(OmniscienceOmniscience | Art by Dominik Mayer)

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~Blue Skies and Blue Vibes~

Hello, everyone! It’s your friendly neighborhood Jesguy here, and welcome to the Magic Foundations blue Set Review!

While I originally thought that Magic Foundations was going to simply be "another Core Set", I'm blown away by the designs, the art, and all the amazing cards WotC has packed into a single, standard legal set.

From great reprints to fantastic new cards, this set has something for everyone, which is great considering this is a set that is supposed to be an on-ramp for new players and players getting into Standard.

But what about EDH though? What goodies does Foundations have in store for us? Let's find out!

Mythics

Kaito, Cunning InfiltratorKaito, Cunning Infiltrator

KaitoKaito returns as the new face of blue in Magic. What a world we live in. A Kamigawa native being the posterchild for an entire color. Goodness, Neon Dynasty was such a good set.

KaitoKaito looks really solid. He has an interesting and fast way to gain loyalty, an ability to make a creature unblockable, a loot, token creation, and an ult that is easy to get to.

Basically, he has everything you'd want on a walker. KaitoKaito is perfect for saboteur strategies like Edric, Spymaster of TrestEdric, Spymaster of Trest and Kamiz, Obscura OculusKamiz, Obscura Oculus or strategies that revolve around a lot of fliers.

Kaito, Cunning InfiltratorKaito, Cunning Infiltrator is an excellent addition to blue decks that like to attack and sneak through damage. He does a little bit of everything, and I think that is a boon here.

Sphinx of Forgotten LoreSphinx of Forgotten Lore

I love cards with flash, and I love casting things from my yard, so when I see a giant Snapcaster MageSnapcaster Mage sphinx, I am happy.

Sphinx of Forgotten LoreSphinx of Forgotten Lore has to attack in order to get you Flashback trigger, but considering it has pseudo-haste thanks to flash, that isn't a downside at all. While it doesn't give all your spells Flashback like Backdraft HellkiteBackdraft Hellkite, I can see it putting up similar numbers when compared to our scaly friend.

The HellkiteHellkite is in over 13,000 decks on EDHREC, mainly consisting of a mix of Dragon decks as well as Spellslinger and Storm decks. Similarly, Sphinx of Forgotten LoreSphinx of Forgotten Lore trades Dragon decks for Sphinx decks, while being able to slot in wonderfully to the aforementioned Spellslinger and Storm lists.

Overall, this SphinxSphinx has plenty of homes and is plenty powerful to boot. If I'm in the market for a powerful blue flier that can accrue a bunch of value, I know exactly where to look.

Rares

Archmage of RunesArchmage of Runes

Archmage of RunesArchmage of Runes is what you get when you cross Goblin ElectromancerGoblin Electromancer with Archmage EmeritusArchmage Emeritus: a damn good card.

Sure, unlike EmeritusEmeritus it won't draw you cards off of spells you copy, but outside of those style decks, these cards are one in the same. Making you spells cheaper is great, and turning every instant or sorcery into a cantrip is an excellent way to try and storm off, or at least keep enough gas in the tank.

Aside from being five mana, I don't see a downside to Archmage of RunesArchmage of Runes. It's great in Wizard and Spellslinger and Storm lists, and that's a great place to be. I like this a lot.

Curator of DestiniesCurator of Destinies

While Curator of DestiniesCurator of Destinies isn't a strictly better Sphinx of UthuunSphinx of Uthuun, it's damn near close.

Any flying threat that is uncounterable and draws you a handful of cards is A-Okay by me. While I am not a huge fan of this Fact or FictionFact or Fiction making you set the piles, while your opponent chooses which you get, but I don't think that is a deal breaker here. With a bit of sly cleverness you should still be able to come out ahead.

While it is pricey, I like Curator of DestiniesCurator of Destinies a bunch. Add in some Blink, and you'll be playing tons of fun minigames and refilling your hand and stocking your graveyard in no time!

Drake HatcherDrake Hatcher

I know blue has a penchant for making drakes, and most of those cards are pretty good, but Talrand, Sky SummonerTalrand, Sky Summoner this is not.

Drake HatcherDrake Hatcher is too slow for my tastes. Not only do you need to hit a player to start getting counters, you have to remove three of them before you get your first drake. Sure, Prowess helps with that, but I have better things to trigger off of my spells like the aforementioned TalrandTalrand, Murmuring MysticMurmuring Mystic or Docent of PerfectionDocent of Perfection.

Drake HatcherDrake Hatcher is too slow and weak. It's a cute design, but leave it in your maybeboards as opposed to your 99.

High Fae TricksterHigh Fae Trickster

A flashy Leyline of AnticipationLeyline of Anticipation on a solid, flying body with a relevant creature type? Sign. Me. Up.

High Fae TricksterHigh Fae Trickster is a must answer threat. A 4 power flier is nothing to scoff at, especially when it gives you the ability to play any spell whenever you want. This is excellent in Spellslinger lists, to Flying decks, to...Hell, any deck with blue in it!

This TricksterTrickster is potentially one of the best card in the set. I adore playing spells on other people's turns, and being able to do that with a powerful creature is something I love even more. A+ from me. This card is cracked.

Homunculus HordeHomunculus Horde

That's a bunch of weird little guys. It ain't going to beat Scute SwarmScute Swarm in a multiplication contest, but I don't think it has to in order to be good.

Homunculus HordeHomunculus Horde is a cute card that isn't super exploitable, but that's probably a good thing. If you're looking to get wacky, it's a cute Mutate target, and an even better Exchange of WordsExchange of Words target.

