Issue #3: Musings with Makasta
Interviewer: Amalteia
Interviewee: New Makasta
–
Other Contributors: Gem
Without a doubt, Makasta is a titan of the card collecting community, but before we get started, please read this short ad spot:
Did you know? This article is the third in an ongoing collaborative series run by the ministries of Gameside and Communications. In each Issue, we connect up-and-coming ministry staffers with amazing card collectors like Makasta, and help them out with some of the tougher things, like refining questions and formatting articles. If you'd like to read the other interviews in the series, you can check out Cards on the Table: A Brief Interview with UPC and A Deep-Dive with Giovanniland | Cards on the Table Issue #2; and if you're interested in running a Cards on the Table interview yourself, you can head over here, or contact Minister of Gameside SkyGreen or Minister of Communications Gem for more information. We currently have another fantastic card collector just waiting to be interviewed!
Now, without further ado, let's get into it!
Amalteia
Hi Makasta! First, could you please introduce yourself and share some of your card-related accomplishments?
Makasta
Alright! Hi, I am New Makasta. Some of the things I have done in cards that are vaguely worth mentioning are:
- I once had a deck value (DV) of over 2 million, becoming the third person ever to achieve such a height before the Great Deflation.
- During the Great Deflation, I was briefly first in the world, as I deflated slightly slower than others.
- I hold the record for the fastest completion of a seasonal epic collection, completing it in 38 days, if I remember correctly.
- I am still in the top ten after a long battle to regain my place in the rankings.
Amalteia
That's very interesting! For those of us new to cards and the game, you're giving us a lesson in history. What part of card collecting do you enjoy the most—fighting to climb the deck value rankings, hoarding legendaries, filling out themed collections, or something else?
Makasta
Honestly, filling out my themed collections and collecting legendaries are tied as my favorite parts. I love hunting down rare cards for my RWBY or Warhammer 40k collections, and the thrill of finding a legendary card is amazing.
Amalteia
Cool! I'm sure you'll have plenty to do with the new season. Why do you think making custom collections is so enjoyable? And how might someone with no card experience dip their toes into it?
Makasta
I just love collecting things. In real life, I collect items from franchises I’m a fan of, so cards on NS feel like a natural extension—finding things I love and hoarding them. For someone starting out, my best advice is to find something you enjoy and pursue it. Stick to a project and keep working on it, as it may take time to fully complete.
Amalteia
In a few sentences, how would you define yourself as a card collector to the layperson?
Makasta
Quite frankly, I’m just obsessed. I love the game and the community and am willing to dedicate immense amounts of time to it to get some enjoyment out of it.
Amalteia
Haha, that’s a great answer! What do you think are the most important aspects of building a good collection?
Makasta
Just being committed to it. The longer you work on it, the better it will become.
Amalteia
Do you have a favorite collection of yours? What makes it so special?
Makasta
My RWBY collection is probably my favorite. It’s special to me because it’s a show I love, and seeing that many of the cards are mine while knowing other people are also dedicated to the show makes it even more meaningful.
Amalteia
How long have you been playing cards? And how has your strategy evolved over time? Do you have any specific plans for Season 4?
Makasta
I’ve been playing since Season 1 dropped—not during the April Fool’s event, but when it became a permanent feature. I played casually until mid-2021, when I joined the NS Cards Discord server and became a more serious farmer.
In Season 2, I was an inflator, something I’m a bit ashamed of now. Essentially, I would find low-owner cards and manipulate the market to inflate their value into the thousands to generate DV. Nowadays, my strategy is almost the complete opposite. I focus on hoarding and collecting legendary cards to build value over time.
For Season 4, I don’t have any big plans—no inflations or crazy ideas like fire-selling a bunch of legendaries. I’m just here to keep building my collections and watching the numbers go up.
Amalteia
Fantastic! Finally, if someone like me wanted to follow in your footsteps, what three things would you suggest I do?
Makasta
- Join the NS Cards Discord server. It’s full of great people who help newer farmers succeed and is just an amazing community overall.
- Figure out your goals. If you want to collect legendaries, focus on that. If you want high DV, learn how to achieve it.
- Scale your farming to align with your goals.
Amalteia
Thank you so much for answering all the questions, Makasta! It was great to meet you!
