Now that Magic: The Gathering Foundations is fully revealed, we can begin to look at limited, getting familiar with the cards and focusing on the color pairs and what they have in store for us.
The paper prerelease will be playable starting this Friday, November 8th, while the digital prerelease on MTG Arena will be available as soon as the new set is imported, scheduled for November 12th.
The first thing you need to know to understand the Foundations limited is that this set will exceptionally be legal in Standard for at least the next 5 years, and this obviously affects the quality of the cards. It can't be too high to avoid them monopolizing the format and making it stagnant for years.
Foundations is therefore very much in line with the old Core Sets, and this is also reflected in limited with very classic archetypes, to give a basic understanding of the role of each color pair, and with the total absence of new mechanics.
The latter are in fact taken from past sets and are not particularly complex, so that even those who play them for the first time can easily activate them in the correct way simply by developing their own game.
These are: threshold, raid, and morbid, which, as we will see, characterize three different color pairs, in addition to flashback, prowess, landfall, and kicker.
Mechanics that we often find also in the signpost uncommons, present in one per guild, and that provide a preview of the archetype and its strategy.
Azorius: Fliers
Cards:
Spectral Sailor, Healer's Hawk, Aegis Turtle, Youthful Valkyrie, Mischievous Mystic, Brineborn Cutthroat, Strix Lookout, Cathar Commando, Helpful Hunter, Run Away Together, Essence Scatter, Think Twice, Goldvein Pick, Mischievous Pup, Dauntless Veteran, Dazzling Angel, Mocking Sprite, Erudite Wizard, Twinblade Blessing, Faebloom Trick, Refute, Heraldic Banner, Angel of Finality, Clinquant Skymage, Vanguard Seraph, Bigfin Bouncer, Squad Rallier, Serra Angel, Skyship Buccaneer, Icewind Elemental, Guarded Heir.
Azorius is based on fliers, setting up an aggro-tempo strategy that aims to race the opponent in the sky! Empyrean Eagle acts as a lord for almost all creatures in this color pair and is particularly synergistic with Faebloom Trick, powering up two pieces. The latter also allows you to tap an enemy creature, gaining tempo and giving you an advantage on the race, as does the life gain of Healer's Hawk and Dazzling Angel.
Combo:
- Mischievous Pup/Run Away Together + Resolute Reinforcements/Guarded Heir = Both Humans are only 1/1 but they make 2-for-1 when they enter. By returning them to your hand they can be replayed, gaining further value.
- Mischievous Mystic + Icewind Elemental/Skyship Buccaneer = Mystic gives you a 1/1 Faerie the first time you draw a card on your turn, in addition to that one in the draw step, and this happens effortlessly with everything that draws when it enters. For extra value, you can use also Strix Lookout and Spectral Sailor.
- Clinquant Skymage + Arcane Epiphany = Even more simply, Clinquant Skymage grows with every card drawn and is particularly insidious when drawing on the opponent's turn and using it as an unexpected blocker, taking three +1/+1 counters with Arcane Epiphany that cost only 4 mana!
Dimir: Graveyard
Cards:
Spectral Sailor, Aegis Turtle, Mischievous Mystic, Reassembling Skeleton, Strix Lookout, Burglar Rat, Essence Scatter, Think Twice, Macabre Waltz, Rune-Sealed Wall, Cephalid Inkmage, Vampire Nighthawk, Gutless Plunderer, Erudite Wizard, Seeker's Folly, Refute, Clinquant Skymage, Micromancer, Billowing Shriekmass, Crypt Feaster, Lightshell Duo, Soul-Shackled Zombie, Revenge of the Rats, Zombify, Uncharted Voyage, Icewind Elemental, Vampire Soulcaller, Arcane Epiphany, Arbiter of Woe, Self-Reflection, Tolarian Terror.
Dimir is based on the graveyard and the return of the mechanic threshold, originally from Odyssey. Draw-discard, mill, and surveil are all tricks to send at least 7 cards to the graveyard quickly and get boosts with this ability. A rich graveyard is also beneficial for flashback, as well as the Disentomb and Reanimate effects.
