The Lord of the Rings-inspired universes beyond the line of Magic: The Gathering products are now available online at Amazon and other online retailers. Stories of Middle-earth has become one of the most anticipated sets of the year before Magic players, with some collectible boxes reaching prizes of over $300.
If you missed a pre-release event at your local store, you can currently pick up the set in a number of formats, including an 18-pack Jumpstart Booster Box, an 8-pack bundle including accessories, a 36-pack Draft Booster Box, and a Starter Kit with a few pre-assembled decks and codes to redeem so you can play the same decks in the video game Magic: The Gathering Arena.
I’ve detailed the contents of each bundle below. If you’re thinking of jumping in, or are already an MTG player, check out Polygon’s deep dive into the Stories of Middle-earth set. It contains a detailed analysis of the most powerful cards. In addition, we show how beginners can optimize their decks.
Where can I find The One Ring?
To answer the burning question on everyone’s mind, Wizards of the Coast has printed a single (1 of 1), highly precious version of The One Ring sealed in a single collector’s booster pack. Smaller versions of the ring are available in other box sets, and Wizards of the Coast has provided a handy map showing where to find them (and take them all with you and bind them in the dark).
Image: Wizards of the Coast
Where to buy Tales of Middle-earth
The Starter Kit contains a pair of 60-card decks with everything you need to learn how to play Magic: The Gathering if you’re new to the game. Both decks also contain ten new onesMagic cards, in addition to a few foil Mythic rare cards.
The Stories of Middle-earth This bundle includes a themed storage box, eight set booster packs, 40 base lands, and an oversized spindown life counter. The bundle also includes a set of borderless scene cards that can only be obtained through Collector’s Booster Packs.
If you already know how to play Magicand wants to get acquainted with some of the new cards that appear in it Stories of Middle-earth, Jumpstart Boosters are the fastest route. Just buy two packs, shake them up and you’re done! Each pack follows one of five themes and contains a single rare card that can also be found in Collector Booster Packs.
Stories of Middle-earth features four pre-built Commander Decks, each celebrating a Middle-earth faction or collection of characters.
- Riders of Rohan (Blue-Red-White)
- Food and Community (white-black-green)
- Elven Council (Green-Blue)
- The Hosts of Mordor (Blue-Black-Red)
Each deck contains 20 new cards Magic (including a pair of mythical rare cards) and a Collector Booster Sample Pack. The Commander Decks can be purchased alone, or as a bundle containing all four.
Draft Booster Packs have the fixed distribution of cards you need for closed deck play, and can contain any of the following card art variations from Stories of Middle-earth.
- Countries with full art maps
- Ring Frame Cards
- Boundless art lands
- Cards with elaborate art
- Boundless Scene Maps
All Draft, Collector, and Set Booster Display boxes also include a single foil Realms and Relics Box Topper card.
Each Collector Booster Pack contains multiple Mythical Rare cards, in addition to exclusive Art and Foil cards. Collector’s Booster Packs can contain foil versions of any of the art variant cards from Tales of Middle-earth. Collector’s Booster Packs can also contain any of the 30 Realms and Relics cards found in Display boxes for Draft, Collector’s, and Set Booster Packs.
Each Set Booster Pack may contain several Rare or Mythical Rare cards, with a guaranteed special arts card for it Stories of Middle-earth. Each pack also has a chance to contain reprints of cards from Magic: The Gathering’s: The List.
The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth Bundle: Gift Edition, due July 7, comes with the same cards as the traditional bundle, but includes a themed storage box with unique artwork, a different color of the oversized spindown life counter, and a booster pack for collectors.
We’re also expecting the next trio of new bundles later this year, which will add new art for existing maps and additional Jumpstart theme packs. Scene Boxes, Special Edition Collector Boosters and Jumpstart Volume 2 Boosters will be available from November 3rd.