Mystery Booster 2

Mystery Booster 2

 

Test cards

 

Mystery Booster 2
Set Information
Set symbol
Symbol description	A question mark (not used on all cards)
Design	Gavin Verhey (lead), Eric Engelhard
Release date	August 19, 2024 (Festival in a Box) October 25, 2024 (Conventions)
Plane	Multiversal
Themes and mechanics	Multiple
Keywords/​ability words	Multiple
Set size	1451 cards +121 White bordered cards +136 futureshifted cards +7 acorn cards +121 test cards
Expansion code	MB2
Chaos Draft sets
Mystery Booster Mystery Booster 2 N/A
Magic: The Gathering Chronology
Bloomburrow Starter Kit Mystery Booster 2 Li’l Legends

The set's expansion symbol.

Mystery Booster 2 is a Magic booster set designed for Chaos Draft, similar to the original Mystery Booster set. The set is exclusive to conventions. The set contains mostly reprinted cards from earlier sets. Each booster also contains a test card which may be used in draft, but not in constructed play. The set is not Standard-legal. Mystery Booster 2 first became available as part of the Festival in a Box for MagicCon Las Vegas on August 19, 2024.

Description

“

Draft the Unknown.

”

The idea of the Mystery Booster product line is that you don't know what it is until you open it up; the mystery is a feature of the product. The main set contains 1451 cards of equal rarity. However, 40 cards have the mythic rare colored expansion symbol, 84 rare, 794 uncommon, and 533 common. The reprints are from throughout the game's history. There are also cards from supplemental sets. Almost all sets from Mirage going forward, including even the smallest supplemental products, are represented. An overlap with the first Mystery Booster was mostly avoided. In contrast to regular Chaos limited, which has many set-based synergy cards that don't work in that environment, this curated set maintains the chaos feel but it lets decks be functional, good, and fun to play. It is described as a "wacky experience".

Like the 2019 Mystery Booster set, most cards in Mystery Booster 2 are straight "pick-ups" that use the original card files. However, some versions are regular reprints with updated oracle text, their own expansion symbol (a question mark), and expansion code (MB2). These have gimmick card frames, i.e. white borders and the Future Sight card frame. Additionally, a few cards are reprinted from digital-only sets and thus mark the first instance of their set symbol, art, and/or the card itself appearing in paper (see Notable cards). About 4.5% of the packs feature a foil card.

White bordered Whiteout

White-bordered cards are MB2 #1-121, and the futureshifted cards are #122-265. Some of the latter can appear exclusively in non-foil (#122-144), some in both non-foil and foil (#145-242) and some appear exclusively in foil (#243-265).

Although it released several months after Bloomburrow, cards printed with the Mystery Booster 2 set code do not utilize the shortened templating of "enters" (previously "enters the battlefield") that was introduced in the former set.

Contents

Mystery Booster 2 play boosters contain 15 cards.

• 10 Commons or uncommons
  • 2 cards of each color
• 1 Multicolored car or artifact of any rarity, or common or uncommon land
• 1 Rare or mythic rare
• 1 Future Sight frame card
  • There is a 60% chance for a rare or mythic rare.
  • Less than 5% of Future Sight frame cards appear in traditional foil.
  • In less than 1% of boosters, this slot is replaced with a traditional foil acorn Alchemy card.
• 1 White-bordered card
  • There is a 40% chance for a rare or mythic rare.
• 1 Test card

Marketing

Mystery Booster 2 was first teased at Gen Con on August 2, 2024, where a special prerelease sealed event was held to show off the new cards.

MB2 is meant to be a special experience for players at conventions. These will be at cons of all types (e.g. MagicCon) long term. As an extension of the con experience, they'll also be in Festival in a Box, available online. A retail version is as yet not planned. It is exclusively featured at conventions because the convention team paid for it out of their budget to be that unique thing at conventions.

Mystery Booster 2 is only available in English language Play Boosters. Each Play Booster has dedicated slots for white-bordered cards, futureshifted cards, and test cards.

