Chests are the main way to collect cards in Coin Master, and choosing the right one at the right time makes a huge difference to how quickly you complete sets. This guide covers all chest types, their costs, card pools, and exactly when to buy each.
The Three Chest Types
Wooden Chest
The cheapest chest, costing a small number of coins. Wooden chests contain the most common cards and are best used early in the game when you need basic cards cheaply. At higher village levels, they almost exclusively give cards you already have and are rarely worth buying.
- Best for: Early game, very low villages
- Cards: Common (1–2 star) cards only
- Gold cards: Never
Golden Chest
A mid-tier chest costing significantly more coins than wooden. Golden chests have a wider card pool including some rare cards. They're the workhorse chest for most of the game — better value than wooden once you're past the early villages, but still accessible in price.
- Best for: Mid game, villages 5–30+
- Cards: Common and uncommon (1–4 star) cards
- Gold cards: Never
Magical Chest
The premium chest. Magical chests cost the most coins but offer the full card pool for your current village, including rare cards and — crucially — gold cards. If you're trying to complete a difficult set or hunting for gold cards, magical chests are your only option.
- Best for: Late game, hunting gold cards, Card Boom events
- Cards: All rarities including 5-star rare cards
- Gold cards: Yes (the only chest that can drop them)
Village-Locked Card Pools
This is the most misunderstood mechanic around chests: each village has its own card set, and chests only give cards for your current village. If you advance to a new village before completing the current set, you can never get those cards from chests again — only from trades.
Implication: Before advancing to a new village, decide if you want to finish the current set. Buy magical chests aggressively at the current village if you're close to completing it.
When to Buy Chests
Card Boom Events
During Card Boom, all chests yield more cards than usual. This is the best time to bulk-buy magical chests. Saving coins specifically for Card Boom windows is one of the most efficient strategies in the game.
When You're One or Two Cards from Completing a Set
If you're one card short of completing a set, buy magical chests until you get it — the spin bonus from completing the set will often be worth far more than you spent on chests.
When Gold Card Trading Events Are Coming
If you know a gold card trade event is approaching, buy magical chests beforehand to stockpile gold cards you can trade for the ones you need.
Chest Buying Mistakes to Avoid
- Buying wooden chests at high villages — you'll almost exclusively get duplicates
- Bulk-buying before a Card Boom — wait for the event; the extra cards are free value
- Advancing villages before completing sets — you'll lock yourself out of those cards forever (trade-only)
- Spending all coins on chests mid-build — finish building your village first; damage from attacks is possible while coins sit unspent
Frequently Asked Questions
How many cards does each chest give?
Wooden chests typically give 3–4 cards, golden chests 5–6, and magical chests 8–10. These numbers can be boosted during Card Boom events.
Can I get gold cards from golden chests?
No. Despite the name, golden chests do not drop gold cards. Only magical chests can contain gold cards. See our Gold Cards Explained guide for more.
Is there a way to buy chests from past villages?
No. Chests are always tied to your current village. Cards from previous villages that you're missing can only be obtained through trading with other players.
What's the best chest during a Card Boom event?
Magical chests. The event amplifies the number of cards per chest, and magical chests have the widest pool. If you need gold cards or rare completions, this is the time.