I am a noob, I don't know how to play the game yet but I have watched some videos on youtube.
I want to start collecting some cool cards. It's ok if they are only commons and uncommons to start, even tokens.
Are those Ebay repacks a good way to start (They are cheap)? I am suspecting they take the good cards out even if some write they leave good cards in them.
Or maybe buy one of these 2000-5000 bulk cards lot?
Those bulk lots are how I started and I guess it depends on what you plan on doing with the cards. Sure, they provide a lot of cards, but most are bulk or chaff so they aren't all that great. If you can get a lot that has quite a few uncommons, you are more likely to at least get somewhat playable cards than one that is 4900 commons and 100 uncommons (for example).
What format(s) do you plan on playing? Magic is more about quality over quantity in most cases so it might be worth pointing you to something else depending on your format. If you plan on just playing pick up games with your friends, the bulk lots might be worth it. But, even then, I might suggest looking into specific decks you might want to play and trying to just buy the cards for those decks rather than buying a bulk lot and trying to build decks out of them. It will be more expensive this way, but your decks would likely be better.
Not sure how I want to play yet. I indeed have been pondering either to focus on specific decks or just going all out and buy a lot of everything.
Right now I just want to enjoy getting some cool cards then as I learn I will probably start focusing on specific cards.
I am probably going to buy a big bulk but I am going to study the sellers feedback and item description on Ebay to get a good lot.
Not sure how I want to play yet. I indeed have been pondering either to focus on specific decks or just going all out and buy a lot of everything.
Right now I just want to enjoy getting some cool cards then as I learn I will probably start focusing on specific cards.
I am probably going to buy a big bulk but I am going to study the sellers feedback and item description on Ebay to get a good lot.
Thanks for your help
Pat
As a person who's played for nearly two decades, and given the situation you're describing, I would recommend buying some pre-constructed decks (if you don't care for deckbuilding) or some pre-release kits of sets currently in the Standard Format (that have seeded packs) if you like the idea of building your own decks.
There are different formats of Magic, where the rules for deck-building vary among them. So not all decks can be used interchangeably from one format to the next - but you could still pick up a Standard Format pre-release kit, which would provide the tools to learn how to deckbuild and at least net you cards that are legal in Standard.
A "pre-release kit" is a box of booster packs and sometimes a "seeded pack" which is cards in a particular theme that is related to the themes of the particular set of magic cards. Some sets, say Ravnica themed ones, usually have prerelease kits tailored to a specific guild and the themes of that guild. Other sets it might be a less obvious theme and instead of a seeded pack, you'll get extra boosters from which to build a prerelease deck.
I would recommend getting a few prerelease kits that have seeded packs/themed packs to find where your interests lie. From there you'll have some direction for building decks/getting a sense of what it is you want to collect.
That is really a goldmine of information you just wrote. I have copied it on a notebook file on my PC and printed it also.
I will consult it often to help me start on the right track.
That is really a goldmine of information you just wrote. I have copied it on a notebook file on my PC and printed it also.
I will consult it often to help me start on the right track.
Thanks again
Pat
No problem, glad it is helpful to you
Also, I forgot to mention! Sealed pre-release kits also come with at least one foil date-stamped rare or mythic card (date stamp looks like gold leaf). These are always great collectibles for the chase rares/mythics, if you're so lucky to pull one.
Say for example, the Commander Format, where the decks are 100 cards and only 1 copy of each card is allowed in the deck-design (as opposed to 60 card decks with x4 copies per card allowed in all of the other formats) - the decks are designed around a legendary creature in that only the colors of that creature are allowed to be used in the deck. If you get lucky and pull a date stamped legendary creature, there's a good chance it is a highly sought after card.
I personally go out of my way to get my Commander as a date stamped foil if I can (some really old cards before foils became a thing there is no option for this). I also never deconstruct any of my decks, which is unusual, so when I decide on building something - I want the best looking version of that legendary creature possible and will cough up the $ for it. In my mind each deck is a unique creation in itself that I spent the time to homebrew and put the love into making. Sometimes I build decks in moments of inspiration that are significant to me and represent a special moment or memory in time. For this reason I also don't pull cards from one deck to fill into another... This is not normal. I have 30 some EDH decks and 30 some copies of Sol Ring. Not cheap to do that. But it is a thing that happened over a long time so the costs were mitigated.
