Is Ravnica Remastered cheapening your MTG Cards?

We're dishing out the details on the rarity changes in Ravnica Remastered.

Ravnica Remastered, releasing on January 12th, 2024 is a comprehensive reprints-only set, showcasing cards from previous Magic: The Gathering sets that takes us back to the Ravnica plane. Consequently, the collection does not introduce any entirely new cards. Nevertheless, there are revisions to the rarity levels of several cards.

While rarities may not have significance across all formats, those with specific constraints on the card pool, particularly Pauper and Artisan, will be impacted by these downshifts. These changes also carry implications for the Limited formats of Ravnica Remastered, influencing the distribution of cards in packs with some becoming more prevalent at lower rarities and more challenging to obtain at higher rarities.

Mythic Upshifts

While the majority of cards experienced downshifts to lower rarities, a chosen few were elevated to mythic rarity. Some of these cards are receiving their inaugural reprint, and due to their unexpectedly potent power level, they were promoted to mythic rarity instead of retaining their original status. This adjustment serves specific purposes within the Limited format.

Card	Original Rarity And Sets
	Teferi, Time Raveler Rare (War Of The Spark, Secret Lairs)
	Protean Hulk Rare (Dissension, RNA Guild Kit, Secret Lair)
	Karn, the Great Creator Rare (War Of The Spark, Secret Lairs)
	Guardian Project Rare (Ravnica Allegiance, From Cute To Brute Commander Deck)
	Cyclonic Rift Rare (Return To Ravnica, Commander 2014, Modern Masters 2017, Double Masters, Commander Masters)

Rare Downshifts

In Ravnica Remastered, no cards were upgraded to rare; only mythics underwent a downgrade to rare status. The set introduces eight new rares, and these downshifts contribute to increased accessibility, making these cards more attainable in booster packs.

Card	Original Rarity And Sets
	Kaya, Orzhov Usurper Mythic (Ravnica Allegiance, Mythic Edition, The List)
	Arclight Phoenix Mythic (Vuilds Of Ravnica, Secret Lair)
	Borborygmos Enraged Mythic (Gatecrash, The List)
	Utvara Hellkite Mythic (Gatecrash, Commander 2016, Commander 2021)
	Lazav, the Multifarious Mythic (Guilds Of Ravnica, The List)
	Prime Speaker Zegana Mythic (Gatecrash, Commander 2015, The Lost Caverns Of Ixalan Commander)
	Rakdos, Lord of Riots Mythic (Return To Ravnica, RNA Guild Kit, Commander Legends)
	Sphinx's Revelation Mythic (Return To Ravnica, Modern Masters 2017, RNA Guild Kit, The Brothers' War Commander, Starter Commander Decks)

Uncommon Upshifts and Downshifts

There were both upshifts and downshifts of cards in Ravnica Remastered. The rares getting downshifted are much more accessible, and creatures getting upshifted have implications for Pauper Commander. Downshifts from rare cards impact the Artisan format where only commons and uncommon are legal to use.

Card	Original Rarity And Sets
	Cerulean Sphinx Rare (Ravnica: City Of Guilds)
	Demonfire Rare (Dissension, Duel Decks: Jace vs. Chandra, DDA: Jace vs. Chandra, RNA Guild Kit)
	Farseek Common (Multiple sets, originally in Ravnica: City Of Guilds, last seen in The Lost Cavern Of Ixalan Commander)
	Muddle the Mixture Common (Ravnica: City Of Guilds, Heads I Win, Tails You Lose), Rare (Secret Lair)
	Quicken Rare (Guildpact, Magic 2014, Duel Decks: Mind vs. Might)
	Rakdos Pit Dragon Rare (Dissension, Duel Decks: Jace vs. Chandra, RNA Guild Kit)
	Selesnya Evangel Common (Ravnica: City Of Guilds, Commander 2011, GRN Guild Kit, Starter Commander Decks)
	Siege of Towers Rare (Guildpact, The List)
	Stalking Vengeance Rare (Dissension, Commander 2013, Commander 2016, New Capenna Commander)
	Woebringer Demon Rare (Ravnica: City Of Guilds)
	Wurmweaver Coil Rare (Guildpact, RNA Guild Kit)

Common Downshifts

The most impactful rarity shifts in Ravnica Remastered are the cards that were downshifted to common. All of these cards are new to the Pauper format, where only cards that were printed at the common rarity are legal.

Card	Original Rarity And Sets
	Sinister Sabotage Uncommon (Guilds Of Ravnica, Starter Commander Decks)
	Boros Elite Uncommon (Gatecrash, GRN Guild Kit)
	Greater Forgeling Uncommon (Ravnica: City Of Guilds)
	Judge's Familiar Uncommon (Return To Ravnica, RNA Guild Kit), Rare (Friday Night Magic 2013)
	Merfolk of the Depths Uncommon (Gatecrash)
	Slitherhead Uncommon (Return To Ravnica)
	Tin Street Dodger Uncommon (Ravnica Allegiance)
	Sprouting Renewal Rare (Guildpact, The List)

In Closing

In our opinion, Ravnica Remastered brings back a fan favourite into the fold, increasing accessibility to newcomers to the game we love, introducing them to the “Guilds” and the great mechanics and cards that came with the blocks of cards in the original sets.

It also potentially increases the rarity of some of the more powerful cards, while making more accessible some of the cards that were previously a bit harder to get a hold of or find.

What do you think about reprints and the changes to rarity? Are you in favour or worried that it might negatively affect the value of the cards?