| Buyer’s Guide ✦ Magic: The Gathering |
✦ ✧ ★ ✧ ✦ ●●●●● Five colors of mana, one very good question: what do I open first? Magic: The Gathering · Product Guide Which Magic: The Gathering Product Should I Buy?Play Boosters, Collector Boosters, Bundles, Commander decks, Jumpstart and beginner boxes: what is inside each one, and who it is really for. |
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| Magic: The Gathering | TCG Pre-Orders | TCG New Releases | Card Protection |
A Play Booster display: thirty packs, the classic way to open a whole set.
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★ The quick answer What should I buy first? New to Magic? Start with a Beginner Box or Starter Kit. Want to play with friends in groups of four? Grab a Commander deck. Love opening packs and drafting? Play Boosters or a Bundle. Chasing the shiniest cards? Collector Boosters. Want quick, casual games with no deck-building? Jumpstart. |
Magic: The Gathering has been around since 1993, and the range of products can feel like a lot at first glance. The good news is that the choice mostly comes down to one question: how do you want to play? Below we walk through every main product type, what you actually get, and who it suits. Sets change all the time, so we use current releases only as examples. You can always browse the full Magic: The Gathering collection, keep an eye on TCG Pre-Orders for what is coming, or check TCG New Releases for what just landed.
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Want first word on new Magic sets and products? Tick “Magic: The Gathering” below and we’ll send you release and pre-order news for Magic. |
What is a Play Booster, and who is it for?
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Short answer A Play Booster is the standard Magic pack. It is built for drafting and for opening cards just for fun, and it is the best all-round choice for most players. |
Each Play Booster holds 14 Magic cards, laid out as commons, uncommons, a guaranteed rare or mythic rare, a basic land, a traditional foil, and a wildcard slot that can be any rarity. Wizards of the Coast introduced Play Boosters to combine the older Draft Booster and Set Booster into one pack, so the same product works for a draft night or for cracking packs at the kitchen table. A display (booster box) typically holds 30 Play Boosters.
They suit new players who want to learn how a set fits together, drafters who need a full table of packs, and anyone who enjoys the thrill of the opening. If you are building a collection over time, a display is the friendliest way to see most of what a set has to offer.
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What is a Collector Booster, and is it worth it?
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Short answer A Collector Booster is the premium pack. It is packed with foils and special card treatments, and it is made for collectors rather than for drafting. |
A Collector Booster typically holds 15 cards, and they lean heavily on premium cards: many foils, showcase, borderless and extended-art versions, and a strong share of rares and mythic rares. Wizards describes them as a shortcut to the coolest cards in a set. Because the contents are so different from a Play Booster, they are not designed for draft, and they cost noticeably more per pack. A Collector Booster display typically holds 12 packs.
If you love the art, the shiny treatments, or hunting for a particular chase card, this is your pack. If you mostly want to play games, put your budget into Play Boosters or a Commander deck instead.
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What is in a Bundle, and what is a Gift Bundle?
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Short answer A Bundle is a value-packed box of Play Boosters with extras, and it is a very easy first purchase for a set. A Gift Bundle typically adds a Collector Booster. |
A standard Bundle typically includes nine Play Boosters, a stack of basic lands, a traditional foil promo card and a handy storage box. Contents vary a little from set to set, and some Bundles add reference cards or an oversized spindown life counter. Gift Bundles (sometimes called Bundle Gift Editions) typically add a Collector Booster and a different foil promo, which makes them an easy present for a Magic fan who already has everything else.
Bundles suit players who want plenty of packs plus the lands to build a few decks, and they are a friendly way to prepare for a set release. Drafters who want a whole table ready to go can look at a Draft Night kit, which typically pairs 12 Play Boosters with a Collector Booster and a supply of basic lands.
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Which Commander deck is right for me?
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Short answer A Commander deck (often called a precon) is a complete, ready-to-play 100-card deck for multiplayer Commander games. It is the best pick if you want to play right away with friends. |
Commander is Magic’s most popular casual format, played in pods of usually four. Every Commander deck comes as a full 100-card deck built around a legendary commander, along with tokens and other extras, and usually a foil commander card. Each precon typically includes several brand-new cards, so many players buy them for the fresh additions and then upgrade over time. Not sure how strong a deck should be at your table? Our guide to the Commander Bracket system explains how players talk about power level.
