An Introduction To Trading Magic: The Gathering Cards

Learn to improve your MTG gameplay with these videos:

Is Goblin Guide a fair trade for two Hallowed Fountains? Does it matter if the fountains are from original Ravnica versus Return to Ravnica? What if the Goblin Guide is from Modern Masters 2017? Does that change the value any? Will a throw in of a foil Smash to Smithereens make this a better trade? In whose favor? Is it okay to trade if you’re on the losing end of a few cents of value?

This video will show the means to answer those questions and more. It will cover setting up and maintaining a trade folder, proper trade etiquette and theory including uptrading, downtrading, throw ins and of course pricing.

Please note: this video is designed as a guide to successfully navigate trades in good faith. It does not contain tips and tricks meant to maximize your trade experience by taking advantage of a trade partner’s ignorance and/or trust, I.e. “Sharking.”

In fact rule one for this video is that if a trade that is excessively in your favor begins to form, you should always be very clear and upfront with your trade partner about this imbalance. Never taking advantage of your trade partner, even a little, is the #1 directive. If you disagree, then this video is not for you. It is recommended you shut this video off, and reassess who and how you wish to be.

TRADE FOLDER SETUP AND MAINTENANCE

While there’s no absolute method by which to sort your cards within your trade folder, having some system is preferable to having none at all. Why? Because just having a disorganized trade folder might mean that your trade partner could pass over potential trades.

This is a headache, I’m looking for the tron lands and i only spot one of them even though this folder has all three. If these had been better organized, it would have been easier for me to identify that you had the cards I was looking for, and we might have been able to work out a trade for them.

Thus, organization, if only just a little, is key. There’s many orders you can organize your trade folder by, several of which I cover in my video How to Sort and organize your collection, but the simplest if of course just by color.

TRADE ETIQUETTE AND PROCEDURE

An ideal trade is one card or one selection of cards, exchange for another card or selection of cards of equal or near equal value. Typically, an imbalance of up to about fifty cents is acceptable for a fair trade.

However, there are many factors that should be considered when trading which can complicate this: Are you trading cards that may be rapidly going up in value for cards that may be rapidly going down in value? What about trading a large a selection of low value cards for one high value card?

Before we can cover that, let’s start with the basic concept of card pricing. Where and how do you get card prices from? How do you know what your cards are worth?

[ineptginger]

Anyone saying this video is pointless is just missing the point. While to a lot of players this may seem like common knowledge you're likely forgetting that you learned this over months or years of playing. The video is largely aimed at newer/younger players who are less experienced at trading than the people who've been doing this for years. It clearly explains what to do to make sure you don't get taken advantage of and why sometimes you just won't be able to make a trade and that's ok. If this helps even one overzealous new player understand why no one wants to trade their jace the mind sculptor for their folder of $0.10 bulk rares the video has more than served it's purpose. I've been playing the game for close to 10 years myself and I came to watch this video, knowing largely what would be in it, to see how the professor presented it. We've all had that one kid follow us around for 20 minutes pestering us over a trade that just isn't going to happen. The professor always strives to break things down so they're accessible and watching this can help people better explain why they don't want to make a trade.

[LexVocoder]

I never thought about buying cards from the store as my half of the trade. That's an excellent idea. Thank you so much!

[TheProtocoldoug]

It's also nice to NOT insult a player's collection. I'm a returning player and have a very modest trade binder. I was trading with a player who happened to be talking about his recent acquisition of some Rishadan Ports. Well, my whole trade binder probably is only worth a half of one, at best. He scoffed at my collection and declared "How am I supposed to trade if all you have are $1 junk rares?"... Thanks buddy. Unnecessary, and rude. Compare it to a nice guy from my usual LGS who said during trading, "You don't have anything that I'm interested in, but, I'm happy to see your collection is growing!" Now that's more like it! You don't have anything to gain by insulting someone, and only friends to make by being diplomatic.

