Last updated on March 6, 2026
Booster Tutor | Illustration by Heather Hudson
Set boosters debuted with Zendikar Rising in 2020 with the promise of players being able to pull higher-value, more sought-after cards compared to the lower-value cards in draft boosters. So for a few years, Wizards separated each expansion into set boosters and draft boosters. Not to mention Throne of Eldraine introduced the collector booster packs in 2019. These three types of packs on the market made it more difficult for players to choose which packs to build their collections.
Enter the play boosters! The play booster packs replaced set and draft boosters and come alongside collector boosters with full set releases. What are these play booster packs all about?
Read on to discover more!
What Are Play Boosters in MTG?
Assemble the Players | Illustration by Evyn Fong
Play boosters combine the fun opening experience that comes with cracking a set booster pack while also offering the Limited experience that has been a play tradition for many years for Magic players. These are the booster packs to make it easier for players to choose which pack to buy and reduce inventory issues for smaller stores.
What Comes in a Play Booster Pack?
There are 15 total “slots” in a play booster, broken down as follows:
- Slots 1-6 are commons.
- Slot 7 is another common, with a small chance of being a prized reprint that varies by set.
- Slots 8-10 are uncommons.
- Slot 11 is a rare/mythic, your “normal rare” from the pack.
- Slot 12 is a land with a decent chance of being an upgraded like foil or full art.
- Slot 13 is a non-foil “wildcard,” which can be any card from the set.
- Slot 14 is a foil “wildcard,” which means every pack includes a foil.
- Slot 15 is an ad, token, art card, or helper card.
#15. Murders at Karlov Manor
Investigate a Murders at Karlov Manor Play Booster Box and you'll uncover some Ravnica characters that you've never inspected or suspected so closely before. You can go aggressive with detectives, and find some very unique cards. Murders at Karlov Manor is the first set to offer play boosters, missed on some mechanics, and was not enjoyed by all. I do think it's safe to say WotC improved with the play boosters that followed.
- 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
#14. Aetherdrift
Aetherdrift play boosters is a tough one, because just like a race, there's only one winner and if you have 10 guilds racing like this set, nine losers. So it's not that unbalanced in my experience, but the opportunity to draft a dud deck is greater than most other Standard sets. Be sure to take your vehicles in to the pits to check out robots, gearhulks, and a couple of gods. The biggest standouts though are the artifacts, Radiant Lotus and The Aetherspark.
- 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
#13. Spider-Man
The Spider-Man play boosters skip a little bit of the Universes Beyond markup. The most popular cards are ones that work well with the history of Magic cards like Multiversal Passage, Spider-Ham, Peter Porker, and Spider-Punk. WotC pulled off some cool things like MDFCs that can transform from one side to another, borderless saga cards that read like comic book pages, and cards that are fun to say as you play them, like Whoosh!
- 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)
#12. Innistrad Remastered
Innistrad Remastered play booster boxes bring together the most feared cards from Innistrad hosted sets. Scary cards like The Meathook Massacre, Cathars' Crusade, Sorin, Imperious Bloodlord, Arlinn Kord, and Liliana of the Veil rub elbows with solid cards like fast lands. Ultimately, this is a draft treat with lots of infamous cards, and plenty of collector's items at the top end.
- NIGHT OF THE LIVING REPRINTS!—Return to the plane of glorious gothic horror and dig up fan-favorite reprints from every Innistrad set ever made
- 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
- RETRO CARD IN EVERY PACK—Feel the nostalgia with a Retro-frame card in every Innistrad Remastered Play Booster, including the possibility to claim one of the first ever double-faced Retro-frame cards
- ANGELIC RARES. DEMONIC SCARES.—In each Play Booster you’ll unearth 1–4 cards of rarity Rare or higher and may find hauntingly boo-tiful cards featuring spooky Showcase treatments or Borderless cards with all-new art
- SHINING FOIL IN EVERY PACK—Every Play Booster includes at least 1 Traditional Foil card of any rarity; in 20% of packs you’ll also get a Traditional Foil Land card to fill your decks with an extra wicked gleam
#11. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles play boosters are like an extra large combination pizza with a little of several toppings. I know it's not for everyone, but if you like powerful rares, there are some rad ones like Cool but Rude, The Ooze, and Splinter's Technique. Each pack is guaranteed to have at least one turtle, and the mythic silhouette ones are the most rare from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles packs.
