Legend Rares Debut: MetaZoo Introduces New Rarity in Torrential Tides

Casters,

With Torrential Tides just days away, MetaZoo used this week’s MetaZoo Monday to reveal a major structural addition to the set: a brand-new rarity tier called Legend Rare (L).

Charlie Hurlocker broke the news during the community chat, saying:

One other change that I’m excited about is that we’ve added a new Legend Rare tier

- Charlie Hurlocker

Legend Rares are slotted above Alternate Arts but below Hidden Rares in rarity. They’re not guaranteed in every booster box, but players can expect to find more than one per case, on average.

These are not in every box, but a case will net you on average more than one,

- Charlie Hurlocker

The goal, he said, was to make the box-opening experience more exciting, especially in cases where a Hidden Rare had already been pulled.

These will make boxes feel more alive, even if you’ve already hit a hidden rare.

- Charlie Hurlocker

But the new rarity isn’t just about improving pack variance. According to Charlie, Legend Rares will also serve a gameplay function in future Organized Play design.

First, it gives us a mechanism over time to be able to introduce cards again for OP purposes and control that a little more tightly,

- Charlie Hurlocker

This means Legend Rares could be used to reintroduce key cards for competitive formats in a more limited and intentional way. At the same time, they create a space for MetaZoo’s artists to explore more distinct visual styles.

Artistically, this also gives us a space to explore aesthetic themes.

- Charlie Hurlocker

In terms of finish and foiling, Legend Rares are getting their own unique treatment. When asked if the cards would be textured, Charlie confirmed they would — but differently.

They have a unique textural application that has not yet been done, so they will feel distinct from the alts and hiddens.

- Charlie Hurlocker

Several Legend Rare cards were revealed live during the chat, including high-profile cryptids and fan-favorite designs:

Mothman

Chuvash Dragon - The Undeniable

Raiju - The Unchained

Sun Wukong

Phoenix - Risen From Ashes

Pamola - Winged Guardian

Humpledumple

Hodag

When asked about the art direction for Legend Rares, Charlie responded with his usual humor.

@Brad GQL would know more, but I think when I was reading the employee handbook that was listed under the ‘wing it and pray’ section.

- Charlie Hurlocker

As for overall rarity distribution in Torrential Tides, Charlie gave the most specific breakdown to date:

Oh yes, I did say I would offer this later,” he said. “IIRC 40 SRs, 28 alts, 12 Legends, 7 HRs.

- Charlie Hurlocker

The addition of the Legend Rare tier could also help with long-term product pacing. As Charlie put it,

We’ve extended the opening experience by increasing the number of cards in rarity tiers like SRs and Alts.

- Charlie Hurlocker

This gradual shift toward rarity tier expansion, coupled with tighter design control, shows a larger commitment to making MetaZoo’s core experience more dynamic and flexible.

Looking ahead, the first confirmed product openings for Torrential Tides will take place at Charlotte Collect-A-Con, just ahead of the set’s official street date on August 15.

We are so, so close to the first product being opened at Charlotte CaC,

- Charlie Hurlocker

Stay tuned to MetaZoo News for full coverage of Torrential Tides — including pulls, competitive strategy, and more as we move closer to release!