MTG Foundations is a hugely important set in the grand scheme of MTG. Not only will it be legal in Standard until 2029, at least, but it’s also aimed at new players. For as enjoyable as Magic is, its immense complexity makes indoctrinating potential players a lot easier said than done. It’s safe to say MTG Foundations doesn’t have an easy task at hand.
Thankfully, Wizards of the Coast is well aware of this problem and they’ve devised a solution. Instead of just relying on helpful Commander players teaching new players, they’ve created a scripted showcase match. Playable as part of the MTG Foundations Beginner Box, this match is unlike anything we’ve seen in 23 years.
MTG, but It’s Completely Scripted
While Duskmourn: House of Horror is yet to be released, recently some content creators have already been playing MTG Foundations. The Gamer’s Eric Switzer, for example, was one of many journalists who visited Wizards’ offices to try the set. This was despite the fact Switzer has apparently only played a single game of Magic in their life.
As they explain in their article, this lack of experience was actually a godsend as MTG Foundations is all about the new player experience. The new Beginner Box, in particular, is purpose-built to teach new players the ins and outs of the game. This is done through a fully scripted game of MTG in which players follow instructions to the letter.
This scripted showcase match has players using a pair of pre-shuffled Cat and Vampire-themed decks. Each deck has its own tutorial booklet with clear descriptions of actions to take and why everything happens. Following these actions, given by Ajani and Liliana respectively, players will end up almost killing each other before the tutorial ends.
Like many partially interactive tutorials, this means it’s up to you to ultimately win or lose the match. Regardless of which way things go, this should give new players a taste of real freedom after rigidly following instructions. Following this first taste, the Beginner Box also contains ten Jumpstart packs which can be played with afterward.
Sadly, we’ve not been able to get our hands on the Beginner Box ourselves yet, but other journalists are seriously impressed. In articles about the product, it has been lauded as an incredibly fast way to learn MTG. While it’s potentially a little stilted and awkward, the Beginner Box should still be an incredibly useful product.
If you’re curious, GamingTrend has a video showcasing the play experience.
A Playability Problem?
Unfortunately, even if the MTG Foundations Beginner Box is the best new-player-focused product ever, it’s not very playable. You can learn with the tutorial decks and play some Jumpstart, but that’s really it. Even if you buy the MTG Foundations Starter Collection too, it’s unlikely you’ll have a competent constructed deck.
Thankfully, this is a problem that preconstructed Commander decks have long since solved. Due to the sheer volume of these decks, it’s easy for a new player to find one they’ll enjoy. This is often what encourages new players to get into Magic in the first place.
Even though it’s not Commander-focused, however, this doesn’t mean the Beginner Box is useless. It may not be an all-encompassing starting point, but the Beginner Box is still a fantastic tutorial. If it gets players over the complexity hurdle before their first Commander game that’s a massive win for everyone involved.
Admittedly, considering MTG Foundations in a Standard-focused set, it would make more sense to have Standard precons to play. Sadly, Wizards seems very hesitant to actually print such a product, despite consistent demand from players. This may cause the new player experience to be somewhat disjointed, but it would still be better than usual.
Ultimately, by definition, the MTG Foundations Beginner Box isn’t going to be a product for the vast majority of players. It’s probably not going to offer any great reprints or value, and it shouldn’t in order to avoid scalping. Instead, this is just a product for new players, and it seems to excel at that.