Last updated on June 12, 2025
Pack Leader | Illustration by Rudy Siswanto
Big changes continue to fascinate players and collectors when it comes to Magic: the Gathering’s booster packs. Both draft and set booster were replaced by the play boosters when Murders at Karlov Manor released in February 2024. Then beyond boosters came with Assassin's Creed in July 2024, and play boosters flew for Final Fantasy in June 2025 to set a new bar for many Universes Beyond sets to come.
While there’s much discussion over whether this is a good or a bad thing, and I covered how play boosters impact Limited play in a separate article, today we look at what exactly the differences are between draft boosters and play boosters.
Let’s check them out!
The Difference Between Play and Draft Boosters
Play of the Game | Illustration by Jung Park
In short, play boosters are like draft boosters, but contain one fewer playable card, and have the potential of containing up to four rares, rather than the one rare that most draft boosters contain.
Play boosters are a combination of draft and set boosters, and bring the enhanced ‘Booster Fun’ experience of set boosters to a type of booster pack you can use in Limited MTG formats like Draft and Sealed.
Play Booster Contents
Play boosters have a guaranteed one land, six commons, three uncommons and one rare/mythic in each booster. This makes up 11 of the 14 cards in the pack. The remaining three slots are more variable, and each have the potential of being an extra rare. First of all, there’s a slot that will normally be a common, but 1-in-8 boosters will replace this common with a card from “The List,” which can be of any rarity. The final two slots are “Wildcard slots” (not Arena wildcards), and with one of them a sure foil. These Wildcard slots generally do not include supplementary products, such as Commander decks.
But who are play boosters for? Well, they’re for pretty much everyone. If you do not want to splurge on a collector booster, but still want to open some MTG product, play boosters are for you. Similarly, if you want to play Limited (because you have amazing taste in your Magic formats!), play boosters are also for you. We no longer have this split in the player base of whether you’re a set booster or draft booster person.
Draft Booster Contents
Draft boosters have 10 commons, three uncommons, a rare/mythic and a land card. This totals 15 cards and sometimes (around 1-in-3 packs) you get a foil instead of a common, plus some sets threw in an ad, token, or game aid.
Draft boosters are the type of booster that is the typical booster from drafts before 2024. These boosters were the primary packs that existed since the advent of Magic, until collector boosters appeared in 2019 and started expanding the types of boosters you could buy.
Which Is Better? Play or Draft Boosters?
Wizards clearly thinks that play boosters are better, and there’s a lot of reasons why. Firstly, there’s more opportunity for Booster Fun style alternate-arts and foils. There’s also the chance to open more rares, with the average pack containing around 1.4 rares instead of only 1.
One downside to play boosters, though, is the price. Previously, set boosters were around $1 more per pack than draft boosters. Play boosters are roughly the same price per pack as set boosters, which makes them more expensive than draft boosters. This also affects the price you pay to enter Limited formats, and it’s the biggest downside to play boosters overall. On this note, Final Fantasy play boosters support enough archetypes to be fun, you just need to get your hands on some.
Best Play Boosters
Foundations
Foundations play boosters really bring up the core of Magic and are great for introducing players to the game, or to bring players back to something anyone can recognize as MTG. Chances are you know the mechanics and big characters here, and if you don't, Foundations is a fantastic way to solidify what the colors of Magic mean and how they interact with each other. Take one of the 10 gates and discover the way of Magic.
- 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
Bloomburrow
Bloomburrow booster boxes might have the most cuteness compressed into one container of Magic, but the creature types here are strong. Mice are a plague in Standard, and you come across bats and lizards the more you play. If you caught any of the art from this set you know which critters you like the most even if it's the massive elementals meant to be the villains of the set. Whichever group you go with there's lots of fun to enjoy in Bloomburrow.
- 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
Outlaws of Thunder Junction
The drafts are wild with Outlaws of Thunder Junction play boosters. The strong rares and the slight increase in the number of them, make pack openings more difficult to navigate. Then, because this set came before a Standard rotation, the cards are a noticeable notch higher in power level. Expect to play against a few of the busted rares that are the best Outlaws of Thunder Junction cards at every Limited event.
