Modern Horizons 3 released on June 14 of this year. It is now September 9thth. It's been almost three months since the format-breaking set became legal and we thought it would be fun to take a look at some of the best Modern Horizons 3 cards to make waves in Constructed.

Four of the Five Flip 'Walkers

Tamiyo, Inquisitive Student // Tamiyo, Seasoned Scholar, Ajani, Nacatl Pariah // Ajani, Nacatl Avenger, Ral, Monsoon Mage // Ral, Leyline Prodigy, and Sorin of House Markov // Sorin, Ravenous Neonate have all been seeing a considerable amount of play, with Tamiyo, Ajani, and Ral basically being format staples and finding homes in Tier 1 decks. Ajani is in basically every energy-based White deck that exists, and Tamiyo is in basically every spell-based Blue deck that exists. Meanwhile, Ral is a four-of staple in the Modern storm deck, reducing your costs along with the newly printed-into-Modern Ruby Medallion.

Eldrazi

The Eldrazi were kind of a smash hit. All three of the new titans - Ulamog, the Defiler; Emrakul, the World Anew; and Kozilek, the Broken Reality - have seen a good amount of play at the highest level. In addition, a lot of the common, uncommon, and rare Eldrazi have also been seeing play. Some of the more popular eldrazi have been Breaker of Creation, Devourer of Destiny, Drowner of Truth, Nulldrifter, Sowing Mycospawn, Wasteland Battlemage, and It That Heralds The End.

Additionally, Kozilek's Command has shown up as a four-of in all of the Eldrazi Ramp decks, shooting the card up to the $10 range.

Meanwhile, in Legacy, Glaring Fleshraker has been an all-star, generating a lot of tokens, mana, and damage.

This doesn't even take into account Ugin's Labyrinth, which has been a phenomenal replacement for Eye of Ugin and has become an instant four-of in the decks that can best utilize it. (...eldrazi decks.)

Phlage, Titan of Fire's Fury

This is the third "Elder Giant" Titan that has ever been printed, behind Uro, Titan of Nature's Wrath and Kroxa, Titan of Death's Hunger. And just like the other two titans, Phlage has been a hit, finding a home in two of the best decks in the format: -based energy decks and -based control decks.

Psychic Frog

Psychic Frog does an amazing Psychatog impersonation, and I absolutely love the design of this card. With Odyssey/Torment/Judgment being my absolute favorite Magic era, the Psychatog throwback really hits all the nostalgia vibes for me. It's also very strong and can be found wreaking havoc in both Modern and Legacy decks, being one of the best Reanimator enablers in ages.

Nethergoyf

Nethergoyf isn't seeing a ton of play in Modern just yet, but it's playing hand-in-hand with Psychic Frog in Legacy, where it seems to be playing the new role of Delver of Secrets in low cost decks that want to easily put a bunch of cards into the graveyard.

Ocelot Pride and the Energy Gang

I picked up one copy of Ocelot Pride for my Cube when the set first dropped. It was $20 for the retro frame. Now all three versions of the card hover between $50 and $80. So that's cool.

Meanwhile, every other White and Red card that produces energy is also seeing play, like Amped Raptor, Guide of Souls, Wrath of the Skies, Static Prison, and Galvanic Discharge. And the Mardu versions of the deck are also adding Chthonian Nightmare, which is basically just a fixed, energy-based Recurring Nightmare.

Nadu, Winged Wisdom

This dude is banned. The set was out for a mere two months and the best rare in the set got banned. Let's never speak of him again.

Well, I guess he's started seeing some play in Legacy, because of course he has.

Everything Else

Modern Horizons 3 is a set where something like 80% of the set feels like it sees play somewhere. (Don't quote me on that stat; it's a feeling, not math.) I can't even remember the last time a set had that high of Constructed playability, but here we are.

For better or worse, Modern Horizons 3 has basically redefined the Modern format. It doesn't really even look the same as it did before Modern Horizons 3 was released. There a ton of other cards from the set that are seeing high levels of play, including Necrodominance, Warren Soultrader, Phyrexian Tower, Flare of Denial, Flare of Malice, Toxic Deluge, Fanatic of Rhonas, Consign to Memory, Arena of Glory...honestly, I could keep going, but it's not really necessary.

I saw a tweet the other day where someone posted an image of their energy deck, but only showing the non MH3 cards. It was all the lands, four Thoughtseize, and two Fatal Push.

That was it.

I don't necessarily love that, personally. It's funny. I usually love the Modern Horizons sets, for their power level, their nostalgia, and how deep the designs can be. I love adding MH cards to Cubes, but ironically, I don't know if I love what they do to Modern itself. I miss Modern being a format where our old Standard cards would get a second life.

But I'm very curious to hear what you guys think. Is the straight-to-Modern pipeline a good one for sets? Should cards continue to go through Standard formats? Are there any unsung heroes in MH3 that are being overlooked?

Thanks a ton for reading and I'll catch ya next time!

Frank Lepore

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