Last updated on January 28, 2025
Component Collector | Illustration by Mark Behm
Wizards offers plenty of options for collectors and players to buy booster packs. Two consistent options are collector boosters or play boosters. Set boosters and draft boosters are folded into play boosters and there's other test products like the beyond booster.
Considering that one of the best parts of play and set boosters is that you can find more than one rare inside, there is simply better rare collecting going though they’re balanced for Limited play. But which ones should you get to collect cards?
Today I walk you through set and collector boosters including the main differences. I’ll also rank the best you can get of each. Let’s get into it!
The Difference Between Set and Collector Boosters
Echoing Equation | Illustration by Volkan Baga
The main difference between set and collector boosters is that collector boosters have more rares and are more expensive, and more different treatments, be it unique/alternate art or foil. You get more extended art versions or alternate art versions with collector boosters.
Set boosters have a guaranteed foil and up to four rares, but it’s more often the normal version of the card and they usually only have one or two rares.
Set Booster Contents
Set boosters have 12 cards, and there’s a guaranteed rare or mythic card.
Some of these packs also can have an extra rare or two. Around 27% of the set boosters have two rares, around 3% have three, and 1% of them have four rares. It’s possible to get art cards, rules/token cards, and a basic land or full-art land as usual.
Set boosters are recommended for players who want the most rares from a given set and don't care too much about commons or Limited balance. Each set booster also has a card from “The List,” a collection of curated cards from Magic’s history.
Collector Booster Contents
Collector boosters are your best bet if all you care about are pimped versions of new cards, if you’re looking to add new foils to a Commander deck or cube, or if you want to take a shot at a chase mythic from the set in the shiniest frame possible. Using Murders at Karlov Manor as a reference, here’s what you can find in a collector booster:
- 4 Traditional foil commons
- 3 Traditional foil uncommons
- 1 Traditional foil full-art impossible basic land—one each of the five basic land types
- 1 Non-foil showcase magnified or showcase dossier common or uncommon
- 1 Traditional foil showcase magnified or showcase dossier common or uncommon
- 1 Traditional foil rare or mythic rare
- 1 Non-foil extended-art rare or mythic rare
- 1 Non-foil or traditional foil extended-art rare or mythic rare from the Murders at Karlov Manor Commander decks
- 1 Non-foil Booster Fun rare or mythic rare
- 1 Traditional foil Booster Fun rare or mythic rare
- 1 Traditional foil double-sided token
Which is Better? Set or Collector Boosters?
If you look to expand your collection with rares/mythics and get staples for Constructed play, then the set booster is the best booster, and the most budget-friendly one. But if you want to spin the lottery wheel, have a chance to find a premium card from the newest set, or get prettier foil versions of the cards from a given set, then collector boosters are the way to go!
The best between set and collector boosters depends on your budget, intentions, and what you expect from each product.
Best Set Boosters
#5. Wilds of Eldraine
Wilds of Eldraine has very powerful cards that impact Standard and other Constructed formats. This return to Eldraine has anime enchanting tales on some of your ripe reprints. The Wilds of Eldraine set boosters are your chance to get Commander staples in foil or with a different art treatment.
- 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
- 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
- FAIRY-TALE INSPIRED CARDS + ART CARD—Each Set Booster contains 12 cards with art and mechanics inspired by storybook themes plus an Art Card showcasing a piece of art from the set, sometimes featuring a foil signature from the artist
- BEWITCHING BORDERLESS CARDS—Every pack includes 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
- 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. March of the Machine
March of the Machine set boosters offer a host of powerful cards like Faerie Mastermind, Breach the Multiverse, and Tribute to the World Tree. The set also has Magic's own cross over legendaries like Drana and Linvala, Ghalta and Mavren, and Kogla and Yidaro.
- 30 March of the Machine Set Boosters—the best MTG boosters to open just for fun
- 12 Magic: The Gathering cards per booster
- At least 1 Multiverse Legend card in every pack
- 1–5 cards of rarity Rare or higher in every pack
- Foil card and Art Card in every pack
#3. Innistrad: Crimson Vow
Crimson Vow set boosters offers a lot of playable rares like Sorin the Mirthless, Hullbreaker Horror, and Chandra, Dressed to Kill. The set also has cards like Toxrill, the Corrosive, Cultivator Colossus, and Avabruck Caretaker.
