Buying

[Blazingblevins]

I need some opinions. In the last 2 months since I have started I have spend nearly $400 on magic cards mainly dragons maze but I do have some of m13,dark ascension,gategrash and return to ravinca.  I have well over 1000 and have some decent cards to show for. But should I buy more booster packs of dragons maze since I bought the booster box and have more than 4 of a lot of cards. Or should I build on older sets or just buy singles and build a awesome deck?

[Blazingblevins]

Duels decks sorin vs tibalt also. Which I traded tibalt for a voice of resurgence

[InfinitiveDivinity]

Duels decks sorin vs tibalt also. Which I traded tibalt for a voice of resurgence

First off, very nice trade, lol. Second, it really depends in what you want to do. Are you looking to build a large collection or have a nice deck for play. (Standard I assume?) If you're looking to build a solid deck, I'd go singles. If you want to just simply own a decent amount of cards, go booster packs. I personally like cracking packs, because it's random, you never know what you may find, I enjoy the gamble. Singles, you know exactly what your paying for.

[Blazingblevins]

Yeah I know the trade was "decent" lol. But I do want to have a big collection but also have the ability to put amazing decks together. I just don't want to keep paying for cards I already have. And yes I like to gamble 2. But I have spent so much already. Just hard decision. Hmm

[Paraluke]

I place a limit to the boosters I bought. Example a box or two of dragon maze and I will stop buying DM boosters. If I need singles I will buy direct.

[Gorzo]

Singles will get you more for your money than buying packs, but for a new player I understand how that can look/seem less enjoyable than cracking a new pack open and hoping to score big.

Be careful though, TCG's are known to be addictive, so if you feel you're going a little overboard with your magic buying budget, it's okay to step back and work with what you've got. It's not worth it to break your bank over a card game.

[Pleeb]

Another option:  decide how much you can afford to spend in, say a month. Buy cards however you want in that month without going over budget. Buy boosters to get the commons your looking for or if your not sure what cards you want. When deck building, figure out what you want and buy the singles.

[BcBudds]

I place a limit to the boosters I bought. Example a box or two of dragon maze and I will stop buying DM boosters. If I need singles I will buy direct.

Yeah something along the lines of this is what I do, although its usually a fatpack and not a booster box , gives me 9 'chances' for a lucky card and a few other items (great for new magic players it has land, a 20 sided die and a book list with all cards from set) then whatever I need for a deck I just buy singles... Believe me it will be cheaper unless you are down to have octouplets of the same cards

Prepaid visa's on TCG player ftw 

[MuggyWuggy]

I recently restarted my interest in MTG earlier this year, I've bought a box of gate crash and also a box n fatpack of DGM. I've probably spent another 150-250 on eBay. I'll be collecting and piecing new sets together as they get released by buying a box and fatpack. I'll be also trying to collect the first expansions and revised slowly...

My extra cards I'm trying to sell in repacks or as mini lots on Craigslist and eBay. My first round I was able to resell about 60-80 repacks around $2 each. So that's something to try if you find your collection getting excessive.

I would agree with most here though, don't buy more than a box per set. Thankfully a box issues you many pauper paydays. I feel the last two sets have some amazing commons that will eventually never be reprinted and be sought after in modern/legacy/edge play

[Crapshooter]

I honestly like packs the trade off extras for what I need and you'd be surprised what things you don't want at the time that become useful or expensive. I hated pulling  {Blasphemous Act} all the time but now I have plenty to trade for what I want now.

[Rass]

I like buying boxes with a few people and do draft or sealed for fun. Boxes are cheaper to packs and splitting it up makes it more economical. But before you do this make sure everyone agrees on what your doing. 

[Quackmaster5]

I personally enjoy cracking packs bc even if I don't break even, I usually find uses for them, even if it's just for a casual deck. And there's more enjoyment over a deck you personally created from your collection then "buying" your deck. I'm a homebrew builder so I always encourage to show variety. That's the best part of this game, there is so many options. And take it from someone whose been playing for a while, decks that are built to just "go through the motion" get old and boring quick. I have a five color deck that is made up of the random cards I like but I have no deck fit for it. It's a riot to play bc you never know what you'll get. And my friends hate it because I have random board wipes and {Scrambleverse} type cards in it. Lmao.

[MisterJH]

Singles are cheaper in the long run. Boosters are for the rush and thrills of pack opening. Id suggest buy singles and learn to draft, its FUN

[MuggyWuggy]

I find the pack rush gets old fast (after you pulls box

Sealed limited drafts are my favorites now

Learn to play with a pool of cards in an evening

[Blazingblevins]

Thanks everybody for your opinions and suggestions. I think I am going to just buy a pack or 2 a week then as I am building I will get cards I need or want.