A nearly forgotten Magic: The Gathering enchantment from the 2002 Onslaught set, Words of Worship, has become one of the most sought-after cards on the secondary market. The card's price has surged from a few dollars to over $30, driven by a newly discovered combo with Niv-Mizzet, Ghost Counsel, a commander introduced in the recent Reality Fracture set.
According to MTGStocks, Words of Worship saw a significant price jump on September 22, increasing by over 330% in a single day to $19.95, and further climbing to $31.06 by September 23. This is a stark contrast to its price of $2.08 on September 8 and $7.69 on September 19.
The Niv-Mizzet, Ghost Counsel Interaction
Niv-Mizzet, Ghost Counsel, a six-mana Spirit Dragon from the Multiverse Reforged Commander deck in Reality Fracture, allows its controller to pay life whenever they gain life to draw that many cards. This ability fundamentally changes the value proposition of Words of Worship.
Words of Worship, a three-mana enchantment, allows its controller to pay one mana to replace their next card draw with gaining five life. Ordinarily, this effect is not highly desirable in Commander. However, when combined with Niv-Mizzet, Ghost Counsel, the exchange becomes highly advantageous. By activating Words of Worship before drawing, a player gains five life, which then triggers Niv-Mizzet. This allows the player to pay those five life to draw five cards. Effectively, a single mana can convert one potential card draw into five cards.
This phenomenon echoes other recent instances where cards from Reality Fracture have revitalized older cards or created new combo opportunities, similar to how Sphinx’s Approach interacts with Sphinx of the Chimes, and how Kasmina, Enigma Sage became a popular card due to a new combo. The synergy is further amplified with the addition of Skirge Familiar. If Skirge Familiar is in play, one of the five cards drawn by Niv-Mizzet can be discarded for one black mana, which can then be used to activate Words of Worship again. This enables players to repeatedly draw cards, potentially churning through their entire library.
A Vintage Card's Resurgence
The sudden surge in demand for Words of Worship is exacerbated by its age and its history as a relatively minor card in Commander play. The limited supply of this 22-year-old rare means that even a moderate increase in player interest can cause dramatic price fluctuations, as evidenced by the recent market activity. It remains to be seen if this elevated price point will be sustained, but for now, an obscure enchantment from the Onslaught set has found itself in the spotlight thanks to the latest Magic: The Gathering release.