Promos

Mystery Booster 2 Play Booster

The following promos were included with the Festival in a Box.

• Full-art Plains by John Avon
• Convention Maro test card
• Alternate art Ponder
• Alternate art Swords to Plowshares

Notable cards

Previously only existing in digital sets

The following cards are new Eternal cards

• Goblin Gang Leader, previously only existed as a digital card in the Arena Base Set.
• Mardu Outrider, previously only existed as a digital card in the Arena Base Set.
• Velukan Dragon, previously only existed as part of the digital Sega Dreamcast set.
  • This is the second time a card previously exclusive to the Sega Dreamcast game has been printed on paper, after Arden Angel in Secret Lair Commander Deck: Angels: They're Just Like Us but Cooler and with Wings.

Unlike the cards listed above, Call from the Grave was reprinted as a test card and is not tournament-legal.

• Call from the Grave previously only existed as part of the digital Astral set in the 1997 MicroProse Magic: The Gathering video game.

Designed-for-digital exclusive cards

The following designed-for-digital cards have their first printing in paper but with an acorn stamp instead of the Alchemy stamp. The cards mark the first appearance of the Boon and Conjure mechanics on paper cards. These acorn cards replace a card in the futureshifted frame slot in boosters.

• Forsaken Crossroads from Alchemy: Innistrad.
• Oracle of the Alpha from Alchemy: Dominaria.
• Rusko, Clockmaker from Alchemy: The Brothers' War.
• Sanguine Brushstroke from Alchemy: Innistrad.
• Sigardian Evangel from Alchemy: Innistrad.
• Tenacious Pup from Alchemy: Innistrad.
  • This printing uses the "one-time boon" wording introduced with the release of Alchemy: Eldraine.
• Toralf's Disciple from Alchemy: Innistrad.

With card frames from digital sets

There are some reprints here that feature updated rules text and typesetting to make them easier to understand and play in the Limited environment. These cards appear with previously digital-only expansion symbols, seen on Magic Online releases. Cards reformatted this way appear in both the retro frame and modern frame.

• Alluring Scent, from Masters Edition IV
• Ancient Excavation, from Magic Online Treasure Chests
• Angel of Light, from Masters Edition II
• Coffin Queen, from Tempest Remastered
• Exile, from Vintage Masters (also new-to-paper art)
• False Summoning, from Masters Edition IV
• Forked Lightning, from Masters Edition III
• Krovikan Sorcerer, from Vintage Masters (also new-to-paper art)
• Mogg Infestation, from Tempest Remastered
• Moment's Peace, from the Magic Online Deck Series
• Pandemonium, from Tempest Remastered
• Predatory Nightstalker, from Vintage Masters
• Spawning Pit, from Duel Decks: Mirrodin Pure vs. New Phyrexia
• Talas Researcher, from Masters Edition IV
• Turnabout, from Vintage Masters (also new-to-paper art)
• Wicked Pact, from Masters Edition IV

With full-art

The following vanilla futureshifted cards have full-art.

• Forest Bear
• Kobolds of Kher Keep (uses the art of the Kobold and Kobolds of Kher Keep tokens)
• Memnite

With new art

Futureshifted

• Arena
• Demonic Consultation
• Eater of the Dead
• Mana Bond
• Mind Twist
• Nalathni Dragon. Originally released in 1994 as a mechanically unique promotional card.
• Reset
• Tsabo's Web
• Urza's Bauble

White-bordered

• Whiteout. Humorously only features white space where the art would usually be. Has no artist credit as a result.

With Magic Online art

Several cards received reprints featuring art that was previously exclusive to Magic Online.

• Ancient Stirrings (futureshifted)
• Contagion (futureshifted)
• Echo of Eons (futureshifted)
• Exile, art from Vintage Masters
• Erratic Portal (futureshifted)
• Grafdigger's Cage (futureshifted)
• Gush (futureshifted)
• Hoodwink (futureshifted)
• Hostage Taker (futureshifted)
• Hydroblast (futureshifted)
• Mana Flare (futureshifted)
• Pyroblast (futureshifted)
• Soul of Theros (white-bordered)
• Tinder Wall (futureshifted)
• Triumph of Ferocity (futureshifted)
• Walking Ballista (futureshifted)

With Magic Arena art

• Rest in Peace (futureshifted). Art originally from Amonkhet Remastered.

