Mystery Booster
| Mystery Booster Convention Edition | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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[[File:{{#setmainimage:Mystery Booster logo.png}}|250px]] | |||||
| Set Information | |||||
| Set symbol | This set has no own expansion symbol. | ||||
| Symbol description | Cards use the symbol of their original expansion. | ||||
| Design |
Gavin Verhey Mark Globus | ||||
| Release date | November 7, 2019 | ||||
| Plane | Multiversal | ||||
| Themes and mechanics | Multiple | ||||
| Keywords/ability words | Multiple | ||||
| Set size |
1,694 cards +121 test cards | ||||
| Expansion code | MB1[1] | ||||
| Development codename | Whirlpool[2] | ||||
| Magic: The Gathering Chronology | |||||
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Mystery Booster is a Magic booster set, designed for Chaos Draft. It has two editions. The Convention Edition was released on November 7, 2019, and the Retail Edition on March 13, 2020. The set contains mostly reprinted cards from earlier sets.[3] Each Convention booster also contains a test card which may be used in draft, but not in constructed play. The set is not Standard-legal.[4]
Description
The idea of the Mystery Booster is that it is a product that you don't know what it is until you open it up; the mystery is a feature of the product.[5] The main set contains 1,694 cards of equal rarity.[6][7] However, 30 cards have the mythic rare colored expansion symbol, 152 rare, 452 uncommon and 1060 common. The reprints are from throughout the game's history, going as far back as Mirage.[2] There are also cards from supplemental sets. In contrast to regular Chaos limited, which has many set-based synergy cards that don't work in that environment, this curated set maintains the chaos feel but it lets decks be functional, good, and fun to play. The cards have a white planeswalker symbol in the bottom left, meaning that these are fresh prints designed to look like the original cards. Apart from the added planeswalker symbol, the reprints are "straight pick-ups", meaning that Wizards of the Coast used the original card file to print them. That is a different thing than printing a new card, with updated rules text, which is how they normally make cards.[8][9]
Mystery Boosters contain 15 cards. There are two versions, one for GPs/conventions and one for local WPN stores.[10] Each Convention pack has 2 commons/uncommons of each color, 1 multicolored common/uncommon, 1 common/uncommon artifact/land, 1 special slot, 1 rare/mythic rare with the M15 card frame and one pre-M15 card in its original frame.[11] Each of the 14 boosters slots from the main set of 1,694 cards has its own print sheet of 121 possible cards.
Marketing
The Mystery Booster was first teased at WeeklyMTG by Blake Rasmussen on October 10, 2019.[12][13] More info was revealed on November 7 at MagicFest Richmond.[14]
Convention Edition
The convention packs contain a pretend "playtest card" in the special slot that seems more like part of an Un-set. Gavin Verhey described this as "Chaos Draft meets Future Sight".[11] These 121 so-called test cards feature black and white card faces that look like they have been stickered on cards with a regular card frame of the appropriate color. Test cards are not meant for Constructed play, but may be used in Chaos Draft. There is a total of 121 test cards (one print sheet[15]). Test cards don't have a designated rarity.
In August 2021 a highly limited amount of Convention Edition boosters was distributed exclusively to WPN stores, to accommodate a welcome-back experience after the COVID-19 pandemic.[16] In this edition, two of the test cards received new "art". In addition, 24 reprints with art by Noah Bradley and Terese Nielsen were removed, while 24 other cards were doubled in frequency of appearance.[17] This printing of the playtest cards can be differentiated from the first print run since the new ones lack the planeswalker symbol in the left lower corner.
Retail Edition
The Retail Edition of the Mystery Booster fills the special slot with one of 121 possible foil cards. These foil cards are different cards than those found in the main set. There are no never-before-done foils.[2][18]
Differences between print runs
First print runs of Mystery Booster with the m15+ frames have a slightly larger planeswalker symbol than second print run cards.[19] First print pre-M15 cards have a smaller and squared outline around the planeswalker symbol, while second print run cards have a larger, rounded outline. The symbol in the multiple-second print runs is also not foil on foil cards, unlike first print run cards.
Gallery
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Retail Edition
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Convention Edition
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Test card
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Print run differences
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Print run differences
References
- ↑ https://www.magicmadhouse.co.uk/magic-the-gathering-mystery-booster-booster-pack-p319029
- ↑ a b c Gavin Verhey (November 14, 2019). "Unraveling the Mystery Booster". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ David McCoy (November 7, 2019). "Magic’s Mystery Boosters Revealed". Hipsters of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (October 12, 2019). "What about the Mystery booster set?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (October 10, 2019). "What’s the “mystery booster product?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Blake Rasmussen (November 11, 2019). "Mystery Booster Revealed". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Eli Shiffrin (November 11, 2019). "Mystery Booster Release Notes". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (November 07, 2019). "Does that open up the possibility of printing new cards with the old style frame?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (I know a lot of people who had bad takes on the Mystery Boosters and mistook them for repacks.). "I know a lot of people who had bad takes on the...". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (October 12, 2019). "Is the Mystery Booster product going to be available through local stores?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ a b Gavin Verhey (November 7, 2019). "It's Chaos Draft meets Future Sight.". Twitter.
- ↑ Blake Rasmussen (October 10, 2019). "Announcing Mystery Booster". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (October 14, 2019). "Is Mystery Booster’s actually named Mystery Booster?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mystery. CFB Events (October 10, 2019).
- ↑ ChannelFireball (November 8, 2019). "Uncut sheets of the Test cards have been added to the Prize Wall.". Twitter.
- ↑ Adam Styborski (May 6, 2021). "Welcome to the Summer of Legend". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Wizards of the Coast (June 21, 2021). "Mystery Booster Convention Edition Returns With In-Store Events". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Gavin Verhey (February 17, 2020). "Just to set expectations, as I've said before, this set adds no never-before-done foils into the world.". Twitter.
- ↑ Sevenut (June 13, 2020). "Subtle difference between first and second print Mystery Booster cards". Reddit.