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Thread. So for my own curiosity I wanted to look at the impact of mystery booster reprints on card market value. I read a lot of “reprints are good because they decrease prices” and as a new player I kind of have to take this as gospel.
But is it actually true? And what kind of meaningful impact is there? Does it thrust high impact singles into affordability or just give the price a bit of a wobble? Now some disclaimers: I’m by no means experienced or an expert, but that’s kind of my point. I’m the new guy.
I’m also by no means an economist or even particularly skilled at maths. Again, this is kind of my point. I’m the average joe, the every man. What impact do these reprints have on me or people like me? Also Mystery Boosters came out on March 13th, not super long ago.
So I’m going to look at the top 5 priciest cards from Mystery Booster packs and see how prices have changed with other print runs. If this methodology doesn’t work for you, please do feel free to do your own study. I’d be interest in your results and conclusions.
So the cards I’m looking at are: Mana crypt, Teferi’s protection, Demonic Tutor, Bloom Tender & Rhystic Study. Price wise these are certainly the big hitters out Mystery Boosters.
Eternal Masters Mana Crypt is just shy of $190 and actually increased in price temporarily in March. The mystery booster one is pretty consistently around $150 offering a $40 saving, which is not to be sniffed at, 22% off after all. But does $149 make it affordable?
MB Tefs Prot is $3.50ish cheaper. Ok, that’s only what 8.5% difference? Someone check my maths. Tbh if I’m prepared to pay $42 I’m not really impacted by this?
Demonic tutor down by $6.97 for a 17% saving. This one actual feels impactful? Like I’m not sure I’d pull the trigger on a card store but I’d be tempted.
Bloom tender down $14 for a 30% saving. Ok that’s nice. Still outside of what I’m personally prepared to spend on a card, but 30% off is nice.
Finally a card close to my heart and on my personal wish list. Naturally, because I want it, it increased in price. Become 97c more expensive for a -3.5% “discount”. Typical 
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I’ll be honest, these are bigger savings than I thought initially when I started looking at this, and of course this is over a short period of time and not exactly normal times. But whilst these changes probably excite players with larger collections or investors...
...do they do anything for new players like me? No, not really. All told if reprints are the proposed assistance to new players building up a collection of staples in eternal formats without spending considerable money this is either not it, or it’s not being done enough.
I freely admit my methodology is limited and my opinion biased, but I’m not really seeing considerable impact on the newer player to eternal formats. And that’s ok? Guess reprints and the like aren’t for me? Again? So what is?
We’re currently a week after the c20 launch and most decks are sold out or doubled in price in stores or gouging on eBay for much more. You can’t tell me they’ve been predominantly bought by newer players. I’m becoming curious what product is for us/them?
I’m not sure what the solution is either but in the current situation gambling on double masters boosters seems he way? At least that way the artists get paid? I have no real conclusions or answers from all of this. Thank you for coming to my Ted talk.
