With Pokemon coming being so popular during its first release there was a lot of sealed product that was available
Pudica on normal searches our field spell, Traptrix Garden and on special banishes something until the next standby phase (which can then get eaten by Pinguicula or Allomerus before it comes back) Aracnocampa protects our set backrow from destruction once each
Dionus, Elvish Archdruid Dionus, Elvish Archdruid gives you elves pseudo-vigilance and an attacking buff, which is pretty good as a play you can make on a turn where you plan to make a big attack
Of course, every game store has its own established parameters on how to purchase your Magic cards
The previous record was $300,000
The few devoutly creatureless decks, like many iterations of Pioneer Azorius Control, still look to win by making creature tokens