M15: FIRST LOOK [First Look!]

Core Set 2015 Booster Box

The upcoming expansion for Magic: the Gathering will be the release of Magic: 2015 Core Set. which will be released sometime at the end of July. This marks the arrival of the summer expansion releases coming soon and the beginning of the rotation in Standard format soon.

Honest Opinion. When they first announced the new look, I was pretty unhappy. Not because the new design of the card sucks (kinda look like Yu-gioh as my friends complained) or the new font is bad (I actually like the font...); It's because the holo-foil mark is only available in the rare and mythic rares (which makes sense, but it provides inconsistency with the cards... why not at the expansion set's logo or something?!), but come on.. Does it really have to be at the bottom? And look! the bottom of the card is pretty much going to mistake itself as a Planeswalker being pulled out from packs!

Comparing the base of the cards (From Left): Ajani, Mentor of Heroes, Ajani Steadfast, Genesis Hydra

Just by looking that the picture... It does kind of give an impression you are opening a Planeswalker at first glance. Okay; it's not that similar, but really, at first glance they really do alike. Rants aside, I'm now kind of accepting the change of MTG card design and in fact, I kind of like the new font. Looks something magic-ky or some sort like you feel like you are back at reading something from Harry Potter; I digress.  

Now, I have done a quick review on the recently spoiled cards and came up with my Top 10 picks as the best card in the set as first impression. It may not be because of power level or price. The picks are merely based on my interest in the card and the rated based on the uniqueness of the card. The ranking do not determine which card is better than the other.

10: Sliver Hive

This card is every Sliver fan-boys' dream! No really, I'm not a sliver fan but I actually find myself adoring this card for 2 reasons. This actually will become the staple of any sliver deck. It's their very own Cavern of Souls with a special spawning ability. Plus, they still generate colourless mana. This likely may not see constructed play, but the demand will come from the casual groups and EDH players themselves. Reason number 2, THEY FIXED THE ART! If you looked at the new sliver arts in M14, you will definitely cringe if you are a hardcore sliver fan. Even if you are not, but a long time MTG player, you may be pretty upset in the alteration of slivers becoming.. non-sliver like... thing... Look at the response here and here. It's not that the entire community is against the change, but I'm sure majority were unhappy with the art change. Well, in M15, they "fixed" the art! But... why not give us this in M14 and then Mutavault in M15? Oh wait... yea... potential sliver overrun.. 

9: Genesis Hydra

Slap a watered-down version of Genesis Wave onto a growing Hydra? Yes please! for EDH! I'm sure you know how crazy Genesis wave was and how it became a deck in modern when the synergy between mono-green devotion and the abuse of the massive mana accumulated. This card is sweet in its unique ability. It's not as powerful as its predecessor, but it is still a lot of fun to cast and resolve it, getting a big creature with another permanent with it. I may get the foil for my EDH.. You know... cos I want more stuff on board when trolling my opponents with my Saprolings.

8: Yisan, the Wanderer Bard

A variant of Birthing Pod. This may not seem to be as powerful at first glance but hey, give it sometime and it may rock standard as a archtype of itself (or it just goes into the junk pile...). What really interest me is that although this card is not an auto-include for EDH and may not see constructed or limited play, It may well be tested in EDH as a general. Also, It's pretty darn cool to see him in action with Birthing Pod, Genesis Hydra and Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx. The only drawback is the need to protect him once he enters the battlefield. Hmm... a potential mono-green EDH in the brew? 

7: Waste Not
This is created by the MTG community and honestly speaking, it's quite overpowered for a 2 mana enchantment. However, I'm not following the hype of this card. Strictly speaking, this card is on my top 10 because it's unique; never have we been given a card that gives us such a power level for discard strategies. So far we have just picked, discard and the game goes on. It's rare that we explore additional effects with discard. Sure, reanimator and living end strategies do work, but that's on self rather than opponent. Burning Inquiry / Megrim combo came close, but it's still limited with discard strategies IMO. Waste Not may bridge in what many mono-black or B/X deck variants may lack; the additional firepower for the decks when locking down the opponents with discard or simply giving additional tools to play. The 3 abilities will definitely aid the player. be it a 2/2 Zombie, additional BB mana or a card advantage. Hmm... Duress, Inqui, Seize with Raven's Crime may see some sort of play with this deck. B/G rock skeleton with Ooze, Liliana, Abrupt Decay and we're good to go!

