Category Archives: MTG Fast Finance

MTG Fast Finance Podcast: Episode 29

MTG Fast Finance is our weekly podcast covering the flurry of weekly financial activity in the world of Magic: The Gathering. MFF provides a fast, fun and useful sixty minute format. Follow along with our seasoned hosts as they walk you through this week’s big price movements, their picks of the week, metagame analysis and a rotating weekly topic.

Show Notes: Aug 18th, 2016

Segment 1: Top Movers of the Week

Note: Price movements reflect posted NM prices, and may not represent prices players have paid.

Greater Gargadon (Time Spiral)
Start: $4.00
Finish: $16.00
Gain: +$12.00 (+300%)

Collective Defiance (Eldritch Moon)
Start: $1.50
Finish: $5.00
Gain: +$3.50 (+233%)

Aluren (Tempest)
Start: $15.00
Finish: $45.00
Gain: +$30.00 (+200%)

Conflagrate (Time Spiral)
Start: $3.00
Finish: $7.00
Gain: +$4.00 (+133%)

Bridge from Below (Future Sight)
Start: $10.00
Finish: $20.00
Gain: +$10.00 (+100%)

Golgari Grave-Troll (Foil, Ravnica)
Start: $38.00
Finish: $75.00
Gain: +$37.00 (+98%)

Bloodghast (Zendikar)
Start: $22.00
Finish: $32.00
Gain: +$10.00 (+43%)

Segment 2: Cards to Watch

James Picks:

  1. Selfless Spirit (Eldritch Moon) Confidence Level 7: $8 to $15 (+88%, 0-12+ months)Card may have a future in Modern as a 4-of in one of a couple of decks. Like this pick a lot more closer to $5, but willing to take on a few sets now.
  2. Wasteland Strangler (Foil, Battle for Zendikar) Confidence Level 6: $2.5 to $10 (+300%, 24+ months) Card keeps showing up in decks despite the banning of Eye of Ugin. Eg: http://www.hareruyamtg.com/en/k/kD13518S/
  3. Thought-Knot Seer (Foil, Oath of the Gatewatch) Confidence Level 8: $15 to $30 (+100%, 12+ months) Between Modern and Legacy play this constant 4-of should be able to get above $30 within the next couple of years.

Travis Picks:

  1. Rest in Peace, Return to Ravnica, Confidence Level 8: $4 to $10 (+150%, 0-6+ months)
  2. Council’s Judgement, Conspiracy, Confidence Level 7: $5 to $10 (+100%, 6-12+ months)

Disclosure: Travis and James may own speculative copies of the above cards.

Segment 3: Metagame Week in Review

This past weekend saw three big Standard tournaments: GP Portland and GP  Rimni, as well as the SCG Classic in Syracuse. Bant Collected Company continued to be a major force, despite not making as strong a showing at Pro Tour Eldritch Moon. Izzet Thermo-Alchemist finished first at the SCG event.

The SCG Modern Open in Syracuse was won by the latest strain of Dredge deck, featuring Golgari Grave-Troll, Bridge from Below, Greater Gargadon, Prized Alamgam and Conflagrate, all cards on the move.

Segment 4: Topic of the Week

Conspiracy: Take the Crown previews kicked off this week, with a plethora of worthy reprints including Serum Visions, Inquisition of Kozilek, Burning Wish, Phyrexian Arena, Wild Pair and Exotic Orchard. The guys theorized that IoK and Serum Visions would be most likely to rebound from a likely price decline  a bit down the road. Burgeoning foils are likely to be lovely and should see some increase in demand.

Of the new cards, Sanctum Prelate, Daretti, Ingenious Iconoclast , Arcane Savant and Leovold, Emissary of Trest have caused the most buzz so far.

MTG Fast Finance Podcast: Episode 28

 
MTG Fast Finance is our weekly podcast covering the flurry of weekly financial activity in the world of Magic: The Gathering. MFF provides a fast, fun and useful sixty minute format. Follow along with our seasoned hosts as they walk you through this week’s big price movements, their picks of the week, metagame analysis and a rotating weekly topic.

Show Notes: Aug 13th, 2016

Segment 1: Top Movers of the Week

Note: Price movements reflect posted NM prices, and may not represent prices players have paid.