- 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
#10. Duskmourn: House of Horror
A Duskmourn: House of Horror Play Booster Box is like a hall full of doors to open, expect unknowns with all the face-down cards, and some good Limited splashing and mana fixing thanks to the common and rare cycles of dual lands. If you like horror, you'll be especially glad to pull toy cards out of your box.
- 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
#9. Bloomburrow
Every creature in a Bloomburrow Play Booster Box can be a mutate host since none of them are human. They say creature types like raccoons, squirrels, lizards, frogs and bats are pretty popular, and there are plenty of typal synergies to be mindful of. I'm not alone in my love for these cute creatures, and those class cards are great build-arounds to make these fun packs to open.
- 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
#8. Outlaws of Thunder Junction
Score an Outlaws of Thunder Junction Play Booster Box for some slick cards at the top end. You might get some breaking news cards, just be on the lookout for criminal activity from the assassins, mercenaries, pirates, rogues, or warlocks. Round out the wild Western theme with some decent deserts and you got a good time on your hands.
- 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
Say you picked up six Tarkir: Dragonstorm play boosters for a Sealed event, you are in for some big time spells. So prioritize your mana fixing and deal some devotees and dragons.
- 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. Foundations
Foundations play boosters get extra power to their rank because they resist to rotation out of Standard more than any other set, a bit like that video game console with the promise of backwards compatibility. It's stuffed with good cards that proved for years they were worth reprinting and belong in plenty of strong decks. Some of the top cards are Liliana, Dreadhorde General, Twinflame Tyrant, Doubling Season, Bloodthirsty Conqueror, Sire of Seven Deaths, and Banner of Kinship.
- 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
#5. Lorwyn Eclipsed
Break open Lorwyn Eclipsed play boosters to see both the light and dark sides of classic creature types like giants, faeries, and elves. The gameplay is fun with lots of interesting decisions around -1/-1 counters and changelings that matter for several decks. Pick your favorite archetype and run with it, there are several viable ones in Lorwyn Eclipsed.
- 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
#4. Avatar: The Last Airbender
Universes Beyond attacks with Avatar: The Last Airbender play boosters and they are truly fun to play with whether you're among other Avatar Enthusiasts, or experienced veterans. The blend of benders, hybrid animals and wise lessons make this a well-rounded and fun set.
- 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
#3. Edge of Eternities
The Edge of Eternities play boosters are the ones you fire off after the initial launch boosters get you out of the atmosphere. Seriously though there are amazing cards, even shock lands to pull from these packs. Maybe it is the cool spacecraft and warp cards that allow for easy double spelling, or perhaps the kavu are fascinating. The intrigue and pull of Edge of Eternities is strong, go figure that landfall is a heavily supported archetype.
- 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
A Final Fantasy play booster box brings up memories of hours spent grinding and discovering the nuances of adventure. The introduction of job select, saga creatures, and sidequests turn Magic into a complex battlefield where accumulated value is a big deal. The multitude of uncommon legends mean a couple of draft picks can lead you down multiple paths for Commander.
- THE ENTIRE FINAL FANTASY SAGA IS HERE—Step into the unforgettable stories of all 16 FINAL FANTASY core games brought to your tabletop with the strategic gameplay of the Magic: The Gathering trading card game
- CUE THE VICTORY FANFARE—Cast powerful spells, meet iconic characters, and visit familiar locales on the back of a Chocobo with cards featuring FINAL FANTASY-themed art and mechanics
- 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
- COLLECT RARE CARDS—Each Play Booster contains 1–4 cards of rarity Rare or higher, including the possibility of special cards featuring beautiful borderless alternate art
- SHINING FOIL CARD IN EVERY PACK—Every Play Booster also includes at least 1 card with a shiny Traditional Foil treatment; in 20% of packs you’ll also get a Traditional Foil Land card
#1. Modern Horizons 3
The card quality is generally better in cards out of Modern Horizons 3 Play Boosters. There are impactful playables for multiple formats in this set. A given MH3 pack is virtually guaranteed to have an eldrazi or energy card, now if only it could guarantee one of those flares or fetch lands…
- 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
How Much Do Play Boosters Cost?