Combo:
- Micromancer + Undying Malice = The Wizard can tutor Undying Malice, so you can cast it when it's killed to make it trigger again. You can also tutor Fleeting Distraction to draw and make a 2-for-1, or take Eaten Alive and turn it into removal.
- Mischievous Mystic + Dreadwing Scavenger = Dreadwing Scavenger draws a card when it enters or attacks, and this adds a 1/1 Faerie each turn.
- 2x Inspiration from Beyond + Revenge of the Rats = By casting Inspiration from Beyond to get another Inspiration from Beyond back to the graveyard, the sorcery doesn't exile, and you can repeat the process, maybe using Mocking Sprite to discount the spells. This way you can mill your entire deck and use Revenge of the Rats' flashback as a win condition!
Rakdos: Raid
Cards:
Diregraf Ghoul, Infestation Sage, Frenzied Goblin, Fanatical Firebrand, Ravenous Amulet, Eaten Alive, Vengeful Bloodwitch, Vampire Gourmand, Reassembling Skeleton, Slumbering Cerberus, Hungry Ghoul, Sanguine Syphoner, Burglar Rat, Axgard Cavalry, Macabre Waltz, Quick-Draw Katana, Vampire Nighthawk, Infernal Vessel, Brazen Scourge, Gutless Plunderer, Goblin Boarders, Midnight Snack, Goblin Surprise, Strongbox Raider, Battlesong Berserker, Sower of Chaos, Soul-Shackled Zombie, Juggernaut, Involuntary Employment, Dragon Trainer, Gorehorn Raider, Vampire Soulcaller.
Rakdos is one of the most aggressive archetypes and focuses on attacking basically every turn to trigger raid. Just like its signpost, Perforating Artist, most of the creatures put a lot of offensive pressure on the opponent, gaining buffs and benefits with every attack performed, without having to worry too much about the casualties in battle, like with Infestation Sage, Infernal Vessel, or Vengeful Bloodwitch.
Combo:
- Involuntary Employment + Vampire Gourmand/Hungry Ghoul/Ravenous Amulet = The most classic Rakdos combo! Steal an enemy creature, attack, and sacrifice it with one of the sac outlets for value.
- Infestation Sage/Burglar Rat/Infernal Vessel + Eaten Alive/Ravenous Amulet = Three creatures that can be played on a curve, great to sacrifice for value, acting as removal or draw spells.
- Reassembling Skeleton + Ravenous Amulet = As an improvement to the previous combo, here you can draw a card per turn with only 3 mana! After you activated the artifact several times, you can also sacrifice it with its second ability and take away the opponent's remaining life!
Gruul: Power
Cards:
Frenzied Goblin, Llanowar Elves, Adventuring Gear, Nessian Hornbeetle, Slumbering Cerberus, Courageous Goblin, Axgard Cavalry, Wary Thespian, Dwynen's Elite, Gnarlid Colony, Bulk Up, Eager Trufflesnout, Brazen Scourge, Ambush Wolf, Beast-Kin Ranger, Garruk's Uprising, Heraldic Banner, Elvish Regrower, Dwynen, Gilt-Leaf Daen, Battlesong Berserker, Sower of Chaos, Spitfire Lagac, Cackling Prowler, Juggernaut, Needletooth Pack, Gorehorn Raider, Elfsworn Giant, Shivan Dragon, Affectionate Indrik, Quakestrider Ceratops, Apothecary Stomper.
Gruul is aggressive and large, synergizing with creatures with power 4 or greater. While the signpost Ruby, Daring Tracker is great because it gets +2/+2 in combat, the best comes with Nessian Hornbeetle and Garruk's Uprising, which can trigger as early as turn 3 with Slumbering Cerberus.
Combo:
- Treetop Snarespinner + Bushwhack/Bite Down = Because of deathouch, the Spider can eliminate any enemy creature with a fight or a bite.
