Hopeful Initiate
Hopeful Initiate Price Summary
As of Aug 7, 2026, the cheapest tracked printing of Hopeful Initiate is $0.28 (INR #343), and the most expensive is $5.47 (DBL #287, Inverted, Foil). The benchmark price (cheapest playable nonfoil) is $0.28, down 24.3% over 7 days, up 12.0% over 30 days, up 33.3% over 90 days. All-time tracked high: $1.53 (2024).
Hopeful Initiate Printings & Prices
Hopeful Initiate has 7 tracked printings across 4 sets, in nonfoil and foil finishes, including promo pack, inverted, prerelease and extended art treatments.
Sell Hopeful Initiate: Buylist Offers
Card Kingdom currently pays $3.00 cash for DBL #287 (Foil); the retail-buylist spread on that printing is 50% (wide).
| Buyer | Printing | Finish | Cash offer | Retail | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Card Kingdom | DBL #287 | Foil | $3.00 | $5.99 | 50% |
| Card Kingdom | PVOW #20s | Foil | $0.60 | $1.49 | 60% |
| Card Kingdom | VOW #350 | Foil | $0.38 | $1.49 | 74% |
| Card Kingdom | PVOW #20p | Nonfoil | $0.25 | $0.99 | 75% |
| Card Kingdom | VOW #20 | Nonfoil | $0.24 | $0.79 | 70% |
| Card Kingdom | INR #27 | Foil | $0.16 | $0.79 | 80% |
| Card Kingdom | PVOW #20p | Foil | $0.16 | $0.79 | 80% |
| Card Kingdom | INR #343 | Foil | $0.12 | $0.79 | 85% |
| Card Kingdom | VOW #20 | Foil | $0.12 | $0.79 | 85% |
| CoolStuffInc | INR #27 | Nonfoil | $0.10 | — | — |
Hopeful Initiate Rules Text & Legality
Training (Whenever this creature attacks with another creature with greater power, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature.)
{2}{W}, Remove two +1/+1 counters from among creatures you control: Destroy target artifact or enchantment.
Hopeful Initiate is legal in Pioneer, Modern, Legacy and Commander, and not legal in Standard and Pauper.
Hopeful Initiate Rulings
- Nov 19, 2021 A creature's training ability triggers only when both that creature and a creature with greater power are declared as attackers. Increasing a creature's power after attackers are declared won't cause a training ability to trigger.
- Nov 19, 2021 Once a creature's training ability has triggered, destroying the other attacking creature or reducing its power won't stop the creature with training from getting a +1/+1 counter.
Reprints & Reprint Risk
Hopeful Initiate has been reprinted 13 times. The Innistrad Remastered reprint cut the price 45% in 30 days.
| Set | Date | Rarity | Treatment | Price before | Day 1 | 30 days | 90 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| INR #27 | 2025-01-24 | Rare | Standard | $0.49 | $0.26 | $0.27 | $0.25 |
| INR #27 | 2025-01-24 | Rare | Standard | — | $0.37 | $0.24 | $0.26 |
| INR #343 | 2025-01-24 | Rare | Standard | — | $0.86 | $0.36 | $0.28 |
| INR #343 | 2025-01-24 | Rare | Standard | — | $0.29 | $0.22 | $0.19 |
| DBL #287 | 2022-01-28 | Rare | Inverted | — | — | — | — |
| DBL #287 | 2022-01-28 | Rare | Inverted | — | — | — | — |
| PVOW #20p | 2021-11-19 | Rare | Promo Pack | — | — | — | — |
| PVOW #20p | 2021-11-19 | Rare | Promo Pack | — | — | — | — |
| VOW #350 | 2021-11-19 | Rare | Extended Art | — | — | — | — |
| VOW #350 | 2021-11-19 | Rare | Extended Art | — | — | — | — |
INR #27 
DBL #287 
PVOW #20p 
VOW #350 Showing the 10 most recent of 13 printings.
Hopeful Initiate in Commander
Hopeful Initiate is the #5,484 most-played card on EDHREC, down 44 places over the last 30 days.
Hopeful Initiate FAQ
How much is Hopeful Initiate worth?
Hopeful Initiate is worth about $0.28 for its cheapest playable printing as of Aug 7, 2026. Prices range from $0.28 to $5.47 across 7 tracked printings.
Is Hopeful Initiate legal in Commander?
Yes — Hopeful Initiate is legal in Commander. It is also legal in Pioneer, Modern and Legacy.
Has Hopeful Initiate been reprinted?
Yes — Hopeful Initiate has been reprinted 13 times, with 7 printings tracked on The Index.
Why is Hopeful Initiate cheap?
Hopeful Initiate trades at about $0.28 — 13 reprints keep supply plentiful, and Commander demand is modest (#5,484 on EDHREC).