What Happens When You Get More Than 4 of the Same Card in MTG Arena?

As a player of Magic: The Gathering Arena, you might be wondering what happens if you get more than 4 of the same card in your collection. This is a common question among new and experienced players alike, and the answer is not always straightforward.

Understanding the game’s card collection system, the fifth copy issue, and the various game formats and their impact on card acquisition is crucial to fully grasp what happens when you get more than 4 of the same card.

What Happens When You Get More Than 4 of the Same Card in MTG Arena?

MTG Arena’s card collection system is complex and can be overwhelming at first. There are various ways to acquire cards, including booster packs, wildcards, and rewards.

However, the fifth copy issue is a significant concern for players who want to build their collection without wasting resources.

When you get more than 4 of the same card, the game’s duplicate protection system kicks in, and you will receive a reward based on the rarity of the card.

4 of the same card

Understanding the game’s card collection system, the fifth copy issue, and the various game formats and their impact on card acquisition is crucial to fully grasp what happens when you get more than 4 of the same card.

Key Takeaways – Same Card in MTG Arena

  • Understanding MTG Arena’s card collection system is crucial to avoid wasting resources.
  • The fifth copy issue is a significant concern for players who want to build their collection efficiently.
  • The game’s duplicate protection system kicks in when you get more than 4 of the same card, and you will receive a reward based on the rarity of the card.

Understanding MTG Arena’s Card Collection System

Understanding MTG Arena's Card Collection System

As a player of MTG Arena, it’s important to understand how the card collection system works. In this section, I’ll explain the different tiers of rarity and how the duplicate protection mechanism works.

Rarity and Collection Tiers

Cards in MTG Arena are divided into four different tiers of rarity: common, uncommon, rare, and mythic rare. Each tier has a different likelihood of appearing in booster packs.

Common cards are the most common and mythic rares are the rarest.

When you open booster packs, you’ll receive a certain number of cards from each tier. For example, a typical booster pack contains one rare or mythic rare, three uncommons, and ten commons.

As you collect more cards, you’ll progress through different collection tiers. Each tier requires a certain number of cards from each rarity.

Duplicate Protection Mechanism

MTG Arena has a duplicate protection mechanism that prevents you from receiving more than four copies of any card (except for basic lands) in your collection.

This means that if you already have four copies of a card, you won’t receive any more copies of that card until you complete your collection of rares or mythic rares.

When you do receive a fifth copy of a card, the duplicate protection mechanism kicks in.

For common and uncommon cards, the extra card is converted into Vault progress. The Vault is a hidden progress bar that fills up as you receive extra copies of common and uncommon cards. When the Vault is full, you’ll receive a reward of wildcards and other goodies.

For rare and mythic rare cards, the duplicate protection mechanism converts the extra card into gems. The number of gems you receive depends on the rarity of the card. Rare cards are worth 20 gems and mythic rare cards are worth 40 gems.

The Fifth Copy Issue in MTG Arena

The Fifth Copy Issue in MTG Arena

As a player of MTG Arena, you may be wondering what happens when you receive more than four copies of the same card. This is known as the “Fifth Copy Issue,” and it can be confusing for new players. In this section, I will explain what happens when you get a fifth copy of a card and how the Vault system and rewards work.

What Happens When You Get a Fifth Copy

When you receive your fifth copy of a card in MTG Arena, you trigger what is known as the “Duplicate Protection” system. This system ensures that you don’t receive more than four copies of any card, except for basic lands. The outcomes of receiving a fifth copy of a card depend on the rarity of the card.

For common and uncommon cards, the fifth copy will contribute to your Vault progress. The Vault is a hidden progress bar that fills up as you collect more cards. When the Vault is full, you will receive a reward of 1000 gems and some wildcards.

For rare and mythic rare cards, the fifth copy will be replaced by a card of the same rarity that you don’t already have four copies of in your collection. If you have all the rares or mythic rares from a set, the fifth copy will be replaced by gems.

Vault System and Rewards

As mentioned earlier, the Vault system is a hidden progress bar that fills up as you collect more cards. You can see your Vault progress by clicking on the Vault icon in the top right corner of the screen.

The progress bar is divided into 1000 points, and each fifth copy of a common or uncommon card contributes one point to the Vault.

When the Vault is full, you will receive a reward of 1000 gems and some wildcards. The number of wildcards you receive depends on the number of duplicate cards you have beyond four.

For example, if you have 20 duplicate rares, you will receive 5 rare wildcards and 1 mythic rare wildcard.

