So I cracked open my box on Wednesday, had a pretty good box for once too (I have historically had abysmal luck with boxes), so this is certainly not a complaint about that.
But I did notice something odd as I was opening it.
First, I didn't hit any of my mythics until basically the end of the box. I pulled a foil Narset about halfway through, but nothing in the actual rare/mythic slot until the last like..6 packs maybe? I mean, it happens sure and I still pulled an average number of mythics so eh just used to seeing a few earlier on I guess.
The thing I noticed that was really odd was the way my cards were actually set within the packs. They were all, basically, in the wrong order. It went token, land, foil (if there was one), rare and then uncommons and commons. I was kind of annoyed as I was opening them because I like the rare being last because, obviously. I haven't bought a ton of sealed recently (wasn't big into a lot of the sets) so I thought maybe it was just a new thing I missed out on, but watching online box openings and the packs in those are all normal.
So what's the deal?
Like I said, it was a good box, opened a lot of stuff I wanted, some good value, I couldn't be more pleased really (well, maybe a tiny but but that's being greedy). Has anyone else noticed this, is it just me, does it mean anything?
It's been in that order for a while...a long while, at my store.
I'm located in Québec (Canada) maybe where you are they've been in another order until now?
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11:15, restate my assumptions: 1. Mathematics is the language of nature. 2. Everything around us can be represented and understood through numbers. 3. If you graph these numbers, patterns emerge. Therefore: There are patterns everywhere in nature. - Maximillian Cohen.
I may be wrong but they were probably printed in Japan (they put the cards in that order). Battlebond, Modern Horizons, ultimate masters + some amount of English and non english cards are now printed in japan and they order the cards like this.
You can compare old cards with those new cards, if they have diferent textures, etc then they are probably cards printed in Japan.
In 2016 Wizards of the Coast developed an additional Magic stock for the Japanese market. This stock is unique in that it has a different multi-ply construction, which retains all of the technical playing card board characteristics but combines them with added dimensional stability. Some recycled content is added to the certified pulp for this board.[1] Although originally exclusive to Japan, this cardboard was also used for the regular Battlebond and Ultimate Masters releases. This type may be recognized by an additional stiffness, and the way that the cards will fluoresce under UV light.
Ah ok, that explains it then. It really threw me off. Also made my box a little annoying to open since I had to set the top few cards aside (and if there was a foil I saw the rare first anyways).
I'm guessing another difference with your packs is that it used a differentish wrapper that has two perforations, one on the top and one opposite on the bottom (Though I think in an imperfect spot for ripping it open since it could harm the sides of the cards that way)
The cards were kind of loose in the pack instead of being air-tight, like they had some breathing space in there.
Basically what leslak said. Some of their print runs come from printers in Japan, which collates and sorta cards into packs in the reverse order that we're used to.
The problem with defining this format by what is "fun" is that everyone seems to define fun as what they don't lose to. If you keep losing to easily answered cards, that means you should improve your deck. If you don't want to improve your deck, then you should come to peace with the idea that you are going to lose because you chose to not interact with better strategies.
As others have said, they were printed in Japan. Look at the box it will say "Made in Japan". Consider yourself lucky, the ink, finish and quality of the cards printed there is superior to those made in the USA. And the ink doesn't smell bad either like the US ink does.
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Playing since 1994: Currently MAGS (HomeBrew),Standard & Pauper (Pioneer and Modern are degenerate trash formats)
STOP using "dude/bro" as a pejorative or insult. Grow up.
Margaret Thatcher: “The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.”
Benjamin Franklin: "Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."
Martin Luther King Jr.: "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."
But I did notice something odd as I was opening it.
First, I didn't hit any of my mythics until basically the end of the box. I pulled a foil Narset about halfway through, but nothing in the actual rare/mythic slot until the last like..6 packs maybe? I mean, it happens sure and I still pulled an average number of mythics so eh just used to seeing a few earlier on I guess.
The thing I noticed that was really odd was the way my cards were actually set within the packs. They were all, basically, in the wrong order. It went token, land, foil (if there was one), rare and then uncommons and commons. I was kind of annoyed as I was opening them because I like the rare being last because, obviously. I haven't bought a ton of sealed recently (wasn't big into a lot of the sets) so I thought maybe it was just a new thing I missed out on, but watching online box openings and the packs in those are all normal.
So what's the deal?
Like I said, it was a good box, opened a lot of stuff I wanted, some good value, I couldn't be more pleased really (well, maybe a tiny but but that's being greedy). Has anyone else noticed this, is it just me, does it mean anything?
UBBreya's Toybox (Competitive, Combo)WR
RGodzilla, King of the MonstersG
-Retired Decks-
UBLazav, Dimir Mastermind (Competitive, UB Voltron/Control)UB
"Knowledge is such a burden. Release it. Release all your fears to me."
—Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver
I'm located in Québec (Canada) maybe where you are they've been in another order until now?
Standard: XDon't play.X
Legacy: BUReanimatorUB
Vintage: URBWGDBRU
Reverse the order of the cards
You can compare old cards with those new cards, if they have diferent textures, etc then they are probably cards printed in Japan.
Aditional links
A Throne of Eldraine box opening, printed in japan, you can see the order
WotC article on the change
UBBreya's Toybox (Competitive, Combo)WR
RGodzilla, King of the MonstersG
-Retired Decks-
UBLazav, Dimir Mastermind (Competitive, UB Voltron/Control)UB
"Knowledge is such a burden. Release it. Release all your fears to me."
—Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver
The cards were kind of loose in the pack instead of being air-tight, like they had some breathing space in there.
STOP using "dude/bro" as a pejorative or insult. Grow up.
Margaret Thatcher: “The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.”
Benjamin Franklin: "Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."
Martin Luther King Jr.: "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."
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