[SmartAlec]

I remember one time, some poor kid was ignorant of the value of an expedition Scalding Tarn. He was about to trade it away to some people who would give him cliche, awful dragons but I told him that he was basically trading away gold (especially since expeditions were a new thing) so stopping that kid made me feel good about myself.

[ajburgess]

Never trade right before a ban announcement.

[GalaticCyrus]

Prof, thanks a lot for those tips! I never thought of giving the guy store credit when trying to trade cards with him, and i'm sure my lgs is fine with it as well.

[VoodooGremlin]

One more thing. I believe you didn't mention it because it should go without saying but...DO NOT RIP OFF NEW PLAYERS!! They may not know the value of the cards and when they do find out they've been ripped off they may just quit the game or decide to never trade with you again. It shows a lack of respect to a fellow players and another human beings. Magic should be a fun friendly game and we don't want bad feelings in the community. I am completely guilty of this sin and have paid for it. Now if a new player comes to me with their disorganized binder I will try and point out the more valuable cards and I'm more willing to make trades that are at a financial loss if it helps them make a better deck.

[bronwynecg]

This is VERY timely valuable information for me, Professor. This past week I was thinking of getting a trade binder to hold my excess cards to start trading... I otherwise had no idea where to start. I think my next step is to find a bunch of MTG afficianados :P

[jesterking]

So much of this I've been saying for years! Pricing, Up/Down trading, Organizing! It's all important. My best friend and I both help craft the trading community around a few of our LGSs using almost everything said here. I had stopped playing for a few years and when I came back to the game, it seemed that no one new how to trade! It's so refreshing to see The Professor reinforcing the pillars of Trade Etiquette. Thank you!

[TheCaptainstupendous]

I feel like this being an integral part of a trading card game, I should have learned about this during the beginning stages of playing MTG. And yet, it's the first time I'm being taught about how to trade. Thank you for making this <3

[treetheoak]

Prof I just wanna say this has been one of if not the best tutorial on how to conduct a trade with any card game I have Watched! Honestly the tips from organizing to making sure your binder is not just filled with $30 staples to offering a healthy economy within your LGS to ensure both trades and store owners are happy with trades are fantastic peices of advice that I know people take for granted!

When I become employed again ill be sure to give you a a few dollars as a patreon.

[KoGoO]

I am learning so much from this channel :) I decided to start playing MTG literally 5 days ago and I know how to get started playing, what Friday night magic is, what kind of binder sheets to get, why to use dragon guards and why double-sleeving is important for expensive cards and foils. (because humidity) that is why! so so many good hints, clues and recommendations. I am sure I have saved a bunch already from the get go. Thank you Professor.!

[xcepttionel]

Im buying mtg cards to get a full set because I like the artwork and story. I buy one boosterbox and a bundle for a set and just buy the rest of the cards I didnt pull online. Trading is more fun but you also have to have people wanting to trade for that specific card. Amazing channel and thx for introducing me to mtg.

[kierantheninja]

Great video. Love how it addresses both Standard and non-rotating formats while a lot of these things focus on Standard.

[elymolloy]

great vid Prof, we all love your videos, i love that I can sit my kids down for educational and fun way to learn magic in a family safe and friendly environment. thank you again sir, my son and I look forward to meeting you @mox boarding house next month!

[davemajewski]

Great video. I put a link to it on my middle school MTG Club home page for my kids to watch!!!
I worry about them making poor trades at FNM.

[ancientswordrage]

Thanks for doing this. I've never traded and didn't know what to do. This is great advice.

[mdougf]

Love the note about never using the lgs for your business, but rather getting the store involved in the trade! Beautiful! And so important! If we want to support our game stores which bring us so much value and joy

[KLUNE]

I’ve been playing Magic: The Gathering since Ravnica Allegiance and I wish I watch this video before. Thank You so much for your advices on trading Prof.

[trevorknight]

If trading with newer players, I'll ask another experienced player or the lgs to supervise the trade. I'd been duped when I first started playing and I don't intend to do that to others.