Why is Glimpse the Unthinkable so expensive!?
Economics forum
Posted on May 11, 2016, 6:48 a.m. by smackder
Hey guys! I recently been playing mill at my LGS for Modearn. I've got a pretty compedetive and fun mill list i've been playing around with but i've had to use Breaking / Entering instead of Glimpse the Unthinkable because of it's stupid price tag? Honestly why is it so expensive, does it get played in legacy? I understand it's crazy good, but it's not like mill gets played often. Would love to hear what you guys think, cheers.
It isnt played in anything its just the "best" mill card and only has one printing so it has a high price.
May 11, 2016 7:06 a.m.
GeminiSpartanX says... #4
Firstly, mill lists should run both Glimpse AND Breaking since they are both very good in that archtype ;P Mill is a very popular among casual players, and Glimpse also was only printed once in an older set. Glimpse is the most efficient mill spell for it's mana cost (other than activating Archive Trap for free), so since it's the best it's also the most expensive. When people use it, it's always as a 4-of which also helps to drive the price up similar to Snapcaster Mage and other 4-of format staples. It's doubtful that it will see any reprints since it destroys drafts (decks are only 40 cards), and Wizards makes sure nowadays that every set is draft-friendly.
One of the first decks I ever bought was the ravnica UB precon deck, Ravnica, City of Guilds : Dimir Intrigues, and one of the first additions I made to it was to buy the then-expensive playset of Glimpses (I think the playset cost me about $25). Since I'm a filthy casual at heart I've kept the deck up all these years and occasionally take down a modern FNM with it. (It's secretly the best deck against current Melira/Abzan company lists, btw). There's just something about milling your opponent out that leaves a heavy nostalgia-factor to games that keeps people from ripping apart and selling their old mill lists (at least that's the case for me!)
May 11, 2016 7:06 a.m.
Gidgetimer says... #5
As someone who plays mill in Legacy, Glimpse is nowhere near good enough for what that deck does. Glimpse is played only by casuals and people trying desperately to make mill a thing in modern. The only reason for the price is because people who have them don't want to sell them (what if they want to play mill some day) and people that want them have proven willing to pay that much.
May 11, 2016 7:46 a.m.
GeminiSpartanX says... #6
Gidgetimer- Mill in legacy is a completely separate deck from mill in Modern (combo oriented instead of burn-style). Also mill in Modern IS a thing, whether you like it or not. It may be tier 3, but it's there.
May 11, 2016 7:56 a.m. Edited.
Thanks, guys! Hoping for a reprint one day soon, but i don't see that day being any time soon tbh...
May 11, 2016 8:08 a.m.
Ohthenoises says... #8
Wedge from the mana source posted a deck tech on a modern mill list that's been 5-0ing modern leagues.
Personally it's cause Timmys are keeping the price up because they are trying to make it be a thing.
May 11, 2016 8:22 a.m.
Gidgetimer says... #9
GeminiSpartanX That is what I meant by "what that deck does". It combos. Milling 10 in a fair manner is not good enough.
I'm not sure why you are being so aggressive about me saying people are trying to make mill a thing in modern. By "trying to make it a thing" all I mean is that it sees some fringe play but can't really compete with tuned decks. It is pretty much the equivalent of saying it is tier 3. Can beat tier 2 decks with good play and a little luck, but folds to tier 1. If you feel I have slighted your deck choice I apologize. But it is uncalled for to try to make it out like I don't know what I am talking about or that I have some emotional reason to deny mill.
May 11, 2016 8:37 a.m.
GeminiSpartanX says... #10
Gidgetimer- I aggressively defend my decks when people claim they don't exist (ie- not a 'thing'). Perhaps it's just that particular phrase that lends itself to multiple unintentional interpretations. But honestly, I've beaten so many tier 1 & 2 lists with my mill deck that I feel like I'm shouting against a brick wall when I tell other people that mill can hold it's own against those lists and they're too set in their ways/what they've heard secondhand to listen. (Much like your blanket statement that mill folds to tier 1 lists). I never stated that you don't know what you're talking about, nor that you have an emotional reason to deny mill. Your basis of evaluating Glimpse in the context of a format where it doesn't see any play just seemed odd is all. However I am intimately familiar with Modern mill so I can say with assurity that Glimpse is a good card for the modern version of the deck, and that the deck can take down many higher-tiered modern lists.
May 11, 2016 8:57 a.m.
Gidgetimer says... #11
Third line into the fourth of the OP:
Honestly why is it so expensive, does it get played in legacy?
Is what I was responding to. He asked a question and I answered it. I'm not sure how this is me evaluating it in legacy. It is stating that it doesn't see play so that isn't the reason for the price.
The phrase "whether you like it or not" implies that for some reason I wouldn't like it if I felt mill was a thing. I personally love variety in formats and hope it does take hold. But currently I feel it isn't strong enough to hold its own. It may be because I have neatly won 2-0 against every modern mill deck I have played against for the last 3 years, but I don't feel it is a force to consider in the format. These may not have been very good builds for modern mill, or maybe I have just outplayed every single one of them. It just seems that they are always struggling to get those last 15 cards before I kill them. I personally don't feel this is secondhand knowledge, and would love to see mill do well enough that I would consider it a force to consider in modern. Currently however I don't feel it is.
May 11, 2016 9:10 a.m.
GeminiSpartanX says... #12
It looks like both of our initial responses were communicated ineffectively then (resulting in unintentional interpretations). As far as the viability of Modern mill, we'll just need to agree to disagree based on our experiences and move on.
May 11, 2016 9:48 a.m.
Modern Mill may not make it to the GP scenes but I've lost many games to mill at the FNM and PPTQ levels. It's definitely there, and it's definitely good.
May 11, 2016 11:35 a.m.
My mate runs a version of mill, and he hasn't got the glimpse, and it still does pretty nicely. Even beating my infect deck
MrWOO says... #2
It's the Lightning Bolt of Mill, and is one of those "If you're playing this deck, you need it" cards.
May 11, 2016 7:05 a.m.