A few times a year, judges around the world are thanked for their outstanding performances by receiving judge foils as part of the Exemplar program. These foils have provided a valuable service to the Magic community, especially players of eternal formats like Legacy, Cube, and Commander, by getting some cards in foil for the first time (Mana Drain, Force of Will) or making previously impossible-to-find cards more accessible (Imperial Recruiter, Ravages of War), or even by providing some fun alternate versions of staples (Dark Confidant and Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite). With that said, there are still some cards that would make excellent judge foils both from a flavor perspective and an accessibility one. Before we get started, there were a few notable exclusions from this list just based on space; the Ravnica shock lands, the Commander 2014 Planeswalker-commanders, Engineered Explosives, Wretched Confluence, and Chalice of the Void were all on this list at one time or another. #10 Zedruu the Greathearted
We have seen several popular Commanders get printed in foil for the first time as judge foils, but thus far, everyone's favorite Goat/Antelope/gift horse has escaped the shiny treatment. It is the Will of Zedruu that he receives it. Judges who enjoy the Commander format often enjoy doing wacky things, and finding the best permanents to give away definitely falls into that category. Group hug decks are fun and Zedruu is the greatest of all time on that front. #9 Tarmogoyf
It's long been said that the only certainties are death and taxes, but "Tarmogoyf is a cross-format staple" should be added to that list. Despite being reprinted in both editions of Modern Masters, the greenest blue card still commands top dollar no matter which version you want. Make it a foil and you are looking at a couple of organs for your playset. Making a judge foil of Tarmogoyf would not only make the most expensive card in Modern somewhat easier to obtain, it would also afford the opportunity to commission new art. What exactly is uhh...what's going on in the art we have now? #8 Misty Rainforest
With the judge foil printings of Crucible of Worlds, Dark Confidant, Sword of Feast and Famine and a few others, Misty Rainforest has been printed in the old (pre-8th Edition) border. It's a fetching and unique look that adds a sense of style to the version, and generally increases demand. With a cycle like this that is already in high demand, adding such a tweak would ensure that the promos retained some appeal even after the inevitable reprint of the cycle in a booster pack set. #7 Phyrexian Tower
It was a complete surprise to me that this card is both not on the Reserved List and has never been reprinted. A Commander staple that has even seen Legacy play in Nic Fit decks, Phyrexian Tower is a perfect choice for a judge foil printing. Giving it the Elesh Norn Phyrexian-language treatment would make it all the more special, though it's probably not necessary. Added bonus: a reprint as a judge foil would give us a version with the diamond symbol on it. Although I'm not sure that would be easy to spot if the card were to be printed in Phyrexian, but that's a sacrifice I am willing to make. #6 Mind Twist
Go look again. It's not on the Reserved List. I checked three times before I believed it myself. Now let's not kid ourselves; it is never getting reprinted in any product meant for play at any level. The only way I could see Mind Twist being printed outside of a gold-bordered Cube product is as a judge foil. The card is iconic, it's in a large percentage of Cubes, and is technically legal in Commander. Of course if you play it in Commander you're likely to be on the receiving end of some twisted looks, but you can do it. The first foil version of this card, preferably combined with some new art, would be huge news and in high demand as soon as it debuted. Making your opponent discard their hand is a great feeling, but doing it shiny is an even better one. #5 Spellskite
Perhaps something of a controversial inclusion, I would love to see Spellskite because it has quickly joined the "Most Judge Calls Caused" club since its release five short years ago. Pro tip: Never ask if you can target something with Spellskite, because the answer is almost always "Yes." It just might not do anything. I considered suggesting Phyrexian text for this card too, but it's already confusing enough without redirecting that confusion to the strange markings in the text box. An old-border printing would be cool, but for this one I would settle for just new art and some flavor text that makes clever reference to the rules trickery the card causes. #4 True-Name Nemesis
We're into the real heavy hitters now, as True‑Name Nemesis is a Legacy staple that has yet to see a foil printing and is not likely to do so outside of judge foils. A card that was once in such high demand that the Commander deck in which it was printed was almost double the price of all the others, many a judge has been fishing for this printing ever since. Legacy players love to customize and "bling out" their decks with foils and rarities, and a foil True‑Name would certainly fit that bill. Or several bills, to be more accurate. #3 Blood Moon
Cryptic Command proved that literally any card can be done as a full-art version, and Blood Moon is significantly simpler (at least in the text box) than that. Blood Moon has all the benefits of Spellskite in that it creates mountains of rules problems, but it's also very hard to find and sees heavy play in both Legacy and Modern. I envision a full-art, colorrich image painted by someone like Terese Nielsen or Magali Villeneuve, a giant red moon possibly with a reflection shimmering in a lake. I can even see people prostrate in front of the moon, offering praise. Tell me you wouldn't love that. #2 Jace, the Mind Sculptor
I'll pause while you pick your jaws up off the floor. One thing we have never had as a judge foil is a Planeswalker...yet. With the greatest Jace unlikely to be reprinted in a tournament-legal format ever again, this would be the perfect way to get a new and improved printing into people's hands while simultaneously blowing minds and budgets. With Jace being such a prominent part of so many stories it would not take much effort to sculpt the right time to print this, and even the collectors would not mind seeing a new version hit the markets. Maybe you extend the art behind the text box and lower the opacity of the text? New art isn't necessary as the old one is so iconic, but the epic level of this printing could, in my mind, only be surpassed by one card. #1 Containment Priest
If you didn't see that one coming, you haven't been paying attention. Containment Priest was printed in Commander 2014 and almost immediately became a staple sideboard card in Death and Taxes lists. Unfortunately, Commander sets do not have foil printings and therefore this card is a constant torment to me in my otherwise-foil Legacy deck. Can we just get a judge foil already? Please? I'd barely be able to contain my excitement. — Chris Lansdell, @Lansdellicious |
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