Agree with this exactly PI,

As a finance reader in fact whenever I see buy RL cards articles like this (and this is no knock on Sig) I roll my eyes and shrug as if to think what I didn’t know that?

For people paying for subscriptions to finance content I feel like we need a bit of a different tact from the writers, I like for example that Sig references (a lot) Old School because at least it is an enhancement/additional information on top of the RL cards piece.

If the majority of people were buying into RL cards prices would be way, way higher. However, I believe more and more mtg finance enthusiasts see writers like yourself promoting the merits of buying into RL cards and as a result decide they want part of the action. The number of mtg finance enthusiasts has grown significantly and thus many more people are getting into RL cards.

RL cards certainly are no longer a niche within mtg finance circles. It’s no longer like a couple of years ago when most ignored all but the most important RL cards.

The way he suggests it, it wouldn’t be a new format but an adaption of Legacy instead. MaRo definitely has made statements in the past that later turned out to have multiple interpretations.

Since when is Rector a true collectible? It’s always been near tournament level and its rarity is nowhere near something like Power Artifact.

Has Old School MTG been around for many years with any kind of significant presence?

Thanks for the Reply Sig,

I think there is an extremely higher number of people looking at and beginning to dabble in RL cards, or at the very least picking up the ones they really need now, because they realize they arent going down and could at any minute. When one person is saving money to buy one Underground Sea instead of a playset of snapcaster mages it all begins to add up. Again just one additional factor on top of all those listed by you but as more and more articles/tweets etc of this nature are put out there the more this will contribute.

Regan,

So true! The more reprints, the more I’m inclined to stick with safer buys. That’s definitely my MO in this environment.

Sig

Why would they destroy Legacy like that? I thought MaRo or Aaron Forsythe already stated there was no plan to create new formats for many years? I think the risk of this is extremely low.

Besides, many of the cards I listed aren’t even played in Legacy. I’m not advocating buying into Force of Will or Sensei’s Divining Top. I’m talking about true collectibles / EDH playables like Academy Rector and the like. These cards mostly don’t care about Legacy since they’re not played in the format. I adamantly believe there’s plenty of niche opportunities such as these that aren’t format dependent (besides maybe Old School MTG, which has been around for many years).

What do you think?
Sig

Ben,

Do you think the majority of people are already buying into RL cards? Including the ones that haven’t spiked yet? I’m not so sure. I think the mainstream player is focusing on the new Standard, Conspiracy 2, and EDH. I think older, RL cards is still niche enough to not be a mainstream investment. No?

Thanks for the engaging questions/comments!
Sig

Marian,

This is a great question. My answer is going to be wishy washy.

Maybe.

Maybe if everyone starts diving into RL cards, a bubble forms. Prices would go parabolic and everyone would become bullish. While we have seen a few concerted efforts at buyouts, I don’t think we’ve truly gone “parabolic” yet. Some prices have spiked, but everyone isn’t diving in. If that happens, it’ll definitely be time to sell.

What are the chances this happens though? I think buying RL stuff like Winding Canyons is not for everyone. So perhaps not enough traction will take hold to cause said bubble? What do you think?

Thanks for the question!
Sig

Exactly!

The Pokemon GO comment was a joke. But I do wonder if seasons play a role.

Hierarch is certainly everywhere in Modern, I’ll give you that. I wonder how high it’ll go. Thoughts?

I think he simply means summer is a time for going on trips and playing outside, so less game interest

The problem with buy, buy, buy, reserved list cards is a change to the legacy format. While the risk may currently be low, a change to the legacy format that does not allow reserved list cards would tank all the high value reserved list cards. Yes, there is the collectible market for MTG cards but that is only so deep. Your advice is reasonable but there remains a significant risk that you did not explore.

what happens if everyone(traders, speculators, shops etc.) starts buying reserved list cards? don’t we cause a bubble which won’t be related to actual/future demand?

Also, noble hierarch is necessary for all bant decks (eldrazi, CoCo versions, some spirit decks), and infect and …

Of course this is going up.