2018 Review!

Holy shit what a year...

I am having issues with trying to write this review.  It was such a weird year for Magic the Gathering cards.  We saw some reversals of product changes, and a lot of products going away being replaced with some releases that are wanting for value.

Let's just start out with the Expansions.

We are going back to the single Core set in the summer time and 3 Expansion releases.  That was a welcome return of the Core set as the reprints in Standard were much needed.  They also got rid of the whole concept of 2 set Blocks, and now the Blocks can consist of any number of sets dependent on the storyline content.  We saw the Rivals of Ixalan set which ended the 2 set blocks, and went right into Dominaria which was a stand alone set in a block.  And we also saw the return of a 3 set block with Guilds of Ravnica.

I do think the way they are going to handle blocks is going to benefit everyone in the game, and it will open up the content for any new storyline.  This will help out the sets, and instead of thinking of spreading out the cards into 3 or 2 sets, they could get everything they wish to get done in a single set, and that set could be a very powerful set.  We might be seeing more condensed storylines, and sets to match the movement.  Hell, we might actually see a saga block that spans 5 sets!  I just think this is one of the better moves WoTC made, and it will increase the value of the game in total.

They also came out with a new product that was released only on the Hasbro website called the Mythic Edition series.  These are booster boxes from a single set, but mimic the Master releases where they contained 24 packs, and the MSRP was close to $10 per pack.  The difference here is that they were identical to standard expansion release packs, but the box contained 8 special packs that had a single Masterpiece type card.  Each booster box was identical in concerns with these 8 special packs, but all the other cards in the packs were just like a normal set booster pack.

I for one hope they continue with the Mythic Edition booster boxes, as it will save me a lot of money with just buying the single booster box to get my Masterpiece set, and then I can keep the other cards for the playsets I am trying to get.  This will take us to the story of the Hasbro website.

Hasbro Website

So let's just take a small amount of time and go over this quickly.  We all know the Hasbro site sucks, and will always suck.  For them to release a new product on the site like they did was only asking for problems.  All you need to do is try and get a SDCC set release from the site, and you will know what I am talking about.  Good thing is, they are no longer going to try and sell Mythic Edition boxes on the site, and let's hope that is the case and we see these booster boxes in the LGS's.

SDCC

This came out again, and I was surprised it actually did.  I am not really sure how much longer they are going to keep going with this product.  Right now we see 6 sets total, but really I think the Mythic Edition releases are going to replace this set.  Just because it is a set of special release Planeswalker cards, and that is what the Mythic Edition release is.  Just not sure what they are going to do now.  Honestly I am just happy we did not see another Hascon set release.

Discontinued

We saw our last Duel Deck with Elves vs Inventors, and frankly I am happy they stopped this product.  Unfortunately they came out with the Global Series product that is pretty much the same thing as Duel Decks but with worse cards.  No idea what they are trying to do with them.

We also saw the last From the Vault set in 2017, but this year it was replaced with the Spellbook Series.  I did end up picking up some of this, but I honestly like FTV more.  The Spellbook cards are nice and all, but it is really just another way they are going to be able to reprint Planeswalkers and other cards in a set type manner.  I picked up enough to have a playset to use, and 1 to keep sealed, but I am pretty sure the next release I will only just pick up 2.  One to open, and one to keep sealed.  They really need to step up the cards that they do put in this product, really it is just more junk product with junk cards.

The last Masters sets for a while, supposedly.  With the release of Masters 25 and Ultimate Masters this year, and it is going to be it, and frankly I could not be happier.  I know, they priced out the Ultimate Masters product, and they added those Box Toppers, but let's all just be happy they are stopping this product.  Now, Box Toppers are just Masterpiece cards, and there is a huge question with what they are going to be replacing this product with, and I can honestly hope that the Mythic Edition cards will be replacing these products.

New Products

Let's just start out with talking about what Mythic Edition could end up being.  This is supposed to be the power collector chase product.  WoTC has come out and said this product is not for everyone.  I honestly think that with each set release they will put this type of release out as well, at least for a while.  Collectors will be able to pick them up from Amazon, and the pricing will be full MSRP.  The only issue I see is that they will be running out of cards to put in the Masterpiece slot, just like they lost it with Masterpieces.  I know they are only releasing 8 cards per set, and right now they are all Planeswalkers, but this is only going to work for a short time.