- Eager Trufflesnout + Quick-Draw Katana/Blanchwood Armor = Eager Trufflesnout is as offensive as it is fragile! Let's eliminate this weakness by giving it +2/+0 and first strike, which, in addition to its trample, will turn it into a terrible threat, also giving us a Food token when the damage reaches the opponent.
- Quakestrider Ceratops + Battlesong Berserker/Garruk's Uprising = This Dinosaur is huge but can be easily chumpblocked for a few turns! Let's make it evasive then, giving it menace with Battlesong Berserker or trample with Garruk's Uprising!
Selesnya: +1/+1 Counters
Cards:
Mild-Mannered Librarian, Llanowar Elves, Healer's Hawk, Snakeskin Veil, Fleeting Flight, Wildwood Scourge, Nessian Hornbeetle, Youthful Valkyrie, Sun-Blessed Healer, Ajani's Pridemate, Gnarlid Colony, Wary Thespian, Cathar Commando, Mischievous Pup, Inspiring Call, Felling Blow,Inspiring Paladin, Beast-Kin Ranger, Twinblade Blessing, Elvish Regrower, Cackling Prowler, Treetop Snarespinner, Felidar Savior, Squad Rallier, Needletooth Pack,Armasaur Guide, Affectionate Indrik, Apothecary Stomper.
Selesnya cares about +1/+1 counters, allowing even the smallest creatures to grow into huge threats. Good-Fortune Unicorn is a great early game card to power up your entire team and activate synergies, perhaps even using ambivalent creatures in other guilds, such as: Youthful Valkyrie from Azorious fliers, Ajani's Pridemate from Orzhov life gain, Nessian Hornbeetle from Gruul power, Needletooth Pack from Golgari morbid, and Felidar Savior from Boros aggro.
Combo:
- Wildwood Scourge+ Good-Fortune Unicorn/Nessian Hornbeetle = When some +1/+1 counters are put on a creature, Wildwood Scourge gets one too. It's perfect then with a counter engine like Good-Fortune Unicorn or Nessian Hornbeetle, getting bigger every turn.
- Beast-Kin Ranger + Twinblade Blessing = Ranger has trample, and it grows for every creature that enters, perfect for taking Twinblade Blessing's double strike and dealing a huge amount of damage!
- Armasaur Guide + Fishing Pole = Not only does Guide's vigilance synergize with Fishing Pole, as you can attack and activate its ability at the end of your opponent's turn, but the artifact synergizes with Armasaur Guide, creating Fish tokens that will help it trigger.
Orzhov: Life Gain
Cards:
Scoured Barrens, Healer's Hawk, Joust Through, Vengeful Bloodwitch, Ajani's Pridemate, Sun-Blessed Healer, Cathar Commando, Helpful Hunter, Burglar Rat, Sanguine Syphoner, Exsanguinate, Vampire Nighthawk, Stromkirk Bloodthief, Cat Collector, Dauntless Veteran, Mischievous Pup, Marauding Blight-Priest, Dazzling Angel, Midnight Snack, Felidar Savior, Squad Rallier, Vanguard Seraph, Soul-Shackled Zombie, Bake into a Pie, Tragic Banshee, Armasaur Guide, Vampire Soulcaller, Guarded Heir, Arbiter of Woe.
Orzhov is all about life gain, which not only helps you outlast your opponent but also activates several synergies. Fiendish Panda, for example, as well as Ajani's Pridemate, grows enormously with each instance of life gain and does not leave you empty-handed after an enemy removal spell. Cat Collector makes board instead, while Marauding Blight-Priest and Midnight Snack take care of turning your life gain into life loss for the opponent.
Combo:
- Dazzling Angel + Marauding Blight-Priest = Classic drain life combo! You gain life for each of your creatures that enters, and your opponent loses that much life.
- Ajani's Pridemate/Fiendish Panda/Cat Collector + Dazzling Angel/Healer's Hawk/Vampire Nighthawk = As mentioned, you can turn the Cat and the Bear into huge threats with life gain or make a large board with Cat Collector.
