The Magic: the Gathering Buyers Guide – Booster Packs, Boxes, Bundles and Decks
Set Booster Packs
Description: Individual 12-card packs (guaranteed one rare or mythic rare and one foil)
Average Price: $5.99
Advantages:
- Availability
- Low commitment
Set Boosters offer a solution for those seeking to obtain new cards at a reasonable cost while having the best chance of using them immediately in their decks or in constructing new ones. These boosters contain twelve Magic cards, a magnificent art card, and either a token or an ad card.
They were created to evoke feelings of excitement as you explore the entire pack and see the themes and concepts that are unique to the set it hails from. In addition to containing one guaranteed rare or mythic rare card and one guaranteed foil card, they also possess the potential of additional rare or mythic rare cards. By checking out the commons and uncommons, you can gain an understanding of the set's mechanics and discern potential ideas for new decks.
Draft Booster Packs
Description: Individual 15-card packs (guaranteed one rare or mythic rare and one foil)
Average Price: $5.99
Advantages:
- Availability
- Low commitment
Draft Boosters are a bit different, but equally fun to bust open. Draft Boosters are designed to be the packs used when drafting or playing Sealed Magic. So not only are they useful for expanding your collection, they can be used to organize your own drafts with your friends.
They have fifteen Magic cards, breaking down to eleven commons, three uncommons, and a rare or mythic rare, plus an ad or token card. The commons and uncommons in Draft Boosters aren’t themed like in Set Boosters, so you will get a more random selection of cards from the set.
Collector Booster Packs
Description: Individual 15-card packs with multiple rares, mythic rares, and special version cards.
Average Price: $34.99
Advantages:
- High Value Cards
- Unique Versions
Collector Boosters are a whole other experience for cracking packs. Collector Boosters are aimed at players looking to collect as many alternate art and foil cards as possible. Only nine of the fifteen cards are common or uncommon, and they are all foil, while the rest of the pack is made up of rares or mythic rares, alternate art or frame cards, and any special versions of cards in the set.
For example, Ikoria Collector Boosters gave you a good chance of opening the Godzilla cards, Kaldheim included the special Viking framed cards, and Strixhaven had cards from the Mystical Archive.
If you want a chance at the most rare versions of cards in a particular set, Collector Boosters are a great option.
Magic Bundles
Description: Box containing 10 boosters and other bonuses
Average Price: $59.99
Advantages:
- Great Starting Point For a Collection
- Additional Items
Another option for those looking to open some packs and start their collection with a little boost is a Set Bundle. Each set has a bundle that includes Set Boosters; a foil promo card; 40 basic lands, half of which are foil; a spindown twenty-sided die; and a storage box for the cards.
Bundles make a great purchase for new players that want to kick start their collection or for players that want a starting selection of cards from the latest set release.
What should I buy to start playing Magic?
Magic: The Gathering 2022 Starter Kit
Learn how to play in person and online with two ready-to-play decks (each with five rare cards!) and codes to play with a friend online in MTG Arena.
The interactive online tutorial and included Play Guide booklet will teach you the basics before you immerse yourself in a thrilling, strategic game that's never the same twice.
Here's everything included in each Magic: The Gathering 2022 Starter Kit:
- 2 Ready-to-play 60-card decks—1 White-Blue deck and 1 Red-Green deck
- 1 Magic Play Guide booklet
- 2 Deck boxes
- Codes for two people to unlock both decks to play online in MTG Arena
- 5 Rare cards—including 1 rare foil card—in each deck
For brand new players to Magic: the Gathering, the Starter Kit is the perfect way to learn the game and start collecting at the same time.
Jumpstart 2022 Packs
Another great product for new players are Jumpstart 2022 packs. Jumpstart is a fun, unique way to pick up and play Magic. By combining any two Jumpstart booster packs, you’ll create your own 40-card themed deck—and you’re ready to go. Skip the deck building and jump right into playing games of Magic. It’s a perfect way to quickly learn and play the game, or to teach new players!
Each Jumpstart booster pack has 20 cards, including lands, centered around a randomized theme. Mix and match from two booster packs to find and create some hilarious combos.
Buying Specific Cards/Singles
We've now explored Magic's main ways of obtaining semi-random cards, but there's always another route—buying the specific cards you want for your deck. This works well when you know exactly what you want and aren't interested in extra fluff or already have additional commons, uncommons, and rares.
We sell the vast majority of Magic cards in print on our online store and in person. Browse the shop and find the perfect card for your deck right here.
Magic also offers prebuilt commander and planeswalker decks to consider, where you can look up the cards you'll receive ahead of time.
Preconstructed Decks
Another way to get right into playing Magic is a preconstructed deck, or “precon.” Preconstructed decks come in a variety of offerings and are ready to shuffle up and play right out of the box.
There is a huge variety of preconstructed products for you to choose from, from different colours and themes, to characters and planeswalkers.
Commander Preconstructed Decks
First up are the Commander precons. Each new set has a varying number of preconstructed decks specifically made for the Commander format to get you right into the multiplayer action. Each deck includes 99 cards and a specific legendary creature the deck is built around, some tokens, a life tracker, and a “learn to play Commander” insert.
Challenger Decks
Perhaps you are looking to scratch a more competitive itch? Then Challenger Decks will be right up your alley. Challenger Decks are preconstructed 60-card Standard decks with a 15-card sideboard that can hold their own at FNM or a Standard event. The decks also come with tokens, tip cards, and a deck box. These decks are packed with competitive-playable rares and offer a cohesive strategy that can be customized later with additional cards. Challenger Decks are offered each year and cater to a variety of styles.
This guide should give you a pretty good idea of what kinds of products to consider buying to build your Magic collection.