Conflagrate (Foil, Eldritch Moon)
Start: $11.00
Finish: $35.00
Gain: +$24.00 (+218%)

Thespian’s Stage">Thespian’s Stage (Foil, Gatecrash)
Start: $13.25
Finish: $38.00
Gain: +$24.75 (+187%)

Desert Twister">Desert Twister (Arabian Nights)
Start: $7.50
Finish: $16.00
Gain: +$8.50 (+186%)

Pithing Needle (Foil, Saviors)
Start: $40.00
Finish: $10.00
Gain: +$60.00 (+150%)

Voldaren Pariah/mtg_card] (Eldritch Moon)
Start: $1.15
Finish: $2.75
Gain: +$1.60 (+140%)

[mtg_card]Emrakul, the Promised End">Voldaren Pariah/mtg_card] (Eldritch Moon)
Start: $1.15
Finish: $2.75
Gain: +$1.60 (+140%)

[mtg_card]Emrakul, the Promised End (Eldritch Moon)
Start: $12.50
Finish: $28.00
Gain: +$15.50 (+124%)

Strip Mine (Antiquities)
Start: $12.50
Finish: $25.00
Gain: +$12.50 (+100%)

Kozilek’s Return (Oath of the Gatewatch)
Start: $5.50
Finish: $11.00
Gain: +$5.50 (+100%)

Traverse the Ulvenwald (Shadows Over Innistrad)
Start: $2.00
Finish: $3.75
Gain: +$1.75 (+88%)

Deranged Hermit (Foil, Urza’s Legacy)
Start: $27.50
Finish: $50.00
Gain: +$22.50 (+81%)

Segment 2: Cards to Watch

James Picks:

  1. Cryptbreaker (Eldritch Moon) Confidence Level 7: $2 to $6 (+40%, 0-12+ months)Foils at $5 also likely to represent good value long term.
  2. Hanweir Battlements (Foil, Eldritch Moon) Confidence Level 6: $5 to $10 (+100%, 12+ months
  3. Hanweir Garrison (Foil, Eldritch Moon) Confidence Level 6: $5 to $15 (+150%, 12+ months)

Meld cards represent a unique long term collectible and foils are likely to rise over time. Garrison has a shot at some Standard success and could go $2 to $5 in the right meta with it being used as a 4-of in multiple decks. Battlements often just a 1 or 2-of, and has more to gain but a lesser chance to pop at $1 for non-foils.

4. mtg_card]Thalia’s Lancers[/mtg_card] (Foil, Eldritch Moon) Confidence Level 8: $3 to $10 (+333%, 12+ months)

As an open-ended synergy card that can fetch up legendary permanents, in EDH, Lancers is has the potential in to be pulling out Griselbrand, Gaea’s Cradle or Umezawa’s Jitte. That power and flexibility likely means that these foils are destined to top $10 or even $20 given a few years to mature.

Travis Picks:

  1. Golgari Grave Troll">Golgari Grave Troll, Ravnica: City of Guilds, Confidence Level 7: $9 to $20 (+122%, 0-6+ months)

Disclosure: Travis and James may own speculative copies of the above cards.

Segment 3: Metagame Week in Review

Pro Tour Eldritch Moon was a dramatic affair full of big swingy matches that required tight play and saw the Channel Fireball crew dominate the Top 8. Emrakul, Traverse the Ulvenwald, Liliana, the Last Hope and Elder Deep Fiend are just some of the cards the guys cover in breaking down the Pro Tour metagame.

Segment 4: Topic of the Week

TCGPlayer.com has added additional data points to card pages this week. The guys talk through which ones are useful, which not, and speculate on the impact on the marketplace of freshly minted buylist data.

MTG Fast Finance: Episode 26

MTG Fast Finance is a weekly podcast that tries to break down the flurry of financial activity in the world of Magic: The Gathering into a fast, fun and useful thirty minute format. Follow along with our seasoned hosts as they walk you through this week’s big price movements, their picks of the week, metagame analysis and a rotating weekly topic.

Show Notes: July 30th, 2016

Segment 1: Top Movers of the Week

Selfless Spirit">Selfless Spirit (Eldritch Moon)
Start: $2.75
Finish: $5.00
Gain: +$2.25 (+80%)

Dakmor Salvage">Dakmor Salvage (Future Sight)
Start: $1.00
Finish: $2.00
Gain: +$1.00 (+100%)

Desert Twister">Desert Twister (Arabian Nights)
Start: $7.50
Finish: $16.00
Gain: +$8.50 (+115%)

Fortune Thief">Fortune Thief (Time Spiral)
Start: $1.00
Finish: $2.25
Gain: +$1.25 (+125%)

Statecraft">Statecraft (Mercadian Masques)
Start: $1.00
Finish: $4.00
Gain: +$3.00 (+300%)

Soldevi Excavations">Soldevi Excavations (Aliiances)
Start: $1.00
Finish: $6.00
Gain: +$5.00 (+500%)

Timerian Fiends">Timerian Fiends (Homelands)
Start: $0.50
Finish: $9.00
Gain: +$8.50 (+1,700%)

Segment 2: Cards to Watch

James Picks:

  1. Dark Confidant (Modern Masters 2015) Confidence Level 7: $32 to $45 (+40%, 6-12+ months)
  2. Kozilek, the Great Distortion (Oath of the Gatewatch) Confidence Level 7: $4 to $10 (+150%, 12+ months)

Travis Picks:

  1. Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger">Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger, Battle for Zendikar, Confidence Level 8: $11 to $20 (+80%, 0-12+ months)
  2. Sigil of the Empty Throne">Sigil of the Empty Throne, Magic Origins, Confidence Level 7: $0.25 to $3 (+1100%, 12+ months)

Disclosure: Travis and James may own speculative copies of the above cards.

