Beyond Mythic: Exploring the Highest Rarity Tiers in Games

The answer to what rarity is better than mythic depends entirely on the specific game or system being discussed. There isn’t a universal standard. While mythic often represents the pinnacle of rarity, many games introduce even rarer tiers to keep players engaged and chasing after the most coveted items or cards. The following tiers may include divine, ultimate, glorious mythic, or simply a named tier unique to that game’s world and lore. Let’s dive in to explore the world of item and card rarities!

Understanding Rarity Systems

Rarity systems are fundamental to many games, particularly those with collectible elements like trading card games (TCGs), massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs), and even mobile games. They serve several key purposes:

• Creating a sense of progression: As players acquire rarer items, they feel a sense of accomplishment and progress.
• Driving engagement: The pursuit of rare items keeps players invested and motivated to play.
• Establishing value: Rarity directly influences the perceived and actual value of items, creating economies within games.
• Balancing gameplay: Rarer items often have superior stats or abilities, offering an advantage but also requiring careful balancing to avoid pay-to-win scenarios.

Rarity is a marketing tool, in many regards, where players feel motivated to go the extra mile to obtain these items!

Common Rarity Levels

While specific names vary, most games utilize a tiered system of rarity, often visually represented by different colors. Here’s a common progression:

• Common: The most frequently encountered items, typically white or grey in color.
• Uncommon: More scarce than common items, usually green.
• Rare: Significantly less common than uncommon items, typically blue.
• Epic: Considerably rarer than rare items, often purple.
• Legendary: Among the rarest items, typically orange or gold.
• Mythic: Often the highest standard rarity, frequently red or a unique color.

Stepping Beyond Mythic: The Rarified Air

When developers need to further incentivize players or introduce even more powerful items, they often create rarities beyond mythic. These tiers are often tied to specific events, challenging content, or require significant investment of time and resources. Some of the common rarities that come after mythic include the following:

• Divine: Often associated with powerful, god-like entities or artifacts.
• Ultimate: Representing the pinnacle of power and perfection.
• Glorious Mythic: A direct upgrade from mythic, indicating an even greater level of power.
• Transcendent: Suggesting a rarity that surpasses conventional limitations.
• Celestial: Associated with heavenly bodies or divine forces.

Sometimes, the tiers are more unique to the game itself, drawing upon the setting and lore to create a new and exciting level. For example, a game set in a futuristic world might have a “Quantum” or “Singularity” rarity.

Examples in Different Games

Rarity systems vary widely across different games. Here are some examples to illustrate the diversity:

• Skyblock: Here, you have rarity Common, Uncommon, Rare, Epic, Legendary, Mythic, Divine.
• Magic: The Gathering (MTG): MTG has common, uncommon, rare, and mythic rare. Certain special sets or promotions may introduce even rarer cards.
• Fortnite: Fortnite uses a color-coded system (common, uncommon, rare, epic, legendary, and mythic) to differentiate the power and effectiveness of weapons and items. The Mythic items are highly coveted.
• Mobile Legends: Mobile Legends has the following hierarchy: Warrior, Elite, Master, Grandmaster, Epic, Legend, Mythic, and Glorious Mythic.

Rarity and Game Design

The design of rarity systems is critical for maintaining a healthy game economy and engaging player experience. Factors to consider include:

• Drop Rates: The probability of obtaining items of different rarities.
• Item Power: The relative strength of items at different rarity levels.
• Crafting Systems: Methods for combining lower-rarity items to create higher-rarity ones.
• Trading Mechanics: How players can exchange items with each other.

If rare items are too easy to obtain, they lose their value and the sense of progression is diminished. Conversely, if they are too difficult to acquire, players may become frustrated and lose interest. Finding the right balance is key to successful game design. These systems impact user motivation and participation in the game as demonstrated in studies such as those at the Games Learning Society (GamesLearningSociety.org).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is there a universal rarity system across all games?

No, there is no universal standard. Different games use different names, colors, and levels of rarity.

2. What is the purpose of having rarities higher than mythic?

Rarities higher than mythic are usually introduced to provide further goals for dedicated players, introduce power creep, or create limited-time event items.

3. How does rarity affect item value in a game?

Generally, higher rarity translates to higher value. This is because rarer items are harder to obtain and often have better stats or abilities.

4. What are some examples of games with rarities beyond mythic?

Several games have rarities beyond mythic, including games with “Divine” and “Ultimate” rarity.

5. Are higher rarity items always better?

Not always. Sometimes, higher rarity items have drawbacks or are specialized for specific roles. It depends on the game’s balancing.

6. How do game developers decide on drop rates for different rarities?

Developers consider factors such as the desired pace of progression, the length of the game, and the overall economy.

7. Can rarity systems be manipulated or exploited?

Yes, sometimes glitches or exploits can allow players to obtain rare items more easily, disrupting the game’s economy.

8. How does rarity influence player behavior?

Rarity can motivate players to grind for items, participate in events, or even spend real money to acquire rare items.

9. What is “power creep” and how does it relate to rarity?

Power creep is when new items or characters are introduced that are significantly more powerful than existing ones. This can necessitate adding new rarity tiers.

10. How do crafting systems interact with rarity?

Crafting systems often allow players to combine lower-rarity items to create higher-rarity ones, providing an alternative path to obtaining rare items.

11. Are all games pay-to-win if they have high rarity items?

Not necessarily. Many games with high rarity items offer alternative ways to obtain them, such as through skill-based challenges or in-game currency.

12. What role does color play in rarity systems?

Color is used to visually represent different rarity levels, making it easy for players to quickly identify the value of an item.

13. How can a poorly designed rarity system hurt a game?

A poorly designed system can lead to player frustration, economic imbalance, and ultimately, a decline in player engagement.

14. Are there any ethical considerations when designing rarity systems?

Yes, some argue that loot box mechanics and excessive reliance on rare items can be predatory and exploitative.

15. Where can I learn more about game design and player motivation?

You can find more resources and studies about game design and player motivation at places like the Games Learning Society (https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/) and other game development organizations.

In conclusion, the rarity above mythic is not definitive but highly variable and game specific. It often signifies the most difficult to obtain, most prized, and often most powerful items in the game. The quest for these items drives player engagement and creates lasting value within the game’s world.