Although Secrets of Strixhaven is one of the most aesthetically successful sets in recent years, it has yet to ignite the Magic market. Despite having five different precons to choose from, we've only seen a few price increases recently. In theory, players might be waiting for the actual release of the set, or perhaps the expansion simply isn't living up to the huge promises born from online hype.
Curiously, instead of seeing Secrets of Strixhaven in the spotlight, a new variant of a classic Modern archetype is driving demand. Recently brought back into the limelight by AspiringSpike, a new Affinity deck is causing the price of a twenty-year-old legend to skyrocket. We are still in the early stages, but if this deck continues to perform, Erayo, Soratami Ascendant could become a real powerhouse.
Erayo, Soratami Ascendant
Legendary Creature — Moonfolk Monk
Erayo, Soratami Ascendant
Legendary Creature — Moonfolk Monk
Flying
Whenever the fourth spell of a turn is cast, flip Erayo.
Released back in 2005 in Betrayers of Kamigawa, Erayo, Soratami Ascendant is a devastatingly powerful card. While it requires some work to transform, once flipped, it can completely lock down the opponent. Unless the opponent has extra spells to "sacrifice" and readily available removal, this card can end the game on the spot.
Precisely because of this strength, Erayo, Soratami Ascendant has been banned in Commander since 2011. Outside of Commander, the card struggled to find a home for a long time, as transforming it proved problematic. However, as recently demonstrated by AspiringSpike (you can find the full video at the bottom of the article), the card is incredible within an Affinity shell. Thanks to a multitude of zero-cost artifacts and one-cost spells, transforming Erayo, Soratami Ascendant is extremely simple. By playing your hand correctly, it's even possible to achieve it on turn two. If successful, depending on the matchup, the game is virtually over, as the opponent will find themselves unable to cast half of their spells.
As devastating as this plan is, the deck dubbed 
Izzet Erayo is also a very solid Affinity list. With Pinnacle Emissary and the ever-reliable Emry, Lurker of the Loch, the deck doesn't necessarily need Erayo to win. It's interesting to note that AspiringSpike is also running April O’Neil, Hacktivist to ensure even more card draw.
While in the United States the Izzet Erayo fever has already pushed the card to peaks of $21 (with new listings nearing $30), the European market is moving with its usual inertia. Currently, on platforms like CardTrader, it's still possible to find copies of Erayo, Soratami Ascendant at significantly lower prices. A Near Mint copy in Europe still ranges between €6 and €9, making it a primary target for those looking to bet on the deck before the price surge crosses the ocean.
In March, a Near Mint copy was consistently around $7. This price was due to previous interest in Modern Affinity in early 2025. Although that trend quickly faded, the card's value never crashed, a sign that supply is now limited. With inventories starting to dwindle even in European wholesale warehouses, current prices of €9-10 might not last long.
In theory, even if it were to rise towards €20, Erayo, Soratami Ascendant could represent a sensible investment if the archetype stabilizes as Tier 1 or Tier 2. The scarcity of the card, printed only once in a twenty-year-old set, gives it enormous growth potential. Realistically, however, there is no guarantee: Modern is a ruthless format, and Affinity might decide to forgo Erayo in favor of a more linear and faster win condition.
As Erayo, Soratami Ascendant is essentially a flexible option, its future remains uncertain. Furthermore, the risk of a reprint (despite the technical difficulties of old-style flip cards) always looms over cards of this value. Nevertheless, it remains the card of the moment to monitor: for those who play Modern, picking it up now for around €10 could be the last call before it becomes a prohibitive collector's item.
