Top 6 pickups in 2023: From the best card to the worst set

I know it's a few weeks late, but here's are the top 6 most interesting pickups for my collection in 2023. It was a year with a lot less emphasis on accumulation, and more attention to rare and personal items.
#MagicTheGathering #LimitedEditionAlpha #HappyNewYear
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Apologies for the sound quality! I had to change my setup, but now I'm getting lots of buzzing, which I'm trying my best to remove in post-production. I'll sort it out soon...
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I'm Mike, the Alpha Hoarder, and I'm sharing/documenting my wild collection here on YT. Join me while I ramble about old cards and MTG finance, and look at cool stuff.
[e-mail]
Mike the AlphaHoarder @ 375 Carlls Path #73, Deer Park NY 11729

[@monkey39128]

That Dragon on the Lotus is beautiful! Such a cool piece.

[@AlphaHoarder]

Very cool indeed 🤩

[@NerdAndProudOfIt]

another solid vid, thanks, mike! you do you! wild lotus! love it!

[@AlphaHoarder]

Thanks for watching Jurgen!

[@NerdAndProudOfIt]

always! 🙏🏻❤️👊🏻😁

[@Wipokorp]

Thanks for sharing 😊 Happy to see you focused on what gives you joy. Eagerly awaiting your next video. Have a good one!

[@AlphaHoarder]

Appreciate that! Thanks for watching

[@christhemagnif]

Congrats on crossing 2k subs! I think I was #94 😅 Excellent pick ups! Those artist proofs are amazing 🤩 Some of mine would be the Alpha Mox Pearl and Plateau, attending MagicCon Vegas, and of course the fact that you and Jürgen watched so many of my videos is certainly a highlight. Happy New Year! Let’s hope for more great memories and notable cardboard rectangles in 2024 👍

[@AlphaHoarder]

Thanks -- Yeah you've been here for a while, and it's much appreciated! Mox Pearl 🤤 very nice !

[@riccardo4-xx8op]

Hey man. Amazing Jespers pieces! Love the guy, along with Tucker, probably one of my favorites. 30th might be toxic material but I enjoyed seeing the OG artworks sorted by color (im sorry im not old school enough to truly appreciate the alphabetical order haha). Congrats on the pick ups, see ya next video

[@AlphaHoarder]

I finally caved on that, and resorted my alpha by color too lol. Sometimes the new way is the better way.

[@Josh_Grav]

Great pickups! I also love Raging River. The art on the back of the Word of Command the Phyrexian Dreadnaught are freaking incredible! Awesome video as usual.

[@AlphaHoarder]

Raging River is such a jank card 🤣 thanks for dropping in!

[@seanjelle]

Those artist proofs are really just works of art. The lotus is a beautiful piece too. Congratulations on the loot. Beautiful cards. I play the Phyrexian dreadnought in a mono-green cEDH build. Not a beaut like your artist proof, unfortunately.

[@AlphaHoarder]

That's awesome that Phyrexian still sees play! Such a cool card. Thanks for watching

[@jerryanthony8886]

Those AP's are incredible!!!

[@AlphaHoarder]

Jesper is brilliant

[@edaproject842]

Congratulations Your collections are truly remarkable. Alpha is the pure king. Although, it takes courage to put some poisonous edition among the iconic vintage...

[@AlphaHoarder]

I'm blasphemous to the core 😅😬 Thanks for watching

[@TreeCutterDoug]

That deadnaught is friggin AWESOME. Faq M30. Faq WotC. Long live the LGS. Long live the eternal formats.

[@Nabraham1]

That word of command proof is sick! Wow. Ironically grabbed a mox sapphire for my unlimited collection this year and need to still grab a time walk to wrap it up. Cheers to everyone and adding to the collection in 2024! Jump, people, gram them while you can!!

