I was sitting in my office this week, looking at a pile of loose boosters, and I began to reminisce of opening Ice Age packs with the Jester's Cap on the booster wrapper only—because, to my teenage mind, the “best” card in the set will increase the randomness of my opening.

I scoured my other boosters and started to notice a trend. The booster art is chosen by rarity first, flavorful characters in the storyline second, great art third, and flavorful overall images to be included fourth. I’ve looked at the Standard environment but also chosen a pair of others. I like to see the cards themselves, yes, but also at what the cards are worth and, hopefully, maybe, if any of the artworks are award-winning. Shockingly, more trends emerge than I thought, even after this cursory look.

Let’s check them!

Khans of Tarkir

Dragon Grip – Uncommon, $.79 for four

Narset, Enlightened Master – Mythic Rare, $3.99

Sidisi, Brood Tyrant – Mythic Rare, $7.99

Unyielding Krumar – Common, $.29 for four

War-Name Aspirant – Uncommon, $.75

What is really interesting to me is that I’ve been opening booster packs for years and I’ve never noticed how the wrappers only have creatures on them. There are no landscapes, and noncreatures are super-rare. There are sometimes artifacts, such as Jester's Cap in Ice Age, Teferi's Puzzle Box in Visions, or Worldslayer in Mirrodin.

As Khans is still shaking out, we don’t really know how significant Narset or Sidisi is for the rest of the block, but it seems odd to me that if you have five clans and you only show two of the clan leaders. The clan leaders are worth something, and commons and uncommons reflect accordingly in price.

Magic 2015

Ajani Steadfast – Mythic Rare, $15.99

Jace, the Living Guildpact – Mythic Rare, $9.99

Nightfire Giant – Uncommon, $.79 for 4

Nissa, Worldwaker – Mythic Rare, $49.99

Soul of Shandalar – Mythic Rare, $1.99

Planeswalkers are brand-selling visuals, and their cards hold value. Years down the road, it will be odd that Khans of Tarkir didn’t showcase either of its Planeswalkers—strange indeed. Even Tibalt, the Fiend-Blooded is still worth $2! Tibalt!

Choosing to not print Liliana of the Veil in the core set is even more abundantly clear when Nightfire Giant sticks out like a sore thumb against mythic rare Planeswalkers. Luckily, Dave Kendall is rather incredible, working traditionally on this giant. Fire and smoke just look so much better painted, you know?

Journey into Nyx

Ajani, Mentor of Heroes – Mythic Rare, $17.99

Cyclops of Eternal Fury – Uncommon, $.79 for four

Pharika, God of Affliction – Mythic Rare, $5.99

This is an interesting choice. It would appear that over ten other mythic rares—with one selected one being a Planeswalker and one a God—only the third promotional image isn’t mythic. I guess something had to have the set’s constellation visual aesthetic. Did Prophetic Flamespeaker not have the action to sell boosters? Though, again, it’s a traditional painting! This time, it’s Matt Stewart.

I would’ve added Deicide, but it sure would’ve been a spoiler, right!? Though as soon as we saw the art, we knew the storyline. It could’ve been a heckuva fine hidden reveal!

Born of the Gods

Ephara, God of the Polis – Mythic Rare, $2.49

Mogis, God of Slaughter – Mythic Rare, $6.49

Phenax, God of Deception – Mythic Rare, $5.99

There we go, we have three . . . wait a minute . . . three Gods in a set with two amazing Planeswalkers and a mythic Cat lord that’s worth over $30.

Huh indeed.

I should e-mail Matt Cavotta—in charge of the marketing art direction—to learn more about this selection process. We don’t ever hear how this shakes out. I’m sure market research is part of the decision, but we haven’t really a clue . . . yet. At least all the wrappers here are over $2, which is nice.

Theros

Arena Athlete – Uncommon, $.79 for four

Elspeth, Sun's Champion – Mythic Rare, $29.99

Erebos, God of the Dead – Mythic Rare, $6.49

Purphoros, God of the Forge – Mythic Rare, $9.99

Thassa, God of the Sea – Mythic Rare, $7.49

God, Planeswalker, Planeswalker, God, God, and random Limited-playable card. Now, Jason Chan’s no slump, but why are only four colors represented? No green? No Polukranos, World Eater? Boon Satyr? Mistcutter Hydra? Sylvan Caryatid, which is an included card in all the green decks?

Was that a last-minute art change to a lesser card or was a black man needed on a booster? I’d like to think the former, but I believe the latter.

Magic 2014

Archangel of Thune – Mythic Rare, $14.99

Chandra, Pyromaster – Mythic Rare, $8.99

Fiendslayer Paladin – Rare, $1.49

Garruk, Caller of Beasts – Mythic Rare, $6.99

Syphon Sliver – Rare, $1.99

Boy did Wizard miss the mark in pushing these “sleen” Sliver creature things. The price reflects that! Maybe a Sphinx would’ve been great here. Another factor shows up, omitting a color has a reason, and a pushed creature reflects that. This was Chandra’s set, and she is on the wrapper and the box. Were we still to have tournament packs, she would be on that, too.

Let us look back at a time before mythic rarity, too, to see if something has changed, as putting the marquee cards, pushed cards, or Planeswalkers will obviously be of greater value.

Ravnica: City of Guilds

Circu, Dimir Lobotomist – Rare, $3.99

Helldozer – Rare, $1.99

Loxodon Hierarch – Rare, $.99

Moroii – Uncommon, $.25

Savra, Queen of the Golgari – Rare, $1.99

Savra was both a major storyline character and also a Spectrum-winning artwork by Scott M. Fischer. While Circu wasn’t super-storyline-needed, the art by Cyril Van Der Haegen also won by being included in Spectrum annual’s book.

Moroii, while being a wonderful image by Dan Scott, is just not a very strong card in a Limited format or a world with commanders. Helldozer also fits with the more historical view of putting the MOST BIGGEST CREATURE ON THE PACKS. TIMMY LOVES THE FATTIES.

Onslaught

Arcanis the Omnipotent – Rare, $4.99

Blistering Firecat – Rare, $1.99

Grinning Demon – Rare, $1.99

Jareth, Leonine Titan – Rare, $2.99

Kamahl, Fist of Krosa – Rare, $3.49

Krosan Colossus – Rare, $.75

On a historical view, legendary creatures are absolutely ones that hold the value the best, but the Angel/Dragon/Demon rule of being worth something to Commander players is also true, even with them being reprinted a bajillion times. Back then, legendary creatures were always storyline-relevant. Check out the two green creatures as well, with one being a significant Vorthos character in Kamahl. That appears to be a miss, as players coming into the game didn’t know the story, but a Dragon, Demon, or Angel will sell packs, not a random giant beast.

We come to some enlightening points when being objective! A full research study on all the sets with art on them would be fascinating. As formats change, like Commander, sets become utterly known as whatever endures, not always what was intended visually.

Perhaps we can see only amazing art of the future on packs, but with branded characters like Planeswalkers, a future without mythic rares on packs seems unlikely. What I hope will continue is having traditional artworks on the booster wrappers.

-Mike

P.S. Artists love being on promotional things. Everyone write that down.