Should You Buy Magic Specialty Bundles?
With their contents seemingly changing from year to year, Bundles appear to be one of Magic’s most experimental products. The base formula is the same: some number, usually eight or nine, of entry-level booster packs (Set or Play), a bevy of basic lands, and a promotional card. Occasionally Wizards will spice things up, changing out the promo for something more appealing, as well as adding in a Collector Booster pack, and releasing the newly invigorated product as a Gift Bundle. Rarer still, and even more experimental, is the new line of premium Bundles - close cousins to the Gift Bundles, but with added specialties that can be found nowhere else.
So, despite the limited number of installments in this product line so far, what can we learn about how their prices behave? Let’s take a look.
Case One: Compleat Bundle
Starting us off is the first unique Bundle, the one that has so far set the stage for future installments, and that is the
Shortly after launching, most distributors reported that the Compleat Bundle sold out, and sold out fast. Not only did the limited quantity spur eager consumer spending, but so too did the gamble of potentially hitting it big by opening some of the more expensive Raised Foils contained within. The rest of the Bundle’s contents were certainly appreciated – 12 Set Boosters certainly aren’t worthless – but it became immediately clear that those $80 were really being spent on just one part of the Bundle: the Compleat Booster.
Comparing prices for some of the Raised Foil allstars (Elesh Norn, Atraxa, etc.) and the Compleat Bundle raises an interesting question; in the years since the Compleat Bundle’s debut, its price has more than doubled, while the price of the singles within have collapsed. Why is that? Simply put, supply attrition.
As the specialty singles from the Compleat Bundle made their way into the market and began to compete with other specialty printings from the main-set Collector Boosters, their value diluted. There are more special printings of
Case Two: Nightmare Bundle
Next in line is the
Similar to the Compleat Bundle, the initial release wave of the Nightmare Bundle faced significant demand, although not quite to the same scale. For one, the Nightmare Bundle was made more readily available on release, rather than being relegated to small quantities at WPN stores. Secondly, the overall market appeal of Duskmoun was smaller than that of Phyrexia: All Will Be One, simply because of the entrenched lore which fortified demand from established players when the Compleat Bundle debuted. Yet, despite these two hindrances, the Nightmare Bundle nonetheless sold very well, maintaining a stable price near the $80 mark through to today.
When comparing the prices of the Nightmare Bundle to the specialty singles within, we again see a trend identical to that of the Compleat Bundle, yet distinct from other, traditional Bundles. The prices of the singles within fell as they entered the market and competed with other versions, while the sealed product remained steady. Comparing against the traditional Bundle, we also see signs of short-term price erosion in that product as well, while the Nightmare Bundle holds steady. Why? Because, despite drawing a significant portion of their value from the main set, the Nightmare Bundle is a rarity in and of itself.
Wrap Up
As Magic begins to roll out more and more unique, specialty Bundles, it’s going to pay dividends to understand why it is that their prices behave so differently from normal Bundles. At the end of the day, it all comes down to one, simple reason - scarcity. Sure, these may be 90% normal Booster products with a handful of specialty cards added in, most of which will depreciate in the long run, but kept sealed they represent a much scarcer commodity.
Further Reading:
Harvey McGuinness is a student at Johns Hopkins University who has been playing Magic since the release of Return to Ravnica. After spending a few years in the Legacy arena bouncing between Miracles and other blue-white control shells, he now spends his time enjoying Magic through CEDH games and understanding the finance perspective. He also writes for the Commander's Herald.
