The Collectability of Magic Promo Pack Cards
Promo Packs were introduced in 2020 as an alternative to a various assortment of promos. Rather than having a surplus of an individual card, we now have an assorted pack with two promo stamped cards, an Arena code, and a special treatment uncommon.
This is generally seen as an improvement over older systems of promos and rewards. These packs can be given away for a variety of events and notably contain at least one rare/mythic from a Standard set, but can also contain a rare/mythic from other sets and formats.
Aside from the utility and flexibility of these packs, they also have an interesting effect on pricing.
The Price of Promo Pack Cards
Promo Pack stamped versions of cards are more rare, and are typically more expensive.
It’s also notable that the Promo Pack printing was cheaper than the base set printing when it was at an all time high.
Outliers
In the past five years of Promo Packs we’ve seen a lot of cards printed. Most of them have been Standard-legal rares, but some are more scarce. The packs to pull these cards from are hard to obtain after the initial distribution, and this can lead to outliers.
Streets of New Capenna's Promo Packs offered Commander cards in them, with the only foil printings of those cards being available in the foil Promo Pack.
Standard printings are at their highest point since release, at $30. Currently there are three Promo Pack versions of Lumra available on TCGPlayer, and they’re all above $190. This might not reflect the actual value of the card, but it also might.
Typically with market manipulation we would see sellers that are competing with prices with one another, and eventually prices would stabilize.
Here we have a desirable card, a desirable printing, and a low supply. The result is a card that’s likely overvalued at the moment, but there isn’t an alternative supply of this version so it maintains its price point.
Alternative Treatments
Standard printings of Cut down are at 10% of their all time high, while the Promo Pack treatment is at 14% of its all time high.
This is where the financial aspects of these promotional variants really shine: They’re usually more resilient as investments, as they’ll always be more rare than their standard print run counterparts.
Summary
Promo Packs have been great for supplementing supply of cards, bolstering collections just for playing the game, and have offered an additional collectible variant. They’re a great resource for game stores and players alike.
Their legacy will ultimately be in their collectability.
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Bill Bingham
Bill Bingham has spent the past decade in the throws of competitive play, travelling, and managing a collection. With expansive knowledge and deep ties to the community, he looks to share this insight. In his time away from the game, he is utilizing these problem solving skills, learning, creating, or cooking.
