Welcome back, Lore Seekers! Today I want to talk about Magic's first "core set" in years, Foundations! And of course, also about the accompanying Foundations Jumpstart! So let's dive in!

Foundations

First off, I absolutely adore the full-art character lands in this set. They're one of my favorite things, especially the slightly aged up Giada, Font of Hope in this set now that it's been a couple years since her last appearance.

Plains by Julian Kok Joon Wen

As a core set, one of Foundations' goals is to be an introductory product for new players. To that end, a lot of concepts and flavor text are designed to explain what's going on in Magic's multiverse. I think Sire of Seven Deaths does a really excellent job giving insight into the Eldrazi! Plus the seven theming is great.

But what I love more is Arahbo, the First Fang, who fits perfectly with the Cats subtheme of the set. Arahbo is a sort-of counterpart to The Ur-Dragon, he's the primal embodiment of cat kind. I like to think he exists in a sort of yin and yang relationship with The Ur-Dragon. Hare Apparent is my favorite pun in the set. I wrote for the set, and let me tell you, it's not easy to come up with these, but when you see someone just have a stroke of genius (or maybe just a stroke) you know it's the one. Skyknight Squire showcases is the 'new' plane that intrigues me the most. In this set we're getting a glimpse at a Porco Rosso-esque world of Skyknights that I'd really like to know more about.

Cephalid Inkmage by Christopher Burdett

Bigfin Bouncer is the return of the Sharkfolk, after Outlaws of Thunder Junction's Loan Shark. I love some sharkfolk so I'm happy to have one back. Speaking of back, Cephalid Inkmage is our first new Dominaria Cephalid in a long time, a cute throwback in a set otherwise very forward looking. Drake Hatcher is a really fun and flavorful card that captures the concept so well. You're raising Drakes! Cackling Prowler gives our first Hyenafolk in Magic lore proper.

Elementalist Adept is a Brothers' War throwback, this artwork is pretty clearly of the Third Path. Kiora, the Rising Tide brings us Kiora's 2.0 Legend! Notably, still a noble (although we still don't know how), who enables Threshold. And she raises a BIG octopus when you succeed, which is very on brand. Lunar Insight falls into a category I like to call "yet another ponder throwback", with the phases of the moon displayed. And Strix Lookout is just too flipping cute for words. Look at his little pilot's goggles!

Bloodthirsty Conqueror is a not-subtle Exquisite Blood reference, down to the flavor text. Midnight Snack is fun because the Strixhaven students are RAIDing the pantry. Magic has done a lot of Nine Lives cat jokes, but I think Nine-Lives Familiar is one of my favorites. Not quite unlimited recovery, but enough that it's functionally the same in most games of Magic.

Zul Ashur, Lich Lord by Raluca Marinescu

Zul Ashur, Lich Lord is one of many flavor text characters to make an appearance with Foundations: you can read her other lines of text here. The rest are all in Jumpstart, which I'll get to shortly. Dragon Trainer is a very simple concept card that I love. It's the sort of thing that allows mechanics to click very easily for folks through flavor. Courageous Goblin and Goblin Negotiation are callbacks to when goblin cards tended to be named ironically, because they're visibly the opposite of what's happening.

Kellan, Planar Trailblazer is a fun card that really encapsulates the Omenpath era well. Kellan is Red again, like in his first appearance, and you take him on a journey between planes as he grows. It's also a cute callback to the Figure of Destiny-esque cards, it's just a shame he's missing a third evolution. Alesha, Who Laughs at Fate represents Alesha post-Khanfall, where the Mardu have become Kolaghan's clan. It also shows her loss of white in her color identity because of that.

Niv-Mizzet, Visionary is a milestone for Legendary Creatures in Magic. This is our very first 7.0, or seventh unique version of a character, looking back at his early game mechanics. As one of Magic's most popular characters, it's well deserved, and I deeply now want to brew a Niv-Mizzet deck. Zimone, Paradox Sculptor had a very quick rise to 5.0 status, there are only six characters in Magic who reached that mark. I don't appreciate, however, that I continue to have to do math for her cards (I'm bad at it).

Fishing Pole finally gives Magic what it has always been missing: a fishing mini-game! Leyline Axe tapes into the "Leyline of" cycle of enchantments' mechanical space and does something novel. Quick-Draw Katana references Munetsugu Takeno's Way of the Samurai. Kamigawa fans might recognize Takeno, Samurai General's full name, a man who has now literally written the book on Samurai, and who appears in over 20 cards.

