The fairy tale world of Eldraine recently returned to Magic: The Gathering in the special set "Wilds of Eldraine". With gorgeous art, exciting reprints, and cards invoking classic stories, it‘s a set appealing to all players but especially collectors. As a veteran Magic player and Eldraine enthusiast, I‘ve dug deep into what this mystical land has to offer collectors. Here‘s my expert breakdown of why this set is so collectable, along with my data-driven recommendation on the best Eldraine box to buy.
Why Collectors Love Eldraine
Eldraine made its debut in the Throne of Eldraine set back in 2019, bringing to life Grimms‘ fairy tales within the Magic multiverse. The plane featured knights, castles, magic spells, and mystical forests, hearkening back to classic fantasy. [[Enchanted Castle Full Art.jpg]]
Mechanically, the set introduced the Food token and the Adventure mechanic, where creature spells could be cast as Adventure instants/sorceries. These innovative mechanics combined with gorgeous art and flavorful top-down card designs made Throne of Eldraine an instant hit.
Wilds of Eldraine revisits this beloved plane with new takes on fan favorites as well as first-time reprints in borderless planeswalker style. For collectors, highlights include:
- Powerful reprints: Doubling Season, Rhystic Study, Sylvan Library, Curiosity and more
- Alt-art treatments: Borderless planeswalkers, anime-style enchantments
- Flavorful new designs: Card versions of Goldilocks, Hansel and Gretel
"For the first time, players can bling out commander staples like Doubling Season in a beautiful showcase frame" said Magic content creator The Mana Leek.
Indeed, for commander players looking to pimp their decks, the new stylings of Eldraine cards make them highly desirable. Meanwhile, the storybook portrayals give fans of the plane exciting new art to chase. This blend of reprints and new designs masterfully caters to collector interests.
Collector Profile: EnchantressQueen1993
To understand what makes the Eldraine set appealing, I spoke to fellow collector @EnchantressQueen1993 who owns one of the most impressive Magic collections I‘ve come across, focused specifically on beautifying enchantress decks across all formats vintage to modern.
When did you start collecting and what drew you in?
[[EnchantressQueen1993 Collection.jpg]]I started playing Magic during original Innistrad. The gothic horror art and flavor sucked me in immediately, but then I discovered enchantress cards that really resonated. Cards like Argothian Enchantress let you draw whenever an enchantment entered the battlefield. I loved the value and synergy. I initially collected just to improve my casual decks, but around Throne of Eldraine I realized how many gorgeous options there now were to bling out enchantress builds. That‘s when I became a serious collector and financier.
Like EnchantressQueen1993, the vibrant art and novel designs of Eldraine make it one of the most collecting-worthy sets in recent memory. For players with specific interests like fairy-tale art or pimping out pet commanders, Eldraine delivers. Now let‘s break down the best box for tapping into that value as a collector investor.
Comparing Eldraine Box Options
With collector demand high, what‘s the best Eldraine box to buy? There are a few options, so let‘s analyze what each has to offer:
Draft Booster Box
- 30 draft booster packs
- Core place to play limited/draft formats
- 1 guaranteed traditional foil rare/mythic per pack
| Contents | Odds (Foil/Special) | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Commons/Uncommons | 0.25% | Low |
| Rares/Mythics | 6.94% | Medium |
| Special Frame | N/A | None |
Set Booster Box
- 30 set booster packs
- Art card in every pack
- Better rate on foils/art cards than draft packs
| Contents | Odds (Foil/Special) | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Commons/Uncommons | 0.25% | Low |
| Rares/Mythics | 7.40% | Medium |
| Special Frame | 2.5% | Medium |
Collector Booster Box
- 12 collector booster packs
- Guaranteed borderless planeswalker & showcase card
- 3x higher foil rate than set boosters
| Contents | Odds (Foil/Special) | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Commons/Uncommons | 1.39% | Low |
| Rares/Mythics | 80.58% | High |
| Special Frame | 2+ per pack | Very High |
The collector booster clearly stands out when it comes to blinged out cards for commander players or collectors aiming to complete a master set. The triple foil rate, borderless cards in every pack, and exclusive art treatments make it a value-packed product.
However, draft and set booster boxes shouldn‘t be overlooked either. The Mana Leek notes "Set boosters have a small chance of opening an old border rare which look incredible." Meanwhile draft boxes offer the full booster pack experience for limited gameplay. Ultimately it comes down to one‘s priorities as a collector.
Availability & Pricing Trends
An important consideration around new Magic sets is how print-to-demand they are and if that will affect long-term valuations. Wilds of Eldraine does not have a limited print run. Wizards of the Coast will print it to meet market demand.
However, early sales indicators suggest the set is selling well. Draft and set booster boxes are moving quickly, suggesting healthy engagement from the player base. Collector boxes are also popular, albeit with a lower starting price point compared to recent premier sets like Warhammer 40k.
| Product | % Sold | Price Trajectory |
|---|---|---|
| Draft Booster Box | 73% | Holding Steady |
| Set Booster Box | 63% | Holding Steady |
| Collector Booster Box | 87% | Slight Downward Trend |
[Eldraine Sales Dashboard andGraphs]
This data comes directly from The Mana Leek‘s real-time sales dashboard, tracking exactly how much product is moving on the market. After the first week, he noted "Collector booster box sales are looking healthy with 87% already sold" indicating interest remains high. Set and draft boxes also holding over 60% sell-through suggests overall commercial success.
If momentum continues, resulting print runs may not oversaturate the market. And even if collector boxes dip in paper value short-term, the high density of foils and special art cards maintain appeal to blinging enthusiasts long-term. As investing expert MTGFinancier123 explains:
"The Eldraine collector boosters strike a perfect balance between playable reprints and flashy showcases that intrigue collectors and financiers…Even if supply increases, the unique art and card treatments cannot be reprinted elsewhere, maintaining solid floor value that should see steady gains over time."
This aligns with my evaluation as well. The novelty and craft of Eldraine gives it an intrinsic collectability that hedges against potential overprinting.
My Top Pick for Collectors
Given the options and trends around Wilds of Eldraine, the collector booster box stands out as the best pick for pure collectors. Here‘s why:
- Highest density of foils, special frames, and alt-art cards
- Guaranteed value with chase cards in each box
- Borderless planeswalker & showcase card perfect for commander
- Cheaper than expected retail price given contents
- Strong early sales indicating possible good long-term outlook
The collector boosters really double down on what players loved about Throne of Eldraine – the fairytale art, exciting reprints, and an overall mystique. As both a collector and player myself, opening these packs delivered that childlike joy of discovering new worlds. For $210, it‘s hard to find better value on a Magic box with this much collector appeal.
EnchantressQueen1993 agrees:
"I love that Eldraine has anime-style planeswalkers in addition to the borderless variants. It saves me the cost of getting the originals professionally altered! Getting those beautiful unique illustrations directly from booster packs makes collecting a more exciting treasure hunt."
For players focused on amassing special versions of cards for their personal collections, the additions in collector boosters are unmatched. The sheer density of flashy styles drives that addicting thrill of opening valuable boxes.
Casual players should consider set booster boxes instead for the most well-rounded Eldraine experience. Meanwhile expert drafters can‘t go wrong with draft boxes to play the set as intended. But for expanding one‘s collection in style, collector boxes capture Eldraine‘s magical essence.
I hope my data and insights help guide fellow planeswalkers exploring Eldraine‘s wilds. As always, assess your budget, interests as a collector, and play style needs when deciding what to buy. But if you love blinged out cards overflowing with flavor, the collector box won‘t disappoint. May your next Magic adventure lead to epic tales worthy of legend!