So I recently got into magic, and after some kitchen magic with some friends, I am browsing the forums and whatnot for any information about the game. After looking at all that I am starting to realize how expensive this game is. I really just want to play causally until I get into a much better financial situation (aka get out of college)
Is there anywhere I can acquire cards (like bulk commons) for very cheap or even free? I continuously find people on these forums who say they have so many bulk commons/uncommons that some people end up throwing them away or just let them sit in boxes and collect dust. Should I ask around my local card shop or would that be looked down upon? Is there websites where people give useless cards to newer players?
In my experience, when people crack boxes or fat packs at our local game shops they will gift the commons and sometimes uncommons. I do this all the time if I already have all the commons/uncommons I need from a set. I used to buy 4 copies of every common and/or uncommons from a set for realatively cheap on eBay but that was a long time ago and I played alot of Pauper then (commons only format). If you buy bulk commons from random sets you will get a lot of worthless stuff that just takes up space but it does give you a chance to be creative in your deck building if you don't mind low power level decks.
Shoot, if this post was up 2 weeks ago I would have sent you 2 fat pack boxes of Eldritch Moon and Kaladesh commons/uncommons for the cost of shipping. Gave them away already.
Don't know about FNM, I don't attend those. Usually the first couple weeks after a set hits the street there's a lot of opening going on at the shop, especially since they started printing premium chase cards in sets. At the shop I frequent I just leave the commons on the table if I don't need them. I've seen people pick up free commons after pre-release or draft events quite a bit too. Sealed events (where people open packs to play with) are your best bet since everyone is opening many cards they don't need. I would avoid lurking during the tournament too much so as to not interfere but people are generally pretty cool at low level events so it can be fun to watch and hang around. Depends on the scene. If you are in a big city I would guess it's even easier to find such a scene.
So I recently got into magic, and after some kitchen magic with some friends, I am browsing the forums and whatnot for any information about the game. After looking at all that I am starting to realize how expensive this game is. I really just want to play causally until I get into a much better financial situation (aka get out of college)
Is there anywhere I can acquire cards (like bulk commons) for very cheap or even free? I continuously find people on these forums who say they have so many bulk commons/uncommons that some people end up throwing them away or just let them sit in boxes and collect dust. Should I ask around my local card shop or would that be looked down upon? Is there websites where people give useless cards to newer players?
The cheapest way to purchase cards and the cheapest way to make a deck are unfortunately two different things entirely.
If you want to start generating a collection to pick and pull from to change your decks around at a whim....well I unfortunately don't have any useful input here as it was 17 years ago when I started...
I can help in telling you that if you were to try and build a deck as cheap as possible you should buy the cards individually after you know the decklist. There are numerous websites that let you build decks online and playtest them. These kinds of websites are generally separate from the websites used for making purchases. The websites even provide metrics for each deck so you can get very specific in the deckbuilding process if you'd like. This process is only really the cheapest though if you're pretty much settled on what cards are going to be in your deck...which as a new magic player I can understand how you might be more inclined to try out different things very often just to get your head around the different themes in the game.
Everyone always wants to start with a bunch of bulk cards. I know that's what I wanted as well. But here's the thing...you're not likely going to be able to make anything even remotely competitive with a random pile of cards like that. You'd be much better off building a budget deck and upgrading it over time. Here's what I would recommend. Check out the Budget Magic series on MTGGoldfish. Look around at the Standard decks and find one that you're interested in playing. Then scroll down to the Ultra Budget deck list that's down the page after the main deck info. A lot of them can be built for under $50 and then upgraded with a new card here and there as you can afford it.
I'd recommend this one: Budget Poisonless Infect. Scroll to the Ultra Budget list and you'll see that it's currently listed at about $35 around $10 of that is the sideboard. That puts you down to $25, and since so many of the cards are commons or uncommons, you might be able to get some or all of those for free from friends who play and have bought a box, or from draft chaff at your local card shop. For a ~$25 investment, you'll have an actual playable deck. It won't likely be the greatest thing ever, but it's strong when it goes off. But if you put another $10 into it in a week or two, you can have a decent sideboard. And then with another $10 a few weeks later, you can upgrade some of your lands. Keep doing that until you have it at a point where you're happy with it's competitiveness...whether playing at Friday Night Magic at your local shop, or just kitchen table against friends.
Most of the free, bulk, useless cards are that way for a reason. Occasionally you'll find a gem or a combo that works together. But when you're just starting out, it would be smart to buy into one deck and start immediately enjoying games instead of floundering as you try to reinvent the wheel with bulk cards that no one is using. And this way, when you get out of college and have more money to spend, you'll have a decent knowledge of the meta and can decide what direction you want to go with future decks.
