Magic: The Gathering Trading

There are similar types of players in all CCGs. Knowing who you're dealing with as quickly as possible can make trading a lot easier.

Tournement Player: These players tend to play only the most recent formats. They tend to like absolute value on cards that come from price guides like Scrye or Inquest. While they know the value of older cards, only the cards they need for their decks right now, while the format still calls for them, will matter to them the most. In Magic this is typically Type 2.

Casual Player: Casual players care little to not at all about tournement formats and mostly play within their small circle. They get attached to certain cards and effects and aside from a general idea of value, have no clear idea what the $$ amount of a card would be outside of this. "Fun" and "Theme" decks are common among them, and it may be only in those types of cards they'll have an interest.

Collecter: Collecters are just that. They only collect cards and rarely play. Collecters are all about the book value. You'll run into these types all over at Conventions like GenCon and Origins, usually sitting behind a booth. Collecters seem to have everything, yet always have a small list of things they want or need that shouldn't be hard to get despite their massive collections. They have narrow interests as trading goes.

The short answer is that it doesn't.

Knowing the rarity of a card can be important for new players who have not yet understood how to find a card's rarity by looking at it. Or how to figure it out if, at the time of printing, there was no system in place to discern rarity. Typically, a common card has a black expansion symbol, an umcommon has a silver expansion symbol, and a rare card has a gold expansion symbol.

Oblviously you can't expect to trade a pile of common cards for that valuable rare you want. This is really the only affect rarity has.

Valuable commons and uncommons have existed since day 1 of Magic. They include Force of Will(uncommon), Sol Ring(uncommon), and Wild Mongrel(common). There are surely a hundred more extremely valuable cards that are not rare.

The secondary market is where you'll find the most fluxuations in price and value while you trade. It could be described as the general consensus to a card's value among the company you're in. This could be at a large convention, at a tournement, a card shop, or while you sit among your friends and trade.

This general measuring stick for a card's value should be known to you whether you're looking to get rid of cards you have or to trade for a specific one.

Depending upon the players and environment it could be affected by the current cards and sets in the most recent formats as well. Cards popular in Type 2 can drop like a rock in value when they rotate out. A good trader will know of this impending fall and snatch up however many copies of the card they need the moment it's value plummets.

Why would someone trade for a card that has seemingly lost it's value?

All cards will generally have 2 values placed on them. Their monetary value and how valuable they will be in a real game.

Knowing the slight differences in each category it's possible to trade for cards you may not think you have the trade stock for. This is because the person you're trading with holds more value on the Play side than the Dollar side.

Players who look at Play Value first and foremost tend to be part collecter as well. They understand the value of the card as a dollar amount, but also understand the value of a card in real time use.

Dollar Value players have a habit of looking for very specific things and are, most of the time, Type 2 players. They'll tell you exactly what they're looking for, all you have to do is have it, or get it.

For the avid trader, it's possible to tell what kind of person you're trading with, with an educated look through their trade binders. You will need to know where the person places more emphasis, play or dollar value.

This effects the trade value of a card greatly. Unless you run into a casual player a decent knowledge of the most up to date formats is nearly a requirement for effective trading. Formats usually fall into two categories.

Type 2: Only the most recent sets are included and rotated out on a predetermined schedule. This keeps the card pool small and the deck's constantly change and evolve as new sets are released.

Type 1: Type 1 usually means ALL cards are allowed. Casual players play this type the most so they can make use of every card they own. With Magic's 10+ year history Type 1 contains thousands of cards.

Most formats come from these two formats, as other variations(like Legacy and Extended) simply add more cards to the card pool using the same rotating set schedule as Type 2. Your primary concern is what cards are valuable in Type 2 and when every card can be played. The card's value will tend to spread itself out among the formats it's legal and valuable in giving you a general idea of it's price and value.

All above should be second nature to any serious CCG player.

That out of the way, what you really came to this Lens for...

Trading is a gentleman's warzone.

You must know the type of person you're trading with well, be able to read body language, and through normal conversation figure out as much about their style of play and cards they like as possible.

You will usually only be allowed to see their trade binder. This is their surplus, their extra, the cards they put value on to get rid of to get something else they need. Your binder should be the same. Don't put anything into it you are not willing to trade.