6: Indulgent Tormentor

I personally think it's a good upgrade over Bloodgift Demon. The abilities are the same, well if you think about it, most of the time you'll target yourself to draw the card and lose that one life. In this case, you get to draw without the life penalty, plus the opponents pay THAT penalty for you or sacrifice a creature. Either way, it looks pretty sweet to me. It's kind of a sure to include in any B/X EDH variants. As the saying goes, if the card allows you to draw a card, it can't be that bad.

5: Ob Nixilis, Unshackled

This Demon is really insane. Literally shuts down any tutor strategies with its insane penalty. 10 life and sacrifice a creature is really a heavy price to pay and even more painful is this creature grows with each creature dying. Flying and Trample included? This may very well replace Desecration Demon post rotation for mono-black devotion decks in standard? Time will tell. But in the meantime, reanimator decks, mono-black or black-based and even Mimeoplasm or Kaalia EDH decks can abuse this guy. Not a guaranteed staple, but it's definitely something that will wreck the EDH tables. 

4: Perilous Vault 

A new toy for Tron decks... Enough said... The old one needs some sort of upgrading so here we go. Even not, it's a pretty powerful mass removal for EDH. Note, the keyword here is Exile, not destroy or sacrifice. so it's a big boost over Oblivion Stone if used for the same intention as a mass removal. Tad more expensive than the latter, but I think 1 more mana casting wouldn't hurt too much. Besides, if you can pull this off, it's kind of like your deck have access to mana ramps or excess mana so... point given. The foil would look kind of nice actually... with the lighting from the cracks and glow effect.

3: Nissa, Worldwaker

Long time no see Nissa! When we last saw you in Zendikar, you are pretty much irrelevant as how you are supposed to boost an elf deck, but your casting cost made it seem as an odd choice given your abilities. Now, you woke up the world with your new abilities by making them into 4/4 Elementals. If Liege of the Tangle does see you in the same deck, he'll be pretty darn happy working along side you. So is the likes of Terra Eternal and Armageddon. this card is actually pretty insane. Her second +1 ability allows you to untap 4 forests, essentially making her a "1 mana" planeswalker if you think about it. This synergies well with Garruk Wildspeaker actually now that I think about it... Seriously, my new mono-green EDH is really coming together by itself!

2: Soul of Phyrexia

Mark my words. This card IS insane. M15 features a new cycle of cards; Soul of planes. Namely, the Soul of New Phyrexia, Innistrad, Theros, Ravnica, Zendikar and Shandalar. They are all pretty sweet, reminding us of the Titan cycle in M11 and M12. For this case, I picked to feature this on my top 10 is that it's an incredibly powerful 6 mana creature. 6/6 PT with Trample and it has an extremely powerful abilty, giving everything you control indestructible. Even more annoying for being doing the same thing when it goes into the graveyard! Also, bonus, it's an artifact. So go ahead and abuse with pili-pala/Grand Architect combo. Sweet art (foiled especially), powerful ability to boot and yay! Mythic!

1: Ajani Steadfast

First look at the core set on the whole. Not much of impressive spoilers for the first couple of weeks and I'm getting bored of the new cards and reprints with the announcement of returning mechanic; Convoke, until they have spoiled the recent new Ajani; Ajani Steadfast. Hell! This guy is AWESOME! Okay, Let's break it down here. 4 mana cost, at a splash-able range of 3W casting cost, starting 4 loyalty, this gives the new ajani to be considered immediately as a constructed powerhouse! At 4 mana, with 4 starting loyalty, he escapes bolt range and is sure to be picked up with some nasty decks to be brewed with him. Aggro/midrange decks can immediately pick him up as a 4-mana slot for his relevant abilities; the +1 ability is sweet! Giving a +1/+1, vigilance, lifelink and first strike, that's almost a mini Baneslayer Angel! -2 Ability is like a Doubling Season  effect which is sweet and his Ulti-ability at -7 is something like a Intervention Pact! I can foresee that this walker is going up to my top 5 list and it will definitely see some action in the constructed format.

