The Best Popular Picks of MTG Foundations: Both New and Reprinted

MTG Foundations has been quietly reshaping Standard since its release, though not as dramatically as Duskmourn and Bloomburrow did right after rotation. The set's mix of reprints and new cards has been softly pushing more deck varieties into the most popular format, though we have stronger examples, such as Golgari Aggro making a complete comeback after falling off in popularity since the recent Standard rotation. Meanwhile, the reprints have breathed new life into classic Boros Aggro, while also reinforcing other Boros builds that have been part of the top 8, with at least one keeping its relative position since the past year.

Would Aetherdrift eventually change our perspectives on Foundations cards the same way as Bloomburrow and Duskmourn did for cards like Anoint with Affliction and Elspeth's Smite? Perhaps we'll see very soon. But before that, let's look at the top people's choices for Foundations at the moment.

 (NOTE: All information is collected from technical matches, online discussions, and trending multimedia content. Some of the entries will also be affected by how often they pop up in Aetherhub decklists as well.)

 

Honorable Mentions

^{(Includes both reprints and new cards)}

Sire of Seven Deaths - not really as optimized for Standard compared to other formats, but brew ideas occasionally abound.

Mazemind Tome - nice generic deck fixing that can be sacrificed for any of the more recent mechanics for added value.

Opt - Just... Opt. That's it.

Bloodthirsty Conqueror - part of the infinite life drain deck when paired with Starscape Cleric

Boltwave - for Mono-Red decks that like hitting the face more than cleaning up field threats.

Scavenging Ooze - the classic graveyard control value hitter.

Vivien Reid - one of the most popular planeswalker reprints in Foundations, followed VERY closely by Liliana, Dreadhorde General

Llanowar Elves - still as useful of a mana dork as it can ever be after all these years decades... but in 2024/2025 Standard!

 

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Top 8 Most Popular MTG Foundations Reprints

Omniscience

Ah, my favorite "jank" Creator mode card turned meta nightmare. This card has made its way into various constructed decks across many formats, providing a platform for almost any type of win condition that you can think of. In the current 2024/2025 Standard, it may not have made a huge splash in the top eight Bo3 or Bo1 decks themselves, but it is popular enough to be encountered somewhat often. Though, if not cheating win-cons into play, you’d often see it paired with Invasion of Arcavios // Invocation of the Founders (yes, in Standard), for obvious reasons.

 

Regal Caracal

One of the staple typal additions to the Mono-White cat deck that made its way back to Standard. A simple Lord card that provides extra value as it comes into play and effect synergies via Lifelink. Its continued popularity largely hinges on how the current cat deck performs in Standard for the next few sets.

 

Zombify

Another classic, four-mana-value reanimation card for cheating heavy hitters. Next!

 

Unsummon

Ah yes, one of the most classic, long-time bounce spells in MTG. Occasionally slapped as part of the Oculus Azorius/Mono-Blue brew. But outside of this, it is not really a consistent part of the top meta in Standard. Being an entry of this list, though, it still seems versatile enough to find its way into a lot of builds.

 

Tolarian Terror

Wait a minute... this card is still legal in Standard since its introduction in Dominaria United! But yeah, this is very much a staple of Mono-Blue decks, the typical partner of Haughty Djinn. It just happens to be reprinted in Foundations as well. Actually, fellow Dominaria United card Resolute Reinforcements is also relatively popular as a Foundations reprint, but I decided to just put Tolarian Terror as the sole "actually still Standard legal before being immediately reprinted" on this list.

 

Day of Judgment

In a whirlwind of meta-spamming and very low-curve decks for many years, we’ve always needed a steady supply of board wipes. As such, much like Zombify as a reanimation option, Day of Judgment became an instant Wrath effect addition to many decks splashed with its identity color. Provides a balancing curve between Temporary Lockdown at 3-mana-value and Sunfall at 5-mana-value.

 

Leonin Vanguard

A very versatile card that partially contributed to the resurgence of soldier weenies in Standard (though not at the same prominence as before), it is also a staple of the aforementioned cat decks. Splashable enough that it sees play on other lifegain-oriented color combinations as well.

 

Fynn, the Fangbearer

Playing with Toxic/Poison counter decks has always been such an annoying surprise encounter when you’re peacefully doing your daily stuff. Not too common, yet it pops frequently enough, as it still manages to climb high at the current Standard meta. Fynn, the Fangbearer, therefore, becomes an obligatory addition to this deck, boosting its popularity by default.

 

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Top 8 Most Popular MTG Foundations New Cards

Arahbo, the First Fang

Key card of the aforementioned meta cat deck in Standard. Pretty straightforward effect, no muss, no fuss.

 

Burst Lightning

The latest plaything for Mono-Red, making the recently reprinted Shock immediately nigh-obsolete. The second Kicker mode is nice, no questions asked. But, you never see it go off outside very specific matchups. This is currently the most popularly used new card in MTG Foundations.

 

Searslicer Goblin

Don’t forget that you can still get its benefits even if cast during the second main phase! Brings a certain, “double-direction” mode for the brew of Mono-Red decks we see right now in Standard.

 

Raise the Past

With quite a lot of meta decks and even FNM-value-oriented ones being on the one-two-three curve, Raise the Past suddenly becomes an instant full copy pick. Even if you don’t, at least two of these should be valuable enough to counter the myriad of board wipes designed to stop these decks. Present on any applicable color combination of white imaginable at the moment.

 

Soulstone Sanctuary

A much-needed, more balanced(?) version of Mutavault. Expect this card to be splashed in any kind of typal deck that requires cumulative benefits and unit counting. Due to its stats and specs, many control decks opt to use a few copies of it as well.

 

Kiora, the Rising Tide

At its core, this card provides useful stats with just the mana value and looting capabilities alone. Its color identity and Threshold abilities, however, create an entirely new monster within her arsenal, and I mean that literally. Oh and, this card seems to synergize very well with Throne of the Grim Captain // The Grim Captain.

 

Hinterland Sanctifier

The instant return of Lunarch Veteran // Luminous Phantom only three months after Standard rotation?! Sign me up! But yeah, it seems that this particular card became slightly more popular than the other rotation replacements scattered around the last three sets. And hey, it is a rabbit too!

 

Skyknight Squire

Yet another good staple of the meta Standard cat deck. Unlike Arahbo, it counts tokens as well, so it’s usually just a turn or two away from being a flyer under its own cumulative effect. When other supports come into play, well… let’s just say that it can “soar” beyond the reaches of its original design.