Last updated on March 6, 2026
Tin Street Market | Illustration by Noah Bradley
With over 140 sets spread across more than 30 years of Magic’s history, it can be daunting to figure out where to start when you look to buy packs. There are lots of questions that you might have. What set should you draft with friends on Arena? Which set is best for collectors? What set makes the best gift for a newer Magic player? Which set should you never touch with a 10-foot pole (coughHomelandscough)?
As someone who has played Magic for more than 10 years and devoted countless hours to this game, allow me to be your guide into the magical world of spending boatloads of money on cardboard. Everything that follows is just my opinion, but I at least did some research for you first!
No One Size Fits All
Scour All Possibilities | Illustration by Mitchell Malloy
When you buy Magic products, ask yourself some key questions about what exactly you want from boosters. They don’t call this game “cardboard crack” for nothing; it’s easy to get sucked in and spend way too much money on cards you never really needed anyway.
The best way to avoid this temptation is to have a plan before you buy stuff. I detail some great sets for you to purchase for a variety of reasons to get you started!
If You Had to Just Pick One Set
Blossoming Calm | Illustration by Michael C. Hayes
Modern Horizons 2 is relevant to this day and was the best set from 2021 and MH2 is my easy pick for what you should buy if you have to pick one set to rule them all. It’s exciting to draft, there’s good money to open, and many of the cards retain their value for a very long time thanks to their strength in Modern.
- 36 Modern Horizons 2 (MH2) Magic: The Gathering Draft Boosters
- 1 New-to-Modern reprint in every pack
- 1–2 Rares and/or Mythic Rares in every pack
- Just add lands and draft with up to 12 players
- Introduces powerful cards and beloved reprints to the Modern format
Lots of the weaker Modern cards in the set like Cabal Coffers happen to be Commander all-stars, which is another plus. If you can’t pony up the $300 price for a box and don’t care about Standard, I recommend Jumpstart instead.
- Grab two boosters shuffle them together and you’re ready to go. Jumpstart is a unique way to play Magic The Gathering (MTG) that lets you assemble a 40-card deck and start battling in minutes
- The Jumpstart booster box includes 24 booster packs each with 20 cards—enough for you and your friends to open your packs and get straight into the action again and again
- Each booster pack has 20 cards and a theme Will you get Cats and Dragons vs Elves and Unicorns. Pirates and Angels vs Dogs and Dinosaurs. Open your boosters and find out
- Each booster pack contains one of 121 possible card lists so there are over 14 000 possible 40-card decks.
- Jumpstart booster packs are loaded with cards from throughout Magic The Gathering (MTG) history plus 37 cards that get their first-ever printing and dozens of cards from Core Set 2021 (M21)
Best Set for Standard 2026
Beza, the Bounding Spring | Illustration by Martin Wittfooth
Want to jump into Standard with the release of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles? Then get a mix of packs from the sets that are in the current Standard rotation: Wilds of Eldraine, The Lost Caverns of Ixalan, Murders at Karlov Manor, Outlaws of Thunder Junction, Bloomburrow, Duskmourn: House of Horror, Foundations, Aetherdrift, Tarkir: Dragonstorm, Final Fantasy, Edge of Eternities, Spider-Man, Avatar: The Last Airbender, and Lorwyn Eclipsed. You can then crack packs or draft with friends. Buy play boosters and find some booster fun while you draft.
The next set is Secrets of Strixhaven on April 24, 2026. An important set to note is Foundations, which is included in Standard at least up to 2029.
Best Set for Modern
Sneaky Snacker | Illustration by Irina Nordsol
Modern Horizons 2 is a slam dunk. The set overflows with powerful staples that dramatically reshaped the Modern metagame. Particular highlights include Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer, Murktide Regent, Endurance and its elemental brothers in crime, fetch lands, and Urza's Saga. Even with Fury and Grief both banned in Modern, MH2 remains a serious winner for Modern staples.
- 36 Modern Horizons 2 (MH2) Magic: The Gathering Draft Boosters
- 1 New-to-Modern reprint in every pack
- 1–2 Rares and/or Mythic Rares in every pack
- Just add lands and draft with up to 12 players
- Introduces powerful cards and beloved reprints to the Modern format
The Modern Horizons 3 boosters are also packed with powerful and complex cards. Whether you look for a flare as a free spell, a fetch land, or a feline (namely Ocelot Pride), you could land on a great boost for your Modern deck. Don't forget those eldrazi and MDFC lands, they're kind of a big deal!