[@AlphaHoarder]

Oh nice! Sapphire is my next goal. Maybe this year 🤞

[@CMPixelPaws]

Love all the artwork on the Artist proof cards! Amazing! Thanks for sharing! 2023 was a very rough year for me. Lost my job and been just getting by for the most part but was able to get a full completed set of Revised (3rd ed.) as it was my very first set playing the game so has a soft spot for me. Also completed my set of one of my favorite artists Melissa Benson and all her cards artworks. Will eventually work towards collecting my other favorite artists' cards, which currently are Anson Maddocks and Richard Kane-Ferguson (among others).

[@AlphaHoarder]

Sorry to hear about the bumps you trudged through, hopefully 2024 is an improvement. Still, a complete Revised set! That's pretty cool. That was my first complete set as well, and one close to my heart.

[@CMPixelPaws]

Thanks@@AlphaHoarderThat means a lot! And for the record, I don't think the M30 cards are that bad. The stigma that holds in the set is the cost, not the actual cards (imo). The cards are still iconic at their core and look great in the collection!

[@fourkeepsgaming]

Sic stuff bro, that Lorus is pimpin but the Jespor's are my favorites, hopefully ill get something from his next Halloween batch

[@AlphaHoarder]

He's so talented

[@JeffBoski]

A great 8 minute video 👌🏻

[@omgitsdavid578]

Very nice cards!!!! Absolutely gorgeous!

[@AlphaHoarder]

Thanks so much!

[@CrosswaIk]

Not totally sure how I feel about the full 30th set but it would feel crazy for any of us to try and make you feel guilty about owning it. I guess it's similar to any "taboo" collection in each respective community. War relics are full of taboo pieces and I think it's just easier to compartmentalize that for the sake of preserving the history and going for what your heart wants. I shared my opinion on it in your first 30th video but on the other hand, if it were something I wanted, I would say "I like what I like" and get it just the same (which I do often) 😅

[@AlphaHoarder]

Yeah it's a strange one... I remain in a state of contained dissonance towards it, but I'm happy I have it in the vault and it was fun to put together. 🤷‍♂️ Appreciate the thoughts

[@gleblanc83]

nice stuff, awesome alters

[@AlphaHoarder]

Thanks for watching!

[@themagictraindriver]

good on you for getting an M30 Retro set. Not the biggest m30 fan but it was fun to open as someone that never had a chance to try and open Power. I'll stick to the Alpha and Arabian though, i think :)

[@AlphaHoarder]

Good choice, between the three 😂

[@penguinlust6749]

As crazy as it sounds, I only collect "game pieces" -- that is, cards that can actually be played with. So I spent 2023 filling in gaps of my WotC (no Hasbro) MtG collection, which is now complete.

[@AlphaHoarder]

Nothing like completing a collecting project 🙂 Any goals for '24?

[@penguinlust6749]

@@AlphaHoarder Finishing verifying condition replacements (my version of "Near Mint" is far stricter than most, especially tcgplayer) and working on my wife's sets as she finally finished all her cataloging of what she has. I'm starting to get rid of my extras, but the big stuff will wait. Working on other sections of my game collection -- unpunched SPI titles that I'm missing will probably be the main focus.

[@AlphaHoarder]

Sounds like fun! Very cool your wife is into collecting with you. Part of the reason behind my doing this channel is my wife doesn't get it at all lol

[@penguinlust6749]

@@AlphaHoarder And speaking of my wife, she has also told me I need to start to get through all my Warhammer (Fantasy + 40k primarily) stuff ... orders are orders.

[@kennygrenier4771]

30th anniversary is gross. But the artist proofs are AMAZING! Especially the Phyrexian dreadnaught. I also love "textured" lotus alter, super cool! The fact that magic 30th is even considered worthy amongst a collection of cards like this... yikes.

[@AlphaHoarder]

Understandable position about 30th. And yes, Jesper does really cool alters!

