With the imminent release of the mouthful that is Magic the Gathering Core Set 2019 this weekend, we see the return of a set type that has been missing since 2015.
Magic the Gathering Core Sets serve a couple of purposes. Firstly, they give new players a great starting point to get into the game. Unlike main release sets, core sets are not usually focused on just one or two new mechanics.
Generally, Magic the Gathering Core Sets feature a broader balance of colours and card types and only a tangential link to the current lore and storyline. For new players, the Core Sets provide a rounded starting point from which to build decks and a collection.
Core Sets have also, traditionally, included a deck builder toolkit release alongside them which can be a very useful tool for newcomers.
Magic the Gathering Core Set 2019
Secondly, Core Sets allows Wizards of the Coast to reprint cards without diluting the main sets with reprints. It also enables it to create new cards that may be useful in the current meta but might not fit into the main sets thematically.
If none of this year’s main sets would otherwise have cards with the cascade mechanic it would be strange to just add it for one card. Likewise with creature types.
I, for one, am happy to see the return of the Core Set. As a long time player, it’s a great opportunity to get reprints of some powerful cards.
This year we are seeing the timeless Millstone return as an uncommon and Crucible of Worlds as a mythic rare among many other classics. I’m also looking forward to drafting it with my friends who are new players or only play very occasionally.
Included in the Magic the Gathering Core Set 2019 are;
- 280 Cards
- 20 Basic Land
- 111 Common
- 80 Uncommon
- 53 Rare
- 16 Mythic Rare
- Random, premium versions of all 280 Cards
- 25 Additional cards can be found in Core Set 2019’s Planeswalker Decks
- 8 common and uncommon cards from the Ixalan, Rivals of Ixalan and Dominaria sets
- 181 New cards
- 89 Reprints
- 14 Tokens
4/4 Angel creature with flying and vigilance, for Resplendent Angel.- 4/4 Avatar creature with flying, for Ajani’s Last Stand.
- 1/1 Cat creature with lifelink, for Ajani, Adversary of Tyrants and Leonin Warleader.
- 2/2 Knight creature with vigilance, for Gallant Cavalry, Knightly Valor and Sigiled Sword of Valeron.
- 2/4 Ox creature, for Transmogrifying Wand.
- 1/1 Soldier creature, for Heroic Reinforcements and Lena, Selfless Champion.
1/1 Bat creature with flying, for Desecrated Tomb and Regal Bloodlord.- 2/2 Zombie creature, for Doomed Dissenter, Graveyard Marshal and Open the Graves.
2/2 Dragon creature with flying and “: This creature gets +1/+0 until end of turn,” for Dragon Egg.- 5/5 Dragon creature with flying, for Draconic Disciple, Lathliss, Dragon Queen and Sarkhan, Fireblood.
- 1/1 Goblin creature, for Goblin Instigator.
3/3 Beast creature, for Druid of Horns.- 1/1 Elf Warrior creature, for Thorn Lieutenant.
1/1 Thopter artifact creature with flying, for Aviation Pioneer, Sai, Master Thopterist and Tezzeret, Artifice Master.
- 3 Emblems
- Emblem for Ajani, Adversary of Tyrants.
- Emblem for Tezzeret, Artifice Master.
- Emblem for Vivien Reid.
- One Checklist Card
The Magic the Gathering Core Set 2019 also features five Welcome Decks;
- White
- Serra’s Guardian
- Blue
- Riddlemaster Sphynx
- Black
- Gravewalker
- Red
- Shivan Dragon
- Green
- Aggressive Mammoth
These Welcome Decks are designed to quickly and easily get new players into the game, without the hassle of having to learn deck construction etc.
There are also five Planeswalker Decks as part of Core Set 2019. These have all been designed to integrate with the Welcome Decks.
Magic the Gathering Core Set 2019 will be available this weekend.