- Mischievous Pup + Helpful Hunter/ Burglar Rat = The Dog returns one of the two creatures that were already triggered to your hand for extra value. For the late game, there is also Guarded Heir.
- Stromkirk Bloodthief + Sanguine Syphoner/Vengeful Bloodwitch/Marauding Blight-Priest= Stromkirk Bloodthief puts a counter on a Vampire if the opponent has lost life. With the other creatures listed, it's easy to do without exposing it in combat and... Oops, they're all Vampires!
Izzet: Spells
Cards:
Spectral Sailor, Aegis Turtle, Fleeting Distraction, Heartfire Immolator, Mischievous Mystic, Brineborn Cutthroat, Elementalist Adept, Firebrand Archer, Run Away Together, Think Twice, Thrill of Possibility, Firespitter Whelp, Mocking Sprite, Erudite Wizard, Crackling Cyclops, Goblin Surprise, Seismic Rupture, Faebloom Trick, Inspiration from Beyond, Micromancer, Clinquant Skymage, Lightshell Duo, Bigfin Bouncer, Spitfire Lagac, Hidetsugu's Second Rite, Uncharted Voyage, Skyship Buccaneer, Dragon Trainer, Arcane Epiphany, Self-Reflection, Tolarian Terror.
Izzet focuses on casting instants and sorceries, even better if done all together in a single turn. Balmor, Battlemage Captain does indeed buff the team and give them trample to overwhelm enemy blockers, but you don't always have too many creatures available here, which is why Mischievous Mystic, Faebloom Trick, and Goblin Surprise are important. All spells are then discounted by Mocking Sprite, which makes the deck smooth and facilitates both the prowess and “draw your second card” mechanics.
Combo:
- Crackling Cyclops + Bulk Up + Battlesong Berserker/Rogue's Passage = Cyclops can become huge with just 2-3 spells in a turn, perhaps including Bulk Up, and this is combined beautifully with an evasive ability.
- Dragon Trainer + Run Away Together = After the Human creates a 4/4 Dragon, it doesn't have much to do and can be returned to hand (perhaps following a chumpblock) to then create another flying threat.
- Meteor Golem + Self-Reflection = The same thing as Run Away Together is true for Meteor Golem, but it can also be copied more than once with Self-Reflection, destroying a permanent each time and leaving the opponent behind.
Golgari: Morbid
Cards:
Llanowar Elves, Infestation Sage, Eaten Alive, Reassembling Skeleton, Burglar Rat, Dwynen's Elite, Wary Thespian, Macabre Waltz, Pilfer, Vampire Nighthawk, Infernal Vessel, Gutless Plunderer, Beast-Kin Ranger, Burnished Hart, Seeker's Folly, Dwynen, Gilt-Leaf Daen, Elvish Regrower, Billowing Shriekmass, Cackling Prowler, Soul-Shackled Zombie, Revenge of the Rats, Zombify, Needletooth Pack, Tragic Banshee, Vampire Soulcaller, Elfsworn Giant, Arbiter of Woe, Affectionate Indrik, Quakestrider Ceratops.
Golgari cares about morbid and therefore the death of creatures, regardless of whether they are yours or your opponent's. Whether you choose to sacrifice one of your creatures, have something die in combat, or use a removal spell, the important thing is to draw an extra card with Wardens of the Cycle or buff your army with Needletooth Pack, gaining enough value to overwhelm your opponent.
Combo:
- Arbiter of Woe + Zombify = You have to sacrifice a creature to cast Arbiter of Woe. This doesn't happen if you reanimate it with Zombify, perhaps after milling it with Billowing Shriekmass or Gutless Plunderer.
- Blanchwood Armor + Garruk's Uprising = The aura makes a creature huge, and Garruk's Uprising gives it trample.
- Beast-Kin Ranger + Revenge of the Rats = Ranger has trample and grows with each creature that enters, so by putting a bunch of Rats into play, you can hit for a lot of damage. The mass of creatures could then be enhanced with Vengeful Bloodwitch.
