How Many Rares in a Set Booster Pack? A Comprehensive Guide
The burning question on many Magic: The Gathering (MTG) players’ minds when cracking open a Set Booster pack is: how many rares can I expect? The straightforward answer is that a Set Booster pack can contain between 1 and 4 Rare or Mythic Rare cards. However, it’s not as simple as always expecting multiple rares. The distribution is carefully designed to provide a more exciting and unpredictable opening experience compared to the more predictable Draft Booster. This range, and the other cards included, is what makes Set Boosters so popular with players who enjoy the thrill of the pack opening and the possibility of a high-value pull. Let’s delve into the details of what you can expect when opening a Set Booster.
Understanding Set Booster Pack Contents
Set Boosters are designed with a focus on maximizing the excitement of opening packs, rather than catering to the drafting environment like Draft Boosters. This means the contents and distribution are carefully considered to create the possibility of multiple rares and other exciting pulls. Here’s what you can expect in a typical Set Booster:
- 12 Playable Magic: The Gathering Cards: This is the core of the pack, featuring cards across all rarities.
- 1 Art Card: A non-playable card featuring artwork from the set.
- 1 Token, Ad Card, or Special Card (from “The List”): This slot can be a variety of different elements, adding a bit of extra randomness.
Of these 12 playable cards, the distribution of rarities is what varies the most. Here’s a breakdown of how the slots usually work:
- The “Connected” Slot: This slot features 15 common and uncommon cards.
- The “Head Turner” Slot: This slot may include one of 5 rares, so this is where the main pull would come from.
- Up to 4 Rares/Mythics: As previously stated, the pack can contain between 1 and 4 rares or mythic rares, spread throughout the various card slots within the booster.
- 6-10 Uncommon and Commons: The bulk of the pack will be filled with commons and uncommons. You can expect a max of 8 common cards here.
- 1 Land Card: Every set booster comes with one land card, which is part of the 12 playable cards within the set.
- 1 Foil Card: Each set booster has one guaranteed foil card, which can be of any rarity.
Rare and Mythic Rare Distribution
The chance of pulling a Mythic Rare instead of a Rare is about 1 in 8. This is because, when printing, approximately 15 out of 121 cards on a print sheet are mythic rares. This makes them more sought after. Set Boosters also contain an improved chance of multiple rares in a single pack, with some packs containing as many as 4 Rare or Mythic Rare cards. However, most packs will only contain one or two. It is crucial to remember that the higher number of rares in a pack is not always guaranteed, as it is spread through multiple slots which could also be uncommon or common cards.
The Value Proposition
While the higher price point might seem like a deterrent to some players, the overall value proposition of a set booster is in the higher potential for pulling rares and mythic rares, including the coveted foil versions of these cards. This makes it an exciting opening experience for players looking for the “high” of a big hit in a pack.
Frequently Asked Questions About Rares in Set Boosters
To further help you understand the distribution and value of set boosters, here are some frequently asked questions:
1. Do Set Boosters Have More Rares Than Draft Boosters?
Yes, in general, Set Boosters have the potential for more rares than Draft Boosters. While Draft Boosters are designed to provide a balanced card pool for drafting, Set Boosters are built with more potential for high-value rare pulls, as they contain less total cards overall. This makes Set Boosters more appealing to players primarily interested in cracking packs and collecting.
2. What is the average number of Rares in a Set Booster Box?
A standard set booster box contains 30 booster packs. You will find at least 30 rares or mythics in the box, but typically you will see closer to 38 rares and mythics.
3. How many Mythic Rares are in a Set Booster Box on average?
On average, a standard set booster box contains approximately 4.5 mythic rares. This is about 1 mythic rare for every 7.4 rare cards. It’s important to note that this number is an average, and your results may vary.
4. How many packs are in a Set Booster Box?
Set booster boxes contain 30 booster packs, compared to 36 packs in a Draft Booster box.
5. What is the difference between Set Boosters and Draft Boosters?
Draft Boosters are primarily designed for drafting and contain 15 playable cards with a more balanced distribution of rarities. Set Boosters, on the other hand, are designed for the “pack opening experience” and contain 12 playable cards, with a higher potential for multiple rares or mythics and a guaranteed foil. Set boosters also include an art card and token.
6. What is the chance of pulling a Mythic Rare in a Set Booster?
The odds of pulling a Mythic Rare in a Set Booster are about 1 in 8 for one of the rare slots in a pack, as about 15 out of 121 cards on a printing sheet are Mythic Rare.
7. Are Set Boosters worth the higher price?
For players primarily interested in opening packs and collecting valuable cards, Set Boosters are often considered worth the higher price due to the potential for multiple rares, mythics, and a guaranteed foil. For players focused on drafting, Draft Boosters are the better choice.
8. How does the “Connected” slot work in Set Boosters?
The “Connected” slot contains 15 common and uncommon cards, with an emphasis on cards that might work well together or are thematically connected. This slot adds an extra layer of fun to the pack opening.
9. What is “The List” card in a Set Booster?
“The List” is a selection of reprints from Magic’s past that can appear in the token or ad card slot. These cards are a fun addition and can sometimes be quite valuable.
10. Can a Set Booster contain only Common cards?
While theoretically possible, it’s highly improbable that a Set Booster would contain only common cards, and it would also be incorrect, as it contains at least 1 rare. Set Boosters are designed to have a higher distribution of uncommons and rares, with a minimum of one guaranteed rare or mythic.
11. What is the probability of pulling a foil rare in a Set Booster?
Every Set Booster pack has one guaranteed traditional foil card, with no restrictions on rarity. This means your guaranteed foil can be a Common, Uncommon, Rare, or even Mythic Rare, as it’s just one random card out of the set that is in foil.
12. What is the ‘Head Turner’ slot in a Set Booster?
The ‘Head Turner’ slot is a special slot that features 5 potential rares, this is where the higher value cards tend to appear from. This slot has been designed with the intention of being a more exciting card pull, leading to the higher value.
13. Are there any other special card types in Set Boosters?
Set Boosters don’t contain any card types not found in other boosters. However, they include art cards and often feature unique variations on existing cards, such as foils.
14. How do Set Booster boxes compare to Collector Booster boxes in value?
Collector Boosters are designed to contain a larger amount of guaranteed high value and special treatments, making their price point typically significantly higher than Set Boosters. For players who want to maximize their chance of pulling the rarest and most sought after cards, collector boosters will be a more valuable box to get.
15. Do all Magic: The Gathering sets have Set Boosters?
Most modern Magic sets include Set Boosters. However, it’s always good to verify the product offerings for specific sets when they are released.
Conclusion
Set Boosters offer a dynamic and exciting way to open Magic: The Gathering cards. With a varying number of Rares and Mythic Rares in each pack, you’re always in for a thrill when cracking one open. Remember that while the potential for multiple rares is higher, it’s not guaranteed. This randomness, combined with the chance of pulling valuable cards, is part of what makes Set Boosters so popular. Hopefully, this guide has given you a comprehensive understanding of how many rares to expect in a Set Booster pack. Happy cracking!