All Is Lost! It's The Caverns Of Ixalan Collector Booster Box Game for Magic: The Gathering!

[@TolarianCommunityCollege]

We have a limited supply of surplus merch from our Kickstarter, as well as TCC playmats, mugs, shirts and other cool accessories! Just go to store.dftba.com/collections/tolarian-community-college !

[@skyfire001]

Hey Proff just picked up the red size morphic divider to go with my grey red Academic!

[@PsychoEditor]

I need the read the card explains playmatt to be reprinted very soon, thank you in advance

[@williambrown5934]

I always feel foil cards should be the value of the basic card plus another dollar (minimum) more, just for being foil…. Myself.

[@JimBlim69]

Awesome! 😁 I failed to get a divider for my Academic, so I picked up a couple as they appear to be great for filling the gaps in deck boxes.

[@ChubbzChubbz]

really wish the reading the card explains the cards mats would come back i've been watching for them for months now!!!!

[@notmarrecs]

I’m glad to be part of the virtual panopticon that has trapped the Professor into an endless cycle of opening these collector packs.

[@hornylink]

I blame the algorithm

[@mutaharyourmomisinmyharema1373]

Me too bud

[@ghostguin1398]

Me too

[@thebarbecube317]

Me too

[@clementineellemar383]

Same

[@TheBlueMax111]

I love that at 28:30 Prof gave Earthshaker Dreadmaw an insulting price of $0.30 for it’s crimes of not being a Colossal Dreadmaw. Actual retail price is $0.15. I think it is safe to say Earthshaker Dreadmaw lost.

[@moriyamakyon1067]

it's even funnier when he shows commons at 10:30 telling "they worth nothing at all" and this commons AND THEY WORTH 0.25-0.51$

[@julioburgos2049]

I really wish the collector boosters included both a Jurassic Park land and a collection card. It felt like a bust having it almost be 50/50

[@DanAllen117]

I just wish collector boosters weren't so expensive

[@BeefMonster]

It's worse than 50/50. Most people got 7 lands in their box. I had opened 15 collectors packs total (mostly bought with store credit) and I had 10/15 cards be lands and 2 of my 5 cards were duplicates. Probably the most depressing Universes beyond insert they've done.

[@datmuhq6821]

@@BeefMonster Yeah and the ratio is even worse in set boosters from what I've seen and opened. There the tokens and lands can both take up the jurassic park slot, people averaging 0-1 actual jurassic park cards from Set boosters boxes... yikes

[@NinjaCamper94]

Of my 12 packs two had JP command towers I was pretty mad

[@unboundjackal]

I opened nothing but lands for my jp cards and the best card was ghalta non foil💀, thankfully my buddy was there and decided to go into suicide watch🤣

[@Undlark]

I appreciate you being eternally trapped as this constantly helps me from ever considering trying to buy any boosters in bulk outside of drafts for friends.

[@brianhawkins8397]

I don’t know why, but when Prof opened the bottle of water, I expected 45 seconds of nothing but chugging the bottle… and I absolutely would have sat and watched the entire unedited thing 😂

[@MT-zb7eg]

Would've been better than watching him pay Wizards $230 for this travesty XD

[@orangegalen]

I expected a segue into… Air Up, the sponsor of today’s video! Ae you bored of drinking regular old water? Want something to liven up the experience of a daily activity you probably feel obligated to do for your health? Introducing Air Up! A new way to enjoy water! Most of what we taste actually comes from our sense of smell, and Air Up takes advantage of this with their specialty scent pods - okay I got tired of doing this now.

[@xzysyndrome]

He would have got more value out of chugging water than opening a box.

[@Justin-id3km]

Got to watch till the end, you’ll get your wish

[@skylarkirby4943]

but then he wouldn't be severely dehydrated

[@yoshitheonly]

Always blessed to see the Prof 🥰 Your pain is of immense entertainment to us, thank you!

[@TolarianCommunityCollege]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@RetireandGo]

Haha We love him I bought 8 vampire and spirit cards from this set for like $16 shipped to me $230 !?! Insanity

[@ThjyuGaming]

​@@TolarianCommunityCollegeit's not just your pain though, were glad you do these because it really helps us realize how not worth it these expensive products are... So thank you ❤

[@fosterark]

I am commenting and hitting like simply because I love watching The Professor endure his own Sisyphean hell. Enjoy continually opening Collector Booster Boxes, Prof!

[@Vikingfarsan]

We view because we love you and the game, not because you open collector boosters!

[@TolarianCommunityCollege]

Daaaaaaw.