Game Formats and Their Impact on Card Acquisition

Game Formats and Their Impact on Card Acquisition

As a Magic: The Gathering player, you have various game formats to choose from when playing MTG Arena. Each format has its own rules and restrictions, which can impact how you acquire cards. In this section, I will discuss the impact of different game formats on card acquisition.

Draft and Sealed Formats

Draft and Sealed are limited formats in which you build a deck from a limited pool of cards.

In Draft, you pick cards one at a time from booster packs, while in Sealed, you receive a set number of booster packs to build your deck. These formats are great for acquiring cards, as you get to keep all the cards you draft or open in Sealed.

In Draft and Sealed, you have a chance to acquire cards that you may not have otherwise been able to obtain. Additionally, these formats are great for acquiring cards from different sets as the card pool is not limited to the most recent sets.

Constructed and Commander Formats

Constructed and Commander are formats in which you build a deck from your own collection of cards.

In Constructed, you build a deck from any cards in your collection, while in Commander, you build a deck around a legendary creature or planeswalker.

In Constructed, you need to have at least four copies of a card to use it in your deck. This means that if you have more than four copies of a card, they will not be useful in Constructed. However, having more than four copies of a card can be useful in other formats like Sealed or Draft.

In Commander, you can only have one copy of a card in your deck, except for basic lands. This means that having more than one copy of a card is not useful in Commander.

Rarity

In all game formats, the rarity of a card can impact how easy it is to acquire. Common cards are easier to acquire than rare or mythic rare cards.

This means that if you want to acquire a specific rare or mythic rare card, you may need to open a lot of booster packs or trade with other players.

Economic Aspects of MTG Arena

Economic Aspects of MTG Arena

As a player on MTG Arena, it’s important to understand the economic aspects of the game to make the most out of your resources. Here are some tips on using gold and gems effectively, as well as maximizing the benefits of the Mastery Pass and Arena Tutor.

Using Gold and Gems Effectively

Gold and gems are the two main currencies in MTG Arena. Gold can be earned through daily quests, wins, and events, while gems can be purchased with real money or earned through events and rewards.

It’s important to use these resources effectively to get the most out of your gameplay experience.

One effective way to use gold is to participate in drafts. Drafts allow you to build a deck from a limited pool of cards and compete against other players. By participating in drafts, you can earn more cards and potentially earn more gold and gems through rewards.

Gems are best used for purchasing the Mastery Pass or entering events with high rewards.

The Mastery Pass provides additional rewards and bonuses for completing daily quests and leveling up your account. Entering events with high rewards can be risky, but the potential payoff can be worth it if you perform well.

Maximizing Mastery Pass and Arena Tutor

The Mastery Pass and Arena Tutor are two features that can greatly benefit your gameplay experience.

The Mastery Pass provides additional rewards for completing daily quests and leveling up your account. By completing daily quests and leveling up, you can earn more gold, gems, and cards.

The Arena Tutor is a feature that provides guidance and tips for improving your gameplay. It can help you learn new strategies and improve your skills, which can lead to more wins and rewards.

Progress and Rewards in MTG Arena

Progress and Rewards in MTG Arena

Track Your Progress and Rewards

As you play MTG Arena, you will earn rewards and track your progress towards unlocking new cards, decks, and other items.

One way to track your progress is through the Mastery Pass, which allows you to earn rewards as you level up your account by playing and completing daily and weekly quests. The Mastery Pass includes rewards such as gold, gems, booster packs, and cosmetic items.

Another way to track your progress is through the Vault.

The Vault tracks your progress towards earning rewards based on the extra cards you collect in MTG Arena. When you collect extra copies of a card, they are converted into Vault progress. Once you reach 100% Vault progress, you can open the Vault and receive rewards such as wildcards, which can be used to craft any card of your choice.

Individual Card Rewards (ICRs) and Their Role

Individual Card Rewards (ICRs) are rewards that you can earn by playing games in MTG Arena.

ICRs are given out as a reward for winning games in certain events or as part of daily rewards. ICRs can be any card from the current set, and they can be of any rarity.

If you receive a card that you already have four copies of, the card will be converted into Vault progress. This means that you will be one step closer to unlocking the Vault and earning more rewards.

However, if you receive a rare or mythic rare card that you already have four copies of, it will be converted into gems instead of Vault progress. The amount of gems you receive depends on the rarity of the card.

Managing Your MTG Arena Collection

Managing Your MTG Arena Collection

As a player, managing your MTG Arena collection is crucial to success. It is important to optimize your collection to make the most of your resources and keep up with set updates. Here are a few tips to help you manage your collection.

Optimizing Card Collection

One of the most important aspects of managing your collection is optimizing it. This means getting rid of cards you don’t need and keeping the ones you do.