- 30 Innistrad: Crimson Vow Set Boosters
- 1 foil Dracula Series box topper card
- 12 Magic: The Gathering cards per booster
- 1 foil or nonfoil Showcase Eternal Night Land in every pack
- 1–4 Rares and/or Mythic Rares in every pack
#2. The Lost Caverns of Ixalan
These are the last set boosters added to Standard for the foreseeable future. If you need some staples from this set for Standard, The Lost Caverns of Ixalan set boosters are a good idea for that. There are also Jurassic World cards and borderless cards in these boosters, which are very nice.
- 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 and 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
#1. The Lord of The Rings: Tales of Middle-Earth
An amazing part of this set is fresh art, a bunch of these cards are borderless scene cards that can be put together to form a mural of a key scene in Lord of the Rings. You get at least one foil and at least one alternate art card. Maybe you get Saruman of Many Colors, Orcish Bowmasters, or The One Ring for your Constructed decks!
- MAGIC MEETS THE LORD OF THE RINGS—Experience the beloved story of The Lord of the Rings with the strategic gameplay of Magic: The Gathering, facing off against opponents in thrilling magical battles
- JOIN THE FELLOWSHIP—Immerse yourself in Middle-earth with unique game mechanics and stunning art that draw you into this epic tale
- EXPLORE WITH SET BOOSTERS—Designed for a fun pack-opening experience, if you want to explore the set by opening packs just to see what you get, Set Boosters are for you
- ART CARD, RARE CARD, AND FOIL IN EVERY PACK—Every Set Booster includes at least 1 shining Traditional Foil card, at least 1 card of rarity Rare or higher (with up to 4 ), and 1 Art Card showcasing a piece of art from the set
- ALTERNATE-ART CARD IN EVERY PACK—Whether it’s a Borderless Scene card with art that’s one piece of a larger, multi-card scene or a Showcase Ring card with art circled by the inscription from the One Ring, every Set Booster contains at least 1 special alt-art, alt-frame card
Best Collector Boosters
#5. Innistrad Remastered
Your nostalgia can come from multiple levels with so many sets being funneled into the reprints of Innistrad Remastered. There are a bunch of movie poster art treatments and retro-framed cards that throw off the whole look of what's playable in Modern. Then there are the full cycle of slow lands that interest all but the most aggro of Magic players. It’s possible to open Griselbrand, Edgar Markov, and Avacyn, Angel of Hope in Innistrad Remastered collector boosters.
- 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
- EXUME A SERIALIZED EDGAR MARKOV CARD—The first vampire of Innistrad lies in wait with 500 serialized Edgar Markov cards; enshrined in Movie Poster art, these new Headliner Cards can be opened exclusively in Collector Boosters.
- HAUNTINGLY BOO-TIFUL CARDS—Cackle in delight at Showcase treatments from Innistrad’s past, behold never-before-seen borderless art, and collect Retro-frame and Movie Poster versions of beloved cards; every pack contains 6 alt-frame cards to add to your collection
- EXCLUSIVE MOVIE POSTER CARDS—Bring the scares to life with Movie Poster cards featuring iconic Magic characters reimagined as classic monsters of the silver screen, a Collector Booster exclusive
- RETRO CARD IN EVERY PACK—Feel the nostalgia with a Retro-frame card in every pack, including the possibility to claim one of the first ever double-faced Retro-frame cards
#4. Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty
Neon Dynasty has a cool anime/Japanese art theme if you’re into that kind of art. Cards like the channel lands and powerful planeswalkers like The Wandering Emperor along with Urabrask the Hidden and Greasefang are interesting pulls from the Neon Dynasty collector boosters. The Tamiyo, Compleated Sage and the cycle of Marches like March of Otherworldly Light are also interesting.
- 15 Magic: The Gathering cards + 1 foil token
- Shortcut to the coolest cards in Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty
- Only NEO packs that may contain a Neon Ink Foil or Foil-Etched card
- Only MTG boosters with Extended-Art cards—get 1–3 in every pack
- 9–10 traditional foil cards and 5 cards of rarity Rare or higher in every pack
#3. Commander Legends
Another set with a lot of expensive cards like Vampiric Tutor and Mana Drain along with commanders like Nekusar, the Mindrazer, Prossh, Skyraider of Kher, and more. I wish I could Scroll Rack to leave the good stuff in each pack, but sometimes the chance is all you need, and Commander Legends collector boosters might just be worth the risk.
