Mana Market Watch FAQ

About Mana Market Watch

What is Mana Market Watch?

A free weekly email and website that helps Magic: The Gathering players avoid overpaying for cards. Each week it shows what the best-selling cards really sell for on TCGplayer, and the free Price Check tells you if an asking price is fair.

Is it free?

Yes. The Sunday email, the website and the Price Check are all free.

How often do I get the email?

Once a week, on Sundays at 7 AM PT.

Do you sell my email?

No. We only use your email to send the Sunday email and any price alerts you set.

How do I unsubscribe?

Every email has an unsubscribe link at the bottom. Click it and the emails stop.

Where do your prices come from?

Only from TCGplayer market prices. We use no other price sources, and prices change fast, so check the live price before you buy.

Which formats do you cover?

Magic overall. The Top 10 is the week's best-selling cards on TCGplayer, not split by format, and each Sunday email also includes one low-cost deck idea.

How is the Top 10 picked?

It ranks cards by English Near Mint copies sold on TCGplayer over the last 7 full days, one printing per card. It is based on real sales, not on articles or opinions.

Is this price fair?

How do I know if an MTG card price is fair?

Open the Price Check, pick the card and printing, and type the asking price. It compares that price with today's TCGplayer market price and gives you a verdict.

What do the Price Check verdicts mean?

Below market means under the TCGplayer market price. Fair price means up to 10% over, A bit high means 10–30% over, and Overpriced means more than 30% over.

Which website has the most accurate MTG prices?

No site is perfect. We use TCGplayer market price because it comes from real recent sales on a large US marketplace, but it is a guide, not a guarantee.

Why are my local game store's singles prices higher than online?

Stores have rent, staff and stock costs that online sellers often don't, so prices are often higher. Type the store's price into the Price Check to see how far over market it is, then decide if the convenience is worth it.

Why do some TCGplayer listings have strange prices?

Individual sellers set their own listing prices, so some are far above what the card really sells for. Market price is based on sales, so very high listings don't set it; compare against market price, not the highest listing.

Is a card that just came out priced fairly yet?

Often not. We skip a card's release week, and if a card has fewer than 10 days of sales after that we label it “New, still settling” instead of giving a firm verdict.

How TCGplayer prices work

What is TCGplayer Market Price?

It is TCGplayer's estimate of what a card is selling for, based on recent completed sales. It is the price we use everywhere on Mana Market Watch.

What is the difference between Market Price, Low Price and listed prices?

Market Price reflects recent sales. Low Price is the cheapest current listing, which may be a worse condition or have high shipping. Listed prices are just what sellers are asking right now.

How is TCGplayer Market Price calculated?

TCGplayer calculates it from recent completed sales of that printing; it explains the details on its help page. We show it per printing and finish, with a 30-day chart of English Near Mint prices.

Which price should I pay?

Aim to pay at or near market price. Paying up to 10% over still counts as a fair price in our checker; more than that, it may be worth shopping around.

When to buy

When is the best time to buy singles from a new set?

Prices of new cards often swing a lot in the first weeks, and many players wait for them to settle. It doesn't always happen, so check the 30-day chart in the Price Check before you buy.

How can I tell if a card is near its monthly low?

The arrows on our site do that: ↓ means today's price is in the bottom third of its month and at least 10% under its monthly median. If neither is true, it shows → Fair price.

Can you tell me when a card's price drops?

Yes. Tap “Alert me” on a card in the Price Check and we email you if it drops. Alerts are checked once a day, so they are not instant, and setting one also signs you up for the free Sunday email.

Reprints and prices

Do reprints lower the price of the original printing?

Sometimes. A reprint adds supply, which can pull down the price of older printings, but some originals hold their value; check the 30-day chart for the printing you want.

Should I buy a reprint on release or wait?

There's no sure answer. New printings often move in their first weeks, so you can watch the price in the Price Check or set an alert, then buy when it reaches a price you're happy with.

Cheapest printing and cheapest cart

How do I find the cheapest printing of a card?

In the Price Check, pick each printing to see its own market price. We don't have an automatic cheapest-printing finder yet, so you compare them yourself.

How can I spend less when buying many cards on TCGplayer?

Shipping adds up when your cards come from many sellers, so buying more cards from fewer sellers often lowers the total. Check that each card is still near its market price.

Budget decks

Do you share budget deck ideas?

Yes. Each Sunday email includes one low-cost deck idea with checked TCGplayer prices.

Where can I find Pauper or Commander decks for under $50?

Our Sunday email features one low-cost deck each week, but we don't keep a full deck list on the site. Price any card from a list you find with the Price Check.

Price tools and trackers

What are good free sites for MTG prices?

Mana Market Watch, TCGplayer, Scryfall, MTGGoldfish and MTGStocks all show prices for free. Mana Market Watch focuses on one question: is this price fair for a buyer?

Where can I see which cards are selling and moving this week?

The homepage shows this week's Top 10 best-selling cards with their checked prices. The free Sunday email sends the same picks to your inbox.

Do you track how your picks turned out?

Yes. The Weekly recap saves each week's Top 10 prices and compares them with today's TCGplayer price.