With art from special paper sets

White-bordered

• Chain Lightning (Premium Deck Series: Fire & Lightning)
• Daze (Eternal Masters)
• Dryad Arbor (From the Vault: Realms)
• Foil (Ultimate Masters)
• Lim-Dûl's Vault (Commander 2013)
• Mutilate (Duel Decks: Garruk vs. Liliana)
• Preordain (Duel Decks: Venser vs. Koth)
• Relentless Assault (Portal Second Age)
• Sakura-Tribe Elder (Friday Night Magic)
• Simian Spirit Guide (Time Spiral Remastered)
• Street Wraith (Time Spiral Remastered)
• Tendrils of Agony (Friday Night Magic)
• The Rack (Duels of the Planeswalkers)

Futureshifted

• Ball Lightning (Beatdown)
• Black Vise (From the Vault: Relics)
• Cabal Ritual (From the Vault: Lore)
• Command Tower (Commander's Arsenal)
• Ernham Djinn (Beatdown)
• Goblin Lackey (From the Vault: Exiled)
• Goblin Settler (Starter 1999)
• Natural Order (Portal)
• Sengir Vampire (Beatdown)
• Swords to Plowshares (Judge Gift)
• Tinker (From the Vault: Exiled)
• Winds of Change (Portal)
• The following cards use Vanguard art.
  • Captain Sisay (Sisay)
  • Gerrard, Weatherlight Hero (Gerrard)
  • Gix, Yawgmoth Praetor (Gix)
  • Karn, Legacy Reforged (Karn)
  • Mirri, Weatherlight Duelist (Mirri)
  • Multani, Yavimaya's Avatar (Multani)
  • Squee, Goblin Nabob (Squee)
  • Titania, Protector of Argoth (Titania)
  • Urza, Lord High Artificer (Urza)
  • Xantcha, Sleeper Agent (Xantcha)

With non-English text

Several cards with "original card file" with non-English text. This was done both to make their reprint more interesting as-fan. As they are all creatures, and lack rules text, their function remains largely understandable even to players who are unable to read them.

• Horned Turtle (Simplified Chinese), with artwork that was exclusive to the Chinese Portal edition
• Plated Seastrider (German) from Scars of Mirrodin ("Gepanzerter Wasserwanderer")
• Phyrexian Walker (Italian) from Visions ("Camminatore di Phyrexia")
• Vorstclaw (Spanish) from Core Set 2020 ("Garravoraz")

With modified card files

These cards, despite appearing to be "original card file" reprints at first glance, have had changes to one or more aspects of the card when compared with the corresponding original printing.

• Horned Turtle has had changes made to the character placement, bolding, and translation of all of its Simplified Chinese text. Additionally, the line dividing the flavor text from the upper half of the text box is significantly less bold, the power and toughness have had the Portal sword and shield icons removed, and the information below the text box has been updated to match how it appears on modern printings of retro frame cards (centered, with an updated copyright date, and the artist's name written in English).
• Blood Frenzy has been updated to use the card's current oracle text. Like with Horned Turtle, the information below the text box has been reformatted.

From Core sets

• Nexus of Fate (Core Set 2019) Buy-a-Box, first time this version featuring Sarkhan has been printed in non-foil.

