Foundations is the Magic The Gathering set for Commander casuals like me

It’s not a new plane to explore, instead pulling from well-explored locations in the series’ history to offer up a huge number of cards for players to use to build their decks. Think of it a little like jumping into an MMO like World of Warcraft and getting boosted to a certain level so you can play with friends, and you’re on the right track.

Still, it’s not just ideal for total newcomers (although Wizards is finally revamping the Starter experience) - it might just get me playing Standard.

In the (Command) Zone

I play Commander around once a month, often more, and it’s easy to see why it’s Magic’s most popular format.

You buy a deck, and you’re ready to go, and it’s rare that one deck feels too much more powerful than others (at least as far as preconstructed ones go). That makes it a great jumping-in point, while the format itself is dynamic.

For the uninitiated, Commander uses 100 card decks where you can only have one of each card (except for basic lands). That means you’re constantly switching your approach, especially when playing against multiple opponents, and being able to select a Legendary Creature to front your deck as its Commander is a nice way to add a touch of personality.

Commander can be played competitively, but for the most part, in-store events are geared towards Standard, the de facto Magic format with 60 card decks, the option to have multiple copies of cards, and more of a focus on building your own deck.

The Ultimate Shoebox

This is where Foundations comes in, with Wizards calling the Starter Collection the ‘Ultimate Shoebox’.

It packs 350 cards, with competitive staples like Lyra Dawnbringer, Maelstrom Pulse, Darksteel Colossus, and Gilded Lotus, as well as introducing combos and introducing cards dating right back to the game’s Alpha run in 1993.

That means players can start building decks that feel competitive in Standard with relative ease, and should make those cards much easier to get. It’s not just reprints, either - some are revived with new artwork, while there are also new cards entirely. Wizards of the Coast told me that the split is around 50/50 between new cards and reprints.

For a Commander casual like me who only plays Standard on Arena, this is a really great way for me to brew my own deck, and it doesn’t hurt that Foundations cards will forge the backbone of the game’s 2025 expansions.

In fact, Foundations will be Standard legal until 2029, and possibly beyond. That’s great news for anyone who felt put off by the idea of building a deck only to need to rebuild it later.