- 12 COLLECTOR BOOSTERS. Collector Boosters are a shortcut to the coolest cards in Commander Legends—fill your deck with rares, foils, and special art from the first booster packs created specifically for Commander.
- 24+ FOIL ETCHED CARDS. Commander Legends debuts a special kind of foil—foil etched cards with beautiful metallic frames. Collector boosters are the only Commander Legends booster packs where you're sure to find foil etched legends, with 2–3 in every pack!
- 60 LEGENDARY CARDS. Every Commander Legends Collector Booster pack contains 5 legendary cards, with at least one showcase mythic reprint. Collect classic MTG commanders or meet some of the 71 commanders introduced in the set.
- 24+ EXTENDED-ART CARDS. Not found in any other Commander Legends booster packs, Collector Boosters contain at least 2 extended-art cards, with a chance of up to 5.
- 48+ RARES. Each Collector Booster contains up to 5 assorted rare and mythic rare cards, with a minimum of 4 rares per pack.
#2. Modern Horizons 2
Here you can find the original Zendikar fetch lands like Scalding Tarn as well as Modern Constructed staples like Murktide Regent – the best dragon in Magic – Urza's Saga, Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer, and Solitude. The prices of the cards in Modern Horizons 2 collector boosters vary wildly since there are lots of desired cards for eternal formats in this set, so the lottery is on!
- 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
#1. Modern Horizons 3
The monster of a set that is Modern Horizons 3 has serialized versions of Emrakul, the World AnewKozilek, the Broken Reality, and Ulamog, the Defiler. The amazing top end of cards continues with fetch lands, flipwalkers, a Flare cycle, even Phlage, Titan of Fire's Fury and this frog, Psychic Frog. There is simply a critical mass of cards that are more than $15 in their market price that the value in Modern Horizons 3 collector boosters might be worth the upfront cost.
- MODERN’S NEVER BEEN MORE MARVELOUS—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
- BEAUTY AND BRAWN—Crush with a deck full of gorgeous special treatments; every Collector Booster contains 7 alt-frame cards, including the possibility of Retro-Frame, Borderless Profile, Borderless Frame Break, Borderless Concept Eldrazi, and Borderless Fetch Land cards
- MODERN MIGHT THAT SHINES BRIGHT—Both powerful and flashy, every pack contains 10-12 Traditional Foil cards and may contain Collector Booster exclusive, like Foil-Etched cards, a Textured Foil card, or even a foil Serialized card
- POWERFUL CARDS FOR LIMITED, CONSTRUCTED & COMMANDER PLAY—Spice up your deck with powerful New-to-Modern cards or discover Legendary Creatures with striking special treatments to inspire your next Commander Deck
- GET DIRECT ACCESS TO THE COOLEST CARDS—Collector Boosters give you direct access to the most desirable Modern Horizons 3 cards, including 5 cards of rarity Rare or higher in every pack
Should I Get Two Set Booster Boxes or One Collector Booster Box?
My quick answer is one collector box.
Get at least three grains of salt ready though because this is generalized on the chances you play and not official financial advice on Magic. With more cards you're statistically likely to get more low-value cards, so concentrate your spending on the high value cards. Of course, that comes with higher initial price and still no guarantee you'll catch any chase cards.
Tempting right? With many of the set booster boxes at half or less the cost of one collector booster box? The other factor is your personal preference, if you love a theme, I fully support loading up on cards from that set.
Wrap Up
Commence the Endgame | Illustration by Noah Bradley
There are a lot of options when when you buy boosters and MTG products, and the options can be daunting. The average value of a set booster is higher than a play booster because you’ll typically get more rares and more foil cards. I really appreciate that play boosters are about the same cost unlike these set boosters with their clear difference from collector boosters. And if you want to see beautiful and unique cards with different frames, collector boosters are really the way to go.
Thank you for your time and attention. Let me know what boosters you’re buying and cracking in the comments section below over or over on Draftsim's X account.
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