What a complete set actually costs
The full bill for every set, and the much smaller one you pay if you skip the chase cards.
“Completing a set” can mean two very different projects with very different price tags. One of them is achievable on a normal budget. The other is not, and the gap between them is almost entirely chase cards.
Two ways to finish a set
Every printing means one of each card in the set including alt arts, overnumbered and signature versions. Base printings only means one of every card, in its ordinary version — a complete set in the sense most people mean when they say it.
| Set | Every printing | Base only | Base cards | Chase share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unleashed | $4.26K | $2,284.41 | 220 | 46.4% |
| Spiritforged | $3.99K | $165.55 | 220 | 95.9% |
| Vendetta | $3.91K | $2,673.00 | 311 | 31.7% |
| Origins | $3.52K | $374.58 | 293 | 89.4% |
| Proving Grounds | $72.44 | $72.44 | 23 | 0.0% |
What the chase share tells you
In the sets that print Showcase cards, the overwhelming majority of the total bill is those cards. Strip them out and the set becomes an ordinary, affordable project — often a small fraction of the headline number.
How to actually approach it
- Start with base printings. You get a complete, displayable set for a small share of the full cost.
- Buy commons and uncommons in bulk. They are pennies each and make up most of the card count.
- Treat chase cards as separate purchases , one at a time, rather than as part of the set project.
- Do not start with the newest set if cost is the concern — prices are least settled right after release.