Pauper Set Review: Foundations

Foundations is Magic's latest expansion for 2024 and brings back that feeling that players have when they see a new Core Set, editions that seek to foster the basis of the competitive Standard scene with iconic reprints and simple-to-explain cards.

In Pauper, the set brought some relevant news to the Metagame, such as Hare Apparent that can change the way white Aggro is built, or the downshift of Dwynen's Elite for Elves decks that lacked support for a long time in the format.

In this article, we analyze the main Foundations cards for Pauper and how they can change the competitive scene!

Fleeting Flight is an interesting combat trick for specific situations. It doesn't have a home today, but I can imagine it as a viable option in the sideboard of Heroic decks if they return.

Hare Apparent is the most hyped card of all time in Pauper, or the most absurd Foundations card for the format. I can understand part of its hype: with 20 to 24 copies of it, it's not hard to put several in play and create so many tokens that Guardians' Pledge becomes a one-hit-kill.

Add Ephemerate and the like to the mix, and you have a deck that's difficult to answer without the right cards, not to mention the possibility of interactions with Echoing Return and the like. It's the new thing I'm most interested in seeing how far it can go in Pauper.

Hinterland Sanctifier, which also comes in the JumpStart Foundations slots, is a method for decks that put a lot of creatures into play to hold off the aggression of decks like Kuldotha Red without the fragility against End the Festivities that is inherent to this category in the format.

Elementalist Adept seems a bit far from the current Pauper power level, but the possibility of playing it at Instant-Speed ​​and benefiting from cantrips and removal to make it grow could give it some room to test in Tempo decks.

A Distress that is easier to play with splashes deserves attention as an important feature for Pauper. In the current metagame, it's a clean answer for black decks against combos that require different types of permanents, like Basking Broodscale with Sadistic Glee.

It shouldn't be a staple, but it fits into the format as a good universal answer in the right metagame.

Sanguine Syphoner has a body and relevant abilities to hold fast Aggro in the format today. It shouldn't be a staple because there are more efficient options, but it's another interesting addition to the format.

Crackling Cyclops is almost a power creep of Nivix Cyclops, which sees occasional play in Izzet Blitz due to its ability to survive Lightning Bolt. The Mono Red version of it, even without initial power, may appear in some Blitz lists for the same reason, but it shouldn't be a staple of the format.

Apothecary Stomper is an option if players need to opt for immediate life gain instead of mana repair on Gruul Ramp, where it would replace Generous Ent, but today the Lord of the Rings card is still the best option in this category.

Beast-Kin Ranger is an elf, and its ability interacts well with the number of creatures that the archetype can put into play in a turn. In addition, it also interacts with Broodscale Combo, becoming a creature with infinite power and Trample.

It may warrant some testing, but Nadier’s Nightblade seems like a more reliable and easier-to-protect option in the combo.

Dwynen’s Elite is the most important card in Foundations for Elves. We were very close to a reprint of Imperious Perfect, but it seems like Lords still have the power level of an uncommon, even when they don’t come in booster packs.

It will be a good addition to the deck and can help boost the clock with Priest of Titania or creatures like Timberwatch Elf and Elvish Vanguard.

That’s all for today!

If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment!

Thanks for reading!