The Glimmer | 25 Years of Foil Magic Cards

[@holopollock]

The change in tone from wow to annoyed when explaining 2020 is iconic

[@MarkAvo]

It didn’t feel iconic at the time but we still didn’t know what was coming and I think it’s been a rollercoaster of wow to annoyed ever since.

[@murlocaggrob2192]

From awe to aww.

[@fragtore6457]

I'm an ooold player (ca Revised to Invasion) just back in the hobby again since half a year. Having a great time with commander but it's impossible to keep up with the releases and version, and it already doesn't feel sustainable. Both as an investor (but not in Hasbro lol) and magic player, it simply doesn't make sense. I hope Hasbro will listen to the few smarter business people if they don't listen to the community. But I have low hope. Seems like a truly dumb bunch.

[@Silvermage447]

"The story of middle earth is one of greed. And to communicate that message, Wizards printed serialized sol rings" SOOOO good

[@kevincastner4541]

"When there is only one Mountain, everyone knows what it means to reach the top." You sir, are a Wordsmith.

[@gpvs2]

He just drops it very casuly like its not a big deal, but its such a good line

[@brianlinden3042]

Wizards: I cast Blood Moon.

[@jacobpyeatt5024]

agreed this dude has a silky smooth way of dropping bomb lines a true wordsmith.

[@Ryann9]

"What was once a single mountain, was an endless range of peaks." 57:10

[@armthesharks6904]

'The metaphor is too poignant and on the nose... After all, it's only a card game.' Hits hard as FUCK immediately after the listing of how many LOTR foils there were. Wow.

[@Garl_Vinland]

Yet despite that, LoTR singles are still on average the most expensive singles to buy

[@brianlinden3042]

Ironically, the line is even more poignant than the quote would have been.

[@HeyApples]

I respect that Sam was able to strike the balance of dispassionately narrating this topic while simultaneously finding room to highlight its absurdities and excess. Reading the full list of LOTR treatments. The collage of Elesh Norn variants. The subtle highlight on a random foil which just happened to be Increasing Ambition. I see you there. I see you.

[@nicholaskane4693]

read this like patrick bateman

[@nicmastoridis6177]

“Everything is special, but only for a little while” is such an impactful line. Thank you so much Sam for all the time, work, and research you dedicate to this magnificent game-no matter how recurrent it has become.

[@dcnole]

It's still crazy to me that, 26 years later, you can still obtain a lovely, lightly-played Lightning Dragon promo from that day in 1998 for under $50. It's not only gorgeous, reasonably rare, and reserved-list, but it's history.

[@kurtilein3]

Yes, i got two rather recently for that reason.

[@RoninRose541]

Now it’s over $100 😢

[@baconsir1159]

@@RoninRose541 No? You can still get light play for just under 50 and near mint for about 80 on TCGPlayer

[@tylerblalack6684]

​@@RoninRose541right at 50 for "lightly played"

[@varsoonhks3211]

"Long gone are the days of opening Masterpieces in Draft Boosters." Long gone are *Draft* Boosters.

[@diestormlie]

Oh come now; Draft Boosters are only *shortly* gone.

[@joe.5103]

This makes me sadder than I can express. 🥺

[@kgoodfarms]

@@diestormlie 100% agree

[@Dre2Dee2]

long gone are anyone playing any Magic, at all

[@Toasty25000]

@@Dre2Dee2speak for yourself! 😂

[@thomaslepage5941]

This Pringles documentary goes really hard!

[@mr.mammuthusafricanavus8299]

Crunch your way through the extensively researched history of luxury cardboard rectangular foils that only an exhaustive Rhystic Study investigation could uncover and after its over I bet you can't just watch one Rhystic Study video? ;p

[@captain6915]

These were some expensive Pringles to be honest

[@Bronythepony]

I don’t play magic. I have no desire to play magic. I don’t play ANY trading card games and yet, not for the first time, I find myself over on this channel watching a 90 minute documentary about foil card printing. Well done, my friend.

[@johngavin2570]

One mustn't purchase and sell art to appreciate the process it took to create, the message it represents, or the beauty it is.

[@MitchellCH]

Same. I could watch this style of video on many topics I otherwise have zero interest in or interaction with. I just like this style of video presenting the topic as they do.