So that's my top 10 picks that I'm interested for M15. You did realise that there are no commons and uncommons in this list; it is because the list is not fully spoiled and I'm waiting for the full spoilers to talk more about the commons and uncommons, along with a Full set review of Core Set M15. At the moment now, most of those are reprints and how good they were previously will remain as that way. Until then, I'll pick up more cards from the spoiled M15 list to discuss! 

Breaking the Doors

I have talked about what I have done and achieved so far in the past 6 months back some time in the recent article. I'd say that this year isn't a very active year for me in regards to trades and sales. I'm still busy with my studies and preparing for my exams every now and then. But, I'm hoping to jump into some trading in between July and August. In the meantime, I want to set specific goals for the next 6 months and talk about how will I reach there in the end. Speaking of inactive trades, some of the bulk rares I have (most actually...) are not moving. Trades are rather slow at the moment and honestly it's not good. I'm sitting on cards that either will continue to rot or may have the potential to rise, but I haven't actually give much thought in which cards are meant to be kept and which are true bulk. The most logical option for me to do is to filter out the true bulk and bulk out for some other cards I would need.

Trading; I'll take that in exchange for this!

I recall discussing about this issue in this earlier post. I mentioned about how the need in the supply of bulk rares coming in regularly is the main thing to ensure the viability of the project. True enough, the trades have gone stale because there are no supply into the pool and reason is because I cannot find any supply for bulk rares for the past 3-4 months. So where can I head to now? Bulking out everything can boost my trade budget for that month, which after that means that I may close the project down whereas sitting on the pile means the cards will sit there for additional period before trading out or maybe just bulk out in the later timing. So, if that is the case, then it would be wise to sort and bulk out the cards ASAP.

I recall having a short conversation with a friend about investing in MTG. He is a working young adult and managed to buy in foils for 2 modern decks. It is agreeable that once you have the budget, it is a good thing to actually invest in foil modern singles, especially at this timing because the format is really shaking up ground and more and more people are jumping into the format. But, as you see, he is working and he has the capability to afford a larger budget capacity to buy in more cards. He don't plan to invest just for the profit, but is because he is interested in playing the decks; in fact, he is playing more regularly than me. I think we all agree that modern is just only one of the formats that is worth investing into. Legacy would be a very good option to invest in, but similar to modern, the buy-in can be pretty steep. So unless you have the initial finance, it's not really budget friendly at the start. Heck, even more experienced players actually suggest newer players to go into standard first before transiting to Modern so as to reduce spending. You get the point.

Foils for EDH may or may not be more expensive.
Depending on the play budget

In that point of conversation, I mentioned about EDH being the actual format to consider for investment. Yes. EDH! Reason being is that it is a casual format, non-rotating, and pretty much any card have a shot at EDH. The buy-in is definitely cheaper, and depends on the level you are willing to go into, the prices for the deck varies. Yes, like any format, there will be staples, but not all are expensive. The foils would be in high demand, but comparatively, I'd say they are relatively cheaper to buy. Also, it's a format that requires only 1 piece of everything (other than basic lands) so the demand range is wider and yes, again, cheaper since I only need 1 piece for that card. Also, the buyer may need only 1 piece, but they wouldn't stop at one piece for a deck. They make multiple decks! So if probability have taught me anything, 1/60 may yield a higher odds in drawing that card out, but in comparison to a pool of cards, 100 cards would yield a much higher chance of striking a trade. Plus a 60 card deck generally go for playsets so effectively reducing the odds to 10-15 card types, compared to the more significant 80-90 different singles. I remember mentioning going to look at both EDH and Modern formats as a focus to buy-in. I'd still do that, but rather I'll shift my focus more onto EDH staples which are in modern format. In that way, I tackle off two formats without breaking my bank further.