Segment 3: Metagame Week in Review

SCG Columbus was the first weekend of Eldritch Moon Standard. Bant Company crushed the metagame, representing over 33% of all decks on day two. Where can we look for opportunities in this seemingly lopsided metagame?

Segment 4: Topic of the Week

This week we learned that Eldritch Moon boxes are mappable. What does that mean, and what will the ramifications be?


MTG Fast Finance: Episode 21 (June 24th)

by Cliff Daigle (@wordofcommander) & James Chillcott (@mtgcritic)

MTG Fast Finance is a weekly podcast that tries to break down the flurry of financial activity in the world of Magic: The Gathering into a fast, fun and useful thirty minute format. Follow along with our seasoned hosts as they walk you through this week’s big price movements, their picks of the week, metagame analysis and a rotating weekly topic.

Show Notes: June 17th

Segment 1: Top Movers of the Week

Promise of Bunrei (Saviors of Kamigawa)
Start: $2.00
Finish: $5.50
Gain: +$3.50 (+175%)

Nimbus Maze (Future Sight)
Start: $7.50
Finish: $20.00
Gain: +$12.50 (+167%)

Moat (Legends)
Start: $350.00
Finish: $800.00
Gain: +$450.00 (+129%)

Flickerwisp (Foil, Eventide)
Start: $9.00
Finish: $15.00
Gain: +$6.00 (+67%)

Toxic Deluge (Foil, Eternal Masters)
Start: $50.00
Finish: $90.00
Gain: +$40.00 (+80%)

Belbe’s Portal (Foil, Nemesis)
Start: $13.50
Finish: $21.00
Gain: +$7.50 (+56%)

Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale (Legends)
Start: $1100
Finish: $1450
Gain: $350 (+32%)

Segment 2: Cards to Watch

James’ Picks:

  1. Pyroblast (Foil, Eternal Masters)
    •  Confidence Level: 8
    • Buy Price: $35
    • Sell Target: $50 (+43%)
    • Hold Time: 0-12+ months
  2. The Gitrog Monster (Foil, Shadows Over Innistrad)
    • Confidence Level: 7
    • Buy Price: $13
    • Sell Price: $20 (+54%)
    • Hold Time: (6-12+ months)
  3.  Tireless Tracker (Foil, Shadows Over Innistrad)
    • Confidence Level: 6
    • Buy Price: $10
    • Sell Price: $15 (+50%)
    • Hold Time: (12+ months)

Cliff’s Picks:

  1. Linvala, the Preserver (Oath of the Gatewatch)
    • Confidence Level: 8
    • Buy Price: $3
    • Sell Price: $8 (+167%)
    • Hold Time: 6+ months
  2. Eldrazi Mimic (Foil, Shadows Over Innistrad)
    • Confidence Level: 6
    • Buy Price: $5
    • Sell Price: $10 (+100%)
    • Hold Time: 12+ months
  3. Meren of Clan Nel Toth (C15)
    • Confidence Level: 7
    • Buy Price: $7
    • Sell Price:  $15 (+114%)
    • Hold Time: 12+ months

Disclosure: Cliff and James own some of the cards on their pick list.

Segment 3: Metagame Week in Review

The Standard SCG Open in Orlando on June 18th was the big tournament of the week. The usual suspects dominated the top tables including WR Humans, GW Tokens and 4-Color Rites decks. An Abzan Season’s Past deck in the hands of Jeff Hoogland made Top 8. In the Modern Classic an Esper Zur, the Enchanter list made 6th place running four copies of both Zur and Geist of Saint Traft as well as four copies of Jace, Vryn’s Prodigy.

Segment 4: Topic of the Week

Early Eldritch Moon spoilers were the topic this week. Cliff was underwhelmed by Ulrich, the spoiled werewolf commander. Eldrazi Wish seemed likely to show up in Modern or Legacy eventually. James thinks the new Emrakul is more powerful than most are giving it credit for.

James Chillcott is the CEO of ShelfLife.net, The Future of Collecting, Senior Partner at Advoca, a designer, adventurer, toy fanatic and an avid Magic player and collector since 1994.