MTG booster packs explained: Draft, Set, Collector, Play, and Jumpstart

Wizards prints up to five different booster pack types for a single MTG set. Same set, same cards, different pack experience and different price. This guide explains the difference so you don't accidentally pay $30 for a pack expecting Draft pack contents.

The five booster types

Draft Booster (~$4-5)

The classic format. 15 cards: 1 rare or mythic, 3 uncommons, 10 commons, 1 land. Designed for the Limited format — six players open three packs each and draft picks one at a time. If you're playing in a draft event at your local store, this is what you'll open.

Set Booster (~$5-6)

Discontinued in 2024 — Wizards merged it into the new "Play Booster." Older sets may still have these on shelves. Set Boosters had a fun-first design with extra rares and special slot variations, but were retired to simplify the lineup.

Play Booster (~$5-7)

The new default for most 2024+ sets. 14 cards including a guaranteed Land slot and a chance at multiple rares per pack. Designed to be both draftable and fun to open casually. This replaces both Draft and Set Boosters for newer products.

Collector Booster (~$25-30)

The premium pack: 15 cards, all foil or special-treatment (extended art, borderless, showcase frames). Always contains multiple rares and a guaranteed special-treatment rare. Expensive but maximally collectible. Worth it if you want shiny versions of the format's chase cards.

Jumpstart Booster (~$6)

20-card mini decks: pick two, shuffle them together, and you have a ready-to-play 40-card deck. Designed for new players or casual play. Some sets release Jumpstart-style products, others don't.

Pack vs box vs bundle

• Single pack: $4-30 depending on type.
• Booster box (30 Play Boosters or 36 Draft Boosters): ~$130-170. Best per-pack price, usually 20-30% less per pack than singles.
• Collector Booster box (12 packs): $300-400. The premium product.
• Bundle ($45-60): 8-10 Play Boosters + lands + dice. Designed for casual buyers; pack-for-pack worse value than a booster box but includes accessories.

Which should you buy?

• Drafting at the local shop? Don't buy packs — pay the draft entry fee and the shop will provide packs.
• Building decks from scratch? Buy a booster box of the current set, plus a precon for a Commander starting point. Often cheaper than buying singles for new players.
• Want the shiniest versions of chase cards? Collector Booster box. Or just buy the singles you want — often cheaper than gambling on packs.
• Chasing one specific card? Buy the single. Math is almost never in your favor opening packs to chase a single card.

Where to buy

Pre-order from a local game store before the set's release date for the best chance at MSRP. Big-box stores carry Play Boosters but rarely Collector Boosters or full box product. Find an MTG-stocking shop in your city.