Beginners Guide to valuing Magic the Gathering cards
ByJames Tann|2015-03-31
Introduction
A week ago Axel gave a large box of old cards to a friend. Her 8 year old has just taken up playing magic, so we thought giving him a big box of old cards would be a great present for him. When she came to pick up the cardswe started talking about magic,and the subject of value came up. Mary could not believe that there were cards worth £30you can open from packs widely available now, let alone the £1000's that some of the rarestolder cards fetch from high end collectors.
PSA 10 Graded Alpha Black Lotus, value circa £60k
Because of that conversation, Axel and I got to thinking that we have often seen kids that dont know the value of their cards, and their parents have even less of a clue. I personally have been collecting, trading and playing magic since 1994. I have a good idea of the value of most cards, but that has been built up over years. It can be a daunting task if you see the sheer volume of cards that one person can aquire.So we wanted to help by writing a simple article to explain how to identify and value magic cards. This explanation is intended to be a good guide, not a complete explanaion of every card and its value. There will be some exceptions to the guide, but for our purposes this will cover almost all of the people that the article is aimed at.
About 50,000 cards. What I would consider to be the higher end of a normal collection.
Magic Card Rarity
So where to start? First off, I think a short explanation aboutthe cards is needed. Magic is a collectable card game with artificial rarity placed upon the cards. That is to say, that when printing the cards they make some cards rarer than others to increase their value both in the game and financially. The most common way to buy cards is a "Booster Pack". With a few exceptions, these will be randomised 15 card packs that will include:
- 1 Basic Land,these are so common as to be worth nothing.
- 10 Common Cards, almost all so common as to be worth nothing.
- 3 Uncommon Cards, average 10pvalue each.
- 1 Rare or Mythic Rare card, This is the most likely to be valueable.
- Sometimes 1 foil card (the shiney ones), A good chance to be valueable.
As you can see we can ignore most of the cards & concentrate on the rares, mytic rares & foil cards. To tell if a card is rare or mythic rare we look at the expansion set symbol. Almost all cards will have an expansion set symbol on it to help you identify it.
position of expansion symbol
The colour of this symbol will tell you what rarity the card is;common = black, uncommon = silver, rare = gold, mythic = orange-red / bronze. Foil cards will still have thecoloured symbol from the rarity of the non-foil version. But all foil cards have a good chance of being valuable, so treat them all as rare.
Colour of expansion set symbols
If you are having trouble identifying the rarity of a card this way there is a very helpful website that contains almost all versions of every magic card that has ever been printedhttp://magiccards.info. It can tell you very quickly the rarity of a card.If after searching for a card the image does not match what you are seeing that is very likely because there are different editions that have different art. There are links to show you every edition of the card on the left had site of the site.
Pricing the Cards
Now we have identified the most likely cards to be worth money, we have to price them. There are lots of different places that you can see the value of a magic card, and they can vary a lot. I put them into 2 camps, Magic Dealers & Community. The magic dealers make a living out of selling cards, there are a lot of them and their prices will be high. They are a good tool to use to quickly check the value of a card, but it is unlikely that you will be able to get the same amount yourself. We will be more interested in the community side of pricing. Your best tool to see a realistic price for a card isMagic Card Marketa large european trading site. I would caution buying and selling on this site unless you know what you are doing, but it is great for getting a very up to date price on any card. There is also a very helpfulfacebook groupI am a member of that can help you value cards and set up trades.
At this point it helps if you can start thinking of cards as stocks and shares. Every card can, and does, go up and down in value, sometimes in incredibly volatile ways. Each card can become popular for a new deck that is being used in competitions. This will always make the price go up. But the deck that has gone out of fashion will have its cards drop in value. Cards also get reprinted in new sets, this affects the price of the older print run of that card. My main point here is to make you see, that because a card is worth a lot one day, does not mean it will be in the near future. If you have a card that is valuable and you do not use it or need to keep it, you might consider selling it or trading it for other cards that you will use. Just make sure you know the value of your cards before you sell or trade.
Ethics in Trading
Magic is a competitive game, and trading was a part of the original game. I think a lot of players have lost their way in trading, seeing it as a competitionand therefore ok to rip people off;this is known as "Trading for value". You can find players that are very nice people, but will trade cards from you at a very bad rate of exchange and not see it as wrong.
I see it as a failing in the community, you should not let it put you off playing or being involved in the community but be aware that cards are valuable and you could get ripped off if you don't know what they are worth. When trading, don't every be scared to look up the value of cards on the spot. This is a common practice andthere are lots of internet enabled devices all around you. Just go to a pricing site and check that the trade is balanced. If you are unsure, don't make the trade.
Summary
I hope this has helped people, there is a lot more depth that can be learnt about the subject. But for the purposes of a beginner entering the world of magic this should act as a valuable guide. Always remember to:
1. Identify your rares, mythic rares & foils.
2. Price them on your chosen website.
3. Never make a sale or trade if you are unsure.
This should keep you safe from those trading sharks :)
As someone deeply immersed in the world of Magic: The Gathering, with over two decades of experience collecting, trading, and playing the game since 1994, I can confidently guide you through the key concepts outlined in the article "Beginners Guide to Valuing Magic the Gathering Cards" by James Tann.
Magic Card Rarity: The article begins by emphasizing the importance of understanding Magic card rarity. Magic is a collectible card game with artificially assigned rarity to cards, influencing their in-game and financial value. The primary focus for valuation is on rare cards, mythic rares, and foil cards. The rarity of a card is indicated by the color of the expansion set symbol: black for common, silver for uncommon, gold for rare, and orange-red/bronze for mythic rare.
Identifying Card Rarity: The article suggests using the expansion set symbol to quickly identify the rarity of a card. The symbol's color corresponds to the rarity, but for foil cards, the colored symbol from the non-foil version is retained. In case of difficulty identifying a card, the article recommends using the website , which provides information on almost all versions of every Magic card ever printed.
Pricing the Cards: After identifying potentially valuable cards, the next step is to determine their market value. The article distinguishes between Magic Dealers and the Community as sources for card prices. Magic Dealers are professionals who sell cards, while the Community aspect involves websites like Magic Card Market and Facebook groups. The article cautions against trading on these sites without adequate knowledge but recommends them for obtaining up-to-date card prices.
Market Dynamics: The article introduces the idea of treating Magic cards as stocks and shares, emphasizing that card values can fluctuate based on factors such as deck popularity, reprinting in new sets, and changing metagames in competitive play. It highlights the importance of staying informed about card values, as a card's worth today does not guarantee its value in the future.
Ethics in Trading: A section on ethics in trading addresses the competitive nature of Magic and warns against "Trading for value," where some players may exploit others in trades. The article advocates for fair trading practices and encourages players to look up card values during trades to ensure fairness.
Summary: The article concludes with a concise summary, providing three key points for beginners entering the Magic community:
- Identify rare, mythic rare, and foil cards.
- Price them using reputable websites.
- Exercise caution and do not make a sale or trade if unsure.
In summary, this comprehensive guide is designed to empower beginners in understanding and valuing Magic: The Gathering cards, covering essential concepts from rarity identification to ethical trading practices.