[@crisgroom3857]

Always enjoy visiting your museum 😁 and the last one 🤯. Not happy about that set either but definitely gotta acknowledge the accomplishment 👍

[@AlphaHoarder]

I always appreciate you coming through the museum 😂

[@Possu81]

Generally speaking don't like altered cards but that Lotus is well made

[@TheRealBigRandy]

Very cool DragonLotus !

[@AlphaHoarder]

Thanks!

[@KaranasticRap]

Always enjoy these videos. Do you collect any cards outside of Magic? It's interesting to see that only 1/6 of your favorite pickups was an unaltered Alpha card. And the fact that so many people dislike MTG 30th anniversary makes me like it more. // My favorite pickups last year was a deviation from the norm with Topps Formula 1 cards. A Max Verstappen rainbow with three serialized /5's of the same card.

[@AlphaHoarder]

Oh, very cool! I didn't even realize how few were Alpha cards lol. I'm pretty concentrated on magic… I have the kind of personality where I can lose control of myself on things like this. Perhaps you noticed 😅 that is one reason among several that I've kept my focus very narrow.

[@nohomers6825]

Wow! Great pickups, and congrats on the 30th set. I don't know about you, but I was always ridiculed, bullied and belittled for playing Magic when I started in junior high, and all the way through high-school. I was called every name in the book, but Magic was my escape, my refuge while growing up as a recluse. I didnt purchase any 30th edition myself, but I can sense the same level of riducle from back in the day for this set....and whomever wants to collect it, I say go for it, and let all the haters hate. Nothing will stop that, but you dont need to listen to it.

[@AlphaHoarder]

Yes indeed, I was there too, once. Solidarity 🤜🤛

[@briandiadem]

Phyrexian Dreadnought was my jam back when I first started playing. Still one of my favorite cards. Also, I'm totally with you on M30. I think it's ridiculous, but I still picked up my pet cards.

[@AlphaHoarder]

Yes! I just loved trying to get that 12/12 out without paying the cost 🤣

[@energetek661]

That 30th edition ngl is actually kinda cool. Hate the product and what it stands for but the cards themselves all togetger like that is kinda neat. Thanks for sharing!

[@AlphaHoarder]

I appreciate the solidarity on that. My thinking exactly. The set still makes me squirm and makes me uncomfortable, but looking at the cards is still cool… Perhaps I'll be able to wrestle that cognitive dissonance into something logical eventually

[@keithshaffer5975]

Those are all great pick ups. I won’t spam you for m30; I’ll hold that against hasbro. Those are the older looking frames and not the new frames, right (more rare)? Nice to hear your dad also collected.

[@AlphaHoarder]

My dad's exit from the hobby is one of the sparks that ignited me into it. Yes, those are the retro ones. The new frame versions don't do it for me. Appreciate you watching!

[@mfdoom1898]

No hate for the magic 30 set.... I would have put that money elsewhere buuuuuut it looks like you've put plenty of money elsewhere so, like you said in the beginning, you do you and we'll do us. Looks like you had a great 2023 though. The only thing I really picked up this year was starting my Peacekeeper hoard... I only have 30 but I'm going to 100

[@AlphaHoarder]

Nice, nothing quite like building a hoard!

[@connorwills9862]

Just noticed- are there 2 diff sol rings in M30?

[@AlphaHoarder]

Yes, they made one at the common level (zoomed in) and one at the uncommon level (the classic one).

[@JeffBoski]

Are you friends with Kip? He has a ton of great artist proofs that he might like to sell.

[@AlphaHoarder]

I've connected with him through email a couple times. Maybe I'll reach out and see if he has a tutor 🧐 Appreciate you dropping in!

[@jimmiploug2333]

Drooling as ever. Even M30 complete set is kinda neat! My best purchase was more modest, AN NM Island of Wak-Wak

[@AlphaHoarder]

M30 is still giving me cognitive dissonance 😂 But it is definitely rare and unique, even if despised and poisonous lol. NM Arabian Nights cards are really special. Nice pickup!

[@jeffreyjaros5924]

was there 2 versions of Sol Ring in Magic 30 ???

