodlust, a red enchantment from Magic Origins, is a perfect case study for understanding how a humble common can carry two very different kinds of value depending on the edition you hold 🧙🔥💎. The card’s printed realities—a common rarity, a foil option, and a recursion mechanic that rewards board presence—make it a neat mirror for broader market dynamics in both collector circles and casual playgroups 🎲.
What makes Infectious Bloodlust tick—and why collectors notice
Mana cost is modest at {1}{R}, landing in the color-prime of speed and aggression. That single red mana for an aura with the clause “Enchant creature” belies a surprisingly modern design ethos: the enchanted creature gains +2/+1, gains haste, and is forced to swing if able. The real kicker is the on-death tutor: when the enchanted creature dies, you may search your library for another Infectious Bloodlust, reveal it, put it into your hand, then shuffle. It creates a little engine that can keep pressuring opponents and feeding your hand with a lower-cost path to repeat plays. It’s a flash of classic design that feels a bit ahead of its time—a touch of temporary upside, then a built-in recursion in the very same card. For casual players, the effect is a fun tempo tool; for collectors, it’s a reminder that even a common card can carry lasting appeal when it’s tied to a memorable set and a distinctive illustration by Zoltan Boros 🎨⚔️.
Printed in Magic Origins (ORI) in 2015, the card sits in a core-set vibe but with a modern beveled edge of nostalgia. The actual finish options—foil and non-foil—are where the practical value story begins to diverge. The data snapshot from Scryfall shows a conservative market profile: non-foil around $0.03 and foil around $0.10 in USD terms, with euro valuations climbing slightly higher in foil and non-foil. A common rarity means most copies were produced in large volumes, but foils and any artist-signed or special variants can push the price curve a bit higher, especially for players who love glossy finishes and collectors who chase pristine condition in older sets 🧙🔥.
Edition differences: what “collector edition” typically means in this context
When players talk about “collector edition” value today, they’re often referring to premium-foil or special-foil treatments, sometimes outside the standard set printing. Infectious Bloodlust is listed as foil and non-foil in ORI, with the foil variant carrying a noticeable—but still modest—premium over its regular print. In practical terms, this means your regular edition copy (non-foil) will almost always sit at a bargain bin level, while a foil copy may land in the low-dollar range, still accessible to casual collectors and budget players. The market reality is that for a card this common and from a 2015 core-set entry, there isn’t a dramatic investment thesis to chase extreme premiums—unless you stumble into a pristine foil or a near-mint copy that perfectly fits a display or a sealed product run. This is a gentle reminder that not every collector’s dream becomes a fireworks show; sometimes it’s just a sparkly rarity tucked in a stack of commons 🎲.
Numbers you can actually rely on
Here’s the practical snapshot you can use when weighing a potential purchase or trade:
- common
- set: Magic Origins (ORI)
- colors: red
- legal formats: Modern, Legacy, Commander (EDH), and others printed in the data set; the card is widely playable in casual builds and some niche themed decks
- pricing (USD): non-foil around $0.03, foil around $0.10
- pricing (EUR): non-foil around €0.11, foil around €0.16
- market signals: relatively stable for a common, with minimal volatility unless a reprint threatens the supply in a given market window
- EDH data: listed on EDH rec as a card with some thematic potential in enchantment-centered stacks
These figures tell a straightforward story: collector-focused upgrades (foil, near-mint copies, or rare variants) can create a premium, but for Infectious Bloodlust the laminar flow is modest. The real strength for most players isn’t the sticker price—it’s the built-in synergy: a cheap aura that punishes overextension, demands respect on tempo, and rewards a clever finisher in the right deck. And yes, you’ll still see it in a few spicy Commander lists where “haste on a buffed creature” can swing a game in a pinch 🧙🔥.
What this means for your collection strategy
If you’re a player deciding between foils and non-foils, the choice is mostly about aesthetics and collection completeness. A foil Infectious Bloodlust is a nice display piece and a touch more resilient to wear, but don’t expect a dramatic jump in resale value. If you’re a veteran collector chasing value, you’ll want to monitor reprint risk (Is the card likely to appear again in a new set or a Masters set? Or will it stay tucked in the early ORI print runs?) and the broader demand for red auras in your playgroup or market niche.
For many players, the joy of MTG is the story you tell with your deck, not the price tag you carry into the game store. The bold red of a well-timed buff, the thrum of a recurred threat, and the thrill of discovering a hidden gem in a trade—that’s where value lives.
As you navigate the collector-vs-regular journey, a practical approach is to treat Infectious Bloodlust as a case study in how a common card can maintain a quiet charm across decades. It’s part of the Magic Origins puzzle, part of your casual collection, and part of the ritual of trading and upgrading with friends. And if you’re feeling a bit playful about cross-promotion, you can swing by a different kind of product to level up your desk setup while you plan your next MTG purchase—yes, that Neon Gaming Mouse Pad from the shop linked below is a fun companion for those long drafting sessions 🧙🔥🎨.
Keep an eye on price trends, especially around new printings and special editions. If a future reprint pops up in a masters set or a premium edition, the foil version of a common like Infectious Bloodlust can gain a little momentum, enough to matter to a collector with a soft spot for red, quick bursts of aggression, and a well-curated display. Until then, your best move is to enjoy the card for what it is: a clever, kinetic piece of enchantment design that keeps its edge in both casual play and the broader collector’s conversation 💎⚔️.