- YOUR NEW FOREVER FAVORITES—Introducing a heaping helping of exciting cards for Modern, one of Magic’s most celebrated formats, plus the return of competitive favorites, there’s something for everyone to love in Modern Horizons 3
- POWERFUL CARDS FOR MODERN CONSTRUCTED, LIMITED & COMMANDER PLAY—Spice up your deck with powerful New-to-Modern cards, host a supercharged Booster Draft with friends, or discover Legendary Creatures with striking special treatments to inspire your next Commander Deck
- MODERN’S NEVER BEEN MORE MARVELOUS—Expand your horizons with novel twists on classic mechanics and more cards for beloved Modern strategies
- 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, striking alt-frame cards, and more
- MODERN MIGHT THAT SHINES BRIGHT—Both powerful and flashy, every MH3 Play Booster includes 1-5 cards of rarity Rare or higher and 1-2 shining Traditional Foil cards
You don't want to miss a few of the spectacular cards from The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle Earth. A box of LTR set boosters is great if you are not looking to draft. You have no chance of pulling the one of one, The One Ring, but you could get the default treatment one which plays powerfully, or Orcish Bowmasters both of which are major players in Modern. And don’t forget that you can always buy singles if you know exactly what you need!
Best Set for Commander
Nymris, Oona's Trickster | Illustration by Johannes Voss
If you haven't played Commander in a while, or are just getting into it, you may want to check out the Explorers of The Deep deck from The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Commander collection for some synergistic Simic action. Another option to crash on Commander games, is the Counter Intelligence deck from Edge of Eternities. Commander Precons are always a fantastic and affordable way to dip your foot into EDH if you’re new to the format.
Looking to stock up on staples for future Commander brews? Check out the Avatar: The Last Airbender Commander’s Bundle which is a gift bundle that includes a guaranteed Arcane Signet, Sol Ring, Swiftfoot Boots and two borderless reprints that are ripe for Commander.
If you aren’t just buying singles, my recommendation is easily Commander Legends.
Commander Legends is a weird “peanut butter and jelly” set, where peanut butter (Draft) and jelly (Commander, don’t ask) combine their forces for a Magic experience like no other. I drafted this one with friends quite a few times last year, which is why I have so many Arcane Signets, Three Visits, and Thought Vessels sitting on my desk, just waiting to be put into various decks.
A box of Commander Legends is on the pricey side right now, but if you aren’t sure what you want out of Commander, you can’t really do better than drafting a box of this with some friends and then building a deck out of whatever you’ve opened that inspires you. I built a Nymris, Oona's Trickster deck after seeing the card in action in a draft because it looked like a ton of fun.
- COMMANDER DRAFT IS HERE. Draft with the first ever booster packs designed for Commander—a Magic format all about battling your friends in epic multiplayer games.
- 24 DRAFT BOOSTERS. Grab 3 packs, pick 2 cards at a time, and add in some lands for a 60-card Commander deck—then show it off in exciting free-for-all games with up to 8 friends.
- 2 LEGENDS PER PACK. Every Commander Legends Draft Booster pack contains 2 legendary cards—enhance your deck with reprints of classic MTG commanders or 1 of the 71 commanders introduced in the set.
- INTRODUCING FOIL ETCHED CARDS. Commander Legends debuts a special kind of foil—foil etched cards with beautiful metallic frames. In some Commander Legends Draft Boosters you can find a foil etched showcase legend or regular foil borderless planeswalker.
- CONTENTS: 24 Commander Legends Draft Booster packs—20 Magic cards + 1 ad/token per pack, with 2 legends, at least 1 rare, and 1 foil each.
Keep in mind that there are two other draftable Commander sets as well: Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur's Gate and Commander Masters! I didn't play much Masters personally, but really enjoyed Battle for Baldur's Gate. The set may be of particular interest due to the smashing success of Baldur's Gate 3. If Commander Draft isn’t your thing, I’d avoid Commander Legends and grab one of the Commander Legends precons.
If you're investing in EDH, the Modern Horizons 3 precon bundle sets you up with some of the greatest cards the format has ever seen. As for playgroups, sometimes you just need a bundle that has cards that were meant to play together and the Bloomburrow precon bundle is full of powerful tribes that offer a unique tabletop game.
