With MTG Arena set to launch Jumpstart: Historic Horizons, players are eager to uncover what's awaiting them in the new set. Screen Rant's exclusive preview packet, Rummaging, helps answer some of those questions while also providing a glimpse at just one of many themes that will exist within the format: discarding for value, a staple of many veteran players' repertoires.
For those unfamiliar with Historic Horizons, it will be a digital-only set released on the MTG Arena client that mimics the popular Jumpstart original release. Players will be given packets with themes and a set number of basic lands that corresponds to what's inside, and then tasked with combining multiple packets to create a (hopefully) coherent strategy.
One of the most interesting elements of Jumpstart: Historic Horizons is that it will introduce digital-only mechanics that would be difficult or outright impossible to replicate in tabletop. In Screen Rant's exclusive preview of the Rummaging packet, one of those new mechanics is on full display on the new Managorger Phoenix card:
Managorger Phoenix is the next in a long line of phoenix creatures in Magic: The Gathering history. Phoenixes usually have abilities that let them recur themselves from the graveyard, and Managorger Phoenix is no exception. However, Managorger Phoenix introduces two different mechanics that make it wholly unique to the many other phoenixes that have preceded it. First, Managorger Phoenix tracks red mana cast for a spell while it's in the graveyard, giving itself flame counters as this happens. Second, Managorger Phoenix uses the new "perpetually" keyword to constantly grow itself regardless of where it is on the battlefield.
The Rummaging Jumpstart: Historic Horizons pack is all about maximizing the value of its splashy rare, and to accomplish that, the packet fluctuates between powerful effects that synergize with discard and the tools to initiate that discarding to get key cards like Managorger Phoenix in the graveyard. Here's one card that will appear 25% of the time in packs - and will be a big get when it shows up for a lucky player:
Conspiracy Theorist was last seen in the Strixhaven set, but here, it's even more powerful thanks to the cards it's working with. Conspiracy Theorist can help fuel the graveyard by putting Managorger Phoenix into it, and it can also recast spells that were discarded using its effect, helping to put flame counters on Managorger Phoenix or simply creating a small value engine.
One of the appeals of Jumpstart: Historic Horizons is that even within a given packet, there's card variation. Here's how the Rummaging Historic Horizons packet shakes out, slot-by-slot:
- Slot 1: Blazing Rootwalla (50%), Flameblade Adept (25%), Furyblade Vampire (25%)
- Slot 2: Fissure Wizard (25%), Oread of Mountain's Blaze (25%), Insolent Neonate (25%), Conspiracy Theorist (25%)
- Slot 3: Hollowhead Sliver (60%), Reckless Racer (20%), Fast//Furious (20%)
- Slot 4: Merchant of the Vale (75%), Burning-Tree Vandal (25%)
- Slot 5: Mad Prophet (50%), Keldon Raider (50%)
- Slot 6: Incorrigible Youths (34%), Insatiable Gorgers (33%), Reckless Wurm (33%)
- Slot 7: Revolutionist (100%)
- Slot 8: Lightning Axe (100%)
- Slot 9: Fiery Temper (75%), Alchemist's Greeting (25%)
- Slot 10: Faithless Salvaging (50%), Thrill of Possibility (25%), Cathartic Reunion (25%)
- Slot 11: Managorger Phoenix (100%)
With some guaranteed picks - including the Managorger Phoenix itself - it looks like the Historic Horizons Rummaging packet will have a fair bit of consistency in its gameplan, which should make it an attractive selection for players as they're constructing their strategy.
Jumpstart: Historic Horizons releases exclusively on MTG Arena on August 12, 2021.