[@theomninerd]

The restraint it took to just say "zero-six-nine" and "four-two-zero" in that section is admirable

[@MosoKaiser]

Nice.

[@hyperchord]

Some people aren't immature idiots

[@Lemon_Sage9999]

Nice

[@Lemon_Sage9999]

Funny number of likes

[@TavisKingsChannel]

Thanks for the shout out at the end! 😃 I've been involved with the prototype / test print premium cards, and have been slowly working towards creating a video for each type. You saw the Beta holograms, and the holographic Dragon Whelp. The first MTG foil was a Tempest Horned Turtle, which I'll eventually put into a video. I've started a more in depth video for Exodus foils, but got interrupted by other more urgent projects. White border foils were tested with Exodus cards. I handled and documented the Lightning Dragon test print sheets, and was heavily involved with authenticating the prototype Blastoise, which I took to CGC in 2020. Modern card frame test prints were done in foil, and you mentioned the 5th Dawn holofoil test prints. WotC used plain foil for MTG and holofoil for Pokemon, but after losing Pokemon, the tried holofoil with MTG. There were several series of test prints involved with creating the holofoil oval security stamp introduced in 2014. Someone sent me test print inventions for a video, and there's also textless foil test print Eldrazi. More recently there's been Swarovski crystal encrusted Magic card test prints. Lots of cool stuff!

[@shoopy44]

You mentioned holofoil, and also it's use around the time WotC lost Pokemon. Does this have anything to do with the super shiny Junior Championship Series foils from around that era? Thanks for sharing all this info with us btw

[@TavisKingsChannel]

@@shoopy44 Yes, WotC tested that holofoil with the existing 5th Dawn printing plates. When they were happy with the results, they created the Junior Super Series promo cards, and I think another similar promo. Very few of the 5th Dawn test prints exist. Off the top of my head, it was something like two sheets, which would be 4 of each rare in the set. I have the number written down here somewhere.

[@shoopy44]

@@TavisKingsChannel interesting, thanks for the reply!

[@Donovarkhallum]

I don't think crystal magic cards are cool stuff. Just a way to milk more money.

[@TavisKingsChannel]

@@Donovarkhallum That's ok. With only about 14 cards like that in the world, they can go to the people who appreciate them the most. I enjoyed seeing them, but the crystals wouldn't fit into my binder, so I declined to purchase any.

[@HighTechRedneck9]

"New foils could manufacture new demand" as a foil Increasing Ambition graces the screen... Wonderful imagery!

[@shoeless1137]

My only experience with MTG was in college when i dated a girl for a couple years who loved it, and I often played with her and her friends. But after we broke up I moved back towards my own hobbies I haven’t thought about magic in at least 5-6 years. So when I say your videos are fantastic and profoundly entertaining, even for people who don’t keep up with MTG, I mean it. Excellent work

[@RollingCalf]

Wtf. A girl introduced you to magic?

[@solsystem1342]

​​@@RollingCalf Gasp! Women! In magic!😂 I can tell why your group doesn't have any /s

[@RollingCalf]

@@solsystem1342 I haven't played paper magic in 20 years..back then if a girl played magic, it's because her bf brought. Just surprised how much times have changed. This is perfect timing too. Went on a date 2 days ago and I was shocked when she whipped out her phone to show me she played mtga. I was like "I..I love you." ☺️☺️

[@RollingCalf]

@@solsystem1342 I haven't played paper magic in 20 years so I don't know what the base looks like anymore. Back then, if a girl played, it's because her guy turned her on to it. Things have come a long way

[@RollingCalf]

Great timing too Was on a date 2 days ago. At some point she whipped out her phone to show me she played mtga. Immediately professed my love.

[@maellelamour8216]

I started Magic with the first Mirrodin bloc in middle school, and the first foil I oppenend was a foil Platinum Angel. To me, it was the most powerful card ever (you cannot lose the game, how could any card be better ?!) and I still have that card 20 years later. It's heavily played after years of playing it unsleeved on the concrete floor of my school's playground and I now know it'w not as powerful as 11 years old me thought, but it still holds a very special place in my collection. Thanks for this amazing video !

[@agapitoliria]

I had almost the same experience! Got a shield of kaldra in my first booster(indestructible? The best card in the game!) and the angel some boosters later. They also got damaged, but I've come to love used cards from when I was young over brand new cards, it's like they have a personal history.

