Last updated on May 14, 2024
Foul Play | Illustration by Campbell White
In 2020, Wizards of the Coast released a new product called set boosters that debuted with Zendikar Rising. This gave us the choice of draft boosters if we wanted to have a draft with friends or at our LGS or to get set boosters, which helped us get the best cards for our collections.
Four years later play boosters came to replace set and draft boosters, so there’s much to consider. What’s the difference between play boosters and set boosters, and how are they alike? Let’s “set” the scene and get ready to “play” as we discuss these similarities and differences.
The Difference Between Play and Set Boosters
Summon the Pack | Illustration by Matt Cavotta
Play boosters (14 playable cards) encompass the functionality of drafting while also acting as a resource for avid collectors of Magic: The Gathering cards. Set boosters (12 playable cards) are more for collectors who want to pull the big-hit cards rather than for Draft players, who prefer draft boosters to fit that desire. Both set and play boosters contain about 6 commons, but there are still notable differences between the two.
Play Booster Contents
Play boosters replace draft and set boosters as of February 2024. Draft players and collectors alike enjoy these packs for Limited format gameplay and to chase after the best cards for their collection.
Play boosters are organized by slots, with the first six slots dedicated to commons. The 7th slot is usually another common, with a 1/8 chance of being substituted for a card of any rarity from “The List.” Slots 8-10 feature uncommons. You’re guaranteed at least one rare card (sometimes a mythic rare) in the 11th card slot while the 12th slot contains a basic land.
The 13th and 14th card slots are where the big hitters sit. You get a non-foil “wildcard” in the 13th slot and a foil wildcard in the 14th slot. Wildcards can be any card of any rarity from the main set. Finally, the 15th card slot contains an advertisement card, a token, or an art card.
How Many Cards Are In A Play Booster?
Play boosters contain 14 playable cards per pack. They have 1 less non-playable card and 2 more playable cards compared to a set booster, which means you get more bang for your buck by investing in a play booster.
Set Booster Contents
Set boosters come with a guaranteed rare or mythic plus a foil card in every pack. There are two other non-playable card slots in a set booster pack that contain an art card and a token or an ad. Magic collectors prefer to purchase set boosters because of the higher value they offer.
The 1st slot features the art card while the 2nd card slot has a land. Slots 3-8 contain commons and uncommons, while the 9th slot is a head-turner card that may be a showcase card.
The wildcard rarity slots for the 10th and 11th card have a chance of being multiple combinations of cards with different probabilities:
- 49% – Two commons
- 24.5% – One common, one uncommon
- 17.5% – One common, one rare
- 3.5% – Two uncommons
- 4.3% – One uncommon, one rare
- 1.6% – Two rares
You receive a rare or mythic rare in a set booster in the 12th card slot and a foil card from the set in the 13th. Finally, the 14th card contains an advertisement or a token that’s generated from one of the cards in the set.
How Many Cards Are In A Set Booster?
Set booster packs contain 12 playable cards each. They have two fewer playable cards than play boosters.
Which Is Better? Play or Set Boosters?
Play boosters are better than set boosters because you receive two additional playable cards compared to set boosters. Plus, play boosters have a specific number of guaranteed commons (6) and uncommons (3) while set boosters only have a mix of commons and uncommons within six card slots.
Best Play Boosters
Outlaws of Thunder Junction
The power hits hard in Outlaws of Thunder Junction play boosters. The strong cards and slight increase in rares make pack openings a real chance to find treasure. Look at the various showdowns, tournaments, and events, and then you'll have a better idea of which cards players and collectors are chasing after, chances are those cards would be found on the OTJ Most Wanted list.
- SADDLE UP FOR A WILD RIDE—Join Oko’s crew of deadly desperados as they plot a brazen heist in the frontier world of Thunder Junction, Magic’s first western-themed setting
- FUN TO OPEN. FUN TO PLAY—Get the best of Draft and Set Boosters, combined into one! Play Boosters are great for Limited play and fun to open, with a possibility of Art cards, Showcase cards, additional Rares, and a foil card in every pack
- THE BEST OF THE WEST—Each Play Booster contains 1–5 cards of rarity Rare or higher, including the possibility of a Borderless Mythic Rare card from Magic’s history
- BREAKING NEWS CARD IN EVERY PACK—Every Play Booster contains at least 1 Breaking News card, a reprint featuring new art and a front page news-style frame reporting the spell as a crime; do you dare become that spell-casting outlaw?
- SHINING FOIL IN EVERY PACK—Every booster also includes at least 1 shining Traditional Foil card of any rarity; in 20% of packs you’ll also find a Traditional Foil Land card (which may even feature a Full-Art Western Landscape)
Murders at Karlov Manor
Murders at Karlov Manor is an intriguing set filled with characters and locations on Ravnica that you might recognize. The play boosters from Murders at Karlov Manor really brought rares under the spotlight, even if a few duplicate commons showed up. They benefited greatly from being a new pack-opening experience.
