Hello all and happiest of days to you! Today I thought it might be fun to dig in and figure out which Core Sets are my favorites. The first set, Alpha, was iconic and gave us a hodge podge of light and fun cards like the Wards and Laces along with the broken powerhouses known as the Power 9 and Sol Ring. Alpha is where it all began, but it was a little inconsistent (understandably!), and all of the Core Sets that came after it were simply full of reprints from previously released sets. Between the inconsistencies of Alpha/Beta/Revised/Unlimited and the lack of new cards from 4th-10th Editions, those will not be up for consideration. So, we're looking at where Core Sets changed for the better and harkened back to the pure fantasy vibes of Alpha with resonant, new designs, Magic 2010 and forward. Let's get started!

#7. Magic 2011 (M11)

This Core Set followed in the footsteps of Magic 2010 by adding new cards like the Titan Cycle that everyone loved (and sometimes loathed). It was the second in a new era of Core Sets after the first one brought new rotation rules with it, and did an excellent job taking on the mantle established by it's immediate predecessor. I particularly adore the Leyline cycle and my absolute favorite is Leyline of Anticipation.

#6. Magic 2010 (M10)

This was the first Core Set to give us new cards, but I hated that they pulled Grizzly Bears for the new card Runeclaw Bear. (Why?! Grizzly Bears was iconic and everyone knew it, and even set the precedent for two-mana 2/2 creatures being called bears!) Regardless, Magic 2010 was intended to be a fresh look at Core Sets and a simpler entry point for new players and beginners, and it did well. Also? Baneslayer Angel!

#5. Core Set 2021 (M21)

Many modern Magic folks adore this set, and I get it! It reprinted Ugin, the Spirit Dragon, Grim Tutor, and tons of other great, powerful cards like Terror of the Peaks. This is basically the Teferi set, featuring Teferi, Master of Time, who is just absolutely nasty in multiplayer. It also gave us another set of Shrines (the first since the original Kamigawa block), and the five color Uber Shrine, Sanctum of All.

#4. Core Set 2019 (M19)

This set brought Core Sets back after a hiatus following Magic Origins, and tells the origin story of the big bad Nicol Bolas and his twin Ugin. It brought great planeswalkers like Vivien Reid and great casual and Commander cards like Sai, Master Thopterist and Goreclaw, Terror of Qal Sisma. It also gave us new versions of everyone's favorite Elder Dragons, like Arcades, the Strategist. It was kind of a Dragon set, and reprinted impactful cards like Scapeshift and Crucible of Fire. Love it!

#3. Core Set 2020 (M20)

This set was built around Chandra's story. It featured three Chandra planeswalkers at different rarities, powerful game-winners like Field of the Dead, and impactful sideboard cards like Veil of Summer. I enjoy that this set's draft environment was built around three-color wedges. It also gave us Leylines again (some returning some new!). Chandra, Awakened Inferno is still one of my favorites from the set. Sorin, Imperious Bloodlord? Golos, Tireless Pilgrim? Agent of Treachery? Yeah, I prefer Chandra over the those three, though they're often considered better cards.

#2. Foundations

In the Number 2 slot on my list is the most recent Core Set, Foundations. It gave us tons of great reprints like Omniscience and Liliana, Dreadhorde General, as well as some new stuff to play with, like Twinflame Tyrant. It is full of reprints that are amazing in multiplayer, like Rogue's Passage and Rise of the Dark Realms, and that's just for starters.

#1. Magic Origins

Let's finish off this list with the set that spelled the end of Core Sets for a while, Magic Origins. It gave us the awesome flip-walkers like Jace, Vyrn's Prodigy // Jace, Telepath Unbound and cards that told the story of five key planeswalkers: Chandra, Gideon, Liliana, Jace, and Nissa. It did a great job in telling its story from top to bottom and was an excellent opportunity for lore enthusiasts to learn the backstory of Magic's (at the time) central characters.

There we go! What are your favorite Core Sets?

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