The bigger problem is how are WoTC going to be releasing reprint sets.  Modern Masters was the perfect avenue for that, and now they are gone.  They came out with the sets that did not contain any cards on the Reserve List so they could have a format that would allow re-printable cards in an eternal format.  They are just doing a small cycle of reprints every Standard set, that is released in a full set with a specific limited release booster box.  That does not make sense.  The only way I could see this making any sense is they start to release sealed product that is a specific game, and you would use those cards in just that game.

Enter Explorers of Ixalan and Game Nights.  Take the draft format out of it, and just build specific games that would contain all the reprints needed, and give each of those games a set symbol.  Like Game Nights, those cards are not allowed in Standard.  You control the print run, and the MSRP.  Every player is guaranteed the cards that are needed in the print run, and you could sell a lot of product.  Consider putting very powerful cards into decks as 1 of's, or 2 of's and players will be buying multiple sets.

But let's face it.  No one bought Game Nights or Explorers of Ixalan.  I did, and I opened one and kept one sealed, but I am an idiot that wants to collect things for no other reason than to collect them.  But I could see how they would be able to keep releasing reprints into the community with these very specific games, but make them legal in eternal formats.

We talked about the Spellbook product, and I am pretty sure this one is not going to make it past three printings.  They will kill it just like the foiled out deck series.  I can't even say that it was a good idea.

I might as well talk about the Global Series decks, and I honestly cannot see another release of this product.  I do not think it was bought much at all, and I am pretty sure they are just going to kill it.

Challenger Decks...  I can honestly say that these will go the way of the dodo bird as well.  It was spicy at the time, and you were able to pick up a bunch of cards right before they rotated out, and they had some spice in the decks.  There were a lot of playable cards they put in them, but I can honestly say that these Standard Precon decks will not see another printing, and will go the way of the Modern Event Deck.

Battlebond was a great set, and just another stand alone draft type product to fall in with Conspiracy and the Un-sets.  I could see them trying to keep going with a product like this, but honestly I see them moving toward just the specific game types like Game Nights.  Drafting is nice, but I really see them moving toward Arena for the drafting experience.

Move it along

Commander 2018 was released and it was the same old.  The product now is becoming stale and WoTC is running out of ideas.  They will try and release a product that is not too powerful to mess with other formats, and it will just get to the point that the reprints are not going to be worth much and the product will more than likely die.  Why would other EDH players spend their dollars on this product if there is no value in the decks?  EDH players need to spend their cash on cards they need, not a bunch of trash that is going to go no where.  Granted, there are some good cards in the sets, and in time the value of the set will increase, but WoTC is not doing a good job with what they are coming out with.

Anthology also came out, and I really think EDH players spent their dollars on this product.  There will be 2 more years of the Anthology releases and I am pretty sure they will discontinue this product.  What, do you think there will be an Anthology FTV?

Gift Box can go fuck itself.  Stupid product.

Accomplishments

- Phase 3 - Sealed Booster Boxes
We are in full effect, and I was able to pick up a ton of product through CardSphere and just selling power to pick up sealed product.

Purchased:
Judgment
Scourge
Dissension
Guildpact
4th Edition
Future Sight
6th Edition
8th Edition

CardSphere Trades:
10th Edition
Time Spiral
Magic 2010
Morningtide
Planar Chaos
Lorwyn
Planeshift
Unhinged
Champions of Kamigawa
9th Edition
Mirrodin
Invasion
Ravnica: City of Guilds
Apocalypse
Betrayers of Kamigawa
Torment
Darksteel
Ice Age

CardSphere Fat Packs:
Magic 2013
10th Edition
Lorwyn
Zendikar
Scars of Mirrodin
Planar Chaos
Worldwake

It was such a successful year when it comes to sealed product, I do not know what I did all year.  I know I was super busy at work, and I just have no idea how I was able to bring in this much sealed product.  CardSphere alone I traded out at least $9665 worth of cards to be able to bring in just the sealed booster boxes and fat packs.

I mean I did almost trade a full set of power through CardSphere, and I did withdraw over $3000 dollars from the site to buy other sealed product, but holy cow.  I still need to trade out a Time Walk, Mox Sapphire, and Black Lotus to get them all, but I sure am trying.

Sealed Booster Boxes Needed:
7th Edition
Portal
Homelands
Coldsnap
Urza's Legacy
Urza's Destiny
Mercadian Masques
Nemisis
Prophecy
Fifth Dawn
Saviors of Kamigawa

That is all I need left for Phase 3 to be complete.  I do have older boxes to trade, and I am hoping to be able to move a Revised booster box into finishing the Urza block.  I should be able to just pick up the other boxes here and there when I have saved up enough cash for them.