Best Sets for Draft
Best of the Best
Asmoranomardicadaistinaculdacar | Illustration by Ryan Pancoast
I’m biased, but I wholeheartedly endorse Modern Horizons 2 as an all-star draft set. I’ve personally played over 200+ drafts on Magic Online and will probably be doing more later tonight! MH2 is a very enjoyable Draft experience with compelling archetypes, lots of options in Draft, strong balance between aggro and control, and interesting gameplay with lots of room for skilled players to win games. There are also some money cards in the set that you can’t help but grin when you open.
The only drawback of the set is its price point. As a premium set with a higher MSRP than normal, a box of MH2 costs you a chunk more than a box of Standard-set play boosters. Worth it in my eyes, only buy if you can afford it!
- 36 Modern Horizons 2 (MH2) Magic: The Gathering Draft Boosters
- 1 New-to-Modern reprint in every pack
- 1–2 Rares and/or Mythic Rares in every pack
- Just add lands and draft with up to 12 players
- Introduces powerful cards and beloved reprints to the Modern format
Standard Set for Draft 2026
Slickshot Lockpicker | Illustration by Wei Wei
Of the sets in Standard, I rank the Draft formats:
#15. Marvel's Spider-Man
The physical Marvel's Spider-Man play booster box is a prize for comic book fans. The cards themselves are fine and nowhere to be found online except as Through the Omenpaths versions, so add to your appreciation of cards like Spider-Man, Brooklyn Visionary, Shadow of the Goblin, and The Soul Stone.
- DO WHATEVER A SPIDER CAN—Your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man swings into Magic: The Gathering with cards featuring your favorite Spider-Man characters, villains, and thematic new game mechanics
- SWING INTO THE GAME—Magic: The Gathering is a collectible card game that weaves deep strategy, gorgeous art, fantastical stories, and a thriving fan community all together into a card game experience like no other
- BRING ME PICTURES OF SPIDER-MAN —Keep your Spider-Senses primed for cards featuring special alternate frames and alternate art that leaps right off the page
- BEST BOOSTERS FOR PLAYING WITH FRIENDS—Play Boosters are the best way to discover what Magic has to offer; they're perfect for building decks, playing games with friends, and are tons of fun to open
- COLLECT RARE CARDS and SHINING FOILS—Every Play Booster also includes at least 1 card with a shiny Traditional Foil treatment and at least 1 card of rarity Rare or higher (with a max of 4)
#14. Murders at Karlov Manor
There are a few strong standout cards in Murders at Karlov Manor booster packs. The surveil lands underscore the theme on investigations, but the best cards tend to be ones without the complex mechanics of disguise or collect evidence.
- 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
#13. Aetherderift
Aetherdrift play boosters make for a surprising slow pace of play where both sides have decent removal. The sheer number of vehicles in Aetherdrift is notable, and sometimes you don't have the optimal tools to work with. There are plenty of mechanically interesting cards that make this a set worth discovering.
- IT’S ONLY A DEATH RACE IF YOU DIE—Buckle up for a death race across the Multiverse full of high-octane action and adrenaline-fueled Magic gameplay
- BEST BOOSTERS FOR PLAYING WITH FRIENDS—Play Boosters are the best way to discover what Magic: The Gathering has to offer; they're perfect for building decks, playing Limited games with friends, and are tons of fun to open
- 2 FOIL BOX TOPPER CARDS—A tantalizing prize for a high-stakes match, with every booster box you’ll score a Box Topper containing 2 cards gleaming with a brand new foil treatment
- PACKS MAY CONTAIN MULTIPLE RARES—Each Play Booster contains 1–4 cards of rarity Rare or higher, including the possibility of Special Guest Mythic Rare from Magic’s history featuring new Borderless art
- 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
#12. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles play boosters make you feel nostalgia, and if they don't, they'll at least make you feel like a teen. If you're not a teen yet, at least you get to pretend you are. Experience the joy of Magic plus one of the most fun comic book franchises known to pizza chains around the world. Cards like Raph & Leo, Sibling Rivals and Mikey & Don, Party Planners make fun and powerful twists on game effects you already know and love.
- TAP INTO TURTLE POWER—Magic gets a quadruple dose of mutagenic mayhem as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles make their debut on the battlefield!
