Understanding rarity: our 1 to 6 star scale rate for MTG sets
When exploring Chinese : The Gathering (CTG), you will see a rarity rating for each sets. We use a scale from 1 to 6 stars.
It is important to understand one thing: this is not a price guide. This scale measures “organic rarity” ; how difficult it is to actually find the cards, regardless of their market value.
Why english sets are usually 1 Star
For most collectors, “rare” means expensive. But in terms of supply, almost every english set printed since 1994 (starting with Revised Edition) is very common. Because millions of these cards exist, they receive a 1-star max rating. They are so easy to find; you just need the money to buy them. Furthermore, magic online redemption program has spread a lot of “already done” sets without any effort. That make english language set the worst set to collect in terms of pure rarity.
The crazy Wizard of the Coast printing machine
The “Alpha” misconception
Rarity level
Many people believe that Limited Edition Alpha (the first edition from 1993) is the rarest set. While Alpha cards are very expensive, they are not actually “hard to find.” If you have the budget, you can find Alpha cards for sale any day in Europe or the US. On our scale, Limited Edition Alpha is not the top tier of rarity. Furthermore, they have been heavily collected ans searched through years. For example, you can find now (early 2026), 13 Limited Edition Alpha Stasis on Cardmarket, 9 on near mint condition.
The Gold Standard: Summer Magic
To understand our scale, we use Summer Magic as the ultimate benchmark.
In 1994, Wizards of the Coast attempted to print a corrected version of the Revised Edition to fix washed-out colors. This internal project, codenamed “Edgar,” backfired and produced even worse errors, most notably the legendary “Blue Hurricane” (a green spell printed with a blue border). Once the quality issues were discovered, WotC ordered the immediate destruction of the entire print run. The stock was intended to be incinerated, making the set “extinct” before it ever officially hit shelves. A tiny fraction of the set survived because approximately 40 cases were mistakenly shipped to distributors in the UK and Tennessee.
Rarity level
There are only about 10 complete sets known to exist in the entire world. This is “absolute rarity.” Because 99% of the print run was destroyed, the number of surviving copies is incredibly low—often estimated to be significantly lower than the print runs of Limited Edition Alpha or Limited Edition Beta.
Are Chinese Sets also rare?
Between the common 1-star English sets and the legendary 6-star Summer Magic, we find many Traditional Chinese and Simplified Chinese releases.
Many Magic players harbor a certain disdain for foreign-language cards as chinese ones, often viewing them as an inconvenience rather than a collectible asset. This “linguistic gatekeeping” stems from a lack of understanding regarding global rarity and market nuances, as players frequently prioritize immediate readability over the prestige of specific printings (such as Japanese or Russian). This mindset is often fueled by an ethnocentric perspective, where the game is perceived as belonging exclusively to one’s own country or language, leading to a dismissive attitude toward the vibrant, diverse international communities that have sustained the game’s growth for decades.
These chinese sets are often much harder to “assemble” than their english counterparts. In many cases, the print runs were small, or the cards simply didn’t survive the decades in good condition. Our ratings will help you identify which Chinese sets are true hidden gems and which ones are more common.
The CTG rarity scale :
Quite easy to source cards. Sets easy to find or to build buying single on the market.
Things are becoming a bit more challenging as we move into sets like Limited Edition Beta. Around 20 of each rares available on the market.
Getting a full set is harder. Boxes are hard to find and some cards should be difficult to source in good goodition on the market. Around 10 of each rare available. We are on the Limited Edition Alpha territory.
Getting a full set is a real challenge. A lot of foreign language sets are in this territory. This is the most interesting level. It is a balance between true rarity and the hope of actually finishing the set.
Getting a full set, not already complete is a complete nightmare. Rares or even uncommons are not available on the market. Booster boxes sometimes available but only contain 36 rares, which is far from enough to complete a full 350 cards basic size set.
Getting a full sets, not already complete is nearly impossible. No booster boxes available on the market.