Is the Pass Bundle in MTG Arena Worth It?

Last updated on June 2, 2026

Elesh Norn, Mother of Machines | Illustration by Martina Fackova

All Will Be One brought us plenty of new things. New versions of our favorite characters, the different layers of New Phyrexia, and the true form of Elesh Norn, Mother of Machines. I wasn’t expecting her to present us with a new kind of preorder pack, but that’s what I get for presuming anything about the all-powerful Praetor, now, isn’t it?

What exactly did Mother have for us, you ask? Bow down and praise her reverence; it’s time to pay our respects and find out what this bundle means as of Marvel Super Heroes.

What Is the Pass Bundle in MTGA?

MTGA’s Pass bundle is a preorder bundle that comes with a sleeve upon purchase, and the playable card upon release, along with the card's style cosmetic, and its set's Mastery Pass including 10 bonus levels. It only appeals to you if you’re a Mastery Pass lover. Or, you know, a devout follower of the legendary character.

Previous iterations of this bundle were the cheapest, but no longer with each at $49.99. These preorder bundles go on sale about three weeks before their set release and go away when the set releases on Arena (a few days before the paper release).

Can I Preorder the Pass Bundle?

Yes, MTG Arena offers the Pass Bundle, and if you've checked it out in the past, look harder this time. Wizards threw in a bunch of value. While the Mastery Pass will always be available with it's perks anytime you want to purchase it for 3,400 gems, the preorder gets you some serious goodies for putting down some real money.

What Comes in a Pass Bundle?

The MTG Arena Pass bundle came with:

• 1 legendary character card
• 1 legendary character card sleeve for Arena
• 1 legendary character card art style
• Mastery Pass +10 XP levels
• 1 sealed token
• 20 of the set's boosters
• 2 golden boosters

The Marvel Super Heroes Pass Bundle is loaded with cards and goodies. I can't think of a better legend to “protect” your cards better than Cap. The sleeve for Captain America, Super-Soldier is righteous, and once you get the card for your collection you can say your deck is ready to suit up.

Captain Obvious here, heroes are a big thing in this set, so giving them hexproof will help you achieve victory.

Pass Bundle vs. Play Bundle vs. Pack Bundle

The Pass bundle comes with the set mastery plus Arena packs and cosmetics. While we’ve seen the Pack and Play bundles in previous sets, ONE was the first time we were offered a Pass bundle, and MSH is the first since Avatar: The Last Airbender. The Pass is the best way to shop the Mastery Emporium. The Pack bundle offers, well, packs (go figure), and the Play bundle comes with Limited Play tokens and Play-In points.

They’re each valuable if you use them to the fullest. Realistically, most MTGA players are not well-rounded enough to get full value from all three, but I won't stop you.

Why Do They Exist?

They exist because Arena's preorder bundles make money for WotC. The “why” of Wizards often, unoriginally, comes down to their bottom line. The Pass bundle offers plenty more value than if you were to spend $50 on the 9,200 gem bundle.

What makes WotC the most money? How do they keep their customers happy while still squeezing them for every last dollar they can? Offering bundles that give you more than you pay for is a fair one-time strategy.

The less cynical answer is that these preorder bundles each cater to a different kind of Arena player. Which is the angle WotC is going for, but there remains the gap of players that play for free, and those that spend money on Arena.

Can I Buy More Than One Preorder Bundle?

You can only buy one each of the preorder bundles, but you’re more than welcome to get all of them if they suit your fancy.

Are Pass Bundles Worth Buying?

The Pass Bundles are worth buying. The Mastery Pass costs 3,400 gems if you buy it straight from the Arena Store, which is equal to about $17. The Pass Bundle is about $50, so there's a ways to go before you get your money's worth. You can buy 9,200 gems for $49.99, but this preorder is better. Here's my breakdown:

• Mastery Pass + 10 bonus levels = 5,400 gems
• Sealed token = 2,000 gems
• 20 boosters and the two golden packs = 40,000 gems
• 1 mythic card = 40 gems
• Arena sleeve = 600 gems
• Card style = 800 gems

The Pass, token, and packs are all direct translations from other items you can buy in the Arena store. The mythic card value comes from duplication protection and the cosmetic sleeve and style come from the store, though those gem costs are inflated, and regularly discounted. The total is 12,840 in gem value for the $49.99 preorder price. If you disregard the cosmetics completely, it's still more than 11,000 in gems and worth it.

If you know you'll buy the Mastery Pass with real-world money, reward your preparedness and get it along with the bonuses thrown in.

Alternatives to Pass Bundles

Metamorphic Alteration | Illustration by Livia Prima

Buy from the Arena Store

Aside from cosmetics, the only other way to get the contents of the Pass bundle is to buy the Mastery Pass with gems. Most of the other items can be purchased with gems as well, just at full price. Wild card bundles (for the mythic) are only available with real world money in groups of four.

Should the Price for Pass Bundles Be Lowered?

Honestly, I'm less concerned with the price for the Pass bundle and more concerned with what is on offer. The free to play players are going to keep their payment methods off the client, but for those that spend on preorders, there is deliberation to be had with each one hitting that price point hovering below that of a physical bundle. The Pass Bundle is fully on par with the Pack and Play bundles as valuable purchases on Arena. Ask yourself, will I make good use of the Mastery Pass, boosters, and Sealed event? If yes, this bundle can be well worth your money.

Wrap Up

Verdant Mastery | Illustration by Cristi Balanescu

I’d love to say that Mother has blessed us with something great, and the evolution of the Pass bundle has quite the ascension if you dig into its roots.

Do you earn enough daily rewards to make the best of the Pass? Do you think a preorder mastery pass should include a the legendary card that is always a Brawl commander candidate? What do you think of the XP boost? Let me know in the comments or take your complaints to the Draftsim Discord.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to finish my Monument to Mother. All hail Phyrexia!

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