Legacy: Foundations Review

Greetings, Legacy community! When I started playing Magic: The Gathering, back in 1996, there was a base set called the 4th Edition. It included reprints of many sets released before and was supposed to be a base for new players. And then many others just like it were released - 5th, 6th, 7th, and many more Editions. They eventually became core sets, a mixture of new cards and reprints - M10, M11, M12 - but were discontinued in 2015. Then, they were released again in 2019 and discontinued in 2022.

This year, to improve Standard (which now operates under a new rotation system), Wizards of the Coast decided to release, once again, a set with new and old cards. It is supposed to act as a gateway for new players and an overall base for Standard in the upcoming years, considering this set will be valid in Standard until 2029.

Enters Magic Foundations! It has new cards for us, so let's take a look at which ones can see play in Legacy!

Foundations doesn't include any new mechanics, but it includes some very traditional mechanics, like Flashback, Kicker, Landfall, Morbid, Prowess, Raid, and Threshold. They also changed how combat damage is distributed. You can see every change in this article by judge Antonio Faillace.

Arahbo, the First Fang

The Ajani, Nacatl Pariah, Guide of Souls, and Ocelot Pride trio has been quite destructive in some Legacy decks. Arahbo will be a lord to a kindred that interacts with all of these three cards. Will we be seeing a new Kindred deck soon?

Crystal Barricade

White just got another hatebear (2-mana creatures that disrupt your opponent's game plan), and this Barricade will be a real headache for burn decks.

Helpful Hunter

Alright. Now white draws cards! Elvish Visionary is key in Elf decks, so you can't just ignore a version of it in another color.

Raise the Past

This effect is incredibly powerful, particularly when you consider most creatures in Legacy cost 2 or less. With this card, Death & Taxes will be able to rebuild their entire board all at once, and more creative players will definitely be able to build a new combo with it.

Blue

Archmage of Runes

5 mana is a lot of mana in Legacy, but this card is a mana and a card engine all at once. You can easily abuse its effect and create a deck around it.

Kiora, the Rising Tide

Kiora can see play in Merfolk, though you'll have to use fetch lands to enable Threshold more easily. If you play it at instant speed with Aether Vial and it's active, you'll create giant boards.

Abyssal Harvester

Despite fragile, if Abyssal Harvester manages to see an untap step, it will turn into an incredible engine, and bring back anything you want from your graveyard. Thankfully, Grief is banned!

Zul Ashur, Lich Lord

Zombie isn't the most popular Kindred deck, but there are many Zombie fans in Legacy. They certainly will be happy to play Gravecrawler with Warren Soultrader and trigger their effects many times, as well as play many effects that drain your opponent's life. With Zul, they'll get the pieces of this puzzle.

Boltwave

I discussed this card in my last article. It is an obvious addition to burn decks, but only them. You can check out more details here!

General Kreat, the Boltbringer

A creature that costs 2 colorless mana and 1 colored mana always stands out to red Stompy decks, particularly one that plays well with other old Goblin friends: Goblin Rabblemaster, Legion Warboss, and Broadside Bombardiers.

Ivora, Insatiable Heir

Ivora creates a Blood token as soon as she enters play, so she seems interesting, particularly with Anje's Ravager.

Kellan, Planar Trailblazer

No, this isn't Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer. It is an aggressive creature that puts leftover mana to use and creates card advantage, but the competition in Legacy is fierce.

Rite of the Dragoncaller

This card costs 6 mana and doesn't do anything when it enters play, so it has no chance in Legacy, right? Look, normally I'd agree with you, but this card is a great finisher for control decks. It can easily create a board after board in a format with Brainstorm, Ponder, and Force of Will.

Scythecat Cub

With fetch lands, this cub can easily spin out of control. I don't know if there is a home for it right now, but you'll easily be able to create counters with it.

Scrawling Crawler

What interests me in this card is not that it draws cards, but the fact it can be a win condition in decks centered around Time Spiral and other card draw. It also easily goes over common answers to this deck, like Stifle.

Sire of Seven Deaths

If you want to put more pressure on your opponent with decks like Cloudpost Ramp, this seems like a great card. It is a great attacker, gives you life, and is difficult to remove. Playing it is easier than playing Eldrazi Titans, but it also doesn't affect the board immediately.

Stalking Stones has officially been power crept! Ok, unfortunately this one also doesn't have potential for Legacy, but it is, indeed, a tribute to a relic from the past.

I've mentioned a few times (and, apparently, will keep mentioning whenever we discuss other sets) that sets Standard-focused sets rarely give Legacy many options. Still, considering Foundations is a gateway set for new players, its power level seems a bit weaker than average, and, consequently, there is not much we, Legacy players, can use.

Raise the Past is, to me, the one with the biggest potential and will possibly impact the format. Boltwave is a must in budget decks, and Archmage of Runes is basically a combo on its own with effects that untap lands.

I hope you enjoyed reading this article.

Thank you for reading, and see you next time!