We’ve come to the month of September, and that means two things: football season and the new large expansion. As with years past, the old block rotates out as the new one comes in. Because of this, a majority of players want to dump their old Standard-legal cards, and many already have. Why should you care?

Because you can pick up those Commander-friendly cards on the cheap.

Cards lose a good portion of their financial value when they are no longer in Standard, since that’s the most common competitive format played. The demand goes down as the supply increases. These players want to get the hot new cards from the new set (as everyone does, but they doubly so). This has always been the best time to get the old cards that are rotating, because in a month or so, those players will have sold them to dealers or won’t carry them around much in their binders.

There have been a couple of wrinkles this year: Modern is the hot new format, and the Zendikar block was different. There are some cards in the Zendikar block that players who want to get into Modern will want to hold on to or value higher, so be ready for that. But the other thing is that for most of Zendikar’s life in Standard, it was really dominated by only a few choice mythics and not very many rares. First it was Jund; then Caw-Blade came along. When Zendikar block did contribute, it was mostly certain rares and commons/uncommons. Because of this, most of the cards that I would’ve recommended already are in the dollar bin at your LGS. We’re going to ignore those.

These are the more powerful and interesting Zendikar-block plus rotating M11 cards to give you some suggestions to pick up on the cheap. I can’t guarantee that these cards won’t be reprinted (every card printed now has the chance to be in a new set), and I can’t guarantee that they won’t rise in value. There have been some ignored cards in the past that have slowly risen in value due to their casual/Commander interest (Doubling Season, Gauntlet of Power).

Of course, the real trick is finding these cards in foil if you can. They will tend to hold their value, if not be three or four times their nonfoil value, depending on the card. Commander players love to pimp out their decks and, because the format doesn’t rotate, do so more easily than in other casual formats. Foil Legendary creatures are key to collect as well, as players always want to pimp out their Commanders (see: FtV: Legends). If I mention foil here, it’s because I believe that the foil version is going to be worth plenty more than the nonfoil version.

These are the cards you should look out for that haven’t been reprinted (yet), and have an impact in the Commander format. There will be plenty of cards that I skip that will fit into certain decks—Blade of the Bloodchief works better in Vampire decks and works wonderfully with the new Olivia Vampire Legend.

Zendikar

The Fetch Lands

(Arid Mesa, Marsh Flats, Misty Rainforest, Scalding Tarn, Verdant Catacombs)

These have a huge value in all played formats. They will continue to hold value because of how popular they are with players. The fetch lands work wonders in Commander if you have the basic land types that correspond with them (like the now-tripled-in-price Ravnica shock lands and the original dual lands). They are must-haves if you can get them, but be prepared to pay a pretty penny for them for a while.

Beastmaster Ascension – Foil

Players love to attack, and love to make their creatures bigger when they do. Token-creation decks love this type of effect.

Carnage Altar – Foil

Colorless, reusable card-draw and sacrifice outlet.

Eldrazi Monument

That indestructibility bonus draws players in, and they aren’t afraid of Wrath effects. Mix with Reassembling Skeleton for great effect.

Emeria, the Sky Ruin

Uncounterable “free” creature reanimation is pretty useful. Usually only sees play in heavy White decks as you do need seven Plains to abuse.

Iona, Shield of Emeria – Commander

With Painter's Servant banned, she won’t see much play as a Commander unless you’re playing some wacky Pentagram Commander variation. She will still shut down decks that rely heavily on one color, but she isn’t that fun to play with or against. Spike Commander players do gravitate toward her. A single foil version has been spotted in some Legacy decks, so the foils will be harder to grab.

Kalitas, Bloodchief of Ghet – Commander

While he’s no longer the best Vampire Commander out there, he does kill any creature, and gives you a token copy with its power and toughness. I haven’t seen anyone play him (in my area—he may be more popular in yours).

Lorthos, the Tidemaker – Commander

I have been planning to build a Commander deck with him. Again, I haven’t seen anyone else try to build around him, but he does make a great theme Commander.

Lotus Cobra

Until Legacy or Modern breaks him, he’ll go shooting down in a few weeks. If you’re speculating on those other formats, this is a card to grab. Free mana is always good. And if an opponent has to waste a kill spell on him, consider it a victory. Hey, speaking of other formats, is anyone playing Extended anymore?