- A TURTLE IN EVERY PACK—Collect, construct, and combat with an iconic roster of allies and enemies from four decades of time-tested Turtle-mania
- BEST BOOSTERS FOR PLAYING WITH FRIENDS—Play Boosters are the best way to discover what Magic has to offer; they're perfect for building decks, playing Limited games with friends, and are tons of fun to open
- WELCOME TO THE GATHERING—Magic: The Gathering is a collectible card game that weaves deep strategy, gorgeous art, fantastical stories, and a thriving fan community all together into a card game experience like no other
- CONTENTS—30 Play Boosters, each containing 14 Magic: The Gathering | Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cards
#11. Foundations
Foundations boosters are a good benchmark since pretty much any strategy you like to play in Magic is available. You got control decks, combos, fast red decks, and favorite cards in each color. Foundations is solid to build from and the very real plus of more legality for these cards helps you buy with confidence.
- WELCOME TO THE MULTIVERSE—Meet Magic’s most popular characters, raise zombies or cats, and strategically command armies or ancient power; this set covers Magic’s greatest hits and it’s the perfect way to start playing with your friends
- A GAME THAT FUSES ART, STORIES & STRATEGY—Magic: The Gathering is a collectible card game that weaves deep strategy, gorgeous art, fantastical stories, and a thriving fan community all together into a card game experience like no other
- BEST BOOSTERS FOR PLAYING WITH FRIENDS—Construct a deck out of your favorite color combinations or draft packs with friends, Play Boosters are specially balanced for any way you like to play
- SIMPLY THE BEST CARDS—Play with cards that made Magic what it is today and open packs that may contain beautiful Borderless cards that put the card’s art on full display, including fan-favorite reprints with new art
- COLLECT RARE & MYTHIC RARE CARDS—Each Play Booster contains 1–4 cards of rarity Rare or higher, including the possibility of a Special Guest Mythic Rare card featuring a beautiful alt-frame treatment from Magic’s history
#10. Bloomburrow
Bloomburrow packs let you run with the species you like most, and sometimes it's like you need to store up value for a long winter. There is lots of food and fun to be had here with offspring, rabbits, and mice. Just don't be surprised if squirrels, lizards, frogs, bats, or raccoons steal the show since lots of archetypes are predictable, and work great together.
- TINY TAILS, BIG ADVENTURE—Put your best paw forward and enter the world of Bloomburrow; fight beside mice, frogs, bats, birds, lizards, squirrels, and other critters as you restore the balance of peace in the Valley and prove that bravery comes in all sizes!
- 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
- BEST BOOSTER FOR PLAYING WITH FRIENDS—Specially balanced for Limited play, grab 6 Play Boosters to build a deck and battle your friends in Sealed games, or grab 3 packs and pass them around to build decks in a Booster Draft
- MAY CONTAIN MULTIPLE RARES—Each Play Booster contains 1–4 cards of rarity Rare or higher, including the possibility of a Borderless Mythic Rare card from Magic’s history
- 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
#9. Lorwyn Eclipsed
I give bonus points to Lorwyn Eclipsed play booster boxes because they released alongside Lorwyn Eclipsed Draft Night, a product dedicated to my style of format and built specifically for Pick-Two Drafts. The set is great for those that love to build by creature type, and there's lots to love in -1/-1 counters and hybrid mana cards.
- RETURN TO THE LAND OF LIGHT AND SHADOW—Lorwyn returns, not as it once was, but a world split in two. Explore this dual-aspect plane filled with enchanting creatures and embrace the powers of order and chaos.
- PLAY BOOSTERS—The best way to open and explore Lorwyn Eclipsed. Balanced for Limited play, filled with creature synergies, and a guaranteed foil in every pack for your collection.
- FIND HARMONY IN LORWYN—Cross the boundry into the eternal day of Lorwyn, where the many creatures live in order and harmony under the watchful eye of their sun god Eirdu—while the twilight god Isilu resides across the border where day becomes night.
- EMBRACE CHAOS IN SHADOWMOOR—Brave the twisted landscape and wild Magic of Shadowmoor, a world cast in forever night and filled with creatures of a more chaotic ilk. Discover your true self under the perpetual moonlight of this dual-aspect plane.
