Magic: the Gathering Trends in 2023

Behind the Scenes

The New Horizons series has now been featured on MTGStocks for a year, and reaching this milestone has been both unexpected and exciting. It’s been a pleasure to share this journey with all of you as we delve bi-weekly into new products. To commemorate this occasion, I’ve compiled a set of statistics detailing the series' coverage over the past year.

From the inaugural article on Dominaria Remastered in January to the coverage of Secretversary 2023 wrapping up the year, a total of 24 articles were released. Within this count, approximately 78 cards were highlighted as potential growth opportunities, price anchors, or experiencing a downward trajectory. Notably, the standout performers of the year include Court of Garenbrig, soaring from an initial market price of $3 to a stable $18, and Bloodline Keeper, which recently surged from our initial assessment of $14 to the current $41.

However, alongside winners, there are inevitably losers. The most significant downturns were incurred by Wrenn and Realmbreaker, plummeting from $22 to a modest $5, and Urtet, Remnant of Memnarch, falling from $14 to $2.80. A primary factor contributing to these losses is the absence of a substantial presence in popular formats. Despite initial excitement surrounding Urtet leading up to its release and influencing a spike in other niche card prices, it failed to make a lasting impact on EDH. Meanwhile, Wrenn and Realmbreaker continue to linger in the shadow of Wrenn and Six in competitive formats, indicating a likelihood of further depreciation.

The Test of Time

Throughout the New Horizons series this year, several trends have emerged. Firstly, there was a balanced distribution of articles covering released sets, Commander products, and Secret Lair releases. Among these products, a noteworthy observation was the prevalence of creature cards, with instants and sorceries closely followed in terms of coverage. 

Reflecting on the cards that have appreciated since their respective article releases, a significant trend was the notable increase in Secret Lair creature cards. Examples include The First Sliver, Rin and Seri, Inseparable, and Esika, God of the Tree, each experiencing value growth ranging between 62% and 98% since their articles were published.

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However, the legends from the Secret Lair series emerged as an exception to this trend. In contrast, the majority of the creatures covered in the regular set releases and Commander products experienced a price decline. With the influx of potentially relevant creatures being added to the game, it's difficult for these cards to appreciate in value.

The cards that retained value or significantly increased their momentum during the year were the undisputed staples in one or more formats. Examples such as Clever Concealment and The One Ring exemplify this as their impact and flexibility allowed them to seamlessly integrate into a wide variety of decks, contributing to their sustained value.

Dawn of a New Age

The future outlook for undervalued cards remains uncertain, as the most significant increases in market prices often hinge on a card finding its niche in a deck or as part of a sideboard. Smaller jumps in value may be influenced by factors such as popularity, media coverage, or scarcity. One prevalent concern revolves around the sheer volume of products released annually and its impact on the cards. With many cards becoming upgraded versions of old staples or receiving specific treatments, such as full art basics flooding each set, it seems that the space for growth in the game is shrinking.

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The overall health of Magic: The Gathering has been a frequent topic of discussion, especially given the substantial changes the game has undergone in recent years. Even comparing the current state to how the game looked five years ago is indeed challenging. The introduction of Play boosters in Murders at Karlov Manor represents the next major change on the horizon. With more designated card slots and a heightened emphasis on The List for each set, the number of rares coming out of these packs is set to increase. This shift will likely cause various effects on individual card prices, as well as the overall cost of packs and boxes moving forward. However, further ramifications of this change are yet to be observed in practice.

Across the Multiverse

As we wrap up the first year for New Horizons, let’s indulge in some fun and reflect on my highlights from last year:

Favorite Article To Write:

The Fall 2023 Secret Lair Super Drop was the most enjoyable to write. The cards included were mainly EDH playable and consisted of a wide variety of styles and decent power levels. 

Favorite Product Release:

The main set of The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth stood out as my favorite product. Playing around with the cards and participating in the prerelease was certainly a blast.

Best Limited Environment:

March of the Machine took the top spot for me. The cards included, along with the Multiverse Legends, made for an excellent play environment and some memorable Limited games this year. 

Most Anticipated Release for 2024:

Duskmorn: House of Horror is the set that has me most excited about the theme and potential gameplay.

Lastly, a heartfelt thank you to all for reading the series and making it a success. Your ongoing support and engagement are the driving force that keeps me returning to write more each week.

Join me next time as we explore how Massacre Girl wields the Lead Pipe in Murders at Karlov Manor. Until then! 

Further Reading:

The Best Magic Set of 2023 for Commander

Secret Lair Shakeup