Just a suggestion, and as I said it's not what I did, but it's what I WISH I had done. Now I have boxes and boxes of unused and basically useless cards. But I also have a handful of decks that I'm really happy with and have tons of fun playing! Make one fun one and just start enjoying the game instead of worrying about accumulating bulk cards. If you get really into the game, that'll happen automatically over time LOL! Good luck!
If you are around when a draft ends at the card shop, most people will give you their commons and uncommons for free. Check if your local store does drafts for FNM. You can participate in the draft yourself if you want, but it's not required.
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Is there anywhere I can acquire cards (like bulk commons) for very cheap or even free? I continuously find people on these forums who say they have so many bulk commons/uncommons that some people end up throwing them away or just let them sit in boxes and collect dust. Should I ask around my local card shop or would that be looked down upon? Is there websites where people give useless cards to newer players?
Shoot, if this post was up 2 weeks ago I would have sent you 2 fat pack boxes of Eldritch Moon and Kaladesh commons/uncommons for the cost of shipping. Gave them away already.
When do people normally do this? Like should I attend Friday night magic even if I do not participate just on the off chance that someone opens one?
Two Score, Minus Two or: A Stargate Tail
(Image by totallynotabrony)
Pioneer:UR Pheonix
Modern:U Mono U Tron
EDH
GB Glissa, the traitor: Army of Cans
UW Dragonlord Ojutai: Dragonlord NOjutai
UWGDerevi, Empyrial Tactician "you cannot fight the storm"
R Zirilan of the claw. The solution to every problem is dragons
UB Etrata, the Silencer Cloning assassination
Peasant cube: Cards I own
The cheapest way to purchase cards and the cheapest way to make a deck are unfortunately two different things entirely.
If you want to start generating a collection to pick and pull from to change your decks around at a whim....well I unfortunately don't have any useful input here as it was 17 years ago when I started...
I can help in telling you that if you were to try and build a deck as cheap as possible you should buy the cards individually after you know the decklist. There are numerous websites that let you build decks online and playtest them. These kinds of websites are generally separate from the websites used for making purchases. The websites even provide metrics for each deck so you can get very specific in the deckbuilding process if you'd like. This process is only really the cheapest though if you're pretty much settled on what cards are going to be in your deck...which as a new magic player I can understand how you might be more inclined to try out different things very often just to get your head around the different themes in the game.
http://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/magic-fundamentals/magic-general/334931-what-is-the-most-pimp-card-deck-youve-seen-or?comment=5361
Commander
RGOmnath, Locus of Rage Grenades! EDHGR
UWSygg's Defense, EDH - Voltron & ControlWU
BUGMimeoplasm EDH ft. Ifnir Cycling-discard comboBUG
WBTeysa, Connoisseur of CullingBW
BWSelenia & Recruiter of the Guard suicice combo EDHWB
UBRWGO-Kagachi - 5 Color Enchantments - EDHUBRWG
I'd recommend this one: Budget Poisonless Infect. Scroll to the Ultra Budget list and you'll see that it's currently listed at about $35 around $10 of that is the sideboard. That puts you down to $25, and since so many of the cards are commons or uncommons, you might be able to get some or all of those for free from friends who play and have bought a box, or from draft chaff at your local card shop. For a ~$25 investment, you'll have an actual playable deck. It won't likely be the greatest thing ever, but it's strong when it goes off. But if you put another $10 into it in a week or two, you can have a decent sideboard. And then with another $10 a few weeks later, you can upgrade some of your lands. Keep doing that until you have it at a point where you're happy with it's competitiveness...whether playing at Friday Night Magic at your local shop, or just kitchen table against friends.
Most of the free, bulk, useless cards are that way for a reason. Occasionally you'll find a gem or a combo that works together. But when you're just starting out, it would be smart to buy into one deck and start immediately enjoying games instead of floundering as you try to reinvent the wheel with bulk cards that no one is using. And this way, when you get out of college and have more money to spend, you'll have a decent knowledge of the meta and can decide what direction you want to go with future decks.
Just a suggestion, and as I said it's not what I did, but it's what I WISH I had done. Now I have boxes and boxes of unused and basically useless cards. But I also have a handful of decks that I'm really happy with and have tons of fun playing! Make one fun one and just start enjoying the game instead of worrying about accumulating bulk cards. If you get really into the game, that'll happen automatically over time LOL! Good luck!