- CONTENTS—30 Play Boosters
#8. Outlaws of Thunder Junction
This set rolls off the tongue and makes you want to quote Clint Eastwood and John Wayne, even if the Outlaws of Thunder Junction packs focus on villains. The outlaws are certainly a presence, and the mechanics are a blast. I think green paired with any other color is really good, and the frequency at which you see powerful rares is both enticing and a put-off for some. This trip to the West is a fun set that has strong archetypes by the wagon-load.
- 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)
#7. Tarkir: Dragonstorm
Tarkir: Dragonstorm boosters are a blast to open. Maybe I'm inclined to the dragons, and the Special Guests fetch land I wheeled in a draft, but I know others feel the same way I do. Prowess was certainly one of the favorite mechanics from Khans of Tarkir, and it shows up strong in TDM and remains a force in decks today.
- FIGHT DRAGONS WITH DRAGONS—Return to Tarkir for an epic battle between dragons and clans; discover which clan fits your playstyle with distinct three-color gameplay, and add draconic power to your collection
- BEST BOOSTERS FOR PLAYING WITH FRIENDS—Play Boosters are the best way to discover what Magic: The Gathering has to offer; they're perfect for building decks, playing Limited games with friends, and are tons of fun to open
- A DRAGON’S HOARD OF TARKIR TREASURES—Each Play Booster contains 1–4 cards of rarity Rare or higher, including the possibility of a Special Guest Mythic Rare from Magic’s history featuring new Borderless art
- 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 add an additional shiny card to your hoard with a Traditional Foil Land
- MAY CONTAIN ART CARDS—Found only in Play Boosters, some packs contain an Art card showcasing a piece of art from the Tarkir: Dragonstorm set and may even feature a foil signature from the artist
#6. Avatar: The Last Airbender
Avatar: The Last Airbender boosters clue you in and teach the lessons on bending all four elements. The top cards that slot right into contending decks are Boomerang Basics and Badgermole Cub. Hot firebenders aside, Epic Downfall and Heartless Act are efficient black removal spells that return to Standard for the first time since Ikoria.
- WATER. EARTH. FIRE. AIR… MAGIC—Wield the power of the elements as Avatar: The Last Airbender teams up with Magic: The Gathering! Climb atop a sky bison and travel from the walls of Ba Sing Se to the heart of the Fire Nation and restore balance to the world—or conquer it
- BEND THE ELEMENTS LIKE A MASTER—Relive the series with iconic scenes, collect cards featuring your favorite characters, and master Avatar: The Last Airbender-themed game mechanics
- JOIN TEAM AVATAR!—Join the fray with powerful bending masters, hybrid animals, and unforgettable allies wielding blades, boomerangs, and the occasional cabbage
- FOIL & RARE IN EVERY PACK—Each Play Booster contains at least 1 shiny Traditional Foil card and 1–4 cards of rarity Rare or higher, including the possibility of special cards featuring beautiful borderless alternate art
- BEST BOOSTERS FOR PLAYING WITH FRIENDS—Play Boosters are the best way to discover what Magic has to offer; they're perfect for building decks, playing Limited games with friends, and are tons of fun to open
#5. Wilds of Eldraine
Wilds of Eldraine boosters are some of my favorite to draft. There aren't any color combinations that are especially weak, which lets me breathe a sigh of relief after drafting Rakdos 250 times back in Adventures into the Forgotten Realms. The heavy emphasis on tokens and enchantments is fun too.
- A TALE ONLY YOU CAN TELL—Venture into the untamed Wilds of Eldraine, a fairy tale-inspired world in the Magic multiverse, and free the kingdom from a curse of endless slumber
- BEST BOOSTERS FOR DRAFTING—Draft Boosters are designed to draft a deck and play with friends; everyone grabs 3 packs and passes them around to pick cards. Add some lands and you're ready for epic 2-player battles
- BEWITCHING BORDERLESS CARDS—Every Draft Booster contains at least 1 Borderless Enchanting Tales card with alt-art that looks right out of a storybook or may even feature special anime-inspired art
- RARE OR MYTHIC RARE IN EVERY PACK—Every pack contains 1 card of rarity Rare or higher and may contain up to 3, including 1 possible Rare or Mythic Rare with a shining Traditional Foil treatment
- 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
#4. The Lost Caverns of Ixalan
The Lost Caverns of Ixalan draft boosters make an interesting set, but if you miss your plays on turns one, two, and three, you're in big trouble with the aggressive 1 and 2-drops out there. Some ultra powerful rares make the games unbalanced, but this set grows well and has some sticky cards that continue to pop up in great decklists.