Luminarch Ascension – Foil

This is one of those Commander cards that will get you kicked out of a group. You’ve been warned.

Ob Nixilis, the Fallen – Commander

This is the “better” Black Legendary creature in the set. I like to use him with Sygg, River Cutthroat.

Oracle of Mul Daya

Playing more lands is always fun, and this card does just that. With Sensei’s Divining Top still legal, this is a card that completely abuses that peek-at-three ability. Remember: You can only play lands that are visible on the top of your library.

Oran-Rief, the Vastwood – Foil

Match this with Garruk 1.0, and you can grow your army pretty quickly. [Insert obligatory Proliferate mention here.]

Quest for the Holy Relic – Foil

Because you have access to all the best equipment in your deck, this is one of those cards that people will forget about until you play it and crack it. I see this as a huge long-term sleeper because there are only going to be more and more equipment printed.

Rampaging Baloths – Foil (Prerelease Card)

Making free 4/4’s each time you play a land is a very good deal. I use Scapeshift to really abuse and take over a game with it. Beware of Wrath effects. Because this was the prerelease card, there are more copies of it floating around; the good news is that you can choose the art you prefer.

Rite of Replication – Foil

This is one of those cards that will have infinite play and fun value in Commander. Because of this, I see this as another long-term value pick that will rise. Everyone loves getting copies of creatures, especially five copies.

Vines of Vastwood – Foil

It’s basically a Green counterspell for creatures. It doesn’t hurt with Rafiq either.

World Queller – Foil

Gets rid of every type of card, including those that haven’t been invented yet (you can’t use Nevinyrral's Disk to destroy planeswalkers). Mix this with Martyr's Bond, and you have suddenly taken control of this game.

Worldwake

The Man Lands

(Celestial Colonnade, Creeping Tar Pit, Lavaclaw Reaches, Raging Ravine, Stirring Wildwood)

I believe they are better than the M10 duals in most cases, and should be in every deck that can support them.

Anowon, the Ruin Sage – Commander

Mix with Grave Pact and Butcher of Malakir to make players keep losing creatures. Of course, if you only play with Vampires, you’ll just make opponents sacrifice creatures. It was the foil rare in one of the Worldwake intro decks if you’re looking for a cheap foil copy.

Avenger of Zendikar

As a token-creator, it’s automatically popular in the Commander format. The fact that it can grow the tokens makes it doubly so. Be on the lookout if Modern breaks this and Scapeshift.

Basilisk Collar – Foil

As proven by LSV, players love killing creatures with just a tap. Also works with creatures that just deal out damage like Inferno Titan and Magmatic Force. If a creature already has Lifelink, it won’t give it double Lifelink (sorry, Brion Stoutarm).

Bojuka Bog – Foil

Players love using their graveyards in Commander, and this is one of the better ways to make sure they can’t abuse them. Of course, the downfall is the fact that you can only use it in Black decks. But it’s still very useful.

Butcher of Malakir – Foil

Grave Pact on a body is good. It flies; doubly good. If it had 5 toughness, even better, but it’s still pretty good.

Chain Reaction – Foil

This is the Red Wrath of God. It costs 4, so it’s great early if an opponent has played plenty of creatures at that time. But really great against tokens because then it wipes the whole board. It’s unpredictable how much damage it will do, but that’s why it’s Red. You want certain, play Wrath.

Comet Storm – Foil (Prerelease Card)

The better Fireball. It’s an instant, so if you combo out, this is your kill spell. Some people swear by it, and I have no reason to judge them. Again, as a prerelease card, there’s going to be more foil copies of it floating around.

Everflowing Chalice – Foil (FNM Card)

Again, more copies out there, but this is great because of Proliferate and it works in any deck. The poor man’s Sol Ring.

Eye of Ugin – Foil

Currently seeing play in Modern Twelve Post decks, for good reason: It can grab an Eldrazi (the one it’s usually grabbing is luckily banned in our format), or grab any artifact creature (Blightsteel Colossus, Wurmcoil Engine, Platinum Angel). Uncounterable tutoring is always good.

Jace, the Mind Sculptor

Obviously, this is going to be the most expensive on the list. Why do I say grab them? They’re not legal in Modern, and the people who have been sitting on them for a while now aren’t going to use them in Legacy or Vintage and will want to get rid of them. It will be the hardest to grab, but I feel in multiplayer he’s at least a little bit more “fair” than in duels. If you do go one-on-one in Commander, you already know how powerful he can be. He’s not a must-have, but a very good investment; I doubt he’ll see print again unless he’s in a FtV set years from now.

