Somehow it's that time of year again. The Holidays have crept up and it's suddenly time to start buying gifts for loved ones, and that's so rarely an easy task. Even if loved ones have handed out a list specifying exactly what they're looking for this year, there's no guarantee any of it will be in stock, or if any of it can even be found. But thankfully, for card game enthusiasts, there's always something waiting on the store shelves.
Card gaming can be one of the most expensive hobbies around, even in the nerdy ecosphere, but there are still options out there for all price ranges. Whether it's starter packs for younger audiences looking to get into card gaming for the first time, booster packs to help bolster a winning deck, or ultimate collector's editions that only come around once in a blue moon, the card game market has something for everyone, and that's especially true this year.
Magic The Gathering - The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-Earth Starter Kit
Approximate Retail Price: $35
Link to MTG Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-Earth Starter Kit on Amazon
The Magic The Gathering Lord of the Rings Starter Kit is the perfect gift for absolutely anyone looking to get into Magic The Gathering who also happens to be a Lord of the Rings fan, and that Venn diagram is probably pretty big. This starter kit comes with two full decks of Magic The Gathering Lord of the Rings cards, including 60 cards, one foil Mythic Rare card, and four Rare cards in each deck. Two deck storage boxes are also included in this starter kit, along with a link to an intuitive online tutorial and player book.
Magic The Gathering - The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-Earth Special Edition Collector 12-Pack
Approximate Retail Price: $310
Link to MTG Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-Earth Special Edition Boosters on Amazon
Going to the absolute opposite end of the spectrum, these Magic The Gathering Lord of the Rings Special Edition Booster Packs are extremely expensive, but they are an excellent gift idea for hardcore fans of both Lord of the Rings and Magic The Gathering. What sets these Special Edition cards apart from the standard MTG Lord of the Rings packs is their special variants and unique artwork, some of which comes from the iconic 1970s Lord of the Rings art by Greg and Tim Hildebrandt. These booster packs can also be bought individually, though they still cost around $30 each.
Magic: The Gathering - The Lord of The Rings: Tales of Middle-Earth Scene Boxes
Approximate Retail Price: $145 for all four
Link to MTG Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-Earth Scene Boxes on Amazon
Splitting the difference between the last two products on this list, the Magic The Gathering Lord of the Rings Scene Boxes cost about $145 for all four, but can be bought separately for around $40 each. Each of these Scene Boxes contains six foil borderless play cards that join together to make an iconic scene from The Lord of the Rings trilogy, such as Aragorn at Helm's Deep, or the Flight of the Witch-King. Textless copies of these cards are also included in these Scene Boxes, along with a little easel that can be used to display the combined artwork. Three Magic The Gathering Lord of the Rings booster packs also come in each Scene Box.
Disney Lorcana - The First Chapter Ilumineer's Trove
Approximate Retail Price: $50
Link to Disney Lorcana First Chapter Illumineer's Trove on Amazon
The hottest new thing on the block, Disney Lorcana is a Disney trading card game that sees iconic heroes reimagined as fantasy heroes. For those looking to get into Disney Lorcana, the Starter Packs are the best place to start, but for those looking to really treat themselves or a loved one this Holiday season, Disney Lorcana's Illumineer's Trove is the ideal gift set. The Disney Lorcana First Chapter Illumineer's Trove comes with two deck boxes, one storage box, eight booster packs, 15 game tokens, and a fully-illustrated player's guide book.
Disney Lorcana - Rise of the Floodborn Ilumineer's Trove
Approximate Retail Price: $50
Link to Disney Lorcana Page on Amazon
On December 1, Disney Lorcana is about to receive its first full expansion. Titled Rise of the Floodborn, this Disney Lorcana expansion will bring even more iconic Disney characters to the trading card game, including Beast, the Queen of Hearts, and Cinderella. Much like the First Chapter, the Rise of the Floodborn expansion is getting its own Illumineer's Trove, coming with a storage box, two deck boxes, eight booster packs, 15 game tokens, and a player's guide, presumably all themed around the characters in this new expansion.
Pokemon Trading Card Game Classic Set
Approximate Retail Price: $400
Link to Pokemon Trading Card Game Classic on GameStop
Another product that might be a little tricky to find at the minute, the Pokemon Trading Card Game Classic set is another hot ticket item. While its price point may be absurdly high, this set is the ultimate gift for long-time Pokemon card collectors, with its whole purpose being to give fans a major hit of nostalgia. Along with the stylish black case, this Pokemon TCG Classic set comes with three 60-card decks, each one being themed after the original card artwork for Venusaur, Charizard, and Blastoise. This set also includes some card sleeves, some deck boxes, and a two-player game board, along with some condition markers and counter cones.
Pokemon Trading Card Game - Scarlet and Violet Paradox Rift Booster Display Set of 36 Packs
Approximate Retail Price: $160 for 36 packs
Link to Pokemon TGC Scarlet and Violet Paradox Rift Booster Display Set on Pokemon Center
Somehow more popular than ever before, the Pokemon Trading Card Game's latest range revolves around Pokemon Scarlet and Violet once again. Titled Paradox Rift, this collection can be bought in bulk for around $160, which will nab eager fans 36 individual booster packs. Or, alternatively, fans can buy single booster packs for around $4.50 each.
Pokemon Trading Card Game Holiday Calendar
Approximate Retail Price: $50
Link to Pokemon TCG Holiday Calendar on Pokemon Center
Tis' the Season for nerdy advent calendars, and they don't get much better than the Pokemon Trading Card Game Holiday Calendar. Over the course of 25 days fans will receive a bunch of Pokemon goodies, most of which are themed around the Holiday season. The main draw here is the eight exclusive festive foil Pokemon cards, along with the five booster packs, and seven fun packs, though there are some extra goodies like stickers, keychains, and Pokemon coins.