If you're trying to just keep things simple though, it goes great in The Council of FourThe Council of Four, and Gavi, Nest WardenGavi, Nest Warden lists, as well as an exceptional card in Marneus CalgarMarneus Calgar decks.

Overall, Homunculus HordeHomunculus Horde is a nice addition to a bevy of lists, and has plenty of homes. It's a little slow to start, but once you start snowballing, you're off to the races!

Kiora, the Rising TideKiora, the Rising Tide

KioraKiora returns on her second legendary creature card, but this is the first that is mono blue!

Three mana for a creature that loots two on etb is solid for smoothing you hard, and the Geist of Saint TraftGeist of Saint Traft ability to create an octopus on attack if Threshold is live is very fun.

Speaking of Threshold, that shouldn't be hard to turn on at all ConsiderConsidering all the ways blue has to dump cards into their yard! Careful ConsiderationCareful Consideration and Frantic SearchFrantic Search are great here, and any spell that can blink Kiora turns into a loot for two too!

Overall, this version of Kiora is simple and straightforward: put cards into your yard, swing with your legendary octopus. She isn't making waves by any means, but she is fun. A great rare for a new player to open for sure!

Lunar InsightLunar Insight

Lunar InsightLunar Insight is a bit of a mixed bag, and I am not sure how I feel about it.

It's cheap, but with so many ways to draw cards at instant-speed, Lunar InsightLunar Insight lags behind in the efficiency department. Couple that with the fact you can never guarantee how many cards you can draw off of it, I think this belongs in the bulk bin.

Fact of FictionFact of Fiction. Pull From TomorrowPull From Tomorrow, Dig Through TimeDig Through Time, Mystic COnfluence[/el], Blue Sun's ZenithBlue Sun's Zenith...All of these cards are instants that can easily net you a bunch of cards for little work, while also being able to be cast on an opponent's turn.

I'm pretty low on Lunar InsightLunar Insight If you can guarantee your board has a lot of different mana values, it may be worth it, but overall I'd say don't bother. The only sorcery card draw spell I'd put into any deck is Lórien RevealedLórien Revealed, because that card is wild.

Uncommons and Commons

And this is where I would put my uncommons and commons review...If I had one!

None of the new uncommons or commons spoke to me like they usually do. They all seem pretty tones down for us, and I can't feasibly see any of them making the cut. If I'm wrong though, make sure to tell me in the comments down below!

Jumpstart

• Cynette, Jelly DroverCynette, Jelly Drover is cute, but expensive for what she does, and being only a single color doesn't help either. She is a nice addition to existing Flying Decks, but I don't foresee her leading many decks of her own. Definitely better in the 99.
• Neerdiv, Devious DiverNeerdiv, Devious Diver is a fantastic include into existing Graveyard Decks. Any deck that would want something like a River KelpieRiver Kelpie or Laboratory DrudgeLaboratory Drudge will want NeerdivNeerdiv. Seems great to me!
• Plagon, Lord of the BeachPlagon, Lord of the Beach is the first time U/W gets access to a Doran, the Siege TowerDoran, the Siege Tower effect in the command zone, and it's a powerful one at that! On etb it nets you at least one card, more if you build your deck right, and with a bit of blink, you'll never run out of gas again! That isn't even mentioning the fact that all of your creatures can now be massive threats for just a single mana! These kinds of decks are always popular, so I expect quite the number of PlagonPlagon decks in our future.
• Pol Jamaar, IllusionistPol Jamaar, Illusionist definitely isn't Titan of LittjaraTitan of Littjara, but it's close at least. Drawing a card for each creature of whatever type you choose is a pretty solid effect, especially on a 4/5 flier. It'll be great in Wizard and Illusion decks, and can slot in to any kindred deck that includes blue. Overall Pol Jamaar, IllusionistPol Jamaar, Illusionist is inoffensive. I don't see it being great anywhere, but it certainly has some homes.
• Taeko, the Patient AvalancheTaeko, the Patient Avalanche finally gives the people what they want: a Ninja Turtle commander. Being blue blue and black is great, as it lets you run all of the best ninja cards, and even better, it's a Ninja commander that isn't Yuriko, the Tiger's ShadowYuriko, the Tiger's Shadow, so you won't end up being focused down and knocked out first every game! There's not much to say here. Taeko is excellent with Ninjas and ninjutsu, and that is the deck that he wants to lead, or be a part of. Thumbs up from me.

"Found"ations? What, were they lost?

And there we have it! All the brand new cards from Magic Foundations!

This is, without exaggeration, probably one of, if not the best, "core set" of all time. The amount of new and old cards they've jam-packed into here is ridiculous. Don't get me wrong, it's a shame that none of the new commons and uncommons are any good for us, but all the rares and mythics certainly make up for that!

Like I said earlier, this set has a bit of everything for everyone. I know I am personally excited about High Fae TricksterHigh Fae Trickster in particular. As an avid YevaYeva enjoyer, if it says flash, I want it in my deck.

What about you though? What blue cards stood out to you during the set review? Any that you agree or disagree with? Make sure you let me know down in the comments below!

Until next time, keep your foundations strong!

You can reach me on Twitter (@thejesguy), where you can always hit me up for Magic- or Jeskai-related shenanigans 24/7. Do you have any comments, questions, or concerns?

Please don’t hesitate to leave them below or get in touch! Stay safe, make sure you vote, wash your hands, and keep fighting the good fight. I support you. No justice, no peace.

Angelo Guerrera

Angelo is a New England resident who started playing Magic during Return to Ravnica, and has made it his mission to play Jeskai in every format possible. Along with Commander, he loves Limited, Cube, and Modern, and will always put his trust in counterspells over creatures. He is still hurt by Sphinx's Revelation's rotation out of Standard.