From Conspiracy sets

• Agent of Acquisitions (CNS). Interacts with Booster packs.
• Besmirch (CN2)
• Cogwork Librarian (CNS). Interacts with Booster packs.
• Hymn of the Wilds (CN2)
  • The second Conspiracy (type) card ever to be reprinted (after Iterative Analysis appearing in the List).
• Marchesa's Decree (CN2)

Unique reprints from supplemental sets

• Ancestor Dragon (Global Series: Jiang Yanggu & Mu Yanling)
• Angelic Blessing (Portal)
• Apprentice Sorcerer (Portal Second Age)
• Arcanis the Omnipotent (Duel Decks: Speed vs. Cunning)
• Arrogant Vampire (Portal)
• Attempted Murder, an eternal card from Unfinity
• Blatant Thievery (Explorers of Ixalan)
• Bonus Round (Battlebond)
• Brightling (Battlebond)
• Brilliant Plan (Global Series: Jiang Yanggu & Mu Yanling)
• Burning Cloak (Portal)
• Cataclysm (From the Vault: Annihilation)
• Cheering Fanatic (Battlebond)
• Chittering Rats (Jumpstart 2022)
• Cloak of Feathers (Portal)
• Coalition Relic (Masters 25)
• Comet, Stellar Pup, an eternal card from Unfinity (white-bordered)
• Command of Unsummoning (Portal)
• Control of the Court (Portal Three Kingdoms) (futureshifted)
• Countersquall (Duel Decks: Ajani vs. Nicol Bolas)
• Cryptic Spheres (Double Masters 2022)
• Curse of Shallow Graves (Commander 2013)
• Dakmor Sorceress (Portal Second Age) (futureshifted)
• Earthshaker Giant (Game Night 2019)
• Elite Cat Warrior (Portal)
• Elmar, Ulvenwald Informant (Universes Within)
• Elvish Ranger (Portal)
• Empowered Autogenerator (Commander 2019)
• Evolutionary Escalation (Commander 2016)
• Feast or Famine (Duel Decks: Izzet vs. Golgari)
• Feral Shadow (Portal)
• Fire Imp (Portal)
• Flux (Portal)
• Forest Bear (Portal Three Kingdoms) (futureshifted)
• Frenzied Fugue (Commander 2016)
• Fumble (Battlebond)
• Gemplam Incinerator (Duel Decks: Merfolk vs. Goblins)
• Ghired, Conclave Exile (Commander 2019) (first non-foil)
• Goblin Goliath (Game Night)
• Golden Bear (Portal Second Age)
• Golgari Grave-Troll (Ultimate Masters)
• Havoc Demon (Eternal Masters)
• Hunting Cheetah (Portal Three Kingdoms) (futureshifted)
• Ironhoof Ox (Portal Second Age)
• Jhoira of the Ghitu (Duel Decks: Mind vs. Might)
• Jungle Lion (Portal)
• Master of the Waves (Duel Decks: Merfolk vs. Goblins)
• Mobilize (Portal)
• Monstrous Growth (Portal)
• Norwood Priestess (Portal) (futureshifted)
• Ogre Arsonist (Portal Second Age)
• Omen (Portal)
• Planar Atlas (Jumpstart 2022)
• Punishing Fire (Duel Decks: Knights vs. Dragons)
• Raise Dead (Portal Second Age)
• Raging Minotaur (Portal)
• Reclamation Sage (Double Masters)
• Rot Hulk (Game Night) (futureshifted)
• Salvage (Portal Second Age)
• Sengir Autocrat (Eternal Masters)
• Sigil of the New Dawn (Ultimate Masters)
• Sorcerous Sight (Portal)
• Spitting Earth (Portal Second Age)
• Stangg (Masters 25)
• Starlit Angel (Portal)
• Symbol of Unsummoning (Portal)
• Thantis, the Warweaver (Commander 2018)
• Varchild, Betrayer of Kjeldor (Commander 2018)
• Wall of Swords (Portal)
• Yosei, the Morning Star (Iconic Masters)

Future Sight frame

• Future Sight. The eponymous card from Onslaught is printed in the Future Sight frame for the first time.

Foil

• Cataclysm (From the Vault: Annihilation). First time in non-foil printing.
• Foil in the futureshifted frame. Exclusively in foil as a joke with the card being a foil Foil.
• Overgrowth received a non-foil "original card file" reprint using its Ninth Edition black-bordered English version. This is a unique combination, as black-bordered English cards in Ninth Edition were printed exclusively in foil.

External links

• Official product page.