If you've ever been thinking about taking the plunge and starting an online collection, now is the time. While griping about the new system abounds it is certainly very playable. Not all features are enabled, but they will be... eventually. MTGO is too much of a gold mine for Wizards to fail to ultimately make it work, but for right now a lack of a feature is working IN FAVOR of the average online collector.

You see, for the moment there is no option to redeem a full online set for physical cards. At the same time the drafting rate has remained essentially the same as during the 2.5 days. This means that the online world is being flooded (FLOODED!) with Lorwyn and Morningtide cards that cannot be redeemed (thus removing them from online circulation). In turn, this driving card prices down like never before. The cost of standard cards has dropped an average of 20% since February, with the bulk of that reduction being in the more frequently draft Lorwyn and Morningtide sets.

An example? IRL a single Countryside Crusher costs $8-10 online you can easily find Crushers for 3tix each (tix are worth ~$.80-$.90) and if you look you can usually buy a set of four for just 10tix! A set for approximately the same cost as a single card IRL.

Now, bitterblossoms and Goyfs are still pretty pricey, getting involved in the Online game at a constructed level does still involve an investment but right now is the best time yet to "buy in." Get in the game now because prices will certainly rise again once redemption is enabled.

For more information on usage and current card value online check out this great thread: http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=1032226

Hope to see you in the queues!

-Robin

rwildernessr on MTGO

edit: PS - It looks like Monday 6/9 is the most recent "likely" date for shadowmoor cards to become available. Release events would presumably start the following Thursday (6/12).

Tags: MTGO Economics Online