Check out some decks in my signature if the Commander format interests you, you can playtest them too. Last I checked a year ago some 25k people viewed my decks. I also own those exact decks in person and they are what I play my friends with. Even the couple thousand dollar cards each, I own those.
ALSO! EDH = Commander, it's just the old name for the format (Elder Dragon Highlander) before WoTC made the Commander product to piggyback off sales
I am a noob, I don't know how to play the game yet but I have watched some videos on youtube.
I want to start collecting some cool cards. It's ok if they are only commons and uncommons to start, even tokens.
Are those Ebay repacks a good way to start (They are cheap)? I am suspecting they take the good cards out even if some write they leave good cards in them.
Or maybe buy one of these 2000-5000 bulk cards lot?
Thxs for your help
Pat
What format(s) do you plan on playing? Magic is more about quality over quantity in most cases so it might be worth pointing you to something else depending on your format. If you plan on just playing pick up games with your friends, the bulk lots might be worth it. But, even then, I might suggest looking into specific decks you might want to play and trying to just buy the cards for those decks rather than buying a bulk lot and trying to build decks out of them. It will be more expensive this way, but your decks would likely be better.
Right now I just want to enjoy getting some cool cards then as I learn I will probably start focusing on specific cards.
I am probably going to buy a big bulk but I am going to study the sellers feedback and item description on Ebay to get a good lot.
Thanks for your help
Pat
As a person who's played for nearly two decades, and given the situation you're describing, I would recommend buying some pre-constructed decks (if you don't care for deckbuilding) or some pre-release kits of sets currently in the Standard Format (that have seeded packs) if you like the idea of building your own decks.
There are different formats of Magic, where the rules for deck-building vary among them. So not all decks can be used interchangeably from one format to the next - but you could still pick up a Standard Format pre-release kit, which would provide the tools to learn how to deckbuild and at least net you cards that are legal in Standard.
A "pre-release kit" is a box of booster packs and sometimes a "seeded pack" which is cards in a particular theme that is related to the themes of the particular set of magic cards. Some sets, say Ravnica themed ones, usually have prerelease kits tailored to a specific guild and the themes of that guild. Other sets it might be a less obvious theme and instead of a seeded pack, you'll get extra boosters from which to build a prerelease deck.
I would recommend getting a few prerelease kits that have seeded packs/themed packs to find where your interests lie. From there you'll have some direction for building decks/getting a sense of what it is you want to collect.
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
That is really a goldmine of information you just wrote. I have copied it on a notebook file on my PC and printed it also.
I will consult it often to help me start on the right track.
Thanks again
Pat
No problem, glad it is helpful to you
Also, I forgot to mention! Sealed pre-release kits also come with at least one foil date-stamped rare or mythic card (date stamp looks like gold leaf). These are always great collectibles for the chase rares/mythics, if you're so lucky to pull one.
Say for example, the Commander Format, where the decks are 100 cards and only 1 copy of each card is allowed in the deck-design (as opposed to 60 card decks with x4 copies per card allowed in all of the other formats) - the decks are designed around a legendary creature in that only the colors of that creature are allowed to be used in the deck. If you get lucky and pull a date stamped legendary creature, there's a good chance it is a highly sought after card.
I personally go out of my way to get my Commander as a date stamped foil if I can (some really old cards before foils became a thing there is no option for this). I also never deconstruct any of my decks, which is unusual, so when I decide on building something - I want the best looking version of that legendary creature possible and will cough up the $ for it. In my mind each deck is a unique creation in itself that I spent the time to homebrew and put the love into making. Sometimes I build decks in moments of inspiration that are significant to me and represent a special moment or memory in time. For this reason I also don't pull cards from one deck to fill into another... This is not normal. I have 30 some EDH decks and 30 some copies of Sol Ring. Not cheap to do that. But it is a thing that happened over a long time so the costs were mitigated.
Check out some decks in my signature if the Commander format interests you, you can playtest them too. Last I checked a year ago some 25k people viewed my decks. I also own those exact decks in person and they are what I play my friends with. Even the couple thousand dollar cards each, I own those.
ALSO! EDH = Commander, it's just the old name for the format (Elder Dragon Highlander) before WoTC made the Commander product to piggyback off sales
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