Quick Answer
Booster Draft is one of the best ways to play MTG with a group. Everyone starts from scratch, building their deck from the same pool of cards opened on the night. No existing collection required. No tuned decks. Just the cards you draft. See current prices at /cards/mtg.
Booster Draft is one of the best ways to play MTG with a group. Everyone starts from scratch, building their deck from the same pool of cards opened on the night. No existing collection required. No tuned decks. Just the cards you draft.
This guide covers how to run a Draft at home in Australia: what to buy, how the format works, and how to make it a great night.
What Booster Draft Is
In a Booster Draft, each player opens a booster pack, takes one card, passes the remaining cards to the next player, takes one card from the pack they receive, and repeats until all cards are taken. This happens with three packs per player over three draft rounds.
After drafting, each player builds a 40-card minimum deck from their 45 drafted cards (plus as many basic lands as needed). Everyone plays matches against each other with these decks.
The appeal: every player builds under the same constraints from the same card pool. Skill in reading signals, understanding card synergies, and making pick decisions determines more than deck power.
What You Need
Players: 4 to 8 players. 8 is the traditional draft table size. 4 to 6 works well at home.
Booster packs: 3 packs per player. For 6 players: 18 packs. For 8 players: 24 packs.
Basic lands: each player needs access to basic lands to complete their deck. A land station in the middle of the table (a pile of each basic type that players draw from) is the standard approach. Most people have basic lands from previous purchases.
Tables, chairs, sleeves: optional but recommended. Draft pads or paper to note picks help some players.
Cost in Australia
A booster pack for most current MTG sets costs approximately AU$7 to AU$10.
For 6 players: 18 packs at AU$8 average = AU$144 total, or AU$24 per person. For 8 players: 24 packs at AU$8 average = AU$192 total, or AU$24 per person.
Each player keeps the cards they draft. The per-person cost is roughly equivalent to a good dinner out, and you get to keep the cards at the end.
How to Run the Draft
Seating: arrange players in a circle or at a table facing each other. Passing direction alternates per pack.
Pack 1: everyone opens their first pack simultaneously, removes the token/advertisement card (not drafted), takes one card, and passes the remaining cards clockwise. Continue until all cards are taken.
Pack 2: open second pack, pass counter-clockwise this time.
Pack 3: open third pack, pass clockwise again.
Signals: during the draft, the cards that come around tell you what others are drafting. If blue cards keep arriving late, blue is likely open (not being drafted heavily). This is "reading signals". adjusting your picks based on what's available.
Deckbuilding After the Draft
Each player takes their 45 drafted cards and builds a minimum 40-card deck. The typical ratio is:
- 17 lands
- 23 other cards
You don't use every drafted card. typically you'll have 45 cards to choose from and select your best 23 non-land cards. Cards not included in your deck are your "sideboard" and can be swapped between games in a match.
Two-colour decks are usually strongest in limited formats. Three colours can work with the right mana fixing.
Match Structure
Depending on your group and time, options are:
Swiss rounds: 3 rounds of 1v1 matches, paired by record. Everyone plays the same number of rounds. Works well for 8 players.
Round robin: everyone plays everyone else. Works for 4 to 6 players.
Free-for-all: just play matches casually with no formal structure. Easiest for home events.
What Set to Draft
Check what boosters are currently available in Australia. Sets released in the last 6 months are typically available at game stores. Older sets may require online purchasing.
Check the C3 shop for currently available booster boxes in Australia.
Tips for a Great Home Draft Night
Have basic lands ready before the night starts. Sorting through hundreds of basic lands mid-event slows things down. Pre-sort at least 30 of each type into a shared pile.
Use a draft timer if your group runs slow. 60 to 75 seconds per pick keeps packs moving. Call time verbally.
Record your draft if you want to improve. Taking a photo of each pick and the passed cards helps with analysis afterwards.
Start with a modern set. Some older formats have very complex card interactions. Recent sets are designed with draft complexity appropriate for moderate experience levels.
Check current MTG booster box prices in Australia at the C3 shop or browse singles at the C3 MTG card hub.
The Draft Mechanics in Detail
How to Pass Packs Correctly
With 8 players in pods of 8, each player opens Pack 1 simultaneously, selects one card, then passes the remaining cards to the left (clockwise). This continues until all cards from Pack 1 are selected. Then Pack 2 is opened and passed to the right (counter-clockwise). Pack 3 returns to clockwise.
The direction alternation ensures you see different cards from different players in each pack, reducing the ability to "signal" easily.
Pick Priority Basics
New drafters often don't know what to prioritise. General guidance:
Pick 1-3 (the early picks): Take the single best card in the pack regardless of colour. Don't commit to a colour yet.
Pick 4-8: Start noticing which colours are flowing to you (cards you want are still available late, meaning your neighbours aren't taking them). Begin consolidating toward two colours.
Pick 9+: Commit. Fill your curve. Take signals seriously.
Signals: If you see a strong card for a specific colour in pack 4 or later, it likely means the players passing to you aren't in that colour. This is a signal to consider moving in.
Building Your Sealed/Draft Deck
After the draft, players build a minimum 40-card deck (including lands) from their drafted cards. You keep all cards you drafted and can use any number of basic lands for free.
Standard Draft deck structure: 17 lands, 23 spells. Two colours. Removal first.
Keeping Track of the Draft
For larger drafts, using numbered seating (1 through 8) and consistent passing direction helps prevent confusion. Designate one player as the caller: they announce "open packs", "pick one", "pass" at each stage.
A timer helps: 75 seconds per pick in rounds 1-5, 60 seconds in rounds 6-10, 45 seconds for the remainder. This keeps the draft moving without rushing early picks.
Prizes and Incentives for Home Drafts
Home drafts don't need formal prizes, but having some reward for good performance encourages engagement:
Keep your picks: The draft prize is your drafted cards. This is the standard convention.
First pick bonus: The player who finishes first in the mini-tournament gets first selection from any remaining uncut packs.
Draft challenge: Each player secretly writes a prediction (e.g. "I will have 2 or more rares", "I will win at least 2 games"). Anyone who succeeds gets a bonus pack.
Current MTG Booster Boxes for Draft in Australia
Play Booster boxes (36 packs, 6 players) and Draft Booster boxes (36 packs, 6 players) both work for home draft. Check the C3 shop for confirmed current Australian availability.
Use the C3 EV Calculator to check whether the current box price is reasonable for a draft event before purchasing.
The C3 Take
The decisions you make with your TCG collection matter more than most guides suggest. Whether you are buying, selling, or holding, the difference between a good outcome and a poor one almost always comes down to checking current AUD prices before you act. Use the live data at /cards/mtg to make price-informed decisions every time.
What to Read Next
- Browse MTG singles and prices at /cards/mtg
- Find your MTG colour identity at /quizzes/mtg-colour
- Calculate booster box expected value at /tools
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I check current TCG card prices in Australia?
The C3 Card Vault shows live AUD pricing from eBay AU sold data across MTG, Pokemon, Lorcana, One Piece, Yu-Gi-Oh, Dragon Ball Super, Star Wars Unlimited, and Riftbound.
How do I compare card prices in Australia?
The C3 Card Compare tool lets you put up to four cards side by side and see current AUD buy prices, sell prices, and 14-day price trends simultaneously.
Where can I buy singles and sealed TCG products in Australia?
The C3 eBay store stocks singles across all 8 TCGs with Australian shipping. Sealed products are linked from the C3 shop.