In a method and apparatus for acquiring a magnetic resonance (MR) data set from a target area of a patient containing at least one metal object that distorts the basic magnetic field due to susceptibility differences, a slice selection gradient that rises in one direction is used to select a slice from which MR data are to be acquired. At least for at least one outermost edge slice on one side of the slice stack from which the MR data are to be acquired, the polarity of the slice selection gradient is selected as a function of a primary direction of distortion in the edge slice.