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The return of core sets
What this set is
Core Set 2019 is the return of a line that was supposed to have ended. Magic Origins in 2015 was announced as the last core set; three years later M19 brought them back, on a schedule of three large sets plus a core set each summer, and they have been part of the calendar since.
It is also the first core set built to carry a story. Earlier ones were deliberately setting-free, a broad slice of Magic with no plane of its own. M19 is about Nicol Bolas and the Elder Dragons, and Nicol Bolas, the Ravager is its only double-faced card.
Everything else is what a core set is for. No new mechanics, by design, so a first draft comes down to curve, removal and reading what is being passed, and the reprints underneath are chosen for what a Standard deck wants.
Where You Can Play It
Format legality
Core Set 2019 shipped under a single code and has left Standard, which is the only format it left.
Not Standard-legal. Standard only ever holds the last few years of sets, so everything this old has long since left it. These cards are still playable in Pioneer, Modern, Legacy, Vintage and Commander. Commons from any set are Pauper-legal; that isn't listed per set here.
Limited
Ten draft archetypes
A full ten-pair format and a deliberately readable one, with tribal themes sitting on top of otherwise evergreen gameplay.
All ten two-colour pairs
Full ten-pair format
Elves in green, Merfolk in blue, Goblins in red and Zombies in black give each colour something to commit to, and the pairs build out from there. Nothing needs a mechanic explained first, which is the point of a core set.
Boosters, precons and singles from Core Set 2019 are on TCGplayer.
FAQ
Common questions
Is Core Set 2019 still Standard legal?
No. Standard only holds the last few years of sets, so a 2018 release left it long ago. M19 cards are still legal in Pioneer, Modern, Legacy, Vintage and Commander.
Why did core sets come back with M19?
Magic Origins in 2015 was announced as the last core set, but the structure that replaced it did not hold. M19 brought the line back on a schedule of three large sets plus a core set each summer, giving new players a yearly entry point and Standard a reliable place for reprints.
What new mechanics does Core Set 2019 have?
None, by design. Core sets run on evergreen keywords so a new player can learn from one without also learning a set-specific gimmick.
Is Core Set 2019 the first core set with a story?
Yes. Earlier core sets were deliberately setting-free. M19 is built around Nicol Bolas and the Elder Dragons, and Nicol Bolas, the Ravager is its only double-faced card.
Is Core Set 2019 good for beginners?
Yes, for the usual core set reason: nothing on the cards requires learning a mechanic first, so a first draft comes down to curve, removal and reading what is being passed.
All card names, art, and mechanics belong to Wizards of the Coast. Core Set 2019 released on Jul 13, 2018; details reflect the set as published. Sources: Wizards of the Coast set pages and release notes, Draftsim, Untapped.gg.
Playing Core Set 2019 in Commander?
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