Magic: The Gathering has had a strong 2021 so far, with the Viking-inspired Kaldheim set and the academic-themed Strixhaven: School of Mages, which came complete with a set of valuable Mystic Archive alternate-art cards. Now it’s time for a special product, one that’s too strong for Standard: the Modern Horizons 2 draft set.
This is no ordinary set. Just like the original Modern Horizons set, Modern Horizons 2 has the right cards and power levels for the competitive Modern format, and this set is designed to add some fresh blood to that venerable format. A set like this is the perfect place for powerhouse reprints, and the early previews are living up to that potential. So far, some serious lands are being printed in Modern Horizons 2, along with some nifty artifacts.
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The Zendikar Fetchlands Return in Modern Horizons 2
Even before the modern era of Magic — before the eighth edition core set and original Mirrodin block — there was a five-card cycle of special lands: the fetchlands. These rare lands can tap, pay one life and sacrifice themselves to find lands of two basic land types and put them right onto the battlefield. These lands are a great tool for finding the original Alpha dual lands, the ten shocklands of the Ravnica blocks and even the five Triomes from Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths.
The original five fetchlands were based on the allied color pairs, and 2009’s Zendikar set introduced the five enemy-color fetchlands, completing the mega-cycle and putting fetchlands into the Modern format for the first time. Later still, 2014’s Khans of Tarkir set reprinted the pre-modern fetches (the allied color ones), meaning all ten fetchland were Modern legal. These lands are a big deal, especially for color-heavy decks such as Jund Midrange and Grixis Death’s Shadow.
However, these cards also cost a lot, even after Modern Masters 2017 reprinted the enemy color fetchlands. Players often decry these lands’ high prices, but Modern Horizons 2 is coming to the rescue. While the first Modern Horizons printed full-art snow lands (a real novelty), the follow-up set is focusing on those fetchlands.
These lands will come in the default modern frame, as expected, but Modern Horizons 2 is getting fancy by also printing them in the pre-modern frame to match the pre-modern, allied color fetchlands from yesteryear. And if that weren’t enough, these enemy color fetchlands are also coming in expanded art frames. No doubt all these cards will be in high demand (and see their value go up after the initial dip) when Modern Horizons 2 hit shelves in June.
The First Enchantment Land & Exciting Spells in Modern Horizons 2
Those five fetchlands alone are enough to put Modern Horizons 2 on the map, but this set isn’t done yet. The famed planeswalker Urza is having his story told once again. Naturally, this legendary hero appears on a unique and innovative card: Urza’s Saga. The concept of Saga enchantments was born in 2018’s Dominaria set and returned for Theros: Beyond Death and Kaldheim. All of those were ordinary enchantments, but Urza’s Saga is an enchantment land, a truly unique specimen. As a land, Urza’s Saga does not use the stack when it enters the battlefield, and it cannot be countered or responded to (nor does it have a regular mana cost).
The I mode will allow Urza’s Saga to tap for one colorless mana, ideal for artifacts or even Eldrazi. The II mode will allow Urza’s Saga to pay {2} and tap to make a 0/0 Construct artifact creature that gets +1/+1 for each artifact the player has, making it clear that Urza’s Saga is meant for artifact-heavy decks in particular. Last is the III mode, which fetch an artifact with converted mana cost/mana value 0 or 1 from the library and put it right onto the battlefield, then shuffle. In Commander, this could grab Sol Ring, for example — or perhaps the player is in the mood for Skullclamp or even Mox Opal.
Brainstone is an artifact version of the famed Brainstorm, costing more mana in exchange for not needing any blue mana. Once this tricky rock is sacrificed, the player will draw three cards, then put two cards from their hand on top of their library. This will refresh the hand in a hurry. Shuffle effects such as those fetchlands will get rid of those unwanted cards, allowing the player to get fresh card draws before long. Legacy players often use tricks like that.
Then, there’s Diamond Lion, a 2/2 that can die to effectively become the famed Lion’s Eye Diamond card. Curiously, this effect must be at instant speed, meaning it cannot circumvent the stack the way most mana abilities can. Finally, Sanctum Prelate is another exciting addition, almost like a white Chalice of the Void.
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