[@Lasergurka]

This right here. "Oh a video of the prof raking leaves and talking about stuff? I'm here for it"

[@Xynic.7391]

If only this were true 😂

[@TommyThwack]

I just enjoy the Prof talking about cards, it’s very organic and fun to watch. I also find it very interesting his individual card prices are way high but in the back of his mind he knows the value when he sees it so his overall value is usually pretty close to

[@satalia]

Professor, I just wanted to let you know that you open them so we don’t have to. You save us Thousands a year, and we love you for it. Thank you

[@jackflowers2944]

Hey prof, thanks for the video. I know you're not a huge fan of the collector booster game, but it's nice to watch these videos so we can open packs by proxy through you. Seeing all the foils and fancy cards is always worth a view. I also use the video to establish value for the set.

[@Shade1703]

Its pretty interesting to hear you say that you weren't as excited of LCI compared to WOE, because for me its the opposite. But I guess it just depends on what you play, LCI has been like a holy grail for my dinosaur deck, while I can imagine that WOE was more interesting to someone who plays the deck archetypes that the new WOE cards were actually for.

[@DerrylHopkins]

I pulled a Cavern of Souls from a draft pack while watching this at my LGS! Thanks for the good luck, Prof! :D

[@brendans1983]

You crack packs while watching footage of people cracking packs? Man, I thought I was hooked on this game, I didn't realise how deep the rabbit hole went 😂

[@jeffbuffington628]

And due to all the re-prints it’s hardly worth anything anymore.

[@hereturbie7458]

I recommend getting yourself a transparent (clear plastic) 32 ounce water bottle with a lid that snaps open and closed and isn't too complicated. If you drink the water in tandem with food, it seems to go easier (at least for me anyways).

[@jonathanstokes3079]

That fucking opener. 10/10. Amazing.

[@scruz07]

"This is a $10 card!" $1.34 🤣 The Prof was on fire this episode lol.

[@FlairanFire]

I was very excited for this set and it has lived up to my expectations... as a banger limited format. For opening value and constructed playability i dont think this is the set but I'm having a ton of fun drafting it on arena at least.

[@genyrik35]

On the topic of ixalan falling flat: I feel that it’s hard to get excited for any set that doesn’t have a guaranteed bonus sheet now. It helps so much with the variability of draft and potential value when opening packs.

[@koolaiddude7685894]

Just wait for the new booster types people gonna be ripping rares left and right

[@branimirstoilov8640]

It's also hard to get excited when you know another set will be around in a month with new cards to chase if you are even remotely competitive. Or if not a set, a speciality product, a Secret lair every week, or a set remaster, or... Something! Because god forbid we go without a new product every month!

[@glmorten]

The price also makes it impossible to get excited too.

[@nathand6467]

@@branimirstoilov8640 The next spoilers start basically 2 or 3 weeks after the last pre-release. It all blurs together and nothing has staying power.

[@skiatheshade]

These videos are really fun actually, it's fun to hear you read out the cards and guess prices

[@jonhu4127]

Your channel remains amazing, professor. As you've said constantly, buy singles unless you're the ridiculous anomaly that I am. My collector box had a yellow neon crypt that paid for the box by itself so the rest was gravy

[@SuperDemogorgon666]

These are always my favorite videos because the professor riffing off the cuff about prices is just so great. Its a mystery to us too prof don't worry 😂

[@StevenHolub]

That collector display case was a certified oof. I've opened a couple of the packs myself and I've had similar experience. My setbox was both much more fun to open, better variety, and more valuable mythic hits!

[@Axnjxn55]

To answer your question about paper, YES. People are still playing. I am just starting after you got me excited about it and my LGS has a monthly paper day with a good turnout! Please make more deck techs!

[@highwindknight]

In part, the issue is that they're no longer balancing with standard in mind, they're clearly aiming at commander, which as you yourself pointed out, has no need for duplication outside of lands and with commander being a more casual platform tends to have okay on proxy. Hell my friends have switched to all proxies just because of the cost, so I honestly believe they're ultimately downsizing their market while spinning out of control with the design space.

[@LyleH-13]

Until they return to blocks they clearly don't care about standard no matter what they say.

[@ArmadilloAl]

33:42 The reason for the divide in the pack there is that's where the double-faced foil is, which doesn't curl because both faces are foil. I'm guessing the rest of the cards are curling enough to make the non-curling foil stand out.

[@deejkdeejk]

01:44 perfectly captures the experience of drinking room temp bottled water

[@TrueTgirl]

There was such emotion underpinning that "which starts yesterday, I think" at the end.

