Modern Horizons 3 has been released only a week ago on MTG Arena and it's already having a huge impact on Constructed formats. So far the set seems to be really exciting and many of the cards are performing really well in many different formats. So, what are the cards that are already having impact on these two formats? In this article the focus will be on Historic and Timeless as they are the only two formats on MTG Arena where the set is playable.
White
Guide of Souls, Ocelot Pride, Static Prison and Ajani, Nacatl Pariah // Ajani, Nacatl Avenger are defining a completely new archetype in Historic where boros aggro seems to be the new strongest deck of the format. They all work really well toghether but among these Guide of Souls is probably the card is getting played in different decks right now: aggro and combo decks are both using it. In fact there is a new combo deck that uses both Guide of Souls and Primal Prayers to generate infinite combos.
Other mentions
Phelia, Exuberant Shepherd represents a cheap way to create potential blink loops and works decently also with Recruiter of the Guard among the aforementioned cards. Witch Enchanter is just a good inclusion for many decks as it is a double-faced land with a playable creature side. White Orchid Phantom hits many good lands and can also be a way to ramp your mana by targetting indestructible lands. Recruiter of the Guard i salso getting played in many combo decks as a way to find a combo piece.
Blue
Tamiyo, Inquisitive Student is just a great one mana creature as she generates clues and can flip into a good planeswalker. She is also a wizard and this is really relevant especially in Historic where Izzet Wizards has been the strongest deck for a long time. Brainstorm can flip her easily and getting a turn two planeswalker is something that should not be undervalued. On top of that her clues are only good for artifacts deck although she is not currently played in artifacts archetypes. Flare of Denial is a huge answer to scary spells for potentially 0 mana. I think it's not a control card but more of a tempo deck card and works really good with Snapcaster Mage and merfolks in general. Harbinger of the Seas is a Blood Moon creature for island but she is a merfolk and a wizard as well. Right now I think she can be used as a sideboard card but I would not be surprised to see her played in the maindeck.
Black
We all know how strong Tarmogoyf has been and Nethergoyf has upsides and downsides if compared to it. It is one mana cheaper and has an escape ability but it doesn't take into account the opponent's graveyard but overall the two cards seems to be comparable. Marionette Apprentice works really well with Warren Soultrader but right now she is getting played mainly in Yawgmoth decks. Sorin of House Markov similarly to Tamiyo, Inquisitive Student can be flipped easily and generate a lot of value. Necrodominance is just a balanced version of Necropotence and can really shine in Mono-Black decks with cheap interactions and life gain cards. Flare of Malice is a great answer to Nadu, Winged Wisdom and can also be combined with some useful black creatures that wants to be sacrificed such as Stitcher's Supplier or an evoked Grief.
Other mentions
Buried alive is getting played in both Phoenixes and Reanimator decks. The creation of Avacyn is getting played in some Eldrazi decks and can be really powerful with Atraxa, Grand Unifier. Toxic Deluge is a decent sideboard card right now: it's not cheap in terms of mana and life but it's efficient for sure. Dismember is a really strong reprint and it's accessible to basically any deck.
Red
Galvanic Discharge is getting played in many Boros and Izzet decks right now as it is a cheap way to generate energy and remove enemy permanents. Amped Raptor is getting played in decks where every card costs two or less so that it never miss and generates a lot of value for just two mana. On top of that it also generates energy. Ral, Monsoon Mage is another card that is easy to flip and all of the planeswalker abilities are really strong. The creature side is so good that we can also decide not to flip him until he can ultimate immediately. Ral can really shine in storm decks as well as Unstable Amulet. Unstable Amulet can also be played in aggro decks as it replaces itself without the need of an energy deck. Meltdown can be a nice sideboard card.
Green
Fanatic of Rhonas is already getting played in Mono-Green decks and is a great mana dork for long games. Flare of Cultivation is a good ramp spell for decks like Mono-Green Titan while Primal Prayers really shines in combo decks as seen before.
Multicolor, Colorless and Lands
Pshychic Frog can win games really fast if left uncontested and can also work really well within specific archetypes that get value by discarding cards. Invert Polarity is decenet whenever you lose the flip but becomes amazing the other half of the times. Phlage, Titan of Fire's Fury has only one weakness: Lurrus of the Dream-Den. Apart from that the card is just great. Frogmyr Enforcer is getting played in artifacts decks as it can be played for free. The three Eldrazi are defining a new deck with both Kozilek's Command and Ugin's Labyrinth. Probably this isn't the best deck right now but getting access to Chalice of the Void on turn one is not something to underestimate. Shifting Woodland is just a great late game tool to win games.
The Elementals
Nothing much to say about them: they are all strong and are getting played in many different decks. Grief seems to be the most played one among them followed by Fury and Solitude.
Conclusions
This set seems to have shaken both Historic and Timeless and in my opinion this is not a surprise. The power level of the set is really high and I also think that the introduction of this set was needed in both the formats as they both had some issues: historic meta was a little stagnant while Timeless had a small diversity of decks. Overall I'm really happy abouth the impact of the set right now and I would also recommend you to draft the set as it really is funny to play!
