Magic: The Gathering Foundations - Set Info & Spoilers
In a sea of rapid-fire MTG products being released, Magic: The Gathering is actually shaking things up with a unique set designed to welcome fresh faces to the game. MTG Foundations offers a curated selection of cards alongside innovative beginner-friendly products, creating a smooth onboarding experience unlike any other in Magic's history. Whether you're a seasoned player or just getting interested, MTG Foundations has something for everyone. Here is what you need to know.
What Is MTG Foundations?
MTG Foundations (Release Date: November 15th, 2024) is a new product designed to help new players learn the game. It includes a curated set of cards (some new, some old), via a "Beginner Box" with pre-constructed packs (to mix together for deck building) and tutorials, and a seperate "Starter Collection" (of 350 supplement cards) for further exploration.
You May Also Like: 2024 MTG Release Schedule: What to Expect in the Second Half of the Year
It is similar to other typical releases in many ways. For example, it will contain Play Boosters, Collector Boosters, Jumpstart Boosters, and Bundles and have a prerelease like any other set. Where it starts to differ is the addition of two new Magic products as well—the "beginner box" and a "starter collection."
Beginner Box
The Beginner Box comes with 10 packets. Each of these packets contains 20 cards inside each one. You'll also get two packets for each of Magic’s five colors of mana. This box is designed, (much like Jumpstart) to be mixed together to form playable decks.
Unlike Jumpstart, though, the beginner box comes with a very detailed tutorial. And, at least from my reading of the explanation, it has the capacity to offer a much more varied suite of decks for players to try their hand at offering "dozens of games straight from the box."
In a nutshell, WOTC wants to give new players an onramp to MTG from the "I am interested in Magic, but I don’t know anything." stage all the way to the "Oh, I’ve identified what I like to do, and I’m going to do more of that." stage. Speaking of that next stage, that's where the Starter Collection comes in.
Starter Collection
Once players have thoroughly played with the Foundations Beginner Box and found what they like about MTG, then they have the Starter Collection to look forward to. The starter collection contains 350 cards to help players expand on the decks, gameplay styles, colors, or mechanics they identify with most. All in a convenient way, without having to worry about too big of a card pool.
MTG Foundations Format Legality
Keeping with this spirit of accessibility, all cards (both new and reprinted) in the Foundations set are guaranteed to be legal in Standard format until at least 2029. This is almost double the usual lifespan for a set in Standard. If you're new to MTG I'll break this down some.
Standard is a popular Magic: The Gathering format where players can only use cards from the most recent sets (typically the last two years but recently extended to three). This ensures that players have a manageable-sized card pool and a consistently evolving meta-game that keeps the format fresh for players.
You May Also Like: All MTG Formats Explained - What They Are And How They Work
This is significant for new (and veteran) players for a few reasons. For example:
- Reduced Investment Risk: Knowing that Foundations cards will be legal for a longer period allows new players to invest in the products and their decks without worrying about the cards becoming obsolete too quickly.
- Longer Playtime with the Same Cards: Players can also enjoy playing their Foundations decks in Standard events for a much longer timeframe. This can be especially helpful as newer players develop their skills and build their card collection.
Available Products
MTG Foundations contains most products you'd expect from a regular set plus the aforementioned new Beginner Box and Starter Collection. Here is a list of the available products and the prices that we know so far.
- Play Boosters
- Collector Boosters
- Jumpstart Boosters
- Bundles
- Beginner Box (200 cards) - $29.99
- Starter Collection (350 cards) - $59.99
MTG Foundations Spoilers
Foundations is a pretty big set and many cards have alternate versions. That said, below you'll find a gallery with all the rares and mythic rares. You can find the full set spoilers here.
Foundations Special Guest Cards
Special Guests cards are "highly desirable, Masters release–level reprints" that show up in sets where they're good conceptual fits. But they feature new art and flavor texts that fit their original plane.
That said, they are "non-cannon" characters, and their inclusion in a set doesn't mean they're actually on that plane in a lore or story sense. Furthermore, being printed in a Standard-legal set as a special guest does not make the card standard-legal. Instead, it remains legal in whatever formats it's already legal in.
Here are the Special Guest cards for Foundaitions:
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When does MTG Foundations come out?
A: MTG Foundations launches on November 15, 2024.
Q: How much does MTG Foundations cost?
A: The Beginner Box costs $29.99 and the Starter Collection costs $59.99. Traditional booster packs and bundles will also be available at standard MTG pricing.
Q: Can I use Foundations cards in Standard format play?
A: Yes, Foundations cards are guaranteed to be legal in Standard format until at least 2029.
Q: What's the difference between the Beginner Box and Starter Collection?
A: The Beginner Box is designed as a true introduction with pre-constructed decks and a tutorial. The Starter Collection offers a wider variety of cards to build upon what players learned in the Beginner Box.