[@jacobsabo6560]

I've never grabbed a box of these, just a pack here or there since they've been a thing. But, the first one I grabbed for Lost Caverns had a Mana Crypt! Love that feeling lol

[@2x4noah]

Same dude I bought one pack just for the jurassic park card and pulled a neon Yellow mana crypt

[@kabobawsome]

I expect the Murders at Karlov Manor collector booster box game will have an intro that is just the word "Pain" repeated over and over in various groupings and tones.

[@BrownKingPabz]

I remember watching you talk of 8 rack and your beloved mermaid and agro elves. My good professor, you have been a mainstay in my magical education for quite some time. Thank you sir for being an absolute gem and one of the best scholars in these many realms! Cheers good sir! Hope your tenure is treating you well!!!

[@atamakita]

I really enjoy these videos where you comment while opening the packs. As someone who loves listening to Dies to Removal and is super excited whenever a new podcast comes out, these are like little solo episodes!

[@spencerhayward9312]

Hey Prof, Just wanted to drop by and say how much I love your Magic the Gathering content! You've created a fantastic community here, and we all appreciate the hard work you put into each video. Don't let any negativity get you down; the majority of us are here for the awesome content and positive vibes. Keep up the great work, and thanks for making our Magic experience even more enjoyable! 🧙✨

[@DylanStahl]

To open a Magic pack without bending or stressing cards, open the back flap upwards, then pull that apart, as the foil is not adhered for 2mm above the adhesive to the edge of the back opening flap. I just noticed this today, and was slowly cutting them with scissors otherwise.

[@koolaiddude7685894]

I cannot get over someone at my prerelease calling the new land treatment "full-ad lands" people either love em or think they look super out of place

[@SodaPeople]

I've been getting more and more into Magic because of this channel. Every single video you release is really valuable content and it's taught me a ton. Thanks so much for sharing and best of luck with the water intake! :)

[@kwilcox417]

I JUST got into Pauper and I'm loving it!

[@ArtoriusMaximus]

Once again, thank you for your service Professor. Educating the masses to be smarter with their money, at your own expense.

[@dopey9842]

I really enjoy that you do these box games with you talking now :) Much prefer it to when you would put music over the top

[@Zeyga]

Prof, you are the Atlas of the MtG community. Putting the weight of overpriced nonsense on your shoulders, bearing it up for the rest of us so we don’t need to. Thank you, you Titan of a man. I salute you.

[@theshalahkay]

I think your running commentary makes this more entertaining and that's why we've trapped you into doing this every set. Also I personally don't buy individual collector boosters but I sell a lot of single collector boosters at the LGS I work at, which always surprises me since I see they don't seem to contain the value that's spent on them. But I think it's sort of like a form of gambling, people put money in and hope for a big payout.

[@madflyer666]

the commander decks are all bangers in my pod, everyones loving this set with my playgroup.

[@alexmagnolia9263]

We keep watching, dear Prof, because you’re giving us an experience we cannot access. We yokels, we schmuckish Magic enjoyers, can’t spend $230 on 12 packs. We’re living vicariously through you!

[@fun2building]

The wildly different styles of art you can run into is one of the things that pulled me into Magic tbh

[@Ivanitis]

I was hoping you'd do this specific video!! I'm so excited!!!

[@TheTurtleApocalypse]

I only opened 2 collector booster but out of all the LCI I have opened I'm happy to say ive gotten about 2 to 2.5 times what I paid. Had some really big pulls.

[@xattius4954]

Been excited for this to come out. Best mtg creator out there

[@TolarianCommunityCollege]

That's super nice of you to say. Cheers.

[@solidghost4525]

This channel makes me happy. It’s like being wrapped in a warm blanket and watching others stand naked in the freezing rain. So cozy.

[@toxicgaming003]

I only ever pick up a Collectors Pack individually. Usually it's just a 1 per set thing, especially if I don't care for the set as a whole. Just a small gamble for treats lmao

[@katieholysz6740]

Thanks for taking one for the team here. I was disappointed by this one too. Loved wilds of eldranes so disappointed by Lost caverns

[@MarkCMG]

Thanks for the video! Stay hydrated!

[@sum41fan1989]

I love how honest you are when it comes to MTG! It's sad that this is happening to pretty much all tcg games 😢

[@larzvogt5688]

In the top right corner theres a tab you can pull down, makes those thicker booster pack easier to open

[@SaschaFuhrmann]

I really laughed at the water disruption at the beginning 😂

[@gamma626]

I almost bought a collectors booster box yesterday. Would have been my first one. Yet, I remembered the wise words of my prof... buy singles! So, I did. I built a $60 budget commander deck through tcgplayer and got exactly what I wanted instead of spending 230 dollars on disappointment. Thanks Prof!

