Mythic rare

Mythic rare is a rarity level, one step higher than rare. It was introduced in 2008. Cards that are of mythic rare rarity are often referred to as "mythics".

The first Mythic rare symbol (Shards of Alara)

Description

Mythic rare is indicated by an orange-red colored expansion symbol, which originally was meant to provide a "fiery" appearance. The rarity was created for Shards of Alara, as some of the rares in that set were considered to be on a higher level than most of the other rares. Mythic rares are printed on the Rare print sheet and show up in the same slot of booster packs.

Originally, 15 mythic rare cards appeared in large sets and 10 appeared in smaller sets, not counting on mythic rares exclusive in non-draft booster products. The most well-known mythic card type is that of the Planeswalker, which nearly always appeared as mythic rares after Shards of Alara introduced them.

These numbers differed for certain sets; notably in sets with a double-faced print sheet. This is due to the sheet having all rarities on a single sheet, so it has its share of mythics, which varies from zero (Ixalan) to five (a cycle). Maze's End also got this treatment as the land-slot in Dragon's Maze, Mascot Exhibition for Lessons in Strixhaven: School of Mages, and Nicol Bolas, the Ravager got its own sheet in Core Set 2019. Oath of the Gatewatch expanded the typically small set Mythic count to 12 until they were discontinued after Rivals of Ixalan. Some supplemental draft sets (Ultimate Masters and Double Masters) have more than 15.

With the release of Dungeons & Dragons: Adventures in the Forgotten Realms, non-DFC mythic rares in normal distribution sets were upped to 20 per set. With the release of Play Boosters for Murders at Karlov Manor in 2024, the multiple "wildcard" slots gave the opportunity of multiple rares in a pack

Odds

Any given mythic is exactly twice as rare as any given rare due to the smaller pool of mythic rares versus rares, and they are printed on the same print sheet.

Originally, about 1 in every 8 booster packs contained a mythic rare. Starting with Zendikar Rising booster packs, 1 in every 7.4 booster packs contained a mythic rare instead of a rare card.

After the introduction of Play Boosters, there was a 12.5% chance of a mythic rare (with lower odds for multiple mythics.

In non-booster sets

In Duel Decks, the "flagship" cards appeared as mythic rares, like Jace Beleren vs. Chandra Nalaar. The Premium Deck Series: Slivers had a single mythic rare of Sliver Overlord. Finally, each of the cards in the From the Vault sets was printed with a mythic rare expansion symbol, regardless of the card's original rarity. Face cards of Commander decks are also printed as mythic rares, although their appearance in the decks is guaranteed.