Chaos Draft is a Magic: The Gathering format where the packs in your draft come from different sets. Pick one card at a time from mixed packs, pass the rest, then build a 40-card deck from what you drafted and play against the other drafters. Wizards' own guide calls it just like any other Draft, with one twist: the packs are a mix of sets, so no two drafts are alike. If you've never played Magic before, this guide walks you through Chaos Draft one step at a time, with no experience needed.
Last checked: October 3, 2026. The format details below come from Wizards' How to Chaos Draft article. Chaos Draft is a casual draft style, so groups set it up in slightly different ways. Ask your host how they run it. New to drafting in general? Our Booster Draft guide covers the basics step by step.
Download the free printable quick guide (PDF)
Two pages you can print and keep next to your cards while you learn.
Want the full official rules? Visit Wizards' official How to Play page (magic.wizards.com).
What do you need to play Chaos Draft?
- 3 booster packs, ideally each from a different set. How they reach the table depends on your group, see below.
- No existing deck or collection needed, everything you play comes from your picks.
- Ask your host whether basic lands are provided.
How is Chaos Draft different from Booster Draft?
In a regular Booster Draft, every player opens packs from the same set. In a Chaos Draft, the packs come from as many different sets as the group can gather. Everything else works the same way: you pick, pass, build a 40-card deck and play best-of-3 matches. The twist is what you see in the packs: cards from different years of Magic, with very uneven power levels, side by side.
Beginner trap
Cards that need their own set's theme get weak here. A card that rewards you for having lots of enchantments is great in a set full of enchantments, but not when the next pack comes from somewhere else. When two picks are close, take the card that works well on its own.
How do the packs get to the table?
Groups usually do it one of two ways. Ask your host which one you're doing.
- Bring your own. Each player brings 3 packs, and the group tries to include as many different sets as possible.
- The host mixes them. The host gathers packs from different sets and hands them out at random.
Don't have a stack of old packs? Wizards describes Mystery Booster as a chaos draft in a pack, built mostly from reprints of cards from throughout Magic's history.
What do Chaos Draft cards actually look like?
Here are eight real cards from eight different sets, spread across almost 30 years of Magic. In one Chaos Draft you could see all of them. They are examples, not a shopping list. Tap or click any card to see it full-size.
How does the pick-and-pass work?
Open your first pack, pick 1 card and set it face down, then pass the rest of the pack to your neighbor. You'll get a pack from your other neighbor, pick another card, and pass again. Repeat until every pack is empty. Pass left for pack 1, right for pack 2 and left again for pack 3. Keep your picks face down and hidden. The Booster Draft guide has the full walkthrough.
What should you pick?
Wizards' guide says the cards that are strong in any format are strong here too: bombs, removal, evasive creatures and burn spells. A bomb is a card that can win the game on its own. Stay open to any color for your first few picks, because you will see cards you've never heard of, and take the strongest one. Skip cards that depend on a narrow theme from their own set, since a deck made of mixed packs may only have one or two other cards that fit.
What if you don't know a card?
That will happen a lot, and it's part of the format. Read the card. Its text tells you what it does. Look it up by name on Scryfall or Gatherer, or just ask the table or a staff member.
Older cards, older wording
The Fourth Edition Pestilence says “bury” on the card, a word Magic no longer uses. Its current wording says “sacrifice” instead. Scryfall and Gatherer show the current wording, so check there when an old card looks strange.
How do you build your deck?
After the draft, build a deck of at least 40 cards using only cards from your own pool, plus as many basic lands as you need. There's no maximum size, and unlike Constructed formats you're not limited to 4 copies of a card. Cards you don't use become your sideboard, which you can swap in between games of a match. Aim for about 17 lands and stick to 2 colors for your first deck.
How does the event run?
- Draft: open and draft all 3 packs.
- Build: build your 40-card deck. There's a time limit, so plan ahead.
- Play: play matches against the other drafters, best 2 of 3 games, usually with Swiss pairings.
Times can vary by store, so confirm before the draft starts. Wizards notes that Chaos Draft games tend to run a little long, since everyone is getting to know each other's cards.
Three Chaos Draft myths, busted
“I have to know every card from every set.”
FactWizards says even a passing knowledge of the sets helps, and you can always read or look up a card you don't know.
“It's all luck.”
FactWizards says Chaos Draft rewards understanding which cards stand out in Limited, so picking well still matters.
“My deck will be as balanced as in a normal draft.”
FactPower level varies a lot from card to card. Expect a few surprises, good and bad.
Common keywords
| Keyword | What it means |
|---|---|
| Flying | Can only be blocked by creatures with flying or reach. |
| Trample | Extra damage beyond lethal spills past a blocker. |
| Deathtouch | Any amount of damage from it is lethal. |
| First / Double Strike | Deals damage before other creatures, or twice. |
| Vigilance | Doesn't tap when it attacks. |
| Removal | Community term for a spell or ability that destroys or neutralizes a creature. |
| Bomb | Community term for a card that can win the game on its own. |
What are the best tips for your first Chaos Draft?
What to bring to your first night
- Your 3 booster packs, ideally each from a different set, if your host asks players to bring them. Ask first.
- Something to track your life total, like dice, a pen and paper, or a phone app.
- A phone for looking up cards on Scryfall or Gatherer.
- The printable quick guide from this page, and your questions. We're happy to answer them.
Quick reference
| Packs | 3 per player, ideally each from a different set |
| Draft | 1 card per pick, pass left, then right, then left |
| Deck | 40 cards minimum, only your drafted pool plus basic lands |
| Event | Draft, then build, then play (Swiss, best of 3) |
| Win | Reduce your opponent to 0 life, or outlast an empty library |
Printable quick guide
Everything above fits on two printable pages. Print it double-sided and keep it at the table.
Download the printable guide (PDF)
Official Magic rules and tools (free)
Wizards of the Coast posts the official rules and guides for free.
- How to Chaos Draft: Wizards' own guide to the format.
- Booster Draft format page: the official overview of drafting.
- Gatherer: Wizards' card database, handy for cards you don't know.
- Comprehensive Rules: every Magic rule in full detail, for when a card does something tricky.
Where can you play Chaos Draft near Newport, TN?
Landfall Outpost is a Magic: The Gathering store at 138 North St, Newport, TN 37821, and new players are always welcome. Not sure what to bring to a Chaos Draft? Ask us and we'll help you get ready. Pick up singles, sealed product and supplies in our Magic: The Gathering collection, and check our events page or ask us in the store to see what's on the schedule. Free on-site parking.