The evidence
6 new Hobbit cards appeared across 154 Modern decklists.
We used sourced lists dated August 7, 2026 through 2026-08-25. Undated MTGO league records use the publication date embedded in their official source URL. We matched those lists against new, non-reprint HOB and HOC cards, then checked each card's current Modern legality. One card counts once per submitted deck even if copies are split across source rows; copy totals and main-deck versus sideboard presence are tracked separately.
HOB cards entered Standard, Pioneer, Modern, Legacy, Vintage, and Commander. New HOC cards entered Commander, Legacy, and Vintage. SPG and HOC reprints are excluded because this series evaluates new cards. Current nonlegal cards are excluded even when an older decklist contains them.
Browse the current Modern tournament deck store. Each ranked card and mention links to a representative source decklist.
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Best supported result
{2}, {T}: Target creature can't be blocked this turn. {1}, {T}, Discard a legendary card with the same name as a legendary permanent you control: Draw two cards.
The Key offers repeatable unblockability and a way to turn a spare copy of a legend you already control into two cards. Those are specific needs, not generic artifact value. A deck considering it should have a useful attacker or enough duplicate legends to activate it reliably. The observed lists establish adoption; they do not by themselves prove which ability decided a match.
Tournament evidence: Key to the Side-Door appeared in 5 Modern decks across 3 separate events, with 10 total registered copies. 5 decks used it in the main deck and 0 used it in the sideboard. Example: Scorpion100, finishing 26 in Modern Challenge 32 on 2026-08-25.
Evidence strengthRepeated across multiple events.
Current rolePrimarily a main-deck card in the observed lists.
TCG Spikes tracked priceSee tracked priceLoading the matching printing from our card page...
Honorable mentions — tournament use required
Observed cards below the ranking threshold.
Bilbo, Thief in the Night — 2 observed decks, 6 copies (2 main-deck, 0 sideboard) across 2 events. Example: Scorpion100, finishing 26 in Modern Challenge 32 on 2026-08-25.
Belladonna Took — 2 observed decks, 3 copies (2 main-deck, 0 sideboard) across 2 events. Example: Rashek, finishing 2 in Modern Challenge 96 on 2026-08-24.
Giant's Boulder — 1 observed deck, 4 copies (1 main-deck, 0 sideboard) across 1 event. Example: jjcbupt in modern league 2026 08 2410983 on 2026-08-24.
Kíli the Resourceful — 1 observed deck, 4 copies (1 main-deck, 0 sideboard) across 1 event. Example: CursedOcean, finishing 11 in Modern Challenge 32 on 2026-08-25.
The Sackville-Bagginses — 1 observed deck, 3 copies (1 main-deck, 0 sideboard) across 1 event. Example: Jselzo in modern league 2026 08 2410983 on 2026-08-24.
Continue the series
Every The Hobbit guide.
Research sources
Card, rules, adoption, and result evidence.
Set scope and legality were checked against the official The Hobbit product page and Wizards release notes. Commander interactions use the official mechanics guide and collecting guide. Oracle text, identity, legality, and images use Scryfall HOB and Scryfall HOC. Commander adoption uses EDHREC's set page; competitive claims use the linked source decklists in the site's current tournament store, and legalities are checked at the research date.
Prices and retailer links come from the matching TCG Spikes card pages and can vary by printing, condition, source freshness, and time of day.
