From Bulk Rare to Breakout Star: How ‘Avatar’ Revived a 16-Year-Old Magic: The Gathering Card
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A seemingly forgotten Magic: The Gathering card, the merfolk wizard Sea Gate Loremaster, has experienced a dramatic surge in value in 2025, fueled by synergies with cards from the new Avatar: the Last Airbender set. The card’s price has risen over 1000% after languishing as a “bulk rare” for 16 years.
Colors are associated with a signature creature type. While red boasts goblins, green elves, white humans, and black zombies, blue is represented by merfolk. These “scaly sea people” have been a consistent presence in the game since its inception. Sea Gate Loremaster first appeared in the Zendikar set in 2009,but quickly settled into the role of a “bulk rare” – a card with minimal monetary value.
For 16 years, the card remained largely unnoticed, until a confluence of events in 2025 sparked a remarkable turnaround. “Let’s talk about how this sage from Sea Gate suddenly got a second lease on life,” one analyst noted.
The Return of Allies and the ‘avatar’ Effect
The Zendikar set also introduced the Ally creature type, designed to represent characters united by a common cause. Allies are built around synergistic abilities, buffing each other and triggering effects whenever a new ally enters the battlefield. While Allies saw a resurgence in the Battle for Zendikar block in 2015, they received little support for the following decade.
That changed with the release of the Avatar: the Last Airbender set, which featured a significant number of new Allies designed to meet modern power standards. This influx of powerful Allies created a new habitat where Sea Gate Loremaster could truly shine.
A Commander Staple with Untapped Potential
While the five-mana cost of Sea Gate Loremaster makes it unlikely to see competitive play outside of the Commander format, the card’s ability to draw cards based on the number of Allies under a player’s control has proven incredibly potent in that popular multiplayer mode.
New Avatar cards, such as Sokka, Tenacious Tactician, and Invasion Reinforcements, allow players to quickly deploy a large number of Allies. This, combined with blue’s abundance of “untap” effects – like North Pole Patrol, which is itself an Ally – allows players to repeatedly activate Sea Gate Loremaster‘s card-drawing ability, rapidly cycling through their decks.
price Surge and Future Outlook
Data from TCGplayer reveals the dramatic shift in the card’s value. The card’s utility was first recognized in July 2025, coinciding with previews of the Avatar set and the reveal of its Ally focus. Sea gate Loremaster‘s price immediately jumped to $4.00, a significant increase from its previous value of just a few cents.
The release of the Avatar set in late November triggered a second, even more significant price spike, with the card reaching $9.51 – a more than 1000% increase compared to its $0.70 value at the beginning of 2025.
The question now is whether sea Gate Loremaster has reached its peak, or if the journey of this “whimsical Merman” is only just beginning. The community is actively discussing the card’s potential, with players sharing their insights in the Wargamer Discord community.