- New Goal
I also started my new goal of trying to get rid of all my extra cards, and see how low I can get the bulk inventory down to.  I started the goal at 208,971 bulk cards, and 3,782 foil cards.  And right now I am sitting at 208,942 with 3,792 foil cards to get rid of.  I know, for the most part I am going the wrong way, but I did add around 1,134 cards to the bulk with my Ultimate Masters pickup, but that was the last of it's kind and I am now into buying only cards I need.  I am no longer going to crack mass amounts of packs.  I will more than likely open up a single Mythic Edition booster box per set, and then a fat pack, and all those cards should go directly into my collection.  After that, we wait until after rotation to pick up anything else.

I honestly just want to see if I can hit that $10k mark in CardSphere and max that out.  Once that happens I will start to withdraw those funds to finish out my sealed product I need.  If I have anything left over, I will just use that for Standard cards I need on CardSphere.

The goal is to try and get around 50% of the bulk value that I currently own, slowly.  I would like to see how close to $40k I can get in liquidation of all my extra cards.  I think once I get really close and things start to really slow down, I will just try and Craigslist the bulk as a collection to someone local to me.

Prediction time!

2019 - 3 Expansions, 1 Core, 1 Spellbook, 4 Commander decks, 1 Anthology set, 2 Precon Games, 4 Challenger Decks, 3 Mythic Edition, 1 SDCC, 1 Stand alone set

I do not think they will make another Global Series deck, and there will be another stand alone set.  But everything else will be pretty much what was setup with the new Ravnica set with a Mythic Edition release per set.  There will be some new special reprint set, I just don't know what that will be.  What will happen though, is Arena is going to be the driving force to most of WoTC from 2019 and out.

- Arena
This will be a focal point to where Magic the Gathering is going to go and the way Magic is setup now, there is a very long runway.  It will continue to take off, and more and more people will move to their platform.  This in turn will get people playing more paper Magic the Gathering.  I do think there will be some spikes in prices because of it, and we will get even more reprints to control the after market.

I really think the releases will be Standard focused to match what is going on in Arena, and then the Eternal formats will just need to fend for themselves.  Everything will revolve around what is being done in Arena.

- Precon Games
I think there will be an uptick with these types of products, and they are going to be moving away from selling packs outside of what they can provide in Arena.

- Speculation Market
2018 was a year of speculation in Magic the Gathering cards.  The price swings were real, and the water level was elevated pretty high.  Towards the end of the year, the bay started to empty out, but some of the prices stayed pretty high.  I am not too upset about it, but some of the sealed product really took a jump up.  I am hoping around the end of next year, I can pick up most things I am still looking for at cheaper prices.  Being a collector, I was not really effected by the changes.  I was able to move some older cards at much higher prices, but those gains went into higher prices on the sealed product I was looking to pick up, so either way it was a wash.

I did not really make out with the upswing of prices, but I do hope to be able to take advantage of the downswing when it happens.  I just need to make sure I have that purse of money available for the deals that might show up.

- Honestly
I really do not see much new coming down the pipe while they try and concentrate on Arena.  Most cash will be invested into development with Arena, and they will no longer be looking to enhance supplemental products.  They will keep the collectors happy with the Mythic Edition products, but with Masters sets going away I can see them pouring those resources into Commander decks, Challenger decks, and then everything else is going into Arena.

There will be an economic down turn, and sales will be down across the board with Hasbro, but with Arena they will be able to bring in cash with low overhead, and that will only increase the vision into that product.  They no longer need to worry about printing more cards to get people to buy more cardboard.  Now they just need to figure out how to port older sets into Arena and put their focus on that.

I am not trying to predict the end of paper MTG or anything like that, but I can really see focus for the online eSports really coming on hard.  There will still be the need to go to your LGS and hangout and play, but for the competitive player, online will be where it is at.  I could even see at some point walking around with your tablet and going to your LGS and playing with your decks on there instead of bringing your paper to play with.

In Conclusion

My year end Magic the Gathering spend: Around $17k
- It was a 55% decrease than what I spent in 2017, so my new budget is working.
- My 2019 spend will be less than $10k I hope.

There was a lot accomplished this year, and a new goal that was established.  I spent over $500 on stamps alone.  This was the first full year on CardSphere and it really is a wonderful site.  If MTG Arena really kicks off, and there is an influx of new players, I can only guess how much farther I will see the collection go.  Next year, the liquidation will be real, and I only hope I can keep up.  I just really hope there is an influx of players that want to collect complete sets!