Magic: The Gathering Source

In Magic: The Gathering (MTG), booster packs come in different types, each designed for specific purposes—playing, drafting, or collecting. As of April 5, 2025, the main booster types you’ll encounter are Play Boosters and Collector Boosters, with Draft Boosters having been phased out earlier in 2024. Here’s a breakdown of the differences based on their current status and design:

Play Boosters

• Purpose: Play Boosters are the current standard pack, introduced with Murders at Karlov Manor in February 2024, replacing both Draft and Set Boosters. They’re designed to serve dual purposes: to be fun to open (like Set Boosters) and playable in Limited formats like Draft and Sealed (like Draft Boosters).
• Contents: Each pack has 14 cards (13 playable cards plus 1 non-playable card like a token or ad). The breakdown typically includes:
  • 6-7 commons
  • 3 uncommons
  • 1-4 rares or mythic rares (with a chance for multiple rares)
  • 1 wildcard slot (any rarity, including from a curated “List” of reprints)
  • 1 basic land (sometimes foil or full-art)
  • At least 1 foil card of any rarity
• Key Features: Balanced for drafting with enough commons and uncommons, but also packed with “booster fun” extras like alternate-art cards, foils, or List cards. They’re the go-to for both casual pack-opening and Limited play.
• Price: Priced slightly higher than the old Draft Boosters but aligned with the former Set Boosters (around $5-$7 per pack, depending on the set and retailer).
• Who It’s For: Players who want to draft or enjoy opening packs with a mix of playability and exciting pulls.

Draft Boosters (Discontinued)

• Purpose: Draft Boosters were the traditional packs optimized for Limited formats, especially Booster Draft and Sealed. They were the default for most of MTG’s history until phased out in 2024.
• Contents: Each pack had 15 cards (14 playable plus 1 token/ad):
  • 10 commons
  • 3 uncommons
  • 1 rare or mythic rare
  • 1 basic land
  • ~33% chance of a foil card replacing a common
• Key Features: Focused on functionality over flash—fewer rares and no special treatments like extended art or multiple rares. They were color-balanced and had more commons to support drafting.
• Price: Cheapest option historically (around $4-$5 per pack).
• Who It Was For: Players focused on drafting or Sealed events. Since they’re discontinued, you’ll only find them in older sets or secondary markets now.

Collector Boosters

• Purpose: Collector Boosters are premium packs aimed at collectors and players who want high-value, flashy cards. They’re not designed for drafting but for chasing rare and unique variants.
• Contents: Typically 15-16 cards (varies by set), heavily skewed toward rares and special treatments:
  • 5+ rares or mythic rares (often more)
  • Multiple foil cards (usually 10+)
  • Alternate-art cards (extended art, borderless, showcase frames)
  • Possible serialized cards or ultra-rare chase cards (set-dependent)
  • 1 foil token
• Key Features: Maximizes rarity and bling—fewer commons/uncommons, more foils, and exclusive treatments not found in other packs. They’re high-risk, high-reward, with potential for valuable pulls but also pricier duds.
• Price: Significantly more expensive (around $20-$30 per pack, depending on the set).
• Who It’s For: Collectors, investors, or players who love premium cards and don’t mind the cost for a shot at the rarest stuff.

Key Differences

• Play vs. Draft: Play Boosters replaced Draft Boosters, offering more rares and fun extras while still being draftable. Draft Boosters were simpler, cheaper, and had more commons, but they’re no longer in production.
• Play vs. Collector: Play Boosters are practical for gameplay and casual opening, with a moderate cost and balanced contents. Collector Boosters are a luxury product, loaded with rares and foils for collectors, at a much higher price.
• Draft vs. Collector: Draft Boosters were utilitarian and budget-friendly for Limited play, while Collector Boosters are the opposite—premium, rare-heavy, and not meant for drafting.

Since Draft Boosters are discontinued, the current choice is between Play Boosters (versatile, affordable) and Collector Boosters (premium, collectible). If you’re drafting or just want a fun pack to open, grab a Play Booster. If you’re hunting for shiny, rare cards and have the budget, go for a Collector Booster.