Last updated on January 31, 2025
Courier's Briefcase | Illustration by Josu Hernaiz
A booster box seems like a near infinite supply of cards when youโre first starting off in Magic. Itโs probably more than you own in your collection, and getting your hands on a box early on seems like Christmas morning.
Itโs usually 36 draft booster packs, with a large majority of the cards being relegated to your bulk collection and a handful of star rares shining through. If youโve been playing for a few years like I have then youโve probably opened up a box already, and the magic just isnโt there as much anymore.
What if I told you that you could go even further? That there exists an even more expensive, even more packed, and even more financially questionable purchase out there? Thatโs right, Iโm talking about buying an entire case of booster boxes! This is approaching wholesale booster box levels, so proceed with caution.
Which cases are available, how are they priced compared to the expected value (easily found thanks to MTGStocks), and just how much are they? Letโs find out!
#9. Dominaria United
Dominaria United Case of 6 Set Booster Boxes is tricky to evaluate and depends partly on Standard rotation. A year from now its low expected value could look vastly different, so keep an eye out for it. MTGStocks makes it easy to watch products like this, and you want it for the rest of this list too.
- 1 Case of 6 Dominaria United Set Booster Boxesโthe best MTG boosters to open just for fun
- Total of 180 Dominaria United Set Boostersโ30 in each booster box
- 6 foil Box Topper cardsโ1 with each booster box
- 12 Magic: The Gathering cards per Set Boosterโ1โ4 cards of rarity Rare or higher in every pack
- At least 1 Legendary Creature and 1 Traditional Foil card in every DMU Set Booster
#8. Innistrad: Midnight Hunt
Innistrad: Midnight Hunt is low on expected value and gets on this list mostly because of the cheaper rate that cases of MID go for. The Meathook Massacre is the ultimate bomb when it comes to value with an average price of around $30, with most other rares and mythics sitting around the $5 range. Haunted Ridge is solid, and so are the other rare lands in the set.
#7. Return to Ravnica
Return to Ravnica is an interesting booster case to buy when it comes to value. With a great expected value of over $123 per box, can make a decent profit on average if you can find a good price.
To nobodyโs surprise, most of that value comes from opening old border shock lands, Cyclonic Rift, and Worldspine Wurm. If you manage to get any of these in foil, or even Utvara Hellkite, youโre in great shape!
#6. Gatecrash
Gatecrash has an expected value of over $120 per box thanks to all the shock lands in the set! If you can secure a case of Gatecrash for less than $700, youโre probably going to be having a decent mix of value rares to sell and shock lands to keep. Plus, theyโre all old border!
#5. Zendikar Rising
Zendikar Rising has an expected value of approximately $114 per box. Youโre just going to break even with a case of these Zendikar Rising booster boxes at the rate theyโre posted for.
The pathways have staying power and most of your value will come from the MDFCs like Sea Gate Restoration.
#4. Core Set 2021
Core Set 2021 has a similar story. Itโs got a decent and stable expected value of $129, and the available stock on Core 2021 provides a decent price point and availability. Aside from its multiple, expensive mythics like Terror of the Peaks and Fiery Emancipation, the foil versions of the Cat / Dog tokens go for $10-20.
Thereโs a lot of value in this set, and itโs spread across many different cards which means your boxes are more consistent overall.
#3. Core Set 2020
The Core sets typically hold a very stable and consistent expected value thanks to their reprints, and Core Set 2020 has an EV of around $133. Thereโs also a decent supply of cases of Core 2020 online, which means that the price is both stable and lower than most.
Youโre likely going to get a decent profit thanks to these factors, and you should be looking out for Field of the Dead and Sorin, Imperious Bloodlord if you pick up a case. A foil Veil of Summer or Colossus Hammer would also be also amazing. A lot of the rares sit around $3-4, which provide consistent value per pack.
#2. Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths
Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths has a very good expected value of $197, and itโs been stable at that point for about a year. The Ikoria cases are listed for relatively cheap compared to other sets, and most of the value comes from rares, not mythics.
The triomes really carry the weight here, but keep an eye out for Drannith Magistrate or Shark Typhoon.
#1. Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate
Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate case of booster boxes is a surprise value to some at more than $1,000 EV, and the super powerful metal dragon cycle has a lot to do with this value. Some of the best backgrounds really stand out, and really good bond lands round out what is a great set for Commander.
- 1 Case of 6 Commander Legends: Battle for Baldurโs Gate Set Booster Boxes
- 15 Magic: The Gathering cards per Set Boosterโthe best MTG booster to open just for fun
- 1 Foil-Etched card, 1 Traditional Foil, and 1 Art Card in every pack
- Total of 1โ7 cards of rarity Rare or higher in every CLB Set Booster
- Open packs full of epic MTG Commander cards from the world of Dungeons & Dragons
How Many Booster Boxes Are in a Case?
Most cases come with six booster boxes. There are exceptions for supplementary, reprint, or collector sets, which can come with two to four depending on the set and style.
How Much Is an Average Case?
The average booster box case is about $900, or $150 per booster box. But the price of each case can range widely depending on a number of factors like set age, available supply, and the expected value of the set.
Sets that are incredibly old or had limited printing typically go for far more than the combined expected value of the cards. Alternatively, sets with a high print run or that didnโt sell well can be found for the expected value or even less.
Is It Better to Buy Cases or Individual Booster Boxes?
Itโs generally better to buy individual booster boxes over cases. But the real answer to this question depends on your budget and what set youโd like to buy.
Sometimes cases go less than buying boxes individually, and sometimes they go for far more. It depends on the stock of the seller and how desperate they are to offload the material before new cases come in to the store.
Is It Better to Buy Boxes or Packs?
Itโs generally better to buy a booster box than a single pack. For most sets a box of packs has a lower cost per pack than the price of a single pack in a retail environment.
Wrap Up
Encase in Ice | Illustration by Mathias Kollros
That wraps up all you need to know about booster cases! Theyโre certainly a rare thing for an individual to buy, but they may prove to be a valuable purchase for the right person with the right data and investing skills. Now take those products you opened, and check, did you come across any of the most expensive commons or valuable basic lands?
Have you ever bought a case, or do you even want one? If so, what case would you end up buying? Let me know your thoughts and experiences with booster cases in the comments below, or come chat about it in the official Draftsim Discord.
Until next time, stay safe and stay healthy!
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