Help!!! Maybe fake
General forum
Posted on April 19, 2020, 11:55 p.m. by hayairyu
Just bought an ikoria booster box. The heat seal on top and bottom of the booster pack is four dots, not a solid line. Also, on the top right of each booster pack has a little slit cut out, to allow it to be torn open more easily. Lastly, the packs are very baggy feeling. Is this normal? Or are they fakes? I need a quick reply otherwise I just wasted a bunch of money. Thank for any help.
ToolmasterOfBrainerd says... #4
Can you take photos and either post them here or post an link to imgur or a google photos album or something?
It is possible for you to have an Ikoria box. They've been released in Asia. But I don't know what languages have been distributed, or more specifically if English boxes are available yet.
Where did you buy it from?
EDIT: Air in the packs has been a trait of recent sets of packs printed in Japan (pretty sure about this). Not a cause for alarm on its own.
April 20, 2020 1:36 a.m. Edited.
I'm in China. Just checked out this. "April 17 – Prerelease/release in Japan, Korea, China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong May 15* – Prerelease/release in North America, Europe, Latin America, and Australia/New Zealand" So hoping it's fine.
April 20, 2020 1:46 a.m.
ToolmasterOfBrainerd thanks for the reply. Just checked the bottom of the box and it says it was printed in Japan.
April 20, 2020 1:46 a.m.
Can't figure out how to post images. I just made a video and am uploading it to YouTube. I'll post the link as soon as it's up there. Thanks again.
April 20, 2020 2:01 a.m.
Here's a link to the video of it. I appreciate you guys' help.
https://youtu.be/SveENW-ryF4
April 20, 2020 2:19 a.m.
ToolmasterOfBrainerd says... #9
Oh if you're in China then you're almost definitely fine. Bare minimum you should open a pack to see what's inside. And if it's all Ikoria cards then you're fine.
The Japanese printings admittedly might have black cores or might be a little bit glossier than normal. If the cards feel really off I can help you authenticate them as real. If they feel like normal magic cards then they're definitely real. Basically all fakes feel off to the touch.
But printing fake cards and then sealing them in convincing packaging is a ton of work for someone. I don't think anybody does that for standard-legal sets, if at all.
If you're worried, open a pack on video. It'll help your case if there are problems.
April 20, 2020 2:36 a.m.
ToolmasterOfBrainerd. Thanks for all your help man. Good info. I'll crack a pack and get back to you
April 20, 2020 2:52 a.m.
Just opened a pack and ripped a card. It had the dark blue/black stop in the middle. All the cards looked fine. Pretty sure it's related. Thanks for your help guys.
April 20, 2020 2:59 a.m.
quintonius says... #12
Glad to hear man.. Was hoping I wouldn't have been right! Feel free to share your pulls. ;) Cheers!
April 20, 2020 6:19 a.m. Edited.
Japanese printings are known for the baggy packs, and the little helper tear for opening. Theros (and possibly Eldraine) had these features as well. If I'm not mistaken they also reversed the order of the cards so the rare/mythic slot was towards the "front" of the pack rather than the "back". They also have a different feel to them as previously mentioned.
From my draft groups experience, the Japanese printed Theros packs were also usually pretty loaded packs. Most of our players were very happy when we were using those for the draft pool.
April 20, 2020 8:24 a.m.
Hi quintonius. Got some awesome cards in draft. Managed to pull the white mother creature and vadrok as highlights >o<
May 3, 2020 10:23 p.m.
Fsims81 Yeah. The card quality felt slightly thicker nd better than regular. Along bunch of good cards came up and the order was reversed.
quintonius says... #2
I don't think you should even have access to Ikoria yet. isn't supposed to ship out until the 15th of May.. you may have been swindled man.
April 20, 2020 12:26 a.m.