Precons also make great gifts for lapsed players, and a pair of them lets two friends play each other straight out of the box. Collector’s Edition versions of some Commander decks add premium foil treatments, and they are aimed at collectors.
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Curious about what else a set can bring? Here is our look at the Marvel Super Heroes set, and a tour of the wizard school in Secrets of Strixhaven.
What is Jumpstart, and where should a brand-new player start?
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Short answer Jumpstart is a quick-play pack format with no deck-building. Beginner Boxes and Starter Kits are the gentlest way to learn the game from scratch. |
A Jumpstart booster holds 20 cards built around a theme, and it includes lands so you can play right away. Pick two packs, shuffle them together, and you have a 40-card deck ready for a game. A Jumpstart display typically holds 24 packs. It is a wonderful choice for casual game nights, for families, and for players who want to try many different themes without building a deck.
For someone who has never played, a Beginner Box typically contains ten themed half-decks along with playmats, tokens and how-to-play guides, so two people can learn together. A Starter Kit is another friendly on-ramp; depending on the set, it typically holds two ready-to-play 60-card decks with everything needed to learn and to teach. Both are perfect gifts for kids and for adults who want to give Magic a try.
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Magic product comparison: which one fits you?
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Short answer Choose by how you like to play: learn (Beginner Box or Starter Kit), Commander (precon), draft or open packs (Play Boosters, Bundle), collect (Collector Boosters), or play instantly (Jumpstart). |
| Product | What is inside | Best for |
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| Play Booster | 14 cards; at least 1 rare or mythic, a foil and a land | Drafters, new players, pack fans |
| Collector Booster | Typically 15 cards; many foils, showcase and borderless cards, several rares and mythics | Collectors, chase-card hunters |
| Bundle | Typically 9 Play Boosters, basic lands, a foil promo, storage box | Set-release prep, value seekers |
| Gift Bundle | Typically 9 Play Boosters plus 1 Collector Booster, lands and a foil promo | Gift-givers, fans of a set |
| Draft Night | Typically 12 Play Boosters, 1 Collector Booster and basic lands | Draft groups |
| Commander deck | 100-card ready-to-play deck, tokens, usually a foil commander | Commander players, multiplayer groups |
| Jumpstart booster | 20-card themed pack with lands; two packs make a 40-card deck | Casual games, families, quick play |
| Beginner Box / Starter Kit | Typically half-decks or two 60-card decks, plus guides and playmats | Brand-new players, kids, gifts |
Whatever you pick, a few sleeves and a deck box keep your new cards safe. Have a look at our card protection range to round out the order.
Magic: The Gathering product FAQ
What is the difference between a Play Booster and a Collector Booster?
A Play Booster holds 14 cards built for drafting and general play, with at least one rare or mythic and one foil. A Collector Booster typically holds 15 cards with a heavy share of foils, showcase and borderless treatments, and multiple rares and mythics. Collector Boosters are made for collecting rather than drafting.
What should a beginner buy first?
A Beginner Box or a Starter Kit. They come with ready-to-play decks and learn-to-play materials. If you already know the basics and have friends who play Commander, a Commander deck is the best next step.
How many cards are in a Commander deck?
A Commander deck contains 100 cards, ready to play straight out of the box, and comes with tokens and usually a foil commander.
What is in a Magic Bundle?
A Bundle typically includes nine Play Boosters, basic lands, a foil promo card and a storage box. A Gift Bundle typically adds a Collector Booster. Exact extras vary from set to set.
What is Jumpstart?
Jumpstart is a quick-play format. Each 20-card booster is built around a theme, and two packs combine to make a 40-card deck you can play right away, with no deck-building needed.
Which Magic product is the best gift?
For a new player, a Beginner Box or Starter Kit. For an existing fan, a Gift Bundle or a Commander deck. For a collector, a Collector Booster or Collector Booster display.
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✦ Bring your new cards to the table Magic is best shared. Saga runs events and welcomes newcomers, so ask us about our events next time you visit, and we will help you find a game. Not sure what to pick? Come and talk to us about it. |
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✧ ★ ✧ ●●●●● Find your next pack May your mana always be perfectly colored. Want to hear about new Magic sets first? Tick “Magic: The Gathering” below.
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Product images © Wizards of the Coast. Card counts and contents from magic.wizards.com product guides and set collecting guides; contents vary by set. Prices and stock checked September 2026 and may change.
