Everything We Know About MTG's Foundations

Everything We Know About MTG's Foundations

By Emma Partlow @emmapartlow.com Published Nov 8, 2024

As 2024 starts to wind down, there's one more Standard release that is a little different from Bloomburrow and Duskmourn: House of Horror, a set that offers something for players entering Magic for the first time. 

Called Foundations, this introductory-focused release offers the tools to learn Magic: The Gathering proper. A revitalization of Core Sets of old, Foundations will be the "vanilla" Standard release going forward and will play a massive role in the format upon the November 15 release day and beyond. With the release coming up quick, let's dive into everything we know about MTG's Foundations.

Foundations's global release is November 15 with Magic Online and MTG Arena's release falling a few days before. Like with most releases these days, Foundations cards are legal from Prerelease weekend onwards, which is something that began with Streets of New Capenna. 

As Foundations is the next Standard release, cards are legal in Standard, Pioneer, Modern, Legacy, Vintage, Pauper, and Commander. Foundations also sees a Jumpstart release where these cards are Commander, Legacy, and Vintage legal. As for Special Guests, these are also legal where already available in other formats and don't become Standard legal upon release (unless the cards themselves are already in Standard). 

Typically, Standard sets last around three years before they rotate out of the format to keep things exciting for competitive players. With Foundations, the set will adhere to a five-year rotation as this is a base MTG set of sorts, which makes it easier for players to stick with Standard for longer periods. If you want the full breakdown of how Standard rotation works and what to expect going forward, we've got you covered. It's worth noting that Foundations rotation could be longer than five years, this depends on reception and success of the release.

Compared to other Standard releases, Foundations will feature five Planeswalkers that will represent a color of Magic - White, Blue, Black, Red, and Green. And based on recent Foundations promotional art, these Planeswalker cards will be Ajani, Kaito, Liliana, Vivien, and Chandra. Since Foundations isn't set on a plane or offers a particular theme, you can expect nods from a mixture of planes from Innistrad to Theros. 

MTG Foundations Previews

 

Foundations is a modern update to Core Sets of old, where the upcoming Standard release will feature a 50/50 split of reprints and brand new cards. There's only been a smattering of previews which began at MagicCon: Amsterdam, where there were some reveals that indicate the kind of power level Wizards are looking to achieve in Standard going forward. 

Previews began at MagicCon: Las Vegas on November 25, where there was a couple of Preview Panels around Foundations and sine then, the Complete Card Gallery dropped around November 2, 2024. The preview cadence for Foundations felt shorter this time around, as this is to compensate that Foundations has a 50/50 split of new cards and reprints, meaning most of the previews will center around the new cards rather than the reprints. That aside, let's look at some of the cards you'll expect to see upon Foundations' release.

Llanowar Elves

Foundations, common

Llanowar Elves is one of the most iconic mana-generating creatures in all of Magic, where it was first printed in Alpha (Magic's first-ever set). What makes Llanowar Elves such a notable reprint in Standard is the ability to ramp on spells and threats ahead of schedule, where it is bound to make a massive impression in Standard upon Foundations's release.

Day of Judgment

Foundations, rare

Another card primed to see a ton of Standard (and Pioneer) play is Day of Judgment, a board wipe that elegantly destroys all creatures at the cost of four mana. Wizards have been hesitant to print a four-mana board wipe in Standard over the years (with Sunfall remaining a popular option), but the timing seems right to change the sentiment. You can expect Day of Judgment to be a popular roleplayer in Standard (and in Pioneer, where it will slide into Azorius Control without much issue) upon release. While these cards won't be valuable, they will be in demand as Foundations looks to make a decent impact in Standard with these exciting-yet-powerful reprints. 

Anthem of Champions

Foundations, rare

There's also been a handful of new cards revealed, with Anthem of Champions looking to be an exciting option for any Selesnya (Green/White) aggressive strategy. For two mana, Anthem of Champions elegantly offers creatures you control a +1/+1 buff. Simple, right?

And that's the point of Foundations, the Standard set is designed to be easy to understand as it's a starting point for new Magic players. Nothing in Foundations is overcomplicated, meaning it will be fantastic for newer Magic players as they learn the game properly. Also, the set serves as a refresher for those who haven't played Magic in a while. 

