How to Hold a Magic: The Gathering Booster Draft

Step-by-Step Guide

1. 1

   Step 1: Assemble a total of at least four players

   The boosters can be of any set, and in any mixture, but staying within a single block is usually best
   - for instance Mirage, Visions, Weatherlight or Tempest, Exodus, Stronghold.
   
   No more than three sets should be used, as you will need one of each booster for each player for each round., Drafts should be eight players or fewer
   - so if you have 16 players, you'll need two separate tables of
   8., The boosters should be of the same set for each round of the draft.
   
   If playing a single block, boosters should be passed out in the order of the block
   - i.e.
   
   Tempest then Stronghold then Weatherlight.,, You may choose to lower the time limit to 15 seconds if the players are all familiar with the set.,, Players are not permitted to preview the next deck while awaiting the judge's declaration.,,,,,,, Instruct the players to open their second pack.,,,, The final round proceeds as the prior two, each player selecting a card and passing the remains until the packs are once again empty., Place the players under a mindful eye to prevent cheating by adding in outside cards.
   
   Ideally, the players should have no contact with any cards except their drafted deck and basic land provided by the judge.
   
   Using the cards drafted, plus any basic lands as provided by the judge, the players should construct a 40-card-minimum play deck.
   
   All remaining cards become the sideboard.
   
   Formal play may require the players post a deck-list once their deck construction is complete.
   
   Unlike constructed play, booster draft rules allow for any number of a single card to be used in a deck. , Bracketed
   - The players are organized on a bracket chart, and are matched up randomly against an opponent.
   
   Bracketed can be played as single or double elimination.
   
   Round robin
   - Players play one round against each other opponent, after the final round, the players with the two best overall records play for the championship , Generally, there is a one hour time limit each round.
2. 2

   Step 2: Obtain three booster packs for each player.

3. 3

   Step 3: Randomly seat your players at the table.

4. 4

   Step 4: Pass out the first booster to each player.

5. 5

   Step 5: The judge should begin the instructions to the players before the drafting begins

6. 6

   Step 6: Instruct the players that each round they will have 30 seconds to view the cards in the pack and make a single card selection.

7. 7

   Step 7: Tell the players that once they have made their selection

8. 8

   Step 8: they need to pass the pack face-down to the player to their left in rounds one and three and to the right in round two.

9. 9

   Step 9: The judge will announce "pass" once the time limit is reached - the players may then view the next pack and the judge should start the timer.

10. 10

    Step 10: The judge shall set the countdown timer

11. 11

    Step 11: instruct the players to open the first pack

12. 12

    Step 12: and start the timer.

13. 13

    Step 13: Each player should sort through the cards in their pack

14. 14

    Step 14: select a single card that is placed on the table in front of them

15. 15

    Step 15: and set the remainder aside for the next player.

16. 16

    Step 16: Once the judge has called "pass" the player should pick up the pack passed to them from the adjacent player

17. 17

    Step 17: sort and select as in the prior step.

18. 18

    Step 18: The pick-and-pass process continues for 15 rounds until the first round packs are exhausted.

19. 19

    Step 19: After each round of the draft

20. 20

    Step 20: players may review their drafted cards for a predetermined amount of time (30-60 seconds is usually enough) before the next round begins.

21. 21

    Step 21: The judge should pass out the boosters for round two while the players review their cards.

22. 22

    Step 22: After the review period has passed

23. 23

    Step 23: the judge should remind the players to pass right in the second round.

24. 24

    Step 24: The second round proceeds as the first round

25. 25

    Step 25: each player picks-and-passes until the packs are empty.

26. 26

    Step 26: The judge should now instruct the players to review their cards for the predetermined time while passing out the final booster.

27. 27

    Step 27: Remind the players to pass to the left in round three.

28. 28

    Step 28: Instruct the players to open the final booster pack.

29. 29

    Step 29: The players must now split to construct their decks.

30. 30

    Step 30: The tournament can be organized in any manner the judge determines.

31. 31

    Step 31: Each round is best two of three games.

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