Image courtesy of Scryfall.com
No Witnesses Price: How Condition Changes MTG Value
If you’ve ever hunted for a rare spell that can swing the board and also tilt the market, you’ve probably spent a winter’s night daydreaming about No Witnesses. This white sorcery from the Murders at Karlov Manor expansion is more than a flashy draw-two with a dramatic payoff; it’s a study in how condition, printing, and even the multiplayer meta feed into price. With a mana cost of {2}{W}{W} and a rarity listed as rare, it’s a card that sits on the radar of both competitive players and collectors. The card’s text—“Each player who controls the most creatures investigates. Then destroy all creatures. (To investigate, create a Clue token. It’s an artifact with "{2}, Sacrifice this token: Draw a card.")”—gives it a flavorful, high-stakes moment that can define a game night and, in rare cases, a price spike when it’s seen in the wild. 🧙🔥
What this card does and why it matters in pricing
- Mechanics matter. The Investigate mechanic rewards players who are willing to invest in Clue-generating turns, while the board wipe adds a dramatic late-game pivot. That mix of control and volatility makes mint-condition copies more desirable for players who want to keep the drama without sacrificing playability.
- Color identity and style. As a white spell, it slots into a color identity that fans often collect for rarity and iconic moments. The art by Michele Giorgi and the black-bordered frame of the 2015 era blend a classic look with a modern set’s thematic sheen, which can elevate collectability beyond raw power in some markets.
- Set context and print status. It hails from Murders at Karlov Manor (set name: mkm). Modern sets with strong story connections tend to hold steady interest, especially when they feature powerful or memorable effects. In practice, this can translate into slightly higher price floors for well-kept copies when the format or meta evolves to value its synergy with Clues and large-scale wipes.
- Availability and demand. Printed as a rare in a contemporary expansion, No Witnesses benefits from both boutique collector interest and playing viability, which keeps it in the conversation as condition shifts in the market. The card’s foil and nonfoil variants track differently in price, with foil often commanding a modest premium for condition and surface quality. 💎⚔️
Pricing by condition: what actually changes the number on the price tag
Condition bands in MTG are a concise way to describe the physical state of a card and, with them, the card’s market value. Here’s how typical grading translates to numbers you might see reported by price trackers and retailers:
- Near Mint / Mint (NM/M): The card looks pristine, with minimal to no edge wear, crisp corners, and flawless centering. For No Witnesses, a NM nonfoil typically fetches a few dimes, while a NM foil could push slightly higher. The baseline values from recent listings show nonfoil around $0.12 and foil around $0.19 in USD, which illustrates how low-cost modern rares can be, even at peak condition. 🧙♀️
- Lightly Played (LP): Light scuffing or minor whitening on edges; still presentable for a binder or casual deck. LP copies often trade at a touch above NM, but the delta is modest here, given the card’s overall wellness in the market for this print.
- Moderately Played (MP): More noticeable wear, corner nicks, and potential surface scratches. MP copies generally sit a step below NM, with price reductions that reflect how collectors and players value pristine surface and edge fidelity.
- Heavily Played / Damaged (HP / DAM): Visible wear and possible creases. These tend to trade at a fraction of the NM price and are mostly of interest to multicolored balance decks or budget-focused players who aren’t chasing pristine aesthetics. The value gap can be sizable, emphasizing why condition is king for valuable staples—particularly rares with play history. 🎲
“Condition is the silent negotiator of value—a dented sleeve can whisper a discount, even when the card’s soul remains unscathed.”
Foil versus nonfoil: how finish influences value
The foil treatment adds glare and collectability, often nudging price upward in all but the most extreme circumstances. For a rare from a mid-2020s set, this means:
- Nonfoil copies tend to anchor the market, offering accessibility for players who want the effect without the premium finish.
- Foil copies, when found in NM or better, can enjoy a modest premium due to surface sparkle and eye appeal in play or display. The published numbers on Scryfall-based data frequently show foil prices hovering above nonfoil, though the delta varies with overall supply and demand dynamics. 🔥🎨
Format, playability, and market dynamics
While No Witnesses is noted as legal in formats such as Modern and Commander, its practical value in casual play often hinges on the player's willingness to dust off a big board wipe and a Clue plan. The card’s Investigate token synergy can become a game-defining tempo shift in multiplayer games, where the race to control the most creatures can swing perceptions of value mid-game. When a card has both a competitive edge and a collectible edge, condition becomes a balancing factor: mint copies go to collectors and high-end players; lower-graded copies find homes in budget decks and casual circles. 💎
In the broader MTG economic landscape, the price floor for a rare white spell from a newer expansion tends to be modest at the start, then fluctuate with new printings, reprints, and shifts in the meta. The data at hand—rough USD baselines around $0.12 nonfoil and $0.19 foil—reflects a market where modern rares can be incredibly affordable, yet condition continues to matter for those who want to maximize investment or display. As always, stay tuned to price-tracking sites and your local shop’s stock, because a single week can swing marginal prices into surprising territory. 🧙♂️⚔️
For collectors who want the full spectrum, consider the story, art, and flavor alongside raw numbers. Michele Giorgi’s illustration carries a sense of vintage noir that resonates with fans who appreciate both the card’s lore and the tactile joy of a well-preserved print. The flavor line, “When cunning fails, there’s always violence,” hints at the dramatic turn No Witnesses invites into a game, and that drama often translates into a stronger desire for pristine copies among serious collectors. 🎲
If you’re balancing MTG collecting with everyday gear, you can swing back to real-world tangibles with a product that keeps you moving. While you’re planning your next trading session, why not give your phone a stylish upgrade too? The day-to-day utility of a compact grip-and-kickstand can be the perfect companion while you draft, sleeve up, and trade—all while you contemplate how condition nudges a card’s value in a world of constant shifts. 🧙♀️💎