The universal promo pack is a pack of Magic: The Gathering promotional cards provided by Wizards of the Coast to WPN stores from Core Set 2020 onward.[1][2] Promo packs are not tied to specific events or programs and can be rewarded at any event, at the store's discretion. The packs replace dedicated cards for FNM, Draft Weekend, Magic Weekend and Magic Open House.[3][4]
Description[ | ]
Promo packs are available in all languages in which Magic is printed, and foil promo packs are available in Chinese Simplified, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, and Spanish.
Promo packs are allocated based on Tickets, Engaged Players, and the length of a season.[5] So, if a season is ten weeks long and a store receives eight promo packs per week, they'll receive a lump sum of eighty promo packs at the beginning of the season. The minimum is four promo packs per week, at five Engaged Players and 250 Tickets.
Regular WPN promo packs were announced to contain the following:[1][6]
- One promo-stamped rare or mythic rare from the most recent set.
- One promo-stamped Standard-legal rare or mythic rare from a short public list curated by Magic's design studio.
- One alternate art basic land. Usually one of five different cards.
- One special, season-specific card with special treatments such as alternate frames/alternate art. Usually one of three different cards.
Starting with the second set to feature promo packs, Throne of Eldraine, the basic land was replaced by a MTG Arena code card, good for a booster pack on Magic: The Gathering Arena.[7] The alternate art slot started to contain one of five dark frame cards.
One in four of the packs the store receives has all-foil contents (clearly identifiable from the packaging). These are suggested for 1st place prizes in tournaments as well as for events that cater to players that want to show off their decks, like Commander.[3]
For each set, promo packs may deviate from the regular contents described above, by including specials. The promo-stamp consists of a silver colored planeswalker symbol in the bottom right of the illustration.[8]
Current contents[ | ]
- One promo-stamped rare or mythic rare from the most recent set.
- One promo-stamped Standard-legal rare or mythic rare from a short public list curated by Magic's design studio.
- One of five different cards with the dark frame card treatment.
- A MTG Arena code card
Recommended distribution[ | ]
Wizards of the Coast recommends saving promo packs for programmed events in this way:[3]
- Draft Weekend — 15%
- Friday Night Magic — 30% (~3% per week)
- Magic Weekend — 20%
- New Player Events and Prizes — 10% (Bring-a-Friend Reward)
- Other Events — 25%
List of cards[ | ]
Set | Date | Slot 1 (rare or mythic rare) |
Slot 2 (rare or mythic rare) |
Slot 3 | Slot 4 | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Core Set 2020 | 2019-07 | Core Set 2020 | Curated list | One of five alternate art basic lands: | One of dark-frame: | Roughly 1:4 of packs contains a Japanese anime-style alternate art War of the Spark planeswalker in slot 2, instead of a card from the curated list. These planeswalkers do not have a promo stamp.[9][10] |
Throne of Eldraine | 2019-10 | Throne of Eldraine | Curated list | One of:[11]
|
1 MTG Arena code card.[12]. | The foil basic land is replaced by the MTG Arena code card, good for a booster pack on Magic: The Gathering Arena. |
Theros Beyond Death | 2020-01 | Theros Beyond Death | Curated list | One of:[13]
|
1 MTG Arena code card. | Slot 2 also includes 20 non-Standard cards that are focused on Commander.[14] |
Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths | 2020-04 | Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths | Curated list | One of:
|
1 MTG Arena code card. | Slot 2 includes 20 non-Standard cards. |
Core Set 2021 | 2020-07 | Core Set 2021 | Curated list | One of:
|
1 MTG Arena code card. | Slot 2 includes 20 non-Standard cards. |
Zendikar Rising | 2020-09 | Zendikar Rising | Curated list | One of:
|
1 MTG Arena code card. | Slot 1 excludes modal double-faced cards.[15] Slot 2 includes 20 non-Standard cards focused on Modern & Commander |
Kaldheim | 2021-02 | Kaldheim | Curated list | One of:
|
1 MTG Arena code card. | Slot 1 excludes modal double-faced cards. Slot 2 includes 20 non-Standard cards focused on Modern & Commander |
Strixhaven: School of Mages | 2021-04 | Strixhaven: School of Mages | Curated list | One of:
|
1 MTG Arena code card. | Slot 1 excludes modal double-faced cards and lesson cards. Slot 2 includes 6 lesson cards and 14 non-Standard cards focused on Modern & Commander. |
Adventures in the Forgotten Realms | 2021-07 | Adventures in the Forgotten Realms | Curated list | One of:
|
1 MTG Arena code card. | |
Innistrad: Midnight Hunt and Innistrad: Crimson Vow | 2021-09 | Innistrad: Midnight Hunt | Curated list | One of:
|
1 MTG Arena code card. | Slot 1 excludes double-faced cards. Midnight Hunt and Crimson Vow use the same promo pack.[16] |
Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty | 2022-02 | Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty | Curated list | One of:
|
1 MTG Arena code card. | Slot 1 excludes double-faced cards. |
Streets of New Capenna | 2022-04 | Streets of New Capenna | Curated list | One of:
|
1 MTG Arena code card. | Slot 1 excludes double-faced cards. Streets of New Capenna Promo Packs have curated list differ from Foil Promo Packs. |
Dominaria United | 2022-09 | Dominaria United | Curated list | One of:
|
1 MTG Arena code card. | |
The Brothers' War | 2022-11 | The Brothers' War | Curated list | One of:
|
1 MTG Arena code card. | |
Phyrexia: All Will Be One | 2023-02 | Phyrexia: All Will Be One | Curated list | One of:
|
1 MTG Arena code card. | |
March of the Machine | 2023-04 | March of the Machine | Curated list | One of:
|
1 MTG Arena code card. | |
Wilds of Eldraine | 2023-09 | Wilds of Eldraine | Curated list | One of:
|
1 MTG Arena code card. | |
Murders at Karlov Manor | 2023-12 | Murders at Karlov Manor | Curated list | One of:
|
1 MTG Arena code card. | |
Outlaws of Thunder Junction | 2024-04 | Outlaws of Thunder Junction | Curated list | One of:
|
1 MTG Arena code card. |
References[ | ]
- ↑ a b Nelson Brown (March 12, 2019). "Introducing the New Wizards Play Network". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ M20: 15 Changes Every Retailer Should Know. Wizards Play Network (June 13, 2019).
- ↑ a b c WPN (March 12, 2019), "The New WPN: 32 Common Questions". Wizards Play Network
- ↑ Chris Gleeson (June 17, 2019). "Core Set 2020 Promos and Packaging". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ WPN (March 12, 2019), "Your New Stats Explained, Wizards Play Network
- ↑ Wizards of the Coast (June 17, 2019). "Magic Promo Pack Info". Magic.Wizards.com.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (July 21, 2019). "Project Booster Fun". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ WPN (June 19, 2019). "Everything There Is To Know About The New Promo Packs". Wizards Play Network.
- ↑ Wizards of the Coast (April 22, 2019). "Japanese Alternate-Art Planeswalkers". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Chris Gleeson (June 17, 2019). "Core Set 2020 Promos and Packaging". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Chris Gleeson (September 20, 2019). "Throne of Eldraine Promos". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ WPN (September 18, 2019). "Video: Understand Throne of Eldraine Promo Packs". Wizards Play Network.
- ↑ Blake Rasmussen (January 9, 2020). "Theros Beyond Death Promos". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Wizards of the Coast (January 15, 2020). "Theros Beyond Death Promo Pack Updates". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ WPN (September 2, 2020). "Sneak Peek: Zendikar Rising Marketing Kit". Wizards Play Network.
- ↑ WPN (August 5, 2021). "All the Dates You Need for Innistrad: Midnight Hunt". Wizards Play Network.