It seems that ever since it was decided to create a new set of boosters for Magic: The Gathering (MTG) there has been a lot of debate over which is better, and what might be their specific uses. I’m going to try and clear that up a little today, though. The main question we’re going to tackle though is “Can you play draft with set boosters?”
I have already created an article dedicated to explaining the differences between the draft boosters and set boosters, if you would like you can read it here. But for the sake of keeping it all in one place, let’s start once more with comparing the differences between the boosters.
What are Draft Boosters and Set Boosters?
Draft boosters are the traditional boosters used for drafting. Each draft booster contains 15 cards, including 1 rare or mythic rare, 3 uncommons, 10 commons, and 1 basic land or foil. The cards are chosen from the entire set and are meant to be played in a limited format, such as drafting.
On the other hand, set boosters are a newer type of booster pack designed to give players a different experience than draft boosters. Each set booster contains 12 to 14 cards, including 1 art card, 1 “head-turning” card, 1 wildcard rarity slot, and up to 4 rares or mythic rares. The focus is more on opening exciting cards and discovering new ones, rather than building a deck for limited play.
Can You Play Draft with Set Boosters?
Technically, you can use set boosters for drafting if you want to. However, it’s important to note that set boosters are not optimized for drafting, as they contain fewer cards and fewer uncommons, which are important for balancing limited play. Additionally, set boosters may contain cards that are not ideal for limited play, such as those that are designed for constructed formats.
If you do decide to use set boosters for drafting, you’ll need to make some adjustments to the drafting process. For example, you may need to open more boosters per player to ensure there are enough playable cards available. You may also need to modify the rarity distribution to ensure a balanced draft pool. These adjustments can be challenging, especially for newer players, and may detract from the fun of drafting.
The nice thing about Magic is that you can play it in many different ways, and adapt it to fit your needs. So if you get your hands on a couple of boxes of set boosters, I don’t see a problem with making your own at home “draft” tournament with friends!