Magic boosters are getting a major shake-up in 2027

Wizards of the Coast is changing how Magic: The Gathering boosters work, beginning with Nauctis: The Sunken Realm, the first in-universe set of 2027. The announcement, made on 5th October, brings in God Packs and shifts away from cards that Wizards says many players are less excited to open. Wizards have said that no price rises will be associated with the changes.

Boosters and God Packs

Play Boosters will go back to being called Booster Packs. More importantly, about one in every 1,000 Booster Packs will be a God Pack, with every non-basic land card slotcontaining a rare or mythic rare. Each will include 10 regular-frame rares or mythics, two non-foil Booster Fun rares or mythics, two traditional-foil Booster Fun rares or mythics, and a special God Pack celebration card.

Collector Boosters will also have their own version, at roughly one in every 300 packs. These God Packs will contain a foil land, three foil regular-frame rares or mythics, three non-foil Booster Fun rares or mythics, five foil Booster Fun rares or mythics, and a celebration card.

What are Booster Fun?

For those not familiar with Magic: The Gathering terminology… Booster Fun is Wizards cath-all term for cards with special visual treatments, such as alternate frames, showcase designs, borderless or extended art, and some foil treatments. They usually have the same rules and card identity as the regular versions. The only thing that is different is how the card looks.

Foils No Longer Guaranteed

There are changes to the usual packs too. Booster Packs will no longer guarantee a foil card, and foil commons and uncommons are being removed completely. If a foil appears it will be a rare or mythic rare. Traiditional-foil Japan Showcase cards, previously exclusive to Collector Boosters, will also now be possible pulls in a Booster Pack’s wildcard slot. Wizards have also said that the drop rates for foil rares and mythics will be increased.

Collector Booster Changes

Collector Boosters will lose three foil common and uncommon slots, with the two commons and one uncommon cards removed and not replaced, so reducing the pack to 12 cards. Wizards says that this move will free up printing capacity for the new premium treatments and God Packs.

Starting in 2027…

The changes will apply first to Magic’s in-un iverse sets, starting with Nauctis: The Sunken Realm release in February 2027. Universe Beyond p[roducts are expected to adopt the new structure in 2028, but no news has been revealed whether God Packs will be appearing in MTG Arena or Magic Online.

Nauctis: The Sunken Realm

Nauctis: The Sunken Realm takes Magic to a new plane beneath the waves, wwith vast underwater cities and gods said to command the currents. Its inhabitants include merfolk, seals, homarids and a few daring humans. Wizards has described the set as an adventure through an ocean world stretching from the shallows to the abyss.

The story centres on tensions between two warring kingdoms, with a group of unlikely heroes having to act before their home is swallowed by the ocean’s depths.

The set is scheduled for release on 5th February 2007.