[@e.x.watson9997]

I buy 1 bundle per set just for the experience of opening packs, and that's been my entire interaction with sealed product since like 2019 xD

[@taylorreid5347]

Late to the party, but for what it's worth, I really enjoy your lore videos. 30 years of lore is a lot to cover, and you do a good job!

[@jonathandock8416]

Great video! Thank you so much for the refreshing honesty. You got some good pulls though. I wish you all the best from Belgium 🙏 🎉😊

[@ryantannar5301]

back in my day we only had one kind fo booster per set and we were happy about it. something something uphill both ways to buy packs

[@patritter84]

Hey Prof, I was really excited for this set and I do like many of the cards, however you got particularly hosed on this box. Keep it up bud

[@jakelarntz]

This format is the best format for the Booster Box Game.

[@thetoolusingape9074]

I've noticed that "Fabrique au Japon" packs don't peel easily from the flap, but tear from a nip in the top crimp.

[@michaelmiller5177]

I think there is a serious value issue on the collector's packs. Using the following prices as a guide for a $5 set booster a rare slot is $1, the wildcard slot is $.75, the uncommon is $.50, and the common/land slot is $0.175. Assuming a double price per slot due to the extended art and extra foils the value of a collector booster is only $15.10 (2 rare slots, 3 wild cards, 3 uncommon, 10 common/lands). Rosewater stated that the increase in price for a play booster over a draft booster was due to adding the extra wildcard slot in those packs, so it's valid to look only at the slot values. Starting at $19 for a collector booster and going as far as $65 per pack, these packs are pretty much a rip off unless you hit a high card on the secondary market. If you triple the value of the slots due to foiling and extra art, it comes to $22.45, but no foil common is tripled in value, and outside of just a few card foiling and special artwork isn't tripling the value of rares or mythics. There are some, but of the 22K MTG cards, I don't think there's more than 500 in print where the special art triples the value. Food for thought.

[@jpob5]

There used to be a general estimation rule where a foil is worth double and I would say Collector Boosters are priced accordingly. Unfortunately Collector Boosters inadvertantly dilute the foil market to the point where they're no longer relevant.

[@furonet138]

I’m so glad you’re narrating these now. Makes it much more watchable than it was with just Kevin Macleod music 😂

[@pajurr]

You gave me a good laugh at the end. Great humor using silence Prof, good job.

[@GetShwiftyInHere]

I want to cry a little bit! I had to pass on most of the add ons so to see them for sale again is great! Gonna grab that mat!

[@Cabbrickk]

I often add something to the water to add flavour. Helps me hydrate a good bit 😀

[@TrackMouse34]

This collectors box highlights just how lucky I got with mine. If I had watched this video before purchasing my box on impulse I would’ve definitely avoided it. Prof’s experience is much more likely to be indicative of the common result from buying these.

[@PieBandit]

Every time I hear you say ojer, I keep hearing O'hare, and remembering Bucky O'Hare

[@rharris449]

I love how each guess was so off, but your final estimation was close to actual value.

[@helfiswelf]

I can’t believe Ian Malcolm is in the same set and packs as Lord of Atlantis and Mana Crypt. Good luck all out there in Hasbrodom! TY Profe.

[@avionmurch1298]

My buddy and I must've gotten mad lucky, we bought our card shop out of their collector boxes, practically a whole case and made our money back in card value on essentially each box. Plus he let me open two of his boxes and I pulled him a Neon Yellow Mana Crypt and an Emblem Indoraptor

[@davidbain7629]

We like to watch to live vicariously though you so we discourage ourselves from buying a box ourselves

[@TonyJer04]

This was a fun video to watch. I purchase 1 pack of booster when I have extra money in my budget. I play standard but only online since not many stores host it. I found one place that plays standard in person. I have not gone yet because of work.

[@Dools1217]

That intro was A1 prof. Got a good chuckle out of me.

[@Thexarmyxofxfew]

I like the double sided command tower!

[@baelsalmongaming]

Showing my age, but when I first stopped playing Magic, there was only one booster. I got back into the hobby somewhat recently and had no idea what the heck was going on. Play booster feels like going back to the old days a bit. Draft was already more expensive than I remember, coming back in I thought you could draft for $15 still, but I don't see cheaper than $25-30.

