Dockside Extortionist is one of the most powerful red two-drops in Magic: the Gathering. This greedy goblin generates a treasure token for every artifact and enchantment controlled by opponents when it enters play. The card was so infamously strong in multiplayer Magic that it was banned from Commander in September 2024. Dockside Extortionist has just been reprinted in the upcoming MTG Avatar set, fueling speculation that it may get unbanned and return to terrorize playgroups once more.
We've covered how the MTG Avatar bonus sheet cards are simultaneously powerful, collectable, and incredibly ugly. This reprint does little to break this trend. The screenshot of a pirate captain in this card's art is zoomed in just slightly too close for comfort. This seafaring scallywag is neither a major Avatar character, nor is he a goblin, contrary to his type line.
Last year, the banning of Dockside Extortionist alongside Jeweled Lotus, Mana Crypt, and Nadu, Winged Wisdom provoked anger amongst certain parts of the MTG community, which manifested in some unpleasant ways. The Commander Rules Committee, a group of volunteers not affiliated with Wizards of the Coast who previously managed the format, was forced to disband after receiving a torrent of death threats and abuse.
While the card has remained on the banlist since Wizards of the Coast took control of Commander, there has been speculation that it might someday become playable once more. Most notably, in February of this year, the announcement of the Commander Brackets system caused the price of Dockside Extortionist to surge. Players began to theorize that it would return to usability as a "game changer" rather than being banned outright. Nine months later, this change has not materialized.
Dockside Extortionist appearing in the Avatar set is not a guarantee of an upcoming unban, but it has certainly caught the attention of speculators. The reprint was only revealed yesterday, but the card's price has already risen 31.94% from just over $10(£7.60) to $13.55(£10.30).
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