In case you missed it, Magic: The Gathering has returned to Middle-earth in a big way. The Lord of the Rings set is widely regarded as one of the strongest Universes Beyond releases yet, and The Hobbit is already getting a pretty warm reception from players, too.
The set only launched recently, so its Collector Boosters are proving about as easy to find as the Arkenstone in Smaug’s hoard. Thankfully, Walmart has a “deal” that might just be worth hunting down.
Gift Bundle
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We call it a “deal” because, like a lot of things from this set right now, the Magic: The Gathering Hobbit Gift bundle is selling for well above its MSRP at most retailers.
Wizards says the bundle should cost $89.99, making Amazon’s $164 price a colossal markup. The same bundle is either considerably more expensive elsewhere or simply sold out, with no clear sign of when it’ll be back.
Walmart, meanwhile, has it for $94.97, sold and shipped directly by Walmart rather than some dodgy third-party seller. Walmart reckons that’s “$85.02” in savings, although realistically you’re paying just $4.97 more than the original MSRP. Not bad at all when this same bundle can apparently set you back around $200 on TCGplayer.
We’re putting all that upfront because you’re a big Hobbit now and can spend your money however you please. Just know that this is still an 18% discount compared with what you’d pay for the same bundle elsewhere. If you really want it, go for it. If you don’t fancy spending that much, we get it. At least now you know what you’re getting into.
So, what’s the big draw? While you do get nine Play Boosters in the box, the most valuable cards in the set are exclusive to Collector Boosters. Thankfully, this bundle comes with one of those too, hopefully with a card inside to rule them all.
Smaug? Bard? Gandalf? What’ll it be? Well, that’s the point, really: you could crack open a bunch of neat rare cards, or you could pay next month’s rent by pulling a Gleaming Splendor.
Alongside the ten total packs, you’ll also get 34 land cards, including full-art seasonal Hobbit lands exclusive to this set, plus 10 full-art Middle-earth Journey lands. Honestly, these are so cool I’d probably frame them. There’s also a die included, along with a box to keep everything in.
Robert Anderson
Senior Commerce Editor
Robert Anderson is a Senior Commerce Editor for IGN. Based in London, UK, he is a qualified journalist with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism (First Class Degree) and over seven years of professional writing and editing experience.
You can usually find Robert lost in open-world RPG games like Elden Ring and Cyberpunk 2077. Outside of gaming, his passions include reading comics (especially Superman, Batman, and Spider-Man), taking photos, and keeping up with the latest in film and TV.
His primary coverage focuses on tracking down the best gaming deals and diving into the fast-paced world of Trading Card Games (TCGs). He regularly covers everything from the latest releases in Pokémon TCG and the most expensive cards to comprehensive Magic: The Gathering buying guides.
