Invasion, released in October 2000, marked a pivotal moment in Magic: The Gathering history as a large multicolor-focused set that introduced sweeping conflict between Dominaria's defenders and the Phyrexian forces. The set leaned heavily into gold cards and multicolor synergies, rewarding players who built across multiple colors. Decades later, Invasion remains a beloved piece of Magic history, and several of its cards continue to hold serious monetary value thanks to their enduring utility across formats.
Phyrexian Altar
Phyrexian Altar is the set's most valuable card by a significant margin, and for good reason. The ability to sacrifice any creature to generate one mana of any color fits seamlessly into combo-heavy Commander decks, enabling infinite loops with cards that recur creatures from the graveyard. Its utility has only grown as the format has expanded, keeping its price firmly in the $60+ range.
Aura Shards
Aura Shards is a powerhouse enchantment in creature-heavy Commander decks, particularly those running a go-wide token strategy. The ability to destroy an artifact or enchantment every time a creature enters the battlefield generates repeated, free value that can dismantle opponents' boards quickly. Its uncommon rarity makes it somewhat scarce in older packs, contributing to its strong price point.
Tsabo's Web
Tsabo's Web serves as both a hate piece against non-basic lands with special abilities and a cantrip that replaces itself. Its targeted disruption against utility lands has kept it relevant in various formats over the years, and its niche appeal among certain Commander and older format players sustains its value.
Elvish Champion
Elvish Champion is a staple in Elf tribal strategies, granting all Elves a permanent power boost and the highly relevant forestwalk ability. In dedicated Elf Commander builds or Legacy Elf decks, it functions as a lord that can make your entire board unblockable against the right opponents, making it a consistent chase card for tribal enthusiasts.
Spirit of Resistance
Spirit of Resistance rewards multicolor deck builders by granting complete damage immunity as long as you control a permanent of each color. In a five-color Commander deck, this enchantment can essentially make you invincible to combat and direct damage, creating a powerful defensive lock that drives its appeal and price.
Overall, Invasion's price landscape reflects the set's lasting impact on multiplayer formats, particularly Commander. Cards like Phyrexian Altar and Aura Shards have seen steady demand over the years, and with no widespread reprints in recent memory for some of these cards, prices have remained stable or trended upward. Collectors and players looking to pick up Invasion staples should act thoughtfully, as key cards from this era continue to age gracefully in terms of value.