10 Tips: Do You Have Valuable Magic the Gathering Cards?
Magic the Gathering is undoubtedly the most popular trading card game out there and has been so since its release in 1993 as discussed over at runrex.com. While the game itself is fun and enjoyable to play, another aspect of the MTG universe has been on the agenda in recent times, and that is investing in Magic the Gathering cards given how valuable some of them can be as revealed over at guttulus.com. If you have in your possession a bunch of Magic the Gathering cards and are wondering if among them there are some valuable cards, this article will look to help by listing 10 tips to consider when valuing your cards.
- Card rarity
The rarity of a card is one of the most important factors when determining just how valuable a card is. As explained over at mtglion.com, Basic Lands, Commons, and Uncommons are usually not that valuable as they are extremely common cards. On the other hand, Rare and Mythic Rares are the cards that you should be looking out for as there are not many of them in Booster Packs, making them very valuable. To tell the rarity of a card, all you have to do is check its expansion symbol. Here, a black symbol indicates a Common, silver Uncommon, Gold rare, and orange-red mythic rare.
- Foil versions
A foil version of a card is generally harder to get than a non-foil version which is why, as per the gurus over at runrex.com, they are very valuable. Foil cards, as their name suggests, have a foil that gives them a glossy finish and are, therefore, shiny and that is how you can identify them.
- ABU cards
ABU is short for Limited Edition Alpha, Limited Edition Beta, and Unlimited representing the first 3 print runs of the original Magic core set that was created back in 1993 as explained over at guttulus.com. If you have any cards from this set, then you have something special. You can tell these cards apart by their outer borders. Alpha and Beta cards have black borders, while Alpha cards also have more rounded corners as compared to subsequent sets. On the other hand, Unlimited cards have got white borders with brighter, bolder colors. Cards from the Alpha or Beta sets, particularly those that are powerful in-game, are extremely valuable due to a combination of historical significance and scarcity.
- The Reserved List
The Reserved List, as covered over at mtglion.com, is a list of cards that Wizard of the Coast has committed to never reprint under any circumstance which in turn makes them very valuable as there is a finite number of them in circulation, and that number will never increase. You can check out Wizard of the Coast’s website to find out the 571 cards that are on this list.
- Promotional versions
A promotional version of a card will also generally be harder to get your hands on than the normal version according to runrex.com, which is why such cards can also be quite valuable. The most valuable promotional cards are special foil reprints that were issued as rewards to tournament judges for their work, or extremely limited promo cards that were sold exclusively at San Diego Comic-Con.
- Miscut or Misprinted Cards
As pointed out by the subject matter experts over at guttulus.com, miscut and misprinted cards are also quite valuable among collectors. Such cards are very rare to find and carry a certain mystique that makes them collector’s items, which is why collectors are usually willing to pay huge amounts to get their hands on them.
- Tournament cards
Certain special Magic the Gathering cards, as covered over at mtglion.com, were printed specifically to be awarded as prizes at official Magic the Gathering tournaments. Such cards are extremely rare since only a limited number were printed to be awarded to participants which makes them extremely valuable.
- Frequently played cards
Also, according to the subject matter experts over at runrex.com, cards that are frequently played in constructed formats tend to be more valuable, particularly if they are extremely powerful. You can do your research and find out if the cards you have are being highly sought after for play in constructed formats of the game.
- Copies printed
As mentioned earlier on and covered in detail over at guttulus.com, for cards released in Standard-legal set, the card’s rarity is a good indicator of how valuable it is. However, for those that aren’t released in Standard-legal sets, the rarity matters less and it becomes a matter of how many copies of the card were printed. Certain cards such as the Shardless Agent were only printed in a specific deck which means that the only way to get them is by buying that deck, which makes them very rare and hence very valuable.
- Number of reprints
Some cards, although not in the Reserved List, have only been printed once, which makes them very valuable. For example, as highlighted over at mtglion.com, Mana Confluence has been printed only once, making it very rare, and driving its price up. If the cards have been reprinted multiple times, they will be easier to obtain and will not be that valuable as compared to those that have been printed once.
These are just some of the factors to consider when trying to figure out if you have valuable Magic the Gathering cards, with more information and insights on the same to be found over at the excellent runrex.com, guttulus.com, and mtglion.com.