Foundations: Laying the Groundwork for Victory

The latest Magic: The Gathering set, Foundations, has been a delightful journey back to the core elements that have defined the game for decades. Many of which I’ve never had the privilege of playing with or only seen in friends high end decks.

Yet for many, this set will be a masterful blend of nostalgia and innovation, reintroducing beloved mechanics like Flashback, Cycling & one of my favourites as a commander player, Kicker. Nothing like paying extra mana; when you have heaps because your top decking cards due to bad plays earlier in the game; to make someone magical happen even more epic!

As core set are often just aimed at beginners & is not as beloved with more experienced players. Wizards of the Coasts have reevaluated how they make core sets with Foundations by the inclusion of iconic reprints is a treat for long-time players. Especially that person who during the media event opened a foil & normal Doubling Season, he was in for a major treat.

Gameplay Experience

The Foundation Media Event was held again at Fortress Melbourne, and the more I go there, the more I enjoy it. And I’m not just saying that because I now have the highest score on Big Buck Hunter—or at least I did! It has so much to offer gamers of all levels: beers and board games, arcade games, PCs to play the latest games, or even a little sectioned-off booth to play your favorite console games. There’s something for everyone.

We all received a pre-release kit, and Will from Hooked Gaming, Adam, and our new friend Ethan decided we’d play a four-way sealed match. It was great to sit around building a deck together, chatting, and just taking it easy.

I think Will had taken my previous wins over him personally, as he came out with a bang. He dropped Authority of Consuls, an enchantment that meant all our creatures came in tapped and he would gain life. At first, we were okay with it, but it quickly became annoying and put a target on Will’s back. Not that it did anything, as the more creatures we brought out, the more life he gained—it felt like throwing pebbles at a tank.

Ethan’s Planeswalker then came out, and we mostly ignored it because we were too afraid of Will. Luckily for us, Ethan’s Planeswalker finally allowed him to get rid of the dreaded and highly annoying Authority of Consuls. We all celebrated until he maxed out his Planeswalker and cleared the board of all creatures. We rebuilt while Ethan continued to beat up on us with his buffed creatures. My board continued to build, and I brought out my own Planeswalker. Just before I had a chance to pop its ultimate, Ethan threw everything he had at me, and I refused to block any of it. Cheers rang out across Fortress.

It was at this moment he realized he messed up!

I had 34 attacking points aimed at him, he had no blockers, and only 21 life left! I took out Will with my flyers and Ethan with everything else. With both of them out, poor Adam was left top-decking with only a single creature out. He wasn’t excited about what was coming next turn, but with all the confidence in the world, he flipped the top card!

And it was a land.

Let’s just say, what came next wasn’t pretty. As the unlucky life leader, Adam hadn’t drawn any creatures since the board wipe. He was about to take the full force of my board, and I picked up the ‘W’.

Final Thoughts

Beyond the mechanics and gameplay, what truly sets Foundations apart is its ability to evoke a sense of wonder for newer players and nostalgia for our more seasoned players. The set’s artwork is nothing short of breathtaking, with each card telling a story and drawing players into the world of Magic. The reprints of iconic cards are a nod to the game’s rich history, allowing players to relive the glory days while also introducing these powerful cards to a new generation. Foundations is more than just a set of cards; it’s a celebration of Magic: The Gathering’s legacy and a reminder of why we fell in love with the game in the first place or are about to fall in love with this game.

I can’t wait to drive deeper into Foundations, as Wizards of the Coast have also sent me the Beginner Box & Starter Collection; both amazing items for now players. The Beginner Box is something I wish I had when I first started. It has everything you need to teach or learn the game.  10 themed Jumpstart decks, a play board & life counter giving you everything you need to to learn & enough decks to to figure out your favourite style. It is an amazing piece of kit.

Yes, I hear you more seasoned players saying, why would I buy that. And you are right, this may not be for you. But do you have friends you want to play or want a pre-made Jumpstart style cube, then the Beginners is a bargain!

For me, Foundations is exactly how core set should have been, great for beginners to expert. Has some amazing cards that are standard legal again, which will excite many & possible change the landscape of standard. Yet, as a casual player, there is so much value here. Do yourself a favour, get yourself some of these amazing Foundations items!