Things You'll Need:
- Opponents: a total of 8 players is ideal.
- <br>Three unopened "Magic: The Gathering" booster packs per player
- <br>Lots of basic land
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Step 1
Distribute three booster packs to each player. If the cards are not going to be returned to a common pool at the end, each player should pay for his own packs. Also, each player should have booster packs from the same three sets. While traditional drafting is generally done from sets in the same block, as long as each player has the same three packs, it doesn't matter too much.
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Step 2
Have all players sit in a circle around a table. You'll want at least four players in total for a draft, and probably not more than 11 at one table. If you have 12 people or more, consider splitting into two smaller circles. Once you have established your circles, each player opens the booster pack from the set designated as first.
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Step 3
Once you have opened your pack, select the one card out of the whole pack that you wish to keep for constructing a deck. Set this card aside, and pass the rest of the pack to your left. You will receive a pack missing one card. Again, select one card to set aside from this new pack, and pass the remaining cards to the left. Continue in this manner until everyone has been passed the final card of a pack.
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Step 4
Each player now opens the booster pack of the second set, and follows Step 3 again, except cards are passed right for the second pack instead of left. Finally, open the third pack and repeat Step 3, passing right.
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Step 5
Once all packs have been drafted, players must build the best deck possible with the cards they have chosen. Basic land is available to anyone, but otherwise each player's deck must consist only of cards he has chosen during the draft. Minimum deck size is 40 cards including a hefty portion of basic land, with the result that players will generally use roughly half of the 45 cards drafted.
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Step 6
Once decks are built, players duel each other in whatever manner is desired. Standard rules for an 8-person elimination draft have each dueling pair of opponents play best 2 out of 3, with winners advancing to the next round.