- 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)
Duskmourn: House of Horror
Duskmourn: House of Horror play boosters is a solid draft environment with cool mechanics that gel pretty well with long-game payoffs balanced with fresh aggro toys. Enchantment themes are a hit once again and I am more excited to draft this horror set than I want to admit.
- 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
Modern Horizons 3
The power creep throughout Modern Horizons 3 play boosters is really easy to spot. Wizards had to make the set relevant for the eternal Modern format after all. These are the most expensive play boosters of 2024 and you only need to see the card quality of the commons and uncommons in MH3 with the MDFC lands, (see Sink into Stupor / Soporific Springs), Malevolent Rumble as one of the most expensive commons, and Lightning Bolt, and Eternal Witness equivalents in Galvanic Discharge and Evolution Witness.
- 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
Best Draft Boosters
While the best draft boosters are pretty closely linked to the Limited formats they’re from, and therefore fairly subjective, here are a selection of the best ones that are still generally available at reasonable prices.
The Lost Caverns of Ixalan
The last Standard draft boosters and The Lost Caverns of Ixalan draft boosters are the same. The powerful early creatures can explore and take over Limited games. Outside of draft, there are gems scattered throughout this set with dual color creature lands, caves, and a land god that multiplies your creature tokens by three.
- 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
Dominaria United
Dominaria United is one of the most popular Limited formats in recent years. A super well-balanced set, with plenty of nostalgia of Magic’s original plane thrown in to boot, this is in many players’ list of all-time favorite sets.
- 36 Dominaria United MTG Draft Boosters + 1 foil Box Topper card
- Best boosters for drafting Dominaria United
- 15 Magic cards per booster
- 1 Legendary Creature in every pack
- 1 Traditional Foil card in 33% of packs
March of the Machine
This is a bit of a cheeky one. If you look at the makeup of a March of the Machine booster, it’s very similar the make-up of a play booster. It’s clear that MOM was used as a trial for play boosters in Limited. It's a powerful set that features a lot of our favorite legendary heroes.
- 36 March of the Machine MTG Draft Boosters—the best boosters for drafting March of the Machine
- 15 Magic: The Gathering cards per booster
- At least 1 Multiverse Legend card in every pack
- 1–2 cards of rarity Rare or higher in every pack
- 1 Traditional Foil card in 33% of packs
Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty
Another recent set that’s loved by both Limited players and fans of flavorful Magic sets, this return to Kamigawa 2000 years after the first visit was exactly what some players were looking for. A few Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty boosters open you up to some of the most widely playable rare lands in Magic and neat ninja and equipment based mechanics.
- 36 Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty MTG Draft Boosters
- 15 Magic cards per booster
- Ukiyo-e Land in 33% of Draft Boosters
- Just draft, add lands, and play
- With cyberpunk cards full of color and chrome—the future is bright in Kamigawa
Modern Horizons 2
Although Modern Horizons sets have had a mixed reception for Constructed formats, they are incredibly popular Limited formats. Given the opportunity to open some spice such as a fetch land, or an evoke elemental, Modern Horizons 2 packs are still surprisingly cheap and available.
- 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
Final Thoughts
Play with Fire | Illustration by Svetlin Velinov
For better or worse, you find less and less draft boosters and and more play boosters on the shelves at your local game store. Play boosters do have a lot of advantages over draft boosters, but the increase in price is a bitter pill for people to swallow. Maybe the shift in number of packs per box of boosters is a good cost adjustment, you just need to manage your draft rules and prize structures a bit differently.
What do you think, though? Do you like play boosters or draft boosters more? Do you actually use the box of draft boosters to draft, or the box of play boosters to play Limited with? Is the price of prereleases enough to stop you from playing (I honestly hope not)? Whatever your thoughts, let me know down below. And until next time, may all your boosters, no matter which one you open, be fun!
Note: this post contains affiliate links. If you use these links to make a purchase, you’ll help Draftsim continue to provide awesome free articles and apps.
Follow Draftsim for awesome articles and set updates:
Add Comment