The most expensive Swamp MTG core cards of all time

When you think of basic lands in Magic: the Gathering, value isn't often associated with them. Every set has basic lands, and most players have a surplus of them. Shops will even have giant crates full of lands that they're more than willing to give away along with the massive amount of basic lands you'll get just by opening a crate or two.

However, some prime lands can command a high price. Some lands are harder to get because they were exclusive rewards for certain programs or just because they are part of old sets that are now very hard to get.

10

Limited Edition Beta #295

Market price: $30.24

The Limited Edition Beta (commonly abbreviated to just Beta) was the second ever Magic release. This was a reissue of Alpha (the original Magic set) that was released after the first run of Alpha sold out. The sets are pretty much the same, with a few extra maps in the beta that weren't in the original Alpha release (Volcanic Island in particular).

This base bog is actually the cheapest of the base bogs available in the beta. Even so, it's still more valuable than the vast majority of any other basic lands available in the game.

9

Judge 2023 Gift Cards

Market price: $30.72

Judge Gift Cards, also known more commonly as Judge Promotions, are special cards issued to members of Magic's Judge Program as a thank you for helping with events. This took the form of a large variety of cards, from powerful basic cards to simple lands.

The 2023 cycle had five main lands, each with an owl known as Archie's Owl from the Judge's Familiar card. They are full of art and foil which adds value to their already high value due to their exclusivity to the judges.

8

Limited beta version #294

Market price: $32.76

Another bog from the limited edition Beta, this is the “middle” of the three main bogs in the set in terms of value. Maps in the beta version differed from the alpha version due to the use of different printing technologies. The corners of the beta cards were different: they were rounded at 4mm as opposed to half an inch.

At the time, because Alpha used a different printing technique, you couldn't use Alpha cards in your deck unless the entire deck consisted of Alpha cards. Otherwise, they would be considered marked. Therefore, using the beta lands was the optimal play, as expansion sets could be used with them.

7

Limited Edition Beta #296

Market price: $36.27

With the release of the beta, each major land type received a new land with new art. Originally there were only two different arts in the Alpha, and while those arts returned in the beta, they came with an additional new land that players could use for their bases.

This made Base Swamp #296 the most valuable Swamp from the beta set. All of the swamps from the beta were done by Dan Frazier, who hasn't done a ton of work in recent years of Magic, but did the art for various signs, talismans, and moxa for Secret Lair and Mystery Booster 2.

6

European land program #15

Market price: $39.31

The European Land Program was a unique promotion that was available in the Nemesis, Prophecy, and Invasion 2000s packs. These were artworks that depicted land art inspired by places in the region. The only way to get these lands is to buy a box of the above sets and mail it to the distributor to get a booster pack with the land in it.

With all the hoops you had to jump through to acquire these lands, they were all only available in Europe, making this a very valuable base swamp. It was not easy to return then, and it is not easy now.

5

Asia-Pacific Land Program #10

Market price: $51.40

The Asia Pacific Land Program predates the European Land Program and was part of the 1997 Tempest recruitment drive. As in Europe, APAC (Asia Pacific) countries had art inspired by real-world locations in the region where they were available. You had to buy the Tempest box to actually get the pack that contained the core land.

The Asia-Pacific land program only lasted one set (Storm), making them one of the rarest basic swamps you can get. While not the most expensive Swamp, it is one of the most storied basic lands you can own.

4

Limited Edition Alpha #291

Market price: $53.62

Released in 1993, the Limited Edition Alpha (more commonly referred to simply as Alpha) was the first set released for Magic: the Gathering. The set contains many iconic cards and some of the most expensive and rare cards in the history of the game.

An Alpha pack will cost you a ton of money, and a simple Swamp from Alpha is expensive. ​​​​​​While Alpha has had countless swamps since the original Swamp, this is still one of the most expensive swamps you can own.

3

Judge 2014 Gift Cards

Market price: $57.57

The 2014 Judge Gift Card was the first time major land parcels were given away through the Judge Gift program. This was also the third time the country used full art (the first two being Unglued – the first Un-set and Zendikar).

Referee gift cards were foils, and this is only one of two times that foundations have been given to umpires (the other being 2023 with the Owl lands). With a unique place in history as an early full art card and not available to most players, this base bog is the most valuable full art bog you can own.

2

Limited Edition Alpha #290

Market price: $64.77

Bog #290 in Alpha is the most valuable bog that didn't require a special position or location to obtain. It just came in Alpha booster packs so anyone could get them. That's not to say it's cheap, it's the second most expensive Swamp in the game.

What makes the Alpha countries particularly unique is their printing technique, which differs from future sets. Future sets used more rounded corners, while the Alpha had squarer ones. As such, these Alpha lands are some of the most unique in the game.

1

Guru

Market price: $989.95

The Guru Lands were a cycle of lands given to those who were part of the Guru Program. The Guru program has only been around since July 1999. and stopped accepting new members in October 2000 before closing in early 2001. The program was designed to help magic experts teach new players how to play. They will be given ID numbers to show they were successful when the new player redeemed the discount.

You were given Guru Points and for every ten points you got a randomly selected land. 50 points were required to get the full set. Considering how hard it was to get these lands and very little opportunity to get them, Guru Swamp is the most valuable swamp by a wide margin.