Some Interesting Tidbits About Mtg Cards

26 Nov 2020 - Nate Hofmann

As apart of my ever ongoing project mtg-analysis, I created a small SQL database of every MTG card ever printed by drawing from the wonderful Scryfall Api - tracking card information, reprints, and other basic information. Combining this with the power of some simple SQL queries allows for some basic (but interesting!) questions to be answered.

First some caveats, underlying assumptions, and other info:

1. Includes cards printed up until Commander Legends.

2. Schemes, tokens, Avatars, Emblems, Planes, and other cards with "non-standard" types are not considered.  

3. All printings are considered, this may give different numbers from Scryfall's listings. 

4. For most answers, the top 5-10 results will be displayed. 

5. Cards with multiple types have each type counted separately.

6. Don't consider cards from Un-sets.

7. Double faced cards are treated as one card.

If you have any questions about or suggestions for this article - please reach out to me!

Overall cards with the most reprints

Artifact cards with the most reprints

Creature cards with the most reprints

Legendary cards with the most reprints

Enchantment cards with the most reprints

Instant cards with the most reprints

Land cards with the most reprints

Sorcery cards with the most reprints

Planeswalker cards with the most reprints

Tribes (elves, goblins, etc.) with the most cards

Doesn’t consider supertypes like creature, legendary, etc.

“Secondary” Tribes (elf warriors, goblin scouts, etc.) with the most cards

Doesn’t consider supertypes like creature, legendary, etc. Only considers cards with exactly two subtypes.

Number of unique cards printed by color

c is for colorless cards, multicolored cards are considered twice.

Number of unique cards printed by type

Major types like creature, artifact, etc.

Cards with the most text

Does include reminder text; text for suspend, cumulative upkeep, and banding are the longest contributors.

Cards with the most subtypes

Only really interesting entry here is that only one creature has four subtypes. Ignorings subtypes granted by a card’s text.

Cards with the longest name

This does include spaces.

Average converted mana cost of every MTG set

Only considering “main” sets; core releases, major expansions, major supplament sets, etc. - not promotional products, small re-releases like “From the Vault”, etc. Does consider lands.

Average power and toughness of every creature

Ignoring cards with a variable power or toughness.

Most common power & toughness pairings

Least common power & toughness pairings

These all seemed worthwhile to include