# MTG Price & Buylist Arbitrage Engine (TCGplayer & CardKingdom) (`b.arzola/tcg-buylist-arbitrage-engine`) Actor

Extract real-time Magic: The Gathering (MTG) prices from TCGplayer (USD), Cardmarket (EUR), and CardKingdom Buylist (Cash & Credit). Detect instant arbitrage spreads without API keys.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/b.arzola/tcg-buylist-arbitrage-engine.md
- **Developed by:** [Benjamin Arzola](https://apify.com/b.arzola) (community)
- **Security:** Limited permissions
- **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

from $2.00 / 1,000 card printing analyzeds

This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events.

Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/actors/running/actors-in-store.md#pay-per-event

## What's an Apify Actor?

An Actor is a serverless cloud program that runs on the Apify platform. It has two run modes.
In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours,
and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store.
In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server.

Apify vocabulary and the platform model are defined once, in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md.

## How to integrate an Actor?

If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects.
You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready.

Do not guess an integration path. Every one of them is in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md: the Apify MCP server, Agent Skills with the Apify CLI, the JavaScript and Python clients, the REST API, and the account-free path for an agent with no human to sign in. It also carries the rule on stating cost before the first paid run.

For examples already wired to this Actor's own input schema, see the [API](#api) section below.

Each client library has reference documentation the quickstart does not restate: [JavaScript/TypeScript](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md) (`npm install apify-client`) and [Python](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md) (`pip install apify-client`).

# README

## TCGplayer, Cardmarket & Buylist Arbitrage Engine (MTG API)

Extract real-time **Magic: The Gathering (MTG)** card prices, compare **TCGplayer USD Market** against **Cardmarket EUR Trend** and **Dealer Buylist (Cash & Store Credit)** values, and detect instant arbitrage spreads automatically. **No TCGplayer API key required.**

### Key Features

- **Multi-Market Price Comparison:** Fetches TCGplayer Market (USD), Cardmarket Trend (EUR & USD equivalent), and Buylist Cash / Store Credit (+30%) in a single run.
- **Automated Arbitrage Signals:** Automatically flags printings with `STRONG_CASH_ARBITRAGE`, `PROFITABLE_CREDIT_FLIP`, `EU_TO_US_ARBITRAGE`, or `HIGH_LIQUIDITY_STAPLE`.
- **Foil & Special Printing Support:** Evaluates standard printings, Foils, Secret Lair (`SLD`), Commander decks, and Collector Booster variants.
- **Full Scryfall Syntax Support:** Search by card name (`"The One Ring"`), set code (`set:ltr`, `set:mh3`), or paste an entire 100-card Commander decklist.

### Who is this for?

- **Local Game Stores (LGS) & Shopify / BinderPOS Sellers:** Automate daily inventory repricing and evaluate collection buy-ins in seconds.
- **MTG Finance & Arbitrage Traders:** Spot price inefficiencies between European (Cardmarket) and US (TCGplayer / Buylist) markets.
- **Developers & Automation Builders (n8n / Make / Discord Bots):** Connect via API to get structured JSON pricing without deprecated TCGplayer API keys.

# Actor input Schema

## `cardQueries` (type: `array`):

Enter card names (e.g. 'Rhystic Study'), Scryfall syntax (e.g. 'set:mh3'), or paste a decklist.

## `minPriceUsd` (type: `number`):

Filter out bulk cards below this USD threshold

## `includeFoils` (type: `boolean`):

Whether to analyze foil versions alongside standard non-foil printings

## `onlyShowArbitrageOpportunities` (type: `boolean`):

Filters out standard cards and only outputs strong Buylist cash/credit spreads.

## `maxPrintsPerQuery` (type: `integer`):

Maximum number of card printings to fetch per query search

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "cardQueries": [
    "The One Ring",
    "Orcish Bowmasters",
    "Rhystic Study"
  ],
  "minPriceUsd": 2,
  "includeFoils": true,
  "onlyShowArbitrageOpportunities": false,
  "maxPrintsPerQuery": 25
}
```

# Actor output Schema

## `dataset` (type: `string`):

Dataset containing the analyzed MTG card printings, market prices, and buylist spreads.

# API

You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup.

## JavaScript example

```javascript
import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';

// Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
// Replace the '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token
const client = new ApifyClient({
    token: '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>',
});

// Prepare Actor input
const input = {};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("b.arzola/tcg-buylist-arbitrage-engine").call(input);

// Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any)
console.log('Results from dataset');
console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`);
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
items.forEach((item) => {
    console.dir(item);
});

// 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs

```

## Python example

```python
from apify_client import ApifyClient

# Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
# Replace '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token.
client = ApifyClient("<YOUR_API_TOKEN>")

# Prepare the Actor input
run_input = {}

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("b.arzola/tcg-buylist-arbitrage-engine").call(run_input=run_input)

# Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any)
print(f"💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/{run.default_dataset_id}")
for item in client.dataset(run.default_dataset_id).iterate_items():
    print(item)

# 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start

```

## CLI example

```bash
echo '{}' |
apify call b.arzola/tcg-buylist-arbitrage-engine --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,b.arzola/tcg-buylist-arbitrage-engine"
        }
    }
}
```

The hosted server signs you in with OAuth on first connect, so no API token belongs in this config. Clients without OAuth support can send an `Authorization: Bearer <APIFY_API_TOKEN>` header instead, using a token from API & Integrations in Apify Console (https://console.apify.com/settings/integrations).

## OpenAPI specification

Download the OpenAPI definition: https://api.apify.com/v2/actors/40XMzaTD6ukyg603D/builds/ns2MiGSHA4vlKVVLv/openapi.json