Have you ever wondered why are foils cheaper than standard versions of the same cards?
Foils are the nice and shiny MTG cards that sparkle when you tilt them. And, as amazing as they look, you’d think that they would be more expensive than the original versions of the cards, right? Wrong.
Read on below to find out why foils are cheaper than other cards!
MTG Why Are Foils Cheaper?
Foil cards in MTG used to be worth more money than they are today. Now, foils are more common than ever before thanks to being released by the millions in Brawl Decks. Standard cards, however, only come from booster packs and theme decks, making them far more rare than the now over-printed foils.
Years ago, foils only came in boosters for each new expansion. The common theory was that one mythic rare foil could be found in every box of booster packs (over 200 packs of boosters). After Brawl Decks were released, and certain theme decks started including rare and mythic rare foils, the price has dropped significantly.
So, why are foils cheaper?
Take Exava, Rakdos Blood Witch for example:
This standard card has an approximate price of just under $2.00. We can assume that the foil of the same card is available for around $1.00.
Another example of why foils are cheaper:
The new Commander theme decks come with even more foils than the one shown above (which comes with 3 rare or mythic rare foils).
With foils so readily available, their prices aren’t likely to go back up anytime soon.
What Types of Cards Are Foils?
MTG foil cards come in all types; creatures, instants, equipment, artifacts, sorceries, legendary creatures, planeswalkers, commanders, and more. They also come in all card classifications; common, uncommon, rare, and mythic rare.
How Much Do MTG Foil Cards Cost?
The price of a foil card depends on the actual card itself. Aside from the stats and abilities of the card itself, the age of the card, the condition of it, and it’s legal status all play a factor in determining the cost. However, as a general rule of thumb, these days, foils cost around 50-percent less than the standard version of the same card.
Are Foil Cards Legal in Sanctioned MTG Games?
Foils are completely legal to use in MTG tournaments and standard game play. That said, many players prefer to preserve the card’s condition, rather than showing it off in play. Foils are not sized exactly the same as standard cards and may become damaged rather easily. Consider using sleeves for your cards if you want to play with them.
What Makes Foil Cards So Special?
Foil cards were meant to be special collectors cards when they first appeared in MTG over a decade ago. Today the cards have evolved past being mere collectibles. Many players tend to use them as show pieces for their tournament decks. Some players may even play with a deck of nothing but foils.
What is the Most Expensive Foil Card?
It is impossible to know which foil card is currently the most expensive among all of the various markets. Most foil cards cost half, or less, than their normal counterparts. However, if we had to name an expensive foil card, we’d pick Black Lotus (the normal card may sell for as much as $20,000 or more, while the foil goes for $500).
Does Every MTG Have a Foil Version?
All MTG cards do not have foil versions. When they first came out, the game had already been around for a decade. Further, the first 10 or 11 years that foils existed, they were printed at a ratio of 1:67 standard printed cards (approximately). Since 2020, they are being printed at a ratio closer to 1:45.