Another thing I have learnt recently is the balance between liquid and solid assets (Investors out there can laugh at me now, but hey! I've learnt this!). Well, for those unfamiliar with the terms, solid assets are the things that have value, but aren't movable unless converted into money form, while liquid assets are well... money in general. (This article will talk more about assets) Thing is this, having a good portfolio of solid asset is actually very valuable, but in the times of need, it isn't so easy exchange the solid asset to anything else. Just as in a more familiar application, Cards are the solid assets and whatever currency you hold is the liquid asset. There has to be a balance between the two. In fact, it would be better to have more liquid than solid. I ever did mention to my friends the reason why I buy the cards is to "lock" my money into the value of these cards. From there, appreciation and depreciation will amount to how much I get back from the card. 

It's essentially similar to stocks, but it different. An article by MTGPrice recently talked about it. I agree in most of their approach to the topic and they make very sound and valid points. In fact, selling cards really depends on the buy-lists of the traders and shops. While the value of a card may be of a certain $X value, I may not necessary get at that price. In fact, most of the time, we get the cards at slightly varied values or for some cases, a totally different level due to currency conversion, shipping, etc. In addition, we don't get back any incentives like dividends when the card prices go up; we only do get a share or value's worth when we sell the cards. Main point of this is that it is a good idea of how the general idea of stocks, but it is not. Going back to point, with this in mind, I realized that liquid asset will eventually still win any form of trades. Yes, Shocklands and Fetchlands are in high demand. Yes, Courser of Kruphix is in demand now with a shocking price tag (Not so shocking actually... just kinda surprised how fast it reached the price). But, even so, the speed and efficiency of the trade will still be affected by the demand eventually. Once the demand fall, the price will immediately drop accordingly. So while I'm out there trading, it is still very much advisable that I have liquid assets in case of rainy weather.

Okay, time for some personal growth check and resolutions to accomplish. I'll list down a few resolutions to accomplish and I'll check back again in a couple of months time. (If you don't know, I do read back my old blog posts...) 

• 10% of my monthly allowance will be set aside as liquid asset. By the end of the year, I aim to hit at least 1 month's worth of allowance. (Old, but I personally think it's the most important.)
• Trade out and buy-in more effectively in July/August period. I will be updating my trades over 2 posts and discuss on whether the trades are done well or I should have avoided them.
• Continue to reduce my booster expenditure. At the moment now, I have reduced my booster expenditures to just 8 packs for the month of June. Month of May was a spree of about 20 packs.
• Log up my common and uncommon pile list into the Inventory list for the project. As mentioned, they have value in them and I have done sorting most of the cards into their respective expansion sets. I'll filter them once my exam is over and the remaining filtered ones will be bulked out for spare cash or credits.

I will also be re-focusing the blog with a slight variation of the theme. I'm currently just doing a lot more on reflection and the content opinions are generally agreeable to the public. I am using this few months to test the reach of my blog and so far, the response have been quite favorable. I will be shifting the focus and theme to not just about trading on a budget, but I'll expand to include reviews for decks and expansion sets; maybe even event coverage if I have the time, support and finances to do it. Maybe include a YouTube channel if I really reach to that level. But for now, I'll focus to improve on the quality of my articles in both content and delivery. 

The lesson I have learnt over the past week while researching and drafting content for the blog, is that opportunity will not knock on your door. It's never going to unless I create that door and invite it to knock on. In short, I have to create opportunities instead of waiting for it to come by. The part about seizing opportunities is the easiest part. It's the part about that having to create one, is the one that have you breaking your own door while doing it.

Gold in Black and Silver?

Now I have been talking quite a bit in gold symbol rares and sometimes the topic of Mythic symbol rares came up. I haven't really had the time to talk about the finance part on the Common and Uncommons in MTG. Namely the "C" and the "U" in my terms and pretty much many people whom I have encountered will refer these cards as that when posting their buy/sell list. If you take a look around eBay and online stores, you'll see lots and I mean lots in the sense of bulk of cards packed into large boxes and posted as the following; "Selling X amount of C&U @ $Y" or "Large bulk lot of assorted C and UC going at $Z!" I mean look! Even StarCityGames sells C/U, be it in singles or in complete sets! So there must be something up in these pile of black and silver cards right? Is there money in them? Why are there so many people selling them?

