What I've targeted in GP Singapore and why

GP Singapore has just passed and I was not exactly that prepared for it. Sadly I don't have $1000 in my bank ready to use, nor do I have a huge binder full of good stuffs to trade off for even cooler stuffs. However, I did managed to trade in for a lot of cool stuff and what I think are potential long-term holds.

I haven't really blogged about myself as a trader and my actions in awhile now. I started blogging for about a year as a reflective form, which documented my trades and how I think I should improve. Well, that post is back for this one and I really think I should reflect and think what I really should/want to do with my limited budget. Also, it serves the reflection portion of my trades in GP.

While I cannot remember the exact trades and what I have sold, (I didn't record them down. Too much of a hassle..) I can state here roughly what I was targeting for and why.

• God cards from Theros Expansion (THS / BOG / JOU)
  
  This was my prime target for GP. I could only afford the non-foil ones and this was my prime target. I firmly believe that some of the God cards will see play in Modern. If not at worst, fueled by EDH or casual demands. Yes, the foil ones will definitely be a better pick, but the growth trajectory will more or less be the same, differing only in the scale of multipliers. 
  My argument is this, not everyone is into foils and even more in the EDH/Casual market crowd loves to innovate and home-brew. So having acquiring the non-foils would mean easier liquidity in future. That being said, I do have my eyes on Foil Thassa and Keranos as my main targets.
• Jace, Architect of Thought
  
  I did mention once that I decided to stop buying foil Planeswalkers. The buy-in price for some of them are insanely expensive, and also, because I see no value in collecting just one of each when I could better put the money into trading and investment. When the news and talk about Jace, AOT was fringe playable back then earlier in the year, I kept my eye on the social media sites and when there are more talks about it being a contender in certain control decks and Sideboard plan, I immediately bought out from the shops I frequent to. Also, during the GP event, I managed to snipe and buy them out in the $3 - $4 range.
• Shocklands / Fetchlands
  
  I regreted one thing in the GP. Using fetches and shocks as leverage for trades. I let go a few shocks for the trades and sale to buy in some of the God cards and as well as several other pieces for my 2nd Modern deck, which I now regret making it. (More to that in a later post)
  However, I managed to acquire 2 foil shocks and a few more Bloodstained Mires in the process, so I'm cool with it. I will still be actively looking for them as a higher priority than Jace AOT from now onwards. Well, maybe when Khans expansion reaches near post-rotation, when the prices dip first.
• Foiled EDH deck pieces
  My lowest priority in the trading list, but I managed to acquire some pieces for my EDH deck. The foiling process is surely, but slowly. I love EDH, but I only could afford to have 1 deck at a time because I don't play it often. 

Other Cards that I have sniped during the GP event:

• Rattleclaw Mystic ($0.50 - $1.00)
  With no good mana dorks coming up in MTGO, I would expect Rattleclaw to bounce back to its former price tag of ~$4
• Dictate of Erebos ($0.50 - $1.00)
  Have you seen Grave Pact? How is this different from it?!
• Breaking // Entering ($1.00)
• Mind Grind ($0.50) 
• Consuming Aberration ($0.50) 
  Casual Cards that see some play in EDH and kitchen table. Word going around with my own group of friends and speculators is that they are viable long-term holds. Great! right up in my alley.
• Haven of the Spirit Dragon ($3.00 - $3.50)
  Cavern of Souls' price trajectory really taught me something; if it's a land that can give a popular tribal multi-colour/colour fixing, there is potential. If that land has an additional ability in it, it's golden!
• Savannah (SP) (~$80)
  It's a 1-off thing... I traded 1-for-1 using a Snapcaster Mage

So where does this go for me now? Personally, I'm going back to do bulk rare trading and occasionally do some trades online. With my Modern decks near completion, I don't foresee myself doing huge buys after completing my second Modern deck. In an earlier article, I mentioned the need of sustaining a higher percentage of "liquid" asset over "solid". I'll put this as my goal for this year. At least this gives me another reason to save up other than the anticipated Overseas Immersion Programme later this year.