Do you think it is better to spend 100ish dollars on a booster box, or spend 100ish dollars on the single cards you need. that you would trade for using the stuff you get out of the box?
Singles is always the answer, unless you and your friends enjoy drafting. If you enjoy drafting, get a box and free draft with friends (obviously collecting the cards afterword).
A box isn't worth it unless you get the extra mileage out of it.
Do you think it is better to spend 100ish dollars on a booster box, or spend 100ish dollars on the single cards you need. that you would trade for using the stuff you get out of the box?
I enjoy cracking packs, and I usually make up at least 75% of the value of the boxes I buy through the selling of 3-5 chase cards. Then the rest I either use or trade for things that I can.
I first buy ONE box, then any straggling singles afterwards. (Though I may start buying two per large set, to get more variety in my rares and 3 or 4 ofs all the commons/uncommons)
I use the Duels Of The Planeswalkers layout, though I'm right-handed and keep my deck and GY to the left. I dare you to ask me how tempting it is to hold flying creatures in a floating pattern over the table.
I generally buy one box if I can get one for around $90-95 - at that price, I'm probably going to get $70-75 in rares and I'll have most of the commons and uncommons I need in any case.
In general, I'd rather buy singles than packs though, especially if I'm going to be paying pack price for them (i.e. $4 / pack as opposed to around $2.60 at the box rate).
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Former Level 2 Judge (Retired / Renounced)
Went to a new shop from a friend's recommendation, DQ'ed for willful violation of CR 100.6b.
Singles. But I don't generally get things in standard. Prices fluctuate badly which makes trading difficult sometimes and I don't enjoy the format. Even if I did I would still probably do singles.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DCI Level 1 Judge-
Thanks to Heroes of the Plane for the awesome Sig.
Singles every time for me. I fell into the trap long ago of buying boxes and I regret it now. Half the time I never got what I wanted, and I only ever broke even when I bought a box of Worldwake and pulled a Jace, the Mind Sculptor from the second pack. Buying singles guarantees that you get what you want and you never lose money as long as you don't overpay for singles.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Special thanks to Hakai Studios and SushiOtter for the sig!
Legacy:UR Sneak and Show IUBG Team America IX Metalworker MUD Modern:UBR Blue Jund IWBX Eldrazi Processors IX Affinity IWRG Nacatl Burn IGR Tron IUBR Grishoalbrand
I have found singles to be easier and more cost effective.
Even if I do unwrap valuable cards, I then have to find someone willing to take them in trade who also has cards I need. A card that no one will trade for is effectively worth nothing.
If you're going to buy a box, might as well play limited instead. You get the same amount of cards, possible more packs as prizes, and you get to play with cards that are otherwise useless in constructed.
Getting a box for the purpose of trading the cards away means you have to be an aggressive trader, with a lot of time on your hands. And sometimes, despite this, you will never really get the value back, or the cards you want.
If you're looking get specific cards, buying the cards is simply more efficient, less-time consuming, and less of a gamble than buying a box then hoping to sell/trade away the cards for what you want.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"Sometimes, the situation is outracing a threat, sometimes it's ignoring it, and sometimes it involves sideboarding in 4x Hope//Pray." --Doug Linn
Singles erryday.
I've only opened 3 boosters in my entire life, and each time was incredibly disappointing.
I just finally came to the realization that I would rather buy things at a higher price and have the cards I want guaranteed rather than something random.
On the downside, I never get to enjoy the new card smell when it comes to opening packs. ;___;
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Why are there so many mirrors at the gym?
I already know what I look like. That's why I'm there.
That depends on the edition. In my opinion return to ravnica, zendikar and urza's saga booster boxes are the only ones that can get you something for your money, as they have absurdly expensive cards.
Return to ravnica - shocklands, 2 - 6 per box, 15 dollars each.
Zendikar - fetch lands 2 - 6 per box, 30 dollars each
Urza's saga - Show and tell, gaia's cradle, serra sanctuary, etc. (this is a bit of a gamble as the boxes cost around 600 dollars each)
Each box has guaranteed 4 mythics. Return to ravnica has 15 mythics being that only 5 of them are not worth a booster pack and the other 10 are currently overpriced. Zendikar has only 3 good mythics: Iona, Sorin and Nissa, so chances are 4 of the packs are guaranteed to have bad cards.
Hope this helps.
I usually just spend the money on singles, and when I get the spare cash, buy a box. Boxes are definitely alot more fun, as opening packs is fun, and it is nice to have a lot of cards around for making casual decks.