Bulk deals like these are typical in online stores.
Source: trollandtoad.com

If you think about it, these lots as I mentioned earlier or as shown in the picture just above this sentence amount to hundreds or thousands of cards being packed into lots and selling for say, a couple of tens or hundreds of dollars, depending on the price decided. The actual price of a single common or uncommon is actually.... Nothing! Really, if I actually really do the maths out, each piece may range between $0.01 (lowest I have seen so far) to probably the more familiar $0.25 or $0.50 per piece with the latter more commonly seen as the retail price in online stores.

So to the big question on hand, is there really money from commons and uncommon cards? In my foremost opinion, there is! Look, I'm with you that rare and mythic rare singles are probably the best money generators in the secondary market. (Project-Zero is revolving around bulk rare trade... so point supported with evidence!) Many people, when speculating cards or when buying off cards will usually target the gold or orange symbol cards. Why? They are rare for a reason, with only 1 piece of them per booster pack; especially the mythics are going at 1/8th the probability of a gold rare card to be pulled out. Of course, the respective scarcity of the card is already a point that the rare is more valued than the commons and uncommons. But, look at this in another way, common and uncommon cards are kind of like the backbone for any decks. Yes the rares and mythics may take a bulk in top decks, but note that these decks likely won't function as they would if they have just the rare cards alone; you need the other cards! Not convinced? Does Brainstorm ring a bell? What about Path to Exile? Mother of Runes? Remand? Qasali Pridemage? The more exhorbitant ones like Sensei's Divining Top, Force of Will and Aven Mindcensor are examples I can immediately think of.

Examples of Commons and Uncommons that have soared beyond the normal prices: (from Top-left, clockwise) Wasteland, Swords to Plowshare, Force of Will, Counterspell, Brainstorm, Library of Alexendra, Lightning Bolt. Source: gatherer.wizards.com

Coming up with the algorithm determining which common/uncommon have potential investment value is similar to how a rare is valued at whether it is junk or (non)literally gold. The research is similar but it takes a longer time as though as I mentioned that the cards may form the backbone of several decks, they are usually overlooked or overshadowed by the rares which will be chased down by traders and players alike. It takes a while longer to see them slowly appreciate with demand. As discussed in earlier posts, cards that are defined in multi-format, multi-decks will tend to rise faster, especially higher if they don't see reprints that easily. I think many will agree that Uncommons yield a better chance of going up in price in regards to the same theory of the relative scarcity of rares to Commons and Uncommons. Also, the relative power level of Uncommons in utility or function would be more useful as compared to a common. Therefore, yields a higher chance of play = may see more demand = price go up(?).

On the contrary, I would think that filtering out the commons and uncommons that are unique to the storyline (unless ability is extremely viable), with the reprints that don't see any money prior, that would be the pile to focus on. Commons and uncommons in expansion sets would give the flavour and setting to the storyline and the rares and mythics gives the main characters or scenarios which are relevant to the storyline. To determine whether the card is good, I'll ask questions to determine whether they fall into bulk, limited or constructed pile. The best would of course be cards that would be filtered into constructed pile;

1. Is the card mainly for flavour or ability? Judging from name alone won't help. Read the ability.
2. Is the card ability good?
3. Cost to ability ratio? 
4. Has the card been reprinted? If yes, value of the card prior reprint?
5. Demand and supply of card?

In the case for Remand; 

• Ability > Flavour 
• 1U for Counterspell + draw. Great ability for relative low casting cost! 
• I am showing the original print on the left, but it has been reprinted once.
• Supply is still relatively abundant but demand is high due to modern format. 

The given example is quite clear whether it is a good card. There may be cards that would be relatively vague in the power level until it has been tested or played to determine the viability. However, there are some other factors which must be taken into account which affects the value of the cards; i.e. Meta and kitchen table appeal. Despite the cards having a powerful ability, but if it is not relevant to the meta and/or the effects are redundant in the format, the card value will definitely be lower than expected. Likewise, it can be absurdly expensive due to casual or EDH appeal.

