Sorry, we couldn’t find any results matching your search.

How to Choose the Right Cards for Your Collection

01

Pick a Product Based on How You Play (or Collect)

Magic product is built around how you engage with the game. For new players, Starter Kits, Beginner Boxes, and pre-built Commander Decks are the easiest way in. For Commander players upgrading existing decks, individual Commander Decks and singles are usually the best path. For Standard, Modern, and Pioneer players, Play Boosters and singles cover deck-building needs. For collectors and investors, Collector Boosters and Collector Booster Boxes deliver foils, alternate arts, extended arts, and the chase cards that drive secondary market value.

02

Choose the Set That Fits Your Goal

Magic releases multiple sets per year across Standard-legal main sets and Universes Beyond crossovers. Standard-legal sets feed competitive formats and rotate over time. Universes Beyond sets (Marvel, Lord of the Rings, Doctor Who, Final Fantasy, and others) are mostly Modern-legal or Commander-only and have driven significant collector interest, especially Lord of the Rings (with the famous 1/1 One Ring). Secret Lair drops are limited-edition direct-from-Wizards products with special art and printings.

03

Understand the Difference Between Play and Collector Boosters

Magic now uses two main booster types. Play Boosters are the standard format for Limited play (drafts, sealed) and are designed for the play experience — you’ll find one rare or mythic per pack with the new Play Booster slot system. Collector Boosters are premium packs aimed at collectors and contain a much higher concentration of foils, alternate arts, extended arts, borderless cards, and serialized rares. Collector Boosters cost significantly more per pack and aren’t designed for drafting.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between a Play Booster and a Collector Booster?

Play Boosters are the standard pack format used for Limited play (drafts and sealed events) and casual ripping. They contain a balanced mix of commons, uncommons, rares, and mythics. Collector Boosters are premium packs aimed at collectors — they contain a much higher concentration of foils, alternate arts, extended arts, borderless cards, and serialized rares. Collector Boosters cost significantly more per pack and are not designed for drafting.

Should I buy sealed Magic product or singles?

If you want a specific card for a deck, buying singles is almost always cheaper than ripping packs hoping to pull it. Sealed Magic product (especially Collector Booster Boxes) is best for the experience of opening packs, for chasing high-end hits, or for long-term collector holding. Pre-built Commander Decks are great middle-ground products for new and casual players who want a working deck out of the box.

What is Commander and why is it so popular?

Commander (also called EDH) is Magic’s most popular casual multiplayer format. Each player builds a 100-card singleton deck around a legendary creature ‘commander.’ It’s social, deck-driven, and has its own dedicated product lineup including pre-built Commander Decks released alongside most main sets. Commander demand drives a huge portion of single-card prices in the secondary market.

What are Universes Beyond sets?

Universes Beyond is Wizards of the Coast’s product line that features non-Magic IP — including Marvel, The Lord of the Rings, Doctor Who, Warhammer 40K, Final Fantasy, and others — printed as actual playable Magic cards. Some Universes Beyond sets are Modern-legal (like Lord of the Rings), while others are Commander-only. They’ve been hugely successful with collectors, with the LOTR 1/1 One Ring becoming one of the most famous Magic cards ever printed.

Is Magic a good long-term hold?

Magic singles for played formats (especially Commander staples and Modern/Legacy cards) have a strong long-term track record, though the market is volatile and depends heavily on format demand and reprints. Sealed Collector Booster Boxes from sought-after sets have also performed well historically. Past performance doesn’t guarantee future results — buy what you’ll enjoy playing or collecting first, with potential appreciation as a bonus.

Do you carry singles for deck-building?

Yes. We carry a rotating selection of Magic singles in-store and online, with a focus on Commander staples, recent Standard cards, and Universes Beyond chase cards. If you’re looking for something specific that isn’t listed, contact us or visit the shop — we may be able to help locate it through our network.

Do you ship Magic cards across Canada and the US?

Yes, we ship across Canada and the United States from our Vimont, Laval location. Local collectors can also pick up orders in-store at 1712 Boulevard des Laurentides, seven days a week.

Why Collectors Choose CardChasers

Upper Deck Certified Diamond Dealer

We're officially certified by Upper Deck, which means every sealed product we sell comes through authorized distribution — no grey market, no re-sealed boxes, no guesswork. When you buy from us, you're buying the real thing.

Montreal's Card Shop - Based in Laval

Visit our shop at 1712 Boulevard des Laurentides in Laval, open seven days a week. We're a real brick-and-mortar store with a full inventory of sealed product, singles, graded cards, and supplies — plus in-person advice from collectors who live this hobby every day.

Daily Live Breaks on Whatnot & TikTok

We're live every single day. Join our breaks to chase high-end product for the cost of a single spot, ask questions in real time, and connect with a community of Montreal collectors. Follow us on Whatnot and TikTok to see the daily schedule.

From the Card Chasers Blog

View all