To optimize your collection, you should regularly go through your cards and determine which ones you want to keep and which ones you want to get rid of.

One way to do this is by using the MTG Arena deck builder.

You can filter your collection by set, rarity, color, and type to help you find the cards you need. You can also use the search bar to find specific cards.

Once you have identified the cards you want to get rid of, you can either sell them for gold or use them to progress the Vault.

According to Draftsim, if you have more than 4 copies of a card, the extra copies will add progress to the Vault. When the Vault is full, you will receive rewards such as wildcards and gems.

Set Updates and Collection Management

Another important aspect of managing your collection is keeping up with set updates. New sets are released regularly, and you will need to update your collection accordingly.

This means getting rid of cards that are no longer legal in Standard and adding cards from the new set.

To do this, you should regularly check the MTG Arena website for updates and new set releases. You can also use the deck builder to filter your collection by set to help you identify which cards you need to add or remove.

In addition, it is important to keep track of your wildcards.

Wildcards are a valuable resource that can be used to craft any card of the same rarity. You should use your wildcards wisely and save them for cards that are essential to your deck.

Troubleshooting and Bug Reporting in MTG Arena

Troubleshooting and Bug Reporting in MTG Arena

As with any software, MTG Arena can sometimes experience bugs and glitches that can affect your gameplay. In this section, I will cover some common bugs and glitches that you may encounter while playing MTG Arena, as well as how to report them to improve the overall gameplay experience.

Common Bugs and Glitches

One of the most common bugs in MTG Arena is getting more than 4 of the same card in your collection. This can happen if you open a lot of packs or if you craft a lot of cards. Unfortunately, there is no way to get rid of these extra cards, but you can still use them to complete your collection.

Another common bug is the game freezing or crashing during a match.

This can be frustrating, especially if you were about to win the game. If this happens to you, try restarting the game and see if that fixes the issue. If it doesn’t, you can report the bug to the MTG Arena support team.

Reporting Issues to Improve Gameplay

If you encounter a bug or glitch while playing MTG Arena, it’s important to report it so that the developers can fix it and improve the overall gameplay experience.

To report a bug, go to the MTG Arena support website and click on the “Report a Bug” link. Fill out the form with as much detail as possible, including what happened, when it happened, and any error messages you received.

In addition to reporting bugs, you can also provide feedback to the developers to help improve the game.

To do this, go to the MTG Arena support website and click on the “Feedback” link. Fill out the form with your suggestions and ideas for improving the game.

Frequently Asked Questions – Same Card in MTG Arena

Same Card in MTG Arena

How does MTG Arena handle excess card copies?

If you have more than 4 copies of a card in MTG Arena, the excess copies are converted into Vault progress or Gems. The exact outcome depends on the rarity of the card.

For example, if you have 5 copies of a common card, the fifth copy is converted into 1 Gem. If you have 5 copies of a rare or mythic card, the fifth copy is converted into Vault progress.

What is the Vault system in MTG Arena?

The Vault system in MTG Arena is a way for players to earn rewards for excess card copies. When you accumulate enough Vault progress, you can open the Vault to receive rewards. The rewards include Wildcards, which can be used to craft any card of the same rarity. The Vault progress is earned by obtaining excess copies of cards.

Can you explain duplicate protection in MTG Arena?

Duplicate protection in MTG Arena ensures that players don’t receive excess copies of rare or mythic cards until they have obtained a playset of all the rares and mythics in a set.

Once you have obtained a playset of all the rares and mythics in a set, you can receive excess copies of any rare or mythic card.

How does one track Vault progress in MTG Arena?

You can track your Vault progress in MTG Arena by clicking on the “Vault” icon in the top right corner of the screen. The Vault progress is displayed as a percentage, and you can hover over the progress bar to see how many Vault points you have accumulated.

What are the rules for deck construction regarding duplicate cards in MTG Arena?

The rules for deck construction in MTG Arena allow players to include any number of common cards and up to 4 copies of any rare or mythic card.

However, some cards have special rules that allow players to include any number of copies in their deck. For example, Rat Colony and Persistent Petitioners have a special rule that allows players to include any number of copies in their deck.

How does obtaining Mythic cards work with regard to duplicates in MTG Arena?

Obtaining Mythic cards in MTG Arena works the same way as obtaining rare cards. However, since Mythic cards are rarer than rare cards, they are more difficult to obtain.

If you have excess copies of a Mythic card, the excess copies are converted into Vault progress.

Ray - MTGA Central

I started out playing MTG WAY back in the late 90's, now, I play MTG Arena and share what I can with others.  After teaching my kids to play, helping them with decks and how to play them, how to watch the people you're playing - they told me I should be sharing this info, so I do!