Kazuul, Tyrant of the Cliffs – Commander

I had built a deck around him, but it wasn’t as interesting as I thought. The key is to get more people to attack you, and I feel that until there are more cards that force the attack, he won’t be “good.”

Marshal's Anthem – Foil

A White multi-kickable Resurrection enchantment that’s also an Anthem? Yes. You’ll find plenty of nonfoils floating around, but I have a feeling you’ll be seeing more and more of them pop up into Commander decks soon. Great attrition-type card.

Nature's Claim – Foil

Used in Vintage, but in Commander, you don’t care about the 4 life gained. Sometimes, you want something killed for 1 mana. Highly, highly recommended. The foil version is already $3.50 and higher online.

Omnath, Locus of Mana – Commander

It’s (groan!) in the FtV: Legends box set if you want a cool foil version of it. It’s a good Green Commander that can get out of hand quickly. You either love it or hate it. There’s no middle ground.

Quest for Renewal – Foil

Untapping your guys seems pretty good every upkeep. That’s why players love Awakening and Seedborn Muse. This fits in those decks very nicely.

Seer's Sundial – Foil

When all you’re drawing is lands late in the game, it can help you get through those rough patches. It’s a triggered ability, not an activated one.

Stoneforge Mystic

Because she’s banned in Modern, there’s some extra copies lying around. Amazing good in Legacy, she’s also amazingly good in Commander. Like I said with Quest for the Holy Relic, they’re only going to be printing more Equipment.

Tectonic Edge

Because Wasteland is $60. Ghost Quarter is back, but this gets rid of the land for good.

Terastodon – Foil

This card wins games. Who cares if you give your opponent a 3/3 token? You killed whatever was causing you problems. Tie it in with Marshal's Anthem, and you’ve got a great finisher in Commander.

Thada Adel, Acquisitor – Commander

Not loved as much as the other Blue Commanders, but she is really powerful. Grab early Sol Rings from your opponents, which accelerate you to keep grabbing their other stuff. And she’s a Merfolk Rogue, which are two key creature types ready for abusing.

Wrexial, the Risen Deep – Commander

A Commander suited for the long game. He’s a great Commander to build around in two of the better colors that can abuse his ability.

Rise of the Eldrazi

All Is Dust

Sees play in Modern because it’s an awesome reset button. It’s the sacrifice clause that makes it powerful. Oh, and the fact that every color combination can use it. Yeah, that too.

Bear Umbra – Foil

As we’ve seen with Sword of Feast and Famine, the untapping-all-your-lands ability is a powerful one. Mix that in with the trigger happening on the attack and the totem armor protection, and you’ve got a creature that can cause some serious damage.

Drana, Kalastria Bloodchief – Commander

Another Vampire Legend. I’m beginning to think you can almost create a Commander deck with nothing but Vampire Legends. She’s in a Worldwake intro deck if you want a foil copy of her and can completely rule the board. Killing a creature and making her more powerful for Commander damage is pretty good.

Echo Mage – Foil

This comes from the Copying Spells Is Awesome category. And not only your spell, but anyone’s spell can be copied. Yes, he’ll find a nice home in Commander.

Eldrazi Conscription – Foil

My favorite combination is this and Auratouched Mage. The Annihilator trigger doesn’t happen on the first attack, but it does work very nicely in the long term.

It That Betrays – Foil

People always sacrifice stuff for effects, so why don’t you use that to your advantage? It’s better when it attacks, but you don’t mind if it sits behind a Pacifism all day.

Lighthouse Chronologist – Foil

I’ve heard a rumor that taking extra turns is good, especially in a multiplayer game. Can anyone confirm that for me? Thanks.

Linvala, Keeper of Silence – Commander

She’s a really annoying Commander, but a very useful card. She shuts down any opponents’ shenanigans and keeps the game “fair.” At the moment, she see fringe play in Legacy and might see more play in Modern. Foil’s already over $20, so be warned.

Mnemonic Wall – Foil

A Blue creature that can be bounced to get back any instant or sorcery spell I might have in my graveyard? Yeah, it’s good.