As Foundations is a Standard release, there will be your usual roster of Play and Collector Boosters, Bundles, and Jumpstart Boosters to help you begin your Magic journey. While Jumpstart Boosters don't exist with most Standard releases these days, Wizards made an exception with Foundations as it's a fantastic way to play Magic. Jumpstart Boosters contain twenty cards in each pack where if you have two Jumpstart Boosters, you shuffle them together then you have a playable deck! It is as simple as that.

Due to the nature beginner nature of the release, Foundations does not have a Commander Precon product to support the release this time around.  Given the introductory focus with Foundations, there are a few other products available that will help kick-start your journey into Magic. These are brand new for Foundations where it is unlikely we'll see these product lines in future Standard releases.

MTG Foundations Jumpstart (or Jumpstart 2025)

 

In total, there are just under 800 cards in Foundations Jumpstart, with a return to Anime-themed arts as seen in previous releases. There aren't any unique frame treatments (or even foils) in Jumpstart, meaning all the cards adhere to the traditional frames as commonly seen across previous Magic releases. As the name suggests, you can only open these cards in Jumpstart Boosters, with each pack featuring one Anime art card unless these boosters are from the Beginner Box, which does not feature any anime art cards.

The Special Guests in MTG Foundations

 

• Embercleave
• Temporal Manipulation
• Goblin Bushwacker
• Sphinx's Tutelage
• Condemn
• Bloom Tender
• Grim Tutor
• Paradise Druid
• Akroma's Memorial
• Fiend Artisan

As per with previous Special Guests releases, these cards do not become Standard legal with Foundations' release and adhere to the same legalities as before. Special Guests cards appear in Play Boosters, with foils only appearing in Collector Boosters. 

MTG Foundations Card Treatments

 

Given that Foundations is an entry-level Standard release, this also means the visual design of the set is easy to parse. Showcase treatments aren't in Foundations, but there's more consistency with treatments as we've seen in previous releases. 

Sire of Seven Deaths

Foundations, mythic

Borderless cards also extend to Rares and Mythic Rares in Foundations and will be desirable with players upon release. In particular, Sire of Seven Deaths and Twinflame Tyrant are a few of the cards players will be excited to open in Play and Collector Boosters. 

Bloodthirsty Conqueror

Foundations, mythic

Furthermore, Extended Art treatments return in Foundations and feature on some of the set's Rares and Mythic Rares from release. This treatment only appears in Foundations Collector Boosters. 

Llanowar Elves

Foundations, mythic

Debuting in Duskmourn: House of Horror, Japan Showcase cards return in Foundations as one of the premier treatments for Collectors. Much like in Duskmourn: House of Horror, there are ten Japan Showcase cards to collect in Foundations and the cards are: 

• Day of Judgment
• Herald of Eternal Dawn
• Think Twice
• Kaito, Cunning Infiltrator
• Bloodthirsty Conqueror
• Twinflame Tyrant
• Llanowar Elves
• Doubling Season
• Muldrotha, the Gravetide
• Progentius

And as seen with Japan Showcase cards in Duskmourn: House of Horror, these cards only appear in Foundations Collector Boosters. 

Twinflame Tyrant

Foundations, mythic

And with Japan Showcase cards, this also means Fracture Foils also return in Foundations. Appearing in roughly 1% of Collector Boosters, these Fracture Foils will be some of the most valuable cards from Foundations, with cards such as Llanowar Elves and Herald of Eternal Dawn being some sought-after options with collectors. Also, these Japan Showcase cards will also appear in Traditional Foil in around 9% of Collector Boosters. 

 

There's also a new foiling in Foundations called the Mana Foil. Taking a similar process as seen with Phyreixa: All Will Be One's Step-and-Compleat foiling, the Mana Foil has a stamp-like effect with the mana symbols in Magic over the top of the card art. The Mana Foil cards appear on a bunch of the Borderless Rares and Mythic Rares in Foundations, where these can only be found in 1.6% of Collector Boosters. 

 

While Foundations doesn't have a core theme, the set takes themes from various Magic planes to offer something unique, and this comes through in the Basic Lands. The Full Art Basic Lands in Foundations highlights some of Magic's most iconic characters inhabiting their plane of origin. As you can see, Chandra is on Kaladesh and Kaito is relaxing on Kamigawa. These unique and flavorful Full Art Basic Lands are available to collect in Play and Collector Boosters.  

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