Boros: Aggro
Cards:
Savannah Lions, Healer's Hawk, Frenzied Goblin, Fanatical Firebrand, Sun-Blessed Healer, Resolute Reinforcements, Ajani's Pridemate, Slumbering Cerberus, Helpful Hunter, Hare Apparent, Cathar Commando, Axgard Cavalry, Courageous Goblin, Goblin Negotiation, Goldvein Pick, Mischievous Pup, Dauntless Veteran, Brazen Scourge, Prideful Parent, Inspiring Paladin, Dazzling Angel, Goblin Boarders, Goblin Surprise, Battlesong Berserker, Angel of Finality, Sower of Chaos, Spitfire Lagac, Felidar Savior, Squad Rallier, Dragon Trainer, Serra Angel, Gorehorn Raider, Claws Out.
Aggressive, fast, and and go-wide—these are three qualities that best characterize Boros! This color pair can quickly get a lot of small creatures, especially with: Resolute Reinforcements, Hare Apparent, Prideful Parent, Cat Collector, Goblin Surprise, and the signpost Heroic Reinforcements. These last two also buff the entire team, as well as Dauntless Veteran does, often leaving the opponent with very little to do in the face of such aggression.
Combo:
- Cat Collector + Claws Out = Collector fills the battlefield with tons of Cats, discounting Claws Out down to 2 mana for an incredible low-cost alpha strike!
- Dragon Trainer + Mischievous Pup = Once again, Pup can return Dragon Trainer to hand and generate value with the Dragon token.
- Goldvein Pick + Goblin Negotiation = Especially if on a flyer, Goldvein Pick can fill the battlefield with Treasure tokens that in Boros lose their usefulness after a while. You can use all that mana for Goblin Negotiation, eliminating an opposing threat, but most importantly, flooding the board with Goblins!
Simic: Ramp
Cards:
Spectral Sailor, Llanowar Elves, Adventuring Gear, Brineborn Cutthroat, Nessian Hornbeetle, Gnarlid Colony, Dwynen's Elite, Essence Scatter, Think Twice, Ambush Wolf, Beast-Kin Ranger, Burnished Hart, Grow from the Ashes, Refute, Faebloom Trick, Blanchwood Armor, Garruk's Uprising, Elvish Regrower, Dwynen, Gilt-Leaf Daen, Treetop Snarespinner, Clinquant Skymage, Bigfin Bouncer, Needletooth Pack, Elfsworn Giant, Icewind Elemental, Quakestrider Ceratops, Affectionate Indrik, Grappling Kraken, Apothecary Stomper, Self-Reflection, Meteor Golem.
In contrast to the speed of Boros, we find Simic, which is slow in the early game, aiming to ramp and accumulate lands to then cast bigger spells that can overwhelm the opponent. The landfall mechanic returns, which we find with the signpost Tatyova, Benthic Druid, as well as with Grappling Kraken and Elfsworn Giant. The archetype presents elements of control that help it to resist in the early turns, using counter spells that combine well with creatures with flash in case they are not needed, such as Spectral Sailor, Brineborn Cutthroat, and Ambush Wolf.
Combo:
- Clinquant Skymage + Inspiring Call/Garruk's Uprising = At instant speed, Inspiring Call draws a card for each creature with a +1/+1 counter on it, and this makes Clinquant Skymage bigger, which might already have +1/+1 counters on it. Similarly, the Bird is synergistic with Garruk's Uprising, quickly growing thanks to the extra draws.
- Burnished Hart + Tatyova, Benthic Druid/Elfsworn Giant = By ramping lands with Burnished Hart, you draw cards and add creatures in the process.
- Blanchwood Armor + any flier = With so many lands, and therefore Forests, Blanchwood Armor can give a huge boost, which is especially powerful on an evasive creature.
That's all for today! Magic: The Gathering Foundations opens the doors of limited to everyone, from the most experienced veterans to players who want to start and learn the basics of the game.
It probably won’t be one of the most skill-intensive formats you’ve played recently, but I’m sure it will be fun nonetheless and will make you re-explore the basics and the “foundations” of this amazing game!