The next question one would ask, is it viable to work around with commons and uncommons? I personally think that if you have the storage space and time to log everything into your inventory, it's actually a good idea. Reason is because while most of the cards may see reprints, some eventually will cease to print overtime as Wizards design newer cards that may be a pseudo-replacement or a watered-down version of the card.  Some of these cards have really great ability but yet to be tapped into due to format or meta-game redundancy, and may eventually see play at some point.  Every card will have its high and low at some point and it's something we can actually tap into. Commons and Uncommons are easier to obtain as compared to Rares and Mythics, which is precisely becoming the blind spot for most traders when their main interest is chasing the rares. Note that Uncommon and commons do spike, but at a much lower probability and many don't want to waste their time sorting and finding the singles to deal the trade. Personally, I'm looking to keep the commons and uncommons, preferably as a complete playset of them for easier sales or just following to bulk out in thousands for extra sales or trade. (In fact, I'm working to upload another file for Project: ZERO that allows trade for commons and uncommons with bulk rares.)

In short, the untapped "gold" in these common and uncommon cards are really for those who have the patience to wait and have the tenacity to keep a good record of the inventory. The are like spare sales, I would say, giving the additional cash flow when we least expect them especially when they spike. Commons and especially uncommons do see viable play in all formats but it takes time for them to take the test against time to be viable. For eternal and/or non-rotating formats, that becomes especially true. Once they have passed the tests of time, that's where the black and silver will turn into gold.

Prep for Modern Madness (5)

Before I begin this installment to the series, I'd like to review what I have discussed or rant about in the previous four. My point of discussion may not be clear, so let's clarify in this short review for the last four installments;

The most important point in my first post is what kind of cards I would like to target with such limited budget. The rest of the post is about knowing my inventory and when is the best timing to sell. The point here is that knowing some cards spiked due to hype and some is because of play potential, the real challenge here is knowing which. I'm no expert here but I do have my own opinions whether to follow certain hype or not. As far as I'm concerned. A good research is the most important factor to determine the flow of the hype and know what is coming up for the season.

It is also worth noting that when the factor of profit is taken into account, it's not just as simple that taking the difference of what I sold deduct away how much I bought. The time value makes a difference in whether the profit is worth the time sitting on the cards of whether should I sell them ASAP.

The second post see myself warning myself (weird...) about how this Modern season is going to be different. In summary, this season will see players getting ready and selling off your cards at a higher than market price would not be easy. The prices will spike definitely, but watch out in getting too involved and unable to sell it out. Heck, the plus side is that this is a non-rotating format and the staples will be staples for a long time. I also mentioned the value of Shocklands going up in price during modern season and how I will want to snatch them at a good price especially the foils; they have a huge appeal in various casual and constructed formats. (Shocklands are basically the duals of modern like how the revised lands are for legacy.)

Third post reviews the common decks in the Modern format, and 3 factors; Time, Budget, and Competitive spirit, were discussed when considering whether should one jump into the modern if they haven't made the switch while the Fourth post is a short post noting what I wish to pick up during this modern season, with a reference back to the first post on why I would avoid getting expensive staples like Tarmagoyf or Fetchlands unless necessary.

Now, for this installment to the series I'd focus on the direction I'm taking for the second half of the year in my trades. This post would be more of a personal evaluation to where I am and what will I be doing. First and foremost, I would want to review myself as in general. I mean, who am I as a trader? What do I want to accomplish? How do I want to get there? The lack of update in the last week is because I was taking time away to finish my exams, but still have yet to clear the last stretch. But, as time is a little more relaxed for me so here's back to the update.

