There are always so many previews coming out, so quickly, at every given moment, that I never really know when a set is fully revealed. It would make sense to wait until the full Foundations set has been spoiled, but considering how many awesome cards have already been shown, I figured this would be a fine time to explore some of the ones I'm most excited about.

I usually just throw a bunch of cards into an article and call it a day, but this time, I'll break up my spotlights into individual articles that cover groups since there have been so many cards that have excited me.

Let's take a look at some of the Blue and Black cards.

Sphinx of Forgotten Lore

One thing I want to note is that there are a lot of Blue creatures with flash in this set. I'm not sure if it's been noted somewhere, but this definitely feels like a theme of the set.

This is a real "we have Snapcaster Mage at home" vibe here. While you're getting a 3/3 flier instead of a 2/1 non-flier, in the decks that want this type of effect, that two mana is a big deal, and you'd rather have the discount than the bigger, evasive body. Recasting a card like Mana Leak for four mana is a lot different than casting it for six mana.

All that being said, this is still both a Diet Snapcaster Mage, as well as a reasonably sized threat that you can deploy at instant-speed. The fact that it's mythic makes me wonder if Wizards knows something...

Voracious Greatshark

Oh, look, another Blue creature with flash!

I always loved this card. I thought it was super cool ever since I first saw it in Ikoria. I wanted it to be kind of a stronger Venser, Shaper Savant and I tried to slot it into numerous control and tempo decks. It never really worked out. I think the biggest flaw for the shark was that it countered artifacts rather than planeswalkers. With counterspells, you typically either want to counter spells, like instants or sorceries, or offensive cards, like creatures and planeswalkers. Unfortunately, artifacts aren't super common, so against certain matchups, this guy just ends up sitting in your hand when you'd rather be crashing in for five damage.

That being said, every format is different, especially when it comes to Standard, which changes every few months. My fingers are crossed for the shark to get a second life.

Arcanis the Omnipotent

Come on. Arcanis is back?! I don't know if this will have a home, but man, what a classic card. We used to reanimate this guy back in the day, kids.

Phyrexian Arena

Man, do I love a Phyrexian Arena. This is another classic card from way back in Apocalypse, which released in 2001. This card is 23 years old. People have been losing one life a turn for an additional card for 23 years. That's mind blowing to me, and I'm sure there are an absolute ton of people who are younger than Phyrexian Arena. This card is old enough to drink. Phyrexian Arena was basically a planeswalker before planeswalkers existed, and the Arena walked so that Dark Confidant could run.

I think my personal barometer for an enjoyable format is whether or not a card like Phyrexian Arena is playable. It should be slow enough for it to feel like an impactful enchantment, but the format should also have ways to get rid of it as needed. Unfortunately Arena has been in Standard for a while now, and Vivien Reid has also been previewed for Foundations, so we know there's at least one planeswalker that can take out an Arena to great effect. I'm still crossing my fingers that the Arena can shine again one day!

Demonic Pact

When it was legal in Standard, Demonic Pact was one of my favorite things to do. Sometimes you'd find a way to bounce it back to your hand before it killed you, sometimes you'd donate it to your opponent with Harmless Offering so it could kill them! And Harmless Offering is also in Foundations!

For four mana, at the risk of repeating myself, Demonic Pact also feels like a planeswalker. It gives you three cool abilities before you have to find a way to either win the game or get rid of it...lest it get rid of you!

Utility Cards

Additionally, it seems like every color in Foundations has a group of utility cards that will be useful in decks for the next five years. These are the types of cards that Core Sets were originally intended to introduce into Standard, including versatile removal and interaction. As of me writing this, Blue and Black seem to include the following:

• Chart a Course
• Flashfreeze
• Imprisoned in the Moon
• Negate
• Think Twice
• Unsummon
• Deathmark
• Duress
• Feed the Swarm
• Hero's Downfall
• Knight of Malice
• Zombify

It's very interesting to me that the cycle of hosers has returned, including cards like Flashfreeze and Deathmark. These have always been very good, and I'm sure this time will be no exception.

Truth be told, there are a ton of cool cards in Foundations. I've been really impressed by the set so far. I want to also mention cards like Omniscience, Sphinx of the Final Word, Time Stop, Desecration Demon, Liliana, Dreadhorde General, Massacre Wurm, Midnight Reaper, Nullpriest of Oblivion, and more, but there's only so much time and space. A lot of these cards have previously had homes in my Vintage Cube, if they aren't currently in there.

I'll be back soon to explore some of the other colors!

Frank Lepore

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