Nirkana Revenant – Foil

I kinda wish she was Legendary, because then she would be more exciting. I’m not saying she’s not now, and any Clone effects are outrageous with her, but the pump ability would be more relevant. But more Black mana is always useful.

Not of This World – Foil

I’m only mentioning it because I’m the only one who has actually played this card in Commander. It works great with my Dragon deck because it’s a free colorless counterspell that you can tap out with. Maybe it’s just me, but it’s been very useful so far.

Realms Uncharted – Foil

Not the powerhouse I thought it was going to be, but it’s still abusable. With Crucible of Worlds and Life from the Loam, it’s always going to be one of those cards that might win you the game early on.

Recurring Insight – Foil

The Rebound is the key to this card. Just keep drawing cards and you’ll do fine.

Sphinx of Magosi – Foil

I guess the Titans have kinda taken over the 6-drop spot, but I never understood why this card didn’t take off. You draw cards for 3 mana as an instant and make it bigger. 5 mana with Rings of Brighthearth draws two cards and puts 2 +1/+1 counters on it. Anyone else use this?

Training Grounds – Foil

Players love this type of effect, so this will always be popular. Mix it with Sphinx of Magosi, and you can draw a card for . This enchantment must be put in a deck where it can be abused.

Tuktuk the Explorer – Commander

Somewhere there is a player who loves this guy, and I admire him. I guess he must love that Goblin Grenade is back in M12, too. This is the type of person whom I love seeing in Commander; we need more of them.

Ulamog, the Infinite Gyre

This was in (le sigh) FtV: Legends as well. I have seen him more than Kozilek because of that Vindicate ability, which is why you see him here as well.

M11

Ajani Goldmane

The original cat planeswalker has seen many reprintings, but I love him all the same. His ultimate ability rocks in Commander; suddenly, you have a one-turn kill, especially with Brion, and you can gain double your life total while you move on to your next victim. But he’s been a sold workhorse in my decks.

Brittle Effigy – Foil

This gets rid of any non-Commander Creature, can be fetched with Trinket Mage, and can be put in any deck. When it hits the table, it makes everyone freeze.

Clone – Foil

Kills Commanders. Oh, and other awesome Clone effects.

Crystal Ball – Foil

A more “fair” Sensei’s Divining Top. It has the benefit of putting something on the bottom of the library if you don’t want to keep seeing it. Foils are $2+ and going up.

Fauna Shaman

The “fixed” Survival of the Fittest. It’s still really good, and if you want creatures in your graveyard or you want to tutor creatures into your hand, I suggest you play with it.

Garruk Wildspeaker

It does everything that a Green deck would want. Almost a staple in Commander. Almost.

Garruk's Packleader – Foil

Commander is about playing big creatures and spells. This lets you draw cards from those creatures. Please note it doesn’t say “cast,” it says “enters the battlefield.” Abuse away.

Jace Beleren

This is the most fun of the three Jaces. Make friends by having them draw cards, then make them pout when you mill them for twenty. Or, just be selfish when you keep drawing on your own.

Liliana Vess

The only Lorwyn planeswalker not in here is Chandra, because she’s only okay in Commander. Gaining everyone’s dead creatures is pretty epic and makes for very fun and interesting games.

Mystifying Maze – Foil

A “fixed” Maze of Ith that taps for mana, it keeps Commanders from killing you. The big bonus is that it taps for colorless mana, which means any deck can, and most likely should, use it.

Serra Ascendant – Foil

It is one of the better turn-one plays that a White deck can produce. Suddenly what everyone thought was going to be a nice, slow game turns into a race into who can kill it first.

Stormtide Leviathan – Foil

A “Moat” effect that Blue mages will love. The 8 unblockable damage ends games quickly, too.

Temple Bell – Foil

Make everyone happy by ringing the bell. Then make them sad again by playing Underworld Dreams and Consecrated Sphinx.

Whispersilk Cloak – Foil

It’s been printed enough times that most older players will have plenty of nonfoil copies. Equip it to your Commander and swing. This is one of the best equipments around for the format.

And there you have a huge number of cards that you can go digging through the next time you trade. It’s not a complete list by far, but it’s a good place to get started. Remember, I believe that most cards can be played in this format; these are just some of the better ones. What did I miss? What are your hidden gems for Commander from Zendikar block and M11?