Understanding Magic: The Gathering Card Values
Magic: The Gathering has been the original trading card game since 1993, and three decades of cards means a massive range of values. Some MTG cards are worth less than a penny. Others have sold for hundreds of thousands of dollars. Most fall somewhere in between, and knowing where your cards land on that spectrum is an important part of the hobby.
Whether you just inherited a box of old Magic cards or you are a newer player wondering which cards in your collection have value, this guide covers everything you need to know.
What Makes a Magic Card Valuable
Rarity
Every Magic card has a colored set symbol that indicates rarity. Black is common, silver is uncommon, gold is rare, and orange-red is mythic rare. Generally, higher rarity means higher potential value, but rarity alone does not determine price.
Playability
Magic is first and foremost a competitive game. Cards that are powerful in popular formats like Standard, Modern, or Commander often have high prices driven by player demand. A mythic rare that sees no competitive play might be worth less than an uncommon staple.
Age and Print Run
Cards from Magic's early years, particularly Alpha, Beta, and Unlimited editions from 1993, are extremely valuable due to their small print runs. Even common cards from these sets can be worth real money.
Condition
Card condition is graded on a scale from Near Mint down to Poor. A Near Mint card can be worth ten times more than the same card in Heavily Played condition. For older cards, the condition premium is even more dramatic.
Special Printings
Foil cards, extended art versions, borderless prints, and special promo editions typically carry a premium over their regular versions.
How to Check MTG Card Values
There are several reliable methods:
Price Aggregator Websites
Sites like Scryfall, MTGGoldfish, and TCGPlayer compile pricing data from multiple sources. You can search by card name, set, or collector number to see current market prices.
Marketplace Sold Data
Checking what a card actually sold for, rather than what it is listed at, gives you the most accurate price picture. Look at completed sales on major marketplaces.
Card Scanning Tools
When you have a large collection to evaluate, scanning cards one by one with an app is far faster than manual searches. Riivster offers free card scanning that works with Magic: The Gathering, Pokemon, and Yu-Gi-Oh cards. Scan a card with your phone camera, and it is instantly identified and added to your digital collection.
Cards That Are Commonly Undervalued
New collectors sometimes overlook cards that are worth checking:
- Older uncommons: Some uncommon cards from 1990s sets are worth more than modern mythic rares.
- Commander staples: Cards that are popular in Commander (the most-played casual format) hold steady value even if they are not used in competitive tournaments.
- Land cards: Special land printings, particularly full-art basics, shock lands, and fetch lands, are consistently valuable.
- Foils from older sets: Foil printing was introduced in 1999. Old foils in good condition are often worth significant premiums.
Protecting Your Valuable Magic Cards
Once you identify valuable cards, protect your investment:
- Sleeve immediately: Put valuable cards in penny sleeves, then into a rigid top loader.
- Store properly: Keep cards away from direct sunlight, humidity, and extreme temperatures.
- Handle carefully: Always hold cards by the edges. Oils from your fingers can damage card surfaces over time.
- Track digitally: Maintain a digital record of your valuable cards in case of loss, theft, or insurance claims.
Building a Digital Collection Inventory
A digital inventory of your Magic collection pays for itself many times over. You can check values before trades, avoid buying duplicates, and track how your collection's total value changes over time. Scanning apps make building this inventory painless.
Try Riivster free at riivster.com to scan and catalog your Magic: The Gathering collection. Every card you scan becomes part of your searchable digital library, and you can even use your scanned cards to battle friends in Riivster's creature battle system.