[@SlyDillPickle]

I watch these videos so I am reminded to just buy singles. Keep up the great work love your content.

[@seanbennett494]

I'm reminded of Joe Pera's standup special, Slow & Steady, the way you chugged that bottled water

[@dragonlorddc16]

You never cease to entertain professor, I always look forward to seeing an upload

[@patrickheath9693]

The sarcasm is oozing but I enjoy the honesty seems more personal

[@Shenmue728]

I don't play or collect magic, but I watch the channel and I watch the booster box game. Yeah, it be like that man.

[@jameshaggett1436]

Love how you did the water for your Dr lol perfect

[@jasonyu-gi-oh1056]

I am glad that the prof has changed his approach to how he plays the booster box game

[@marvinhubregtse5776]

0:30 honestly it was the title for me

[@korylemon8911]

I am curious what the breakdown for value was between the Jurassic Park cards vs Ixalan. It felt like over half of the value was just the JP cards.

[@Lego_man165]

I pick up a collector pack or 5 when im in my LGS over the life of the set. Gotten some nice value every now and again, like a confetti foil "anime" Necropotence from Eldraine. Got $117 CAD from my LGS in store cred for it.

[@aether6293]

it think that Prof being the merfolk master being severely dehydrated its hilarious. Just like how fish out of water is with the prices (Probably)

[@Thoughtmage100]

If this episode of "The Collector Booster Box Game" has shown me anything its that if you really like the foil basics from this set they're pretty cheap to get as singles.

[@bloodhurricane]

I had planned to grab a collector box paying for half with store credit. Decided to only get a single booster, pulled a hunting velociraptor before I knew it’s worth. After watching this, I’m glad I didn’t get a full box

[@mana191god]

Thank you Prof. This pain was felt all the way over here. But singles folks

[@williambrown5934]

It’s my understanding that card value is mostly based on how much ppl want said card… (Less I am. Mistaken.) And idk if we can/ should just a pack/ box based on the total value of the cards within… I figure usually ppl have some idea of what cards are in the set that the box of cards are from and buy it for a hopeful full of some to all the ones they like to pull… Or some of us do (me). And prices… I feel it should be kept in mind, if it’s not being sold directly by or bought from (whatever) Wizards of the Coast; it’s being sold by someone who bought the box/ packs from them THEN turned around and are selling it for higher than they bought it- cause no point in selling something and not making some profit. *My point being* it feels unfair for anyone to expect to get their money back in terms of card values anyhow; cause between card values based on how much (a major majority) people do or don’t want certain cards and an added cost due to people needing to make a profit (over losing money or just getting back what they paid, the stupid way round) so they are forced to sell it for more than what was paid. Buy packs or a box if you want the cards not because you are looking for stuff you can sell… Buying something cause you like the product is a easy win but buying in hopes of high value within is a gamble, like the lottery… Expect to lose… But this is just my take… But I have never paid more than 100 bucks on a box. Idk if I got my money back in worth but it was about the cards- not the value of them outside of the value I put on HAVING them! 😊

[@katherinebjornson9189]

The Prof struggling to finish the bottle resonates with me to my very core, as someone who is also chronically severely dehydrated lol. And that's exactly the downtrodden, disheartened expression I make when I realize how much more I still need to drink too. Hang in there Prof, great video! :D

[@slumdutchmillionare]

I got a gift card to a local game store and went in on a collector box (I usually only buy singles). We pulled a foil Mana Crypt, Foiled Chalice, Bonehoard Dracosair and Roaming Throne for our top cards

[@slumdutchmillionare]

I’ll never get that lucky again

[@Nomnomnomiana]

I know you have probably worn that suit before, but professor, you are a dapper gentleman!

[@Scyndir]

Wow. So far with Ixalan I've opened a pre-release and a bundle, and I think I pulled more value out of my bundle than that collectors box had lol. The schadenfreude is always appreciated ;)

[@voxvire2350]

Yeah same, at my local gamestore me and my friend pulled like 20-40 bucks each plus two caverns of Souls from set boosters while the other customer got NOTHING out of the collectors booster. There is something wrong with these collectors

[@luisdanielmirandagomez7582]

the idea of the art of tishana is the art of tenangos, witch is a comunity in the hidalgo sierra and is a type of manual embodery of the zone

[@Segway999]

Craziest pull I've gotten off of a collector sample pack so far has been Cavern of Souls from my Pantlaza precon...

[@julemous]

i like these collector videos more than the normal bpg videos because of the commentary

[@dannyboy5514]

Your hair is on point my man.

[@TolarianCommunityCollege]

Thanks!