Back to the point, I personally define myself as a bulk rare trader. I would want to trade with bulk rares to build up my inventory. In priority, I would trade bulk rare for more which then I will then bulk out the "excess" or "true bulks" to other avenues in return for my required investments. While many people spend money direct to acquire the cards, I find that trading in that manner would feel more meaningful, upon acquiring the card, the value would be better cherished. Through this project and scheme, I wish to accomplish the task in reducing my card-related expenditures via trading. Yes, though trading equal-value rares will be easier to accomplish the trade, but the step to reach there has to be from somewhere. I already mentioned I wish to reduce my card-related so expenditure so hence, as much as possible, I'll trade bulk rares to work my way up. It is also because new decks are emerging constantly, there will definitely be prices that spike due to a sudden emerging deck taking down the meta. Sitting on the bulk rare ensures that small possibility of striking that gold mine, reaping the best profit margin with regard to the increase. To me, bulk rare is extremely versatile in its use in both trading and deck construction. Because it is cheap to acquire, I can easily get playsets of them for casual deck brewing and/or brainstorming for ideas.

How the idea works has been explained before; simply get bulk rares and start trading! There is a fixed formula in about getting more cards and there are articles that have been talking around on the same idea. What makes this different is that I have included different sources of trades available; I accept bulk mythic and bulk rares and what I offer is not just additional bulk rares, but also other rarities like uncommons and mythic. (Rarity grade have different exchange rates of course!) I have yet to find a fixed source of supply for bulk rares to acquire and honestly after the spiking of Desecration Demon and Pack Rat this year, the acquisition of bulk rare is more difficult to get. Shopping for bulk online is an option, but due to the exchange rate, it is calculated that a single bulk rare would hit at about $0.50 each after conversion and shipping, effectively negating any profit margin from the start if I were to do direct sales. It can be an option to start off but I'm not looking as a start off option, but more of sustainability as requirement.

Admittedly I won't solely work on trading bulk rares. Financially it is a sound plan, but in respect to time-profit curve, it is extremely low viability. I have to calculate how much actual profit I will make for the bulk trades, but a rough guide is that I won't make much profit or near to none until I bulk trade them for the better rares. It's from there then I'll see the profit margins come in. Slowly, but surely. I'll eventually work my way in to build my collection.

Now the question you'll be asking is, "how is this relevant to preparing for Modern?" Remember when I did mention that prices will spike up during modern season? If you either have the finances to fund your deck and/or you have been sitting on the staple pile, good for you! But, if you are like me who has low budget income and have to find ways to either to work within your budget or get more bang for your buck, knowing what you want to do with your inventory and how you will be trading is beneficial. Many times through personal experience and through discussions with friends, I realise at times we can get very lost in how we want to trade. It's like a mood swing in simple analogy; at one point we may be very into a particular constructed format, while when suddenly we may get into EDH or another format, ended up changing your buylist and trade list frequently to the point we can get lost in what we really want. I did discuss this shortly in another post regarding Inventory sorting and organisations and I also did briefly discuss earlier in deciding which format to jump into. (Although I'm using Modern Constructed as an example, the idea is transferable to other formats as well.)

I know I'll follow the modern format more than any other format, plus I love EDH format for the crazy deck combos and synergies that I can pull off so I'd settle that as a secondary lookout for cheap staples. It's actually a good idea to look out for cheap staples used in multiple format, but problem is that since it's for multiple formats, the window to get them fairly cheaply is very small and chances are they will spike almost immediately upon seeing tournament play. We know that the value of a card is mainly based on hype and tournament results; (Alternatively, value can be seen as a prized possession with sentimental value. But, for this case, I'm sticking to financial value.) So because of the multiple formats, the more it sees play, the more expensive it becomes overtime. This is especially true if the format(s) are eternal or non-rotating formats like Modern/Legacy; their price will only appreciate from there. If missing the window to get them cheap, waiting for post-rotation may see the price dropping a slight margin but that's another short window frame before the prices rise again.

Knowing who I am as a trader, what I want to do, and how I want to go about accomplishing gives me a clear direction in my target for the next half of the year and what are the steps I have to take to improve the profit margin in trading, or not, rather, increase the value worth of the money I spend. I can write more, but I'll digress; I want to keep this article about preparing myself ready for this Modern Season and review more about myself as a trader. I would like to see myself as a trader with some dealing experience, but there is definitely more to learn. The main learning point about trading is communication, networking and marketing. Logistics management is also important which to me, are all key lessons in life that I cannot learn just by attending classes. I'm not sure if the article will relate to anyone else as this is mainly my personal reflection in the things I encounter and what I have learnt. If it's relatable, that's great! If it isn't I hope it's still an interesting story in life from another person's perspective.

