Foil/Value question

[skyout]

I'm thinking about selling the majority of my collection and convert it to a couple of foil legacy decks. What are people's thoughts on the value proposition of this move and do people think having only a couple legacy decks help focus on mastering those?

[CutthroatCasual]

Assuming that you're selling some significant pieces of cardboard (revised list cards, Beta and older power and such), it's a tough call. Depending on what foils you get, you may or may not lose money over time. However, if that's not a concern for you, then go for it. Mastering a small few of decks is always better than being passable at many. In Legacy more so than any other format, the pilot that knows their deck better than the other has a rather sizable advantage, even if the MU is unfavorable (obviously, pilot skill only goes so far and cannot save horrible MUs, like Goblins v Miracles.)

Personally, I would never sell off black bordered power for cards that can be reprinted at any time.

[from Cairo]

I thinking having a larger more basic collection will likely increase in value at a better rate than considerably smaller collection of pimp cards. Having more individual cards leaves more opportunity for a given one to spike. A lot of the foil/foreign Legacy staples already demand a notable premium.

I don't think the size of ones collection or pimp commitment to a given deck really has any bearing on how well you master an archetype. You can sit down will HP white boarder Tier 1 deck and do the reps and play it well and be in great shape. You can have 3-4 other decks built to loan out or playtest against. Having more cards means more options, but they're just that, you also have the option to stick with the deck you want to master. Or you can have all foil mint Japanese versions of said Tier 1 deck. If you want to commit to playing something well it doesn't matter what the deck looks like.

[Ace/Homebrew]

I'd do it because I hate unweildy collections that explode all over an otherwise usable room in the house. I hate seeing stacks of cards on my dresser. I don't particularly find value in cards I'll never use if I can turn them into things I will use, even at a partial loss in value.

Buying foils and cards on the Reserved List seems like a safe-ish way to consolidate value from a scattered collection, but you'll lose some 'value' because the people or stores that have the rare or expensive cards you want will prefer cash to cardboard, and turning cardboard into cash leaks value.

Yes, having fewer deck options lets you better master them given the same amount of total time and effort invested in playing Legacy. Obvious point is obvious. :tongue:
Fewer deck choices also can lead to boredom. Plus deck strength waxes and wanes over time. I remember a friend telling me foiling out Maverick was a completely safe investment because it'll be a DTB forever. At the time, it certainly felt like it had been...

[keys]

I sold most of my collection except for one foil Legacy deck a few years ago in order to reduce the physical burden and raise some cash for tuition (I was moving to a new continent for school). I also kept my power because it's a safe investment, and to be able to convert the Legacy deck into Vintage if necessary. Recently I picked up enough Modern staples to do the same. I'd recommend this strategy if you think you'll get bored easily, but want to keep your collection lean. Legacy events aren't as widespread as they used to be, and it's also easier to play with casuals when you can adjust your deck according to someone else's chosen format.

Playing a similar archetype across different formats is also a great way to master it. It makes it easier to experiment with new cards, since some will immediately have an impact in certain formats, and others will take time to gain adoption. This doesn't work with all archetypes, but some (like a few Delver variants, Jund, Grixis control, MUD, ANT, Dredge and pretty much all tribal) can be played across Vintage, Legacy, and Modern with a few tweaks.

RE: Foils, I do think that they are a good long-term investment provided they are staples in at least one eternal format (but better if two). Original set foils, in particular, will maintain a considerable premium even if they are reprinted multiple times. Look at foil Torment Lavamancers, or foil Ravnica shock lands, for example.

Reserved list cards are also a good investment but pretty much everything on it has seen a spike already due to some kind of speculation.

[snorlaxcom]

I'm thinking about selling the majority of my collection and convert it to a couple of foil legacy decks. What are people's thoughts on the value proposition of this move and do people think having only a couple legacy decks help focus on mastering those?

I downsized my collection when I realized how much I had, but never ever used. It was legacy, standard, and modern/extended. Initially the multiple sets of forces and wastes were lent out to friends, but now we all have cards we need. I had a pimped rock deck that I sold to pay for school some years ago and it would be way higher now. Currently on Lands, but I was pretty pasionate about the deck before I made such a huge investment. Original set foils and rare languages help maintain value across eternal players through reprints. It also helps that the deck has multiple cards on the reserved list. Alpha/beta duals ftw.

[skyout]

Thanks everyone for your help! I think I'm going to pair down my collection and get some fbb duals and some foils.