With the launch of The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth for MTG, we’ve witnessed a first in Magic: a unique, serialized version of a card. The One Ring, a pivotal artifact from Tolkien’s Middle-earth saga, embodies an all-powerful item, making it an excellent choice for such distinctive treatment.
But what exactly does The One Ring do, and in which products might it appear? Let’s explore the details!
The One Ring is featured in The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth, globally released on June 23, 2023. The design is relatively straightforward but effectively captures the essence of Sauron’s ring, offering the power to draw cards at the cost of life. It is aptly a mythic rare and also legendary, emphasizing its uniqueness.
Different Versions of The One Ring in MTG:
- The One Ring
- The One Ring borderless
- Borderless scene The One Ring
- The 1 of 1 Ring
There are four versions of The One Ring in the set: the standard version, an extended art version, a “borderless scene” version, and the highly discussed serialized version.
Discovery of the Serialized The One Ring
Indeed, the unique The One Ring has been discovered, authenticated by PSA, and sold after being found in Toronto. The Magic: The Gathering official Twitter confirmed its authenticity. The owner, seeking legal advice, had the card graded and sold it to an avid fan, Post Malone, for $2 million. Malone, known for his enthusiasm for Magic, occasionally plays with the card.
Availability of The One Ring
The singular, serialized The One Ring was exclusively available in English language collector boosters of Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth. Remarkably, only one collector booster in the world contained this unique card. It’s worth noting that this booster could be found in a collector booster box or within the collector’s bundle.
The borderless scene version, creating a panorama with characters like Frodo and Samwise, was included in foil in both the regular and gift bundles. This version in foil is exclusive to the bundles, although non-foil versions are available in collector boosters.
The standard and extended art versions are accessible in all types of booster packs.
Odds of Finding the Serialized The One Ring
Given there’s only one serialized version of The One Ring, the odds of finding it in a collector booster are astronomically low. Amazon listed the odds at less than 0.00003%, suggesting over 3 million collector boosters are in circulation.
The Value of the Serialized The One Ring
With Post Malone’s purchase, The One Ring marked the first card to exceed $1 million in value. Malone also acquired a signed Black Lotus artist proof for $800,000, highlighting the distinctiveness and value of these rare items. While Black Lotus cards are not unique, their rarity and historical significance are unmatched. However, The One Ring offers multiple versions, making it accessible at a fraction of the cost of the 001/001 version.
Is The One Ring a Good Magic Card?
The One Ring combines seemingly benign abilities with potent effects. It offers protection and card draw, with the latter allowing multiple draws if combined with untapping mechanisms. Despite needing burden counters to draw cards, this restriction is minimal, allowing for significant tactical advantages.
Other 1/1 Serialized Cards in Magic
To date, Magic has introduced two unique cards: the 1996 World Champion and Shichifukujin Dragon, both of which are one-of-a-kind. These examples set a precedent for the potential introduction of more serialized cards in the future.
Given the excitement around The One Ring, it’s plausible we’ll see more serialized cards. Such releases could drive sales, though Magic will need to balance the novelty with the risk of oversaturation.
Final Thoughts
The One Ring has sparked immense interest, leaving fans to dream of witnessing its play. The discovery and sale of this unique card have added a fascinating chapter to Magic’s history. What would you have done if you had found The One Ring? Share your thoughts with us on Twitter or in the comments below.