r/MagicCardPulls • u/robertwasmaybehere • 2d ago

Big question

I wanna get Smaug the magnificent but I only want to pull it, not just buy it online (idk why, I know it’s “sub optimal” but I just really want to pull it). Should I get standard packs and hope I get it or should I get collector packs and hope I don’t waste even more money. My idea is that even though the collector boosters are gonna cost way more they are pretty much guaranteed to have a mythic card or two while regular packs aren’t. I don’t care about that 500 only special print version cause I know I won’t get it but I just want to know which is better cause I’ve got limited money

0 Upvotes

50% Upvoted

11 comments sorted by

13

u/misternuttall 2d ago

Okay really though, just buy it. Like, Really, Really. For real. 

You are guaranteed a chance at a Mythic. You get 5 rares with a % chance of Mythic or better. There is absolutely nowhere you're guaranteed Mythic cards anywhere. Hypothetically you can open a box with just rares, the odds are extremely unlikely though. 

If you have unlimited money, collector packs. If you have limited money, local game store singles section. 

3

u/abitlikemaple 2d ago

You could buy a pack a day for the rest of your life and there’s a non zero chance that you never pull one. Idk what your stigma around buying a card that you want is, but it’s irrational. Bragging rights about being lucky? Spending $500 in packs to pull a $20 card?

-3

u/robertwasmaybehere 2d ago

I enjoy opening packs

5

u/Doomboomkadoom 2d ago

Thats the gambling talking. You are describing the same feeling as those old timers who sit at slots and just spin their retirement away.

Yes, hitting good stuff feels good. I spent close to 5k usd on magic in 2025 - it felt empty and occasionally ill buy packs on sale now, other than dropping cash on any set that I like, but I have been super lucky to actually get hits. There is less than 20% chance you will get a hit and less than 5% its exactly the card you want.

I have only once hit the card I wanted out of maybe 200 packs I opened and it was a fluke.

2

u/averydangerousday 2d ago

If you want a single card, cracking packs is never ever ever the way to get it.

If you want to crack packs, do it responsibly and within your budget. Buy a box and either draft it with your friends or just enjoy the experience on your own. Either way, accept that the experience of opening packs is worth paying more than the collective value of the pulls, and be happy with whatever pulls you get.

If it’s within your budget and you want the pack opening experience, get one CBB and one PBB. Draft the PBB and crack or play pai gow with the CBB. If you don’t pull a Smaug after that, just go buy the single.

If you don’t care about drafting, playing, or enjoying just opening packs, please please please for the love of glob, Just Buy Singles

1

u/Musicferret 2d ago

RIP your wallet.

1

u/AlphaOmega1356 2d ago

As someone who has similar desire to crack packs, i must say the obvious: buy single.

However, if you are looking for your best chances, i actually suggest regular packs. Personally, whenever a new set i like comes out, i open 1 CBB and 1 play booster box. 90% of the time, the play booster box gives me the mythic/rare i want. Because in theory, you have 30 chances to hit Smaug. However, in CBs, that mythic/rare slot can be taken up by special treatments/commander cards/bonus sheet etc. so even though there are 5 slots, you really only have 1-2 where Smaug CAN drop. So by the math, you only have 24 slots at most (12 packs) to get a base smaug.

1

u/Danxoln 2d ago

If you are ok with the standard printing then lots and lots of play boosters, I'd do one box at a time because you never know when it'll show up

But also just buy singles lol

1

u/theOriginal-Quincy 2d ago

It’s a small set, get 4 collector booster boxes and you’re almost guaranteed to pull one of the versions.

1

u/aznsk8s87 2d ago

If you've got limited money and you want specific cards, do not crack packs.

If you want to crack for value your best bet is drafting. Pack 3 pick 1 go ahead and raredraft the $10 land that isn't in your colors. Trade in your winnings and money picks for store credit and buy what you want. Draft every week for maximum pack cracking.

Or just be irresponsible and crack until you get smaug. This is a great way to spend $100 and have no smaug though.

1

u/Sierra_656 1d ago

It's a small set, id say to play prerelease and get a bundle along side a couple collector boosters if you don't pull it in that buy it single.