[@AlphaHoarder]

Yeah, they made a common version (zoomed in) and kept the original art at the original rarity (uncommon). Because, you know, it was totally a set for collectors, and not players, and collectors always need a common version of sol ring for their binders 🤣

[@lechasseurdemothman]

AP sketch is the better way to collection Magic... Beautiful myrfors

[@AlphaHoarder]

For my money, forget serialized cards, I'll take 1 of 1 AP's 😁

[@ricardojnobre]

I will have to hide well my Raging River before you will find it 😂

[@AlphaHoarder]

Just make sure to divide the battlefield so I'm stuck on the other side, then I won't be able to get it

[@LikelyDavid]

I think most of the long term negativity for M30 stems from the idea of what could have been. A severe missed opportunity in most people’s eyes that was solely designed to extract as much value from the consumer as they could possibly get. Now whether or not that’s entirely true is up for debate, but I think some of the negativity of this set will slowly fade in coming years. Not because people will have forgotten the disaster of M30, but because people will remember it as an inflection point within the history of magic. These cards will continue to go up in value (in my opinion), but I would imagine that getting a good price for them would require holding for another 3-5 years. As far as my pickups for the year - nothing compared to your sets value wise haha. I just completed an old school jumpstart cube; wanted to recreate the feel of 94-95 tabletop magic with my family and friends. Always loved the simplicity of design & beauty of the art with these sets. Slowly swapping out cards from chronicles with real antiquities and legends throughout this year.

[@AlphaHoarder]

I think that's an insightful observation. At the very least we could say, the damage was multiplied because of the missed opportunities. That's an awesome project. Sounds like fun with the cube!

[@jr-6025]

The AP sketches are incredible! The lotus is fantastic too! Would love to see a video on your UNL set. Now you need more illusionary masks to sneak in the dreadnought. I don't think there should be any shame in liking the M30 cards, i think the cards are gorgeous. The M30 cards have much more old-school feel than any other retro-border cards they've produced recently.

[@AlphaHoarder]

Glad to know other people are on my wavelength! Maybe I'll share my unlimited set… I really want to complete it though, but man did I miss the window on sapphire and timetwister 🤦‍♂️

[@rogerboucher9941]

i hope you didnt pay that much for thoses proxies at the end :P

[@henkdachief]

do you mean the artist proofs or the test cards?

[@AlphaHoarder]

🤣 more than they are worth, no doubt

[@1859ddd]

The audio feedback is KILLING ME please fix it moving forward 😭

[@AlphaHoarder]

Sorry about that, I changed setup recently and the buzzing on this mic is bad 😬 This video and the next couple I did my best to reduce it in post, but before I record a new one I'll fix it.

[@1859ddd]

@@AlphaHoarder No hate man. I just wanted to express how it made me feel to hopefully help you out. I really enjoyed your video otherwise. That lotus is so cool! I went to film school and the number one thing they teach you is if your audio isn’t on point then you will lose an audience far quicker than if your video quality is a bit scuffed. Just food for thought for ya.

[@AlphaHoarder]

Appreciate that knowledge! I think my mic cable is too close to an electrical cable or something.

[@robertk1834]

Ruined a lotus tbh, cool dragon but the authentic card is far more beautiful

[@AlphaHoarder]

Fair enough 🤣 a lot of people are in your camp, and consider any alter a ruined card. I definitely started that way when I began collecting, but overtime that's been changing more and more.

[@knightsnigh4731]

I can see both sides but as I'm missing a lotus from my unlimited set a nice alt HP might be more appealing (even if as an expensive placeholder) than a plan HP/MP copy.

[@rebelresource]

Eh that's an opinion.

[@925kevina]

i’ve heard rush didn’t even do the altar just the sig … and that comes from a highly legit source.. this dude is a tool and clearly a duck

[@1859ddd]

“rUinEd A LoTuS TbH” shut your face nerd. Who asked? 🤓