The play booster MSRP is around $5.49 to $6.99 for an individual pack, and can be found for a little less depending on if you buy a case of booster boxes, a booster box, or in 3-booster draft packs. The pricing is modeled after set boosters, and a bit cheaper if you manage to find boxes in wholesale.
Are Play Booster Boxes Worth It?
Boxes of play boosters are worth it if you enjoy a draft of that set. There is some additional value from the extra rares you open, and definitely more fun when you open something exciting. If I'm a big collector, I'd pass on the play boosters and go for the collector boosters.
The Modern Horizons 3 Play Boosters are a non-Standard set and thus command a greater cost, but they still follow the same path as many booster boxes. They start high, fluctuate somewhat while they are the current and latest set, and then level out months later.
How Many Rares Are in a Play Booster?
There are four slots in the play booster that could contain a rare. When opening a play booster, you’re guaranteed to get at least one “normal rare,” with a 1-in-7 chance of pulling a mythic. Both wildcard and “The List” slots have a chance to be additional rares.
Packs with multiple rare cards do come up, but for the drop rate, take this update from Mark Rosewater. It reveals that 37% of boosters have two rares, 4% have three and less than 1% have the maximum four rares. This means that around 58% of boosters have a single rare in them. That gives us an average of better than 1.4 rares per pack.
Play Boosters vs. Collector Boosters
Antique Collector | Illustration by Wisnu Tan
The difference between play boosters and collector boosters is as easy as the price. While the premium collector boosters guarantee at least 5 rares, play boosters have at most 4 rares, thus the price difference.
If I get my way, I draft with the play boosters and win collector boosters as the reward. If you look to crack packs for the slickest pulls and the highest percentage of sweet showcase cards, then go with collector boosters, otherwise, have fun with play boosters!
Play Boosters vs. Draft Boosters
Play boosters have a bit of a higher chance of a player pulling a mythic (1 in 7) versus a draft booster (1 in 8). However, draft boosters have 15 cards compared to a play booster’s 14 cards. Draft boosters have more commons (2-3 more depending on if you pull a specific card from The List in some play boosters) versus a play booster that has a minimum of six common cards and of course up to four rares. Both play boosters and draft boosters feature three uncommons.
Play Boosters vs. Set Boosters
The play boosters have two more playable cards and less variance with one less wild card and potentially one less uncommon than set boosters. The extra card in play boosters has a chance of being a token, marketing card, or art card.
Set boosters have at least one art card with a 5% chance of the art card featuring a golden signature. In the marketing or token slot section of a set booster, there’s a 1/4 chance that it could be a card from The List that you pull instead. Set boosters have a potential four uncommons while play boosters usually have six commons and three uncommons.
Instead of one guaranteed rare like in a play booster, you get at least two rares cards in a set booster. Both play boosters and set boosters feature one foil card.
How Many Rares Are in a Play Booster Box?
Play booster boxes of 2025's Aetherdrift and later include 30 play boosters per box and thus at least 30 rares. The wildcard/Special Guest slots mean you can expect about 40 rares or mythics in such a box of play boosters
Since play booster boxes from 2024 feature 36 packs, those are guaranteed a minimum of 36 rares and can expect an average of about 50 rares. With each rare slot having a 1-in-7 chance of being a mythic rare, that means roughly 5-6 mythic rares per box from the normal rare slots.
Each play booster can contain up to four total rares, so the theoretical highest number of rares you could open is 120 (or 144 for 2024 play booster boxes), though you should be playing both the lottery and lots of Sealed if you’re that lucky.
How Many Mythics Are in a Play Booster Box?