- 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
- BEST BOOSTERS FOR DRAFTING—Draft Boosters are designed to draft a deck and play with friends; everyone grabs 3 packs and passes them around to pick cards. Add some lands and you're ready for epic 2-player battles
- TREASURE TROVE BOX TOPPER—Every box contains hidden treasure, with 1 Artifact reprint Box Topper card featuring exclusive Borderless alt-art
- RARE OR MYTHIC RARE IN EVERY PACK—Every pack contains at least 1 card of rarity Rare or higher and may contain another with a shining Traditional Foil treatment
- 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
#3. Edge of Eternities
The play booster packs of Edge of Eternities contain some spectacular art. The balance of building your board state and spacecraft while you lay down land after land puts space exploration on display. Believe it or not, the shock lands are not the best lands in the set, so check out the powerful permanents in this popular expansion.
- BATTLE FOR THE FATE OF A DYING STAR—Explore distant planets, wield dazzling magic, and wage war with alien factions
- BEST BOOSTERS FOR PLAYING WITH FRIENDS—Play Boosters are the best way to discover what Magic: The Gathering has to offer; they're perfect for building decks, playing Limited games with friends, and are tons of fun to open
- LAUNCH YOUR COSMIC COLLECTION—Each Play Booster contains 1–4 cards of rarity Rare or higher, including the possibility of Special Guest Mythic Rare from Magic’s history featuring new Borderless art
- 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
- PLAY BOOSTER BOX CONTENTS—30 Edge of Eternities Play Boosters, each containing 14 MTG cards and 1 Token
#2. Final Fantasy
Final Fantasy play boosters show off what the WotC team worked so hard on with detailed callbacks to each of the 16 main RPG games. The cards themselves are strong enough for you to pick a color or pair of colors and run with a theme to victory. Chocobos, landfall, equipment all work toward a great experience, and the biggest trait going against this introduction of Universes Beyond to Standard is the high cost and demand for the cards.
- ALL FANTASY FINAL SAGA IS NOW AVAILABLE - Bring unforgettable stories from the 16 major impressions of the FINAL FANTASY series to your gaming table and experience them again during the strategy batch of the card game.
- PLAY THE MELODIY OF THE WINNING - With graphics cards and rules inspired by the FINAL FANTASY series, you can cast powerful spells, meet famous characters, and visit familiar places on the back of the Chocobo bird.
- BEST PACKS TO PLAY IN THE GENE OF THE BEST - Quickly and easily discover the best of Magic. They are ideal if you want to create a deck, play a Limited batch with friends or just feel fun exploring surprises.
- COLLECT RARE CARDS - Each play pack contains 1-4 rare or better cards. You can also find special cards with a delightful alternative borderless graphics.
- With a FOIL COATING CARD in every SECEPTOR Each play pack also includes at least 1 card with a glossy traditional foil coating. In addition, 20% of the sachets contain a land card with a traditional foil coating.
#1. Duskmourn: House of Horror
Duskmourn: House of Horror packs are polarizing in that some players were turned off on the horror theme from before the prerelease, while others feasted on the great horror themes. Flavor and tone aside, there are strong mechanics in Duskmourn with manifest dread, survival, and rooms. The drafts are good and leave a healthy sense of unknowns in your games to keep it exciting, or scary, whichever way you see it.
- FIGHT TO SURVIVE IN A HOUSE OF NIGHTMARES—Dare to enter Duskmourn, a plane-enveloping House that sets the scene for your opponent’s greatest fears to come to life
- FUN TO OPEN. FUN TO PLAY—Play Boosters are perfect for Limited play and fun to open, with a possibility of Art cards, alternate art, special frames, and additional Rares and/or Mythics
- BEST BOOSTERS FOR PLAYING WITH FRIENDS—Specially balanced for Limited play, grab 6 Play Boosters to build a deck and battle your friends in Sealed games, or grab 3 packs and pass them around to build decks in a Booster Draft
- PACKS MAY CONTAIN MULTIPLE RARES—Each Play Booster contains 1–4 cards of rarity Rare or higher, including the possibility of a Borderless Mythic Rare card from Magic’s history
- 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
Update! I also went outside of Standard and have a list of my favorite Draft formats ever.
