Modern Horizons 2

About this set

Game

Magic: The Gathering

Released

June 2021

Size

A set made for non-rotating formats

Featured here

2 cards

Modern Horizons 2 belongs to a line of sets built for the formats where older cards stay legal, such as Modern. It mixes brand-new cards with reprints and old mechanics in fresh forms.

Because the audience for these sets is experienced players, many cards are powerful and highly adaptable. That is a clear difference from sets built for newer players.

It is also a useful case study in how a modern Magic set can aim at long-time fans without leaving the core rules.

What to look for in this set

How to explore this set

Modern Horizons 2 is different from the other sets on this site. It was built for experienced players in formats where older cards stay legal, so it mixes new cards with reprints and old mechanics in new forms. For a newcomer, it is a window into how Magic now designs for several groups of players.

Start with Fury. It is a Red Elemental Incarnation with double strike, and it can be cast normally or with evoke. That gives it two uses in one card. It also belongs to a cycle of five, one in each color, which is a fun way to start a small themed collection. Our guide to building a themed collection explains the idea.

Then open Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer, a legendary red creature with dash. It is a clean example of an aggressive design. The set also printed alternative art versions, which are worth noticing if you like comparing looks.

Read these two side by side. Both are Mythic Rares, both are red, and they use different alternate ways to cast a creature.

What changed after it

The set arrived in June 2021 and continued a line of sets designed for non-rotating formats. Magic's timeline is long. Alpha came first in 1993, the new card frame followed in 2003, Ravnica built around ten guilds in 2005, and Innistrad brought transforming cards in 2011. Modern Horizons 2 shows what happens after all that history is available to designers.

Old mechanics return here, since dash first appeared in Fate Reforged in 2015 and evoke in Morningtide in 2008. Because the audience is long-time fans, many cards are powerful and highly adaptable, which is a clear difference from sets built for newer players. The core rules stay the same.

Questions readers ask

Is this set a good place to learn Magic?

It is better as a second step. The Alpha and Ravnica pages cover simpler ideas first.

Which format can I use these cards in?

This site does not cover format legality. Check the official sources from Wizards of the Coast.

What does Mythic Rare mean?

It is the top rarity tier, introduced in 2008 with Shards of Alara. Our rarities page explains it. This site does not give prices.

Mechanics you will see

• Dash Casting a creature with haste, then returning it to hand.
• Evoke Paying a smaller cost for a one-time effect.