[@riotThomy]

Love these old Storys 😊

[@DrunkenPilotVideos]

I remember going to the pre-release for Lost caverns of Ixalan with my brother. We were joking and I remember saying "what if we opened a cavern of souls". As we opened the cards I saw it, as my brother was looking at a card on his right hand, he hadn't noticed that in his left he had it, Cavern of Souls, full art AND foil. Then seeing the shock in his face as he looked over as I told him he was holding something of great value. It might not be the most expensive version of the card, but for my brother and I it will be the one we will always remember. The one we found as we had a fun afternoon together.

[@laytonfoster5057]

similar thing happened to me with Amonkhet draft! my friend and I were joking about opening one of the masterpieces, and sure enough I opened a Cryptic Command that day

[@theonlymegumegu]

1:27:00 "but never before have i felt such distance between the nodes" dang, that hit

[@MarkAvo]

I still have the foil lightning dragon I got in ‘98 and, to this day, it’s still one of the jewels of my collection.

[@kobisjeruk]

Hell yeah. My first ever prerelease and first set. Special delivery was my first precons.

[@Skios]

Even back in the late nineties, foils were the one card I never traded. I still have all of them, including my first (Primeval Shambler, Mercadian Masques), my first rare (Keldon Necropolis, Invasion) and my personal favourite, the Judgement printing of Sylvan Safekeeper, signed by the artist. I got the copy of Super Secret Tech I pulled when the local store was dumping Unhinged boosters for €1 signed at the same event.

[@warpdrivefueledbyinsomnia8165]

I still have my old foils, too. I couldn't part with them. My first ever foil rare that I pulled was Hidden Gibbons. It's an utterly useless card, but it feels special. I completed the full foil UL set back in 2009 when it was still remotely affordable. Every time I see the gibbons, though, I remember cracking them in that card shop (that's now a flower shop) in early 2000. It's a shiny little time machine.

[@Melissanoma]

Going into this video, I was expecting him to mention Super Secret Tech somewhere. It's a significant card because it was only printed in foil......but then I realized that's not even unique any more. There are plenty of cards that only exist in foil.

[@TheIronRegalia]

One of my favorite parts of any Rhystic Study video is when the video ends and I am left with that fire in me, a mix of reverent awe for the work that went into the video and an inspiration to change the way I interact with Magic: the Gathering. Bravo, a masterpiece as always.

[@anarchond]

After this entire video, im still trippin out about that first clip of the guy cutting the holographic image and the little cut piece still having the whole image on it when he moves it around. Like WTF?!

[@AbsolXGuardian]

Same. Like was the hologram being projected by the machine behind it? Because I know something similar happens if you remove the film from an LCD screen. The screen appears white but is actually projecting the image in a way any piece of the film can filter it to be what it's supposed to. Its kind of confusing to start with a method of projection + filtering for a video about a method of coating objects to reflect light in fun ways

[@sportyeight7769]

@@AbsolXGuardian A hologram recreates the wavefront incident at each point. it's like looking in mirror, if you change the angle you have more information. It's so trippy tho.

[@krauseandreas2565]

When everything is special, nothing is special. That perfectly encapsulates the development. Thank you for your lovely video

[@DimT670]

That saying never made much sense to me. Its like saying "if everyone is able to fly, no one is". Like if there's some inherent quality that renders something special or possessing of any quality, more of it having that quality can't somehow mean less of it has it. Plus everything being special doesn't imply uniformity. Things can be special in different ways thus remaining both special and different

[@TeamSprocket]

@@DimT670 Specialness is relative and infrequent. If everything is special, then it becomes equal and commonplace, and thus no longer special. Simple stuff for most people.

[@PhoenicopterusR]

​@@DimT670 If all fish could fly then there wouldn't be flying fish, they'd all just be fish. I think you're just looking at it the wrong way, which might be why your example misses the mark entirely.

[@ich3730]

@@DimT670 "special" and "being able to fly" are two different traits with different definitions...

