It's expensive for several reasons: First small print run. Especially the english version of this set had a really tiny print run and were only released in Australia and New Zealand. Then he wasn't in the starter packs, which also would have reduced his value.
The important thing though is: it's a tutor. And a very flexible one. It can fetch everything from Dark Confidant to Solemn Simulacrum to Birds of Paradise to Weathered Wayfarer or whatever.
Also, it's not only a tutor: it's a tutor on a creature. Which means if you reanimate him, bounce him and replay him, flicker him or whatever: you can keep tutoring for cards. He can also attack and block. All in all an awesome (albeit not overpowered) card. I have it on MTGO and play it there in my EDH/Commander decks.
Tiny print run + high value for collectors + highly playable card = expensive.
Posted By:
majinara
(10/28/2010 3:27:17 PM)
Wouldn't mind seeing this reprinted someday, well except that it would probably be every top deck that so much as splashes red and I wouldn't be able to afford one.
Posted By:
TPmanW
(3/10/2011 6:41:39 PM)
His ability was one of those overlooked flukes from Three Kingdoms that I guess Wizards just allowed to go through in the other formats...
In faster formats like Legacy, he's had some success in Aluren and Painter but he's an absolute BEAST in EDH. This is a sample of what he can get for you depending on the situation:
Solemn
Oracle of Mul-Daya
Kiki-Jiki
Siege-Gang
Duplicant
Acidic Slime
ANY Clone
Eternal Witness
Spike Weaver
Seadborn Muse
Mulldrifter
Mentor of the Meek
Trinket Mage
Stone Forge Mystic
...And that's just a small sample. He's also easily abused with Genesis/Skullclamp, and like someone said Flickerwisp/Ghostaway affects. I've found that he's best used to setup for those kinda plays where you can creative massove CA, sort of like an Astral Slide abuse.
Posted By:
JARYISM
(11/13/2011 9:33:31 PM)
This card is a great card. It has a great ability but a settled power and toughness number. The moment you want to play a 2/2 (a very good one) for instance and play Imperial Recruiter you can just play it next turn and maybe win the game with for instance the ability such as "When this creature is put onto the battlefield, it deals 3 damage to target player" or something like that.
Posted By:
blobman
(12/4/2011 8:28:48 AM)
According to his sword on the artwork, this guy looks more like a Human Warrior Advisor to me.
Unfortunately he isn't, yet his tutor ability has still some decent use and is most of all quite unique for a Portal Three Kingdoms card.
He reminds me of Goblin Matron nonetheless.
Posted By:
Mode
(8/27/2009 7:32:25 PM)
This card deserves a 5, but its general inaccessibility should deduct at least one star. And, as TPmanW said, any reprint (or functional reprint) will fetch similarly ludicrous prices.
Posted By:
Trygon_Predator
(4/23/2012 8:19:40 AM)
Why is this card so exspensive?
Posted By:
fssfalcon
(7/31/2010 12:08:39 PM)
Nobody's going to mention it? Seriously? OK, this is a job for Dr. Jack.
Ali from Cairo Ali from Cairo Ali from Cairo Ali from Cairo Ali from Cairo
Who else would you fetch with Imperial Recruiter, which is conveniently costed at just one red mana less, seamlessly setting up your tempo? I dunno if the design time had this in mind, but this combo was practically tailor-made. And this guy is so skilled, he can convince Goblins, undead Zombies, Specters, and even Lions from the Savannah to enlist in your service. That is one hell of a recruiter.
Posted By:
DrJack
(1/7/2014 7:46:30 PM)