You should be poker-like in the majority of your actions. The subtle nuances of your behavior and personality are unconsciously noted by those you trade with, the sooner you realize this and know how to use it, the more effective you'll be.

For a long time I didn't realize how important this simple act was. How you act as you exchange binders is very important. At this stage you are both still bantering but small things need to be looked at.

If possible make sure you are the only person that is trading with the person who has cards you want or need. Before openning their binder make sure they are going to be looking at yours too.

It's possible here to tell if the person is trading simply to trade, or if they're looking for very specific cards. This is an openning to find out about their deck building tendencies as well. If you get important pieces of information out of them, what you find in their binder will be much less surprising however big or small their binder happens to be.

Different people do different things at this stage.

There are people who point and say "I need that!" or have their jaws drop at the openning pages of someone's binder. People tend to put their best stuff in the front so knowing this you can gauge what the rest of it may contain and even when they started playing and what type of player they are.

Whether you want certain cards now at this point is irrelevant. Glance through the first time making mental notes. Pay attention to them as they look through your binder. Watch if they stop at certain pages, flip through indifferently, or if they seem to be looking for something particular.

People that stop on certain pages usually have found one of two things. They've either found something they want or need, or an obscure card they've never seen before and are reading what it does. If they flip through it typically means disinterest. Most experienced traders will flip through the first time. Simply asking them if they found anything will tell you where their eyes went and where their minds are at, as well as they did the same mental noting you have done.

By now you should have a pretty good idea what kind of person and player you're dealing with. You can figure out how much they value their cards compared to what you value their cards at.

A common ritual now is pulling every card of interest out of the binders to negotiate the deal. A well informed trader can look at the cards and tell imediately if it's one-sided. I try and keep the trades as even as possible, but people will sometimes take a loss to get what they want, as should you.

At this point you're simply discussing if the cards in question are still up for trade given what is being offered, and the price or value of the cards. Any card not deemed tradeworthy in this new arrangement is quickly pulled out of the trading line-up. Dollar Value players will go by the book at this point, while Play Value players will be looking at the cards in the context of their own decks and use. Prices can be haggled, even with collecters.

Any hidden information is typically given out at this point. These are things such as looking for a card you do not own or telling you they simply need more copies of the card they want from you. The importance of this is filtering trades to get things you want, by getting things they want.

If someone you met has the card they want, but they've traded unsuccessfully for it yet you find out form them you have the card they're looking for, simply call off the trade telling them you'll get the card they need so long as the deal still stands when you return. Friends you are with can help here by assigning them to get certain cards for you that you will trade from them if they can get them. Make use of all cards available, even if they are not yours.

At this point you should know huge amounts of information about the person you're trading with. Prices have been agreed upon and the deal is closed, either with a nod, handshake, or by removing the cards from the table.

It's important to keep the lines open with anyone you successfully traded with. You may run into them again and not expect to see them. This is where making sure the deals are as even as possible has the most effect. From the causal to tournement player people will often see the same people over and over again.

When the deal is closed make sure they know you're easy to trade with, are willing to get things they need in exchange for things you need, and perhaps hang out with them and not talk shop.

The networking side of trading is rarely looked at, but incredibly important for access to rare gems and hard-to-find cards you would not have access to otherwise. The people you know and who like you the easier it will be to trade with them, even if you only see them once a year.

Finally, make sure the deal is in agreement from both sides. Askng if it is even is usually not necessary unless you're dealing with a friend or someone you've traded with extensively at lots of events or occassions. Trust is a huge part of the whole trading ritual working.

Confidence goes a long way in trading. It is easy to spot someone new to the game or new to trading. Some learn this the hard way and never develop the confidence they need even if they have a binder full or worthless rares. Those may be just the thing someone is looking for and willing to trade heavily for, however. One man's trash is another man's treasure in the world of trading. Simply FIND the person who needs your stuff.

You must know the value of your cards and realize the only value a card really has is what anyone is willing to trade or buy it for. Everything can be haggled, at every step.

Your posture, personality, and the way you do things all send signals to who you're trading with. Be aware of your body language. Control what signals you send off.

You may need to feign disinterest in a card to get it, or act overly excited about a card you don't want, but someone else you know DOES. Adapt.

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