[@inkyo7538]

I think this is by far my favorite Study: going for a history which spreads beyond our familiar black borders, it's fascinating to see the effects of foiling all across the industry, and how a simple glimmer cascaded into an effervescent pool of poorly conceived ideas and concepts. I am glad to support your endeavors and am eager for whatever you bring to us next. Keep up the great work:)

[@demolisherman1763]

All that glimmers may not be gold, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t an integral part to the history of our favorite card game.

[@Atmatan]

Popularizing the history of niche cultures is the coolest reason we made the internet.

[@netanelaker4437]

Sadly no mention of the fact that a lot of Unhinged foils had hidden jokes that do not appear in the regular cards. Reminds me of the Hidden Ink in MKM. Anyways, a staller video as always. I'm happy that more tastes are catered to, and each set has something that I adore, but we also must not forget the past. Everything must be balanced.

[@NoahRodriguezShow]

That sounds cool as hell

[@ashdog9235]

Also the fact that super secret tech also only appears in foil and its interaction with those same foils

[@Gureiseion]

My fav of the batch was Goblin Mime, with a foil that actually showed the otherwise invisible box it was trapped inside.

[@wizkida981015]

Not even trying to be funny, thank you for having the bravery to delve into all of this. I remember watching the card frame video and thinking how much THAT was to track (not to mention how, similar to foils, that video would be even more ridiculous to make today) and this part of the game has been notoriously difficult to understand (as you literally mention in the video lol) Your hard work does not go unnoticed, and we appreciate you so much for all the work you put into your research and your ability ro present it in a manner that is full yet approachable. Thanks for everything, seriously.

[@techpriest8965]

To me - foiling in the From the Vault products looks beautiful. My friend has that Jitte and it just pops over those blue hues featured on the art and grey card. Very nice.

[@Q-Bits8]

i think they are some of the worst. have the from the vault angels and all of them in normal foil. Normal foil looks so much better, the VtV cards look like dull plastic

[@ich3730]

Imo they are both fugly xD MTG has some of the greatest Art ever, why disgrace it with glitter and shiny lines?

[@VictorLuisAngelical]

Another Banger from this channel The Caverv of souls segment was *chef kiss* and the way you pointed the "Manifacturers can make luxury but they cannot create memories" and the subtle change of tones representing us the player

[@Dizzy0422]

Words don't properly express how much you bring to this community. It is just a game, but the consistently high quality videos detailing the history and legacy of Magic the Gathering are to be cherished. Thank you, Sam.

[@lucasenraraujo]

What a nightmarish vision was that "You are disqualified" curling/melting screen with ominous sound effect. Still not done with the video essay, but the video already warranted a like for the sheer amount of research. Shouldn't be a surprise coming from you at this point, but warrants a round of applause nevertheless. Thank you for being an inspiration yourself with the dedication and rigor you put in your videos and for always striving to bring enlightenment to others.

[@SamSarracino]

I haven't played mtg in almost a year. I feel the game has simply lost its... Magic. Yet, RS videos kindle what little love for mtg I still may have.

[@benjaminb-s7b]

I find myself playing with old cards, re-reading older novels, and watching videos from RS and Spice8rack. I listen less and less to what’s coming out nowadays…

[@JoKad17]

Literally what I was thinking right now. I haven't owned a card since 2008 and haven't played a game in well over a decade. Every time I see an RS vid I think "I ain't that invested in that", then I watch it anyway and am always captivated.

[@golasticus]

Magic is but a husk of its former self nowadays, at least in my opinion. These videos from Rhystic Studies are enjoyable because it's a look back on what made Magic, well, Magic. With how WotC runs the game now, it's honestly lost a lot of that feeling.

[@tylerblalack6684]

Its a hobby for the rich, now. Can definitely have fun with budget cards though ​@golasticus

[@FofoStats]

Insane level up, 90 minutes that flew by. Thanks for the video and the opportunity to remember all those years.

[@paulinof2]

Bravo! 🎉 This 90 minute had physics, magic history, Pokémon history, corporate greed, and how to uncurl foils lmao The amount of work it took for you to do this, is worth your weight in near mint grim monolith foils. Cheers!

[@barryswigart1432]

"It was the company, not the players" basically sums up what MtG is now unfortunately.

[@marcellosilva9286]

As a YGO player interested in getting into MtG someday, it's interesting to see each game's problems, modern YGO has ridiculously long turns and combos that can kill the other player instantly, which scared away players that got into the game before that was possible (myself included), while MtG has corporate greed and some other things, like Mana Drought.

