Wizards of the Coast (WotC) have released their third Magic: The Gathering ‘Modern Horizons’ set, aptly named “Modern Horizons 3” (MH3) this week. MH3 brings together a mix of new-to-Magic cards, along with some fan favourite reprints.
With a range of cards that are all legal to play in both the Modern and Commander formats, this set is sure to satisfy the playing purists of the game. With a focus on providing a fresh range of playable cards, even the most well-optimised decks will be tempted by some of the cards available in Modern Horizons 3.
What is Modern Horizons?
Opening up the prerelease kits is a standard experience, with the kit containing six Play Boosters, a spindown life counter and a foil-stamped rare or mythic rare card. The fun part about these Play boosters, however, is that each one is guaranteed to contain a reprint card – a card from across Magic’s history that has been included in this set.
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Some of the most anticipated cards that are returning include the ally fetch cards. When played, these Lands allow you to pay a cost (generally 1 life) and then search your Library for a specific Land card that you need. This provides more options for players who are looking to play multi-colour decks, or provides an easy ‘out’ when you’re looking to include a few specific cards outside your main colours to supplement your deck.
MH3 also sees the return of energy, providing another resource to manage – as if there aren’t enough plates to spin when you’re playing! Energy gives you ways to provide modifications to creatures, or even return them from your graveyard.
Cards To Look Out For
Having spent a small amount of time with the set, here are a few of my favourite cards I pulled and used from a prerelease kit!
Playing with a White/Blue deck, there is a clear focus on stacking and enhancing flyers, and Guide of Souls was the perfect card for this. Pulling this early was always a great bonus, helping to build up a small amount of life as well as ever important energy counters.
The ability to grant creatures ‘flying’ was huge, and the two +1/+1 counters were a bonus on top.
The Delirium ability on Shifting Woodland is fantastic. For only four mana you can return any card in your graveyard regardless of cost! Sign me up.
This was the foil-stamped rare I received in my kit. While I didn’t play a red deck because the pulls I got didn’t make it super viable, oh boy was I tempted to make one just to use this card. I love any mana doubling card, that coupled with giving a creature haste is most excellent.
Learn more about Modern Horizons 3 on the Magic: The Gathering website.
What’s The Next Magic Trick?
With Modern Horizons 3 out, my mind naturally turns to the question: what is next?
Well, the good news is we know – because Wizards of the Coast have told us exactly we can expect this year. And the next release is certain to be a big one…
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The first week of July is bringing us the next ‘Universes Beyond’ release, Magic: The Gathering Assassin’s Creed – and oh boy, it’s going to be a big one. While they won’t be releasing any Commander decks as part of the set they will be releasing a brand new type of booster pack, named the “Beyond Booster”. We don’t know heaps about these new boosters yet, just that they will have only seven cards (Collector Boosters have 15!) and they won’t be draftable.
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Given the success of the most recent Universes Beyond sets (Lord of the Rings, Dr Who, Fallout), the Assassin’s Creed set will be one to watch when it does come out.
Until then, Modern Horizons 3 is available now at your friendly local card shop. You can pick up Play boosters, Collector Boosters, bundles, or grab a pre-constructed Commander deck.
Magic: The Gathering – Modern Horizon 3 prerelease packs were supplied to Quest Daily to assist with this article.
