Risks of Buying into Magic: The Gathering Price Spikes

Wizards of the Coast releases Magic: The Gathering sets with new cards and mechanics each year. New cards increase MTG's available card pool for players across Commander, Modern, and other MTG formats. Undoubtedly, synergies can arise between old and new-to-MTG cards. Revisiting old planes like Innistrad and Kamigawa may increase the number of synergy opportunities too.

When synergies occur, older cards tend to spike in price as heightened player demand drives purchases of available copies. Individuals usually purchase available copies until a new price point stabilizes. While buying a copy of a card ensures a player has it in their deck, that decision has financial risks. 

My article "  "covers three risks associated with purchasing an MTG card during a price spike. Each risk can potentially decrease the average market value of a card. Also, I provide tips for analyzing a price spike that may save you money when purchasing a card.