Value is good. But Dredgevine isn't supposed to be about value. It's supposed to be about V-8; 2000 pounds of nitro boosted war vegetables. The more velocity, the better.
Modern:
DredgeVine EDH:
Gisela, Blade of Goldnight
Anima Standard:
I am a newb and I have wasted more money than wisely invested buying singles. sometimes it is just too hard to accurately know what your deck needs and with singles you end up with fewer options to trade it, so in my opinion, buying packs is better, you end up with more cards and lots of options. I plan to pick up my first booster box pretty soon. and opening packs is just more fun
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Project Booster Fun makes it less fun to open a booster.
If you have the extra money, and you play paper events and trade at LGSs and events a lot for it to be worth it, just get the box. Cutting out of work a few hours early and picking up your new box on release day and cracking all the packs while having a couple beers is probably what I will miss the most about paper magic
That being said, if you play standard competitively, buy singles. Hands down.
Boxes are a pretty poor investment but me and my friends usually get a box each when a set releases and I love getting together with the boys and having a night of drinking and new magic cards
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
A box isn't worth it unless you get the extra mileage out of it.
I enjoy cracking packs, and I usually make up at least 75% of the value of the boxes I buy through the selling of 3-5 chase cards. Then the rest I either use or trade for things that I can.
I first buy ONE box, then any straggling singles afterwards. (Though I may start buying two per large set, to get more variety in my rares and 3 or 4 ofs all the commons/uncommons)
In general, I'd rather buy singles than packs though, especially if I'm going to be paying pack price for them (i.e. $4 / pack as opposed to around $2.60 at the box rate).
Went to a new shop from a friend's recommendation, DQ'ed for willful violation of CR 100.6b.
Have played duals? I have PucaPoints for them!
(Credit to DarkNightCavalier)
$tandard: Too poor.
Modern:
- GW Birthing Pod(?)
Legacy:
- UWR Delver
Thanks to Heroes of the Plane for the awesome Sig.
Currently Playing- EDH
GGGOmnath, Locus of the LifestreamGGG
BBBShirei, Lord of PoniesBBB
UWRasputin Dreamweaver, Russia's Greatest Love MachineUW
UBWZur, Killer of FunUBW
UGWTreva, Princess of CanterlotUGW
RWTajic, Master of the Reverse BladeRW
RRRZirilan, How to Train Your DragonRRR
PDH Decks
Gelectrode
Ascended Lawmage
Blaze Commando
Special thanks to Hakai Studios and SushiOtter for the sig!
Legacy: UR Sneak and Show I UBG Team America I X Metalworker MUD
Modern: UBR Blue Jund I WBX Eldrazi Processors I X Affinity I WRG Nacatl Burn I GR Tron I UBR Grishoalbrand
Even if I do unwrap valuable cards, I then have to find someone willing to take them in trade who also has cards I need. A card that no one will trade for is effectively worth nothing.
Getting a box for the purpose of trading the cards away means you have to be an aggressive trader, with a lot of time on your hands. And sometimes, despite this, you will never really get the value back, or the cards you want.
If you're looking get specific cards, buying the cards is simply more efficient, less-time consuming, and less of a gamble than buying a box then hoping to sell/trade away the cards for what you want.
"Sometimes, the situation is outracing a threat, sometimes it's ignoring it, and sometimes it involves sideboarding in 4x Hope//Pray." --Doug Linn
I've only opened 3 boosters in my entire life, and each time was incredibly disappointing.
I just finally came to the realization that I would rather buy things at a higher price and have the cards I want guaranteed rather than something random.
On the downside, I never get to enjoy the new card smell when it comes to opening packs. ;___;
I already know what I look like. That's why I'm there.
Return to ravnica - shocklands, 2 - 6 per box, 15 dollars each.
Zendikar - fetch lands 2 - 6 per box, 30 dollars each
Urza's saga - Show and tell, gaia's cradle, serra sanctuary, etc. (this is a bit of a gamble as the boxes cost around 600 dollars each)
Each box has guaranteed 4 mythics. Return to ravnica has 15 mythics being that only 5 of them are not worth a booster pack and the other 10 are currently overpriced. Zendikar has only 3 good mythics: Iona, Sorin and Nissa, so chances are 4 of the packs are guaranteed to have bad cards.
Hope this helps.
Modern:
DredgeVine
EDH:
Gisela, Blade of Goldnight
Anima
Standard:
That being said, if you play standard competitively, buy singles. Hands down.
Standard:
RW Boros devotion/Purphoros combo
RGB Jund Midrange
Modern:
WB Martyr.proc