[@fastpuppy2000]

@@marcellosilva9286 Unless Magic really has passed me by, I think you mean mana screw. The opposite of which is mana flooding, which does make you think we should call screw drought, but I don't think that's the case. Also, I reject the view that mana screw and flood are game level problems and not deck building problems. Resource issues point towards the need to reevaluate your deck idea. Magic might have a subjective problem in that it is more willing than YGO to let you lose against your own decision before the game has started, but that is subjective. Figuring that stuff out is the first part of playing the game, which is, I figure, comparable to memorizing your combo lines in a YGO deck.

[@semi-decent1844]

I don't really care much about magic anymore but your videos are refreshing and beautiful and amazing to watch.

[@connorbell5340]

I didn't expect so many profound prose in a video about foils but I suppose from you I should expect no less! Incredibly well done. As someone who likes to foil my favorite decks I find it hard to be enthusiastic about the constant deluge of product, even if it makes my process easier. The chase is no longer there, the hunt that leads to a story about your cards has withered away.

[@JoeyMossBBG]

This takes me back. I remember playing back in Urza's Saga, lightning dragon being my favorite dragon card. When I learned there was a foil I lost my mind and had to have it!

[@paleona5820]

As a veteran Pokémon fan and an extremely new Magic fan, this is fascinating to watch! I’ve never heard about those test print Blastoise cards, what a cool bit of history. Really loving your calm presentation style, great work 🌻

[@jerbear8601]

This is a lot of work! Thank you! I've shared this with a few other old school Magic players who I've played with since 1994.

[@LizaPlz]

this is gonna start off great and go bad very fast

[@AUZZYNAPALM]

few alternate treatments have appealed too me more than just a regular foil version of a card. great video, and well tied together with a beautiful point at the end.

[@jakemosley2822]

I had a playset of foil 7E BoPs in high school. I'll never forget opening my first one in a pack I randomly bought at WalMart. Sadly a string of bad choices saw my entire collection stolen and sold by a close friend battling drug addiction after graduation and I lost passion for the game until a few years ago. This video brought me so much nostalgic joy!

[@williamphelps6674]

Thanks for another delightul dive into MTG's past and present, and the changes to foil products along the way. And lovely choice with the synthwave in the first chunks of the video, that felt apt and compelling

[@U.Inferno]

As I've finally been building my first EDH deck after playing since Amonkhet, I've decided that whatever cards in the deck prove themselves most impactful not just power wise, but on an emotional level, that I-as an artist-would design and proxy my own variants

[@sirwobble265]

Yeah, I would definitely make a special variant of Roving Keep, the card that won me a game of Magic for the first time if I was any good at art.

[@mikki429]

I really liked the look into the printing process! It's something I've always been vaguely curious about but not enough to look into myself. Thank you for another incredible video essay!

[@G.Snackwell]

The comprehensiveness and precision in this video is truly impressive. Thanks for putting it all together and presenting it in such a compelling way. Keep up the great work!

[@gabbathehut3235]

For the past 20 years i've collected signed cards, most of them signed in person at conventions and big tournaments across the world. Not only as a sign of respect for the artists, but as a knod to what got me into magic in the first place. Each one carries a story and a memory. Some happy, some sad, but all important to me in their own way. They're all unique to me, and no amount of foiling or scarcity could ever replace that.

[@TinyWarriorAnimations]

Foils may change and be trimmed up, but so does your content. I am loving these premieres, they give me a sense of community and as if im witnessing; something.

[@ThePolarbearLord]

Sam, my man, you could give a lecture on any mtg topic and you'd fill the house. I love your approach to these topics and I always look forward to finding the right moment to zone into some much needed collection maintenance and listen to an unknown aspect of this beloved hobby. Carry on, intrepid wandering wordsmith.

