Now we routinely get 4/4s for three mana with upside, but back then getting a 3/3 for three was a very good rate
This two-card combo ensures that you can keep practically any creature off the board, letting you swing in with a massive Kelsien once you've built up enough counter
They also say that the side deck allows for a lot of skill expression, by making people think more when deckbuilding
Poking around a bit, I found quite a few graded cards posted on eBay, and while sellers were asking higher-than-average prices for those cards, one thing seemed pretty obvious: The newer a Magic card is, the less likely grading it will have a significant effect on its value
Cards like Cloud, Midgar Mercenary, Gilgamesh, Master-at-Arms, and Raubahn, Bull of Ala Mhigo make it super easy to find your best equipment, cheat them onto the battlefield, and even attach them for free