Is a box of Dragons of Tarkir worth buying?
Economics forum
Posted on April 22, 2015, 12:19 p.m. by Viral_Assassin
As the title suggest I'm looking for advice. Second time posting this I think since I can't find my original post at all (looked through all the pages, as far as I'm aware I didn't break any rules to get it removed). My LGS has offered and advertised they are selling booster boxes for Dragons of Tarkir for flat $120 taxes all in. This is cheaper then they normally sell boxes for I'm just wondering if it's worth getting. I have almost nothing from this block besides prerelease. Meaning soon I'll have to invest to keep in standard.
Would you kind folks suggest picking up a box with its contents?
Please avoid talking about the prices of online and other stores as this LGS is a close friend and I buy from them when ever I can.
I actually would buy dtk over khans the fetches are cheap and theres more short term turnover cards in dtk i sort of reccommend it
April 22, 2015 12:28 p.m.
ThisIsBullshit says... #4
DtK has little eternal value, it's not a good idea unless you play standard.
April 22, 2015 12:38 p.m.
Viral_Assassin says... #5
I would have to use them at some point. Doesn't the first two sets rotate out leaving DtK left or something? That being said I've managed to trade for all kinds of fetches from friends. Play set of Windswept Heath Bloodstained Mire, Two of Polluted Delta and the white blue one I forgot the name of currently.
April 22, 2015 12:42 p.m.
Sparda1127 says... #7
No, the sets will still be in rotation. Theros and M15 is what will rotate out.
April 22, 2015 12:57 p.m.
For an explanation from someone I like a lot, check out his explanation of whether a box is worth or not.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Go3DLAfamm0
April 22, 2015 1:16 p.m.
I think what Viral_Assassin meant was that Khans of Tarkir and Fate Reforged will rotate out six months before Dragons of Tarkir due to the new Standard format with 2 sets per block, 2 blocks per year. That means DTK will be 6 months longer in Standard than KTK and FR despite currently being part of the same block.
From a financial point of view it is always a bad idea to open sealed product. It's a lottery and on average you will lose money. However it is fun to open packs and you can also draft with it. But if all you care about is money then you should buy cards or trade for them with cards you already have.
April 22, 2015 1:19 p.m.
hammerhead300 says... #10
Phitt said pretty much what I would've said. While there is a lot of fun in buying and opening packs due to the random nature of what you're going to get, financially and practically speaking, it's not an ideal investment. If you enjoy building your collection and taking a chance on pulling good cards from packs, a booster box isn't a bad way to go, but if your biggest concerns are building viable decks and spending as little as possible on them, then you should focus on buying/trading for singles from your LGS or other players.
April 22, 2015 1:32 p.m.
Viral_Assassin says... #11
Thanks everyone for the advice. Still not sure what I'm looking to do. I'd want it mostly to make decks. A little bit of me wants to open them for the walkers and other money cards if there is any.
April 22, 2015 1:38 p.m.
JakeHarlow says... #12
Making decks, fine. Trying to amass value? Less fine.
April 22, 2015 1:53 p.m.
Yeah, but if you're trying to make decks, then isn't buying or trading for singles is way more cost-efficient than opening packs? All you get is 2-3 repeat rares in a box, and even your trade fodder won't be all that good.
The general rule I've lived by is that boxes are good if you want to play draft or sealed. Otherwise? Not so much. Opening packs is a loosing proposition for most sets, so you may as well get some fun out of it.
April 22, 2015 3:31 p.m.
For many, Boxes are good if you are trying to get commons and uncommons.
If you have absolutely no DTK cards, and want to get cards other than Rares and Mythics, then it is often easier (not necessarily cheaper) to simply buy a box and get most of what you need/want.
No one who visits my LGS brings in commons and uncommons for trading. - My LGS doesn't make enough off common and uncommons to sell them... they usually just give them to new players.
So, if you want playsets of some of these, 1-2 boxes is the way to go.
After that, buy/trade for the Rares/Mythics you need/want.
So... is it worth buying a box of DTK for $120?
If you want the Anticipates, the Foul-Tongue Invocations, the Draconic Roars, the Silumgar's Scorns... and a number of other possibly playable cards, then yes, it's probably worth it...
Otherwise, just buy the singles you want/need.
April 22, 2015 4 p.m.
I would say no. Do not. Save your money for Origins and Mod Masters 2
April 22, 2015 4:12 p.m.
Viral_Assassin says... #16
Yeah I have like no DtK cards. Just two pre lease boxes plus what ever I've traded for singles. The only problem with saving for MM2 is that I won't be at my LGS come release. This is important as she sells them for pretty much what she gets them for. Not marking it up 300% and selling for $300+ a box. That being said by the time I'm back she will probably be sold out of MM2, and where I'm going away will have them for sure, but at a huge mark up like I've mentioned lol. might have to save for origins then xD.
April 22, 2015 5:04 p.m.
If you're gonna play Standard you should just use the money to buy singles for decks, otherwise yeah I think the box is worth it, there are some good value cards at the moment. I don't recommend buying it from your LGS though, you can get them on Ebay or Amazon for ~$100.
April 22, 2015 5:52 p.m.
DtK is not worth it at all. Not even remotely so.The only cards in this set worth over $10 are mythics, when the only value cards are mythics you know it's a really bad idea to buy it.
Tolarian Community College video of opening DtK:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZ6nMY8Va-Q
April 22, 2015 5:56 p.m.
I think buying a booster box is totally worth it. It's one of the most fun things you can do in magic... But only for the entertainment value. The financial value is almost never worth it.
April 22, 2015 8:30 p.m.
Viral_Assassin says... #20
So I'm getting mostly no from everyone. Thanks everyone! I think I'll pass on it this time. Might be worth going splits with a group and do draft or something. I'll ask my buddies and see what they think.
April 22, 2015 9:49 p.m.
Viral_Assassin: If buying one whole box isn't worth it, buying half a box isn't any more worth it.
That said, this is from a profit standpoint (I recommend buying none, if you absolutely have to then KTK). Doing a draft with a box is a ton of fun and can make even the most worthless box worth it in enjoyment.
April 22, 2015 9:56 p.m.
Viral_Assassin says... #22
Yeah it would just be fun with buddies. Cheapest box there at the moment so it would be all in good fun. Maybe do a sealed deck instead lol Idk yet.
April 22, 2015 9:59 p.m.
Splitting a box with a friend or 3 is always fun. What my friends and I do after most sets come out is order a box on Ebay for about $100, then pay in $25 each (so four of us) and do a 6 pack draft with 12 additional packs for prizes. That or one of my friends and I will just split a box 50/50 and not do a draft with it.
ZooGambler says... #2
The real question is whether or not you will use the cards in DTK in your decks. If you're just getting it for trade fodder, buy a KTK box.
April 22, 2015 12:22 p.m.