- INTRODUCING PLAY BOOSTERS—Get the best of Draft and Set Boosters, combined into one! Play Boosters are great for Limited play and fun to open, with a possibility of multiple Rares and at least 1 shining foil card in every pack
- TRACK THE CLUES. CRACK THE CASE—Play detective as you collect evidence, don disguises, and identify suspects to decipher the deadly murder mystery at the heart of Ravnica
- PACKS MAY CONTAIN MULTIPLE RARES—Each MKM Play Booster contains 1–4 cards of rarity Rare or higher, including the possibility of a special Borderless Mythic Rare card from Magic’s history
- SHINING FOIL CARD IN EVERY PACK—Every Play Booster contains 1 shining Traditional Foil card of any rarity; in 20% of packs you’ll also find a Traditional Foil Land card (which may even be Full-Art!)
- MAY CONTAIN ART CARDS, A PLAY BOOSTER EXCLUSIVE—Now found only in Play Boosters, some packs also contain an Art Card showcasing a piece of art from the Murders at Karlov Manor set, sometimes with a foil signature from the artist
Best Set Boosters
The best set boosters were released between 2021 to 2022, setting the tone for the history of set boosters forever.
Modern Horizons 2
Modern earned some serious staples in the mix when Modern Horizons 2 set boosters were released in June 2021. With 492 cards in the set, there were a couple of big hitters that had Modern and Commander players excited.
Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer further revolutionized and popularized decks, defining what a 1-drop in the 21st century could look like. Its dash ability is what makes it such a high-value card that new players continue to chase!
Urza's Saga is a normal land on chapter one and gets you a couple of colorless Construct tokens with the 2nd chapter. You can fetch a 0-drop or 1-drop artifact (Sol Ring or Mox Opal anyone?) with the 3rd chapter.
- 30 Modern Horizons 2 (MH2) Set Boosters
- Best MTG booster for opening packs just to see what you'll get
- 1 Sketch or Retro-Frame card in every pack
- 1 New-to-Modern reprint in every pack
- 1 foil and possibility of multiple rares in every pack
The Lost Caverns of Ixalan
The Lost Caverns of Ixalan set boosters are the last set boosters for the foreseeable future, maybe you'll need them for a trivia answer, or you want some of that Ixalan nostalgia. The chance to open pirates, Jurassic dinosaurs, and gods that transform into lands in one set booster pack never hurts either.
- JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF IXALAN—Discover powerful relics and craft tools to give you an edge against the deadly dinosaurs, cunning traps, and ancient gods at the center of the world
- EXPLORE WITH SET BOOSTERS—Set Boosters are specifically designed for a fun pack-opening experience, with at least 1 Rare or Mythic Rare card and at least 1 card with a shining foil treatment in every pack
- 1 IN 12 BOOSTERS INCLUDES A JURASSIC WORLD CARD—Be on the lookout for Universes Beyond Jurassic World Collection cards featuring the Jurassic World franchise’s iconic characters and ferocious dinosaurs!
- TREASURE TROVE BOX TOPPER—Every box contains hidden treasure, with 1 Artifact reprint Box Topper card featuring exclusive Borderless alt-art
- PLAY A GAME THAT FUSES ART, STORIES & STRATEGY—Magic: The Gathering is a collectible card game that weaves deep strategy with art and mechanics that explore the themes of a particular world and story—whether you want to play a casual game with friends, collect cool cards, or get competitive, Magic welcomes you to The Gathering
Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty
Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty released in February 2022 with 514 cards in its arsenal. Of course, with a Japanese theme, it introduced five more shrines.
This set popularized double-faced cards that are cast as saga enchantments on the front side and become creatures on the flip side. Once the final chapter of the saga enchantments resolves, players exile them and return them to the battlefield as a creature. Examples are:
- Michiko's Reign of Truth that transforms into Portrait of Michiko.
- The Fall of Lord Konda that transforms into Fragment of Konda.
- Teachings of the Kirin that transforms into Kirin-Touched Orochi.
Light-Paws, Emperor's Voice is still a hitter as a popular Voltron commander. In the release of the Commander precons for this set, Chishiro, the Shattered Blade became a popular deck to play after Post Malone played it on Game Knights.
- 30 Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty Set Boosters
- Best MTG booster to open just for fun
- 12 Magic: The Gathering cards per booster
- Ukiyo-e land in 45% of packs, with possibility of being traditional foil
- 1–4 cards of rarity Rare or higher in every booster
Kaldheim
Kaldheim was released in February 2021 and featured 407 cards. Before it was rotated out of Standard in September 2022, Standard players loved playing with Goldspan Dragon for more token deck shenanigans. But hey, that card could go in a red deck alongside other token generators, too!
The World Tree is now a 5-color deck staple. It's got an awesome ability that puts all gods in your library into play at once, for the low cost of double-! Plus, the card synergizes and adds flavor to an Esika, God of the Tree Commander deck, another card found in Kaldheim set boosters.
- 30 Kaldheim (KHM) Set Booster Packs
- Best booster for opening packs just to see what you'll get
- 12 Magic: The Gathering cards per pack
- MTG set inspired by Vikings and Norse Mythology
Wrap Up
Booster Tutor | Illustration by Heather Hudson
While play boosters took the place of set boosters and draft boosters in February 2024, you can still purchase set boosters from your favorite older sets. Come back for more updates on the Draftsim blog to see how the landscape is changing with each new way to get cards.
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Until next time, I hope I set the tone as you get ready to play.
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