Seeking Advice regarding obtaining power

[JPoJohnson]

I've just decided to start acquiring power and am looking for some advice. I've read, and been told, that acquiring it from top-down is the best option because... well it makes sense and I'm sure everyone here understands that mentality (:

The real reason I'm posting is because I have some questions about what type of card I should seek after. Up to this point I've only gone after NM/SP cards because I want to invest into something that has staying power.

* If I bought a MP card for example (severe wear, no bends, but an extreme amount of whiting), can I expect this card to still be in a similar condition in 10, 20, 30 years?

* Will it be something that I can invest into and have for a while or will the wear continue to eat away at the integrity of the card?

* Would it be a better idea to invest into a SP+ card?

Any other advice and feedback would be most welcomed (:

[Samoht]

If you are looking to acquire power to play with and cost is a factor, I'd suggest HP or MP cards. The value isn't in the condition and playing with them won't hurt it at all.

[bactgudz]

If you double sleeve and are careful with your cards, you can get years worth of regular events out of an HP copy without making it look noticeably worse.

[JPoJohnson]

If you are looking to acquire power to play with and cost is a factor, I'd suggest HP or MP cards. The value isn't in the condition and playing with them won't hurt it at all.

I have the monies to buy them in NM condition, but I would prefer to get a SP card since the cost difference is quite noticeable. I just don't know if going into the MP/HP category is worth it to save some money. Just asking for insight if possible since I don't have any older cards that are beyond SP (:

[Varal]

Playing with beautiful cards is a bigger risk because it doesn't need much for it to loses its pristine status. Also, grading systems vary a lot from store to store and person to person. My Black Lotus has a front looking SP and a back with some whitening and it was graded as Heavily Played. If you have the money to buy them all right now, you should buy them when you see a good deal. Black Lotus is the hardest card to get so I would go for it if you can but there's no reason to not buy any other cards other you have this one. Pristine cards are even rarer and tougher to find at good price. Timetwister and Library of Alexandria are definitely not high priority. Foreign Imperial Seal has power prices but it is a risky investment considering its reprint potential.

It should be noted that Black Lotus has more or less doubled in price in the last 15-18 months while the rest of power didn't increase by that much. Does it mean that the rest of power might follow or that Black Lotus will continue to increase faster in the future? Hard to tell.

Good luck in your quest but remember that a bad deal before cards price increase is better than a good deal afterwards.

[Samoht]

If you are looking to acquire power to play with and cost is a factor, I'd suggest HP or MP cards. The value isn't in the condition and playing with them won't hurt it at all.

I have the monies to buy them in NM condition, but I would prefer to get a SP card since the cost difference is quite noticeable. I just don't know if going into the MP/HP category is worth it to save some money. Just asking for insight if possible since I don't have any older cards that are beyond SP (:

If cost difference is relevant to you, MP/HP is probably worth. It's possible that you put your SP stuff on the border of MP by playing with them for a little while, and you'll lose the premium you paid (despite them appreciating above what you paid anyway).

[Bill Copes]

It's probably a given, but I will stress it anyway:  it is most wise to purchase your power from a reputable dealer.  I bet some of them on this site would be more than willing to help you out.