Booster Battle Pack Opening and Games
Have you been wondering what the Shadows over Innistrad Booster Battle Pack is all about, what comes inside the box, or how it plays? Well, today, I'll be cracking open one of the Shadows over Innistrad Booster Battle Packs so we can see what's inside, and then Richard and I will head to Magic Online to battle the two 30-card decks against each other and see how it plays!
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Booster Battle Pack Opening
Booster Battle Pack Games
Discussion
The idea of the Booster Battle Pack is pretty simple. You buy one product for $9.99 and sit down with a friend to play a game of Magic. You each get one of five 30-card preconstructed decks (shown below) and one Shadows over Innistrad booster pack per person. The preconstructed decks are the same as the free decks available at your local game store for new Magic players. After picking a deck, you crack open your booster, use it to customize your deck, and then battle!
The upside of the product is that it allows for a quick, easy, and inexpensive two-player game of Magic. You don't have to worry about buying multiple products or even building a deck. If you buy a Booster Battle Pack, you should be ready to start playing Magic within a couple minutes of opening the box. The Shadows over Innistrad Booster Battle Pack comes with simple, easy-to-follow instructions, and the decks are pretty straightforward, making them an ideal starting point for new players. Plus, you get two boosters, so you get to play the lotto and possibly open a sweet (and expensive) Rare or Mythic.
The downside of the Booster Battle Pack is that the gameplay isn't that great, especially if you are an established player. If you've never played Magic before, the simplicity of the decks offers a good starting point and a way to learn without being overwhelmed, but for me it felt like I was playing bad limited. Another issue is that the games tend to be dominated by bombs. Since the decks only contain 30 cards, the odds that you draw your Sphinx of Magosi or Shivan Dragon are pretty good, and in the games Richard and I played, it felt like whoever drew their Rare flier first was guaranteed the win. I can't even imagine how lopsided the games would be if only one player opened an on-color Mythic Rare.
Is it worth it to buy a Shadows over Innistrad Booster Battle Pack? It depends on your goal. If you are hoping to make a good financial decision, probably not. You'd be better off buying an extra booster pack, since the preconstructed decks are completely bulk. If you've been playing Magic for any amount of time, I expect that the format will get old pretty quickly. While you might have fun trying it once, it isn't something that's going to keep your attention. You're better off going to your local gaming store for FNM or drafting.
On the other hand, if you are brand new to Magic (and can't get the preconstructed decks from your local gaming store), picking up a Booster Battle Pack is a fine idea. You're only paying an extra $2 for the preconstructed decks, and while they aren't valuable, they are a great way to learn the game and are fairly well constructed for brand-new players.
Decklists
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Conclusion
Anyway, that's all for today. Make sure to leave any questions you have in the comments, and you can reach me on Twitter @SaffronOlive, or at SaffronOlive@MTGGoldfish.com.
