Best MTG Booster Boxes to Buy for Value in the Long Term

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Best MTG Booster Boxes to Buy for Value in the Long Term

It’s no secret that some Magic: the Gathering cards are extremely valuable to the right people.

If you’re looking for some of the best MTG booster boxes to buy for value in the long term, you’ve come to the right place. We’ll be writing about some of our recommendations here.

Here’s what we’ll be discussing:

  • What traits to consider for any box’s value
  • Our personal picks for the best boxes to buy for long-term value
  • The ups and downs of each box
  • Our top choice overall choice and why we picked it

Let’s get started.

Features to Consider

Long-term value can mean a lot of things to a lot of people.

Some might define it as the best box for a specific format, such as Commander. Others might see it as the cheapest box to get now with all-around good cards.

The definitions could go on. For the sake of this guide, we’re considering value through these features:

  • Current affordability
  • Overall power level
  • Reserved list cards
  • In-demand cards

Current Affordability

It’s true that older sets are more valuable right now.

But the problem is, they cost more to buy at this point in time. If you spend several hundred dollars on one now and open it, you’re not likely to make that money back.

That’s why it’s crucial to think about the size of your initial investment. Usually, boxes are cheapest to buy when they’re new and slowly increase in value over time.

Overall Power Level

One of the things that has an impact on how much a box is worth is how powerful the cards within it are.

If a set is generally weak, you’ll find that its price reflects that weakness. For that reason, it’s never a bad idea to take a look at the list of cards in the set and see how many could be useful in a variety of formats.

Cards that are weak include cards with a high mana cost for low-tier abilities, cards with incredibly niche functions, or vanilla creatures that won’t contribute much to your battle field. Try to ensure your box isn’t filled with cards like these.

Reserved List Cards

The reserved list refers to Wizards of the Coast’s lists of cards that will never be reprinted.

This is important because cards that are reprinted constantly are generally lower in value. They’re simply not as rare.

Masterpieces are an example of cards that won’t be made again. Because they’re gorgeous and popular cards, boxes with the possibility of drawing one of them are a reasonable purchase.

If you want more information on the reserved list, you can take a look at it here. 

In-Demand Cards

Another reason one box might be a better choice than another is how many cards it has that are constantly in-demand.

These can include those that are staples in multiple formats, all-around powerful cards, and those with favorite characters.

Best MTG Booster Boxes to Buy for Value in the Long Term

Return to Ravnica

Magic: The Gathering MTG Return To Ravnica Sealed Booster Box (36 packs)

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The main reasons why Return to Ravnica is a solid pick is that it’s low-cost right now, and you have the potential to draw shock lands. Shock lands are cards that could be useful in a range of formats, but especially so in the hugely popular Commander style.

Pros:

  • Currently very low-cost
  • Possible shock lands which are always valuable
  • Potential to pull other powerful cards like Cyclonic Rift and Supreme Verdict

Cons:

  • General power level of the set is a bit lower than some other choices
  • Aside from the shock lands, there are not many other expensive cards in it.

Iconic Masters

Devir- Magic: The Iconic Masters Gathering (MGIMA17)

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Masters sets are reprints of some of the best of the best when it comes to MTG cards. Because they combine so many strong cards in one place, they tend to hold their value pretty well.

Iconic Masters is the most affordable Masters set at this point in time. However, it still offers owners the potential to pull numerous competitive cards, such as Cryptic Command and Thoughtseize.

Pros:

  • Most economical Masters set as of January 2020
  • Higher overall power level
  • Contains a lot of cards that are sought after

Cons:

  • Larger initial investment than other options on this list

Kaladesh

Magic: The Gathering MTG-KLD-BD-EN Kaladesh Booster Display Box (Pack of 36)

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Masterpieces are usually a reliable bet when it comes to card value. This is because they’re never reprinted, making each one increasingly rarer as time goes on.

For that reason, Kaladesh, which contains a bunch of masterpieces, is worth your consideration.

Pros:

  • Chance of getting a rare masterpiece
  • Includes other powerful cards like Panharmonicon and various fast lands

Cons:

  • More on the expensive side

Khans of Tarkir

Khans of Tarkir - Magic the Gathering Sealed Booster Box (MTG) (36 Packs)

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Perhaps one of the best things about Khans of Tarkir is how well-loved it is. Look at any number of forums, and you’ll find an abundance of people saying it’s fantastic for a variety of purposes, from Commander to drafting.

Due to its popularity, it may also be a very reasonable box to invest in.

Pros:

  • Abundance of legendary creatures for the widely played Commander format
  • Wedge cards support frequently used multi-color decks
  • Consistently popular with many fans
  • Contains cards still used commonly in tournaments today

Cons:

  • Less affordable than some other choices in this guide
  • May not have as many mono-color cards available for single-color decks

Theros Beyond Death

Magic: The Gathering Theros Beyond Death Booster Box | 36 Booster Packs (540 Cards) | Factory Sealed

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Almost invariably, the best time buy a box is when it first comes out. As a rule, boxes tend to gradually rise in value over time, so they’re cheapest in the beginning.

At the time of this article, Theros Beyond Death was the newest set. Because it’s currently at what is its most affordable point, it’s the best time to buy into it.

Of course, this same concept can be applied to future boxes, too.

Pros:

  • Currently very affordable
  • Will likely appreciate in value
  • Contains strong gods-themed cards, which have proven popular in the past

Cons:

  • Because it is new, you cannot be certain which cards might be banned from different formats, which reduces their value.

Wrap Up

If we had to pick one box to recommend above all others in this list, we’d recommend Iconic Masters. The reason behind this is that you’ll get more powerful cards, and Masters sets tend to retain their value fairly well.