Goblin Surprise is an in-universe version of You See A Pair of Goblins, removing the D&D naming convention and inserting the two different kinds of Tarkir goblins (Mardu and Temur)! Last but not least, Krenko, Mob Boss finally gets new, non-anime art, and it rocks! No, I didn't write the flavor text, but Krenko IS a legitimate businessgoblin.

Foundations Jumpstart

Foundations Jumpstart has its own fun. Dawnwing Marshal shows a leonin of some kind riding a dinosaur-like (or perhaps drake?) mount, reminiscent of Leonin Skyhunter. I wonder if this is the same 'world' as Skyknight Squire, but the costuming looks very different. Delightful Discovery shows off Strixhaven Students at the beach, a vampire, djinn, and dwarf with a star arch in the background. Gilded Scuttler is a fun Kaladeshi card, with a filigree crab bursting from the sand to confront litterers.

Ninja of the Deep Hours by Randy Vargas

Dropkick Bomber is perhaps my favorite card in the entire set, a Fling variation that's going into every goblin deck I own. Shardless Outlander has interesting implications for Golos, Tireless Pilgrim. The construct appears to be the same type as Golos, indicating that Golos is probably from Alara. Dark Bargain features Jerren, Corrupted Bishop praying to Ormendahl, the Corrupter. Ninja of the Deep Hours is a fun update to the original Kamigawa ninja, giving the traditional ninja a new magitech look more at home on modern Kamigawa. And finally, Priest of Gix gets new art after 26 years, and updated creature types reflecting the many creature type updates over the years.

That just leaves the new Legends of Jumpstart to talk about. What surprised me most about this list of nobodies, originally, is that it's actually at least half existing characters from flavor text, while the other half is mostly pretty identifiable. I don't know if we'll see a "Legends of..." article for these, but let's dive in.

Brigone, Soldier of Meletis is our first Flavor Text character made legend. I really love to see old names and concepts used instead of one-offs, so I'm really happy with this version of Jumpstart. Psemilla, Meletian Poet is another Flavor Text character known for their commentary on the Nymphs of Theros Beyond Death. That connection is reflected in his card. Qala, Ajani's Pridemate is actually one of the first named characters from Alara, originally appearing (very) briefly in Flight of the White Cat as part of group that abandons Ajani.

Urdnan, Dromoka Warrior is yet another Flavor Text character. Neerdiv, Devious Diver is another Flavor Text character, this time from Lorwyn. Pol Jamaar, Illusionist made an appearance on a previous core set Flavor Text. Anep, Vizier of Hazoret is an Amonkhet Flavor Text character, while Braulios of Pheres Band appears in Theros Flavor Text. Dionus, Elvish Archdruid appeared in Flavor Text before, but the flavor text on his own card, as well as his art, seems to indicate he's a Yavimayan Elf from Dominaria. Lastly, Sutina, Speaker of the Tajuru was an important figure in the original Zendikar block and appeared in Flavor Text. She was also notable for a friendship with Brinelin, the Moon Kraken, so I'm cool "Rule Zero" -ing her as partner with him.

Of the new characters, we can figure out a bit about them. Thurid, Mare of Destiny is a clear reference to Slepnir of Norse myth, so I think calling it for Kaldheim makes sense. Taeko, the Patient Avalanche appears to be from Kamigawa, given the kappa-like design and what appears to be a Futurist ninja in the art. Aphelia, Viper Whisperer feels like Ravnica, but it's hard to say for certain. Evereth, Viceroy of Plunder is obviously from Ixalan (with that conquistador armor), while Fumulus, the Infestation is from Zendikar - Guul Draz, specifically (given the landscape and hedron).

Nazar, the Velvet Fang appears to have the hallmarks of a Sengir Vampire: the hairstyle, the ruby on the chest, and the pointy ears tend to... point... to Baron Sengir's lineage. Rev, Tithe Extractor isn't immediately placeable, but I find the similarity to Isareth the Awakener interesting, specifically the vulture on the shoulders. Cleon, Merry Champion screams Theros with that helmet, although the horns are interesting and make me wonder if they're a follower of Xenagos. General Kreat, the Boltbringer has the Firefist symbol of the Boros on her belt, marking her immediately as a Ravnican. Finally, Slinza, the Spiked Stampede is a baloth, a type of beast common to Dominaria, Zendikar, and other planes in Magic. Can't place Slinza specifically yet, but I love the reference.

We don't know anything yet, or at least can't confirm, for Cynette, Jelly Drover, Plagon, Lord of the Beach, Ozox, the Clattering King, Gornog, the Red Reaper, Ivora, Insatiable Heir, Hurska Sweet-Tooth, or Shroofus Sproutsire.

And that about covers it! I'm going to look into doing some more flavor builds while we wait for the tremendous Aetherspark set, which I can't wait to chat about!