Extreme examples, like the famously miscut Arcane Maelstrom Commander deck, can become collectible just because of how dramatic they look
The cards above definitely harken to moments where I saw the world differently after I played the card, in a way that built to compounding discoveries down the line
Magics managed to sidestep the ongoing controversy over lootboxes in video games, but its impossible not to look at The One Ring and just see Collector booster packs as lottery tickets for a card so valuable that it could let you put a deposit down on a house
The fact that this ultra-rare alternate art card boasts one of the most famous vessels in Magic history likely contributes to its immense value, and the moody, cloud-tinged artwork from Kev Walker contrasts sharply with the bright blue coloration found on Mark Tedin's standard version
These were inserted into packs at a very low rate (e.g., roughly 1 in 144 packs)
It set the tone for Blue's ability to accrue raw card advantage