Since there’s only a 1-in-7 chance of pulling a mythic rare in the normal rare slot and there are 30 packs in one box there’s potential for about 4 mythic rare cards in a box.
For the sets with 36 packs in one box, there’s potential for about 5-6 mythic rare cards in a box. The randomness that comes with opening packs might mean more or less depending on the box, and extra mythics can be pulled in The List and wildcard slots, though at a much lower rate. On the high end of variance, I wouldn’t expect more than eight mythics in a single box.
How Many Packs Are in a Play Booster Box?
The 2025 Aetherdrift play booster boxes and later ones have 30 packs in each box. In a bit of a callback, set booster boxes have 30 booster packs. The 2024 play booster boxes include 36 play booster packs much like draft booster boxes in the past. Still other boosters have a different number of packs per box.
How Many Play Booster Boxes Are in a Case?
One case of play booster boxes contains six booster boxes. This is consistent whether the boxes are newer than Aetherdrift with 30-packs each and with the 36-pack draft booster boxes that stores may still have on display.
Why Do Play Boosters Only Have 14 Cards?
Play boosters only have 14 draftable cards because that’s the number that Wizards figured would work best in maintaining the booster opening experience while still allowing players to draft with them.
The company reduced the number of commons when creating play boosters because of player feedback stating they didn’t use as many cards as they would have liked while drafting since many of the commons were undesirable.
Richard Garfield, the creator of Magic: the Gathering, decided during the release of Alpha that booster packs would feature 15 cards. At least for the most part, that was how many cards had been in booster packs in Magic’s history, though some sets have experimented with smaller and larger pack sizes.
What Does Having Fewer Commons in Play Boosters Mean?
Since there are fewer common cards than uncommon cards (weird right?), Wizards designs the commons carefully to ensure there are fewer dead cards for your draft experience. There's much more explained by Rosewater's column on play boosters.
How Often Do Foils Show Up in Play Boosters?
There is one guaranteed traditional foil of any rarity in a play booster. The basic or common land slot sometimes has a chance of being foil.
Can I Pull Commander Cards in Play Boosters?
No, a set's new Commander cards that come in preconstructed decks are not found in play boosters. Those Commander cards can be found within the collector boosters of the same set.
Can You Get Showcase Cards in Play Boosters?
It is possible to get showcase cards in play boosters. While WotC keeps some booster fun in the play boosters, the dressy showcase cards are significantly more common in collector boosters.
Do Play Boosters Have Art Cards?
Art cards have a 35% chance of being in your play booster. They share a slot with ads and tokens as nonplayable cards in the pack.
Do Play Boosters Have Cards From The List?
Yes, play boosters could have The List cards. If there’s a card from The List in the play booster you open, it’ll be in place of a common.
Here are a few examples: In Modern Horizons 3 the cards from The List are Special Guests, and replace a common in 1 out of 64 play boosters (1.56%). Outlaws of Thunder Junction upped the rate of The List cards in play boosters so instead of one out of eight, there’s a one in five (20%) chance that slot is a card from The List. Within that, 1.56% of all play boosters feature one of 10 Special Guests cards. The Special Guests are highly sought-after cards that made their first appearance in The Lost Caverns of Ixalan on November 17, 2023.
When Did Play Boosters First Release?
Play boosters debuted with Murders at Karlov Manor on February 9. Magic tabletop, Magic Online, and MTG Arena players all use play boosters.
What About Play Boosters on Arena?
The play boosters you open in a draft on Arena are like the tabletop experience with 14 cards. The packs you buy with gems or gold in the Arena store are unaffected by play boosters and retain their 8-card structure.
Play On With Play Boosters
Play of the Game | Illustration by Jung Park
Are you excited to open play boosters and see how easy it is to select Magic products to purchase at your local game store? Play boosters combine the high-value card experience of opening set booster packs while still being a viable product for drafting.
Do you want to find out more information about the upcoming Magic expansion sets? Stay tuned for updates from the Draftsim blog. Stay connected with players nationally and internationally on the Draftsim Discord. Until next time, get ready to play on with play boosters!
See you next time, and take a break to play outside.
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