[@jarrettdiperna8370]

Hey!! I'm glad I'm not the only one who felt a particular fondness for the Masterpiece series!! Though, for myself, as someone who has always had a fondness for artifacts, it was the Kaladesh ones that caught my eye. I started my collection of those by getting a Sol Ring from a booster pack at an LGS that doesn't exist anymore and ended it with a cataclysmic gearhulk sent to me as a Christmas present from a very close friend of mine. Since then, I still buy ones that I think are undercosted, as I still love the beauty and quality that was put into them to this day. I feel like collecting the Amonkhet ones would be a bit easier, since I remember them being cheaper due to the community's overall disdain of them, but that may have changed by now, and I hope you're able to complete your collection soon enough. ^^; This video made me realize the "Different Strokes for Different Folks" idea behind so many variations that I never really considered until now, and it does make a lot of sense, though I still disagree with a lot of these "Wider net" philosophies that WotC seems to abide by these days, it is easy to understand looking at it that way. Finally, this will be a cheesy way to end it, but one of the cards in my "special but not expensive" collection is still a card signed by you, nonetheless. ^^; Excellent work as always, and thank you for the background for my work today.

[@DTreatz]

I like foils. Love a little *bling* to a deck. I like when the _art_ is foiled in a way that makes sense along with the border.

[@trippy1454]

Hey Sam, I am always waiting for whenever you upload and when that notification pops up, it brightens my day. Your intellectual take on the game we all love is extremely valuble.

[@Toasty25000]

I’m glad you added your opinions of each kind of treatment, was fun to see if I shared your point of view on certain treatments (and yes the New Capenna gilded ones were incredible)

[@ReedoTV]

I remember going in to GAME in the UK and buying "Magic: The Gathering 7th Edition Starter Set", not entirely sure what I was even buying. That CD tutorial is burned into my mind and I still have the rulebook and that beautiful shiny Thorn Elemental 😊

[@ClaytonLivsey]

i would replay that same game over and over

[@Chubles1]

My favorite part of every Rhystic Studies video is when Sam pulls out a line so powerfully human I get a little misty eyed in the way only good poetry and childhood memories can. This time it was a whole minute of them around 1:27; my appreciation, as always.

[@shanenoland1906]

Hey sam, love your content, just wanted to say something about the thumbnail. 10th edition foil unsummon was the first foil i ever fell in love with. This card single-handedly started my art collection. I was not someone who spent a lot of time looking at card art, seeing this thumbnail on one of YOUR videos has definitely validated me. Thank you for that.

[@Loki-]

glittering prizes glittering prizes glittering prizes

[@sdfkjgh]

@Loki-: _"But glittering prizes and endless compromises shatter the illusions of integrity, yeah!"_

[@jamesevans6332]

The New Capenna foils are gorgeous, easily one of the most innovative twists on foil treaments to date

[@pytawidmo]

I do not envy the person who tracks and analyzes the sales data and improvement points related to the newly introduced variants. I'm open for companies trying new variants of "special". But I have no idea how they actually can see if for example the LTR set sold well because it was modern playable, it was LotR, had fancy variants, had the 001/001 The One Ring, powerful commander cards or for any other reason that could then be replicated in a later product.

[@owenbaerg6373]

Sam these videos are incredible. I truly appreciate everything you create. You’re an artist and storyteller.

[@nathanielreichley4640]

You mentioned Upper Deck and I instantly thought of all of those dozens of Patrick Sullivan stories about that great criminal enterprise hahaha

[@CB-ke7eq]

One small nitpick about the UD part - those card-sized hologram team stickers were a one-of bonus in each pack, sort of like how Topps used to put bubble gum in their packs. On the back of each player card however, there was a small hologram logo embossed into the card with the Upper Deck logo as the subject of the hologram. This was the anti-counterfeit mechanism.

[@benjaminkamer176]

I have to say your narration and quality of your video is awesome. Keep going!

[@Arcrobes]

Can’t get enough of this guys channel!

[@AC3handle]

Man, I may bitch a lot about youtube, but god. DAMN. Content like yours, and how IN DEPTH you go, is the reason why this is here. I would NEVER see anything like this on any documentary channel. anyone who's interested in, PLAYING MTG, or even any other collectable card game should watch this. The amount of information, smooth delivery, and exceptional video clips edited together seamlessly is a master class on video making. Kudos sir, Kudos.

[@BoBnfishy]

Out of all foil cards ever yugioh's ultra rare printings with gold foil card names and foil art are my personal favorite

[@najawin8348]

The OCG's Holographic Rare is one of the coolest things ever.