Conspiracy Set Review: Wow! But....

Remember the 5 points in my consideration list? It actually checks off 4 points! Yes, this set is making a strong stand to really grab the attention of MTG players to join in the fun to revolutionize Drafts with  new cards and as well as re-introduce several notable cards in the Legacy / Vintage pool to draft! it's sort of a mini-Legacy Masters kind of expansion if I think about it. So how is this set? One word, Wow! This set is actually pretty good! But, in all the praise, I'll say it. I'm avoiding this set due to the number of reasons.

Yes, I did mentioned that there are no chase rares (at that moment!) to be excited about, but upon seeing the new spoilers, there ARE some chase cards (not just rares) that would excite people and go crazy with the whacking. Namely, they are:

• Stifle
• Brainstorm
• Swords to Plowshares
• Council's Judgment
• Nature's Claim
• Sakura-Tribe Elder
• Exploration
• Fact or Fiction
• Dack Fayden

Yea... I know there some prominent cards that I have left out... But, you know what they are! In fact, depending on what you are looking for in the set, the "hype" or appeal will differ from people to people. As for the list mentioned, these are the few that are hyped in my local meta. But, personally I'm looking at the following for my EDH;

• Foil Mirari's Waker
• Foil Deathreap Ritual

This brings to my first reason; I am looking for only 2 Foiled cards. Not really a big reason to go frenzy in the whacking just for 2 foil cards... right? I mean the combined cost for those 2 cards would be less than $40.00. So it's really no point in getting them through pack whacking..

Okay, maybe the first reason isn't justified, but I'll rephrase; unless you are looking for the bulk majority of the cards, You won't really need to mass buy these cards. 

For example, you are a legacy player and it's definite that you will welcome the majority of such reprints right? (I think... I don't play legacy so...) However, if you are a standard or modern player, how is that Jap foil brainstorm or Dack Fayden going to help you in your deck? Yes, you can sell for cash but more often that not, if you burn out in the pack whacking with a pile of cards non-legal in your relevant format, then wouldn't you rather open other packs that will help in your deck for that same price and assuming with the same luck, getting better stuff that gives more options to your deck? 

Note that conspiracy is legacy and vintage legal, with the exceptions of a couple of cards that are in modern-legal sets; then these reprints would be legal. Also note that conspiracy is meant to be a stand-alone draft expansion set. In my opinion, this set is a unique set that gives relevant reprints to the legacy players, as well as for the EDH fans. 

Second reason, NO FULL ART LANDS! 

Although this set has checked off 4 of the 5 points I brought up to actually consider buying this set, They left out the most crucial point. Full art lands. For this expansion, they replaced all basic lands with Conspiracy cards. I did mention in the same post that I'm only convinced to buy the boosters if and only if there are full art lands. Jumping into Zendikar Lands may still be cheap, but it's not as readily available as it was years ago. I may get them at $1-2 each but I might as well look forward to the newer full art lands which are more readily available. Heck if the design may suck.. it's still full art! But, if it really sucks, it's still back to the oldies from Unhinged or Zendikar. (Unglued land design, IMO, really sucks)

Look, I'm not stubborn to realize that this set is a great expansion set, or admit that full art lands isn't everything to look for; by going with the judgment, Return to Ravnica and Innistrad expansions would suck  already isn't it?

Now the thing is this, Conspiracy is a good set if you haven't get my message. If you are getting it to draft with friends, it's a good set to see and play with the reprinted cards, mixed with some very powerful and new prints. The expansion also offers really good new additions for Legacy, Vintage, Causal and EDH formats and it ought to be taken note of. I'm only against buying this set in my personal financial point of view; I only have 2-3 cards which I'm chasing after, it's no point for me to buy a box or whack packs just for them. However, if you have the money to go for, I'd say it's a good set to try out financially. Dack Fayden is hunted at around $50, Legacy staples will be selling like hot cakes and the foils will be even more sought after. Just know your priorities and your needs before making a decision in buying this set.