Magic: The Gathering has a storied history of 26 years, but the premier trading card game keeps reinventing itself. Its latest release brought elementals, vampires, and even dinosaurs to the forefront. It also added powerful planeswalkers and protection spells.
With a back catalog of cards from over a quarter of a century, it may seem daunting to get into Magic: The Gathering, but the majority of Magic games use material no older than two years. It is this ever-changing nature that keeps the game fresh and fans hooked for years – it is also what ensures the game remains accessible for new players.
In early July, 2019, Magic released its latest batch of cards – Core Set 2020. As the name implies, the set showcases what's at the core of Magic now and what will be into the upcoming year. This includes certain themes and recurring characters, the alliances and animosities that exist between the five colours of Magic, as well as the types of creatures you're most likely to meet going forward.
The set serves as an introduction to the basics, but at the same time it features a number of powerful cards that have already turned the tables even at the highest levels of tournament play. This makes now the perfect time to get into Magic, whether it's at your local game shop or by downloading MTG Arena to your computer.
If you are getting into it, here are our picks for the 20 best cards from Core Set 2020 – you may see some of them in action in the Red Bull Untapped final on Saturday August 4.
20: Drakuseth, Maw of Flames
What could be more magical than a big, bad, firebreathing dragon? MTG's history is riddled with examples of the familiar fantasy trope, but this legendary specimen is particularly powerful. When Drakuseth swoops in for an attack, it can burn a whole band of opposing creatures to a crisp. It can even take the opponent down from 20 life in two attacks – over the course of two turns—all by itself.
In Magic, bigger creatures and effects are balanced by the fact that they cost a lot of mana to cast. As indicated by the number of mana symbols in the top right corner of the card, it takes a lot of energy for a player to summon Drakuseth to the battlefield, energy typically not available until late into a game. Drakuseth has seen some tournament play anyway, because nature always finds a way. Specifically, ingenious people have found ways to cheat Drakuseth into play as early as turn five.
19. Cerulean Drake
Even the mighty Maw of Flames cannot touch this little fellow. Cerulean Drake can also block any red creature all day long and survive, despite its diminutive size. Much like fire and water, blue and red are sworn enemies in Magic. Most of blue's creatures are weak to fire, but this drake – a relative of the larger dragons – has developed an immunity.
18. Dread Presence
You only have to look at that artwork to understand why the presence of this card inspires dread. This literal nightmare is a dark wizard's best friend, because they pull most of their mana from Swamps, of which a deck can have any number and of which a player can play one every turn. Draining the life essence of an unfortunate victim is one of black's favourite pastimes.
17. Nightpack Ambusher
Nightpack Ambusher combines two powerful aspects into one unsurprisingly strong card. First, there's the ambushing – the ability flash allows a creature to be played during the opponent's turn, for instance, after they declared attackers. At 4/4, Nightpack Ambusher will usually be able to block a creature dead without suffering meaningful consequences itself. Then there's the pack. When a player 'sleeps' and doesn't cast any spells during their turn, that must mean it's nighttime, right? And you know what happens at night? The wolves come out …
16. Temple of Triumph
Lands are the main source of mana, the mystical energy required to cast spells, summon creatures, and do just about anything in Magic. Temple of Triumph – which is part of a cycle of five such lands across different colour pairs – enters the battlefield tapped, meaning it can't be used right away. However, the ability to generate either one red or one white mana on each subsequent turn has proven to be worth the delay. Playing a deck with two or more colours, it's easy to run into problems of not having the right mana at the right time, but Temple of Triumph fixes this, and it can fix the next card to be drawn as well.
15. Drawn from Dreams
The colour blue commands the forces of air and water, but it also deals in mind magic, in illusions, dreams, and knowledge. Drawn from Dreams may not have an immediate impact on the battlefield. However, getting the best two cards from the top seven cards of one's library, depending on whatever the situation calls for, will have an impact before long.
14. Veil of Summer
Green is the colour of life and nature, and it doesn't appreciate blue's meddling or the death and destruction that black brings. Wrap yourself and all of your stuff into a Veil of Summer, though, and none of that poses a problem for the time being.
13. Cavalier of Thorns
There are five Cavaliers in the set, one for each colour, that all add some immediate value when they enter the battlefield and then one more time, if they die. So far, Cavalier of Thorns has proven the most successful in tournaments.
12. Gods Willing
It isn't the most powerful effect, but the little things often have large relevance in Magic. This is especially true when, like Gods Willing, they interact with big powerful creatures.
11. Omnath, Locus of the Roil
One of the major themes in Core Set 2020 is the creature type elemental, representing forces of the earth, of wind and water, and of fire. Omnath is the king of the elementals and combines all three. Things start with a blast of fire when Omnath first enters the battlefield, and with this card lands lead to growth, and later on to a windfall of extra cards.
10. Rotting Regisaur
Most Dinosaurs in Magic are red and/or green, but as a member of the undead, this zombie marks the rare exception. It follows black's habit of paying a price for greater power. At 7/6, Rotting Regisaur is much larger than other creatures that cost three mana. It will cost you a card at the beginning of your turn, but only as long as you have cards in hand… And only as long as your opponent survives.
9. Chandra, Awakened Inferno
Core Set 2020 tells the story of a planeswalker named Chandra who grows from a young pyromancer prodigy into one of the fiercest fire mages in the world. The Awakened Inferno represents her final form.
8. Voracious Hydra
Hydras are famous for their ability to grow many heads, and this one is no different. Like most of Magic's hydras, it grows to a size in line with the amount of mana spent to cast it. Be careful – these heads bite, too!
7. Yarok, the Desecrated
Yarok's true power lies in its somewhat wordy ability. Whenever a creature like Cavalier of Thorns or Voracious Hydra joins the battlefield on Yarok's side, their respective ability happens twice. It's no coincidence that the Cavalier and the Hydra made this list alongside Yarok. They make for a beautiful team.
6. Sorin, Imperious Bloodlord
Core Set 2020 features a number of strong vampires, and the planeswalker Sorin is their undisputed leader. After all, he is the bloodlord among the bloodsuckers.
5. Empyrean Eagle
Flying creatures can only be blocked by other creatures with flying or by creatures with reach. To balance this advantage, they tend to be a little smaller. Not Empyrean Eagle – it has already led a squadron of various birds and spirits to some tournament success.
4. Spectral Sailor
Arguably the most powerful flier in the set doesn't look all that powerful. But don't let the stats of 1/1 fool you. Magic is very much a game about two things: tempo and card advantage. Spectral Sailor provides both, gets in early, and nets extra cards later on.
3. Knight of the Ebon Legion
This vampire has taken its tribe to the top tables of many recent tournaments. Like many vampires, it literally sucks the life out of opponents and grows stronger for it. The +1/+1 counters quickly accumulate, and then victory is near.
2. Risen Reef
Once again, it's no coincidence that three of the cards listed previously are elementals. Core Set 2020 is full of them. Risen Reef nets an extra draw and potentially an extra land drop whenever one of them enters the battlefield. It's also no coincidence that Risen Reef has found a way into several successful strategies, not just dedicated elemental decks.
1. Field of the Dead
Getting additional lands into play – for example, with Risen Reef or Cavalier of Thorns – is often one of the best moves in Magic, as it allows the casting of more powerful cards ahead of time. There are a lot of means to do that, and some effects even search for specific lands. Usually, extra lands are but stepping stones in a larger process. With Field of the Dead, however, making extra lands becomes an end in itself. Burying opponents in Zombies has never been easier.