All-Time Greats
Manamorphose | Illustration by Adam Paquette
If you want a classic draft experience with some of the all-time best sets in Magic history, well, you’ll be paying for it! Original Innistrad and Modern Masters are widely considered to be some of the best Draft formats of all time, and they both have money staples like Liliana of the Veil, Snapcaster Mage, and Tarmogoyf too.
The catch though is that a box of Innistrad will cost you (gulp) several hundred $$$. Modern Masters booster box is a surprisingly slightly cheaper package, though that’s still far more than Modern Horizons 2! Leaning more toward a chaos draft, Mystery Booster booster boxes are expensive, yet a blast to open with a card pool as vast as a small ocean. Given this terrible value, I can’t really recommend you go classic unless you’re a true high roller. Recent Draft formats are decent to great quality, and I suggest you play those three to five times instead.
Best Gift Set
Generous Gift | Illustration by Chris Seaman
The best set to give as a gift varies and depends on your giftee because you know better than me what your friend really wants and what they play. If they’re an FNM Standard- or Draft-focused player, a bundle from a recent set would be a great buy. If they’re an older, more experienced player, then you could go all-out with an MH2 collector box.
- 12 Modern Horizons 2 (MH2) Magic: The Gathering Collector Boosters
- Shortcut to the coolest cards in Modern Horizons 2
- Only Modern Horizons 2 boosters with Foil Etched cards and Extended-Art
- 4 Rares and/or Mythic Rares per pack (max. of 3 Mythics)
- Introduces powerful cards and beloved reprints to the Modern format
A solid in-between with some great casual and core Commander cards to open are Jumpstart 2022, a unique product that mixes Sealed and Draft together for fun, fast-paced gameplay. Jumpstart is my recommendation if you’re unsure, but keep in mind that the cards don’t have much value for a Standard-focused player.
- 24 Jumpstart 2022 MTG boosters
- 20 Magic cards in each booster—includes all the lands you need to play
- 1 anime-inspired card in every pack
- Total of 1–2 cards of rarity Rare or higher in every pack
- Each booster has over 40 possible themes—combine them for wild mash ups
Best Set for Casual Play
Alandra, Sky Dreamer | Illustration by Caroline Gariba
Jumpstart (2020) is my recommendation for casual players, both as a gift or just as something to buy for yourself and play with friends. Useful kitchen table and Commander cards plus a board game-style gameplay model that comes right out of the box can’t be beat, and the price point isn’t exceptionally high either.
Shuffle up a pair of Foundations Jumpstart 2025 boosters for some casual play that hits on a number of levels, with valuable anime collector cards, intriguing legendaries, and some cards you flat out, can't get anywhere else.
If you want kitchen table MTG, just go with whichever Jumpstart you can get the cheapest!
Best Set for Expected Value
Deflecting Palm | Illustration by Eric Deschamps
This isn’t really my personal ballpark, honestly (#mtgfinance). There’s certainly money to be made in Magic by stockpiling away sealed products and selling them later. Beloved sets like a box of Khans of Tarkir and War of the Spark boosters sell for double what they used to, and original Innistrad packs are listed at several times the price they were back when it was released.
If you just want to crack packs with an eye towards value, Modern Horizons 2 is the best option because of how many powerful and expensive cards it contains, but you can still get burned if you open too many junk rares. If you’re interested in learning more about this, I highly recommend checking out this finance community.
Wrap Up
Generous Pup | Illustration by Julia Metzger
Even after more than a decade of playing this game, I still can’t help but smile when I see generous store owners and players handing chaff to a grateful player. I love to hear the familiar sound of a pack opening. There’s something about opening boosters that just can’t be matched by buying singles. I hope that my advice helps you make sound purchases!
What’s your all-time favorite set to open? Do you have any other suggestions on what to buy and what to avoid? Let us know in the comments, or head over to the Draftsim Twitter if that’s more your style. And don’t forget to check out our blog if you want more content like this.
Until next time, may your packs always contain Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer, and the slickest foils.
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2 Comments
If I just wanted to purchase a set- or more- to set aside unsealed for 15 years for my two great grandchildren which ones should I buy? Thanks.
This is incredibly hard to predict, but I would probably say one with a limited print run might have the best chance of being worth a lot. But if you’re not looking to do that, of the current sets, Modern Horizons 2 is definitely the most “special” feeling.
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