It’s been a pretty wild year for Magic: The Gathering. With an array of bold new themes such as Bloomburrow, Duskmourn and Outlaws of Thunder Junction – we’ve definitely had our fair share of adventures. Couple that with some wild Universes Beyond collabs, and it really does seem like there’s something in Magic for everyone. But where does that leave players who still haven’t quite got into MTG? While many are lucky enough to have friends who can assist in their journey into the game, some still miss out on that valuable time learning the game – and with new set releases every few months, it’s easy to get swept up in the excitement. Each set also comes with its own mechanics, and even then, it can be a struggle to learn the basics and understand the game’s basic vocabulary.
MTG Foundations is the latest expansion, though this one is a little bit different than the other sets we’ve seen this year. Foundations aims to be a steady and reliable starting experience for new players while also giving current players access to staples and other reliable cards. The set will remain legal till at least 2029, meaning it’s going to be a cornerstone in the game for quite some time. This is really exciting as someone who has been getting back into MTG this year.
Having just passed its 30th anniversary, it’s awesome to see the game circling the wagons while also enabling new players to get into MTG with a dedicated on-ramp. The Foundations range has a focus on new players while also reprinting a bunch of staples many will be eager to get their hands on. Much like a core set, MTG Foundations gives players the building blocks for any part of their journey with the game. Given the ethos of the set, it feels much like a true love letter to the game, with cards pulling from the game’s vast history as well as new additions that continue its tradition as a collectable card game.
The set clocks in at 292 cards regular cards, but including variants such as showcase cards and other special treatments – that flies up to 730 cards. Comparing that to Duskmourn, it’s a similar amount of regular cards but that set only reaches 417 cards with the included variants. Cracking packs for Foundations feels pretty exciting and unique too. With a roster of familiar characters in the game, it’s interesting to see where the cards take you. Without that overall theme that drives the aesthetic, the simplicity that focuses purely on the cards allows players to really appreciate what this set is all about. Seeing familiar reprints and showcases further reinforces how this set is a union of so much of the MTG universe.
Along with your usual foils and full-arts, the set also has a new take on foil treatments with the new mana foils. The styling features a full-art card in foil, embossed with mana symbols. In our pulls for the set, I scored a Leyline Axe with the mana foil treatment. While the foil treatment looks excellent, it’s worth noting that the embossing does lead to the design looking quite busy but nonetheless it’s a fun treatment. Depending on how players view the card, the mana symbols catch the light, though others have noted that on colour cards, the symbols don’t specify the same colour.
For me, though, I adore the borderless and extended art cards as foils or non-foil. I’ve always loved these cards because, for me, it’s the art of MTG that I’m most interested in outside of the game. Seeing these incredible cards in all their glory, as well as the different treatments of each, feels really special. I was pretty excited to come across the following cards in the set because they really inspire me to build decks that lean into the themes. It does feel like as a set, Foundations is almost coaxing players of all skill levels to tell their own stories with the cards.
Players can also look forward to a larger land cycle with 20 cards, including 10 full-art cards with characters such as Liliana, Kellan, and Kaito among them. I loved the focus here on characters from all across the game vs just the Planeswalkers of the set. This feels on par with the full art lands back in Bloomburrow that showcased the seasons for each colour. Whether you’re playing a casual game or sleeving up for a local game store event, these lands feel like a further love letter to the storytelling potential of Foundations and its core design.
Among the other variants across the set, it’s incredible to see such a collection of showcase cards pulling from other sets among the special guests. These cards add a real touch of nostalgia for long-time players while introducing newer players to iconic styles and mechanics from Magic’s expansive history. If anything, it would’ve been even better to see the bonus sheet filled out a little more with some other staple showcases from recent sets.
I’ll be real: I got back into MTG this year after some friends invited me to a prerelease for Outlaws of Thunder Junction. I’d been on a 4-year hiatus prior to that, so admittedly, I was pretty slow to pick it up. While I wasn’t surprised at how much it had changed, it did feel like I was learning it for the first time. While I loved the aesthetic of outlaws and the Wild West, it was a lot to take in. Even having the support of friends and even the judge at that event left me feeling pretty green on it. After that, I did my best to keep learning. Going through the motions on Magic: The Gathering Arena and even some social commander games with much hand-holding still had me feeling like I wasn’t quite picking it back up. I did enjoy my time with the duel deck starter kit, but it wasn’t quite as catered to less confident players as I was hoping.