[@Verlisify]

That test print section. Nostalgic chills. You have outdone yourself

[@mistertadakichi]

I've purchased/played with my fair share of foils across 14 years of playing magic, including damn near every new treatment released. My favorite is still the Foil Necropotence I opened out of a single Eternal Masters booster purchased at my LGS, because of the memory made in that moment- the pure elation that customers and staff shared in while I was standing there at the register.

[@lukastrucka9447]

Great video, thank you. must say the change in tone was very notable, and rightfuly so! The sentiment of oversaturaion/consumer fatigue has been the undertone in magic discourse for many years now.

[@Diana-tx2iz]

I'M SO GLAD. This barely comes out before I'm in the hospital for a major surgery,,

[@isaaclorrain9269]

I hope everything works out!

[@YuzuAndGin]

I hope your surgery is uneventful. Wishing you the best!

[@braedenlamb786]

This was a phenomenal dive into the pretty pieces of cardboard we all hoard in some way or another. Thank you for this video, it was a great time to watch over the course of two days at work.

[@poenpotzu2865]

Always, excellent work!

[@levisavage6568]

thanks sam. its been a stressful day at work...and ive only been here for an hour. seeing that i had a new Rhystic Studies video...well, it helps alot. i can stop thinking about the drama and what ifs, and try to continue on for today. i appreciate your hard work!!!!

[@DavidSpira]

This is a beautifully damning video.

[@carpenoctom]

i always smile when i see an RS vid on my sub list, thanks for the amazing research and vids!

[@i8mrwaffles]

But Pokemon had something that magic didn’t have… Poliwhirl

[@vsully360]

This video inspired me to put together a 7th edition foil set. I started down the path right after the video premiered and just received the last card I needed in the mail. My first order was placed on Card Kingdom on February 5th: Disenchant and Grizzly Bears- two somewhat iconic commons from the original set. I started playing Magic in Summer 1994, having just graduated high school. A friend had lived in Seattle for several months prior and brought some Magic cards back to FL, where I lived. I remember reading a review in games magazine which directly referenced two cards- Dingus Egg and Ice Storm. Revised and the Dark were the sets that could be bought in stores. I was hooked immediately. I played pretty heavily up until about 2002 in and around Tampa, Florida... local game stores, PTQ’s, State Championships, etc. Nationals was in Orlando, Florida back then and I attended a few times. I haven’t owned paper cards in probably 20 years. I’ve casually followed the game over the years but the way it has evolved really hasn’t interested me. I still love the early sets, especially limited edition Alpha/Beta. But those sets are well beyond my means. 7th edition is close enough to the beginning that I can still feel a bit of nostalgia for it. The set has so many iconic cards, albeit with different art- Birds of Paradise, Serra Angel, Wrath of God, City of Brass, Nightmare, Shivan Dragon. The foils are absolutely beautiful. Thanks for a wonderful video and inspiring me to revisit an earlier time in my life. It’s been a fun ride having cards show up regularly in the mail. I’m almost sad that the set is complete.

[@SystemsAbsurdum]

As someone who is primarily a collector of Magic these days, thanks for all the time and care you put into this video. Wizards/Hasbro has made it nearly impossible to keep up with their constant stream of new flashy cards. The summary: "when everything is special, nothing is" perfectly encapsulates my, and others', growing sentiment. I truly wish we could return to the days of a single booster box product with a single special treatment (if any).

[@sohndesnebels7565]

I thank you deeply for this amazing work of art. Your videos help me disconnect a little from the day to day problems. And I guess now I appreciate my foils a little more thanks to your video. Thanks for your videos.

[@itsnotpharris]

Great video! We can hear the disapointment and tiredness on your voice as the video goes on, it's a shame that we have to speak of a game we love so much like that. And thanks for ending the video on a somewhat positive note, i needed that after this journey

[@briangordon7585]

This was incredible! Thank you for doing this. As someone that has my own aesthetic taste I am pleased with the vast quantity of card versions. Being able to express yourself through the cards gives us a new way to personalize our decks and collections. I love being surprised by different versions of cards I haven't seen yet. Hopefully it gives more artists works too. I am also pleased with the cost of non-special cards coming down due to lower demand and high supply. I say keep feeding the whales.

[@jasonl3445]

Nice I love my lighting dragon promo the first foil!

