Magic: The Gathering’s 4th Edition, released back in 1995, holds a special place in the hearts of collectors and players because it was one of the early sets that helped shape the game we know today. This set, often just called 4th Edition or Revised, came out when the game was exploding in popularity, and its cards feature that classic black-bordered look that screams old-school vibe. While newer sets like those from 2025 grab headlines with their shiny foils and crossover art, the 4th Edition cards with the highest market demand right now tend to be the rare powerhouses that pop up in high-grade conditions, especially when graded by services like PSA or CGC. Demand spikes for these because collectors chase nostalgia, investors hunt graded gems, and players still sleeve them up for casual or eternal formats where vintage power matters. Let’s dive deep into the standout cards from this set that are seeing the most buzz and trading action in late 2025 markets.
Start with Leviathan, the massive blue sea beast that’s become a quiet king in the 4th Edition demand game. This 10/10 flyer for seven mana might look like a bomb at first glance, but its real pull comes from the alternate art version, which has that dreamy, ethereal style reminiscent of old fantasy paintings. Recent sales data shows a PSA 9 alternate Leviathan fetching $187.50 on eBay as of June 2024, and a CGC 9 version going for $102.50 in May 2024, proving demand hasn’t slowed down even a year and a half later[2]. Why the heat? Graded copies in the $70 range for PSA 9 ungraded estimates climb fast because supply is tiny—4th Edition print runs were huge back then, but pristine copies from the 90s are rare due to playwear. A PSA 9.5 recently hit $116.50, and collectors whisper about PSA 10s being worth multiples if they surface[2]. Demand surges in vintage circles and among players building blue big-mana decks, where Leviathan walls out aggro while looming as a win condition. Online marketplaces light up whenever one lists, with bidders pushing prices up 20-30% in auctions. It’s not the priciest raw card—ungraded sits at about $3—but graded demand makes it a smart flip for those patient enough to crack packs or hunt estate sales.
Lord of the Pit edges in as another black-bordered beast driving serious collector hunger. This 7/7 demon for seven mana demands child sacrifices to untap, which sounds brutal but fits perfectly in sacrifice-themed decks or as a collector’s trophy from 4th Edition’s rare sheet. Listings describe it as an absolute classic rare black creature, and its market demand stems from that raw, early-MTG flavor—no fancy treatments, just pure 1995 menace[6]. Prices hover around $10-20 ungraded, but demand jumps for anything above Near Mint, especially with the iconic art of a hulking pit lord rising from flames. Traders report steady movement on sites like TCGPlayer and eBay, where it moves faster than commons because it’s a staple in demon tribal or reanimator builds. In 2025, with black mana strategies booming in Commander thanks to new support cards, Lord of the Pit sees crossover demand from modern players sleeving vintage bombs. Its scarcity in top shape—think lightly played copies from original owners—fuels bidding wars, and one recent ungraded sale hit $15 after a week of watching[6]. Collectors love it for complete 4th Edition sets, too, where rares like this anchor the value.
Air Elemental rounds out the top flyers with massive demand, a 4/5 for three blue mana that’s been a staple since Unlimited but shines in 4th Edition’s black-border print. Star City Games lists it prominently among sealed black-border stock, and its demand comes from being an efficient evasive threat that still sees play in pauper and peasant formats[8]. Ungraded copies trade hands for $5-8 steadily, but the real action is in graded slabs—PSA 8s push $20-30, and higher grades like 9 draw $50+ bids because they’re playable relics from the set’s core limited environment. Demand spiked in 2025 with blue control decks resurging, pulling in players who want authentic 4th Edition pieces over reprints. Auction data shows it selling out listings within days, especially black-border versions that evoke the pre-Modern era[8]. Its simplicity—no text box overload—makes it accessible for new collectors dipping into vintage, and bulk sellers report moving dozens monthly to set builders.
Don’t sleep on Ankh of Mishra, the artifact that’s a quiet demand monster for land destruction fans. From 4th Edition’s artifact suite, this bad boy deals damage whenever lands enter play, turning ramp into pain[9]. Moxfield decklists highlight it in full-set showcases, and market chatter shows ungraded prices at $15-25, with graded versions exploding to $100+ for PSA 9s. Demand is high because it’s format-warping in casual multiplayer—opponents hate it, which means it trades hot among chaos deck builders. Recent spikes tie into 2025’s land-hate meta in Commander, where cards like this punish greedy mana bases. Collectors snag it for Moxfield-style full-set projects, driving steady buys even for played copies[9]. Its bronze ankh art screams ancient relic, pulling in thematic buyers who pair it with Mishra lore decks.
Abomination, the green 3/3 trampler for five, sneaks into high-demand talks for its role as budget fatty from 4th Edition’s black-border lineup. Star City stocks it heavily, and demand flows from beatdown decks and complete set hunters[8]. Ungraded at $2-4, it jumps to $15 graded because it’s a workhorse in early green aggro. Players love its simplicity—no drawbacks, just smash—and 2025’s stompy revival keeps it moving.
Aladdin’s Ring, the mana rock artifact, sees demand from ramp lovers. It taps for any color after paying two life, making it a vintage ritual-lite[9]. Prices sit at $4-6 ungraded, but Moxfield full-sets boost it, with graded hitting $20-40. Demand peaks in five-color goodstuff decks where color fixing matters.
Armageddon Clock ticks up demand as a slow board wipe—destroy nonbasics over turns[9]. At $3-5 ungraded, it’s a pet card for control players, with spikes to $15 graded amid 2025 land wars.
Black Mana Battery charges black devotion decks, storing mana for big plays[9]. Steady $5-8 demand, higher graded, thanks to mono-black surges.
These cards dominate 4th Edition market chatter because they’re the rares and uncommons that balance nostalgia, playability, and grade potential. Leviathan leads with its alternate art allure and proven sales, followed by Lord of the Pit’s demon swagger, Air Elemental’s format staying power, and artifacts like Ankh of Mishra filling niche demand. Watch eBay and TCGPlayer for fresh listing
