On October 4, 2025, another Magic The Gathering match in the Mystery Booster Draft format took place in Podgorica. Six players participated in the competition. The strongest player emerged victorious!!!
It turned out to be Balša Božović! Congratulations to the winner!
What is the Draft format?
Draft is a Limited format:
– each player receives 3 booster packs;
– you open the first one, choose 1 card, pass the rest to your neighbor (the direction of passing changes with each booster), and so on until the pack is empty;
– from the set of chosen cards (usually ~42-45 cards), you build a deck of at least 40 cards (including lands).
Draft values: versatile removal, a tempo-driven mana curve, splash lock, and synergies-a nice bonus if they click.
What is the Mystery set and why is it perfect for Chaos Draft?
Mystery Booster is a gigantic collection of reprints from throughout the history of MTG, designed specifically for the feeling of chaos without the broken playability of chaos drafts from random sets. Key Facts:
- Two versions: Convention Edition (with an R&D “playtest” card inside) and Retail Edition (available in stores). Both were released in 2019-2020. Only regular reprints are draft-legal; playtest cards from the Convention Edition are draft-legal only.
- Pool Size: The core set contains 1,694 different cards, distributed across fixed “sheets” of slots to ensure a wild but functional draft. Cards feature a small white planeswalker symbol at the bottom, indicating “mystery” print.
How Booster Packs Work
- Convention Edition: 15 cards, including a “special slot”- one test card (a black-and-white “playtest” card from R&D), legal for draft play.
- Retail Edition: Instead of a test card, a foil slot is made from a separate sheet of 121 cards. Typical collection: 2 W/2 U/2 B/2 R/2 G common/uncommon, 1 multi, 1 art/land, 1 pre-M15 old-framed card, 1 post-M15 red/mythic, 1 foil from a curated list.
How this affects the draft
- Synergy is difficult to build, the pool is huge, and specific uncommons/engines are rare; play based on quality, removal, and curve.
- Fixation is important: too many “random” powerful cards can push you to splash-value dual-lands/mana-rocks.
- Test cards (Convention) add unexpected effects and a mini-format of “Un-vibes”-they are only legal in the draft itself.
The most interesting and expensive Mystery cards (Retail/MB1)
Prices vary greatly depending on the edition and condition; Below are the October 2025 price targets according to consolidated guides/stores.
- Mana Crypt is the most expensive Mystery hit, often $100+ for the MB1 version.
- Rhystic Study is a staple of Commander; the Mystery version is often around $50-65 on display.
- Teferi’s Protection is a top-of-the-line instant for white EDH decks, usually $35-45 depending on the state/platform.
- Demonic Tutor is a timeless classic; often $35-45+ for the Mystery print.
And, of course, we can’t avoid some off-topic information.
As always, a trip to Podgorica is unforgettable! It was no different this time! Our hospitable friends entertained us with pleasant conversation, a great walk, and created a generally vibrant atmosphere. After a pleasant dinner, we stopped for a beer at Bogart and spent the evening there enjoying karaoke!
The next day, we had a mushroom picking trip. The weather forecast wasn’t great, so we decided to go to the katun near Grlo Sokolovo. We didn’t find any mushrooms, but we had a wonderful walk, saw stunning panoramas, snow on the high mountains, and got a little chilly. The temperature was around 6 degrees Celsius at 1,400 meters above sea level. Then it started to rain.
We got caught in the rain in Bar, and later in the evening, a real storm hit!
Want the same?
If you’ve been eyeing MTG for a while or just miss drafts, join the next match. Mystery Boosters are the perfect way to get a dose of nostalgia and unexpected combos. Stay tuned for announcements, gather your friends, and come – there’s a place for everyone!
See you at the next draft at Bike Tavern Podgorica or Club «Starlight» Magic The Gathering Bar!
