Between 2006 and 2013, Blizzard marketed the world of warcraft trading card game, or JCC WoW for short. The game was a great success in the first years, in particular because of the interest of MMORPG players for loot cards. These were more or less rare cards that allowed you to acquire in-game bonuses that took the form of mounts, mascots, tabards, disguises or toys.
Over time, these cards have become increasingly rare and coveted. This was mainly the case for mounts, the Spectral Tiger was a scarecrow with a price that could climb up to 6000 € on eBay. This secondary trade sometimes takes on the appearance of madness and you have to pay hundreds of euros to get packs of 24 sealed boosters from the Fires of Outland, the extension where the spectral tiger can be found. However, at this price, there is no guarantee that you will actually get the mount.
Most of these cards have become hard to find, and it was likely that Blizzard would one day recycle these items to make them more easily accessible to players. Well the studio decided to start the sale of three mounts and two mascots in China. As you will see, the prices are not given:
- X-51 X-TREME Netherrocket: €70
- Magic chicken egg: 41 €
- White woolly rhino: €30
- Dragon kite: 12 €
- Baby spectral tiger: 21 €
It’s expensive, but obviously much less expensive than if you wanted to buy them from individuals with all the risks involved. If I understand that Blizzard sees this as a potential financial gain, it would be nice to offer some rewards through quests or game loots.
It’s a first try for Blizzard but no doubt many mounts, pets and toys will eventually find their way to Europe. This could in any case lead to a real price crash. The magic chicken sells for between €1,000 and €2,000 on average…
Below are vintage screenshots of the loot cards, along with Blizzard’s promotional video.
Magic Chicken Egg Mount
White Woolly Rhino mount
Dragon Kite Companion (may appear in multiple colors)
Spectral Cub Companion
X-51 X-TREME Netherrocket Mount