I have been just picking randomly from the store, taking whatever looks cool. But am starting to get the feeling that some of the sets are not really worth the money, since I'm not rich I'd like to avoid wasting what little money I have. So which of the latest sets are worth buying?
I would really suggest that you first identify what format you would like to play and a deck you see yourself playing and use that as a starting point. It'll give you a better idea of what cards you would want/need instead of just randomly buying booster packs.
Once you have an idea of what format/deck you'd like, it might actually be cheaper buying singles either from stores or from other players. That way, you could spend less and you'd surely get the cards that you would need.
A good way to get cards would be to join pre-releases as well (there's one coming up for JOU) since you get to play in a tourney and keep the cards you get. These kinds of tournaments usually give out booster packs for wins you get.
As for booster packs that are worth buying, Modern Masters would probably on top of my list. For the Standard-legal sets, I'd say Return To Ravnica and Gatecrash would be good (Shocklands and lots of key Standard pieces like Sphinx's Revelation). Theros is good as well. I'd probably avoid Dragon's Maze though.
Singles are always better than packs. But if you must open 2-3 boxes to get your play set of Thoughtseize because you have a good place to trade in jank rares for top dollar, I'd go with Theros (out of the Theros block) and Return to Ravnica (from the RTR block). M14 also has some goodies, but I guess it will rotate in 4 months? (probably off by a bit on that last one)
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Legacy - Sneak Show, BR Reanimator, Miracles, UW Stoneblade
Premodern - Trix, RecSur, Enchantress, Reanimator, Elves https://www.facebook.com/groups/PremodernUSA/ Modern - Neobrand, Hogaak Vine, Elves
Standard - Mono Red (6-2 and 5-3 in 2 McQ)
Draft - (I wish I had more time for limited...)
Commander - Norin the Wary, Grimgrin, Adun Oakenshield (taking forever to build) (dead format for me)
buy the singles is all I can say. Packs are really only worth it for us average joes if you can some limited games with it. Otherwise check out the standard forum and see if a deck tickles your fancy and go from there.
Theros is good until next year, and is arguably the best of the good tip next year block.
Don't go in too heavy on core sets, only last a year, 50% reprints and never have anything too great once rotation hits, with the exception of 1 or 2 reprints like mutavault or thoughtseize
I would strongly suggest that you don't buy sets/packs but instead buy the singles you need to build the decks you want to play. Want packs? Play prerelease, launch events, and draft. Doing so will also improve your skill in the game. Watch other players, read the forums here, and decide on a deck you want to play. If you have a friend to play with, make a proxy for that deck first, then play some games with it and see if you like it.
When you've settled on a deck you like, buy the singles you need for that deck. Saves you so much money in the long run and gets you the cards you need as well.
And on the other hand, if you really really want to buy a set, figure out what kind of draft format you like, fast, slow, etc., ask around the forums which sets are like that, get some friends together and draft out. You don't even have to pay for the whole box, just split the price between you.
Buying packs is almost always less return for your money than buying singles. You may get lucky, but in general, but singles.
If you just want to have a lot of options available, you can often buy complete playsets of commons and uncommons from any given set cheaply. That gives you a solid base to experiment with, then you can identify which decks you're interested in developing, and buy the rares and mythics for them.
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Cards are game pieces, and should be treated as such, easily replaceable.
Cards are not money, investments, or a retirement fund, and should never have been treated as such.
Wizards made a mistake caving to speculators once, and we still pay for that mistake 2 decades later.
"Entitled:" the entire ad hominem fallacy condensed into a single word. It doesn't strengthen your argument to attack motivations, it just makes you look like you don't understand the argument.
I have been just picking randomly from the store, taking whatever looks cool. But am starting to get the feeling that some of the sets are not really worth the money, since I'm not rich I'd like to avoid wasting what little money I have. So which of the latest sets are worth buying?
M14, Return to Ravnica, Gatecrash and maybe Theros. Don't bother with Born of the Gods or Journey into Nyx.
Return to ravnica has a lot of eternal playability and some standard stuff not a bad investment. Shocks will always be modern relevant and not a bad casual move either. If your interested in standard then getting whatever is current isnt bad either
Once you have an idea of what format/deck you'd like, it might actually be cheaper buying singles either from stores or from other players. That way, you could spend less and you'd surely get the cards that you would need.
A good way to get cards would be to join pre-releases as well (there's one coming up for JOU) since you get to play in a tourney and keep the cards you get. These kinds of tournaments usually give out booster packs for wins you get.
As for booster packs that are worth buying, Modern Masters would probably on top of my list. For the Standard-legal sets, I'd say Return To Ravnica and Gatecrash would be good (Shocklands and lots of key Standard pieces like Sphinx's Revelation). Theros is good as well. I'd probably avoid Dragon's Maze though.
Premodern - Trix, RecSur, Enchantress, Reanimator, Elves https://www.facebook.com/groups/PremodernUSA/
Modern - Neobrand, Hogaak Vine, Elves
Standard - Mono Red (6-2 and 5-3 in 2 McQ)
Draft - (I wish I had more time for limited...)
Commander -
Norin the Wary, Grimgrin, Adun Oakenshield (taking forever to build)(dead format for me)Don't go in too heavy on core sets, only last a year, 50% reprints and never have anything too great once rotation hits, with the exception of 1 or 2 reprints like mutavault or thoughtseize
When you've settled on a deck you like, buy the singles you need for that deck. Saves you so much money in the long run and gets you the cards you need as well.
How To Keep Your FOIL Cards From Curling: http://youtu.be/QTmubrS8VnI
The Best Deck Boxes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEwgLph_Pjk
The Best Binders: http://youtu.be/H5IauASYWjk
If you just want to have a lot of options available, you can often buy complete playsets of commons and uncommons from any given set cheaply. That gives you a solid base to experiment with, then you can identify which decks you're interested in developing, and buy the rares and mythics for them.
Cards are not money, investments, or a retirement fund, and should never have been treated as such.
Wizards made a mistake caving to speculators once, and we still pay for that mistake 2 decades later.
"Entitled:" the entire ad hominem fallacy condensed into a single word. It doesn't strengthen your argument to attack motivations, it just makes you look like you don't understand the argument.
M14, Return to Ravnica, Gatecrash and maybe Theros. Don't bother with Born of the Gods or Journey into Nyx.
BWTeysa, Orzhov Scion Combo
GUEzuri, Claw of progress Morph
GUBSidisi, Brood tyrant
RWGisela, Blade of Goldnight Random red white cards i dont use.dec
GBLoam Pox
Modern
UBFaeries
GBWGoyfless Abzan
On Squirrels
On Risen Executioner
BEEEES!
Rabble Red
Modern
Burn
Infect