Put simply, Foundations feels like exactly the type of set that feels perfect for a player who’s new to MTG. As someone making a return to the game, this is the set I wish I had back when I was first diving back into it. Even now, it’s a welcoming set that doesn’t lose the player in its theme. Instead, it opts for a broader overview that allows you to see the card archetypes as they are. Foundations is designed with players in mind, offering a mix of accessible features for newcomers, valuable reprints for veterans, and versatile cards that appeal to casual and competitive gamers alike. With a mix of iconic characters like Liliana and Kaito, along with cards that reference key moments in MTG lore, Foundations invites players to craft their own narratives in the multiverse. The set does certainly have an openness to it, with it not focusing on any one plane like a typical expansion such as Bloomburrow or Duskmourn for instance. Cards also feature reminder text for all terms, which is excellent for learning the vocabulary.
Unlike a usual set, Foundations doesn’t feature any commander decks. It does, however, feature two unique products that are very functional and unique to the Foundations line. The first is the fittingly named Beginner Box. Built around the principle that players need to play to learn, the boxset gives players an incredibly strong starting point for the game. Inside the box, players get 2 instant-play decks and tailored guides for playing them turn by turn, as well as 2 labelled playmats, 2 spindown dice and counters. When players have a good understanding of the basics from the ready-to-play decks, there are also another 8 predetermined jumpstart decks from Foundations, allowing players to test out other concepts and hone skills. As an added bonus, the box allows you to store it thanks to tidy dividers, so you can use it again to practice or even teach others.
This is an incredibly functional product for MTG that I do see as a sound investment for players looking to get into the game. While the box does away with the hectic fun of cracking boosters, it’s the way it coaxes the player through that first game with the kit allows it to shine. Players’ first battles with Beginner Box are designed to walk players through each turn till they have all the basics. This a much more round experience than the duel-deck starter kit we’ve seen in the past. For players looking to help friends pick up the game, the Beginner Box is an excellent tool to have on the shelf. Its accessibility is its strongest selling point. If savvy players wanted to, they could bolster this with other fun jumpstart deck combos or use it as a means to test-run pack combos. For those unfamiliar, Jumpstart is a form of booster dedicated to drafted play. All players need is two Jumpstart boosters to form a deck.
The other new product in the Foundations range is the Starter Collection. While this is a product we’ve seen versions of in the past, this rendition of the kit is a much more developed version that caters to current MTG players while also being accessible to new players. The Starter Collection contains over 350+ cards, a click-wheel life counter, a storage box, and 3 Foundations boosters.
The Starter Collection feels like a worthy addition to the Foundations’ lineup because not only is it accessible, but it also focuses on assisting players in making decks. This can be a tricky task for new players to master, and even current players can find it a tricky endeavour. The included cards feature a bunch of really solid, functional cards, perfect for building decks – even a few commander staples if that’s your jam.
Out of the Beginner Box and the Starter Collection, I feel as though new players should start with the Beginner Box. While both are attuned to new people, the Starter Collection’s focus on deckbuilding is a little far along for new players. The Beginner Box is that onramp into MTG that many new players are looking for. Compared to other core sets we’ve seen, Foundations focus on guidance with the Beginner Box and even including reminder text on the cards gives it an unparalleled edge for players, even if they are past that point of being a beginner. The set is supportive and honestly much needed in the ecosystem of MTG. It really proves its value in that it’s a very self-driven way to learn the game compared to the usual experience.
There’s also the return of bundles, prerelease packs, play boosters and collector boosters, allowing players to really choose how they approach this set. I think sticking to its guns with this unique broader theme enables new players to really sink into the game for its sake. Seeing Doubling Season among the set’s many reprints is a real treat, too. With this set being in rotation till 2029 at least, I hope we’ll see the value of cards stabilise. Even seeing new treatments, such as the anime styling and the fracture foil, is a pleasant inclusion. This shows just how deep the ethos of Foundations runs, dedicating itself to the accessibility of learning the game and getting cool functional cards. It’s a thoughtful principle that balances it as a functional set for everyone.
Foundations feels like a valuable cornerstone for any MTG player, yet its dedication to new players is admirable. While it’s not a themed plane, the setting allows players to tell their own stories with an array of familiar characters from Magic: The Gathering’s storied past. With MTG Foundations, even the most hesitant of newcomers can feel empowered to dive in. The Beginner Box does an incredible job at not just teaching you how to play – it builds your confidence in making decisions and understanding the interplay of cards. This makes Foundations not just a set but a gateway to experiencing MTG’s rich universe and community. If you’re looking to try out the game, definitely consider the MTG Foundations Beginner Box, visit your local game store for an event, or even just jump onto Magic: The Gathering Arena and see what Foundations is all about!
Looking ahead to 2025, it’s evident that so many new players will be looking to get into MTG, so this really is the time to flesh out the new player experience. With Final Fantasy and Marvel collaborations amongst a roster of iconic themes coming, it’s great that this valuable set will provide players with a grounded starting point. Now is certainly the time to get into it if you’ve been itching to learn the game.
