Magic: The Gathering’s 2024 lineup was full of twists. Some releases were a joy, others fell short, and a few had folks shaking their heads. Here’s my rundown of each major set that arrived in booster form, counted down from worst to best.
An Unpredictable Year
This year saw surprises, a bit of chaos, and a few standout sets. We also had Commander hiccups in the autumn and more Universes Beyond products cropping up. But not every set was doomed. A couple were fun enough to remind us why we love Magic in the first place.
- Murders at Karlov Manor
I’m a big fan of Ravnica, so I was eager to see another visit to the famous city of guilds. Instead, we got half the plane tangled in a murder mystery. The story was good, but disguising and suspecting didn’t light up the table. A few cards like Delney or the surveil lands stuck around, but overall, this set didn’t create much excitement after its initial release. - Ravnica Remastered
Ravnica Remastered promised nostalgia by gathering cards from past Ravnica blocks. It offered the usual shock lands and Cyclonic Rift, which made some people happy. But once you took those out, it felt like opening a so-so box of older reprints. Drafting it was fine, yet it didn’t carve out much of a legacy beyond being a reprint pool. - Outlaws of Thunder Junction
Magic players have been clamoring for a Wild West theme for a long time, and I was one of them. Sadly, the set came off a bit hollow. Thunder Junction’s worldbuilding felt shaky, and the random cameo appearances by characters like Marchesa in a cowboy hat or Rakdos fresh from a murder trial made little sense. On the bright side, there was a new mechanic called plot and a limited format full of interaction, so at least there was something fun to do on draft night. - Assassin’s Creed
I’m a huge fan of Assassin’s Creed, so the references and artwork here were awesome. As an actual Magic set, though, it was disjointed, like it came from abandoned Commander decks. We got a sprinkle of Assassin tribal, some Historic stuff, but no clear direction. Smaller booster packs for the same cost also felt off. It’s my guilty pleasure set, but I can’t pretend it made a big splash in regular Magic formats. - Modern Horizons 3
This set had power. Cards that regularly show up in multiple formats, incredible art, and double-sided Planeswalkers returning from Magic Origins—sounds amazing. But Modern Horizons 3 also unleashed a few nightmares on the competitive scene. Nadu caused havoc, and Phlage is still a thorn in people’s sides. The limited format was dominated by Basking Broodscale, which wasn’t great for balance. Plenty of things to like here, sure, but it came with baggage. - Fallout
Compared to other crossovers, Fallout took a solid approach by introducing four full Commander decks full of iconic references. Nuka-Cola Vending Machine, Bobbleheads, and Caesar all delivered on the Fallout vibe. Rad counters were a clever mechanic that allowed some tricky strategies without feeling too cheesy. The only downside was the Collector boosters locking away exclusive reprints like Wasteland, making the decks a bit less appealing if you wanted those particular cards. - Foundations Jumpstart
Jumpstart is one of the most popular ways to play Magic right now, and Foundations Jumpstart followed that same formula. Quick games, unique themes, and a handful of new cards like Dionus and Generous Pup made it fun. The biggest letdown was the overlap in reprints from previous Jumpstart sets, which might bore players who’ve seen these cards before. If you’re new to Jumpstart, though, it’s a blast. - Duskmourn: House of Horror
I didn’t expect to love Duskmourn, but it turned out to be a fantastic experience. It had a modern horror vibe blended with a massive, reality-bending mansion you tried to survive in. The survival mechanic rewarded you for tapping creatures, eerie and rooms were fun for enchantment decks, and the story was top-notch. The only odd bits were jocks and cheerleaders in Magic, but Valgavoth was an excellent villain who could become even bigger later. Click. - Bloomburrow
Bloomburrow is Magic at its most cozy. Inspired by Redwall and Mouse Guard, it introduced a cottagecore vibe that brought new fans in. Each animal species had a unique approach, and some folks finally found a reason to build Lizard tribal decks. It wasn’t full of flashy, overpowered cards, but it created plenty of synergy and charm. I’ll be shocked if we don’t return to Bloomburrow soon. - Foundations
Foundations took me by surprise in the best way. It looked like it might be a forgettable Core set, but it’s actually a broad celebration of Magic. The reprints are meaningful but not format-breaking, and the new cards spark all kinds of deck ideas. Even better, we’re seeing staples like Doubling Season become more affordable. The side products are also impressive. The Starter Collection feels like opening a treasure chest of classic Magic, and the Beginner Box is a smooth entry point for new players who don’t need complicated rules lectures yet. If you’re after the basics done well, Foundations is your best bet.
A Hopeful Outlook
Despite the ups and downs, 2024 proved that Magic still has the potential to surprise us. Some sets might leave our binders quickly, but others capture that excitement that got us into the game in the first place. If Foundations signals what future releases could be like, I’m ready for more.