[@burningpapersun1]

I have been raised and worked in the printing industry my whole life. I've always enjoyed the Japanese printed cards. Their craft is always top notch and you can tell. I could nerd out on printing techniques and print processes for hours on end.

[@cdadamly]

As someone who has hated foils since 1999 (worried, even back then, that the game was focusing on collectors more than players), I am still excited to see Rhystic Studies' take on them.

[@alejandrobuentello1546]

im one of many foil lovers, i appreciate the lore of the foils and will treasure my older ones a lot more now. Great video all the way through!

[@TiredWings8]

I normally ooze over rhytic's videos. But this one just kinda left an odd feeling. Depressing how far mtg has fallen.

[@jimmydotzel]

I get so excited whenever I see a new Rhystic Studies videos!

[@Nolsie]

Fake cards have better foils and it kills me. I want the 7th edition foils back

[@stevenyukabacera160]

No Magic cards have ever been as beautiful as foils from the last few years of the old border era.

[@Chippey12]

Amazingly researched and expertly presented as usual! I love the references back to the KZbin era of pack openings and trade confirmations. Still waiting on that foil swamp!

[@josephs.4813]

I appreciate you not pulling any punches Sam. Hopefully foil cards can one day return to the status of “premium.”

[@defrance2728]

You do such a fantastic job making these videos dude! I don’t really have anything to add but good job. I can really tell the time and effort that you put into making each one of your videos.

[@sdfkjgh]

1:24:05 I beg to differ. With how extensively researched and beautifully produced each of your vids are, Sam, you yourself prove that it's more than "just a card game". This specific video shows how it's also a microcosm of how capitalism despoils all that it touches, letting those who don't understand such artistic things be in charge of those who do, and the bottom-liners who see only dollar signs make every decision with that one criteria in mind, never realizing that they are killing that which they exploit thusly. These things have value beyond merely monetarily, but they'll never, can never, understand such sentiment. I contend that the entirety of the Human Condition can be found within _Magic,_ from story to metastory to 'patastory, from game to metagame to 'patagame, _Magic_ is Life, and Life is _Magic._ If Kyle Hill can demonstrate _Magic's_ Turing-completeness in multiple videos, that alone is evidence enough that it's so much more than "just a game". But I suspect you already know this, and the commend was _very_ subtly tongue-in-cheek.

[@degadoodle8009]

this is the most insufferable fucking comment i've ever fucking read

[@saiphen]

Your videos always remind me of my own connection with the game and bring the greatest nostalgia and joy. Thanks.

[@TheSnarkyBrit]

Foils used to be so cool, now they all look like garbage mildly sparkly Pringles.

[@dakotacunningham1387]

The beginning of this video made me feel so happy and nostalgic. The middle slowly made me feel….frustrated and sad. Great video, I love your content. I also love Magic but I haven’t bought a magic product since 2021 and I don’t plan on that changing anytime soon. It’s incredibly sad

[@mati-uf3gz]

​I'm so excited, holy I love Rhystic studies legit been sleepless for days refreshing twitter for news

[@graffitigospel6247]

He’s a pro. He inspires me. He is the definition of less is more!

[@Shinzo_AB]

This is legit the best youtube channel on the culture of this game.

[@homelessperson5455]

Noooo! My plans! Foiled!

[@Wipokorp]

Well done! Thanks for your time and efforts in creating this video 😊

[@adamgorsky8422]

I do miss the late 90s early 2000s style of getting really excited about pulling a foil common. It felt like an event or somthing and you would try to fit it into your deck (even if it was bad) cause it looked special, obviously we know and even knew it didn't make a card better mechanically but I definitely remember targeting my friends foil as like a sort achievement to destroy it (in the game not in like real life) idk I miss that, I opened a pack the other day and it was half foils half alternate art, doesn't feel the same

[@sportyeight7769]

Worse than that. Now, if the foils aren't rares or valuable uncommon. I just bin them. They will curl in a few moments if i don't seal them and i won't waste sleeves for cards that doesn't worth anything. So many foils commons / uncommon tossed because WOTC can produce something of quality and show some restraint in their treatment distribution. it gets so wild, than you can find listings of cards cheaper in foil than normal versions.

[@gbjackalope]

Great video as always! Really loved the dedication to explain early magic history.